Written by Vicki Beeby⭐ ⭐ ⭐
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Firstly, my thanks to the author, Vicki Beeby, her publisher, Canelo Saga, and Netgalley for a free digital Advanced Review Copy of Christmas with the Ops Room Girls for my review. This is the first time I've read anything by this author, but I was drawn to this book because of interesting blurb and the era in which it is set.
The blurb:
Christmas with the Ops Room GirlsAfter failing to help evacuee siblings whom she witnesses being separated, May wishes she'd had the confidence to speak up. When Jess suggests a pantomime to boost morale on the station, May is desperate to help - but is held back by her own insecurities.
With her low self-esteem also affecting her relationship with Squadron Leader Peter Travis, May is fed up with being her own worst enemy and decides to take charge of her destiny. But the past she ran from plus a crisis with one of the evacuees throw May into the midst of a drama that will test all of her newfound confidence.
May, Jess and Evie must work together once again to help each other through the challenges of war and of their own hearts.
Women's Military Fiction
My thoughts:
This is the second book in the Women's Auxiliary Airforce series, and as usual, the first one I've read. Christmas with the Ops Room Girls continues the story which began in The Ops Room Girls, but the reader does not have to have read that book to enjoy this one.
In the first book, three young women from different backgrounds, Evie, May and Jess, join the Women's Auxiliary Airforce and form strong bonds due to their shared experiences. Evie has now left RAF Amberton to begin Officer Training, leaving May and Jess behind.
In this story, a group of evacuees from Coventry arrive in the village and are allocated billets. Some are lucky and have caring foster parents. Others are not so lucky. May becomes concerned about one in particular, Peggy, and promises to help her.
Jess persuades May that they should put on a pantomime for the children and involve the Czech airmen to help improve relations between RAF Amberton and the village. The friends also decide to offer parts to the evacuees so that they can befriend Peggy. Some of the locals are less than friendly, and in helping Peggy, May and Jess uncover some illegal activities in the village.
This is an era I enjoy reading about, and the plot line certainly held my attention throughout, although I felt it was a little thin towards the end, leaving me with lots of unanswered questions.
I enjoyed watching May's confidence grow as she took on a leading role in the pantomime, and then found inner strength to deal with issues that normally would have seen her bend to someone's will.
| Author Bio – Vicki Beeby |
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Vicki Beeby writes historical fiction about the friendships and loves of service women brought together by the Second World War. Her first job was as a civil engineer on a sewage treatment project, so things could only improve from there. Since then, she has worked as a maths teacher and education consultant before turning freelance to give herself more time to write. In her free time, when she can drag herself away from reading, she enjoys walking and travelling to far-off places by train. She lives in Shropshire in a house that doesn’t contain nearly enough bookshelves. |
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