Title: In Times of Rain and War
Author: Camron Wright
Publication: April 6, 2021
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 312
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
During World War II, an American soldier encounters a German woman living a secret life in bomb-blighted London.
In September of 1940, the Blitz had begun. Like other British civilians, Audrey Stocking is determined to survive, except she isn’t from England. She is a German—a young Jewish woman with a fake passport and a nearly-perfect British accent, trying her best to blend into the city. Her days are kept busy working for the Woman’s Voluntary Services to evacuate British children into the countryside, saving them from nightly bombings over London. But she also writes secret letters addressed to her father’s factory back home. Audrey longs to be reunited with her father and younger brothers in Germany, but she isn’t holding out much hope. If the bombs don’t get her, British Military Intelligence will. And then there’s the paralyzing nightmares and flashbacks—something from her past she can’t quite remember. When an air raid leaves an unexploded bomb wedged in the floor of Audrey’s flat, an American soldier training with Bomb Disposal Company 5 is a welcome sight.
Lieutenant Wesley Bowers arrived in England the day the Blitz began. He knows the average life expectancy of soldiers disarming bombs is ten weeks, and not all of the men in his unit will survive. Wes struggles with the idea of losing men who are starting to feel like family. Although he’s committed to being a soldier, he grapples with the thought of death. Meeting Audrey, an attractive, intelligent, and caring British girl has been the one bright spot during the war’s unending bleakness. Wes has a girl waiting for him back home, but he’s never met anyone like Audrey. There’s an immediate connection between them, and they open up to each other, sharing their innermost feelings. Will he still feel the same if he discovers the truth about her identity? Even Audrey doesn’t know the whole truth. Not yet.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
A little while ago I received a request for a review for a book from Camron Wright. I was super excited when I got it since I knew that I had to read it. I am a huge fan of his books. I have read I believe three books in the past by him and have reviewed each of them as they have come out. I was looking forward to it since I seemingly have been on a WW2 kick as of late and knew that it would be something that I would enjoy.
Audrey has come to England from Germany via Switzerland. She is working on saving children from the Blitz that is happening in London. She is working with her Aunt Claire and Lady Reading. However, during one of the bombings, she ends up with a bomb right through the floor of her flat. It is through the bombing of her flat that she comes in contact with Wes, an American that is assigned to the bomb disposal unit here in London. Wes and Audrey become friends. What Wes doesn’t know is that Audrey is harboring a secret that is so deep that they both don’t know where it will lead. This book was really good. I am a huge fan of the author already and this book just cements him in my list of favorite authors of all time. It may have taken me a little bit to get through it but my Grandmother died and I was slightly distracted from binge reading it. What got me through was the fact that my Grandmother was an avid reader and it was something that she probably would have enjoyed. There was England which something that she was a BIT of a fan of.
The author wrote the characters in a way that made them human. I felt for Audrey when I finally learned her secret. My heart literally ached for her. I was stunned when I learned the truth. In all honesty, I was truly rooting for Audrey and Wes to become a thing. I really wanted them to get together as a couple they had such great chemistry. I really wanted love to win. I think that the way that Audrey’s story unfolded was brilliant. Audrey was someone that I wanted to be best friends with. She had such a personality. The way that the story ended left me in tears but it also gave me closure to the rest of the book. The author left no loose ends for me to wonder what could have happened. I see has written a few other books and one of them is actually on my bookshelf currently. I can’t wait to dig it out and read it soon.
STAR RATING: 5/5
Pick up your copy of In Times of Rain and War on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and check your local bookstore. Also make sure to add it to your To Reads list on Goodreads and leave feedback for the author when you are finished. Check out more from author Camron Wright on his website HERE.