This was my first foray into the writing of this author, and I really struggled to get through it. Mostly because this is a sad story, and the tone is very melancholy. There are some moments of levity to break up the monotony, and I very much appreciated those. There are a lot of historical tidbits sprinkled throughout, some of which are very technical and dry. At one of these points, my daughter read a couple paragraphs over my shoulder and asked if I was reading a history book. They are interesting if you’re in to learning details about different WWII-era bombs and how to dispose of them.

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. But I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who can’t handle a bittersweet conclusion.

This is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year, if not ever. It’s one that will stay with me for some time to come. Set during the London blitz of WWII, it shows a side of the war not often characterized. In this book, we see much of the everyday struggles to survive, as well as the joy of being alive, and hope—always the hope that things will get better (and this was 1940–early days of the war, when things seemed darkest). Wes is a US soldier assigned to a British bomb disposal unit (before the US had entered the war). We are introduced to a wonderful, motley cast of characters in his unit that show the best of the backbone holding Britain together at that time. The personalities and quirks of these gentlemen, as well as the rich detail about their job and how they went about it, make for delightful reading. Correspondingly there are Audrey and her Aunt Claire. Although they have entered England under false papers, they are working for the war effort, devotedly relocating London’s children to the country for safety. As Wes and Audrey meet, and later develop a friendship, little by little their hopes and dreams, fears and histories are revealed to build a complex yet simple story. We see who they are and what made them that way, and in a unique way that is so compelling. The secondary plots add another level of intrigue and suspense, building even more depth to this amazing novel. It’s a fabulous must read. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. This is my freely given, honest review.

Waking up to a ticking bomb, Audrey’s life, which has already been through so much upheaval, changes again when she meets Wes. She escorts young children to a safer place to wait out the war. Her work is important and she wants to make a difference. Wes is an American helping the war effort; he’s learning to diffuse bombs. A tricky thing when the Germans are constantly changing the fuses. Audrey is carrying a secret, one that could alter her life even more if it gets out. She will do what she can while protecting that secret.

While I think the touch of added romance was a bit forced, I appreciated the alternating points of view and how they told of the war effort through each’s eyes. I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, the research that went into writing this, and Camron’s author note, which tells the details in which he came to research this book. The characters are richly detailed, Audrey’s story is incredibly engaging. Overall, this is an enjoyable read. Thank you, Shadow Mountain Publishing, for sending this along.

A little while ago I received a request for a review for a book from Camron Wright. I was super excited when I got it since I knew that I had to read it. I am a huge fan of his books. I have read I believe three books in the past by him and have reviewed each of them as they have come out. I was looking forward to it since I seemingly have been on a WW2 kick as of late and knew that it would be something that I would enjoy.

Audrey has come to England from Germany via Switzerland. She is working on saving children from the Blitz that is happening in London. She is working with her Aunt Claire and Lady Reading. However, during one of the bombings, she ends up with a bomb right through the floor of her flat. It is through the bombing of her flat that she comes in contact with Wes, an American that is assigned to the bomb disposal unit here in London. Wes and Audrey become friends. What Wes doesn’t know is that Audrey is harboring a secret that is so deep that they both don’t know where it will lead. This book was really good. I am a huge fan of the author already and this book just cements him in my list of favorite authors of all time. It may have taken me a little bit to get through it but my Grandmother died and I was slightly distracted from binge reading it. What got me through was the fact that my Grandmother was an avid reader and it was something that she probably would have enjoyed. There was England which something that she was a BIT of a fan of.

The author wrote the characters in a way that made them human. I felt for Audrey when I finally learned her secret. My heart literally ached for her. I was stunned when I learned the truth. In all honesty, I was truly rooting for Audrey and Wes to become a thing. I really wanted them to get together as a couple they had such great chemistry. I really wanted love to win. I think that the way that Audrey’s story unfolded was brilliant. Audrey was someone that I wanted to be best friends with. She had such a personality. The way that the story ended left me in tears but it also gave me closure to the rest of the book. The author left no loose ends for me to wonder what could have happened. I see has written a few other books and one of them is actually on my bookshelf currently. I can’t wait to dig it out and read it soon.

This was both heartbreaking and hopeful.
To be honest, this had been sitting on my NetGalley shelf for a few months and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it when it got closer to the publication date. Why? Because war is such a heavy topic. I normally love historical fiction, but I’ve found myself turning them down a lot this year and picking up lighter reads. Real life seems to be heavy enough without adding something also based on a true story from the past.

That being said, I’m glad I did. This made me feel all the things.
I thought it was well written, and the characters were multidimensional and really well done. I had a hard time putting it down. I was pulled in right from the prologue.
I’m really happy I decided to pick this up because as sad and tragic as this story is, the hope it brings to your heart by the final sentence is extraordinary.

Thank you NetGalley and Camron Wright for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I must not have read the blurb on the back of this book, because I didn't realize until I got to the author's note at the end that it was based on a true story. And I'm sitting here with a lump in my throat and not really sure what to think about the story. Oh, it was good, don't get me wrong. Very well-written, with excellent characters that I felt like I really got to know. (Driver was one of my favorites.) But man, war just sucks! The things that any of the soldiers had to experience are mind- blowing and heartbreaking and nauseating and insert any other adjective here. Then you have the air raids over London and the retaliating strike over Hamburg. It's all so heartbreaking. So yeah, I'm not sure how to feel about this book. It's definitely not a light, easy beach read. Bring tissues, be prepared for some heavy stuff, but also get ready to fall in love with Wes, Audrey, and all of the other characters.

Another World War II novel, but this one felt unique and unlike the others. The novel follows two main characters - Audrey who is an active member of the WVS as she is helping get kids to safety while the war ravages the country. The other main character is Wes, an American who is on the "Bomb Disposal Company 5" and is disarming bombs that Germans are dropping in hopes of saving lives before they detonate and cause more damage.

While I knew more about Audrey and the things that she did for the war effort, I appreciated her storyline in this book to show different efforts made in the war for the communities impacted by war. But Wes' storyline felt more new and different and with all the things I was learning, I was more captivated by his work and the team that he was surrounded by - they were entertaining!

For me, I enjoyed the characters and they are the reason I kept reading, but the writing just didn't capture my attention. I also kept reading because my favorite thing about historical fiction is when I am learning something and Wes' storyline and the details about the bombs that were dropped was all new information to me. In other books, bombs are dropped and there isn't much more detail than that, so to read about the teams that dispose of them, but also the scientists that are trying to learn things about the bombs, kept me going in this book.

This was my second Camron Wright read and while I didn't enjoy this as much as the first, I am still intrigued by his backlist and hope to get to them soon.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing this ARC. I almost didn’t read it because I’ve read so many books about WWII; however The Orphan Keeper by this same author is in my top 5 all-time favorite books. I enjoyed the way that this emotional story about a Jewish woman escaping Germany to help innocent children get to safety in war-torn London was written. Her story intertwines with Wesley Bowers, an American in London to diffuse bombs. I found the story fascinating and the writing very compelling. I would recommend this one when it is published in 4/6.

This book has everything in it - Love, deceit, death, war. It is set in London during World War II when the Blitz began. Audrey Stocking lives with her aunt and they work to evacuate children to the country to protect them. Audrey is Jewish, but she is hiding her identity. She meets an American Wesley Bowers. To call this book “just a love story” does not do it justice. We see Audrey and Wesley’s relationship grow as does Audrey’s growth as a young woman.
This is based on many historical facts. I really learned a lot about the bomb squad. This book kept me interested until the end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

First I would like to say a huge thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book. It is a little different take on WWII than I normally read as it is about a group of men who dismantle bombs. I don't see that in many of the books I read. I loved the characters and the writing. The characters were very endearing. I loved the impact that letters have on our them and how letters can heal the broken parts of our lives, and sometimes change the outcome for the future. I tend to agree that the written word is so much better than talking by telephone. There is some mystery and intrigue surrounding Audrey and I was shocked by some of the discoveries that came about. My heart broke at the end of the book. I have not read anything by Camron Wright but now he is on my radar and I am looking forward to reading more.
If you like historical fiction and WWII books, this is one you will want to read.

This emotional book starts in September, 1940. The Blitz has overtaken London with ongoing bombings creating death and destruction. For Audrey Stocking, she is not only trying to survive but trying to hide her true identity. She is German and Jewish having escaped to England with a fake passport. Audrey has been working for the Woman’s Voluntary Services to bring children to the countryside for safety. During an air raid, an unexploded bomb lands in her apartment. A bomb disposal unit comes to remove it and she meets Lieutenant Wesley Bowers, an American. Their meeting is the beginning of a special connection between two people living one day at a time.

In Times of Rain and War was inspired by the actual life of Lieutenant Bowers. Author Camron Wright details the bravery of those who worked to disarm the German bombs, which continued to become more and more sophisticated and tough to prevent from detonating. Amidst all the horror surrounding them, Audrey and Wes find hope.

This was a fast-moving book that shook me to the core. By the time the book ended, I was filled with so much emotion that I had to sit and reflect on what I’d just read. This beautiful book should be added to your list of WWII-era books to read.

Rated 4.25 stars.

I received a free electronic ARC of this novel from Netgalley, Camron Wright, and Shadow Mountain Publishers. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this historical novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. This book was a joy to read, filled with warmth and heart despite the theme. I will enjoy more from Camron Wright.

We travel beginning in September 1940 into London as the city endures the Blitz, through two differing viewpoints. Lieutenant Wesley Bowers is an American Marine, in London to study and learn all that he can from the British Bomb Disposal Royal Engineers. Attempting to neutralize unexploded bombs in situ is a fairly new concept but one that is evolving quickly. Members of the bomb disposal units average a life expectancy of ten weeks on the job, so there is still a LONG way to go on perfecting this profession.

Aubrey Stocking is a highly educated mid-twenties Swiss citizen living in England with her Aunt and working steadily as a volunteer with Lady Reading's Women's Voluntary Services, WVS, escorting children from dangerous London homes and housing them with families in less dangerous, pastoral villages. This is work she and her Aunt find essential, and it is something Aubrey feels she can do for the children despite her mysterious medical problems.

Wes and Aubrey meet when his BS unit is called to Aubrey's bedroom to defuse an unexploded bomb. The story only gets more exciting from this point, on. Don't plan on any sleep the day you open this book.

pub date April 6, 2021
Reviewed on March 12, 2021, at Goodreads. Reviewed on March 21 at Netgalley,

In Times of Rain and War is the story of an American, Wes, who is stationed in London working with the Ordinance Disposal Unit, and Audrey, a German Jew hiding in London. The story mostly takes place at the early part of the war, during the Blitz when air-raids on London were almost constant. The story is well developed, and it alternates between the two main characters. We follow Wes as he gets to know his squad and we learn a lot about the bombs that fell and how they disarmed them. Really fascinating. Audrey of course, has a dark secret that gets unraveled along the way.

I really enjoyed the story, the characters and plot were well developed. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

OMG, I feel like a broken record, BUT, this is a beautifully written story of love and war.

There is nothing I can say that other reviewers haven't already said about this wonderful and tragic book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in April 2021.

Sometimes I wish I could just say I liked this story and be done with it, but that really wouldn’t be fair because I really enjoyed In Times of Rain and War. The prologue was vivid and terrorizing and a kick start to a story that was sometimes harrowing and heartbreaking, but also filled with love and compassion. It’s told in multiple perspectives with the main characters being Wes Bowers and Audrey Stocking. The perspectives were interesting and gave deeper insight to the characters and what is going on around them.

Wes Bowers is an American soldier sent to London to train with the bomb disposal team. He meets Audrey Stocking, a German Jew hiding in plain sight. They form a loving friendship something that is much needed in bombed-out London. With a romantic element, I’ll admit I’m a certain kind of reader. I like a little angst. I do not like my heart ripped out. I enjoy the development of the relationship. I feel I didn’t really get it here. With the passing of time it was just assumed the relationship was there without much time spent together. I had an expectation and was thrown a bit by the trajectory the story took.

A significant element of the story is letter writing. The letters were intimate and gave a closeness that otherwise might not have been there.

On the whole, while there were a couple of times I felt the story was truncated, it was still a beautiful story of hope, love, and resilience.

I enjoy historical fiction about WWII and thought this book looked interesting. It started slow for me, it took a good while to get to know the characters and to feel vested in them. The early part of the story was slow and felt disjointed. The last third held my attention and I wanted to keep reading.

The characters were relatable, and there was definite empathy for Audrey. Her story, though fiction, was very compelling. The ending is sad, but with hope, which I think is what ones takes out of this book. Hope and love, that is what we need to keep in mind. And to continue to look upward.

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.

A great subject and fascinating story about two WWII teams that are inspired by real people.

Second Lieutenant Wes Bower is an American working with the British Bomb Disposal team. At first, he is treated as an outsider with his Yankee ‘posh’ uniform. He will work hard to earn the ultimate respect of his team.

The second group highlighted by the author is the Women’s Voluntary Services, ‘The Army that Hitler Forgot.’ This newly formed women’s organization handled children evacuations, first aid, etc. Audrey is one of its’ volunteers and introduced in the beginning pages when a bomb crashes through her ceiling but does not detonate. This will bring Wes into her orbit and their relationship blossoms. I would love a Netflix series on this one.

Love will always persist

An emotional and heartbreaking story of love and loss during WWII. Audrey Stocking a young Jewish girl in London under a forged passport meets a young American soldier named Wes Bowers assigned to a bomb disposal unit when his unit comes to defuse an unexplored bomb in her apartment.

As they comfort each other during the worse of the bombing blitz in London, she tells Wes her darkest secrets and she comforts him when most of his team is wiped out by a bomb they are defusing.

They learn that without pain love cannot exist and that when all the fire and smoke settles life goes on. Life is fragile and that we should savor every moment. We cannot live in the past nor speculate over the future but must live in the present. No matter what happens we must try our best to live life in spite of heartaches we might have faced because Love will always persist.

It is a story of the horrors of war, the rewards of love and the fragility of life. We learn of the tremendous amount of innocent lives lost because of the war and the tragedies caused to all involved. We also are reminded of the hero’s who fight our wars and put their lives in danger to insure our freedom. The consequences the soldiers face during and after the war are heartbreaking and life changing. No one that has ever lived through a war is ever the same again.

The ending chapters were so sad, but so true to life. I enjoyed reading this book, and I could not put it down. I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Camron Wright, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of the book.

This was a heartbreaking book about Audrey Stocking, a young Jewish woman living in England and trying to transport young children safely out of the bombed London homes and into the country. She meets an American, Wesley Bowers who is working with the British to disarm the unexploded German bombs that lie in the streets.

They strike up a friendship and try to keep safe during the trying wartime.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This was a good book and interesting to read. It was a little slow for me at times but it turned out good.
#intimesofrainandwar #netgalley