Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

First of all, one of my favorite types of historical fiction, is connecting past and present, or dual timeline. Second, the strength of both Ruby and Edi is remarkable! They are both such inspiring women characters who would make any of us proud. Third, this storyline and writing were among the best I read in 2021! Definitely a recommendation from me!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

This is a dual-timeline novel set in London in 1940 and 2019. In 1940, rich and carefree Ruby has surprisingly volunteered for the ambulance service during the Nazi bombing of Britain, otherwise known as the Blitz. Her partner and driver is Joseph, a conscientious objector. Ruby owns a house in London and has rented out one of the top two floors to Joseph and the other to a married couple, Kitty and Reg. In 2019, Edi has purchased an apartment in London and is trying to start life anew. A neighbor, a book, and a hidden object lead her to pursue a mystery and learn about the actions of truly courageous women in a dangerous time.

I was spellbound by this novel, which transports us to a shell-shocked London being hit with a barrage of bombs night after night. We careen through the streets in an ambulance, saving who we can, and we do it over and over. This is the life of Ruby at that time. We also meet Joseph, who cannot take a life but wants to help his country in other ways. We learn of life-threatening prejudice against women, and we witness the very real September 1940 occupation of the Savoy Hotel, as the differences between the shelter accommodations of the rich and poor are made very obvious. In 2019, the heartbroken but determined Edi, with the help of her neighbor, Pearl, unravels a mystery that has been hidden for decades.

This is a unique and eye-opening look at London during the Blitz that gives us deeper insight into the realities of life in that era. I highly recommend this book to fans of World War II fiction, women’s fiction, and mysteries.

I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture for Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

I am a historical fiction nerd and have read seversl Hf books from the ww2. And Even though It was beautifully written and some times heart wrenching. I just could not get past how much I disliked the female character. Even though the author does a Great Job describing why she does the things she does. I loved the ending. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

London in 1940, the blitz, and Ruby finds herself driving an ambulance as bombs explode over the city. With its dual timelines, this is a fine example of historical fiction, the strength and perseverance of an embattled people, and the present day character finding items related to this brutal time. Recommended reading.

The author had me at séance.
Seriously, I knew that I was going to love this book from the very opening pages, due to a simple opening chapter. It intrigued me and I had to know more about Ruby. I mean, not every day that you read about a séance at the on-start of the Blitz, right?
As I read further, I found her to be a more complex character than I originally thought. She held on to her life (the way she knew it) even in the face of the Blitz and tried to do what was right. I think she showed the most growth over the course of the story.
It didn’t help that Joseph, her tenant, was a self-righteous ass about her for a good portion of the opening chapters. Sorry to be blunt, but it’s true. I wasn’t sure what to make of him because it seemed like he thought he was better and could be judgmental because of his status and view of the war.
But we also learn early that there is a reason he feels that way, and it’s personal. I thought this made his motivations more interesting and made him a more sympathetic character.
And then there was Kitty. In some ways I thought she was the most interesting character because her physical description seemed to be a reflection of her living situation prior to the war. I’m not saying more than that.
As with other historical fiction books, there is a contemporary storyline as well. Sometimes the two lines have little connection to each other and only serve to get us to the past.
That’s not the case here. I thought the author used an extremely clever method to tie the two timelines together. In fact, it was so subtle that I didn’t even realize how it was being done at first. In this case, the two timelines are linked even more so than in most books. And that is what ultimately made this book a terrific read.
I know that sounds convoluted, but you’ll understand if you read it – and I don’t want to blow the joy you’ll have in figuring it out.

This book is told in two different timelines, 1940's London and 2019 London. This book is about finding love, courage, determination and so very much more.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for this advanced readers copy. This book released in April 2021.

I’m here today to tell you about a great WWII read: Beyond this Broken Sky by Siobhan Curham. I loved this one! I always like stories that are the present and then the past, with modern day people discovering the past lives of now elderly people and their heroic actions during WWII. This story takes place in London, a lot of it during the Blitz. It’s part historical fiction, part romance, part mystery. I just loved the character of Ruby!

I will look for more from the author, Siobhan Curham, as she is new to me!

Thank you for my review galley and for making me part of the tour!

Heartbreaking, but yet. what a eye opening read for people not to make judgments. I loved the characters and how the author was able to intertwine the past with the present. At first it was a little confusing when there was no distinction between when it would switch over, but it actually added to the mystique of the storyline.

I loved how Joseph had no time for Ruby because he thought she was a pretentious snob. Ruby thought he was a puzzle to figure out, but then again he seemed to dislike her and she had no clue why. Then they were put in close proximity by having to be in a vehicle! This should be good.
The book and its fellow characters are strong and will not bore you at all.

I would definitely recommend this book.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

A beautifully written tale of resilience, bravery, love and loyalty, Siobhan Curham’s Beyond This Broken Sky is a haunting, hopeful and emotional novel that is hard to put down and impossible to forget.

London 1940 and Hitler’s bombs fall mercilessly upon the streets of the capital leaving nothing but destruction and mayhem in their wake. For Ruby, a volunteer ambulance driver who spends her nights driving along pitch-dark roads during the blackout, every night brings with it its fair share of heartbreak and devastation. Ruby’s job is tough, but having put her duty to king and country before her own safety, she will do whatever it takes to help defeat the enemy in her own way by pulling survivors out of the rubble. When she is assigned to work alongside Joseph, Ruby is immediately impressed by his dedication to his job, however, she is taken aback by the fact that this man seems to be treated with disdain and suspicion by everyone he comes across. Joseph does not wear a uniform, however, that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t take his duties seriously as she discovers when she sees him rescue a child from a derelict building at the eleventh hour. Ruby will move mountains to protect this valiant and kind-hearted man – even if it means putting herself in danger…

In 2019, recently divorced Edi has just moved to London to start a new life. Edi, however, feels lonely and lost – until she makes a startling discovery hidden under a loose floorboard in her attic. Edi uncovers a story of courage, danger and love stretching back to the 1940s and inspired by Ruby’s heroism, she vows to discover her entire story. But the more Edi uncovers, the more she realises that her new house holds the key to a starling wartime secret that could have serious repercussions eighty years later…

Siobhan Curham is a wonderful storyteller and in Beyond This Broken Sky, she has written a book that touches the heart and will have readers reaching for the tissues as they will find themselves completely immersed in this story of courage, war and the ties that bind. Her characters are so beautifully drawn that they will feel so real to the reader that it will be very difficult to say goodbye to them when the last page is turned.

Emotional, dramatic and beautifully atmospheric, Siobhan Curham’s Beyond This Broken Sky is a poignant, heart-breaking and absorbing tale readers are going to love.

Ruby is the live-in landlady at 22, St. George's Square, an elegant Georgian townhouse in Pimlico which has been divided into flats. Kitty, a shy and timid young woman, and her violent husband rent the second floor flat and on the top floor lives Joseph, a conscientious objector.

Joseph thinks his landlady is vain, pampered, privileged and annoying. He also finds her incessant chatter irritating and often misconstrues the remarks she makes, finding them frivolous and often inappropriate. He feels she isn't taking the war seriously at all and avoids her company whenever possible.

Ruby thinks Joseph is far too serious and reticent. Her overtures of friendship are often ignored and she believes he holds her in contempt, finding fault with everything she does or says.

When Ruby and Joseph volunteer for war work and are assigned to the same ambulance crew, the shared experience of the dangerous job they do in the blackout gradually alters their views of one another. Ruby begins to see the injustices in the world through his eyes, while he sees a more courageous, unselfish and caring side to Ruby, although he still struggles with her need to chatter and to follow the thread of her conversations.

In 2019, following a marriage break-up, Edi arrives in London to take up a new job and the tenancy of the top floor flat. One of her co-tenants is Pearl, a formidable elderly woman, who is a published author. To learn more about her neighbour, Edi buys a copy of one of her early novels, which is set during the Blitz and in a house very similar to 22 St. George's Square. When Edi makes a startling discovery in the loft above her flat and notes Pearl's reaction, she becomes suspicious and believes Pearl is harbouring a sinister secret. The more she reads of Pearl's novel, the more Edi believes it is more than just a work of fiction.

Beyond This Broken Sky follows the path that dual time frame novels usually do: alternating between the past and the present. When the past becomes Pearl's book read by Edi in 2019, that very subtle but clever plot device results in a very emotional and devastating moment towards the end. But there is a twist.

I loved the two main characters. Ruby has such a bubbly personality that she is the perfect foil to Joseph's more serious outlook. They are truly opposites, but they share a common desire to help people and both have known loss and heartache caused by the previous war.

Beyond This Broken Sky is an engaging story that will delight romance and World War II fiction fans alike. I found it a very satisfying and uplifting read.

Beyond This Broken Sky by Siobhan Curham
Publication Date: April 20, 2021
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Description from NetGalley...
“1940: As a volunteer for the ambulance service, Ruby has the dangerous task of driving along pitch-dark roads during the blackout. With each survivor she pulls from the rubble, she is helping to fight back against the enemy bombers, who leave nothing but destruction in their wake.

Assigned to her crew is Joseph, who is unable to fight but will stop at nothing to save innocent lives. Because he is not in uniform, people treat him with suspicion and Ruby becomes determined to protect this brave, compassionate man who has rescued so many, and captured her heart. Even if it means making an unthinkable choice between saving her own life and risking everything for his…

2019: Recently divorced Edi feels lost and alone when she moves to London to start a new life. Until she makes a discovery, hidden beneath a loose floorboard in her attic, that reveals a secret about the people who lived there in the 1940s. As she gradually uncovers a wartime love story full of danger and betrayal, Edi becomes inspired by the heroism of one incredible woman and the legacy that can be left behind by a single act of courage…”
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Thank you to @netgalley @bookouture for a digital copy in return for my honest review.
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Thank you @bookouture @SiobhanCurham for inviting me to their book tour.
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My thoughts...
The story is told in dual timelines set in the present day and in 1940. The present day timeline was merely there to bridge the gap between the past and present. It was a mix of themes: conscientious objector, women in the war, romance and mystery. I liked the message of reserving judgment and opening each other’s eyes to injustices.

My Review
I am delighted to have come across author Siobhan Curham and her wonderful books.
Beyond This Broken Sky I found to be the most beautiful yet heartbreaking story....
We meet Ruby and Joseph in this story.
Two characters who don't like each other too much when they first meet...
Quite different in nature but both eager to help during the war in any way they can.
Ruby is vivacious and outspoken, while Joseph is much more reserved.
We are taken right into the centre of the bombings in London with the storyline of Ruby being an ambulance driver and the absolute horror as it unfolds in front of them.
I loved the friendship that developed between the characters, so different in every way and each dealing with their own loss and trauma.
Siobhan tells this wonderful story through a dual timeline which gives us a great insight into what was the story of Ruby & Joseph, I loved it.
Told with such kindness and compassion too.
I found the story to be quite intense at times which stopped me from putting it down on a number of occasions.
Do pick this one up when you have a minute.
If you love the historical fiction genre most especially the war years like I do, then you will love this one.
So well worth your time 💕
Thank you kindly to Siobhan Curham Author
And her publishers Bookouture for my copy of this book. Much appreciated.

Beyond This Broken Sky is told in two times lines, the 1940s and 2019. In 1940 we meet Ruby, the owner of a large house in London. She rents out the top two floors to Joseph, a conscientious objector and Kitty and her husband Reg who is in the armed forces. Ruby is a rich single woman, who wants to do something with her life. She begins working with the ambulance service once the blitzkreig begins. Joseph, helps her to realize that there are a lot of people who are treated very poorly due to their station in life and she jumps in to help in her own way. The story in 2019 is that if Edi. Edi has recently moved to London for a job, leaving her marriage behind. She purchased the flat on the top floor of a large home in St. George's Square. She meets her housemates, Pearl a rather eccentric author and a same sex couple who go out of their way to help her adjust when she has an accident. Purchasing one of Pearl's older books, she finds herself immersed in a wartime story that has romance, death, war, social injustices and more.

I really liked the characters in this story, especially Ruby. She had a quick wit, a cutting tongue, a heart of gold and a lot of fear of closeness. She has some baggage that she needs to deal with and we will see her grow and change in this story. Kitty and Joseph were also caring, but with their own baggage and issues to deal with. Joseph was a conscientious objector, which I did not know much about. It was interesting to see the rationale behind his decision and what kind of toll that took on him. The present day story did not interest me as much, but I did like Edi and Pearl. We do see how these two stories tie together in the end. It always amazes me when I read about what the people who lived through the war had to endure. I enjoy historical fiction when I learn something and this one did that for me. The contributions that conscientious objectors often made to the war effort although being of the mind that they would never kill another, was not something I had really thought about before. Overall, this was a good story. Themes of caring, class structure, helping others, being true to our values and morals are all part of this story. There is also some domestic abuse and bullying that shed a light on the darker side of life. If you enjoy historical fiction, especially during WWII, and are looking for stories of those who were left behind to keep the home fires burning, then I recommend this book.

Beyond This Broken Sky is a unique historical fiction novel about the tenants of a flat during World War II and a woman in 2019 that just moves into the same flat. While going through her divorce, Edi buys her own flat in London. While searching the attic, she discovers something that causes her to be curious about the flat and past tenants. One of her neighbors is a published author, so Edi starts to read one of her novels. The novel is a romance during World War II but there is also darkness in the story. Edi finds clues that lead her to believe the story is true and tries to determine the truth from fiction. During World War II, Ruby and Joseph live in the flat and are opposites. Joseph doesn’t like Ruby and they are assigned to work in an ambulance together. Joseph discovers there is more to Ruby than just a shallow rich woman. Joseph opens Ruby’s eyes to injustices to the poor. Can they put their differences aside to fall in love or are they too different? The story switches between past day with Ruby and Joseph and present day with Edi until the connection is revealed at the end. I love Curham’s historical fiction novels and how they switch between the past and present. The past and present stories have an interesting connection. Domestic violence is present in Beyond This Broken Sky. I highly recommend Beyond This Broken Sky to fans of World War II novels.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for Beyond This Broken Sky.

I’d never read anything by Siobhan Curham prior to reading Beyond This Broken Sky but I will be rectifying that as I really enjoyed this book. It was very cleverly written in that it soon became apparent to me in that this was a book within a book and it’s when you come to that realisation you realise this is an astute mystery at its centre that you want to solve just as much as one of the characters, Edi in the present. This book highlights the strength of the human spirit in the face of war but also shows the remarkable women who put themselves in danger on the front line. In this case volunteering as ambulance drivers and first aiders during the Blitz.

I’ve read countless books set during World War Two and this one was just that little bit different which brought a spark to a genre in which at times you can think what else can possibly be written about the war? At its core, there is a love story which deepens and grows as the story progresses. Although said characters stances and viewpoints are the very thing that could separate them. Beyond This Broken Sky is a dual timeline book set in the present day and in 1940. Straight away I will say the more modern day aspect of the story is very short. The chapters told from Edi’s viewpoint as she recuperates in her apartment after damaging her foot whilst searching in her attic are over before you settle into them. They really are mere stop gaps and fillers to bridge the gap between the past and present. It’s only as you near the end the significance of Edi’s discovery in the attic, and the seemingly increased presence of her neighbour Pearl around her as she recuperates, have any real forbearing on the overall story.

Edi helps bind the two strands of the story together as she reads a book written by Pearl many years ago which only increases the number of questions she has following her discovery. Truthfully Edi’s own personal background had no real overall relevance to the story and I didn’t find it held my attention all that much but she was the catalyst that helped bring a love story and the truth of what happened so many years ago out into the open once again having being kept secret for so long. The sections of the book set in the past were definitely stronger and certainly had me more interested and engrossed.

The initial opening pages inform us of a soldier hiding in the bushes in the darkness observing. He knows how the story will end and at any moment he can choose to bring a life to a halt. The reader’s interest is instant piqued and you want to know what has brought him to this point? Why does he seem hell bent on finishing things? I guessed fairly early on who the actual soldier was and their reasons for appearing the way they do. As for what specifically happens I could never have dreamed of and the author did a brilliant job of telling this particularly story within the book that Edi is reading.

Ruby Glenville, the main female character, seemed to have many strings to her bow and I felt for the majority of the book that she only gave us glimpses into her past life. The little titbits she drops into conversations every now and then suggest she has travelled widely and done exciting things and that still even though war has halted her gallop there is still an air of excitement and adventure within her. Still there is also a sense of despondency about her as she is still deeply affected by the loss of her father even though she was left with plenty of money and a house. He had been an entertainer and she visits his waxworks in Madame Tussauds, feeling she can still talk to him and remain close to him. I felt Ruby was kind of flighty and that she didn’t stick at one thing for very long but that war would soon put paid to that and she would have to do an awful lot of growing up and come to understand her position of privilege was lucky to be bestowed upon her.

Underneath it all Ruby does have a very kind heart and this is shown in the attention and care she gives to Kitty who rents an apartment from Ruby. Kitty does not have it easy as her husband is a bully and tyrant who inflicts such abuse upon Kitty. Ruby can see what is going on and is desperate for Kitty to break free as there is another source of love which would serve her much better. But Kitty is reluctant in fear of what the repercussions may be. Although Kitty does have a strong presence in the story, this book is really the story of Ruby and Joseph which starts hesitantly and builds into something remarkable and special despite the constant backdrop of war and the carnage the pair see.

Theirs is not an easy friendship and they really rub each other up the wrong way when they first properly meet despite Joseph being Ruby’s tenant for some time. The sly remarks and barbs flow back and forth and their differing viewpoints in relation to the war only add to the tension simmering between them. There are plenty of misunderstandings and Ruby feels like she is always playing catch up and trying to impress him, yet at the same time she is trying to stop herself doing this. Volunteering as ambulance drivers during the Blitz literally throws them together and the sights they see alter both their viewpoints and force both of them to revaluate their perspectives. In doing so will they pull further apart or draw closer together?

Joseph was different from any male character I had read about before in that he didn’t enlist to go and fight for his country. He was a conscientious objector and was judged for this stance and to be honest I judged him too. He was a pacifist and against all violence and the specific reasons for this do become clear further into the book. I thought he really should have gone and did his bit for his country like millions of other men. It would take some explanation in order for me to alter my opinion, but the author does go on to state and flesh out the reasons why Joseph had chosen to remain at home. I could see their validity but there was a part of me even by the end of the book which thought he should have gone away to fight. But then if he had he would perhaps have never met Ruby and the interesting story I read would never have occurred.

Joseph doesn’t want to sit back and do nothing while so many innocent people are in danger so he volunteers for the same organisation as Ruby. This job gives both of them a sense of purpose. The descriptions of the raids as bombs fall on the city of London and the destruction, pain and loss left in their wake were brilliant and really helped bring the story to life. This also helped bring Joseph and Ruby closer together as they were having shared experiences, and this allowed them both to overcome their fears and perhaps share love? I thought Ruby went a bit off track in the last quarter at one particular point before finding her equilibrium once again. She made a very foolish decision and I didn’t fully understand her reasoning behind it. I thought it was just inflicting unnecessary pain on herself when this is something she had tried to avoid since the death of her father. I questioned her judgement in regard to this and hoped she would see sense and reason.

The last few chapters of this book were brilliant, packed full of action and tension and you are left open mouthed in shock and disbelief at what is unfolding. I was desperately wishing something not to be true and thinking how could the author do this? It showed how cleverly plotted the entire novel had been, more so in the sections set back during the war but still overall this made for a very good read. Admittedly, it’s a quick read but I suppose that’s a good thing as it shows how engrossed I became with it. I’m looking forward to discovering more of Siobhan Curham’s work in the future but I do suggest you check out this book in the meantime.

I really enjoyed the author’s novel; An American in Paris so was looking forward to reading this book. Like a lot of historical fiction I’ve read the story is split between now and the past, in this case WWII. The author uses a story-within-a-story device I haven’t come across before when Edi finds a book written by her elderly neighbour set during WWII. The story is gripping, the characters seem to be made of flesh and blood and some of the locations seem to be based on real places in London. Is the novel based on a true story? I got pulled into the book within a few pages and it refused to let go until I reached the end.

Having really enjoyed An American in Paris by Siobhan Curham, I couldn’t resist Beyond This Broken Sky, even though it’s set in London, during the Blitz, rather than in France. It was a wise move on my part.

This is another gripping historical novel from an author who I can’t wait to read more from.

We join Ruby, Kitty and Joseph, three very different personalities, from different backgrounds, all living in converted flats in the same house in Pimlico. As Hitler launches his daily bombing campaign on London in 1940, to begin with there is fear and fatigue at the nightly disruptions, but it doesn’t take long for their fighting spirit to come into play, and thrown together by the Blitz and their volunteer work, they soon start to bring out the best in each other.

These three are great fun characters, especially the almost-irritating quirkiness of Ruby, who gave me many smiles as I was reading, even in the darkest of situations where my heart was in my mouth. We all need a bit of Ruby in our lives and her way with words and outlook on life will, I am sure, stay with me. My heart went out to Kitty, who just needed friendship and love to free her from her fears, something Ruby is determined to achieve, and Joseph was in some ways an unlikely hero, but just right in others. Ruby and Joseph were so different, yet so similar, and her journey as she discovers what really matters in life, thanks in no small part to his influence, really warmed me.

There were many white-knuckle moments as I gripped my kindle, almost afraid to carry on, and my stomach dropped into my boots at one point, as I really couldn’t believe what I’d read. I got so engrossed in the events happening in 1940 that I totally forgot there was also the 2019 storyline to follow too. Here, the more Edi discovers about her new neighbours, the more convinced she is that there is a mystery to solve.

This book gave me so much in terms of emotions, suspense and humour, as well as clever twists and turns before the plot revealed itself, it left me with a big smile on my face and a contented, happy feeling.

If you enjoy emotional, historical novels, with that magic touch of something different, I am sure you will love Beyond This Broken Sky.

Beyond This Broken Sky alternates between two timelines – London in 1940 and 2019 – and is narrated from three points of view.

Set at the height of the Blitz on London in September 1940, the wartime storyline is shared between Ruby Glenville, owner of a large house converted into flats, and one of her tenants, Joseph O’Toole.

Ruby and Joseph’s initial reaction is one of mutual dislike, emulating the formula used so successfully by Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice. While acknowledging her beauty, Joseph disapproves of what he sees as Ruby’s privileged life and the séances she holds, believing her guilty of deceiving those who take part. Meanwhile, Ruby, whilst noting his resemblance to Clark Gable, finds it difficult to overcome her distaste for Joseph’s pacifism, especially because of the impact on her deceased father of his experiences in the First World War.

I have to say I had some sympathy with Joseph’s view to begin with. From the evidence, Ruby’s séances are theatrical enterprises utilising the ventriloquism skills learned from her grandfather and the performance techniques passed on to her by her actor father. Her attempts to convince herself that her motivation is merely a desire to bring comfort to others doesn’t really stand up to scrutiny. Add to that her willingness to endure dinner with a man she describes as ‘an insufferable bore’ simply because it involves a trip to the Savoy Grill, and treating the news of the bombing of Burlington Arcade as a ‘personal affront’ because of the many afternoons she had spent there purchasing a new silk scarf or perfume.

I began to warm a little more to Ruby as her protective instincts towards her friend and tenant, the ‘timid as a mouse’ Kitty, became evident and I shared Ruby’s view of Kitty’s husband as a particularly horrid specimen of manhood. Her efforts to inject a little happiness into Kitty’s life were laudable if, as it transpires, misguided. And I had to acknowledge Ruby’s bravery when she volunteers to become a member of an ambulance crew, a particularly dangerous occupation driving through the dark, bomb-damaged, streets of London. Eventually, both Ruby and Joseph are forced to question their previous beliefs.

In the modern day storyline, Edi recently divorced from husband Marty, is now living in the top floor apartment of a house in an exclusive square. Narrated in the first person, this storyline was enlivened for me by Edi’s friendship with Pearl, her downstairs neighbour. The formidable and rather eccentric Pearl is the owner of an extensive library and also an author, most recently of mysteries but previously of a book set in wartime London. When Edi acquires a copy of the latter the two storylines begin to merge. So much so that it becomes a touch metafictional as Edi reads in Pearl’s book the thoughts of its female protagonist that she had ‘lived her entire adult life as if she were the heroine in a story of her own creation.’

I confess the wartime storyline held the most interest for me, with the modern day story feeling as if it was merely a framing device. Like Edi as she reaches the final chapters of Pearl’s book, I found myself keen to get back to the wartime story and find out how it ends. I thought the author did a great job of conveying the atmosphere of London during the Blitz, such as this dramatic description of what Ruby and Joseph experience one night whilst out on call in the ambulance. ‘The sky up ahead of them was now ablaze with searchlights, tracer bullets and parachute flares and, every so often, the blinding flash of white light as a bomb exploded. It was like a surreal storm in a surreal nightmare that just wouldn’t end.’

The romance element of the book was touching and no doubt representative of many a snatched wartime relationship. I also liked the way the author took the opportunity to point out the differences between the experiences of the privileged and those less fortunate during the Blitz, such as the lack of provision of proper underground shelters in the poorer parts of London. And I certainly wasn’t aware The Savoy had its own rather sumptuously fitted out shelter for the use of hotel guests or that, initially, people were forbidden from taking shelter in Underground stations during air raids.

Beyond This Broken Sky will appeal to fans of dual time stories that combine a wealth of period detail, an element of mystery, a touch of melodrama and a generous helping of romance.

This amazing story is a wonderful must read. I love time slip novels especially ones that revolve around World War II, and this one written by Siobhan Curham swept me away.

The stunning cover was the first thing that captured my attention to this book. But once I started the story I couldn’t put it down. It is definitely a book you can’t help but to devour it in one sitting. I absolutely loved the story of Ruby and her connection to Joseph. She would do anything to defend him, his character and his namesake. Joseph is seen by people as someone to be suspicious of, but Ruby works with Joseph and sees his bravery and compassion to help others. As the story continues it transports you from 1940 WWII to 2019 in London. Eli purchases a house and finds a mystery beneath a loose floorboard in the attic. Eli discovers the past of a woman that lived in the house in the 1940’s who’s name was Ruby. Eli realizes the secrets from the war lingering in her house and why her decision on what to do next is one of the biggest decisions she will ever make.

The twists and turns of this novel will have you up all night flying through the pages. I was so enthralled that it has surely become one of my favorites. This needs to be a must read at the top of your to be read list. Thank you Siobhan Curham for this phenomenal story, I absolutely loved it.