Barbour Publishing's Heroines of WWII series has been wonderful, but On My Honor has a special heroine, or to be more accurate a group of heroines, a troop of Girl Scouts and their leader. The story is set on an island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Ginny Mathis is teaching her troop of Scouts, including her sister, ways to assist the war effort such as advanced first aid and maritime map reading. She led them in activities such as collecting fat to be turned in and used in the making of bullets. Ginny did not anticipate, however, that the girls would become involved in the search for a German spy. This novel is a quick read with a group of WWII era Nancy Drews. It was an entertaining read.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of On My Honor from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

On My Honor is a great addition to the Heroines of WWII series. Great plot and character dynamics. If you enjoy historical books I recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

The premise of this book grabbed my attention because who wouldn’t love a troop of Girl Scouts saving the day? And Hall does not disappoint. The girls are your typical teenagers, but they show a sense of bravery early on that makes them inspiring despite their age.

I love how feisty Ginny is. Hall creates a strong heroine that isn’t a man-hater, which made me enjoy this book even more. And she manages to make Tim dreamy for more reasons than his British accent.

On My Honor also showcases characters with real faith. While the characters sometimes struggle, they ultimately turn to God, and He is shown as their Rock and Deliverer.

Overall, On My Honor is an inspirational novel historical romance fans will love.

Thank you Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for access to this arc.

I was interested in reading this book because of the unusual setting of the Outer Banks of North Carolina shortly after the US entered World War II. It started out well, then slowed a bit, packed in a bit too much evangelical fervor, and ended too quickly on a whimper.


Ginny Mathis is back on the Outer Banks and her plate is full. Her father called her back from her nursing school studies when he left for the Norfolk, VA shipbuilding yards so she's volunteering at the local infirmary that is now overrun with patients rescued from torpedoed ships. She's also running the local Girl Scout troop and working for the Oregon Inlet ferry. And if that wasn't enough, the Coast Guard has asked her to help mark the locations of ships that have been hit and sunk.


Tim Elliott finds himself injured and at a loss as to how to accomplish his mission. A journalist by trade, he's bringing a captured German Naval officer to New York via a tanker that gets torpedoed off the Outer Banks. Washed ashore, he's found and aided by a group of Girl Scouts before finally meeting Ginny and joining forces with her to discover if the German has survived and if so, where on the island he might be.


Frankly the initial setup is a little hard to believe. Injured Tim is sheltered for seven days by a pack of 13 year olds after they've been warned that Germans, who might speak English with no German accent, are trying to infiltrate Allied nations. After meeting Ginny, Tim makes a clumsy play for assistance that only gets him arrested by the Coast Guard. It also gets Ginny suspended from her volunteer nursing duties so they can work together.


The whole "let's find the German spy who will stick out like a sore thumb in the small community" gets tabled to allow time for Ginny and Tim to begin spending time together. When it's finally resumed - after many more ships had been sunk - the spy's identity and likely location are given to them. Does anyone get the Coast Guard and tell them the info so armed men can go track this man down? Well kinda but then the Girl Scouts, Ginny, and Tim end up hunting him before Ginny and Tim allow themselves to be captured while they're chatting and courting.

::headdesk::

There's a very heavy dose of religion throughout the story. I was expecting some religion since this is being published by a Christian press but the final amount might be a deal breaker for some. Strangely, there was also more expressed physical attraction (though it's still just kisses) than is usual for a book with this level of religion.


The relationship between Ginny, her younger sister, and the other Girl Scouts was the best part of the book for me. Ginny and Belle begin with tension between them as there are things Ginny hasn't been told about why her father insisted she come home. The subject of what was then called "shell shock" is sensitively handled.


As another reviewer mentioned, the book has more of a YA feel to it. I'm not sure though that either adults or young adults would be totally happy with the end result. This is a book I wanted to like far more than I actually did. C

On My Honor, an intriguing story of friendship, family, faith, and patriotism, is a fitting addition to Barbour’s Heroines of WWII series. It takes us back in time to 1942 when German U-boats were bombing merchant and Allied vessels off the Outer Banks of North Carolina near Cape Hatteras bringing World War II to the doorstep of America. I was not familiar with the Battle of the Atlantic; and this tale, although fictional, was very enlightening historically. A fast-paced plot with a unique premise, a vividly described setting, wonderful characterization, sweet romance, well-researched historical detail, and a strong faith thread combine to make this a heartwarming, adventurous read. I enjoyed this book and recommend it especially for fans of historical romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley with no obligation to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A must-read for fans of WW2 historical fiction!
A novel, set in North Carolina, which relates the lesser-known details of the German submarines lurking in the coastal waters. They managed to kill many with their deadly torpedos, both military and civilians. This is the story of some very brave North Carolinians, including a young Girl Scout Troop, who were determined to stop the Germans by whatever means necessary.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

Ginny and Belle live in a coastal community on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Ginny has given up her plans to be a nurse. With her father away at war, Ginny needs to help her mother and younger sister. This makes her heroic and likable from the very beginning.

I really enjoyed Ginny's secret work as a coastal watcher -- how fascinating! And her Girl Scout leadership is admirable. Their surprising discovery sets the plot in motion.

While there is nothing terribly complex about this novel, it works quite well for readers in the mood for a charming historical story.

The faith element is woven through the narrative in a logical way that never feels intrusive.

Overall, this is an old-fashioned adventure story full of heartwarming charm.

1942 Outer Banks, North Carolina

In the latest of the Heroines of WWII Series, main characters include a group of Girl Scouts doing their part to help US soldiers. This group of 13 year olds was pure delight and their vocabulary and actions rang true for their age. The tension heightened as they discovered an injured man on shore.

I also loved learning new aspects about WWII. Who knew there were German attacks on the east coast of the United States?

What fell short was the speed of the romance for the Girl Scout leader Ginny and the mystery man. While I found the first 75% of the novel to be fun and engaging, my interest fell dramatically in the final quarter of the novel. This would have been stronger without the romance.

I didn't realize this was a series of books about WW II heroines but it is easily a stand alone read.

So very entertaining and interesting. Ginny and Belle are sisters living in the Outer Banks and holding the family together while their father is off fighting. Ginny, training as a nurse, teaches Girl Scouts and volunteers for the Coast Guard, while working for the ferry system. Belle is in school and taking care of their mother. Belle and her group of Girl Scouts rescue a man who's ship was blown up by a submarine attack. There is so much going on in this story, it flows smoothly and the characters are all so interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This book is a wonderful read. The author brings the story to life with her words and makes you feel like you are there. This book is full of excitement, adventure, drama and romance. It will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

In this book we follow tim, ginny And bella and the girl Scouts in the outer Banks during the war. It was a sweet book, i liked to follow the Main characters. . Especially the girl scouts. I liked that it was about them at home keeping the home fires burning. But it was Just a sweet story. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

This is one of the best in the Heroines of WWII series. Ginny and her young sister Belle aren’t getting along too well at first, but I like the way their relationship grows. This is a fast-paced story. So is the relationship between Ginny and Tim, maybe a tad too fast.
Set in the North Carolina Outer Banks, the story touches on America’s unpreparedness for war close to home. The coast wasn’t blacked out for the longest time, allowing ships to be silhouetted and torpedoed.

Ginny is sent home to care for her mother and sister when her father goes off to the mainland to help in the war effort. She feels frustrated she can't complete her nursing school and doesn't understand why he sent for her. While she's home she makes every effort to help by assisting the coast guard and working in the infirmary and training her sister's group of Girl Guides.

A shipwreck lands a stranger on their island shores. His secrets may bring trouble, but they will also help against the unknown trouble of the enemy brewing in a plot against the coast.

It's a simple story, with a more young-adult feel to it. It was a quick afternoon read for me.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and for the opportunity to post an honest review.

I had never read this author before. I enjoyed it and will read more by her.
It was interesting to read about the attacks on the ships in the Outer Banks. A piece of history I was unaware of..
I would really enjoy reading more about Belle and the Girl Guides as they grow older. What a great series that would be!
Our library will be purchasing this book.
Thank you NetGalley for the advance arc!

I really enjoyed this book, from beginning to end it kept my attention, and also the author's notes!

We have Girl Scouts, ships exploding off the coast of North Carolina, and a young woman who has been studying to become a nurse. Love that girl what a big heart Ginny has as she gives of herself for her family and her country!

This is a page turner, unknown, or rumored happening off the coast, and according the notes at the end, people lost their lives to the enemy, and people were kept in the dark.

We are offered sweet young girls who go about helping wild life, and human life, and a woman who gives it all for her family and country! We are also offered a bit of young romance, and I would love to have followed on with their lives, but this book is fiction, but will open your eyes! We were at war before we knew it on our own soil!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

I have really enjoyed Barbour’s Heroines of WWII series. It is so interesting to read about ordinary women who made a difference in such varied ways. I really didn’t know much about the possibility of German invasion on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I think Ginny’s character was a good representation of women who worked and volunteered and did everything they could to help with the war effort. Ginny and Tim’s relationship was sweet, although somewhat hurried. The girls in her Girl Scout troop were fun and interesting characters in the story. And Ginny’s mother’s struggles also told another important part of history. The story was a quick, simple, enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

Ginny and Belle Mathis are sisters living in a small coastal community on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Ginny was studying to be a nurse, but with her father involved in the war, she has returned home help care for her mother and her younger sister. She nows works on the ferry, volunteers at the hospital putting her nursing skills to good use, and also has a secret role as a coastal watcher. In addition, she has become a Girl Scout leader, and is encouraging the small group to learn skills that might come in useful in the event of an emergency.
When the group headed to do some map reading practice, they didn’t expect to find oil washed up on the shore, or a British Intelligence Officer! The girls take their Girl Scout promise, including “to serve my country”, seriously and what follows is an adventure that is very reminiscent of the “boys own” adventures of the era.
The story unfolds quite slowly, peaks well with a few nice twists, but the ending feels just a little rushed & unrealistic.
As a Brit, I have little knowledge about “torpedo junction” off North Carolina, so called because of the high number of attacks on Allied shipping by German U-boats in World War II. The storyline sent me off to the internet to learn more!

What didn’t work so well for me
The book seemed a little confused as to its audience – in many ways I think it takes influence from the Girl Guide stories that were so popular in the 1920s-1950s, yet its not described as a Young Adult book.
I appreciate that the faith element is important to the author but it did seem to dominate the story in a slightly awkward way – it could have been reined in just a little and actually had a bit more impact.

I liked it, I didn't love it ...

Recommendation
As a life-long member of the Girl Guides, I was excited to read this – though I initially thought that it was based on fact rather than being entirely fictional! I would recommend On My Honor to anyone who has an interest in Girl Scouts/Girl Guides & how they played a real part in the war, or who wants a good old fashioned adventure story!

Great addition to Heroines of WWII series. Based on the work Girl Guides did to help the war efforts during the Great War, this story is set in the Outer Banks during WWII. The bravery and skills the 13 year old Girl Scouts were remarkable but also unbelievable at times. Most did not realize how close the German U boats were to the eastern shores but communities pulled together to patrol the area as portrayed in this book. Enjoyable book. Geared towards YA readers.

On My Honor is about a group of Girl Scouts and their contributions to the war effort off the coast of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I never knew until recently how close WWII came to American soil. Ginjy is almost finished with nursing school when she needs to come home to geld when her father is called to make ships for war. She becomes the Girl Scout leader for a troop that includes her younger sister and her friends. The adventures and secrets are many bur the puzzle is solved in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book which includes a lot of historical facts I was unaware of about WWII. There is plenty of adventures and a bit of trouble for the girls to get into along the way. Who could be a spy and possibly threatening the island? A bit of romance finds it’s way into the mystery on the road to a happy ending. I give this book 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I have always heard that you learn something new every day. I learned so much more than one thing reading On My Honor. The author wrote a story that had me hooked on the characters and plot. At the same time I in a state of shock. I had no idea what happened in the outer banks during WW2.

I was a Girl Scout once upon a time, yet I was clueless to the importance of their actions during WW1 and WW2. The author takes the reader on a journey following a girl scout group around a small island in the outer banks. Through their actions we learn of their training and how it influenced them when their island was put at risk by the Germans. I had no idea that U-boats were sinking ships so close to our shores.

The Girl Scout leader, Grace, plays an important role in the story. She has a secret job working for the Coast Guard plotting the locations of explosions in the bay. One of those explosions has Tim Elliot washing up on the beach only to be discovered by the girls in the troop. They put all of their training to good use soon learning that he is working for British Intelligence and had been escorting someone to New York.

The story has quite a few shocking, unexpected moments. Soon Grace and Tim are working together searching for man that went overboard with him. Watching their romance blossom was a brightness in the gloom of war. With the help of her girl scout troop they discover a spy living in their community. Now if they can only stop them.