Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

It's interesting that as those of the Greatest Generation pass away so that so few are left now, there has been a concurrent growing trend of novels that take place during World War II. Sometimes, it seems as if there are almost too many, but then you discover a gem like this book. It does not explore the most familiar war tropes, instead of looking at it through the lives of three women who have forsaken their ordinary lives to make a difference during this tumultuous period. Two of the women, Danni and Ella, are professionals struggling to keep working because women are not readily accepted in their jobs, one a journalist (who had been writing under a male pseudonym before she was fired) and the other a photographer. Both face so many roadblocks because of their gender, but still they persist because they understand what needs to be done and documented. Their tenacity and spirit are palpable. Yet, the author has made them utterly believable and relatable with flaws and foibles as well as their admirable qualities. These are not stock or "goody-goody" heroines, that's for sure. The third woman, Chloe, is not as strong as these other two women at the start of the book, but she does have a growth arc that makes her worthy of keeping company with the other two in this novel. I like that the author has thrown us right into the story at key points in the characters' lives, artfully weaving in backstory without resorting to simple telling. She shows us their lives and struggles in vivid detail. The writing style is also smooth and easy to read, making this novel a delight on several fronts. The author has an afterword where she shares a little about the real women who inspired this book and explains the choices and changes that she made. I enjoy well-written stories based in history, even if they don't really reflect any particular “real” women's lives, and this is one such book. If you enjoy historical fiction like that, you will most likely find this to be an engaging, page-turning read as I did. This is the first time I have read anything by this author, but I've just placed some of her other books on my Kindle Unlimited wishlist! I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.