Marion's story spanned both WW1 and WW2. Evelyn's story was in WW2. Both served as motorcycle dispatch riders for the British Women’s Royal Naval Service or Wrens. Their stories go deep for each. Marion wants to fit in, Evelyn wants to prove herself. Each is handicapped in their own way. Marion grew up in orphanages, Evelyn was brought up in a wealthy family and sheltered. They each had wonderful men in their lives. It's easy to get attached to these characters and find yourself rooting for them, holding your breath and at the edge of your seat at times for each. I found it interesting that lives of real Wrens had influenced the writing, real life situations during war. The excellent writing kept me engaged to the very end. Inspirational.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

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A great book about both world wars. I had never heard of the wrens and was very happy about learning about them. The book was well written and I fell in love with both of the main characters.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the copy.

Moving effortlessly between timelines are the stories of Marion who was brought up in a succession of orphanages, so it’s no surprise that she finds it hard to trust people. Eddie is the exception as he liked her which was something she wasn’t familiar with. Then war comes along and she is let down again.
The other story is of Evelyn who seems to have everything, except the one thing that would mean the most to her, freedom to make her own choices.
I wasn’t sure at first then it just took off. Great twist in the story which I didn’t see coming.

I always love a fresh angle on World War II fiction and in the Call of the Wrens, I learned about the Women’s Royal Naval Service or WRNS for short! These brave women chose to help their country and showed extreme bravery during some of the darkest days in history.

Told from alternating points of view, Marion and Evelyn. Marion was raised in an orphanage and never really felt part of something until she joined the Wrens during WWI. She was part of a motorcycle group who trained and delivered carrier pigeons to the front lines. Her childhood friend Eddie and Marion are pursuing something more when WWII breaks out.

Evelyn has always been very careful and dreamed of something more for herself. She was born with a club foot and she was always told she couldn’t do much. But she found a calling and joined the Wrens. She’s trying to prove to others that she can be brave, but she’s also proving to herself she can do it.

I really loved both of these women. If you love historical fiction and stories of bravery, this is the book for you!

Walsh delivers a moving adventure in this dual timeline novel of WWI and WWII. Both Marion and Edie are characters we want to root for, and their service in the Wrens sheds new light on an important contribution if British women to the wartime efforts. I was glad to read their story!

💛This book is a must for any historical fiction reader! I read this book this summer and I am still thinking about it!

💛Just when I thought I had a pretty good knowledge base on WWII history, a book comes out that blows my mind!

💛Call of the Wrens by Jenni Walsh did just that. A dual timeline novel, this book spans from 1917 to 1936 when Marion and later Evelyn join the Wrens as part of the Women’s Royal Navy Service. The Wrens are women motorcycle dispatch riders using carrier pigeons to send messages and enhance communication during the wars.

💛When the two timelines collide, flawlessly I might add, we join the Wrens on a journey I will not soon forget.

💛This is a novel of courage, finding your place in this world, friendship, secrets, strong capable women, and even tear-jerking romance. Filled with incredible research (I learned so much!) and lovable characters (I’m looking at you Percy!) this is a must read.

Walsh is an American author of books for both children and adults. This new release is an historical fiction and documents the role of the WRENS (Women's Royal Naval Service) during both WWI and WWII, in particular the women who worked as dispatch riders on motorcycles. It follows two characters in two time periods. Marion ages out of the orphanage and signs up to serve during WWI and years later, during WWII, Evelyn enlists to avoid being sent to finishing school. The work they do, the dangers they face and then how their lives intersect make for fascinating reading and shed light on another role women took on during the wars. The book is a great recommendation for fans of historical fiction. I really enjoyed it.

I love learning g new facets of WWII historical fiction. The Wrens were so brave and badass! I admire what and who they were. Jenni L Walsh brings them to life again. Fabulous!

Delightful read with a twist. Loved the intricate storyline and descriptive narrative. A warming, yet kept you on your toes book

1917 in an orphanage Marion afflicted with what today would be called selective
mutism, is almost eighteen and knows she will have to leave the one place she feels safe
With just two friends who will support her she joins tge WRENS the women's arm of 5e
navy, as a typist. She then becomes a motor cycle despatch rider, joining forces with Eddiwhom she secretly marries, gets transferred to Flanders and runs a very successful pigeon
courier service with her other friend Sarah and despite enormous hardships is happy.With the war gaining momentum she and Edie continue at the Front till Edie dies unexpectedly in a bombing.
Finding herself pregnant, Marion moves back to England

Fast forward to the next War, and again the Wrens feature in the story. Evelyn is a high
society girl who wants to do something solid for the war effort. For her the usual society
pursuits is not enough and she leaves home to take on the arduous job of being a motor cycle
despatch courier. Cut off from family who do not want anything to do with her, ostracized
by her team mates, Evelyn is determined not to give up.

It is here that the two separate time lines mesh in the most unusual way which added a
definite twist in the tale.

Hihlighting another aspect of the two World Wars, the important part played by the pigeons
and the women who trained them, the behind the scenes bravery of the WRENS who worked
tirelessly in the war effort were special features of this story.

4.5 glowing brilliant stars for this historical fiction novel! The Call of the Wrens was a compelling and riveting saga that spanned the years of World War I and World War II. It explored the various roles and assignments women who signed up for the Women’s Royal Navy Service (Wrens) were asked to perform. The two women protagonists, Marion Hoxton during World War I and Evelyn P. Fairchild during World War II, were both trained as motorcycle dispatch riders. Marion and her friend Sara were also involved in training, caring for and executing flights of carrier pigeons during World War I. In addition, they transported the pigeons wherever they were needed to help in the war effort. Even though I had previously read about both of these roles that women undertook as WRENS from other books I had read, it was still fascinating and enlightening to discover more about them. The Call of the Wrens was told in alternating time lines. Each alternating chapter focused first on Marion and then on Evelyn until their lives collided and were flawlessly woven together.

Marion Huxton was orphaned at birth. Over her young years she was shepherded from orphanage to orphanage. Marion never allowed herself to make any real friends. The hurt of loosing them was too much for her. Marion was a selective mute. She had been given a chalk board long ago by one of the nuns who cared for her and taught Marion to write her simple responses on the board. Marion was also taught how to read. Books became her way to escape the reality of her life. It wasn’t until Marion came to St. Anne’s Orphanage that her first real friend came into her life. Eddie Smith became Marion’s first real friend. Marion stayed at St. Anne’s until she aged out at eighteen years old. The hardest thing about leaving St. Anne’s was leaving Eddie. Marion was advised to enlist in the WRENS. Initially, Marion was appointed as a typist but she yearned to be a motorcycle dispatch rider. She soon got her wish. Marion was transported to France as a motorcycle dispatch rider. She was assigned to work with Sara and the pigeons. Marion and Sara met while they trained to be WRENS. When Eddie found out that Marion had left St. Anne’s and had enlisted in the WRENS, he ran away from St. Anne’s and enlisted in the Navy as well. Somehow, Eddie was able to alter his assignment so he was also sent to France. Eddie and Marion could no longer hide their feelings for one another. They had fallen in love.

Evelyn Fairchild was born with a club-foot. She had gone through numerous surgeries to correct it. Evelyn’s parents were well connected and wealthy. Her mother coddled Evelyn and was over protected of her. She denied Evelyn of so many opportunities growing up. Evelyn’s mother saw Evelyn as being overly fragile and reminded her of her limitations constantly. Evelyn was home schooled and really had no friends growing up except her neighbor, Percy. In those days, girls in Evelyn’s standing were expected to go to finishing school, find a husband, get married and have a family. Emily had other ideas. She wanted to do more with her life. When World War II broke out and Britain declared war on Germany, Evelyn wanted to do her part in the war effort. Her family had left London and was living in the countryside with Percy’s family. Percy had a motorcycle and helped Evelyn learn to ride. It was Percy who told Evelyn about the WRENS and the need they had for female motorcycle dispatch riders. Evelyn plotted her escape from her mother’s watchful eyes. She would become a WREN with or without her parent’s blessing. The hardest part was going to be to prove to her superiors that her club-foot would not hinder her performance, endurance or hold her back from becoming a WREN. Evelyn was determined to become a motorcycle dispatch rider for the WRENS.

Both Marion and Evelyn were strong, capable and determined women. Their role as motorcycle dispatch riders differed between the wars in which they served. Marion transported carrier pigeons on her motorcycle to strategic locations to help the progress of the war. Evelyn carried and delivered classified documents. Both women were skilled, committed and faced danger head on. The Call of the Wrens explored family, friendship, long kept secrets, finding a purpose in life, sisterhood, hope, determination and romance. This was the first book that I have read by Jenni L. Walsh. She is a brilliant storyteller and her research was impeccable. I really enjoyed The Call of the Wrens and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Harper Muse for allowing me to read The Call of the Wren by Jenni L. Walsh through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had not known much about the Wrens and their vital work during WWI and WWII, carrying dispatches or carrier pigeons to help the war effort. Written from the point of view of Marion, an orphan, working in WWI France and the voice of Evelyn, riding a motorcycle during WWII, this story is well explored and the writing is inspired. Recommended reading.

Absolutely a beautiful story! I was mesmerize by Jennifer Walsh writing. While the story was heart wrenching beautiful it was also hopeful. Though I served in the military, I don't think I could be as brave as these women!

The Call of the Wrens is a fascinating WWI and WWII historical fiction on the Wrens (Women's Royal Navy Service) and a group of remarkable women who were motorcycle dispatch riders.

I loved how seamlessly Walsh tied together the World War I and WWII storyline. I really enjoyed learning about the dispatch riders and thought the author's note at the end was great!

If you're a historical fiction fan or want to read more about women serving during WWI or WWII in the UK check it Call of the Wrens!

Jenni L Walsh always delivers. I've read every historical fiction she's written, including her YA biographies for Scholastic. Once again, The Call of the Wrens transported me to the past to discover little known roles strong women played in history. In The Call of the Wrens, WW1 and WW2 bring together two women, Marion and Evelyn, one from a privileged family, the other an orphan, as they serve in the Women's Royal Naval Service delivering covert messages by motorcycle in war zones. Walsh's research is remarkable, as is her writing, which is why I'll never pass an opportunity to read her books. This story is for readers who enjoy history, women pushing against societal limits and making a difference, family bonds, and a touch of romance.

With THE CALL OF THE WRENS, Jenni Walsh has brought to life a little known and essential part of the Second World War through the entwined time lines of two intrepid, creative women, one experienced and the other freshly involved in the hazardous, dangerous motorcycle dispatch corps of women serving in the Royal Navy. As always, Walsh brings characters to fully dimensional life and I felt like I was there on the missions, experiencing the triumphs and horror of their valiant service. I received a copy of this book and these are my own, unbiased opinions.

What a marvelous dual-timeline histfic novel featuring the British Women’s Royal Naval Service (the WRENS) -- motorcycle dispatch riders in WWI and II. Beautifully written, fully engaging, and a must-read for historical fiction lovers wanting a different take on the wars, as shown through the lives of brave WRENS Marion and Evelyn. Highly recommended!

Historical fiction at its best! Call Of The Wrens details the work that the brave women of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (otherwise know as WRNS or Wrens) did in WWI and WWII. This is a dual narrative, following two fierce female characters and their stories are intertwined in the best way. It was so fascinating learning about the Wrens and the support they provided during these wars and beyond. These specific characters, Marion and Evelyn, are both motorcycle dispatchers who receive and transport important messages from the front lines, sometimes with the help from pigeons which they personally trained to deliver messages to them.
I LOVE that the many women who were vital parts to the war are finally receiving the wide acclaim they deserve and their stories are being told and recognized.
You’re going to want to read this one! I flew through it!

This is an historical novel about the Women’s Royal Navy Service (the Wrens), a group that I had never heard before getting the opportunity to read the ARC of this historical fiction novel. It is a story that goes back and forth between World War I and World War II. Marion is an orphan who has been moved from orphanage to orphanage during her life. At age 18, she must leave the orphanage where she had lived for almost 5 years, the longest “home” of her short life. With no place to go, she is directed towards the Wrens where she can use her typing skills to free up a man for the front. She is followed by Eddie Smith, another orphan, who has befriended Marion and will eventually become her husband. She eventually winds up at the front as a trainer and dispatcher of homing pigeons. Skip forward to 1940 and the early years of the Second World War. Evelyn P. Fairchild has a strained relationship with her mother - she drives a car in races much to mother’s displeasure - she wants Evelyn to go to finishing school and prepare for marriage (to a young man mom has selected!). Despite a physical issue, she joins the Wrens which has been reactivated. She becomes a dispatch rider (on a motorcycle) and eventually is severely issued while trying to warn her troops of an attack by the Nazis. Of course the stories eventually converge. I really struggled with the rating of this book, eventually choosing 4 over 3 stars because of the introduction to this previously unknown (to me) group of women. The story was captivating and reasonably well written, it’s an easy read and there are many times where I didn’t want to stop reading for the day! My thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the second book I have read about Wren dispatchers on motorcycles this year. Both stories historical fiction and both books were good.

This is the first book I have read by Jenni L. Walsh and I really enjoyed her style of writing. She captured my interest right from page one until the end. A dual timeline and dual narratives until it became a single timeline which was quite interesting. I realized what was going on about halfway through but that doesn't mean that the rest of the book wasn't good. I had a gambit of emotions during the reading of this book. It was brilliant.

The characters pulled at my heartstrings and were well developed. I would have to say that Marion was my favourite character. Stuck in orphanages all of her life she decides that talking really isn't important. Kids teased her but she had the courage to survive, and she is turning 18 and to survive life outside of the orphanage she joins the Wrens with the help of a nun. Her story is one of survival and heartache.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy of The Call of the Wrens for an honest review. These are my words and my words only