Really enjoyed reading this book. Liked the characters and how the story unfolded. Would definitely recommend this book

This is the 4th book in the series 'A Village at War' by Ellie Curzon. Every now and again a book comes along that has something you weren't expecting and that is the case with this book for sure. It had all the main parts of a book set in a small village, the close community of characters, petty rivalries, local spirit and being wary of newcomers and as I had read the first in the series I knew that I was in for a treat with an Ellie Curzon book.

The story revolved around the land girls and in particularly, Lottie, who has suffered trauma in her immediate past with the passing of her sister due to a German bomb. When a German plane is shot down near to her farm during an air raid and it is thought that a survivor has escaped, she doesn't act as most main book characters would do. I would expect that main characters, in order to show their kinder or sympathetic side, would be of the opinion that since they are at war, both sides are losing men on the front and that the bombing that their own country does is impacting the enemy country too. However Lottie, fresh from the horrors of losing her sister rampages against the Nazi's, badmouths them and generally is outraged about all the things they are doing. This is a real reaction and what I would expect a citizen during a brutal war to do. It makes Ellie's characters so much more realistic and flawed to have them acting on genuine feelings and reactions to such events. For most of the book Lottie's rant, ravings and thoughts are so devastatingly human.

The other parts that aren't in every war tale is the notion of revving up the community hate against their enemy. We would know of course that countries at war generally don't need much revving up but this book deals with issues such as inciting violence in communities where there needn't be any and taking situations into their own hands. It's refreshing to see different issues being raised and different angles being explored.

Towards the middle and end it does go back to having the heroine/hero love story and the characters rallying together in an emergency and the happily ever after that you would expect of a book. The characters aren't set out as heroes but rather represented in a grumpy, surly or obstinate way.
As I said before, very realistic. I liked the turn around in attitudes and the ending had a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming. All in all a great book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Ellie Curzon for an ARC to read. All opinions expressed are my own.

In the latest book in the Village at War series, readers join Lottie and the other Land Girls at Gosling Farm in December 1943, shortly before Christmas. Grieving the death of her sister, Lottie is not ready to celebrate just yet, though the new handsome vicar Matthew and his charming niece Daisy bring some light back into her life. When a German plane crashes near the farm and the village, the townspeople go on high alert, everyone is a suspect, and the limits of the village’s kindness are tested and pushed to their limits. With everyone’s eyes on this village and the capture of this German pilot, everyone must do their part and rise above the fear that threatens their holiday cheer. With fascinating characters and a compelling plot, Curzon brings the dangerous ambiguity and the gray morality of the war on the home front to life. Lottie is a fascinating character with great character development over the previous books, and her growing relationships with Matthew and Daisy are enjoyable to follow. With brilliant characters, a great emotional storyline, and some fascinating discussions of morality and loyalty taken to the brink on the home front, historical fiction fans will love Ellie Curzon’s latest World War II historical fiction novel.

Rounded up to 4 from 3.75. This is the fourth book in the series. I have only read #1 but didn't seem to be missing much as this book focuses on Lottie. Her sister, Martha, is killed when a bomb hits close to Gosling Farm. One of the airman escapes but this is no ordinary airman. He is the godson of Hitler himself, so Sidney Gastrell shows up to save the village from this horribly evil man. But is he? or is Sidney just a blowhard. That's what I thought.

I enjoyed the story but at times it seemed to drag and be repetitious. It was on the long side at 379 pages. The characters were nice. At first Lottie comes off as judgmental but she does listen to reason. My favorite characters were the vicar, Matthew, his niece, Daisy, and Lottie's dog, Blossom.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with a digital copy.

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Lottie and her pals in the women's land army are good friends but there is always the threat of bombs falling on them in the countryside as they are close to a RAF base. Lottie knows this all too well as her sister Martha was killed very recently, she misses her such a lot and she didn't deserve to die at such a young age. Her little dog Blossom is a great comfort and always sleeps on her bed and when the siren goes off they go off to the shelter together along with the other land girls, as it did recently and in the days that followed afterwards there was much talk in the village of an escaped airman from a crashed German fighter plane in the nearby woods. While the girls were in the woods finding two Christmas trees, one for the church and one for the farmhouse, Lottie found a watch, battered but definitely German, it could only have come from the crashed plane. But when a man called Mr Gastrell arrives in the village, the whole village is worked up in a frenzy by Mr Gastrell who is intent on finding the German. The vicar (Matthew) has also suffered a great loss, his sister and brother in law were killed and now he is looking after his niece, Lottie soon realises that she and Matthew have more in common than she originally thought, both have suffered loss and are still trying to cope and carry on with their everyday lives. But gradually the village takes a menancing take on the escaped airman, with people baying for him to be caught and prosecuted, or worse!

Wartime wishes for the land girls is an absolute must read for WW2 saga lovers. Very readable and extremely emotional storyline. I am sorry to leave the residents of Bramble Heath behind, although this is part of a series set in Bramble Heath it can easily be read as a stand-alone book. I love how this close-knit community pull together and really care about each other. A well deserved five star read from me.

#Bookouture
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I initially struggled to get into the story and at times found it a little far fetched. That said It did inspire me to look up some of the names mentioned to see if there was any truth to the story or if it was purely fiction. I'm glad I persevered and finished the book as I did find the second half of the book easier to read. The characters were all easy to relate too and the book easy to read. I do wonder what happened to the character who was in a Prisoner of War camp and wonder if he will feature in the next book in the series.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read an Arc copy.

A great read with action and suspense to hold your attention along with a good romance story. The characters come to life, and you can find yourself caring about what happens to them. Another great story from Ellie Curzon!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wartime Wishes for the Land Girls is the fourth and final book in the Village at War series by Ellie Curzon. The cover may suggest it’s a Christmas book but really it’s just set in the days running up Christmas rather than the event itself being a major focus. So don’t be put off in the slightest if you feel that it’s too early to read a festive themed book because this isn’t that kind of book at all. More so the weather in the depths of winter plays a big part in the aspects of the plot. Again, as with all the books in the series this is easily read as a standalone story. For those new to the series it’s easy to get a brief insight into what might have occurred in the previous books and for old readers it’s nice to see how old favourites are getting on now. The plot had a lovely gentle, relaxed pace to it and overall the story gives off a good feeling of people working together as one big community in the most desperate of times.

The prologue beings on a cold Winter’s night as the villagers come together to try and find someone. I instantly wanted to know how they had arrived at this point and would their search be successful? Then we are taken a few weeks back in time and introduced to Land Girl, Lottie, who works on the Gosling’s farm on the outskirts of the village of Bramble Heath. Lottie loves working as a team providing food for the country and her former existence as a shop girl couldn’t be further from what she is doing now. It was brilliant to see the vital role women and in particular the Land Girls played in the war effort as it showed that everyone from all walks of life were united as one against the enemy.

Lottie for me for I’d say for around a good half of the book was a divisive character because I wanted to love her but the way she was acting and her opinions I just couldn’t agree with them. I felt her judgements and the actions she wished to take were clouded by her past experience. In one way you couldn’t blame her for that but on the other hand I felt that deep down she knew she had morals and that she should live by them. The impact of the devastating loss of her sister Martha who was killed on the farm when a bomb landed meant she became muddled and confused and was eaten up by hatred. She seemed hell bent on revenge rightly blaming the Germans for the loss of someone she loved so much and she was right to feel that way but she shouldn’t tarnish everyone with the same brush. But will she stay rooted in her stance or can someone make her see the bigger picture?

Lottie as with most of us can’t fathom how God can allow horrors such as bombing, deaths and the existence of the camps to occur and even though she is deep in the countryside war still comes to her door. She knows she has to make sacrifices and keep the home fires burning but when a German plane comes crashing down in the woods near the farm it all brings the realities of the loss of Martha even further home to her. The bitterness, anger and sadness that she feels is felt by the reader and she struggles through her grief and fear. When she finds a watch with the name of a German on it she knows that someone must have survived the crash and soon the village is awash with both fear and anger that a German is on the lose and hiding amongst them. Soon Sidney Gastrell arrives in the village and to be honest he seemed so over the top and flamboyant that he drove me mad a lot of the time. He was like a crazed Nazi hunter on a mission to root out Germans but reading between the lines he seemed to be all talk and no action and was only interested in furthering his fame and fortune. I was desperately hoping that Lottie would wake up and see that morals, being human and doing the right thing should always come first.

Of course, there had to be some romance in a story of this nature and this comes in the form of the new vicar Matthew. I loved the stark contrasts between himself and Lottie but also as the story developed the similarities between them as people and the experiences, they share started to become apparent. Matthew came across as cold, stand offish and aloof at first. I sensed there was a lot more to him than met the eye and that he too battled with his moral conscience at times. His little niece Daisy whom he now rears was a lovely addition to the story as was Blossom, Lottie’s dog. Who would have thought a dog would have brought so much joy and take on almost human like characteristics and have such a prominent and significant role in the book and more so that it would work very well.

I loved how Lottie changed over the course of the book in so many ways. Initially, she couldn’t stand Matthew and there was no way they were agreeing on anything.Yet, there was something there that seemed to draw them to one another and it was interesting to see this develop over the course of the book. When the action ramps up and the tension increases with strange things happening in the village and of course the continuing hunt for the downed German pilot I found myself turning the pages much more rapidly and I was desperate to see how things would turn out for everyone involved.

As with previous books, the story meanders along and at times I did think, oh nothing is really happening especially after the big incident of the plane crashing occurred fairly on the book. But again and pleasantly so I was very much surprised by the last quarter or so. It made me realise that everything that had taken place was vital to the overall plot and in fact the author had been building up a great story. Really, I should have been more hyper aware and focused because there were lots of little clues that had been dropped in that I had completely missed. I was a bit smug thinking I had things worked out where in fact there were two huge surprises thrown in that I hadn’t see coming. They brought a smile to my face at the fact the wool had been pulled over my eyes and my opinion of the book as a whole dramatically changed.

I found myself thinking yes this is a really good book and with those two instances it had gone from being in my mind average to being a fantastic read that was really enjoyable. The residents and incomers to Bramble Heath are ordinary people who find themselves living in extraordinary times and Ellie Curzon has given a pleasant, engaging and insightful snapshot into their lives which was a pleasure to read and just the kind of book you need when you don’t want something too taxing. This may be the end for the villagers of Bramble Heath but I am already looking forward to a news series which will focus on the Blitz and war torn London.

This is book four in a series but the first I have read, It can be read as a standalone but I will absolutely be reading the first three books now as this was such a beautiful story.

While this is a book about war time life in a small English village it is so so much more, this is a story about resilience, compassion, bravery, community, loyalty & surviving one of the worst times in our history but ultimately this is a story about love, loss & hope.

This was such a beautifully written story with characters you can't help but fall in love with, the small countryside village setting, festive feel & beautiful friendships are so heartwarming & while this is a sad story about a horrific time in history it is also a reminder about the best of humanity & how love, compassion & empathy always have the power to overthrow hate, a reminder I believe we all need now more than ever.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I love this author and this series! This is a really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. Lottie is mourning her sister’s death from an air raid in 1943 England. She befriends an injured veteran and starts to feel hope again. But the town is tested when a German plane goes down near their town. thus is an uplifting story and love, faith and resilience.
I couldn’t put it down! I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is book 4 in a series, and in true me style I haven't read the others. I found that it did take me a while to get into the story, but it did work perfectly well as a standalone.

Wartime Wishes for the Land Girls really was a story about love and forgiveness overcoming hate, and how we, as humans, are more alike than we realise, even with our differences.

I loved Lottie right from the beginning. And I was torn with her on both hating "the Nazi" for what he had done, and also knowing that he was someone's brother/son/husband/fiancé. As much as the Germans were our enemy during the war, the vast majority were just young men doing their job.

This book had some lovely twists which made it an exciting, if slightly unbelievable, read. It was pure escapism.

Now I just have to make time to read the previous books in the series.

Wartime Wishes for the Land Girls by Ellie Curzon is a tale of love, loss and the worst dilemma in the darkest era of the 20th century

Lottie is mourning the loss of her sister, finding support and slowly developing feelings for the injured veteran (and now vicar of the village) Matthew. In the depths of Winter, a German plane comes down and a survivor is missing. Where is he? More importantly, what has happened to Matthew's young Neice Daisy, who is also missing?

A perfect cosy to curl up with as the weather cools, beautifully written and very well researched, a heart rending story that is as immersive as it is compelling. Absolutely 5 stars

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and the authors for this beautiful ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

I love this series of books so much everything Ellie Curzon writes I lap up. Part of a series but can be read stand alone these books tell of different experiences during WW2 taking place in a small village. This book has everything bravery, mystery, humour, community and even romance. I love the way the author writes her characters we really get to know them and see all different sides of humanity. The story leaves you guessing and wanting more.

Thanks Netgalley for the arc

This was a really good narrative of how our communities came together during WW2. Ellue Curzon depicts life in a farming village where girls took on the jobs that their male counterparts would do had they not been called to war. She also shows how rash judgements and preconceived ideas cloud our judgement. The characters that she built reflect ourselves that it makes it so realistic. I loved the whole story, characters and the underlying plot points. I will be sure to go back and read some more of her works.

I love this series. Returning to Bramble Heath and the Land Girls is always a pleasure. This story is so much more than a war story. Yes there are air raids and plane crashes and Nazi soldiers, but it’s also about love and forgiveness. Matthew and Lottie join forces in hopes of saving a downed German airman. They both lost so much thanks to the Germans and even though he is technically the enemy, they have too much compassion for a young man in a bad position. Matthew is determined to make the others in Bramble Heath be better than the Germans, to not want to lynch the poor airman. The more time they spend together, the more they fall for each other. There’s something special about reading about happy endings even during wartime.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC of this book.

Lottie and her fellow land girls are getting ready for Christmas when a German plane crashes in a field nearby. Everyone is ready to hang the escaped pilot but Matthew the vicar tries to get people to listen to reason that he may be useful to the government. A tough discussion of how people react to tragedies . This was a very good read. You will enjoy this series.

This story was great .It's about Lottie who is a land girl in the village of Bramble Heath.She lost her sister Martha in a bombing at the farm where they were both land girls. One night during an air raid a German plane crashes in a field on the farm which brings memories back to Lottie of Martha's death.This story tells of what follows in the village when it is found that the rear gunner in the p!and has survived.I couldn't put this book down.Thank you to Netgalley and Bookature.

A book full of Christmas spirit, hope, and heartwarming moments. It's the right book if you need some to cheer you up as the author did an excellent job in delivering this story.
Loved it, it made me smile.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book was heroic and magical! An English village bands together to search for the lost and to keep each other safe! Add some romance and Christmas magic and I was set for days! The characters described and the scenes presented are unforgettable! I felt as if I was in a Hallmark movie on set observing the magic and deeply poetic emotions with each chapter! 📖

Bravo!!