A great book about life as a wren during the war, really enjoyed this book, following the lives of Mary, Iris and Sally. I didn’t read the first book but I have since purchased it and will enjoy reading it and getting the story better through book 1.

Absolutely loved the second book in the series! Mary so deserved to be happy. Can't wait for the next one!!

Yet another great book. This genre is amazing.
Will recommend to others. Story was really vood
5*****

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Vicki Beeby for my chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion.

I had not realised this was the second in a series but it really did not matter that much as it was possible to read and enjoy this as a standalone book.

It was interesting to me as I had little knowledge of the Signallers and their role in WW2 - and how important they were.
I am a child of the late 50's so have no knowledge of wartime and war life but I had heard of Scafa Flow and knew it had strategic Naval significance. so I was pleased to broaden my knowledge and learn something from a book that I have read.
The Signallers led a life where there was little entertainment really and the weather could be appalling but it seems that they managed to enjoy their lives - and their loves - and 'make do'.

This was a feelgood book - there was obviously a storyline and events that ran from book 1 but it was easy to follow and feel sadness at the actions of one of the charatcers.

Thank you again for my chance to read this book

Another brilliant story from Vicki Beeby and i have loved it,I do so love reading this genre you learn so much about what happened and how people had to live 5*

Second in a series, this book tells Mary's story and romance. Set during the early years of World War 2, three very different WRENS are working on the Orkneys as signallers. She is trying to cope with the loss of her fiancé Owen who was lost when the Royal Oak was torpedoed in Scapa Flow so it is ironic that she ends end being posted there. Joe is a signaller on a minesweeper and a rather forward young man, but that hides a shy character and both he and Mary love sketching. There is the danger of U-boats finding their way through the defence 'ring' - there's a traitor somewhere as we discovered in book 1 and that thread continues. Christmas is coming, none of the three girls wants to go home really and they set out to have the best Christmas possible with Elspeth and Archie, a delightful older couple but who have two sons away in the war. Evocative of the times - simple pleasures, hard work, Orkney weather (never changes). Well-written and a lovely gentle story. Look forward to Sally's turn. Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

this is the second book in a series, very sweet story of the wrens during the war. will definitely read the first book

This book kept me awake at night because I couldn’t put it down. It was exciting and heartwarming in equal measures, can’t wait to see what the next one brings!
We join the girls going about their duties on Orkney, spotting for the naval vessels sailing through the dangerous waters at Scapa Flow. As the boats go through the girls send morse code messages to the ships and phone ahead to give clearance or warnings as required. Dangers arise when u-boats go through, then they have to react quickly which puts the pressure on.
In their private lives Iris is delightfully happy being in love with Rob. Sally thinks she loves Adam but is he all he seems? Mary is trying to overcome the tragedy that befell her sweetheart Owen, while trying to dissuade signalman Joe who fancies his chances. Mary gets to like the quick messages he manages to signal from his ship the Kelpie. Will she change her mind !
My favourites were Elspeth and Archie from Curlew Croft who were just your typical island loving couple who were willing to help the young people and welcome them into their home and lives. Just loved it.

A delightful second book in the Wren series. Loved it and just felt so cozy reading it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own

Super cute. Island life during the war with the signaller WRENs with all the every day detail that otherwise you don’t get. The lack of resource, the shift patterns and stretching out the cup of tea. The impact of family members signing up and then disappearing is looked at and the pervasiveness of the way into mundane life is really brought home.

Another fantastic book in the series. I find myself now looking up Orkney and some of the places mentioned and looking for the views out to sea from the headland!

The girls are all so likeable as are the other main characters (with the exception of the Doctor!). The story was easy to ready and had plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested. I don't want to spoil it for others but was glad that this book ended on a happy note!

As with the previous book I now eagerly await the next in the series and in the meantime will do some more research on Orkney!

Thanks to the publisher for the electronic copy for review. This book was sent to me by Netgalley. Historical fiction of a time when most of us like to read about...to learn...to think about what our parents endured...characters that are likable...research seems to be accurate...grab this delightful read, cozy up in a comfy chair, have a warm fuzzy blanket on hand, a cup of steaming herbal tea, and journey back in time...

I seriously adored the first book in this series: A new hope for the Wrens and have been excitingly waiting for the follow up. Great thing about this book is that you needn’t have read the first to enjoy it, as it could almost work as a standalone (with some references to past events and characters which the author does a fab job on filling you in on), so nothing is really missed.

In this one, Mary takes centre stage. We met her in the first book, flocking to the Wrens to do her bit for the war effort and making sure no one would meet the fate of her beloved Owen if she could have a hand in it. She’s a strong and feisty character, painting on an indifferent and unapproachable air so as to protect her fragile heart. But on the inside, she’s just a little bit broken and learning to deal with her own demons and sadness.

Luckily, she finds friendship in the form of Iris, a once well to do and fairly pompous rich girl, and Sally, a hopeless romantic from Yorkshire. Together they make up the Wrens, stationed at a signalling station in the middle of no where. Mary had thought there was benefits working somewhere where there was barely a soul to cross paths with, however it is also where Joe is stationed and he can’t keep his eyes of this stunning Hedy Lamarr lookalike.

I was behind Joe the whole way, rooting for him and Mary and hoped he would succeed in chipping away at her seemingly frosty and standoffish exterior. She’d gone through so much heartbreak, could she risk opening her heart again?

The Christmas element of this was also great and I loved the festive wartime vibes. Honestly had me smiling from ear to ear and this is another book I can add to the ‘adored it’ list. I shall begin my next patient wait for the next one!

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this ARC

Wow what another brilliant book in The Wren Series. Love family saga love world war books this is right up your street.
Vicki you have nailed it again