I absolutely loved this part true story and I did really feel as though I was living in war torn London during the blitz. Compassionately written and well researched, I am looking forward to reading the next book from this wonderful author. Thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this special book

**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. My decision to review and my opinions here are my own, as always.**

The beginning was a slow start for me as I’m not a fan of WWII books. But the writing and storyline would not be left alone. What happened to Wes and his group? When, not if, and how would Audrey and Claire’s real story come out? What would happen to them?

I finished it all at once and in a hurry once I’d made it to the halfway point, staying up far past the hour when everyone else in the house had gone to bed. While there is some romance here, this is a book more about people facing death almost every moment, yet finding a way to continue forward when every way seems blocked or hopeless.

My favorite part of this book were the letters written by one character to another. Handwritten letters have no equal for sharing a part of yourself with someone far away, even if that person will never receive your words in their hands.

First sentence: Eins! Zwei! Drei! Vier! Four bombs dropped from the plane in succession, chasing one another—though the fin on the last caught on a rivet in the bomb bay, delaying its liberation until the pilot briskly pulled the aircraft’s nose up to nudge the explosive free.

Premise/plot: Joey would put this book in the freezer. I'm tempted to leave it at that--but, of course, I won't.

In Times of Rain and War is loosely (yes, loosely) based on a true story. It is historical fiction--set in England during the Second World War--with a strong romantic undercurrent.

Audrey Stocking, our heroine, is bombed out of her apartment--along with her Aunt Claire.

Wes Bower, our hero, is an American newly arrived in England and joining a bomb squad. That is he is part of a team that works to disarm (deactivate) bombs that have fallen but not exploded. It is a dangerous job. (He learns that the average person lasts TEN WEEKS on the job before dying on the job.) Still, it's an important job--crucial. They have to LEARN and LEARN AS THEY GO; even failures can lead to future successes if they can figure out what went wrong. And since Germans--Nazis--keep coming up with new fuses (I believe the book spells that fuzes), they have to keep coming up with new strategies, techniques, protocols.

The two meet each other when she's bombed out of her apartment; he's called to the scene...

But this is NOT insta-love OR insta-lust. This book is a thousand times better than that. Wright doesn't need to stoop to that level.

My thoughts: I NEEDED A FREEZER. Man, oh man, I needed a freezer. I felt like my heart had gotten beaten up with a baseball bat.

Every single reader is different--has different likes, dislikes, hopes, expectations, etc. For some this book may prove too brutal on the heart strings. Then again, there are some people who VOLUNTARILY watch Titanic or The Notebook or The Boy in Striped Pajamas or Steel Magnolias.

I thought this one was well written. While having romantic elements certainly, this one has way too many side characters that are fully developed and fleshed out--not to mention the historical details--to be your typical "romance novel." If that comes across as an insult to an entire genre, it isn't meant to be. I promise. What I mean is that the characterization--from main characters to side characters--has depth and substance. It is SO GOOD--for better or worse. The better to break your heart perhaps.

This book was incredible. From the detailed descriptions from WWII bombs to the actual historical people the story was based on it was simply amazing.

It was a perfect balance of a hint of mystery with a hint of romance. It also included some really great letters and usually I don't enjoy epistolary stole.

I really admired both Audrey and Wes for their wartime efforts. I also enjoyed the times they got together to chat over biscuits. The whole book was beautiful.

The ending was so well done. But no spoilers.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This novel explores the lives of two German women who were sent to England to escape the Nazi regime before the war began. Audrey Stocking is awakened by a bomb that shatters her apartment building and lands in her bottom flat but does not explode. She meets an American soldier serving in the bomb squad to learn how to de-fuze them, and they become friends. The work of de-fuzing the bombs creates what we now call PTSD, which complicates the friendship with Audrey. The constant danger of the work is emphasized as men are lost to bombs that explode unexpectedly.
Years ago, I watched a PBS Masterpiece Theatre series called "Danger UXB" about the bomb disposal units who served in London during the 1940 Blitz during World War II. I've never forgotten how necessary these men were during that horrifying time. This novel goes deep into the problems of removing the fuzes from the unexploded bombs, which I found fascinating. Thank you, Netgalley.

I admit, when I initially started reading this book, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought the story would be dark and depressing about the terrors of war. Yes, it does contain a few of those scenes, but it is SO MUCH much! The story turned out to be incredible that me going through all kinds of emotions!

Let’s start with the two leads. 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.

Moreover, I loved Wes and Audrey! Thankfully, 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.

Furthermore, the author did a fantastic job in narrating the plot. There is never a dull moment, and the story gets thrilling towards the climax. There were a few shocking twists I did not expect. Moreover, I thought the author is incredibly talented and hard-working for the details put into the story. I felt I learned so much about bomb diffusing, from anti withdrawal devices to steam sterilizers. Similarly, I learned facts about various people involved, like Rühlemann.

In short, “In Times of Rain and War” is an excellent historical fiction novel that I loved reading!

This book is set during the period of the London Blitz during World War II. . Wes, an American soldier serving in the British Army disarming bombs, meets Audrey who is an German living secretly in London. They meet when Wes is involved with the disarming of a bomb that hit Audrey's flat. As their relationship develops, they both realize they must be prepared to face whatever fate is handed them and live life to the fullest. They also must answer the question of whether they are ready to face the afterlife. This story is beautifully written and shows the reader that something good can come out of something terrible..

This is a historical fiction set in London during WW II. Our main characters are Wesley Bowers and Audrey Stocking. Wesley is an American Marine who is assigned to the British military learning about unexploded bomb disposal.
Audrey has her secrets; she is a German Jew who is living in London using a false identification. She meets Wesley when he's sent to defuse a bomb. Audrey is trying to blend in and survive all the while missing her family in Germany. She and Wesley form a friendship and develop an attraction to one another but their relationship may never have chance to develop. Wesley's chance of surviving his bomb disposal detail is an average of 10 weeks. Audrey is hiding her identity but military intelligence officers may discover her.

It's harrowing to think of the life expectancy of the soldiers who performed these duties. Such self sacrifice and bravery, much to be admired. This novel addresses PTSD and what war can do you emotionally as well as physically.

As a side note, if you ever get an opportunity to watch a Masterpiece Theater program called Danger: UXB starring Anthony Andrews, it's very good. There is a more up to date movie about bomb disposal called The Hurt Locker and both can have you on edge during the crucial bomb defusing scenes.

Publication date is 6 April 2021 by Shadow Mountain Publishing. Genre: Historical Fiction.

Much thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I was not compensated for my review and opinions are mine.

This story is set in London, during the dark days of the Battle Of Britain, before America entered the war. While this is a factual accounting which has been fictionalized it does not detract from the grim story of the young american marine assigned to a British Unexploded Bomb detail. It tells in grim detail the horror of war and the determination of those proud individuals to succeed in an impossible situation. I wish I could say it ended well but this was reality not a fairy tale.

I enjoyed the book (5 stars) and would buy and recommend it to everyone who enjoys a good book.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

Camron Wright wove the horrors of war with the beauty of courage, love, friendship and most of all trust into a beautifully written WWII historical novel centered around The Blitz. In Times of Rain and War, the story focusses on Wesley Bowers, an American Marine 2nd Lieutenant who is sent to England to shadow a bomb disposal team prior to US joining the war, and Audrey Stocking, a German Jew who escaped from the Nazi Germany to Switzerland and then entered England on a forged passport. The story begins as the Luftwaffe's Blitz (bombing campaign of London) commences.

Wesley meets 17-year-old Audrey when he tries to defuse a bomb that landed in her London flat at the beginning of the Blitz. With alternating (short) chapters, we learn what it was like to live through the Blitz (many of the details culled from dairies written by British volunteers during the devastation). This includes initial resentment toward Wes from most of his bomb disposal team for America not yet helping them fight the Germans. Through chapters following Wes' boss, we learn details about the evolving sophistication of bomb fuses and the British "backroom boys" efforts to develop ways to disarm them, which I found credible and interesting.

Audrey, meanwhile, is an immigrant trying to "hide in plain sight" with her Aunt Claire, keeping the secrets of their past deeply hidden. While portraying themselves as locals, they compassionately ferry displaced children to temporary homes outside London for the Women's Voluntary Services.

The two stories intertwine with a lot of twists and turns, centering on friendship, innocent romance, and high emotion as secrets are revealed and lives put at risk. The baseline theme, however, is courage and trust. As I read, I kept visualizing a movie version.
After finishing the book and reading the author's note at the end, I was impressed to learn that the author was introduced to the WWII bomb disposal teams by Rachel Bowers, granddaughter to Wesley Bowers. He died when she was young but left her a legacy that she continued in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I definitely will seek out more written by Camron Wright. Four & a half stars.

💣 HEARTBREAK AND HOPE 💣

This is the Blitz book I’ve been waiting for. It’s a “you are there” hist fic novel with scenes so real you understand, perhaps for the first time, what it was like to endure Nazi bombings in London, 1940. Only a short section in Erik Larson’s fine THE SPLENDID AND THE VILE matches it. I was so taken by IN TIMES OF RAIN AND WAR that all sensory input shut down, save sight pinning me to the page.

💣
I will never forget the wrenching Blitz scenes, nor the story of German-born Audrey hiding in London, nor of American Lieutenant Wesley Bowers, part of the area Bomb Squad, who helps when her apartment is blitzed. Will Audrey’s past engulf her? Will Lieut. Bowers, who falls for her, survive work that typically kills within 10 weeks? No spoilers here. Just one admonition: READ THIS BOOK!

💣
5 of 5
Pub Date 06 Apr 2021
#InTimesofRainandWar #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

I couldn't wait to receive this ARC because "The Rent Collector" is in my top five all-time favorite read. Additionally, this newest premise was irresistible as well: an American soldier, working to defuse bombs during the London Blitz, falls for a German Jew in hiding.
Unfortunately two factors marred my enjoyment of the novel. First: the frequent, in-depth description of different bombs, fuses, metals used, destructive power, and the intricate steps required to defuse each read more like text book instruction. The large chunks of this instructional narrative deviated from the story, hurt the pace and decimated the intrigue factor. Second: Whereas the unusual word choices heightened the story of a Cambodian protagonist in his previous work, the same could not be true of an American in a British setting. Therefore his analogies and dialogue were so awkward and clunky I was continually thrown from the story to reread the cringe-worthy phrases. Sorry, but this was a swing and a miss for me.

Camron Wright but it head on when this story was written. I have no clue to on where to begin but first off I would really love to see this story made into a movie and I don't ever hardly say such a thing,but not to change a thing like making movies do when they make a movie from a book. WWII in England,was bad enough with the bombing but so many secrets were going on,so many different people there hiding and this is what Audrey was doing. Follow her life as it unfolds and she falls for a American soldier who basically saves her life. I learned so much about how bombs and the brave men and women who had to handle them and disarm them before they blew up. Audrey was trying to keep her head down not to call attention to herself,she's not only Jewish she's from Germany. Will the man she's falling in love with,will be still love her if and when he finds out? I fell in love with all characters,they had their own personalities and I'm sure that's hard to do when building a story like this one and then having them come alive for you on paper,they did for me! Grab some tissues you are really going to need them. Before you know it as you read,you have placed yourself in their lives. Received from Net Gallery and I'm so glad I was about to read this fantastic real to life story ,it was for me real! Can't rave enough on not only this complicated love war story but this author really made it come alive for me and I so hope for you! I will for sure read more of this authors stories!

World War II is a particularly interesting period for me, so I have read at fair number of books focused around that time. “In Times of Rain and War” addresses the Blitz in London prior to the United States entering the war. It was a particularly frightening time for the British people and even more harrowing for the Bomb Squads who responded to unexploded bombs all over the area. Lieutenant Wes Bowers is an American assigned to a Bomb Squad, who struggles with the possibility of dying each time his crew is called to a bomb scene.

Audrey Stocking is a young German girl who assists with relocating children to locations away from London for their safety. Her Passport is a forgery and she speaks perfect English, allowing her to reside and work in London. When a bomb lands in her apartment and fails to explode, Audrey hurriedly evacuated, but she returns to retrieve some personal items and meets Lt. Bowers. He rescues her belongings just before blowing up her home and they begin a friendship that helps each of them to deal with their own fears and frailties.

I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review. This book offers a good WWII story, but it goes so far beyond that in the insights and wisdom offered regarding war, fear, healing, love, loss and more. Overall this story (loosely based on some real people as described in the Author’s Notes), is a celebration of life and worth at least ten stars!

IN TIMES OF RAIN AND WAR by CAMRON WRIGHT is a beautifully written WW11 story that is both heart wrenching and heart warming. It is a story about courage, love, friendship and the trust that develops between people in times of great strain, when even deeply hidden secrets and fears come out into the open.
Audrey Stocking and Claire Bergmann are German girls who work in London transporting children out of the city to safety in 1940, as the bombing gains momentum.
Second Lieutenant Wesley Bowers has come from America to work in a bomb disposal team. At first he is not accepted but soon becomes part of this close knit group of courageous men. I love to see how the British sayings baffle him. I also love to see the sense of humour amongst them, considering their average life expectancy is ten weeks.
Audrey meets Wesley when he defuses a bomb that lands in her flat.
I am not going to tell you any more excepting to say that it is a really inspiring read with a great story and unforgettable characters.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Official rating: 3.5/5 stars

In Times of Rain and War is a historical fiction novel chronicling the experiences of an American soldier attached to the bomb disposal unit. During his time in England, he encounters a young lady hiding a deep secret. Audrey Stocking is secretly a German, and has hid her identity to prevent her and her aunt's arrest. Throughout their time together, they cultivate a friendship that soon becomes more.

I greatly enjoyed the portions on bomb disarmament and disposal, but I found the parts which were in Audrey's point of view less compelling. Her character seemed less developed in comparison.

The multiple skips in between the short chapters towards the end were also jarring and I felt myself frequently thrown out of reverie by the chopping storytelling. All in all, I still enjoyed the book, though I felt some things could be improved.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is an honest review.

Based partly on a true story, this is a World War II historical novel with a decent enough plot that suffers from episodes of excessive detail and over-writing. 3.5 stars is probably more accurate than 3.

Wes Bowers is an American officer working in London during the time of the London Blitz. The United States has not yet entered the war so Wes is NOT immediately accepted by his British comrades, even though they are collaborating on the extremely dangerous task of diffusing unexploded bombs. As these relationships improve over time there are some quite touching moments.

During the course of his work, Wes meets a young woman, Audrey Stocking, who chaperones young children, sent by their parents to the English countryside, to escape the dangers of German bombing. Wes and Audrey are immediately attracted to one another. But Audrey, who suffers from periodic panic attacks, has secrets she isn’t sharing.

The plot is unpredictable, with a few surprise twists. And centers around the slow revealing of Audrey’s secrets.

Certainly lots of dramatic potential here, with soldiers diffusing bombs in the middle of a large city and a woman harboring secrets. But the book seemed very "male" to me. Probably because I felt more emphasis was placed on the men's work and relationships PLUS what to me felt like an excessive about of detail about the bombs themselves. Like how fuses differ, how they work, and the different approaches required to diffuse each type. To me, this information was exceedingly dry and dull, each instance just one more delay in the unfolding of the plot.

I also referenced above what felt TO ME like instances of overwriting. I found that particularly true at the start of the book. For me, too many literary devices sprinkled within convoluted sentence structure, Here's one example from page one, describing the release of a bomb from an airplane: "Faster, closer, wilder, causing the wind to exhale, the sky to shiver, the clouds to arch aside, all fleeing its frightening shrill, a battle cry to remember the Heimat, the cherished German motherland."

Overall, I recommend the book, though I think those who will like it best are those who like stories about World War II, bombs, the London Blitz, and refugees. If I were going to recommend a book by author Camron Wright though, it would more likely be his 2012 novel, THE RENT COLLECTOR.

#InTimesOfRainAndWar #NetGalley

This book, is a story told through the eyes of Wes Bowers, an American ,serving among the British at the time of the Blitz. Wes, along with others are on a team of bomb disposals which is very dangerous, there is a one in ten day chance of survival.
Audrey Stocking, is a young girl, who works along side others to place England's children away from home during the bomb raids.
The two stories, intertwined, kept me turning pages. A story of loss, friendship, and forgiveness.

God Save TexasIn Times of Rain and War by Camron Wright is a fictionalized World War II historical fiction novel that looks at British Bomb Disposal Unit and is based in part upon diaries written by volunteers. It describes the devastation and destruction of England, particularly London, during the Blitz. It is fast-paced, yet poignant and compelling with lovely imaging and prose. The heroine, Audrey Stocking is a German Jew masquerading as British to escape Hitler. The hero, Lieutenant Wesley Bowers is an American in training with the Bomb Squad.

The novel also looks at PTSD and how people can survive a war but never leave it fully behind. While something of a romance, there is a twist at the end that carries In Times of Rain and War beyond the usual sappy war romance. It is fast-paced, yet poignant and compelling with lovely imaging and prose. Author Camron Wright makes good use of literary sequels to highlight some of the most important scenes.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and impartial review.

The Blitz, the Luftwaffe's strategic bombing campaign on London, commenced in September, 1940. A bomb wedged itself in the floor of Audrey Stocking's flat. Seventeen year old Audrey, choking for air, was able to gingerly evacuate the flat where the bomb had fallen through the ceiling, ripping part of a supporting wall while clouds of grit enveloped the entire building. Once Audrey and her Aunt Claire arrived at an Underground Shelter, Audrey realized she had forgotten her list, a directory of children who would be sent to the English countryside by the Women's Voluntary Services (WVS), a cause championed by Lady Reading, the organization's founder. "Hidden carefully beneath her mattress...a rectangular wooden box made of carefully carved and stained ebony. If the letters inside this box were discovered, it would ruin everything". Bomb or no bomb, Audrey was determined to sneak into her flat to retrieve her list and ebony box. The building, now roped off, had a sign that read "No Entry, Unexploded Ordnance". A guard was stationed at the barricade.

Audrey explained to Wes Bowers, an American Marine stationed at the building and deployed to observe the method of defusing unexploded bombs, that in the confusion, she had forgotten a list of child evacuees. Before removing the bomb, Wes scanned the flat finding Audrey's binder and her treasured ebony box. A budding friendship was soon to arise. This special bond aided Audrey who experienced crippling bouts of anxiety and melancholy. Audrey and Aunt Claire were trying to ride out the war in London using forged passports. They must keep their true identities secret. Lady Reading of the VWS had detected Audrey's slight accent, however, Audrey Stocking's ethics and assistance in saving children was beyond reproach.

Second Lieutenant Wesley Bowers, an American, had recently arrived in England. Bowers would be shadowing a British Bomb Disposal Squad. The average life expectancy of those working bomb disposal was ten weeks. Colonel Moore, a pensioner in his 60's and an experienced soldier of the Great War would command the small squadron. "...the war pits Bomb Disposal sections, with little more than basic tools...against the best scientists Germany has to offer...technical lads take the information and hardware we send them and tear it apart, analyze it, and experiment with it, looking for creative ways to defeat the German bombs".

In alternating chapters, Audrey works relentlessly to help prioritize the children and deliver them to farms and communities outside London. Wesley, as part of Colonel Moore's team, learns the intricacies of defusing bombs. "It's different when you know you'll be standing right beside it, touching it, dancing with it...Your pulse will beat like a kettledrum...your muscles will snug into what feels like a single knot...after a while it gets considerably easier".

"Most who have suffered trauma in life tend to stay quiet, not talk about it...". Audrey's ebony box took center stage as it contained letters sent to and received from her papa. She shared her letter writing philosophy with civilians and military personnel she met in WWII London. "A well-thought-through letter whispers with sight, touch, smell-and, most importantly time". "Wesley felt better having taken the time to consider his feelings, to express them on paper...".

"In Times of Rain and War" by Camron Wright is a novel of historical fiction that "teaches the truth" based upon the experiences of Wesley Bowers, a member of the British Bomb Disposal Unit. Although a fictionalized account, the novel is based in part upon volunteers who wrote diaries as they were witnessing the devastation and destruction during the Blitz. "Life is seldom what we ask for, and we should thank heaven for every painful, wearisome, hurtful, joyous, amazing, gentle moment". Highly recommended.

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.