Secrets of a Charmed Life

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
I enjoyed this one! It gave a personal connection to the fashion industry during WWII and I really liked the sibling relationship between Emmy and Julia.
In this story, told in a dual timeline, you have Kendra Van Zant , who is writing an article to claim her place in journalism. She interviews Isabel McFarland. Isabel is at a point in life where she is ready to reveal secrets from her past about her true identity. The story Kendra is presented with is a test of her morality and convictions.
Isabel talks about her experiences in the 1940s during the war when Hitler waged terror on England and England sent its youth to the country for protection. Emmy Downtree was a fifteen year old aspiring artist/designer with no formal training and load of natural talent. She had just managed to land an apprenticeship with a designer that would give her a solid future, when word came that she and her sister must go to live in the countryside for the foreseeable future. The two girls, Emmy and Julia end up in a Cotswold cottage with a good foster family. Emmy can't bury her ambitions and throw away her opportunity, so she runs away with Julia in tow and it changes the course of their future forever when they get separated in the middle of destruction.
Emmy's diligent efforts to survive were inspiring and remarkable. This was a great example of the bond between siblings and great perseverance in the time of war. Emmy continued on carrying guilt for her ambition and not knowing what became of her sister. There are some interesting twists in this story and a heartwarming bond between sisters! 4/5⭐