I loved this story. Josie Banks is homeless after her house is bombed during WWII. Her husband is off in the military and so she is sent to a small village as an evacuee and finds herself staying with an austere gentlewoman and her bitter Irish housekeeper. Josie is an outgoing woman and soon meets and is welcomed by members of the community as well as members of the local military base. This is a wonderful love story and I enjoyed every page.

This is the lovely story of a young London woman sent to the countryside during World War II. As she changes during her time there, she also changes the people around her, for the better. London 1940: Josie Banks’ unpleasant husband is off to war. The tea room where she worked is bombed and the owner is killed. Then Josie’s home is also bombed leaving her with a broken collar bone, no clothes or possessions and no home.

Josie is evacuated to the countryside and placed in a country estate with the elderly aristocrat lady Miss Harcourt, who is not happy to have a stranger in her home.
While the story takes place during WWII it is not exactly a WWII story nor is it exactly a romance, it is a story of many facets that keeps the reader engaged throughout because the characters are nothing if not interesting.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

I really liked Where the Sky Begins, it’s well done historical fiction. I love reading different genres, historical fiction is a nice change from romantic fiction!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for proving me with the ARC for this book. I already love so many books by this author but this one was especially good! She paints the settings with such wonderfully descriptive pictures that I always feel like I’m living in that era of history. I read this book in one afternoon because I just had to know how the story would end, and because I felt like for a short time I’d been transported back to WW2 England. Absolutely loved it!

Really great book! The plot was well-written and engrossing. Rhys Bowen is my absolute favorite author and I read every, single book she writes.

Rhys Bowen has been one of my favorite authors for years. This book gives a new avenue and tackles a topic that she would find difficult in her other lighter novels. WW2 is casting a shadow over the world and darkening every corner of every charaters life. This books explores those effects and how some survive.

This novel was most enjoyable. Set in England during WWII, it gives you a look at the bombing of London, life in the countryside of England. The characters showed the strength of the English people and how the adapted to changes in their lives, during the war. I would recommend this book to everyone,

Rhys Bowen is an author that, incredibly has passed me by and I’m so glad I requested this book and was approved. This was a story full of hope and community and although incredibly sad in places it didn’t feel like I was being pulled into a real downer as some books can. I really enjoyed the factual aspect of this book and reading about every day life in ww2 and the struggles it brought about. The main character Josie is a strong woman dealing with many set backs and I was rooting for her throughout!,

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentray copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was a lovely book, that was well written and it is a haunting fictional portrayal of a devastating time in our history. This book was descriptive without being too emotionally difficult to read, but just real enough that you didn't feel that they were glossing over such a tragic time. Josie was a very interesting main character and I felt for her instantly, she was real and shown as a woman of strength and morals. This book takes places in World War II era, and as I followed Josie's story as she leaves war-torn London and heads to the countryside, I was sucked in to the story and immersed in her world.

I would definitaely read more books by this author.

I have to say that I didn't really become invested in this book until about 3/4 in. Before that, it was pretty repetitive and dull at times as it was mostly just the MC going about her day-to-day life. It then picked up though when Mi5 became involved, as well as the whole mystery with what really happened with Mike and his wife. I then found it way more interesting and enjoyable.

I guess my main issue with this book was the pacing. Like I said, it was slow in the beginning, and then the ending felt a little rushed. Overall though, and enjoyable read if you're into historical fiction, especially involving World War II.

This was my first Rhys Bowen novel, and I can see know why her books and popular and highly rated. I will definitely be checking out more from this author in the future.

I really enjoyed this book. Having read many books set in WWII, this one was a little different in that it followed an adult evacuee. After losing her house and family to the bombing in London, she is sent on a train with children needing to be placed somewhere safe. Though she was not welcomed, she found a way to start over in the country. Though I knew many people lost everything, Josie's story highlighted how hard it was to keep on trying in the hope someday things might just get better. I thank Netgalley for the chance to read the ARC. If you like historical fiction you will like this book!

I am always up for a WW2 read so I have been looking forward to reading this one. I liked this story; it's got an interesting storyline and it held my attention throughout the book. I liked Josie as a main character and the supporting cast add a lot to the story. Good read overall for me. 3.5 stars for me rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.

Rhys Bowen's novel captures the time and place and drama with eloquence. The characters are real. The pacing is exemplary. Perfect for those looking for a World War II drama with a realistic homefront POV.

In my AUTHOR PROVOCATEUR podcast, Rhys and I discuss how and when this story came to her research into one of England's most devasting wars, and why she loves to pivot in and out of writing mysteries--all great stuff.: https://apple.co/3AdtGC1

Overall 3.5 stars - rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the plot of this book. I’ve never read a WW2 historical fiction which features the countryside in such prominence and the evacuees, especially adults. For me, that drew me in straight away. Every single character mentioned had a special place in the story. As the reader, you could tell that the author had spent time creating a backstory to each one. This brought the entire book to life.

I loved the romance element to it and the love triangle which was created. Although, I could tell the plot twists in regards to the romance from very early in the book. Once a ‘twist’ came, I could immediately work out how it was going to be resolved later in the book. This ruined elements of the reading experience for me. The other twists and turns of the book were not much of a surprise to me. Even when they were revealed to the reader later, I could work out who or what it would be without having been given many clues by the author.

Overall, the book was a fantastic World War Two read and I would highly recommend it to everyone. While romantic and mysterious, the historical elements truly captured my attention the most. Although I found myself guessing every twist correctly and other parts of the book repetitive, I would still recommend this to lovers of historical fiction. You won’t regret picking this book up

I enjoyed reading this historical story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed thier writing sytle and how they were able to bring the story to life. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author. This is a well written story that takes place during WWII and how one womans determination and life is turned upside down. I enjoyed how I was pulled into the story. The characters are connectable and had an emotional side to them. You can feel the emotion in parts and feel the danger. I found this book to be fast paced and entertaining to read. I enjoyed how the characters had me coming back for more. I enjoyed the growth of the characters as well as the plot throughout the story. I really enjoyed what the characters brought to the story. I highly recommend this book.

I've read all of Rhys Bowens books, and I really like her historical standalone books. This may not be my favorite, but I really enjoyed it as a cosy WWII novel. I appreciate how Josie, the main character, is not the typical wife who has sent her husband off to war. She represents many women who were trapped in a loveless or even abusive marriage, which I'm sure was more common in reality than most fiction would lead us to believe. Josie"s story is still uplifting and hopeful, as she learns to stand on her own two feet and finds ways to help the war effort in the English countryside.

Thanks to Netgalley, GetRedPR and Lake Union Publishing for the gifted digital copy of this book.

Josie Banks' life is upended when her husband is shipped off to war and her London home is bombed. Left with nothing and no one to turn to, she is evacuated out of London to the countryside with other women and children. Forced to live with a most unfriendly older woman and her even unfriendlier servant, Josie goes about finding her way in this new village, making connections and searching for her purpose. Seeking to bring hope and comfort to the soldiers at a nearby base, she opens a tea shop, befriends a local pilot, and finds contentment with her new life, and even thinking about her future in this small community. But then her husband comes home from war with a terrible injury and she must return to London to be his caretaker but is left wondering what life could have been like had he not returned.

This was a slow burn, character driven novel with a hint of mystery. I found myself absorbed in this story and enjoyed reading about Josie's growth and independence. She is such a positive character who just wants to bring joy to those around her even in the toughest of times. I appreciated the characters and the different personalities--especially those that were influenced and changed by Josie's positivity

Overall, I enjoyed this story and found it brought a wonderful message of hope.

A very good historical novel which is well written it has a bit of everything romance, death and a bit of a mystery.

Josie lives in London but is bombed out, her husband Stan is serving the army. Josie ends up in the country where she begins to make a life for herself where she meets Mike Johnson who is a Canadian who is in the RAF.

The characters were very engaging and could relate to them. It was an interesting read and how people coped with the War.

Would recommend this book.

Where the Sky Begins by Rhys Bowen. Pub Date: August 2, 2022. Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟. Rhys Bowen has some great historical fiction novels and I have read almost of her stand alone novels, so when I got the opportunity to read her newest one I was excited. Set in WWII, this is the story of a woman who is left alone due to her husband fighting in the war and all she endures throughout this time period. It’s a novel of resilience, self discovery, love, self worth, identity and paving your own way in life. I really enjoyed this novel, the picturesque scenes in the countryside and the sense of community during a tough period in history. Pick this one up if you’re a historical fiction reader! Thanks to #netgalley and #lakeunionpublishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #wheretheskybegins #bookworm #bibliophile #igreads #bookstagram

Josie Banks is trapped in a loveless, childless marriage to a jealous and selfish husband. When Stan is called up, Josie is relieved and grasps the chance for a little independence. She finds employment in a tearoom and believes she has found her niche. It abruptly comes to an end when Josie is injured during a German bombing raid over the East End of London. Her home, possessions and livelihood are all lost.

Evacuated to Lincolnshire to recuperate, she is reluctantly taken in by the aristocratic Miss Harcourt, the lady of the manor of the small village of Sutton St. Giles. Josie soon settles into her new home despite the unfriendly attitudes of both Miss Harcourt and her servant Kathleen, finding joy in a different way of life and relative safety away from war damaged London.

Through her blossoming friendship with Mike Johnson, a Canadian RAF pilot, Josie meets other airmen and she sees the need for a place where they can spend their leisure time other than the local pub. Josie persuades Miss Harcourt to convert one of the unused rooms of the house into a tearoom and soon she has a thriving business, which not only appeals to those on the airbase but to the locals as well.

There is more turmoil for Josie as she falls foul of government red tape, comes under suspicion of being a spy, her trust in Mike Johnson is shaken and, when Stan returns from the war, the promising future she envisaged is jeopardised.

I wanted to read this book as it appealed to my love of historical mysteries set during World War II. To my disappointment, the mystery element involving spies wasn't that strong and was introduced later in the book. Despite a number of suspects, it was easy to work out who was passing information to the enemy, so that the reveal didn't come as a total surprise. This thread of the novel laid the groundwork for how Josie's contribution to the war effort continued.

What I liked most about this novel was the depiction of life in a small village on the edge of an airbase during World War II. The many aspects of life on the homefront were included. Food rationing, housing of child evacuees, treatment of German refugees and concern for loved ones serving overseas were events that united or divided the community. Life was difficult enough without the presence of the airbase which was a constant reminder of death and destruction.

I also liked Josie, but thought she tended to self-criticise too much and, even though I was happy how her story unfolded and ended, events worked out too conveniently for her. Each unfortunate situation that she faced was quickly overcome. I felt there were too many challenges thrown her way and knowing that Josie would triumph no matter what, diminished the impact of the major ones. I know she was supposed to be resilient and she did gain in confidence over the course of the novel, but my emotions weren't fully engaged and, at times, it read like Josie's weren't either.

I'd read and enjoyed two of Rhys Bowen's previous standalones, In Farleigh Field and The Tuscan Child, and was expecting this one to be of the same calibre. I discovered Where the Sky Begins is a much lighter read that fits the 'cosy' genre nicely.

Despite my criticisms, overall I did enjoy this novel. It was a quick read, entertaining, comfortable and undemanding and, in hindsight, a perfect match for my reading mood at the time.