The British Messenger

A riveting story of World War II and the courage of one young woman as she is drafted into Churchill’s overseas spy network, aiding the French Resistance behind enemy lines and working to liberate Nazi-occupied Paris… London, 1941: In a cramped bunker in Winston Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms, underneath Westminster’s Treasury building, civilian women huddle at desks, typing up confidential documents and reports. Since her parents were killed in a bombing raid, Rose Teasdale has spent more hours than usual in Room 60, working double shifts, growing accustomed to the burnt scent of the Prime Minister’s cigars permeating the stale air. Winning the war is the only thing that matters, and she will gladly do her part. And when Rose’s fluency in French comes to the attention of Churchill himself, it brings a rare yet dangerous opportunity. Rose is recruited for the Special Operations Executive, a secret British organization that conducts espionage in Nazi-occupied Europe. After weeks of grueling training, Rose parachutes into France with a new codename: Dragonfly. Posing as a cosmetics saleswoman in Paris, she ferries messages to and from the Resistance, knowing that the slightest misstep means capture or death. Soon Rose is assigned to a new mission with Lazare Aron, a French Resistance fighter who has watched his beloved Paris become a shell of itself, with desolate streets and buildings draped in Swastikas. Since his parents were sent to a German work camp, Lazare has dedicated himself to the cause with the same fervor as Rose. Yet Rose’s very loyalty brings risks as she undertakes a high-stakes prison raid, and discovers how much she may have to sacrifice to justify Churchill’s faith in her . . .

A Riveting Tale of Faith and Romance by an Acclaimed Novelist Hannah Sunderland felt content in her embrace of the Quaker faith ...until her twin brother ran off and joined the army and ended up captured and in jail. Suddenly Hannah's world turns on end. She longs to bring her brother some measure of comfort in the squalid, frigid prison where he remains. But the Quakers believe they are not to take sides, not to take up arms. Can she sit by and do nothing while he suffers? Jeremiah Jones has an enormous task before him. Responsibility for a spy ring is now his, and he desperately needs access to the men in prison, whom they are seeking to free. A possible solution is to garner a pass for Hannah. But while she is fine to the eye, she holds only disdain for him--and agreeing would mean disobeying those she loves and abandoning a bedrock of her faith. With skill and sensitivity, Mitchell tells a story of two unlikely heroes seeking God's voice, finding the courage to act, and discovering the powerful embrace of love.

____________________________ Why can some people effortlessly command the attention of everyone in the room? What makes some individuals seem immediately credible and others appear inherently untrustworthy? And how is it that precisely the same idea can be enthusiastically embraced or roundly rejected depending on who has put it forward? When we talk to others, we assume that they are carefully weighing our words and arguments. But these are far from being the only factors that hold sway. In this groundbreaking new book, bestselling behavioural scientists Stephen Martin and Joseph Marks explore the eight powerful human traits that help determine whether what we have to say gets heard or lands on deaf ears. They show how seemingly irrelevant details about our demeanour influence others’ responses. They explain how trust is won, even when it may not be deserved. They show how the most trivial of signals – like the shape of our face, the shoes we wear or the car we drive – can influence how people respond to us. And in a world of uncertainty and fake news they demonstrate how, increasingly, the Messenger is the Message. ‘Some books make us better citizens. Others make us better at our jobs. This amazing book does both!’ Dan Pink, author of When, Drive and To Sell is Human ____________________________ ‘A tour de force. Timely and thoroughly researched.’ Professor Robert Cialdini, author of Influence and Pre-suasion ‘Messengers is engaging, informative and entertaining. It will change the way you think about who you follow and take advice from. But why would you listen to me? Read their book to find out.' Professor Tali Sharot, author of The Optimism Bias and The Influential Mind 'A powerful, profoundly illuminating exploration of one of the most important subjects of our time. Martin and Marks have a terrific talent for combining evidence and research with lively and vivid writing. Trust these messengers!' Cass R. Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor, Harvard University, and author of Conformity 'Fascinating' The Economist 'Zeitgeisty' Financial Times, Business Book of the Month 'Messengers is a crucial reminder that the messenger is as important as the message. Superficial indicators count.' PR Week