Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park by Molly Green

 Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park

Book Summary

Her code breaking will save lives.

But will it save the man she loves…?

Bletchley Park - Hut 6

September 1939. London is in blackout, war has been declared, but Dulcie Treadwell can think only of her heartbreak over American broadcaster, Glenn Reeves, who didn’t say goodbye before leaving for Berlin.

Posted to Bletchley Park, Dulcie must concentrate on helping the war effort by cracking the German Enigma codes. The hours are long and the conditions tough, with little recognition from above. Until she breaks her first code…

Women working on enigma machines at Bletchley Park

Dulcie finally settles into something she was born to do. But just as she’s proving her worth, a shocking betrayal leads to Dulcie’s brutal dismissal. Is it too late for Dulcie to prove her innocence and keep helping to save innocent lives? 

My Thoughts

Summer Secrets at Bletchley Parkby Molly Green is the debut of The Bletchley Park Girls.  Dulcie “Dale” Treadwell is a reporter who is only allowed to write fluff pieces.  With the outbreak of war, she is hoping to be considered for more serious articles.  She is in the heart of London when the city goes dark the night war is declared.   She meets American broadcaster Glenn Reeves, and it is love at first sight.  After a special night together, they make plans to meet the next day.  Dale is heartbroken when Glenn fails to show up.  She is unaware that he had to leave for Berlin shortly after they parted, and Glenn had no way to contact Dale.  After entering a crossword competition, Dale is recruited for Bletchley Park.  She signs the Official Secrets Act and begins her work in Hut 6 on the enigma machines.  Once Dale gets the hang of the work, she finds it exciting.  Dale hopes to get a promotion to a cryptographer after she has proven herself.  After returning from visiting her parents in London, Dale is summoned to Commander Travis’ office where she is summarily dismissed.  She is not given a chance to explain her side of the story.  Is there any way to for Dale to her vital war work? 

I like Molly Green’s writing style.  It is casual (easy going) which makes the story easy to read.  The book moved along at a good pace.  I thought the author captured the time period and I can tell she did her research into Bletchley Park.  I wish there had been more on Bletchley and the work done there.  The main focus of the book was romance.  I thought the characters were realistic.  Their behavior and attitudes suited the era.  I liked Eddie who also worked at Bletchley.  He is a lively character with a good heart.  He becomes good friends with Dale.  I actually liked Eddie more than Glenn.  The ending was abrupt and felt incomplete.  I hope we learn more in the next installment in The Bletchley Park Girls series.  Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park (also known as Wartime at Bletchley Park) is an engaging historical novel that sweeps readers back to the start of World War II in England.  Summers Secrets at Bletchley Park is on the beam with a first glance romance, a warlord landlord, a serious supervisor, mysterious machines, a missing man, a flirty friend, parent problems, and a perilous problem. 

Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park (in UK) is being called Wartime at Bletchley Park in the United States.  It is available from Amazon*.    You can find Molly Green's other novels here.  Thank you for dropping by today.  I will be sharing my thoughts on Adventure, Abduction, and Arrest by Tonya Kappes next time.  It is the 25th A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery.  I hope that you have joyful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A Sister's War by Molly Green

 A Sister's War by Molly Green

Book Summary

A Sister’s War by Molly Green takes us back to 1943 in Kent where Ronnie Linfoot wants to do her bit for the war effort.  She applies to be a boatwoman with Grand Union Canal Company transporting goods along the Grand Union Canal between London and Birmingham.  Her maman is horrified, but she reluctantly gives her permission.  Ronnie joins five other ladies for six weeks of instruction with Dora Dummitt.  Dora is a tough taskmaster, but she must be because the work is difficult with long hours.  Ronnie is the youngest member of the group and Dora seems to ride her more than the others.  The weather is wet and cold on the canal where the ladies learn how to get through the locks, collect and drop off goods, and navigate the boats through long, narrow tunnels.  The ladies will need to pull together if they are to make it through the training and begin transporting goods on their own.  Unfortunately, it seems someone is taking advantage of the war to make a little money in black market goods.  Ronnie soon finds herself in the middle of an investigation, but there is an upside when she meets a handsome police officer.  Who is behind the illicit goods?  Is being a boatwoman the right job for Ronnie?

My Thoughts

A Sister’s War by Molly Green is the 3^rd book in The Victory Sisters.  This book can be read as a standalone, but I did enjoy reading the series in order.  I thought A Sister’s War was well-written with developed characters.  In this book, we get Veronique “Ronnie” Linfoot’s story.  She is the youngest of the three Linfoot sisters and she is anxious to do something to aid the war effort.  She is not yet seventeen which makes it difficult for her to join a program.  Ronnie was turned down for the Land Girls which was her preference.  Her mother, Simone was delighted.  Simone would prefer that her daughters wear pretty dresses, do embroidery and other ladylike tasks.  Unfortunately, Simone has three independent, rebellious daughters.  Raine is a pilot with the Air Transport Auxiliary and Suzy is a singer with ENSA.  Ronnie sees a newsreel that mentions the canal girls and she sets out to learn more information.  Ronnie applies to be boatwoman transporting goods along the Grand Union Canal with the Grand Union Canal Company.  We follow Ronnie and five other ladies training with Dora Dummitt who is a harsh taskmaster.  The author did her research for this book.  I can envision life on the canal in the narrowboats from the author’s descriptions.  It sounded like a rough job with long hours.  I could not imagine having to open and close the locks along the canal by hand.  The cold and wet were relentless.  The boats were small with limited room.  It was fascinating learning about the canal girls.  They transported items needed for the war effort.  I was curious after I finished the book and looked up more information about the canal and the boats (transport by boat ended in the late 1970s and the boats are now being used for people to live in).  I like that we get to catch up with Ronnie’s sisters, Suzy and Raine.  A Sister’s War is a satisfying conclusion to The Victory Sisters trilogy.  I enjoyed reading A Sister’s War as well as the other two books in this engaging historical series. 

A Sister's War can be obtained from Amazon*.  The first two books in The Victory Sisters are A Sister's Courage and A Sister's Song.  You can find Molly Green's other novels here.  Thank you for joining me today.  I was lucky to get this posting done.  My mother unplugged an item from an outlet in her bathroom which blew a fuse.  We called out the electrician when the fuse would not reset.  It turns out the panel has not been replaced or updated since it was installed (another lie the realtor told us).  We had to have the whole panel replaced as well as two outlets. The electricity was off the whole afternoon which meant no wifi (and no blog post).  We got our electricity restored just after 8 p.m.  At this rate, we will soon have a brand new home.  We thought this home would be less stressful than our last one (I think the universe is laughing at me).  At least we now do not have to worry about our house catching on fire, and we have a warranty.  I was grateful the electricians could come out right away.  Next time I am featuring Shucked Apart by Barbara Ross.  It is the 9th A Maine Clambake Mystery.  I hope that you have a sunny day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A Sister's Courage by Molly Green

Welcome!  On Sunday's I feature books that I was unable to review when they were released like A Sister's Courage by Molly Green.  Molly Green has written An Orphan's Wish, An Orphan in the Snow and An Orphan's War.  

A Sister’s Courage by Molly Green has Lorraine “Raine” Linfoot determined to be a pilot from the age of fourteen. In February of 1939, Raine learns that her father is unable to pay for lessons and her mother forbids her from taking them.  Raine hangs around the aerodrome in Biggin Hill where she makes the acquaintance of Doug Williams who helps her get a job and teaches her to fly.  Raine gets her pilot’s license just before war is declared.  When the Air Transport Auxiliary opens their ranks to women, Raine is thrilled to apply.  Raine gets accepted and is happy ferrying planes around England.  She writes to Doug regularly who is in the RAF and is devastated when his plane goes down.  Doug is declared missing presumed dead.  Her mother has never accepted Raine’s position as a pilot and will do what she can to get Raine to give up the dangerous and unfeminine occupation.  After a time, Raine begins dating Alec Marshall, a pilot.  She fears, though, that what happened to Doug could happen to Alec. Life is difficult during the war, but they must push forward if they are to survive and win.  A Sister’s Courage is the first book in The Victory Sisters series.  Raine, Suzanne and Ronnie Linfoot are three close sisters with a kind, accountant father and a controlling French mother.  Raine is an independent, stubborn woman who knows what she wants to do with her life. I enjoyed reading about Raine’s flying experiences before and during the war.  I like that the author included Pauline Gower who was a woman ahead of her time.  There is some background on Pauline and the ATA included at the beginning of the book in case you are unfamiliar with the pilot or the organization.  I thought A Sister’s Courage was easy to read, but the pacing varied.  I found the middle of the book to be slow.  Raine is a strong female character who desired to be a pilot and did what was needed to achieve her goal.  I like that she stood up for herself (most of the time).  Raine’s immaturity especially when dealing with her mother went with her young age.  Of course, Raine’s mother was a difficult, manipulative woman.  The two of them butted heads because they had similar stubborn natures.  Simone, the mother, was an unlikeable character (a turn off).  I enjoyed the beginning of A Sister’s Courage when it dealt with Raine becoming a pilot and joining the ATA.  However, the book then became more of a romance instead of a story about a female pilot in the ATA.  I wanted less romance and more high-flying adventures.  A Sister’s Courage has a proud pilot, a monster of a mother, romantic relationships, and a wicked war.

A Sister's Courage is available from Amazon* and other booksellers.  The next novel in The Victory Sisters series is A Sister's Song which releases January 19, 2021 featuring Suzanne Linfoot (the middle sister who plays the violin).  Thank you for dropping by today.  I will be back tomorrow with my review of The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman.  I hope you have a relaxing day.  Take care, stay safe (and sane), and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.

An Orphan's Wish by Molly Green

Happy Sunday!  On Sunday's I like to feature a book that I was unable to when it was released.  Molly Green traveled the world before settling down in Tunbridge Wells, England.  She ran a realtor chain for seventeen years before pursuing her passion--writing.  An Orphan in the Snow is the first in a series set during World War II in England. An Orphan's War and An Orphan's Wish are the other two novels in the series. 

An Orphan’s Wish by Molly Green takes readers to England in February of 1943.  Lana Ashwin’s fiancé, Dickie Knight was in the Merchant Navy when he was killed.  She now would like a change and applies for the position of headmistress at the village school in Bingham (near Liverpool).  Lana gets the position and soon becomes immersed her the rigors of the job.  Priscilla Morgan lives at Bingham Hall that houses Dr. Barnardo’s orphanage.  Priscilla refuses to believe that her parents are dead, and Lana wants to find a way to help the young girl.  When there is a fire at Bingham Hall, Lana rescues Priscilla and the girl comes to live with her while repairs are being made to the dormitories. Lana’s decision to allow other displaced orphans to stay temporarily at the school in unpopular.  While visiting Bingham Hall, Lana meets Carl Best, a German, whose son is living at Bingham Hall.  As time passes, Lana begins to fall for enigmatic Carl despite being warned off by friends.  What does the future hold for Lana?  You will have to read An Orphan’s Wish to find out!

An Orphan’s Wish is another delightful historical novel from Molly Green.  It can be read alone if you have not read the other two books in this series.  I thought An Orphan’s Wish was a moving story.  Lana needs a fresh start after her fiancé’s death and accepts a position as temporary headteacher at the Bingham School.  She makes helpful changes to the school and her grief begins to lessen.  Lana encounters the residents of Dr. Bernardo’s orphanage who live at Bingham Hall.  Lana enjoys spending time at the orphanage and her heart is captured by Priscilla Morgan.  Priscilla begins to blossom from Lana’s care and attention.   There are two men interested in Lana and they are very different from each other.  One could take Lana away from the new life she has established.  An Orphan’s Wish is a story of love and loss as well as helping those in need.  There are wonderful characters in the story, and I like the village of Bingham.  There were some interesting surprises in this heartwarming novel.  The story moves along at a gentle pace which suits the story.  I wish that the author had provided an epilogue because the story felt incomplete to me.  An Orphan’s Wish is a touching story with a raging war, a friendly enemy, a chaotic roommate, a foundling home, a charming village, and cat named Rupert.

An Orphan's Wish is available through Amazon. Molly Green's next book is A Sister's Courage which is the first book in The Victory Sisters series.  It will be out on November 28.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will be sharing my review of Apples and Alibis by Gayle Leeson tomorrow.  It is the fourth A Down South Cafe Mystery.  I hope you have a restful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader