"In Times of Rain and War" is a novel with a compelling premise, but unfortunately, it fails to fully deliver on its emotional promise. The story explores themes of love, loss, and the impact of war, set in a small Croatian village during World War II. While the setting has great potential for a poignant historical drama, the execution feels flat and uneven.

The characters, though well-meaning, lack the depth needed to make their experiences truly resonate. The dialogue often feels stilted, and the emotional moments, which should have been heart-wrenching, come across as forced. The narrative’s pacing is also inconsistent, with sections dragging on unnecessarily while others are rushed.

Wright does an admirable job of setting a somber tone, and his research into the historical backdrop is evident, but it doesn't always translate into a captivating story. Overall, In Times of Rain and War is a book that offers a lot in terms of potential, but falls short when it comes to emotional engagement and character development. It’s not a bad book, but it certainly didn't leave the lasting impact I had hoped for.

A powerful love story of an American soldier that is an explosive detonator and a German woman hiding in London dung WWII. I love WWII stories like these that are full of heart an resilience.

This is my first read by this author and most likely my last. I had a hard time getting through this, the tine of the book was so melancholic that I struggled to get through it.

book is well researched and well written. The story is compelling. I love learning while I enjoy a good story.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A great book. Love the cover it is really pretty.

It is September 1940 during the blitz. Audrey is trying to blend in and survive the nightly bombings. As German and Jewish she helps evacuate British children to the country. An American solider meets her and there is a immediate connection. Will the secrets between them draw them together or tear them apart? I would highly recommend this book to romance fans and history buffs.

In Times of Rain and War is a piece of fiction inspired by real-life events during September of 1940, The Blitz has control over London with nightly bombings resulting in destruction and sadly, death. The main character, Audrey, is, like everyone, trying to avoid being one of the casualties. She is also trying to hide her true secret, that she is not who she claims to be.

This is a tightly woven story, well researched. Like Wright's The Rent Collector, you hold hope for some and wonder about others. Very well written historical fiction. I will continue to follow Camron Wright for future books.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ebook of In Times of Rain and War.

Unfortunately I did not finish this novel and only read 50 percent until finally giving up. The plot did not seem to develop and the reader is not able to feel a connection between the characters. The novel introduces many characters and it was hard to keep track of how they related to each other. The novel spends a lot of time focusing on the science and process of deactivating a bomb which may be of interest to some readers, however did not hold my interest. I was not invested in the book and did not feel the novel compelled me to continue reading to find out how the story unfolded.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Another winner by Cameron Wright! Historical Fiction is one of my go to genres. And this one did not disappoint! It is greatly compelling, and I felt so many emotions as I read it. Fingers crossed someone makes a movie of it! Thanks to Shadow Mountain and NetGalley for making this ARC copy available.

This is my first book by this author. The story focuses on an American sent to England during the London blitz to work with a bomb disposal group and learn about the process, and a German Jew living semi-incognito in London who is helping with the effort to get children out of the city. It’s about how they help each other through the difficult times and learn from each other. Ultimately, it has a great message, and the melancholy tone is appropriate considering the subject matter. Partially based on a true story, In Times of Rain and War tells the story of a German woman living in London, Audrey, and an American soldier working in bomb disposal, Wes, and how their lives intertwine. Audrey is a beautiful character with a complicated past. I admired her passion for helping the children and was intrigued about her history and reason for nightmares. On a side note, I enjoyed the details the author wrote about the Women’s Voluntary Services. Wes, on the other hand, was equally fun. It was interesting to see the various situations he endured with his team and how he tries to win them. I loved the scenes where he talks to Badger and his emotions when he sees the bodies. The the author did not force a steamy relationship of them for the reader. They share a sweet friendship. I loved many of their moments, like their chess tournaments, deep conversations about life and death, and how Audrey talks about her religion.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this ARC.

A big thank you to the author Camron Wright, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my candid review.

This is a great book that tells two stories: the story of a young woman and her aunt who have emigrated from Germany during WWII using falsified papers, and the story of a young American soldier who comes to London to study and learn about bomb defusal and disposal from the British Bomb Disposal units.

The young girl and her aunt are WRENS and are assisting in relocating children from London to rural towns to keep them safe from the German bombing.

It tells two very crucial stories in the WWII efforts and is a very readable book.

Historical fiction books based during WWII is my favorite genre. This one focused on helping children escape London after the blitz. The information about the Women’s Volunteer Services and the effort the British government made to help move thousands of children to safe locations was interesting. However, considering all that, this book didn’t appeal to me. The writing style was not engaging and did not keep me invested in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Suffering the Nazi blitz of WWII London, Audrey finds herself almost trapped in a bombed house. She must keep on trying to take children out of the war-torn city to the countryside, despite being German and a Jew. A fine example of historical fiction.

Wright (The Orphan Keeper) brings 1940 London vividly alive as he reimagines the life of an American bomb diffuser. U.S. Lieutenant Wesley Bowers joins a British bomb disposal team in 1940 and meets Audrey Stocking, a young London resident displaced when a bomb fell on her flat. The friendship between Wes and Audrey blossoms as he continues undertaking dangerous missions, and she works to resettle London children in the countryside.

Wright capably details the ongoing destruction of London with frequent air raids resulting in the loss of lives and the demolishing of buildings. He highlights the growing bond between Audrey and Wes as she offers him comfort during his darkest hours. But Audrey is hiding a secret as her home country is Germany rather than Switzerland as she claims. When British authorities discover that Audrey’s immigration documents were forged and question her, she continues to rely on her friendship with Wes who learns the reasons behind her deception. As their friendship blossoms into love, Audrey and Wes make plans for the future which is complicated by the uncertainty of the war and the fragile nature of life in a war-torn world.

Wright imbues his novel with historical accuracy while highlighting the intense emotional connections between the characters in this page-turning novel. Fans of historical fiction will want to check this one out as well as the follow-up story about Wes’s granddaughter Rachel.

This is a historical fiction novel focusing on the book disposal unit which I know nothing about. There is a love story between Wes (an American) and a girl named Audrey (a German Jew living in England). I have enjoyed reading Camron Wright's other novels with The Rent Collector being one of my most favorite books. In Times of Rain and War was an enjoyable read.

This is a beautifully written, artful work. I found this to be the kind of story where your heart wrenches at the thought that things might not work out for the main characters. I love it when I can lose myself so completely in a story. It has been a while for me since that happened.

If you are the kind of person that enjoys reading about highly relatable characters and wants to experience what they experience in the book, then you can't go wrong with this one. This novel is atmospheric and tender, frightening and hopeful all at the same time. In my opinion, this is one of the best books I have read this year.

I encourage anyone with an interest in this subject matter to give this book a shot. I think you will be glad that you did.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

What a great book of adventure and intrigue. Such a great book that keeps you interested and on your toes through the whole book!

This was a great read set in wartime London. The Blitz is not usually a subject covered in historical fiction so it was a nice change for a World War II read.

One of the best historical fiction books!

I enjoyed reading this beautifully written emotional story about German Jewish girl and American soldier who met in London during the Blitz.

The book made me laugh and cry. I like the characters, their life-stories, their views on life and death. Everything in this book is amazing!

I will highly recommend In Times of Rain and War to everyone who loves reading well-written historical fictions.

Thanks to Camron Wright, Shadow Mountain Publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book!

This emotional book begins in 1940 during The Blitz with Audrey Stocking waking up to a bomb in her apartment. Before the United States enters the war, they are sending over soldiers to learn how to disarm German bombs. Lieutenant Wesley Bowers meets Audrey and a beautiful, complicated relationship blossoms. Both have secrets and both are trying to make it out alive in war-ridden England. Despite being surrounded by the horrors of war, there is an underlying message of hope and love for all mankind.

This book is inspired by actual events of Lieutenant Wesley Bowers and there is a link to a bonus story from Lieutenant Bowers’ granddaughter who also served in the military.

Camron Wright does an amazing job in sharing such a poignant story. The beginning is a bit slow, introducing characters and setting the scene, but quickly picks up pace. By the end, I was an emotional wreck. It took me several days to process this book. This is a must read on any World War II list.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.