Product Details
- Title: In Times of Rain and War-A Novel
- Author: Camron Wright
- Publisher : Shadow Mountain (April 6, 2021)
- Genre: Literary Fiction/World War II Fiction
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 312 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1629728543
***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***
Book Summary
In September of 1940, during the Blitz in London, Audrey Stocking is blending in with other civilians who are trying to survive the nightly bombings, but she has a secret. She's not British; she's German. Her fake passport and nearly perfect English allow her to blend in as she works hard to help evacuate British children into the countryside. Audrey longs to reunite with her family in Hamburg, but her double life, the bombings, and the watchful British Military Intelligence have forced her to stay put. And then there are the paralyzing nightmares . . .
Lieutenant Wesley Bowers, an American soldier training with London's Bomb Disposal Company 5, meets Audrey when an air raid leaves an unexploded bomb on the floor of her flat. She is attractive, intelligent, and compassionate, and there's an immediate connection between them. As they get to know each other, Wesley realizes Audrey is the one bright spot amid the war's unending bleakness and constant threat of death. But will he still feel the same if he discovers the secrets she is hiding? Secrets even Audrey is unaware of?
In Times of Rain and War is a gripping and heartbreakingly beautiful story about the strength and resilience of the human heart and spirit, reminding us there is always hope in hard times.
I enjoy reading about history and learning more about what happened during World War II. My grandfather and several great-uncles served in the military during WWII. I have read so many novels about this time period and this war. In Times of Rain and War was very unique and it focused on two groups of people I'd not read much about before; The Women's Voluntary Services in London who transported children in London to safer places out in the country and the Bomb Disposal Companies that would diffuse the bombs dropped in London. The word was that the life expectancy of those working with British bomb disposal was ten weeks.
Main character Audrey is in London posing as a young woman from Switzerland. In reality, she is a Jewess who has fled from Germany along with her Aunt. After her building is bombed, she makes it out alive and meets American Lt. Wesley Bowers who is training with Bomb Disposal Unit 5 in London. Audrey and Wes's lives intertwine from this point. Wes was a real person who is presented in this realistic fiction novel.
Since this book is about war, there is violence portrayed as bombs blow up buildings and people. I was overwhelmed at times by the bravery of the men on the bomb disposal squads. They never knew if that day would be the day they'd die. Those moments in the book were very emotional. It was also quite moving as you read about the children who had to be separated from their parents to ensure their safety. There is always that uneasy feeling as the horrors of war are all around. Audrey worries about her family left home in Germany. Wes wants to stay alive to go back home to the girl waiting for him. As the war continues, secrets are revealed that truly shocked me. The tears are hard to hold back at the ending of the book.
This book will be enjoyed by history lovers and those that love romance. There are many specific things readers will learn about the bombs that may overwhelm some readers with technical details. Overall, this was a great book showcasing the many aspects of war and how it affected so many lives. Fans of Camron Wright will especially love this new novel. I was also happy about the free follow-up story about Wes's granddaughter called Saving Rachel McCalley.
Camron says he began writing to get out of attending MBA school, and it proved the better decision. His first book, Letters for Emily, was a Readers Choice Award winner, as well as a selection of the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. Letters for Emily has been published in North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, and China.
The Rent Collector, his second book, won Best Novel of the Year from the Whitney Awards and was a nominee for the prestigious International DUBLIN Literary Award.
The Orphan Keeper won Book of the Year, Gold accolades in Multicultural Fiction from Foreword Reviews. Other books include The Other Side of the Bridge, Christmas by Accident, and his latest book, In Times of Rain and War will release in April 2021.
Camron lives with his wife, Alicyn, just south of Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. He is the proud father of four children, all girls but three.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book offers ... insights and wisdom regarding war, fear, healing, love, loss and more. This story is a celebration of life and worth at least ten stars! '
--Nancy Garbe, Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Both my wife and I loved it! What a beautiful story! This is a winner!'
--Kris Nebeker
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This wonderfully compelling and poignant book immediately grabbed me in a deeply emotive way. Substantive and heartwarming, yet gut wrenching. It's all I seek in a novel and then some. 5 stars!'
--Brenda, Goodreads reviewer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This book is so wonderful, heartwarming, heartbreaking, memorable, and unique. Truly breath taking and one of my top reads this year. I will remember this for years to come.'
--Rachel, Goodreads reviewer
