In Two Wars and a Wedding, Lauren Willig explores two wars which don’t get a ton of attention in fiction – the Greco-Turkish war of 1896 and the Spanish American War. Both are seen from the PoV of a single woman who finds herself nursing troops while also fostering her dreams of being an archeologist.

After gaininging her degree in archaeology from Smith College, Betsy Hayes has recently gained her degree in archaeology from Smith College. She heads to a dig in Greece, where she immediately runs into sexist politics that threaten to curtail her work. In the face of this misogyny, there appears to be no way forward for Betsy, but she is determined to keep at her dream. When conflict breaks out between Greece and Turkey, Betsy volunteers to work as a nurse for the Greek side, and at the same time, embarks on a difficult romance with a married man. She finds herself dealing with the horror of war, the glory-free aspects of battle, and the nightmare of being understaffed and undersupplied. She hopes her best friend, the poorer-of-means Ava Saltonstall, might be able to join her in the field, but when Ava arrives things become strained, especially when moral and class struggles set in…

By the time of the Spanish American War, Betsy has joined the troop of nurses trying to protect Cuban soldiers from Spanish invaders – and is world-weary. A chatty, ambitious reporter from St. Louis, Katherine “Kit” Carson, and “Hold ‘Em” Holt, one of Teddy Roosevelt’s battle-scarred Rough Riders, are among the new faces she encounters. Betsy had set out intending to keep Ava from arriving on the island as a volunteer, especially after the traumatic experiences she’d endured in Greece, and finds herself clashing with officials and dealing with the collateral damage from her experiences in Greece – including severe PTSD. When she ends up working on the Seneca – understaffed, under-supplied, and ruled over by drunken officials – all seems lost. Will Betsy make it out of Cuba alive?

We do indeed get a wedding in Two Wars and a Wedding, though it doesn’t make it onto the page. I won’t spoil the revelation as to which of the girls gets married and why, but before that there is a greatly tragic romance, followed by one of great equals. Indeed, the book’s greatest love story is arguably between Betsy and Ava, whose friendship is a storied thing that goes through peaks and valleys and centers much of the book until it shifts to focus on the bond between Betsy, Kit and Holt. But as always, the trip is engrossing and wonderful to read, with realistic research into the hell of pre-World War I battlefront living and nursing. Lauren Willig writes such well-researched, breathlessly told historical fiction it’s easy to get caught up in.

Betsy is not a perfect person by a long shot, and her flaws are realistic. While Ava fears taking a real chance with her life due to her poverty and responsibilities back home, spoiled Betsy has to learn the hard way that shirking her lessons and ignoring warning signs are not a good idea. Betsy grows up throughout the book and it’s wonderful to follow her on that journey.

The book is filled with the incompetence of officials who seek to undercut and smugly underplay the women around them, so if you want to escape sexism this isn’t going to be the book for you. Incompetent soldiers blaming their foolishness on “female hysteria”? Male doctors who think women can’t be doctors or archeologists? Check. All realistic and well-handled, and combatted by the brilliance of the women in this book.

But there’s one little bit that keeps me from giving a flat-out A grade. The dual timeline, told out of order and alternating between the past and present, is absolutely unnecessary – there’s barely a year lost between each war, and the Spanish-American war chapters only serve to conceal things that need not be kept from the reader’s eye in an effort to preserve surprise. Instead of alternating timelines it could have easily been a story told in order to maintain the book’s strong pace, but the timeline switches aren’t confusing, just irritating.

Otherwise, as always, Willig is a marvel. Two Wars and a Wedding is a two-hankie affair worth its salt water.

I really liked this! Alternating timelines, historical fiction, war and romance, it really has everything (and much of that you can guess from the title alone) 
*
These were two wars I know almost nothing about, so that was really refreshing to read a war-based historical fiction that wasn't about WWII! I really enjoyed Betsey and how she grew as a character, and found her very relatable as she fought for equality for women in multiple theaters. 
*
My biggest critique is that the two wars and two stories didn't really feel entirely connected, and plot points did not always seem necessary to get to the ultimate conclusion. After reading the author's note and learning that Betsey was based off of two very distinct women, that made sense, but I think this would have been more powerful with just one focus. 
*
I still very much enjoyed it and glad I read it! Thanks to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the early copy!

Lauren Willig is always great. She can do no wrong in my book. I loved the dual timelines, and the beautiful descriptions of Cuba and Greece.

Willig's research and character building create an imaginative world, spanning two different historical periods. As in other of Willig's novels, we step back and forth in time and place, from Greece to Cuba and back again. Willig really does make history come alive! This is an engaging tale that I thoroughly enjoyed and can recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy.

Lauren Willig is the queen of strong historical women.
This novel is a wonderful telling of love, loss and courage. We are swept through two wars and follow the courageous Betsy through a whirlwind of emotions and life changing events.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Two Wars and a Wedding was interesting to read throughout. I almost feel like it could've been broken into two books, with the first part covering the time the protagonist spent with the first love interest and then the second installment telling the rest of the story. The story is told in a series of letters (usually a flashback) and narrative description of what is going on with the characters. It is certainly appalling how our troops were allowed to be treated in war times, and remarkable to read about the tales of the protagonist being based on the true story of two women. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction mixed with a little romance.

There is so much history packed in this story. My high school history class barely touched the Spanish-American War. After reading this book I am absolutely shocked and enraged by how our government conducted this war. But enough of that. Betsy Hayes, Smith graduate, is entitled, used to coming by things easily, but hard working despite that. It takes death and war to knock off those rose colored glasses but she adapts to new situations and grows in the process. The secondary characters in this book are all interesting and intriguing, as are the descriptions of life in archeological circles in Greece and the battlefields in Cuba. Funny, heartbreaking, and admirable. Mysterious. Romantic. All of that and more.

Things I loved about this book:
*Time period. This is the first book I have read about these two conflicts and it was so refreshing.
*Betsy's growth. So rewarding.

This is the story of Betsy, an heiress turned nurse during the Spanish American war. Her story is a little slow to get moving and the Greece story seemed irrelevant in the first half, but when the whole picture comes together it makes you love her more.

The first half is so much set up that it takes some time and determination, but the second half is so action packed that you just can't stop.

A character-driven historical fiction centered on two wars in the late 19th century. Willig delivers a well-researched novel and I liked that I learned more about the war in Greece and the Spanish-American War. I enjoyed this captivating story with a strong female character.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.

2.5. Story line was somewhat formulaic. Got about half way through the book and decided to turn my attention to others on my shelf. Story is about a woman trying to make her way as a archeologist during the time of the Spanish American war. Women at that time were severely limited in their career aspirations due to their gender. There was the usual aspiring love story and recounting of the mistakes this young woman had made in earlier efforts. Did not hold my interest. Would not recommend

This was every bit as good as I expect when I read a book by Lauren Willig. I always have loved her work and The Pink Carnation series is one of my favorites in historical fiction. This one was very different but still wonderful. Betsy is a woman living in a time that is not friendly to women like her who want more than to be someone's wife and mother. Her stubbornness has gotten her far but has also met its equal in some people she encounters in her quest to become an archeologist in Greece. Her life takes a detour when Greece goes to war with Turkey and her perspective changes in a very drastic way. I really liked her reactions and how she took her experience from Greece and tries to save her friend Ava from a similar experience in the Spanish American war. Her character is admirable but also so human in her stubborn resolve that leads to her own detriment. The only thing I had a hard time with in this book was the alternating timeline in each chapter. I felt like it wasn't as easy to get invested in the story with the constant changes, it was a bit too much for each chapter in my opinion. Once I did get invested though I could not put it down, it just took me about half the book to get to that point. I always recommend Willig for anyone who likes historical fiction and this one is definitely worth picking up.

I received an electronic ARC of this title from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

As a longtime fan of Lauren Willig, I knew I would enjoy her latest novel. But once again, her detailed research, dialogue, world building, and characters blew me away. While her stand alone novels typically take place in two time periods, history and contemporary, this book takes place both in 1896 and 1898. It also follows the same protagonist during both time periods, as opposed to following one woman from the past and another from the present.

This departure from her usual writing style brings a fresh perspective on a single character, which I enjoyed. During the alternating time periods, we see Betsy's motivations and reactions change and get glimpses throughout the book of why those changes have occurred. The Greek chapters (set in fall 1986-spring 1987) reminded me of Tasha Alexander's Lady Emily; a protagonist who is also a devotee of ancient Greece. The Cuba chapters (set in June 1989) follow American soldiers and Red Cross nurses from Florida to Cuba alongside of Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders.

Bringing the stories of women who have not been able to be in the spotlight (Betsy is based on a real female archaeologist who studied at the American School in Athens; we know real Red Cross nurses, under Clara Barton, risked their own safety to care for American and Cuban soldiers) is a specialty of Lauren Willig, and I am so glad she has been able to find documents and original source material to flesh out these lives for us, her readers.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I love this author so much and so I was excited to be gifted her up and coming novel. I loved the story plot, which to me was different for a historical fiction novel. I loved reading every page and could not put it down. The cover is beautiful.

I always enjoy Lauren Willig’s books. Her meticulous research means I always learn something, I didn’t know much about either of these wars. And I love the clever banter of the characters, which makes them feel real.

Thank you to William Morrow publishing, NetGalley and Lauren Willig for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Two Wars and a Wedding vacillates between 2 times and places: 1896, during the Greco-Turk War, and 1898, during the Spanish American War.
Betsy is a Smith graduate that pines for the classics and archaeological digs, and goes to Athens to pursue her dreams. The conflict between Greece and Turkey breaks out, however, and Betsy feels she needs to go be a nurse to the soldiers. Betsy learns more about herself during this period than she ever had earlier in her life, her strength of will and resilience shine.
In 1898, Betsy is desperate to find her best friend and fellow Smith graduate, Ava, and enlists herself as a nurse once again as the Spanish-American conflict heats up. Betsy finds herself broken down to the bone in attempting to nurse these poor soldiers back to a semblance of health.
Rating: 2.5 stars rounded to 3 stars.
I was so excited to read this book as I'm such a fan of Lauren Willig's books as well as her collaborations with other authors. This book moved very slow and I had a hard time staying connected to Betsy. The letters at the start of each chapter perhaps made this pace even slower, in my perspective.
Folks that enjoy historical fiction, and literary fiction will enjoy this book.

Two Wars and a Wedding by Lauren Willig is a story about friendship, and dreams, and the circumstances and choices we make that define us. This exquisitely written and heartfelt story captured me from the very beginning and kept me reading long into the night. I fell in love with the story of the fiercely independent, compassionate and witty main character Betsy Hayes as she takes us along on her adventures across two continents and two wars, taking some unexpected detours along the way. What I especially love about the main character is her ability to adapt and to overcome the difficulties she is presented with while steadfastly continuing to pursue her dream. I found myself laughing and crying right along with this courageous and intensely real main character.

This is a must read for fans of historical fiction, and I feel is one of Lauren Willig’s finest works. The author’s notes at the end of the novel describing her research and inspirations are not to be missed and add an extra level of understanding and richness to this powerful story.

My sincerest thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ebook ARC.

This is not about the two wars one would expect which is refreshing! Instead we follow a female nurse through two wars - one in Spain and one in Cuba. I love the historical pieces that connect archaeologists as well as Teddy Roosevelt Rough Riders. It’s a good story that made an enjoyable read. I did find it a bit slow, and I found the letters at the beginning of each chapter distracting and not necessary for the novel. I love the strong woman aspect and find that rather empowering. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

Having read Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig last year, I was excited to see she has a new book! Two Wars and a Wedding was an enjoyable read, a dual timeline story following Betsy in Greece during the Greco-Turkish War and then a few years later while she was involved with the Spanish-American War. I loved how Lauren incorporated so much history that I didn’t know a lot about, especially the Rough Riders and Clara Barton. It was obvious that a significant amount of research went into the book. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I enjoy reading about events that weren’t as familiar to me. I highly recommend this book to other lovers of historical fiction.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thoughts From a Page Podcast for the advanced copy!

Two Wars and a Wedding by Lauren Willig is for historical fiction lovers who like to learn about little known (or little taught) historical times. This story takes place during 2 wars-the Greco-Turkish was in 1896 and the Spanish-American War in 1898. But as Ms. Willig states in her Historical Note, “this was neither a book about Greece nor a book about Cuba: on the contrary, it is a book about Americans in Greece and Cuba, which is a very different thing.”

Betsy Hayes is an aspiring archaeologist, which is why she’s in Greece. She’s a student at the American School, but being female, and it being 1896, she is not permitted to go on a dig. While Betsy pursues her dreams, her friend, Ava, is more realist. The daughter of a doctor, Ava understands that pursuing her own dream of becoming a doctor will be an expense she’s not willing to pay. After a falling out with Ava, Betsy determines to go nurse the Greek troops, which she gradually becomes very good at.

But nursing wounded and sick troops brings with it a very high price for Betsy.

When Betsy learns Ava will be nursing the troops in Cuba during the Spanish-American war, Betsy determines to go, too, hoping to shield Ava from the harsh realities of life and love.

But the road to war is filled with many hurdles, stalled trains, Rough Riders, and men who have no need for women in the front lines. Betsy, aided by Rough Rider, and legendary western lawman Hold ‘Em Holt, finally reaches her boat to Cuba and learns, again, the realities of love and war.

This book started off very slowly for me but I hung in there and at about the 45% mark, I started to become very invested in Betsy. I enjoyed learning about this woman (based on 2 real life women of the time). Betsy is full of gumption and she stands tall among a bunch of men who are determined to hold her back.

I did enjoy the back stories more than the war stories. Overall I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys learning about a different time in history.

Thank you to #netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the advanced e-copy of #twowarsandawedding. I read this as an early read as a patron of @thoughtsfromapage podcast.Thank you!

I was fortunate to receive a DRC of Two Wars and a Wedding from Thoughts From a Page Patreon’s Early Reads program. I have read and very much enjoyed Lauren Willig’s previous books, starting with her Pink Carnation series. They are always smart, filled with interesting history and contain stories that allow you to get lost in another era for a few hours. Two Wars and a Wedding continued this delightful tradition.

This tale follows two timelines, 1886 Greece and 1888 Florida/Cuba with a focus on Betsy, a Smith graduate, in her experiences during these times. How her story unfolds over the course of each timeline is the heart of this story and one that shows her struggles and her growth. I will say initially I wasn’t a fan of 1886 Betsy. Her focus on her wants and lack of care of others frustrated me. However, as time progresses, her life experiences change as does her understanding of those around her.

As a nurse reading about nursing during other time periods is fascinating. What was in their scope of practice and how medicine was performed just kept me so engaged. Needless to say I really enjoyed that aspect of this book.

I was fortunate to be able to participate in an author chat about this book and so enjoyed the conversation. I was also excited to hear a brief snippet on her next book - one that sounds quite intriguing!