This is my 1st book by this author and it was a lovely surprise! This is the 2nd book in the series "Pendleton promises" and I was able to read as a stand alone, although I will go back and read the 1st one to better understand some of the other characters and because this was one was such an enjoyable read.
Molly Thorsen, is a switchboard operator that goes to France during WW I, to help with communications. The story is based on the "Hello girls" with great historical details of their work and importance to the war efforts. It describes the hard work, the friendships and family's support, prejudice against women, and the terrible consequences of war during and after without being to graphic. Molly develops a wartime romance with Friday, and it is realistic in the separation, the letters written, and challenges of war time relationships. It weaves in faith, family and friends for a well rounded read with humor, sadness, suspense and a satisfying end while learning about a little known subject of switchboard operators in WW I. I recommend this book for those looking for a richly detailed historical story, clean romance and feel good end. A big thank you to Wholesome Hearts Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, all options expressed are my own.

In this clever World War I historical fiction novel, readers follow Molly Thorsen as she takes on a job as a Hello Girl, a telephone operator serving near the front lines in France dealing with the dangers of war and the judgment of men in the surrounding areas. However, American Expeditionary Force soldier Friday Fitzpatrick touches her heart and romance blooms between them as the war continues. Following their relationship over time and through letters, phone calls, and the rare in-person meeting, Hatfield’s latest novel follows a Hello Girl in the thick of World War I and how her life changes after that. A straightforward historical romance novel, readers get a chance to see how the telephone and World War I gave women the chance for independence in the early twentieth century. Hatfield’s characters are complex, charming, and well-developed, and she rebuilds the circumstances of small-town early twentieth century America that bring Molly to France as a Hello Girl. Molly and Friday’s relationship is charming and realistic because Hatfield explores the escapist nature of a wartime romance and the jump to the reality of the postwar world, which is something that rarely appears in historical romance novels like this one.

Molly by Shanna Hatfield ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Molly is book 2 in the Pendleton Promises series that can be read either in the series or standalone.

Its a wonderful historical romance set during The Great War.

Molly is a young switchboard operator in her home town of Pendleton, when she sees an ad looking for switchboard operators who speak French to assist with the war effort, and she decides to volunteer.
While living in France she meets Friday Fitzpatrick, a young man serving in the army who is from a town only a few hours away from Pendleton, and they fall in love through the letters they exchange. Reading these letters to one another makes you feel there love.

Told in third person.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy for my honest review

this is an excellent story about how the hello girls where used in the war. molly volunteers to go over seas to help with the calls. the men are not doing very good. while she is there she runs into harley john and his friend friday. there are a lot of details brought out about what the hello girls and nurses and doctors and the men went through. well written. i could not put the story down. looking forward for the next one.

I loved this book! It was a very heartwarming story and I fell in love with the main characters. I really loved how caring they were in this book!

Molly is book 2 in the Pendleton Promises series by Shanna Hatfield and is a historical romance set in the time of The Great War.

Molly is a young switchboard operator in her home town of Pendleton, when she sees an ad looking for switchboard operators who speak French to assist with the war effort, and she decides to volunteer. She is soon in France, working as an operator with the Signal Girls, women who joined the army as telephone operators. While there, she meets Friday Fitzpatrick, a young man serving in the army who is from a town only a few hours away from Pendleton, and they fall in love through the letters they exchange.

Told in third person, the story alternates points of view between Molly and Friday and gives us glimpses of their lives on the front line of World War 1. Although part of a series, this book is easily read as a standalone, I had not read the previous book in the series and I don't feel like I was missing anything.

I really enjoyed Molly and Friday's story, if I had one problem I would have wished to see more of their time in the army. I realize though, that this book is more of a romance than historical fiction so I can see why the author did not get more heavily into the details there. I was slightly disappointed though that we didn't get to hear more about Molly and the other women in the Signal Corps and their struggles to be recognized as part of the army, when that was an important part of the opening of the book.

This was a lovely, wholesome romance with many characters which really gave one a sense of a close community in both Molly's home town, and Friday's. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys inspirational, wholesome romance with some interesting insights into a historical time which is not a common backdrop in the romance genre. I would be interested in reading more of this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Molly, Pendleton Promises book two, by Shanna Hatfield is a delightful story. While this is the third book I have read concerning the time of WWI, this is very different from the other two. For starters I knew nothing about switchboard operators being sent to Europe during that time. I guess it is just something I had never thought of but know that is how the phone system worked during those years. I loved had it is a book inspired by the WWI Army Signal Corp Women Soldiers better known as the Hello Girls. I loved the look at family before and after, especially the scene with the older J.B. Nash, Garrett’s father.

Molly and Friday story is one filled with love, honor, determination, bravery and resiliency. The story gives us amazing bird’s eye view of the war, the support team working to help the soldiers and the development of a wonderful romance. I especially loved the beginning and the ending, what a lovely touch of family and the future these characters influenced.

I have enjoyed many stories by Shanna Hatfield over the years but none more than Molly. A story of service, love, family and honor marvelous told.