Jeannie's War by Carol MacLean
Genre: Historical fiction, Wartime fiction, Sagas, WW2
Read: 19th March 2022
Published: 24th March 2022
★★★★★ 5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
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, Jeanie 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.
MY REVIEW:
What a thoroughly enjoyable tale set in Glasgow at the onset of WW2 that I devoured almost in one sitting. A quick read that has an easy style and flows seamlessly, JEANNIE'S WAR is the story of Jeannie and her family, the Dougals. Like most wartime sagas, this one focuses on a working class family inflicted by the ravages of war as their sons, brothers and loved ones are soon shipped out to fight the enemy in Europe. And like most wartime sagas, they feel the ripples and far reaching tentacles of the enemy as the war that was meant to be over by Christmas continues over the course of the next several years, changing lives with it.
Shy and reserved Jeannie Dougal and her family of six live in a two room tenement flat on Kiltie Street when the prime minister announces the declaration of war in September 1939. Her fifteen year old sister teases her that the young man she has stepped out with twice, Arthur Dunn, will surely be proposing before he heads off to war. Marriage? To Arthur? But she hardly knows him! And yet, it's exactly what Arthur has in mind when he calls on Jeannie that afternoon. Though instead of asking her, he informs her they should get married and then goes on to tell her what will happen, assuming her answer before she's had a chance to give it. But her mother thinks Arthur is a wonderful catch. He's handsome, has a secure job in a bank and is middle class with far better prospects than those that could be found on Kiltie Street. So Jeannie acquiesces to his wishes, insisting on a long engagement...to give them time to get to know one another. However, if Arthur is unemotional and aloof, his mother Helen is the polar opposite and Jeannie adores her from the moment they meet.
It isn't long before Jeannie begins to see the vast differences between them, despite her being working class and he middle class. That, it seems, is the least of their problems. Arthur doesn't like it when Jeannie announces her wish to work at the new munitions factory, he doesn't like it when she's affectionate, he doesn't like dancing or going to the cinema, he doesn't like her have an opinion of her own...basically he doesn't like much of anything. He may seem closed off emotionally and somewhat aloof but Jeannie soon discovers other behavioural traits in her fiance that makes her uncomfortable. Helen says he takes after his late father with a sympathetic look at her daughter-in-law-to-be. But it seems that Arthur has taken over where his father left off in controlling every aspect of his mother's life and thus expecting Jeannie to look after his invalid mother in his absence. But Helen is anything but an invalid and when she begins joining Jeannie's mother Mary in helping the WVS, Arthur is livid and demands she cease the activity at once.
But it's Arthur's parting remark one evening before he leaves to fight for King and country that shocks Jeannie to the core. His cruel comment left her shaken and sobbing herself to sleep. I would have called the engagement off right then, as he obviously had so little respect for the woman he was meant to love; the woman he was to marry. But Jeannie had made a promise and she wouldn't break it and shame her family.
One evening, her friends from the factory - Eileen, Janet and Annie - convince her to join them at a dance which is teeming with military personnel on leave. There Jeannie meets Canadian Bill but, despite her instant attraction to him, borders on rude as she is aware of her engagement to Arthur and her worry if he were to find out she went dancing. But she soon finds herself on the dance floor with Bill and enjoying herself immensely. And before long, Bill becomes a friend of the family as Jeannie continues to fight her growing feelings for the kind and gentle Canadian.
Then as the bombs begin to fall on Glasgow the realities of war hits the community as their city is rocked to its foundations. Innocent people are killed, buildings are decimated and lives are changed forever. Jeannie soon discovers that she has shed her shy and reserved demeanour and in its place is a bolder more forthright young woman...much to Arthur's chagrin. He wants a quiet obedient wife, but will Jeannie acquiesce to his will?
But it's not only Jeannie's life that changes but those of her new friends as well as her family. New loves and new beginnings abound while across the waters in Europe war continues to rage on. Will their loved ones return? And how will the war affect those left behind keeping the home fires burning? As for Jeannie...will she fulfill her promise to marry Arthur or will she follow her heart with Bill?
JEANNIE'S WAR is more than just a romance; it is a story of friendships, family and community pulling together during one of the darkest times in history as they fight battles of their own at home with rationing of food, clothing and petrol, Anderson shelters and evacuation.
The story unfolds primarily through Jeannie's eyes, as she is the main character, but we also catch glimpses from others' perspectives as well. The story itself is heartwarming, emotional and thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end. I am thrilled to hear there is to be a sequel and I eagerly await it!!
An easy read, JEANNIE'S WAR is perfect for fans of wartime sagas such as Call the Midwife, Rosie Clarke and Pam Howes.
I would like to thank #CarolMacLean, #Netagalley, #HeraBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #JeanniesWar in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
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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