Kindle Edition
Published May 27th 2014 by Penguin Books (first published 2005)
From Goodreads:1946. World War II has ended and all over the world, young women are beginning to fulfill the promises made to the men they wed in wartime.
In Sydney, Australia, four women join 650 other war brides on an extraordinary voyage to England—aboard HMS Victoria, which still carries not just arms and aircraft but a thousand naval officers. Rules are strictly enforced, from the aircraft carrier’s captain down to the lowliest young deckhand. But the men and the brides will find their lives intertwined despite the Navy’s ironclad sanctions. And for Frances Mackenzie, the complicated young woman whose past comes back to haunt her far from home, the journey will change her life in ways she never could have predicted—forever.
My thoughts: Never having read anything by JoJo Moyes, before, I wasn't too sure what to expect but since the book was set post WWII, I definitely was curious. I'm now a new fan of Moyes!
Many Australian women married British servicemen during WWII. Moyes obviously did a lot of research on the subject and pens a fictionalized account of some of these women. It's now 1946, the war is over and the "brides" are headed to their new country. The story is concentrated around four very diverse women who have to bunk together during the trip. During the seven week voyage, tempers will flare, dreams will come true for some and shattered for others. Pasts will come to haunt some while others will move smoothly into their new lives without a qualm.
I loved it! The characters held my attention every minute; I just could not seem to put it down. During the six years I've written this blog, very few books have earned a 5* rating but this one did, hands down. Did I mention that I loved it?? I loved it!
JoJo Moyes is also the author of numerous novels. She can be found at Goodreads, and on her web page..
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