A Life in Secrets
by Sarah Helm
Buy book: $17.31

Once rumored to have been the inspiration for Ian Fleming's Miss Moneypenny, Vera Atkins climbed her way to the top in Special Operations Executive, or SOE, Britain's secret service created to help the resistance efforts in Nazi-occupied countries. Drawing on recently released government files and unprecedented access to family papers, Helm vividly reconstructs a complex and extraordinary life.

Help! My bookshelves are overflowing. I have 20 nonfiction books to give away to lucky readers. To enter the drawing, send me an email at: enter-to-win2@emailbookclub.com and be sure to tell me what you think of this week's book.

I am always amazed by and interested in reading about the courage of people during desperate times. This seems like it will be a fascinating book.

Well, as a fan of Fleming's Miss M, this bio is intriguing on the face of it, but when the PR promises that her origins were NOT as intimated -- I'm hooked. Gotta find out more about this woman, how she was recruited, what all she accomplished, and why a fellow who survived four imprisonments would paint her picture. Most intriguing.

This looks good, I'm always interested in personalities behind the scenes. Vera sounds like a truly mysterious person, the stories she'll tell will be fascinating I'm sure.

Gina

It is only day 2 and yet I plan to take this book out of the library. I am intrigued as to how the heroine will unveil her past to the interviewer. I love reading about courageous women from WWII. The fact that she would not rest until she discovered the fate of her "friends" is wonderful. Also that she is a smart 90-year old. Her character is full of courage and intelligence and is a reminder that women can be powerful, important players on life's stage. Do not think in limitations - think powerful goddess.

I`m beginning to wonder how the biographer was ever able to obtain any real info. re: her subject and I am begnning to feel sorry for her-the author that is. I am becoming very anxious to get on with the lady`s story as I am sure it is a truly fascinating one.

Today I'm glad to have read this far: the author's discovery of that one record of a 1946 interview is indicative, I'm sure, of the amazing accomplishments of her mysterious subject. I'm sure that my book club will love to read this one.

And today's read ends with the name of Vilayat Ilayat Khan...and when I Googled it, such INTERESTING material came up. What a read this is.

Extraordinary woman who led an extraordinary life. Excellent writing too.