It is my pleasure to bring you my review of Jeannie’s War by Carol MacLean on day 2 of her fabulous blog tour!
War changed her country, but it couldn’t change her spirit
Glasgow, 1939
Despite being shy and reserved, Jeannie Dougal finds herself newly engaged to handsome soldier, Arthur Dunn, the day war is announced. Jeannie accepts, even if she is unsure if a girl from the tenements will fit in with Arthur’s comfortable, middle-class background. But as WW2 takes its toll on the world, her wedding must wait…
As she sets off to work at a munitions factory she meets Eileen, Janet and Annie. As her new friends bond together in war work, sharing their stories of romance, Jeannie is grateful to be settled with Arthur, even if he is set in his ways.
Until she meets charming Canadian soldier, Bill, and realises she has found a spark she was always missing. But how can Jeannie tell Arthur? And is she strong enough to fight her own battle, with the country already at war…?
An emotional and romantic family saga set in WW2 Scotland and the start of a captivating new series. Fans of Call the Midwife and Katie Flynn won’t be able to put this down.
Jeannie’s War focusses on Jeannie Dougal, a young shy woman living in Glasgow as war is declared in 1939. If you’ve followed my blog for a while you will know that this novel is right up my street – historical fiction that follows women in war is always a winner for me!
Against the advice of her handsome soldier fiancee Arthur, Jeannie goes to work at the munitions factory where she makes new friends in Eileen, Janet and Annie. The four women couldn’t be more different yet they find themselves forging a strong friendship as the war starts to pick up and Glasgow really starts to feel its effects.
This novel follows Jeannie as she navigates her relationship with Arthur who has a very set idea of what their marriage will be like. Watching Jeannie’s character develop from one of a meek, almost trodden down women into a more independent, strong woman who battles for what she wants from life as the bombs start to fall around her is rather inspiring. As the days where a woman was expected to be a good wife, keeping their husband happy become numbered, Jeannie and her friends find themselves with a newfound freedom and many more options available to them.
It was interesting to read a WWII novel set outside of London, as it really highlighted the important war work that took place all over Great Britain as the Allies fought for control. So many of these novels are set in London which I love, but it was nice to branch out geographically. The descriptions of Glasgow are vivid, and Carol MacLean really does set the scene beautifully. This novel is filled with love and friendship, but also heartache as the war is truly brought to life.
I loved this novel, and am more than happy to recommend it to you all. Jeannie’s War is book 1 in The Kiltie Street Girls series, so I can’t wait for the next one to learn a little more about this Glaswegian community during such a difficult time.
Thank you to Carol MacLean and Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour, and for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
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Author Bio
Carol MacLean lives in the Glasgow area. She began by writing pocket novels, having 18 published before deciding to write an historical saga. She enjoys weaving social history into fiction and imagining how life must have been for ordinary people living through different times.
When she’s not writing, Carol can be found visiting museums or walking around the city looking for traces of old Glasgow to inspire her next novel.
Carol is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
She has written 18 pocket novels published by DC Thomson and Linford Romance Series (Ulverscroft).
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