I'll Be Home for Christmas (Broken Wings #3) by M.W. Arnold
Genre: Historical fiction, WW2, Wartime fiction
Read: 5th December 2021
Amazon
Published: 20th October 2021
★★ 2.5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
A mysterious key left by her murdered sister, leads Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Betty Palmer on a journey of discovery and danger. Given up to an orphanage upon birth, the parents she’s long thought had no part in her life force themselves back in, purely out of greed and self-preservation.
Penny's life is unexpectedly turned upside down by a potentially life-changing situation, which causes her wounded husband to question their marriage. No-one seems safe in this year of turmoil in the middle years of the war, as some relationships face breaking point whilst others become stronger.
Kidnap, crashes and dogfights, the girls of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery have never faced such dangers. To survive may not be enough as they must find the strength to rise above the most trying times yet of their lives.
MY REVIEW:
I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is an historical saga tale that follows the friends and women of the ATA - Air Transport Auxiliary - who ferried planes around the nation during the second world war for pilots to take to the skies against the Luftwaffe. However, when I requested this book, I had no idea it was the third in a series and, while that doesn't always matter...in this case I feel it does. From the first page, I felt as if I could never quite keep up with what was happening. As if I was always a step behind. And sadly, this spoilt my enjoyment of what essentially could have been an engaging tale.
Tere are so many characters in the story that I could quite keep up with who was who - whether they were Arthur or Martha, or even Tom, Dick or Harry! There was Betty, Penny, Doris (the American, I gleaned that much), Jane, Thelma, Shirley, Mavis, Mary, Ruth...is that all the women? I can't remember. And then there are the men, of which there are fewer. Lawrence, who is stepping out with Mary, Walter - I think he may be Doris' fiance, though I'm not sure, I think there was a Tom but I have no idea who he is, and then there is Major Jim Fredericks with whom Betty seems enamoured, and even Ruth has a love interest though I can't recall his name.
In all, there were just so many names thrown at me within the first few chapters, I just couldn't keep up. Maybe I needed to be abreast of the first two books to follow this one because I couldn't make head nor tail of it unfortunately. And I didn't have time to go back and read the first two before this one, or I would have.
Overall, I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is an historical tale with a mystery entwined within its plot that the girls are left to unravel with a mysterious key left to Betty after her sister's death. I think I would have enjoyed the book far more had I read the preceding two books first.
I can't say that I don't recommend it because it very probably is an engaging story to those who are familiar with all the players, and I was not. I do however recommend reading the preceding two books first as it will help to make sense of everyone involved and their parts in the story.
I would like to thank #MWArnold, #Netgalley, #WildRosePress and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #IllBeHomeForChristmas in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
He loves traveling, and the music of the Beach Boys, Queen, Muse, and Bon Jovi. Books play a large part in his life, not only writing, but also reading and reviewing, as well as supporting his many author friends.
He’s the proud keeper of two Romanian Were-Cats bent on world domination, and enjoys the theatre and humoring his Manchester United-supporting wife. Finally, and most importantly, Mick is a full member of the Romantic Novelists Association. I’ll be Home for Christmas will be his third novel with The Wild Rose Press.
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