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The Color of Courage: Codename Odile - Based On A True Story (Timeless Agents Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 149 ratings

In the heart of Marseille, amidst the vibrant street art of Cours Julien, a young graffiti artist uncovers a hidden piece of history that will change her life forever.

Marseille, August 2004

Arriving to attend the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, Sil Anderson discovers a suitcase filled with letters of Lise de Baissac, a courageous female SOE agent during World War II.

Transported into Lise’s world, Sil follows the story of a woman who risked everything to fight against Nazi oppression. Lise’s journey from fleeing occupied Paris to orchestrating daring missions in Poitiers and Normandy unfolds with intense bravery and strategic brilliance.

Inspired by Lise’s story of female empowerment and courage, Sil creates a mural titled “The Color of Courage,” weaving in Lise’s portrait with snippets from her letters.

Alongside her artistic journey, Sil finds herself drawn to her enigmatic landlord, Justin Bellamare, mirroring the classic Marseillaise love story of Lise and Henri Villameur.

For both Lise and Sil, the ultimate reward for their rebel spirit is love. And love conquers all.


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From the Publisher

timeless agents, spy novel, wwii historical fiction, dual-timeline
spy novel, wwII historical fiction, contemporary romance, clean romance
historical romance, action and adventure, suspense

Editorial Reviews

Review

Hannah's new series is a masterful fusion of historical fiction and an engaging 21st century protagonist, perfectly blending dual timelines into one captivating story! Written with eloquence, The Color of Courage is an absolutely page-turning delight.
Nicholas Harvey,
USA Today bestselling author.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D1RHMNN1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hannah Byron Books; 1st edition (October 24, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 24, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5353 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 463 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 149 ratings

About the author

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Hannah Byron
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Hannah Byron is an acclaimed author of historical fiction centered on WWII resistance women. Born in Paris in the mid-1950s to a British mother and a Dutch father, she grew up with strong ties to France, the UK, and Holland, which continue to inspire her work. Most of her novels are set in Western Europe, where history and culture run deep.

After decades of balancing life as a mother, university professor, and translator, Hannah is now a full-time author. She writes passionate novels about resistance and romance set in the 20th century—topics close to her heart. Readers often describe Byron’s work as gripping, deeply emotional, and impossible to put down.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
149 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2024
    What an AMAZING book! I'm not usually a fan of split time stories, but, this was so well written, the split time-line was seemless. Each character was so well developed that you felt you knew them. The history that was such a huge part of the book, was meticulously researched and added into the story perfectly. Such a great story!
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2024
    This book provides an over view of courage in the form of a prominent WWII agent and network of resisters in wartime France. It is well written and the reader is present with the network of resistors experiencing the excitement, anxiety, and courage of each mission. The emotion is palpable. Well done.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2024
    This was a dual-timeline novelized story of the actual SOE agent codenamed Odile posted to France during WWII and artist"Sil" Anderson inarseille beginning in 2004. Sil discovers WWII letters written by Lise, the true first name of agent Odilr, after she moves into her former Marseille apartment; she becomes intrigued and then mentally captured by them. Sil is presented as having been something of a "wild child," complete with nose ring, rainbow hair, hiking boots and past serious drug use. She is now attending the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Marseille and has a love and talent for street/graffiti art.

    The author quickly dives into Lise/Odile's story, her escape from Nazi-occupied France, and eventual British SOE assignment back to France undercover. What was most fascinating to me was the picture created of increasing Nazi influence and repressive scrutiny of the French people throughout France including on trains, and the constant dangers to both SOE operatives and French Resistance/Maquis fighters. The interplay and confluct between SOE and Maquis over operational methods and caution to avert disvovery were well-presented. In addition, the compromise and loss of SOE agents to German discovery was extensive and not an aspect I'd read much about.

    Sil's character seemed a mite over-the-top to me; that she and her more-conservative landlord Justin became a couple seemed a bit unlikely, but the romance was gradual and well-done.

    The heart of the novel was Odile's inspiring and heroiv war story and was very well-presented with excellent character development.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2024
    I was not expecting such a gripping story and .....what a tribute to these great SOE agents who gave so much! Thank you for telling the story of Lise. The sacrifices, made at such great personal risk, are truly inspiring. Nights spent in ditches, cycling for hundreds of miles, bombs bursting nearby, living outside in all kind of inclement weather, living so close to danger every moment of every day...the bravery and courage it took is immeasurable. The words of this book leapt off the pages and enveloped me into the folds of this great life story. Note that I won this book in a giveaway.... I probably would not have chosen to read it, but am very glad I did and will recommend it forward.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2024
    Every time that I read a book by Hannah Byron I say that that book is the best one I have ever read, well I’m saying that about this book. The first one in a series about amazing heroines agents of the SOE (Special Operations Executive) tells the story of Lise de Baissac and her extraordinary life as a British agent of this organization during WWII in France.
    Interspersed with her life the book brings us to the year 2004 where we follow Sil Anderson a British art student in Marseille who happens to find Lise’s letters to her love Henry.
    Thru very extensive research by Hannah Byron we get to live firsts hand Lise’s operations, her dangers, despairs, emotions and feelings, as well as the four years of France’s occupation by the Germans during WWII.
    The fact that Sil isn’t related to Lise makes the impact of the letters on her life even more powerful, showing the impact and connection of one courageous and larger than life woman to another one, to the point of making her turn her world around.
    This is an extraordinary book that will leave you thinking about the past and the dangers that can happen in the present if we don’t learn from our mistakes and do the right things now.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2024
    Timeless Agents:
    The Color of Courage-Code name Odile

    The Color of Courage is set in a dual timeline beginning in 2004 ,when street graffiti artist , Sil Anderson , relocates to Marseille to attend art school and to make a better life for herself. As she settles into her new apartment , she discovers a hidden suitcase with letters from the 1940s .
    The letters tell the real story of Lise de Baissac code name Odelie , as she became an integral part of the SOE and assist with the Resistance during WW11. As Sil reads the letters you are drawn into the story as if you are walking along with her in wartime in France.
    The Story is of love, heroism, and courage , both in 2004 and in the mid 1940s, it is well researched and keeps your full attention to the end!
    Looking forward to the next book in the series.
    If you enjoy this story , you will love the Resistance Girl series as well!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2024
    I would give this book a six or seven if I could. So well written it flowed effortlessly. Lise as one of the first agents dropped into France. Created her own cell from scratch then go to Normandy to help Claude prepare for D-Day.
    Then an almost whole other story regarding Sil and Justin. You have to read this book and all the following books about the female secret agents.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • scotgal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read.
    Reviewed in Canada on December 4, 2024
    I loved this book. The story drew me right in that I felt I was there. I loved the story of the two time periods and what both women went through. I wonder how many women these days would have the courage Lise had. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
  • Sandra Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant story of great courage in WWII
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 13, 2024
    I couldn’t put this book down when reading the most brilliant story of the utmost courage of Odile in WWII. It keeps you on the edge of your chair and brings home the immense work the SOE did in this theatre of war. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

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