This is the first book in the new Lumberjills series.
24-year-old Beryl ‘Berry’ Chambers has had a privileged background, but now, she has joined the Women’s Timber Corps – known as the Lumberjills – whose job is to fell trees for timber during WWII. We also meet 35-year-old Marcy who’s the boss plus Sophie and 17-year-old Vicky.
The book begins in August 1942 in Yorkshire. The girls move into the barn of Sheila Harker and her grumpy husband Bob’s house. Plenty of things happen to the characters, enough to hold your interest and keep you turning the pages. In fact, one good word for describing the book would be eventful! The chapters are a good length and the book is easy to get into.
It was great to learn more about what women did during the War. Before reading the book, I was completely unaware that British women had fulfilled the role of lumberjacks while the men were away fighting and unable to do it. Such a hard, physical, dangerous job to do – so much admiration to the real women of the past. I also loved how this showed how women’s roles changed during the War, so that they feel they can do more than ever before. This was shown really well in this novel, as the women are understanding they have more opportunities than in previous decades.
As well as having an authentic feel to the background of WWII, all the characters are beautifully drawn. Despite the author being male, he has a great way of getting inside the female characters’ heads and bringing them to life. One tiny criticism – I could have done without all the descriptions of big burps and snotty noses!!!
Sheila is wonderful, probably my favourite and I really felt for her in her long, unhappy marriage to the miserable Bob. But their story is lovely to follow too and how having the Lumberjills in their lives changes things. Their story arc and the new additions to their home was one of my favourite parts of the novel. I loved Midnight the kitten too.
Overall, I really enjoyed meeting the new characters in The Lumberjills and look forward to the next book in the series to follow what our new friends get up to.
BLURB
Berry Chambers and her co-workers have joined the Women’s Timber Corps—known as the Lumberjills—to do their bit for Britain. On their first day felling trees, they rescue an RAF pilot and become entangled in the loveless marriage of their new landlords.
Danger is never far away, be it an ill-timed axe swing or the occasional activity of the Luftwaffe overhead. Add a psychotic farm cat, a couple of young runaway evacuees, a spate of malicious packages, and the jealousy of the Land Girls next door, and life for Berry and her friends is never boring.
Can the girls find the balance between their vital war work and the natural pull of love?
Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lumberjills-M-W-Arnold-ebook/dp/B0BPRFB94M
US – https://www.amazon.com/Lumberjills-M-W-Arnold-ebook/dp/B0BPRFB94M
Author Bio –
Mick is a hopeless romantic who was born in England but spent fifteen years roaming around the world in the pay of the late HM Queen Elizabeth II in the Royal Air Force before putting down roots—and realizing how much he missed the travel. This he’s replaced somewhat with his writing, including reviewing books and supporting fellow saga and romance authors in promoting their novels.
He’s the proud keeper of two Romanian Werecats bent on world domination, is mad on the music of the Beach Boys, 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. The Lumberjills is the lead book in this new series from the author of the Broken Wings novels.
Social media links –
https://www.facebook.com/MWArnoldAuthor
Twitter – Mick859
Instagram – Mick859
YouTube Channel –tinyurl.com/cymt5zea
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