Saving Mrs. Roosevelt: WWII Heroines

historical-romance, historical-fiction, US Coast Guard, WW2, maine*** The premise sounded great but the style didn't suit me. Less of a story about the work of the women's Reserve of the US Coast Guard than a syrupy historical romance. I was so turned off that I didn't do my customary history check. If you like this kind of story, you'll love this book. I requested and received a free ebook copy from Barbour Publishing, Inc./Barbour Fiction via NetGalley.

This book was soooo good! Oh my gosh, I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed it so much. Shirley Davenport is determined to help in the War effort and enlists in the Coast Guard which gives single women a chance to serve. And serve she does! Just not as she expected to. As the story continues, Shirley finds she has no idea whom she can trust and depend on. This book will keep you on your toes and you too will wonder who are the good guys and what will happen next. This book, has romance, family relationship issues and lots of intrigue. I highly recommend this book. Definitely a most worthwhile read! I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley and was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

This is a fabulous Christian historical novel, one of the best I’ve read this year, set during WWII here on the American home front! It highlights dedicated women who worked for a new group in the Coast Guard, the SPARs, who received special training to fill jobs for the duration of the war so the men would be freed to fight. The main characters are very likable, and the various settings are described so well that I often felt as if I were there. Some characters are based on real people. Characters are realistic, showing very human people of faith. There are several pulse-pounding scenes that kept me reading until the wee hours. Shirley and Joan have been best friends for much of their lives. Joan is obsessed with Hollywood glamour and characters, while Shirley admires First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and wants to do something of value to serve the country she loves. Both young women are looking forward to leaving Lubec, Maine. Shirley’s father does not want her to leave. He believes that she is under his protection until he gives her hand to a husband, taking that duty seriously. When Shirley and Joan go to Machiasport to sign up for the first class of SPARs, he is very upset but drove them to sign up. Joan is an expert in math and science, while Shirley’s skills are fishing, lobstering, and repairing boats used for both. Captain Leo Webber, at the recruitment meeting, is the most handsome man Shirley has ever seen. He is in the Navy, looking forward to getting back to sea, but for now he is sent to assist with signing up, testing, and training these women. Because of the differences in their abilities, Joan is sent to Florida for training, and Shirley goes to Iowa. She meets new friends, including women who had been in the WAVES and transferred over with the new SPARs director. She observes one woman who appears to be snooping in offices during class, even hiding a coded note in the library. She also sees in practice the prejudice she has only read about in small-town Maine. , When completion of her training is imminent, Shirley receives an incredible assignment. There are traitors in Maine, most likely in her tiny hometown. As she knows the area better than most, she is sent home under cover of a ruse of a dishonorable discharge. The deception is necessary, as the First Lady’s life depends on it. I cannot imagine coming to terms with there being a traitor in one’s hometown, especially if it is someone she’s known all her life. This was a very compelling read. I appreciated seeing the very real struggles and challenges faced by Leo and Shirley, from their conversations and actions to their thoughts and prayers. The author gives us a glimpse of sacrifices made by our military members to protect our country. It shows a side of WWII and the Coast Guard I was previously unaware of. There is a mystery in which time is of the life and death essence. I had an idea who was involved, at least until a red herring looked like a stronger suspect. Through Shirley, Alma, and Leo, we have examples of walking out one’s faith in the Lord, God-confidence instead of self-confidence, and true friendship. I highly recommend this novel to women of all ages who like well-written Christian novels of WWII, including faith, friendship, mystery, and a possibility of romance. From a thankful heart: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher and Celebrate Lit, and this is my honest review.