This is the story of three women involved in the War effort during the London Blitz, each of them with a different job to do.  Lizzie Mackenzie has joined the WAAF from her home in the Scottish Highlands, and meets Diana Downes, who is also joining the WAAF, on the train into London.  Lizzie is a Plotter, keeping track of the incoming German planes and the position of our defending pilots.  Diana works with the Barrage balloon teams, a dangerous job where the balloons are used to defend the London skies.  They meet Julia Sullivan, who works in the War Rooms in Whitehall, just after she has waved her husband off to war and evacuated their children.  They are all in a position where they need the support of each other, and it’s lovely to see how their friendships develop and how they all become so supportive of each other over such a short period of time!

The storyline is great, showing different areas of the war which are rarely seen.  The jobs that all three women have are so important, yet so often not recognised, and I loved hearing how barrage balloons worked and finding out what a Plotter was!  My favourite job of the three women was Julia’s work in the War Rooms.  Subject to such secrecy, Julia’s role as one of the secretary’s the War Cabinet, and often Winston Churchill himself, was fascinating.  From other books, films and reports from that time, it was also very well researched and written with historical accuracy.

Aside from the storyline of their roles in the war, the ladies’ personal lives were also prominent in the plot.  They all shared emotions of loved ones fighting in the war, and the stories of children evacuated or left without parents.  The damage caused by the bombing campaign was shockingly described, and I felt the same overwhelming sadness and upset as I read as the characters did when faced with so much devastation and so many casualties.  The title of ‘Under a Sky on Fire” couldn’t have been more suited for this book, and the storyline gave me great images of the dark skies above the Thames filled with both enemy and allied planes, barrage balloons and the surrounding areas lit up by the fire causing from the falling bombs.  The characters and their loved ones showed the true story of what the people of the towns and cities across England faced, right through the love and loss suffered, victories and defeats and the friendships and relationships formed.

I love wartime reads and really enjoyed this book.  It takes you right into the heart of wartime London, experiencing all what the characters did, moving me to tears on several occasions.  This wasn’t just a book about the war however, but a heart-warming and emotional read into the lives of the women left behind.  I would have loved to heard more of Lizzie, Diana and Julia’s stories after the war ends, but the epilogue does nicely finish of their stories for them!  I would definitely recommend this book.  It will grip you from the first page and not let you go until the last.  Filled with drama, suspense and sadness, this book will have you thanking the women who worked in such roles over and over again!

True and accurate historical fiction at its best! 
An amazing story of the bravery of women during the war. Stories of their contributions to the war efforts while the men were off fighting. To read this story is to feel as though you were actually there during the blitz, the war, the devastation.. I loved this book so much. 

Thank you to Net Galley for this advance preview.... my review is my own and is in no way required by the publisher.

three young women, for different parts of Britain are in London to "do their bit" for the war effort.  Julia Sullivan has just seen her husband John off to France then sends  her 2 children to stay with an aunt in the Cotswold's, where she hopes they will be safe if London is bombed.  Lizzie Mackenzie, from an isolated island off the coast of Scotland is in the big city for the first time in her life, attempting to make a fresh start.  Diana Downes lives with her Mum and Dad in Birmingham, her Dad still dealing with the horrors of his service in the trenches of WW1..  These 3 women find each other through serendipity and form a friendship, which they will need as the Blitz begins.  Lizzie is assigned to work the maps that allow the RAF to track the incoming Luftwaffe and strategically deploy the RAF.  Diana is assigned to a barrage balloon crew, with the difficult job of keeping the huge and hard to maneuver object in place to protect London.  Julia gets assigned to the typing pool in the Prime Minister's War bunker and ends up typing some of Churchill's most iconic speeches.  During the course of the war these women deal with fear, uncertainty and learn to really depend on each other and support each other when tragedy happens.  They also learn to move on and discover within themselves an inner strength they didn't know they had.  By the end of the book Britain wins the war and these three friends pick up their lives and take the first steps into the future, knowing they have each other all the way.  There are so many stories set during WW2, but I love to read them and this was a lovely story of the power of friendship and women supporting each other during one of the most difficult times in history.  Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is a fictional account during the time of the London Blitz attacks.  Lizzie and Diana are two young women who joined the WAAF corps, both for different reasons.  A chance meeting with Julia, a wife and mother, begins a friendship that lasts through the rest of the war until many years later.

I enjoy historical fiction, learning more about what happened during those times that wasn't taught in social studies class.  This book gets under the dry history and uncovers the real emotions and challenges facing women during the war, while they were left at home when their men were off fighting.  In this case, all 3 women also held important roles in the war effort.  

I recommend this book for anyone interested in the genre, and women's relationship fiction in general.

Under a Sky on Fire is another amazing read from Suzanne Kelman. I read her previous two books and loved them.
The story is centered around three women in London during the blitz. They meet by chance and end up being the absolute best of friends. Joining up and doing their bit for the war effort.  Lizzie who left her Aunt and Uncle in Scotland hiding a dark secret, becomes a filter plotter keeping track of the planes whilst out on missions. While doing this. she meets Jack who is a pilot and falls in love.
There is Diana that has comes from Birmingham, goes to work on the Barrage balloons.
There is also Julia who lives in London. Her husband is a soldier who doing his bit in the war and her two kids Tom and Molly are being sent to the Cotswolds to get away from the bombing raids of London.
This is another excellent read from the author. I have read many books in this period, but I like how Suzanne Kelman always depicts the story with a different perspective. This time in the women’s point of view. What the women did for the war effort and the hardships they endured. I never heard of Barrage balloons so after reading this I searched more on the internet just to see what went on. This is also an emotional story between the three women about the loss and the sacrifices they had to make. 5 stars from me.

Under a Sky on Fire by Suzanne Kelman was a great read about the lives of three women during the London Blitz.  

Lizzie, from Scotland, decides to join up but has another motive for going to London.  She meets a pilot and falls in love, hoping that they will be able to live the rest of their lives together.  Lizzie becomes a filter plotter who keeps track of planes during bombing raids.

Diana, from Birmingham, wants to do her part in the war.  After her training, she is assigned to working on the barrage balloons that are released during air raids.  

Julia, living in London with her husband and two children, has to be strong for her family.  She sees her husband off to war and then decides to send her children to the country where they will be safe.  She works for Mr. Churchill as a secretary.

The three of them meet and become very close friends who bolster each other when each goes through heartache.  

I enjoyed reading this book showing the behind the scenes of normal people who lived during a frightening time.  I thought Ms. Kelman did a masterful job of creating events in such a way that I felt that I was there.

Under a Sky on Fire is a story of tenacity, endurance, love and friendship.  

Above all it is a story of bravery during World War 2.

Lizzie, Julia and Diana all meet by chance as they join the war effort and they become fast friends who share hardship, good times , laughter and tears.

I can't imagine living in London during the Blitz and being bombed every night.  

I felt like I was in the shelters with them. 

The British people were remarkable in their strength and fortitude, all of which is portrayed by the three women.

Suzanne Kelman is a born story teller and I for one am a big fan and can't wait for her next book.

Please take time to read the authors notes, they add to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture  for  letting me read such a heartwarming yet heartbreaking story.

Under A Sky on Fire is a wonderful novel, focusing on an amazing friendship between 3 women. During World War II, and the terrifying time to be living in London during the Blitz, these 3 women experience some horrible and also beautiful moments. Although sometimes predictable, it was still an engrossing read. A perfect book for those who love historical fiction.

UNDER A SKY ON FIRE by SUZANNE KELMAN is a book you will not be able to put down! The story takes place in London during World War 11, and gives us a spine chilling account of Hitler's relentless bombing of the city, against the backdrop of the equally relentless courage of the British.
The three main characters, Lizzie and Diana, who have come from Scotland and Birmingham respectively to join the WAAF's, and Julia, a wife and mother from Brixton who works in the War Office, form an incredibly strong bond which is truly inspiring.
I do not want to tell you any more excepting to say that it is a well written book with a gripping story, and one you do not want to miss!
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

London is on fire, under the Blitz of the German Luftwaffe it is raining bombs. Where do you go, where can you escape to?  With many people sending their children out of the city to safer places in the countryside, Lizzie Mackenzie is leaving her Scottish village and running to London.  Why?  Five years ago she gave up her illegitimate daughter and now she is looking for her in London, hoping she is safe.  This heart wrenching novel takes you to many levels of emotion.  Love, sacrifice, along with the heartbreak of hope that she finds her child,  you will be taken on a journey you won't soon forget.  Every book I have read about WWII and the lives of so many people that have been destroyed, has definitely been an "eye opener."  This book is no exception, told from the perspective of a mother looking for her child (whether illegitimate or not), it is a page turner.  My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in London during ww2 my favourite type of book.Lizzie leaves her Scottish Village and is drawn to London she feels she must try and make sure that the child she gave up for adoption is safe.Knowing the child is in london and could be in danger drives lizzie on.During a bombing raid lizzie meets Jack Henson a Pilot Officer and falls in love,sadly she knows he will not want her when he learns of her past.This is a wonderful emotional book 5*

This book was really amazing and I enjoyed every bit of it. As World War 2 Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres, this book was perfect for me.
Under a sky on Fire is a world war 2 historical fiction novel which is set in London during the blitz. It revolves around Lizzie, who has a dark past, she gave up an illegitimate child for adoption nearly five years. The same child is somewhere in the city, and – as the bombs rain down – she will stop at nothing to find her and make sure her little girl is safe.
I would highly recommend this book for all the historical fiction lovers out there!

I have loved every moment of this book and my heart sank at some points. It was beautifully written, so beautifully done that I could vividly imagine every part of it. I highly recommend this book, five stars all around.