When Vivi arrives in Madrid, she is captivated by its heat and colour, a world away from the grey of her life as a lonely newlywed back in Berlin.
But her diplomat husband and beloved brother Christian are here for one reason only: to bring the Nazi regime to Spain, and to destroy everything that stands in their path.
When Vivi is caught in a bombing raid, she is thrown unexpectedly into the arms of Emilio, a member of the militia.
As she gets to know him and his love for his country, his passion inspires her, and her world changes overnight. And as he stares at her with his warm brown eyes, her heart races in her chest, knowing she is truly being seen for the first time in years…
But falling in love with Emilio is dangerous. Franco and his Nazi allies are closing in on the resistance in Madrid, and it’s only a matter of time before Emilio is discovered.
Vivi does everything she can to protect him, but she knows time is running out.
When her worst fears come true and Emilio captures her brother, Vivi must decide where her loyalty lies. Should she betray her lover to save her family? Or will she choose love above all else?
And once the war is over, can she live with the consequences?
The Man She Had to Save by Catherine Hokin is published on 15 July, 2026.
Read Catherine’s feature about the history behind her book.
Have a look at more new historical fiction in Historia’s list of over 170 books coming out this year.
