LOOK TO THE EAST
August 2009
A village under siege. A love under fire.
France 1914
At the dawn of the First World War, the French village of Briecourt is isolated from the battles, but the century-old feud between the Toussaints and the de Colvilles still rages in the streets. When the German army sweeps in to occupy the town, families on both sides of the feud are forced to work together to protect stragglers caught behind enemy lines.
Julitte Toussaint may have been adopted from a faraway island, but she feels the scorn of the de Colvilles as much as anyone born a Toussaint. So when she falls in love with one of the stragglers—a wealthy and handsome Belgian entrepreneur—she knows she's playing with fire. Charles Lassone hides in the cellar of the Briecourt church, safe from the Germans for the moment. But if he's discovered, it will bring danger to the entire village and could cost Charles his life.
About the Author:
Maureen lives with her family (her husband, three kids and their lovable lab) in Illinois. She spends her days dreaming up people in faraway places, characters who live far more exciting lives than she does within the safety of her happy home. Look to the East is Maureen's ninth novel.
A note from Maureen:
This book was one of those stories that just needed to be told.
Inspired by actual events in a small town in France, it was a dream
come true for me to travel there for research and to absorb the
atmosphere. Although my book takes place nearly one hundred years ago,
the same area today is similar in many ways: picturesque little
villages surrounded by a lovely rural landscape. Thankfully, there were
no rumbles of battle in the distance when I was there . . .My prayer is that the events of the past won't be forgotten, so we'll never again make the same mistakes.
