Release: April 6th, 2021
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Source: Publisher
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B&N, TBD.
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In September of 1940, the Blitz had begun. Like other British civilians, Audrey Stocking determines 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 without much hope. If the bombs don’t get her, British Military Intelligence will. 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?
About the Author:
Camron Wright began writing to get out of attending MBA school at the time, proving the better decision. His first book, Letters for Emily, was a Readers’ Choice Award winner and a selection of the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. Also, the Orphan Keeper is a Foreword Reviews Indie Book of the Year Gold winner in Multicultural Fiction. Camron and his wife, Alicyn, live on the Rocky Mountains’ western edge and are the parents of four children.
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In Times of Rain and War Review:
I admit, when I initially started reading this book, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought the story would be dark and depressing about the terrors of war. Yes, it does contain a few of those scenes, but it is SO MUCH much! The story turned out to be incredible that me going through all kinds of emotions!
Let’s start with the two leads. Audrey is a beautiful character with a complicated past. I admired her passion for helping the children and was intrigued about her history and reason for nightmares. On a side note, I enjoyed the details the author wrote about the Women’s Voluntary Services. Wes, on the other hand, was equally fun. It was interesting to see the various situations he endured with his team and how he tries to win them. I loved the scenes where he talks to Badger and his emotions when he sees the bodies.
Moreover, I loved Wes and Audrey! Thankfully, the author did not force a steamy relationship of them for the reader. They share a sweet friendship. I loved many of their moments, like their chess tournaments, deep conversations about life and death, and how Audrey talks about her religion.
Furthermore, the author did a fantastic job in narrating the plot. There is never a dull moment, and the story gets thrilling towards the climax. There were a few shocking twists I did not expect. Moreover, I thought the author is incredibly talented and hard-working for the details put into the story. I felt I learned so much about bomb diffusing, from anti withdrawal devices to steam sterilizers. Similarly, I learned facts about various people involved, like Rühlemann.
In short, “In Times of Rain and War” is an excellent historical fiction novel that I loved reading!
