Where The Sky Begins was a welcome departure for me from all of the romance and psychological thrillers I’ve been reading this summer. It brought me back to my usual favorite historical fiction genre, but without being as heavy and emotional as many of the books I gravitate toward.

The book takes place in England during World War II and centers on main character Josie Banks. With her husband away at war, Josie loses everything when her apartment is bombed and she’s sent to the country on a bus full of evacuees. Lost and alone, Josie is foisted upon an aristocratic recluse who is not very welcoming.

Determined to make it work, Josie befriends the local villagers and the boys stationed at the local RAF (Royal Air Force) and begins to find her place in the remote English countryside. As she settles in, she finds herself pulled in various directions both in love and loyalty to her husband as well as her country.

Most of the books I read about World War II take place in areas more central to the fight with characters that are acting as spies or actively interacting and encountering the enemy. At first, I wasn’t sure if this book would be a little slow in comparison, but it was exactly the welcome back to historical fiction that I needed. I loved the remote countryside setting and seeing a different perspective of how the war affected communities that are often overlooked. I also appreciated the evident trauma that Josie experienced during the bombing and seeing how it (very realistically) colored her actions and pushed the story forward.

I have now read a few books by this author and have enjoyed them all.
In this book, Josie Banks is a young woman from a large family. After her mother's death during childbirth she raised her siblings, then when her father remarried was forced out of her home by her step-mother. Marrying young to a handsome man, the relationship sours to her being bullied when she fails to fall pregnant.
WWII breaks out and Stan is enlisted and Josie finds herself looking for work. She finds this in the form of an East End tea room, working for an older Jewish Russian woman. However, when the blitz begins, Josie finds she has lost everything. Evacuated to the countryside, Josie finds herself on foreign territory having never set foot out of London. Will this move bring her completely undone or bring out the best in her?
Happy to recommend this lovely piece of historical fiction. Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

This is a book filled with war, bravery, and finding a new home among rubble and strangers.

Excellent writing and it kept me interested until the very end. I loved following the main characters journey while also feeling the emotional moments she went through, especially when she lost her home and all of her belongings. But reading her find herself and be as strong and brave as she was, it was a great read. I'd recommend this to anyone!

You’ll find yourself cheering for Josie as she makes her way through one tragedy after another.

This is such a heartwarming story set in the chaos of WWII. The lovely people of Sutton St. Giles come together to make it through the hardships of war and succeed in creating a cozy village home.

In Rhys Bowen's new historical novel, we return to World War II. Josie Banks and her difficult husband, Stan, have no way to communicate when a bomb destroys their home. Josie moves into an aristocratic home, and she opens a tea shop. She has no idea if Stan is even alive, which leaves her vulnerable when she meets Mike Johnson, a pilot who is stationed nearby.

But of course, not everything can fall into place. She's still married to Stan, who may or may not be alive, and she eventually discovers that Mike is carrying some baggage of his own.

Rhys Bowen is well known for her mystery series about Molly Murphy and the Royal Spyness. But this novel is more history than mystery. If you like WWII novels, you'll probably enjoy this one. It reminded me of a lighthearted PBS masterpiece production. I'm not sure it stands out in the overcrowded World War II market, but it's a good comfort read for someone looking for a few hours of entertainment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my opinions.

The Blitz changes everything for Josie. She's unhappily married to Stan but he's off at war and she's been working in a tea room and then.....After convalescing, she's evacuated to the country home of Miss Harcourt. It's not really her thing but then she persuades Miss Harcourt o allow her to open another tea room and she meets Mike, a Canadian pilot. Fans of the genre know that Josie will have a tough choice to make when Stan returns. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read.

Where The Sky Begins will have you turning the pages quickly.

Its 1940 and Josie Bank's life is in turmoil. Her husband (not the nicest man) is off serving England during the War.

Her home is bombed and Josie has lost everything literally. Even the clothes on her back,

She is evacuated to the country along with children to the town of Sutton St Giles where she will be billeted with the not so friendly Miss Haracourt.

Time moves on and Josie opens a a tea shop: a place for the RAF to relax and catch your breath.

Not everyone is who the say there are and in war you can only trust yourself.

Where the Sky Begins is a tale of courage, tenacity, loyalty, surviving and love.

I cheered for Josie, I cried with her many times and most of all I admired her.

This (hard to imagine) is my first Rhys Bowen book but not my last as I just purchased 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a read I wont soon forget.

I have read a number of books by this author now and I can always recommend her for a safe, enjoyable read.

Where the Sky Begins is set in 1940 and the story really starts in a bombing raid in London when Josie Banks takes shelter under the dining room table because she hates going to the Underground station shelters. Her street takes a direct hit and she is dug out of the remains of her house and left with no money, no belongings and a husband who is in the forces and uncontactable. Because she is injured she is evacuated to the countryside and a whole new life begins for her.

I enjoyed the story very much. There was so much information about how the womenfolk in England were left behind to cope with amazing problems and how they not only survived but improved their lives. WW2 was a terrible thing yet it changed society in remarkable ways.

This book is also a love story and I spent much of it hoping for the best outcome for Josie. Life does not always turn out for the best and it was never a certainty. Read it yourself to see if Josie and her pilot finally make it together.

A heartwarming story about a woman whose house in London got bombed during WWII, her husband deploys, and she moves to the countryside. She settles in very well, even though there are some quirky people around. She seems to really find herself and the place where she wants to be. She is not missing her husband.

Many things go wrong, and not everyone is who and what they said they were, yet her heart has found her place in the world. Surprisingly uplifting, quaint story that got me hooked, so read it in one sitting.

Very well-written and very balanced. It’s not overwhelmingly miserable nor light-hearted and that balance gives the novel a realistic feel. It is quite an uplifting read and will definitely make you feel like for every bad, there will always be something good and sometimes the good comes unexpectedly but if we keep trying and living, there will always be something to look forward to.

I love that Josie is both compassionate but not to the point that she’s a pushover. She’s very relatable; someone who’s trying to find her place in this world. The characters were done very well and they were all quite memorable because there were several characters introduced, some more important and prominent than others, but it was easy to remember who’s who.

I’m not really sold on the romance aspect. I don’t know…I just didn’t feel it. To me, it felt more like just a very good friendship.

It did feel like the ending was a little rushed with the plot twist(s?) and the reveal but it was still satisfying.

For someone who very rarely reads historical fiction, I really enjoyed this one. I think it’s bingeable and heartwarming.

I am a huge fan of rhys bowens writing. And the story was cute, but for me too predictable. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest

Rhys Bowen’s new novel is a delightful read. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Josephine Banks seems to have it all, a loving husband, a lovely flat in London, and a job working in a tea room. Until her husband is called up to service in WWII and a bomb is dropped onto her place of employment, leaving her searching for what’s next. She had nothing left and is evacuated to the countryside to live with the bitter old Miss Harcourt and her wishy-washy Irish servant, Josie sees this as an amazing opportunity. She convinces Miss Harcourt to open a tea shop in the house to help the locally placed airmen in homesickness. Through that she meets Mike Johnson, one of the local airmen stationed at the local base and her world is titled sideways. Her husband returns throwing everything she’s know into a tailspin.

This was a delightful read and I read it in one sitting. Rhys is a great writer who throws just enough doubt into a book but leaves you wanting more. Highly recommend this book as I couldn’t put it down wanting to know what happens.

I have read a lot of Rhys Bowen books that I have absolutely adored ... and a handful that was more "eh - not quite so much" about. Sadly this was an "eh" for me. It felt too similar to other books that I have read about the period and it just didn't seem to click with me as being something memorable. I'm hoping that my next Bowen will be back on the "absolutely adore" list.

Where the sky begins was an easy to read historical fiction novel. It was informative and I enjoyed learning more about this time of history. I especially liked that Bletchley Park was brought into the story at the end. The writing in this novel was just okay for me, though. It was a bit repetitive and slow. I didn’t like how there wasn’t much emotion behind the words or the storyline. I had difficulty connecting to the whole novel in general which was disappointing

First of all — I love Rhys Bowen, she can do no wrong. Just stating my personal bias before I go on with the review of this book.

Where the Sky Begins opens in 1940 London, where bombings are now a daily occurrence and no one knows if or when their home might become a pile of rubble. Unfortunately (or is it?) for our heroine, Josie, her house takes such a beating and she is forced to flee to the countryside as her husband is off with the army and she has no other family to stay with. She quickly builds relationships with the lovable cast of country-air characters, including a handsome Canadian RAF pilot named Mike Johnson. Josie somehow opens a small tea shop, wartime struggles ensue, intelligence officers enlist her help, etc etc — you've all read a historical novel wet in WWII by now so you get it.

Y'all. I have never rooted so hard for a character's husband to die. He's not like, openly sadistic, but man does he just suck. And with the juxtaposition of this sweet Canadian pilot? Fuggedaboutit.

The main theme of this story, to me, is about a woman learning to be independent and realizing that she is more than capable of living a life for herself. She escapes her dreary, closed-off life in London with her stifling husband and ends up in the open countryside, among a new, found family that treats her as a valuable and respected friend. I can't fathom how overwhelming that would be for someone in her circumstances.

The romance aspect is sweet, if not surprising, and there is definitely some suspense since he's a pilot! You just never know how authors are going to break your heart with a war novel. This was a lovely, easy read with an engaging plot and fun characters.

Thank you to Rhys Bowen, Lake Union, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

It is London during the war and Josie is married to Stan. Stan is all about Stan and finds fault with everything Josie does. When he is sent to join the Army she is kind of relieved and takes a job in a tea house working for Madame Olga, a Russian Jew. Josie loves the job and her and Olga become close. During a night of bombing the tea shop is hit and Madame Olga does not survive and Josie is rescued under the rubble of her home. With no where to go she is sent to the countryside and forced to billet with Miss Harcourt. She is kind of a spoiled brat growing up in privilege and wants nothing to do with the outside world. There is one other servant, Kathleen, who runs hot and cold. Glad for Josie to help with chores but resentful at the same time.

I liked the book and I liked Josie. She tried to stay upbeat and always looking for ways to make things better. Nearby is an RAF base and she opens up a little tea shop in the drawing room. She meets a Canadian flying for the RAF and there is a strong attraction. The rationing and shortages were well depicted and showing how civilians were affected whether they were in London or in the country. I found the book easy to read but something about the writing just seemed too simple. I would have rated this 3.5 stars but then there was this ending that just felt off. I would read another book by this author and I would recommend it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a digital copy.

3.5 stars for me. I've tried to put my finger on why I suddenly enjoy and am drawn to historical fiction, and I think it's because the strength of the people who lived during those times and how they just got on with living life because they had no choice but to do so. I wouldn't have lasted a week, and I'm just in awe. All that being said, this wasn't necessarily one of my favorites . I enjoyed it, I enjoyed the characters, and I enjoyed the tale they had to tell. It just didn't pack any particular punch for me that set it apart from some of the 4 and 5 star historical fiction I have read.

A wonderful story, perfect for light reading. A young cockney woman, Josie, loses everything she owns during the London Blitz. She is sent to the countryside to stay with an unwilling hostess, an elderly woman and her housekeeper. Our heroine makes the best of the situation as she heals from her wounds and struggles to find a life for herself. Though unhappily married, Josie meets a handsome RAF pilot, opens a tea room in her hostess' home, and makes a life for herself despite overwhelming odds. Classic Rhys Bowen - a charming and engaging story with lots of interesting turns and twists. Perfect vacation reading.

I absolutely loved this book!

Rhys Bowen has taken a side trip away from her Molly Murphy series with this book, set during WW2. As most wives during the war, Josie is alone after her husband is called up to fight. She finds a job in a tea shop working for an older lady, and really enjoys the work. But tragedy strikes, and Josie is left homeless and jobless all in one fell swoop.

Josie is evacuated to the countryside to recuperate from her injuries, and is billeted at a house with a dour old lady and her extra-dour housekeeper. Josie doesn't let their attitudes deter her, and makes bits of progress each week. Along the way she makes friends with the locals and the RAF men from the nearby aerodrome.

Josie has such a good spirit, positive attitude and a conscience. Despite the many hazards that fall in her way, she perseveres and makes it through. More people should be like Josie and the world would be a better place!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I normally love everything Rhys Bowen writes, but this did not seem like her usual writing or plotting style. Parts of the story were interesting, with Josie recovering from a bombing, adapting to life in the countryside, setting up an improvised tea shop in the manor house where she was living as a refugee from London and hunting for a spy in their midst. I liked Josie as a character, and her stubborn insistence on being useful by improving the lives of those around her. The stories of the villagers coming together to support Josie's tea shop and to help pool resources during rationing was a compelling addition. Mike Johnson was a somewhat bland but generally appealing love interest (up to the point of the reveal, at least). Although the dialogue was frustratingly repetitive at times (Josie's interactions with Kathleen in particular, constantly reciting what she's contributing to the household), I would have found this to be a more satisfying story it ended there.

However, with the spy storyline wrapped up at the 3/4 mark, I was not expecting the book to take multiple bizarre turns and attempt to cram in whole new plot lines that could have been standalone stories. The story became incredibly bleak at that point and seemed to erase all the character development and positive things that Josie had built during the majority of the story. I wouldn't have an objection to adding a sad or unexpected twist to a story if it makes sense in the narrative (like the ending of her last standalone, The Venice Sketchbook), but this just became a parade of miseries raining down on Josie and the other characters and odd tangents that were out of place in the story (like spending a chapter on Josie suddenly working at Bletchley Park for several years). I couldn't help asking "What?!?!" multiple times in the last quarter of the book and had given up all investment in the characters by the ending.

Overall, my takeaway is that this was an uneven and somewhat disappointing story, but still one that has enough redeeming qualities that it will be of interest to some.

Thank you to Lake Union and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!