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It is 1940; For beautiful, intellectually challenged, and strong-minded, eighteen-year-old, Monique Joubert, the German occupation of France is the latest in a series of heartbreaks. Illness and now the war have devastated her family dynamic, leading to her placement at the Sainte-Anne Psychiatric Institution in Paris. When the Germans appropriate Sainte-Anne, it becomes overwhelming and Monique flees with her best friend, intent on living with Monique’s brother, Marcel. Unbeknownst to them, Marcel has left the family home to help the resistance cause.

On the streets, searching for Marcel proves futile, and as German rule prevails, martial law and racial profiling leaves Monique suddenly alone. Taking particular interest is Pierre Girard, a Vichy Police Captain, who is an arrogant, self-serving, excuse of a man, with an eye for young women. He takes a less than genuine interest in Monique and places her to live with Jacqueline and Lizette, a mother and daughter, with whom he also has designs.

Meanwhile, Marcel’s resistance activities begin to draw interest from the Gestapo and Police Captain Girard. And far away, Monique and Marcel’s father, Henri, thought to be dead, tries desperately to return home. However, duty to country detours Henri far from Paris and his family.

Can Monique, Jacqueline and Lizette stay out of Girard’s clutches? Is it possible for Marcel to avoid arrest when Girard and others begin piecing together his undertakings? Can Monique and Marcel find each other as their lives spin in different directions or will the Gestapo reunite them unceremoniously? Will Henri return to Paris, or will the circle of events bring Paris to him?

Based on real events, Light Through a Fractured Lens tells the story of one family’s challenging journey through the occupation, in a world fractured by war and personal tragedy.

Ken Paiva is the author of "When Night Awakens", published by @EndeavorPress. He is a voracious historical reader. In addition to writing, his interests include: Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue - https://www.ygrr.org/ - (adopter), Musician (drums and keyboards), Martial artist (former kick-box instructor), kayaking, hiking, and anything Hawaii!