The Spitfire Girl: Over and Out (The Spitfire Girl #4) by Fenella J. Miller
Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW2
Read: 29th July 2020
Published: 2nd April 2020
★★ 2.5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
All's fair in love and war for First Officer Ellie as she takes to the skies yet again in the final instalment of Fenella Miller's Spitfire Girl series.
1943, White Waltham.
As Italy surrenders and victory looms on the horizon, Ellie's doing what she does best – flying. And this time, she's rising to the sky in four-engined Halifaxes. Determined to keep doing her bit, Ellie's successes in the airfield mount but so do tensions with her new beau, Squadron Leader Jack Reynolds.
When Ellie and Jack find their dream home, they discover they've bought more than they bargained for. With a cellar full of secrets, Jack and Ellie must stand united in the face of mystery, war and loss. And as family circumstance threatens to tear them apart, Ellie and Jack are stronger than ever.
MY REVIEW:
I absolutely love historical fiction, particularly those set in the World War 2 era, however when I requested THE SPITFIRE GIRL: OVER AND OUT I didn't realise it was not only a part of a series but the conclusion to it as well. For that reason, I didn't particularly enjoy the book as much as I had hoped since I hadn't read the first three. There were characters and circumstances alluded to that I didn't know about and added to the confusion was the fact that some offspring had been named after previous characters and the mention of past and present names had me thoroughly confused.
The series follows the women, namely Ellie Simpson, who join the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) to ferry planes all over the country for the RAF for men to use in battle - their lives and loves throughout. The story picks up in February 1943 with the former Ellie Simpson, now Reynolds, learning to fly four-engined bombers to gain a Class V licence and promote her to First Class Officer. Ellie's husband, Squadron Leader Jack Reynolds, is busy ferrying planes out of White Waltham while Ellie is stationed with an all female crew at Hamble. The separation is tough on the newly married couple, but they manage to catch up every few weeks or so when they coincide their leave together.
When Ellie receives news that her odious grandfather Sir Reginald is dying, the couple join the rest of the family for Sir Reginald to make amends before it's too late. Ellie's brother George will inherit his estate and title while the family farm will go to Ellie. Jack is already uncomfortable with his wife's wealth, inherited by her former fiance, and does not want to be a kept man by his wife. This leads to a most ridiculous turn of events that I saw having no purpose in the story and which was over within a few pages. It left me thinking "what was the point of that?"
Back to work for the couple - Ellie in Hamble and Jack in White Waltham - and they begin to think about their future. Ellie's best friend Amanda, and former pilot, gives birth to a baby girl and it has her thinking about the possibility of motherhood, despite her lack of maternal instinct. After much deliberation, Ellie and Jack decide to buy a house close to White Waltham for them to settle down when the war finally comes to an end, with the intention of Ellie transferring from Hamble to White Waltham to be with her husband.
After looking at several houses, Ellie and Jack come across "The Rookery" which was own by the local witch Mary and they soon find themselves embroiled in a mystery. But have the couple got more than they bargained when they discover a cellar full of shocking and scandalous secrets?
With my love for historical fiction, I was looking forward to reading this book but as it was the final in a four book series, I felt I had arrived in the middle of the story and missed certain aspects that were key to the entire series. I didn't have time to go back and read the first three, though that is what is needed here. THE SPITFIRE GIRL: OVER AND OUT, a title which certainly suggests a conclusion, cannot be read as a standalone. Too much has taken place prior to this book for it to make sense to the reader, and I recommend tackling them in order.
1. The Spitfire Girl
2. The Spitfire Girl in the Skies
3. A Wedding for the The Spitfire Girl
4. The Spitfire Girl: Over and Out
While I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped, I do intend on coming back to it after I have read the first three at a later date, because I truly believe this final installment to the series will make far better sense when read after the first three.
THE SPITFIRE GIRL: OVER AND OUT, I'm sure, brings a satisfying conclusion to the story of Ellie Simpson Reynolds and her journey as first a flying instructor (I believe) to ATA pilot and First Class Officer during one of Britain's darkest times. I wholeheartedly recommend the series be read in order before tackling this one which I'm sure will make this read an even greater delight.
2.5 stars. Mainly because maybe if I had read the first three books, this one would have been a more satisfying conclusion.
I would like to thank #FenellaJMiller, #NetGalley and #Aria for an ARC of #TheSpitfireGirlOverAndOut in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Fenella Jane Miller was born in the Isle of Man and is the bestselling writer of eighteen historical sagas. She also has apassion for Regency romantic adventures and has published over fifty to greatacclaim. Her father was a Yorkshireman and her mother the daughter of a Rajah. She has worked as a nanny, cleaner, field worker,hotelier,chef, secondary and primary teacher and is now a full time writer.
Social Media links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
She has over twenty five Regency romantic adventures published plus one Jane Austen re-telling and one YA romantic fantasy.
Fenella lives in a small village in Essex with her British Shorthair cat.
Social Media links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
No comments:
Post a Comment