Cover Image: A Wrens' Wartime Christmas

A Wrens' Wartime Christmas

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Member Reviews

This is part of a series but could be read as a standalone.
It was good to be back with these characters. I loved the festive element to this book. The characters are well developed and interesting. A great historical fiction book

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A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

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Heartwarming saga set in the Orkneys during World War Two,following the lives and lives of three wrens. Great characters and plenty of intrigue.

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A lovely read, full of heart warming characters. I loved catching up with them again, especially in a christmas setting.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved being back with the wrens and getting back to Orkney with the girls. Very much looking forward to the next one

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A well thought out storyline with interesting characters and lots of intrigue. This is the second book in the series but can be easily picked up as a standalone. A fabulous WW2 historical fiction story and I can't wait to read more about the Wren's in the next book.

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As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot - there are reviews like that out there already!

I've read several other titles by this author, and enjoyed her writing style, so was delighted to receive an ARC of this novel.

This is apparently Book 2 in a series; I had not read the previous novel in the series, but this book works just fine as a standalone title.

This is a cosy read with a touch of romance, but with threads of sorrow and intrigue running throughout. The characters are well drawn and there is plenty of background to the main trio of Wrens, so it doesn't matter if you haven't read the previous book.

Recommended if you enjoy well written stories with a historical setting (this book is set during WW2), great characters and a well thought out plot.

Looking forward to more by this author.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

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I wanted to find another saga or series to follow and this one currently fits the bill. Back with book two and the WREN signallers, Mary, Sally and Iris who feature in the first book are back in Orkney. They are joined by more trained Wren’s and so they have a bit more time to be able to relax and enjoy Christmas this year after the eventful one of the previous year.

This time Mary is taking centre stage, very much still grieving for Owen the boyfriend she lost when the Royal Oak was lost of Scapa Flow, not far from where she is now based. She is strong willed and almost unapproachable with a tough exterior but it seems that Joe is starting to chip away at this and something begins to develop,.

However there is still some unfinished business on the island and a name from the past still seems to be hanging around. Why are they not doing their bit for the war effort? Or are they doing it for the wrong side? When German vessels seem to breaking through the defences, suspicions tarts to fall in some unlikely places. It seems that these wrens have some work to do before they can relax into Christmas.

It was lovely to be back in Orkney and be part of their Christmas. As the three most unlikely women form this friendship it is great to see how all their characters develop. It is is also refreshing to move a World War Two saga away from being London centric and to see that many other places in the UK had their own battle during this difficult time. This series has the potential for a few more books I am sure and I definitely want to be there for everyone of them.

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I am already a fan of Vicki Beeby and this latest book did not disappoint .
This is the 2nd book in the wrens series but will be ok as a standalone .
Follow Iris, Mary and Sally . Three very different characters who all work in the war to interpret signals from ships.
Lovable characters with a storyline with intrigue and friendship
Hope there will be a 3rd in the series.

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I loved this book from start to finish. Following 3 Wren's based in Scotland during WW2 and the hardship and adventures that they had alongside the locals and those aboard the minesweepers. Based around some facts the book was really well researched and characters brought to life. Easy to follow and great sized chapters. It doesn’t have to be Christmas to read this. Thanks to Vicky Beeby and your publisher. Also thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

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Another adventure for the three wrens serving in Scotland during WW2 along with their daily lives. This was a really good read and I hope there will be more books in this series. It would be good to follow them further into the war years. Very good read, 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

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This is book number 2 in the wren series. I loved book number 1, so I have been looking forward to book 2. It was good to catch up with all the characters. And I still see the growth in them. But this book, was for me, more about the romance than ww2. Yes sure ww2 incidents takes place in this book, but the romance took over the book. It became for me the Main fokus. I would still highly recommend this book.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

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3.5 but I'll round up to 4. This is a really good book, I'm just not rating it as high due to the fact it was so obvious what Stewart was up to and I feel like they should have realised before they did. Putting that aside though, this is a lovely book about friendship, finding love and making the most of life during the dark, scary days of the war. Mary, Iris and Sally's friendship us absolutely heartwarming. I can't wait to see where Sally's story takes us.

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I loved being back on Orkney with the characters, Mary, Iris and Sally, who we first met in A New Start for the Wrens. I was reading this at a time when I needed to be absorbed by a story and this book was a sheer tonic whisking me away to Orkney. With just the right mix of mystery, intrigue and romance. I could imagine myself on the headland near the Wrens’ signalling station, smell the air and see the sea and the heather covered land. Orkney is now most definitely on my "to be visited” list.

I even sat and read this book in the middle of the day, which is unheard of for me. Can’t wait for the next episode to find out what happens to my favourite characters. Sheer tonic.

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Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is book two in the series. Mary, Iris and Sally are three wrens who together keep watch and send/receive signals from passing ships in a station on the Orkney Islands.

They have to be alert all the time in case of spotting german u boats, as a ship was lost the past year and all the people on board lost their lives, one of which was Mary’s boyfriend.

The three girls are planning for Christmas, Jo, who is a signal man, who is on a ship named kelpie, has feelings for Mary, but are friends at present. Although they both love sending each other messages, when they’re on lookout.

One night, something bad happens, when the girls spot a u boat attacking one of the ships, they passed the information on but the u boat wasn’t found.

Is it possible that there is a spy in Orkney…..

I recommend this book.

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As with Vicki's previous book, this had me enthralled from the very start.. Vicki knows how to tell a great story, that's for sure. I am desperate to know how everything pans out for the Wrens and can't wait until the next book. I thoroughly recommend this, and, if you haven't already, you need to read her other books as soon as possible!

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Love Vicki Beebys work,, and this didn’t disappoint. Read whist in the midst of the August heatwave, none the less very evocative of cHristmas in Scotland, and also of the Wrens work and duty in WW2. An excellent addition to her portfolio.

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Many thanx to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for allowing me to read and review this book.

I have read a few of Vicki Beeby's previous books a really enjoyed them, so looked forward to reading her latest one.

Was a lovely easy to read story with really good characters who all had their burdens to bear! The book was based in Orkney which was a nice change from those based in large cities. Tells the tale of 3 main female Wren's and the signal station in a lonely, isolated part of the country. The hardships with weather and lack of decent food was told well and kept one reading to find out ow this would all end!! Must admit to guessing who/what happened prior to learning it in the book!

Also nice how the author brought in some islanders and how the girls befriended some islanders and helped support them through this awful time in our history.

Enjoyed this book as it was a nice, easy read during our UK heatwave and look forward to the next boog from this author

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I read WW2 Historical fiction in order to learn more about wartime England. American history books are very lacking. Reading a book like A Wren's Wartime Christmas gave me direction on where to research. It gave me a glimpse into what I am lacking in knowledge, a never ending challenge. Can I recommend that you read the author's note at the end of the book. It was quite enlightening.

WW2 brought women from different social classes and locations together in a common cause-- assist the war effort. Mary, Sally and Iris are a wonderful example that during times of need purpose is what is most important. They form a very unlikely friendship to survive on the Orkney Islands.

I had never heard of the Orkney Islands. I had not realized their importance during the war. Total respect to those that were stationed in the area. Their hardships were many. Within the story the author took me back to a time I could not begin to imagine. We take so much for granted. What an eyeopener!!!!

A Wren's Wartime Christmas isn't just the story of the visual signalers communicating with ships. Romance and friendships fill the pages. The closeness between the girls and a couple near them added an endearing quality to the story.

A Wren's Wartime Christmas also got me thinking about spies. U-boats were sneaking behind the loop undetected. How could that happen? In a small village, how could a traitor hide? The suspense was amazing as Mary and the others slowly put the pieces together in hopes of saving the ships and crews.

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would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this quaint book

this is the second book in the series but it can be read as a stand alone....

so we have mary, iris and sally the 3 wrens who work together keeping a look out and sending and receiving signals from ships that pass them...they are constantly on guard for any signs of the german u boats after losing a ship the previous year with many hands losing their lives on being marys boyfriend

time has moved on for all three girls and they are making plans for christmas, jo a signal man off the kelpie named ship has the hots for mary but for now they are friends....though they both love sending messages to each when each are suppose to be on the look out.. they even invent their own sign language

a tragedy happens one night when on look out the girls witness a u boat bombing one of the ships and though they called in re-enforcements they were unable to find the u boat, could there be a spy in orkney....

its a lighthearted book that will entrance many readers with the Christmassy feel good factor about it

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