New Recruits at Goodwill House by Fenella J. Miller

New Recruits at Goodwill House by Fenella J. Miller 

Series: Goodwill House #2

Release Date: 7th April 2022

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Genres: Saga, Historical Romance, War Romance

May 1940

There are new residents at Goodwill House – WAAF drivers Camilla ‘Millie’ Cunningham and Diane Forsyth, both eager to do their bit for the war effort and excited to be helping the brave boys who fly.

And when Millie meets dashing and heroic Spitfire pilot Ted Thorrington, they strike up an instant connection. But with Hitler gaining more ground in Europe, there is danger brewing across the Channel in Dunkirk and Ted is required to fly more and more dangerous sorties, risking his life every time.

With their hearts and lives on the line, the courage of the girls in blue will be tested like never before…

New Recruits at Goodwill house is the second book in the series and I'd recommend you read the first book as it gives a lovely feel for the characters, some of whom are very endearing and some who require a lot of patience. All of them however add something wonderful to the story in this easy to read and charming series. You can check out my review for it HERE.

It's now 1940 in this and we see events such as the evacuation at Dunkirk which give us a flavour of the enormity of the war and the sacrifices being made.

We're back at Goodwill House where Lady Harcourt is awaiting the arrival of 6 new recruits. She is doing her bit for the war effort and putting up 6 WWAF girls hoping that now her daughter has moved away, they will be a welcome distraction from life living with her uninvited and very unwanted mother in law who is a total nightmare to be around and who Joanna Harcourt simply cannot abide. The feeling however appears to be mutual and the pair have an uneasy truce which at times doesn't always hold. But, Goodwill house has come alive with the arrival of the recruits and they breathe live into the darkest, cold corners of the house and indeed into those who live there.

The arrival of this eager group of girls introduces us to new characters Millie and Di. Each of the women have their own unique personalities and view of life and I actually found them both really likeable, despite being so different.  Joe and Liza, twins from the village are called in to help out at Goodwill House and are soon seen as part of the family by Joanna. They certainly feel they are and they are wonderfully sweet characters. And lets not forget the adorable dog! 

With every good war time story there's of course a dashing spitfire pilot in the form of Ted and he and Millie are swept away in the live for the moment attitude that seems to have been the order of the day during the war. Families, friends and lovers never sure of what each new day will bring and whether they'll be horribly taken away from one another so simply live each day like its their last. Ted is an excellent pilot and Millie fears she will lose him just when she's found him.

What I loved most about this book is the attention to detail to ensure that it is historically factually correct and at times it did feel like as a reader I was part of something so momentous that it was easy to become really invested in the characters and how the war was impacting them all. The wonderful sense of unconditional camaraderie, not just between those in the Forces but also amongst the British people themselves. The man in the street helping his neighbour. Everyone making sacrifices and going the extra mile. A real sense of pride in being part of the war effort, no matter how small. 

And of course, we cannot forget the strong message in this book about the ever changing, ever challenging role of women during this time who simply turned their hand to new experiences, new jobs and worked their way through every hardship with such pride and honour. The women in both the first and the second book are outstanding characters who find strength they didn't think they had. Through this series Fenella J. Miller is giving a voice to these wonderful women who really were the backbone of the war effort. Really looking forward to more books in the series! A recommended read! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fenella J. Miller is the bestselling writer of over eighteen historical sagas. She also has a passion for Regency romantic adventures and has published over fifty to great acclaim. Her father was a Yorkshireman and her mother the daughter of a Rajah. She lives in a small village in Essex with her British Shorthair cat.

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