JEANNIE'S WAR by CAROL MACLEAN

Jeannie's War by Carol MacLean

Series: The Kiltie Street series #1

Release Date: 24th March 2022

Publisher: Canelo Hera

Genres: Saga / historical / wartime romance

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 opens as the declaration of the Second World War is being announced on the radio. Gathered round the wireless are Jeannie, her mother and sister. For Jeannie, her family and all on Kiltie Street this is something that stuns and frightens them in equal measure, convinced that the First World War was the war to end all wars. Jeannie fears for her family, particularly her brother Jimmy who is a soldier. Spurred on by such an emotive announcement about war, Arthur Dunn, a young man Jeannie barely knows and has only stepped out with a few times, proposes and suddenly amongst all the fervour of the day, Jeannie suddenly finds herself engaged. Her life is about to change in so many ways and the trials and tribulations that are to come will test her and everyone she cares about.

I thoroughly enjoyed Jeannie's War and it was a great first book in the series. Jeannie is a lovely young woman who has tried to live her life in the shadows to avoid ridicule due to a facial birthmark. She has so much to offer and I felt for her as she tried to fit in with Author and his expectations of her. And his horrendously cruel comment to her about her looks made my blood boil! I was hurt on her behalf!  Despite their differences in social standing, with Arthur being better off and having a respectable job and big house,  Jeannie is far too good for him as he uses her insecurities around her looks to control her. He is also an absolute bore compared to Jeannie and her outlook on life and kind heart. But Jeannie's heart may indeed find love yet in the form of a Canadian soldier! I love a bit of romance, especially against all the odds when it seems that the world is determined to create one battle after another and not just on the battlefields of France.

There are many interesting and multi-layered characters in the book and they all added a little something to the storyline.  I loved how Jeannie herself evolved throughout the story and she was a very likeable character. Each  character affected by the war in their own way and each trying to do their best for their families and friends. There was a wonderful feeling of community within Kiltie Street that I absolutely loved and the author has managed to capture the camaraderie and indeed the hardships also of war time Scotland.  It's a story about family, loss, loyalty and love in the face of adversity. Its about being brave enough to follow your heart no matter how difficult. Clearly a well researched book and a recommended read. Really looking forward to the rest of the series.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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).

Socials:

·       Twitter:  @carolcmaclean

·       Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/carolcmaclean