I didn't know what to say to break the silence. I'd never seen Connie so furious. She seemed fine when we left our shared billet in the Nissen huts...
The Blurb
They said women were a liability in war. They were wrong...
March 1940
A woman desperate for escape…
A skilled mechanic, Fliss Makepeace chafes under the suffocating expectations of her family and society. Ordered to abandon her beloved engines for a 'woman's job' and pressured into a brutal marriage with the menacing Jake, Fliss feels trapped. But as the drums of war beat louder, she vows to serve King and Country rather than surrender to a life of quiet torment.
A chance to serve her country…
Joining the ATS offers Fliss not just a uniform, but freedom. Yet, a chance encounter with the formidable Major Stapleton propels her into an even deeper secret: a clandestine Women's Army, poised to become the British Resistance should Hitler invade. For Fliss, it's an undeniable call to duty—and a thrilling escape from her past.
And turn the tide of war?
At a secret research base, Fliss and the other ATS girls join scientists in a race against time to intercept Hitler's deadly bombing raids. The work is exhilarating, exhausting, and fraught with peril. When a vicious attack rocks the isolated compound, a chilling question echoes through the ranks: Is there a German spy in their midst? With their vital mission now at risk, Fliss must draw on every ounce of her mechanical ingenuity and intuition to unmask the traitor before their secret war plans—and their lives—are shattered.
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My Review
This is the second book in the Resistance Girls series. In this instance, I have previously read the first, The Resistance Girls and you can find my review here. That said, this book works perfectly well as a standalone novel.
The book is set during WWII, when women suddenly found themselves presented with opportunities that previously would have only been available to men. The main character in this book, Fliss, flees her home and joins the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Services.) It is not long before Major Stapleton realises that Fliss is a resilient woman and that she has the potential to become an undercover agent.
This is a compelling and easy read. I was rooting for Fliss all the way. The author has done a great job in developing her character. I loved reading of her refusal to just accept her lot in the society in which she lived. As an intelligent working class young woman, she was highly relatable, and it was satisfying to read how a woman could become so recognised for her skills in what was very much a man's world.
The story moved along at an appropriate pace for the genre, and I found myself turning the pages rapidly to see what would come next. It is an exciting read and anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially that which portrays strong women during wartime, will enjoy this book very much.
I have also read and reviewed other books by this author, and you can find my reviews via the links below.
The Mid-Life Trials of Annabeth Hope
How to Draw a Giraffe: The Alice May Way
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1837035137
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 368 (paperback)
Series: Book 2 in the Resistance Girls series
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Purchase Links
About the Author
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Alice G. May writes contemporary, historical and saga fiction. Her series, The Resistance Girls is inspired by the true story of a highly trained secret army of women working undercover to protect British coastal communities during World War Two.
Alice also writes non-fiction, including a memoir (The House That Sat Down Trilogy) and a colourful series of 'How to Draw The Alice May Way' books, suitable for all ages. She loves public speaking and regularly attends writing festivals, libraries and social groups to give presentations.
You can also find Alice at:
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(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)
(all opinions are my own)
