The Spitfire Girls

I read a lot of WWII books and it's always great to find one with a different perspective and to learn something new. This novel looks at the war from the view of the British Air Transport Auxiliary . These brave women were pilots who shuttled planes to the bases where they were needed and to free up the male pilots for combat. At the same time, a similar group was being started in the US. These women were faced with discrimination from almost everyone -including the male pilots and often times, their own families. They work to fly the planes while they are fighting for respect and equal pay as they try to do their part in helping their county's war efforts.

There are three main characters: May, the group commander in England who is fighting demons of her own due to the loss of her brother; May, a petite woman who is engaged to an RAF pilot and Lizzie, an American who went to England to fly with the BATA and learn more about the program so that she could replicate it in the US. All three women bring great flying skills but vastly different personalities to the group. Can they overcome their differences and work together to help aviation in their country during wartime?

I definitely enjoyed learning more about what these brave women did during WWII and how they showed their countries what they could accomplish. This is an enjoyable book that will teach readers more about women's roles during the 40s. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This book is different from other historical books of a similar era. The book is very well written and it also told me facts that I didn’t know
The story is very easy to follow and the characters are very likeable
A great historical fiction book

A timely tale in the RAF’s centenary year, which weaves fact with fiction to celebrate the incredible sacrifices and ground-breaking achievements of female pilots during the Second World War. The narrative is woven around the friendships forged between the three central characters of diffident Ruby, stoic May and outspoken American, Lizzie. We follow their lives as they support the war effort by piloting planes, finding romance whilst enduring sexism, tragedy and the adversities incumbent on their roles as pioneers of the female pilot squadrons: the ATA and the WASP. This story will strike a chord with anyone old enough to have experienced the war first-hand or have an interest in women during the war. The writing style is accessible and I recommend this book. The Author’s Note also details the facts underpinning the fiction and is extremely interesting. The end result is that I now really want to read more about the inspirational real lives of Jackie Cochrane and Pauline Gower.

A fascinating story together with a cast of trail-blazing women pilots who came together to overcome prejudice and societal stereotypes, changing the face of history, and whose daring contribution helped win a world war. A winning combination.

A work of fiction based on a true story about the women aviators who flew the Spitfire planes during WorldWar II. What a remarkable story this is!
It tells of female pilots recruited in both the United States and England to serve as noncombatants so that more male flyers would be available for combat duty.
Picking up damaged planes from war zones to bring to home air-fields for repair was difficult and dangerous, but these women did it with skill and determinations.
Their efforts were an inspiring display of heroism and patriotism but they received very little recognition until near the end of the war.
These brave women were ignored or looked upon as secondary to their male counterparts.
It was during the end of the war that the honors and accolades they deserved were given to these fine females.
Their exploits played an important role in history as to why the members of the 40's decade were called "The Greatest Generation".
Definitely a good, well written book!

I adored this book!! These characters had such strong personalities and I feel in love with each and every one!! I also learned so much from this story!!! You will not be sorry you read this book!!

Read this if you need women of strength and courage to motivate you. Our foremothers put themselves out there to open doors for generations to come, to prove the worth, power and ability of women. You wish for the characters to have that happy ending, with respect and romance from some supportive men to draw you into what their futures may hold

A beautifully written story based on the true story of the brave women pilots of WW2.
We follow May, Ruby and Lizzie as they fight prejudice on both sides of the Atlantic. Along the way they face loss and find love and these women are true pioneers of women's rights.
Aust for anyone who loves books about strong women and is interested in the work of women I. The war

Very similar to other books on this subject. The important role women pilots played in the war flying planes around England was not fully appreciated until near the end of the war. The lives and loves and deaths of these daring young girls make for an extremely interesting read.

This is a work of historical fiction detailing the relatively unknown story of female pilots ferrying war planes in WWII. I had no idea women played such a pivotal role.
The book could also be categorized as women’s fiction for the emotion shown by the characters and their families. May reminded me very much of JD Robb’s Eve Dallas character because she got too far into her own head, thought too hard, and shouldered a lot. A bit too heavy on the introspection with that one. But I thoroughly enjoyed Ruby, who was indeed a spitfire, humbly piloting war planes with immense skill.
All in all a good read. I recommend this one.

A fascinating insight into the role played by the ATA and WASPS during WW2. The women who flew spitfires, bombers, seaplanes etc during the war, transporting them across Britain and US, to ensure that they had the planes required for combat. A little known part of WW2 history, these women were some of the first to strive for equality, and were determined to help their country in war. The one subtle difference was that in Britain they had to fly without radio support or navigation aids, using only maps and roads, train lines, rivers etc to find their way - a significantly more difficult and challenging operation. These were truly courageous women, putting their lives at risk, who were then expected to go home when peace was as declared.

What an amazing story and the fact that. It's based on factual events makes it more interesting as I never knew or heard about this group of fantastic women. The author pays them the credit and gratitude that they deserve for their heroic acts while still writing a lovely story around the characters. I will be definitely checking out more books by this author.

Took me a little while to get fully involved in the plot but once I did, I loved it. Good characters for the most part and an interesting story. Looking forward to more from the author!

I loved this story from the very first chapter. This is a fictional story centered around a real life group of women. Some of the main characters were based on real ladies in history. It shows you how far women’s rights have advanced in the last 50-60 years. Not only legal rights but how people view women. Great story! Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I hope you’re ready to hear some gushing, because The Spitfire Girls absolutely blew me away!

Synopsis: WW2 hasn’t been easy for anyone. People have been lost, and there will only be more. However, this story follows three brave women who decide that sitting at home isn’t an option. They’re pilots and they know they’re just as capable to assist in the war effort as any man. Stepping up to work alongside the brave women of the ATA, they each play a pivotal role in ferrying planes, so that the male pilots could fight in the war.

Despite having no instruments or radios, less pay and sometimes very little respect, they are determined to prove themselves. But things don’t always go smoothly, they don’t always get along and in such turbulent times, the stakes are higher than ever.

This beautifully crafted historical fiction novel exceeded my expectations. Probably what stood out to me most about The Spitfire Girls was how unbelievably real it felt. Granted, it’s based on real events, but even putting that aside it felt so vividly believable. The more time you spend with the characters, the more they start to feel like friends; people who you hope will get home safely. I loved how invested I felt in the characters and how much I cared about what happened to them.

I have to talk about how wonderfully empowering this story was. Before reading this book, I had no idea about the struggles faced by female pilots during WW2 and have since been inspired to do my own research on the subject. They had to fight so hard to prove themselves, purely so that they could serve their country and help bring their boys home. This was reflected so wonderfully in the novel. It moved me so much, hearing about how these brave women put their lives on the line for such a noble purpose. It really shines a light on the efforts that women made during WW2 to assist their countries and ultimately fight for equality. As a woman, reading this story made me feel like I could do anything and the sky was literally the limit. I think this is such a special quality in a novel and it deserves to be recognised.

I loved how strong the female characters were and how much they developed throughout the war. They overcame so many obstacles that were thrown at them as well as battling against their own personal demons. The story is told from the perspectives of three main characters: Lizzie, Ruby and May. All three of them are very likeable (even if they don’t always like each other) and being able to view the story from their different perspectives keeps the reader emotionally engaged. The characters were written with so much depth and complexity, which made it a pleasure to go with them on their journey. I really liked this structure and thought it was very nicely put together. I also like how there was a bit of romance (which is always nice), but it was not the overall focus of the story. The focus was how strong and badass the women were.

The tension that comes with war is present – sometimes lurking in the background and sometimes rearing its ugly head. There are reminders throughout the novel that death is a very real possibility for these women, as well as for their loved ones. There are sad moments and happy ones, but the story is so beautifully crafted the entire experience is an enjoyable one.

I feel like I should end this review by thanking the author for the experience of reading her novel. It has been a long time since I have been so moved by something I’ve read, and I would not hesitate in recommending The Spitfire Girls.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoy and appreciate Soraya M. Lane's emphasis on spotlighting women and their contributions to history. Having read her wonderful book "Hearts of Resistance," I knew I would enjoy this one, and I did. A beautifully written and well-paced story with vivid characters that read true to life and kept me invested in how their lives turned out. I loved learning about these fascinating and brave women who helped win WWII, even though they were handicapped by a lack of training and the inability to use the instruments the flying airmen were allowed to use. Highly recommended!

This is ok. I wish Lizzie, May, and Ruby had had more time together because it felt very brief. Or at least the part where they actually got along felt brief since most of the novel seemed to be Lizzie vs May and Ruby, which didn't always make sense in the later chapters when it showed their bond. That being said, it was an interesting book, though slow at points, but its biggest pitfall seems to be in the fact that the author does far more telling than showing. The amount of research is clear all throughout the novel, which is great, but I just don't think it was integrated as artistically as it could have been.

Ultimately, this novel is interesting, and for those of you who are interested in women's history and female=centric novels, then this is probably up your alley!

This is a novel that shares with us the courageous contribution women made in both England and the USA towards the WW2 endeavours. These women were willing to put their lives on the line and take on piloting planes to where they were needed. And... they were very successful.

Soraya M. Lane does and excellent job helping us get inside the lives of such young women. Often they were up agains 'the establishment' and the attitudes and prejudices of the populace. Yet despite these niggles these women were amazing.

The story is told of May who leads the English group, she is asked to take on the task of organising and training. She has heartache of her own - everyone is touched by the war in some way, never to be the same again. Then there is Ruby - a tiny woman who can eventually fly the biggest planes - she too has her own heartaches and worry. Lastly Lizzie the outspoken American who is so confident and ready to voice her opinions and every corner.

As the reader I came to love these women, I liked the small details of the drawbacks that women faced flying these planes, and that they overcame with good spirit. I enjoyed the love interests each of them had and that added so much to the story. I especially enjoyed the epilogue - icing on the cake!

Informative, inspiring and well worth the read. Yes women can do anything, which reminds me I had the pleasure once of meeting a woman USA astronaut. I think May, Ruby and Lizzie would have been right there if they lived in a different era. However their push for gender equality enabled women of the future to aim high.

The Spitfire Girls is a perfect example of historical fiction detailing women who deserve respect. May, Ruby and Lizzie ferried planes during WWII. Based on actual people, the story is fascinating. Of course these women were treated inferior. The story shows the strength of these women during an horrific time period. It's informative and engaging. There are many things to love about the characters. Read it!

I loved this book. I'm a sucker for most historical fiction but when you combine strong women fighting against gender stereotypes, I'm definitely in. This novel follows 3 women, who fight for the right to fly warplanes during WWII. They have to overcome gender bias, lower pay, and even the fact that they fly without instruments or radios! They demonstrate how important they are to the war effort and the fact that women can do anything men can do. I found it refreshing that the story didn't solely focus on romance. While there are definite sparks flying, (pun intended) the story is more about friendship, resilience, and the pursuit of your dreams.

It was well written and I honestly could not put this down. Fans of historical fiction will love this one. Thanks to NetGalley for providing and ARC for review.

War genre fiction is a favorite of mine and I certainly enjoy a book that educates me on a new aspect as to how women served during the war. A very good historical fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! While I knew of the WASPs in the US, it was fascinating to read about the British side of the it and the British Air Transport Auxiliary! While this is historical fiction, I enjoyed knowing that the characters were loosely based on real women. These women were real trail blazers and showed that they were just as valuable as the fighter pilots,

I didn't want to put this book down!

I have really loved this book as it shows how fabulous strong women helped the war effort,May,Ruby,Polly are some of the first women to ferry planes during the war.They had to show that they could do this job in an era when women stayed home and kept house and raised children.These girls form a bond of friendship and work well together that is until they get a new recruit from america.Lizzie is loud,big headed and doesn't like to be told what to do, all of which puts the girls off getting too close to her.I can highly recommend The Spitfire Girls and worthy of 5* if not more.EXCELLENT BOOK.

These are the stories I wish our history books taught us.

Spitfire Girls tells the story of the first female pilots during World War II. Lizzie is the daughter of a legendary American pilot with dreams of leading the United States’ first group of women pilots. She writes a letter to and eventually meets with the First Lady, Mrs. Roosevelt. Lizzie is set to Britain to join and learn about a group a women pilots ferrying planes.

May is the commanding officer of this group, with Ruby as her first officer. Lizzie is brash and bold and often offends her British counterparts. When she and Ruby, the two best pilots, are pitted against each other in a competition to be the first woman to fly a Halifax, a bomber, tensions rise and Lizzie learns a valuable lesson about herself.

Spitfire Girls is an engaging, historical read. I felt myself rooting for Ruby and crying with May, while getting fired up right alongside Lizzie. Their stories and lives an inspiration to all women.

Mixed with the perfect amount of romance and predictability, Spitfire Girls was an engaging and educational read.

I revived an advanced eBook from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
What a fantastic and fascinating insight into these amazing women and what they done for there country
Lizzie (very annoying) Ruby(star of the book) Polly(sweet girl)
May(The leader)
What a team these women made I feel as if I was flying planes with them
This really was a
RIP-ROARING EXTRAVAGANZA OF A BOOK.
can't praise this book enough and will be telling family and friends to read this amazing journey.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about 3.5/5 stars.

I was so excited to read this book because I have heard nothing but good things about Ms. Lane and I love novels about women in WWII. The story is objectively fantastic, really shining a light on the ATA in Britain and their essential role in the war effort. All of the characters have substance and the love stories are believable and not forced. Ruby was my particular favorite, with her patriotism, skill, and humble attitude. The book also doesn't spend too much time on aviation details, focusing only on the name and the type rather than on the nitty gritty of how to fly that particular plane (a welcome change as my Air Force pilot husband loves to talk about those details). The only downside to this book was the writing style. Conversations were awkward and stilted at the beginning of the novel and it was difficult to get into at first. It may be because this is an advanced copy, but there were also numerous typos and once instance where Ruby was called Rosie (there is no character named Rosie elsewhere in the book). These didn’t affect the overall storyline but they were definitely distracting. Once these are fixed, it would be a 4 star read for sure.

Women are strength. The characters in The Spitfire Girls demonstrate that throughout the entire book. I really love the story and lessons told in this book. The characters are all amazing and real. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

The book had a kick butt premise, I mean people tend to forget about the Women pilots of WWII. Lane gave us some very stereotypical characters and it was fluffy and cute and heartwarming with dashes of loss thrown in. Overall it was a read I think most people would enjoy more than I did but I couldn't like it as much as I wanted to. I felt like Lane dangled this carrot before me and then took it away, the characters had no depth and this is the sort of book where she had every opportunity to make them as deep as the ocean if she wanted, and because they were so shallow the plot just didn't seem as genuine as it should have. Not to mention I did not like Ruby, and I also felt that there was no need to alter Lizzie just because she was an ambitious woman.

I would definitely recommend this to others who love heartwarming stories and historical fiction, it was just too fluffy for me.

I received this as a free digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion, this book will be published on February 26, 2019.

This is a well researched book, telling the story of woman pilots that trained and flew planes for the WASPS in the US and the AOC in Britain during WWII. Facing discrimination and disbelief that women could handle the big bombers, that even some of their male counterparts found challenging to fly, these woman took to the challenge and were soon ferrying these planes to airbases, freeing up the men for combat. Unsurprising, these women had to fight for pay equality as well.
The author, Soraya M Lane tells their story of challenges, danger and loss, while serving their countries with pride. It didn’t hurt to throw some romance into the story, just to point out that the need for companionship and support is needed, Wartime or not.
A very enjoyable novel and I thank the author, Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC.

I was intrigued by the description of a World War II story from the point of view of women pilots in the Air Transport Auxilliary. The story is fascinating in the descriptions of the flights without the benefit of radar or radio and of the general work to fly planes around the country. The girls (and men to a a degree) are rather stereotypical though - May, the young Commander, British, quiet, reserved, suffering quietly to herself about the loss of her beloved fighter pilot brother whilst trying to pull together a disparate group of women, Ruby tormented by her dreadful mother in law to be who clearly sees a 'gal's' duty to be with her family and sorting out wedding arrangements rather than taking men's work in the skies, and a fiance who initially agrees with Mama. Lizzie the archetypal in your face brash Yank who knows it all and does not want to be with the boring Brits. Ben, the quiet mechanic, who ensures that the planes are fit to fly and supports May to the hilt. And so on and on. We move through their trials and tribulations from ferrying planes from base to base to replace those lost; to May demanding equal pay when meeting up with Churchill and their excitement at being able to fly some of the big 4 engine bombers for the first time as well as the attitudes of many of the RAF personnel. It is clear that the author has researched her subject well - thanks for giving some references at the end, I shall follow up on some of these.. For me, it's too much of a Mills and Boonsie style but it does get the story of the ATA across in an accessible way I suppose. Thanks to NetGalley and Union Lake publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that it took me a while to decide to read this book...I've read a lot of WWII books lately and I didn't think this book would be all that different from the others. I was wrong! This book got my attention right from the beginning. The fact that not only did women VOLUNTEER to make difficult flights to deliver planes for use in the war, but they FOUGHT for the right to do so is just amazing to me. These women had so much courage and determination. I thought the author did a a great job with the main characters - May, Ruby, and Lizzie. Each of these women had their own strengths and weaknesses and as the story progresses, the reader gets to see how each of them deals with their own personal challenges. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Spitfire Girls” by Soraya M Lane, February 2019

Soraya M Lane, Author of “The Spitfire Girls” has written a captivating, enthralling, intriguing and entertaining novel. The Genres for this book are Fiction, Women’s Fiction and Historical Fiction. The time-line for this novel is World War Two. The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complex, competitive and complicated.

Lizzie has been a pilot in the United States, and writes to Mrs. Roosevelt to ask if women can be pilots and fly during the war. She is informed that there is a program in England. Lizzie meets May and Ruby, two of the best pilots in England. At first there is competition and adversity between the American and English women pilots. There is the threat of German Airstrikes. The women are flying the planes blindly.

I appreciate that the author discusses the importance of friendship, sisterhood, family , love and hope. These are brave and devoted women who serve their countries, at less pay than the men that do the same thing. These women are fighting for their rights and lives. I would highly recommend this amazing story for those readers who enjoy World War Two fiction and history. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

I enjoyed watching the relationships grow between these women (and the men who were there for them). As always, it amazes me to see the courage and determination so many people had during the war. And if women hadn't seen a need and fought for the right to do the work - in this case ferrying planes to the men who would fly them into combat - how differently could things have turned out? These women played a huge part.

The book made me laugh, made me cry, broke my heart wide open, and in the end left me feeling that, despite it all, it was a full and complete and satisfying story. I will remember May and Ruby and Lizzie for a long time.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley, and Soraya M. Lane for the ARC. I loved it!

Focusing on three women- British ATA flyers First Officer Ruby Sanders and Commander May Jones and WASP American pilot Elizabeth (Lizzie) Dunlop, this is a WWII historical that focuses on the contribution of women pilots on both sides of the Atlantic during World War II. These women faced much criticism from their families and countrymen for stepping outside the projected gender roles and yet as revealed in the novel, had much better survival rates than the much lauded RAF. Not to mention that they also dealt with inequality in pay and came face to face with sexism on a daily basis.

I felt all the characters were relateable, although it took a while for brash American Lizzie to grow on me. I must confess that May was a personal favorite of mine as she had the added challenge of being in a high ranking position and yet found herself often being ignored by her male counterparts and the political figures of the time.

An absolute addition to any WWII era library!

It's well timed with the Armistice and the D-day landings anniversaries due. I welcomed a story about the ATA girls who are the dogsbody pilots of condescending and patronising men. I found it a sugary and snobbish account especially the spoilt brat women. Initially, it irritated me learning that the elitist women could drive an aircraft because they had a wealthy daddy. No expense was spared for the new project - accommodation at the Savoy hotel, dinner of steak at the Adelphi hotel, uniform supplied by Moss Brothers. Ouch - class structures in the 1940s. The ongoing childish feud between Lizzie and Ruby was tedious and seemed to be the main theme. The women did a wonderful job as ATA girls, but I think they had more depth and tenacity to give them real justice than the shallow characters in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story that deserves to be told and shared! This book shares the story of three women who lead the charge of women pilots in WW2. I was able to attach myself to each of the characters - they were magnetic, making it hard to put the book down. In fact, I wish that I could continue reading about the lives of these women. I really enjoyed the book.

"The perfect ladies' plane, that's what they used to call the Spitfire..." I love historical fiction and especially when I learn something new from it. I certainly did reading this book. This novel took me on a journey of the development and organization of the "Spitfire Girls" along with the main characters, Lizzie, May and Ruby. It's the personal stories of each one and the common love they have in flying. They each have a desire to serve their countries in the war efforts by using their gift of skillful flying. Lizzie has a yearning to develop a women's flying team but the American forces aren't ready for women to become fliers so she travels to England and joins the women there. After some tension between her and the other women, they become a team and form friendships that span the ocean. There are bonds in the common interest of the love of flying and to help towards winning the war. Lizzie had to learn to let go of personal gains and become a member of the sistership in the single mission they were all destined to complete. Ferrying planes. These women believed in themselves and the ability they had to serve their countries.

Ms. Lane wove a beautiful story around true facts that happened to real women. It's the story of painful losses and learning to believe in hope and love. Letting go of the past pain and grabbing the future. Persevering through thick and thin. From the unbelievable agony of losses almost too much to bear to the highest of highs of finding true love in the least expected way. Of flying high. I had tears for the pain and joy for the characters as the story was told. I am in awe of the fortitude that these women had. To overcome obstacles and show that women are capable of mighty things.

This passage that Ms. Lane wrote spoke to me so much:

"We are told as little girls what our expectations should be, and it's made abundantly clear what our limitations are, but I'm standing here today to tell you that there are no limitations for women, or at least not in the sky. You don't need to be a burly six-foot man to fly an enormous four-engine bomber, but you do need a brain and a single-minded determination."

The Author's Note at the end of the book is wonderful. I was stunned at the statistics she included and how much these women made a difference in the war efforts.

I want to thank Lake Union, Netgalley and Ms. Lane for the honor of reading this great book. I highly recommend it. A fantastic read!

The Spitfire Girls
By: Soraya M. Lane
I’m generally a Christian historical romance reader but I decided to give this book a try. I was happy to find that it was a clean romance, nothing smutty. I really enjoyed this unique perspective of WW2. The “Atta girls” or “spitfire girls” were a unique part of our history that I have not read about before. They were plucky women who broke the mold of how women should behave during wartime. These brave women chose to share their flying talents helping shift the outcome of the war. Although this was a fiction book it was based on real women which were inspiring to read about.
“Getting what you want is never easy.”
As WW2 develops a group of British women forms the “First Eight,” to help ferry new, repaired, and damaged planes for the RAF. Meanwhile, in the states, a spirited Lizzie fights to start a women’s flying brigade to aid the war. After gaining the president's attention Lizzie is sent to be a part of the British ATA. The girls juggle transporting planes, training to be the first to fly a bomber, and as well as relationships with each other and their male counterparts.
I really enjoyed this book and all the characters. They were well developed and it was enjoyable to see them mature and grow throughout the war. Even though the girls were all coming together for a similar purpose to help the war effort they each had a different personality and struggle. It was very genuine as they all interacted and got along while dealing with their own struggles.
If you are a historical reader this is defiantly a book to check out!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I share here. https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

This is a great book for fans of WWII fiction and those who enjoy strong female characters. This is a book about women who flew during the war. I enjoyed it and hope to read more from this author.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

4.5 stars

I have read a significant amount of WW2 fiction. I really enjoyed the look at women's fight to help in the war. In our day and time it is hard to really comprehend that it was a common belief at that time that women were inferior and would not be able to fly planes, bombers, fighters to help in the war effort. The fact that they were then allowed to do fly with less equipment, less support, and less pay is abhorred.

This is a story of three women fighting their own fight to help in the war efforts. Two English women and an American woman fighting the same fight for different reasons.

The Spitfire Girls is the second book I've read recently about WW II, which is based on historical and heroic women who aided in the war efforts through the British Air Transport Auxiliary. I learned a lot about how these brave young women pilots would fly fighter planes to assigned locations helping the men who needed them in fighting the war. It also includes women in the United States forming a similar group called the WASPs. If it wasn't for these brave young female pilots, who know how the war may have turned out!
Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing and the author for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
I strongly recommend this book filled with lots of history and also some romance, which helped soften the story. Congratulations on a very well written and informative book to the author.

(4.5) I really enjoyed this book. It was well researched and the writing beautifully done. Based on the true story of female pilots that assisted in the WWII efforts by transporting planes to bases where needed for combat. And that was transporting WITHOUT radios or instruments to help guide them. They put their lives in danger to help their country fight the war. What amazing, brave women. I loved the three main female characters in the book, May, Ruth and Lizzie, and the camaraderie that developed between them, even though they didn't quite start off on the right foot. This is great historical fiction with a little romance thrown in, and it is one that I highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
1 like

Thoroughly enjoyed reading book about the ladies who fly for the benefit of the men in the war. it was an easy read about 3 brave women who gave their all for the war. the 3 new recruits soon become vital to the team in there different way and eventually find a way to work today..

What a fasinatiing and powerful book about female pilots in the 2nd WW.
Who knew that these women risked their lives on a daily basis having to fly the planes without a radio or instruments?
The book shows their fight against prejudice in both England and America; people believing that they weren't capable of handling such aircraft, that they were taking jobs away from men.
The characters were realistic and really likeable. They had to make a choice: go against their loved ones or fight for their belief in their own flying abilities.
A great read especially if you enjoy modern history and female empowerment.

This is an amazing historical and long due backdrop for a novel about strong female characters - I have nothing but adoration for the real ATA pilots and I was looking forward to reading this very much - the story, however, was altogether too twee for me.
I’m sure there will be plenty of readers who will greatly enjoy it and I’m equally sure the author did her best to do the time period justice, but I just wished all the way through someone else had written this in a less superficial, choc-lit way. Just didn’t hit the mark for me.

May, Lizzie, and Ruby are very different woman but they all have two things in common: they want to fly and they want to help the war effort. This uses these divergent personalities (and two Brits and an American) to probe the edges of a wartime contribution that doesn't get enough credit. All three women are believable and the plot, oh the plot! You might see where some of it is going but that doesn't mean that reading this isn't a complete pleasure. Thanks to Netgalley of ArC. Perfect for fans of WWII fiction featuring women.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a hard review..While I love the subject matter, the delivery seems lacking. I couldn't connect with the characters and unfortunately, I didn't like the style of writing and found to much romance for my liking.
It was very clear though, that the author researched her subject well - and I loved the references as well as the authors note at the end, I did love learning about the birth of the WASPs and another area where women helped in the war and thank the author for her hard work.

ENLIGHTENING & INSPIRING!

This is the story of three women that decided they could not stand by and see their flying skills go to waste during WWII. They did the unthinkable and left the safety of their families and one left behind her homeland. They all volunteered to help ferry planes for the British Air Transport Auxiliary thereby freeing male pilots to fly in “risky combat situations.”

May is the Senior Commander and takes her role very seriously as she knows the pilot’s lives are her responsibility. Ruby is small in stature (she has to sit on a cushion when she flies!) but she has the heart of a lion and nerves of steel. Lizzie blows in like a storm from the USA and is ready to show her superiority to everyone. While they are all so very different, each of them is fighting their own set of demons while also fighting to prove their worth as pilots and prove something to themselves.

These girls had vast experience in flying many types of planes. But one thing they were required to do that their male counterparts did not was they had to fly with NO INSTRUMENTS and NO RADIOS. Can you imagine flying through enemy territory under those conditions? Of course, they proved they could that, too. Soon they were to be tasked with flying four-engine bombers that normally had a crew of four men. But they would fly all alone and with no instruments and no radio and straight through war zones! In spite of this, they had a unbelievably low casualty rate. These girls were definitely made of something special! Be sure not to skip the Epilogue!

I was provided an ARC of this book by Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

A fantastic read that grabs you and pulls you in from page 1. It tells the story of a brave group of women that ferried the planes around during the war ready for the men to take into battle. What I love about this book is that although it is fiction it’s based on a lot of fact. There were some very brave women that we need to be proud of the way they wouldn’t take no for for an answer and proved to all the men that women could indeed be a great help in winning the war. Absolutely worth reading and well deserves the five stars.

This story is a bit different from the other books I’ve read by this author so far, but I soon fell into the story and found myself wanting to learn more about these incredible women.

There is some romance in this story, but that’s not what it’s all about. It’s about women finding their voice. Women proving they have a use other than looking pretty. Women learning to work together to be stronger. Along the way they aren’t always treated fairly or with the respect they deserve, but they also come across some incredible men who support them for who they are and never try to hold them back. Ruby story, in particular, is quite the roller coaster. Her grit and determination, regardless of what those back home say, is inspiring.

While I respected all of the characters in this book and found them all fascinating, I feel Lizzie had the longest and most important journey. I started off loving her, until she met up with the other women. Then she really had me pulling my hair out. She had the most lessons to learn, but once she saw the light there was no stopping her. Once she learned that not everyone was opposed to her, and some people (men and women alike) were actually trying to help her, her life became much easier.

There’s nothing like the connection of a group of people who have gone through adversity together. These women are a special bunch. I like to think the real women who took on these roles in the US and Great Britain during World War II were just as spunky and full of life as these fictional ladies. Maybe even more so!

It took me a few chapters to really get deep into this story, but it was so worth the read.

Roaring Fire That Sputters Out. This was an excellent and engaging tale of the Air Transport Auxiliary and the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II and what those ladies went through to even be allowed to serve. The book spends the front two thirds dealing primarily with a race between two young pilots to be the first to fly a four engine bomber outside of training as well as the race to ferry Spitfire planes to board the USS Wasp for an emergency trip to Malta to shore up defenses there. And it is in this part of the book that it is a roaring, all consuming fire - brilliantly told and executed. Where the book sputters out a bit is in the back third, where it switches gears to more emotional punches that are often happening off screen. The mainline story ends well with the final chapter, and the epilogue adds a final exclamation point to the tale. Strong book that could have been stronger, perhaps as a duology or even trilogy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC ecopy for my Kindle.
Another great historical fiction about women and there roles in WWII. This book also shows the importance of family and friendship.

Soraya M. Lane brings us a wonderful look into the state of the Allied world and the place airborne women played in World War II from 1940 through 1945, both in the USA and in Britain, but focused more on the British ATA, which was an actual part of the British military machine. America's lady pilots (or the WACS) were not recognized and honored until President Obama but the play a part in this novel.

A massive amount of research went into The Spitfire Girls. The main protagonists are based loosely on the lives and contributions to the women's flying services of America's creators of the WASP's, Jacqueline 'Jackie' Cochran and Nancy Love. The British lady's ATA were inspired by both their feats and the intense work of Pauline Gower, an experienced pilot and the daughter of MP Robert Gower.

We see the war through the eyes of American Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Dunlop who came to Britain to see how the Air Transport Auxiliary was being set up, and Britishers May Jones and Ruby Sanders, all daughters in a family of pilots who had flown many hours in several types of planes.

I found myself unable to put this novel down. It is a fast, intense read, and I often found myself re-reading passages that stuck in my mind like music. From it's conception the women's flying services were responsible for transporting new planes to our military bases, and returning planes in need of mechanical or body work to the appropriate repair sites. It is not too big a stretch to say that their roll in the war was crucial to attaining a successful end. The statistics in the author's notes put into perspective just what a difference a few committed women can make in a country at war.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Soraya M. Lane, Amazon Publishing UK and Lake Union Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

I loved this story from start to finish, there were tears, there were smiles and there were so many emotions throughout this book, as we get to meet three of the strongest woman, pilots living in a man’s world, but they could help with the war efforts, by working with The British Air Transport Auxiliary, ATA and getting planes to where they were needed. This is a book that I didn’t want to put down so ensure you have some time when you pick this one up, sit back and meet May, Ruby and Lizzy.

May and her brother are both pilots, her brother has gone off to war and was shot down and May is missing him terribly, but she knows that she can help as well and is soon made commander of the woman that are joining up to help, she is strong but vulnerable as well and does everything to keep her pilots safe. Ben the mechanic is always there for her.

Ruby is engaged to Tom who is off fighting in the war he too is a pilot and Ruby although little in stature she is determined to help where she can, she joins up and soon her and May are fast friends, Ruby is flying Tiger Moths, Spitfires and training in a big bomber.

Lizzie is American and one very confident pilot, she arrives in England to learn what she can before going back home to command her own group of woman transport pilots. She has a few lessons to learn about attitude as well and American Jackson helps a lot with that.

Although these three woman are very different in personalities they are all competent pilots and flying means so much to them, and they fly under harsh conditions in the air with planes that are sometimes damaged and with the risk of being shot down by the enemy and then on the ground they have to fight for equal pay and respect, to prove that they can fly a plane no matter the size, determination is what they have in spades.

This really is an amazingly beautiful story, May, Ruby and Lizzie become the best of friends as they go through some very emotional times, with their personal lives as well as coping with the flying, they all have personal issues that need to be sorted and they each have a man to lean on, their journey to HEA’s were tough with a war going on but they got there and I felt so close to these woman, they came to life and I was transported back to the era. Thank you MS Lane this is a fabulous story that I highly recommend.

This is a fantastic book that hooked me from the first pages and kept me enthralled to the very end. Based on historical events and people, this is the story of a group of women and their critical contribution to the war effort. With every male pilot needed to fly combat missions, the Air Transport Auxiliary desperately needed pilots to ferry new planes to the front and damaged ones back to be repaired. A group of very determined young women fought the odds and made a place for themselves as those pilots. This story is told from the point of view of three of those pilots.

May is the pilot who has been with the ATA the longest and is the commander of the women's unit. Flying was something that she and her brother Johnny did together. She was furious when he went off to war, leaving her behind. His death left her reeling with grief and guilt and an increased need to do something for the war effort. She is practical and clear-headed and excels at bringing out the best in the women she works with. There were some terrific scenes that demonstrated those abilities and highlighted the diversity of the personalities she had to deal with. She keeps her emotions in check and focuses on her work. I loved her care for her "girls" as she called them and her determination that they get the respect they deserve.

Ruby is a pretty and petite young woman whose love of flying is right up there with her love for her pilot fiancé. They flew together until he left to fly for the RAF. She was stuck at home, growing more frustrated by her desire to do something more important than keeping the home fires burning. The ATA was just what she needed, but she had an uphill battle to achieve that goal. Her future mother-in-law was vociferous in her disapproval, and even her fiancé was not supportive. I wanted to shake Tom because of the letters he wrote to Ruby, letters that did terrible things to her self-confidence. I loved May's confidence in Ruby and her efforts to show Ruby what she was capable of. Ruby's journey was an inspiration to read.

Lizzie was the American sent to Britain to learn about the ATA and bring that information home to America. She was a no-holds-barred woman when it came to going after what she wanted. She was raised on her father's tales of his efforts during World War One and a belief that she could do anything she put her mind to. I liked her determination at the beginning as she worked to make her dream of the American equivalent of the ATA come true. But she lost some of my admiration after she arrived in Britain and became the model for the Ugly American. Her extreme competitiveness, disregard for the rules, and general rudeness made it very difficult to like her. It took the efforts of multiple people before Lizzie was able to see that the ATA's strength was in their teamwork, not in the hands of individuals. Once she saw the light, the change in her was amazing, and there were few limits to what she could do. She had quite the challenge when she took what she learned back to America.

The book takes place between 1940 and 1946 and chronicles the joys and challenges of the work the "Spitfire Girls" accomplished. I felt their frustration at the lack of respect they received from their male counterparts, and how they had to work so much harder to prove themselves. I loved learning about the training they received, and how they excelled under incredible handicaps, such as being forced to fly without the use of instruments and radios, putting them in unthinkable danger. I loved seeing them shock the male pilots and ground crews regularly. I especially loved the scene where Ruby delivered the four-engine bomber, the men's disbelief that one tiny woman flew a plane (perfectly) that took a flight crew of four men to fly. I really liked how the women developed into a sisterhood that always had each other's backs. I ached for their losses and cheered their victories.

There was also a touch of romance in the book. Ruby had her relationship with her fiancé challenged by her work with the ATA. I loved her determination to follow her dream and ached for the pain he caused her. I cheered at the surprise waiting for her at the end of one flight. It was so much fun seeing the change in Tom's attitude when he realized the truth. Their challenges continued thanks to the war, but their faith in each other and their love pulled them through. Neither May nor Lizzie had been looking for love, but it found them anyway. May had closed herself off to the thought of love, wanting to protect herself from more loss. I loved how friendship and support from an unexpected source slowly grew into deeper feelings. Then there was Lizzie. The sparks flew between her and a certain Captain, but it took her a long time to realize there was more than antagonism there. I enjoyed seeing that relationship develop, especially with Lizzie's frequently volatile reactions to him on the job.

I loved the ending of the book. There was a wonderful surprise that Ben and Tom had cooked up for May and Ruby about a year after the war ended. I loved their teasing and how pleased they were with themselves. This was followed by a grand epilogue that took place at the sixty-fourth anniversary of V-J day. I loved seeing May, Lizzie, and Ruby together at the place that had been such a big part of their lives. I loved the part with Ruby, her grandson, and the Spitfire. I enjoyed her surprise, and loved the twist she added to it.

I have recently begun reading more books set during World War II, and each has been unique and given me such amazing stories along with history that I had never encountered before. The Spitfire Girls was no exception. Soraya M. Lane has created three very distinct characters that show a view of women’s contributions during the War that was not well-known to me.
These women are strong and courageous, and seeing their lives as they battle to do what they love in service to their respective countries while battling everyone who believes they should stay in their “place.” The way Lane portrayed them and their individual struggles kept me glued to the pages.
This was an enjoyable read, and I loved learning more about this time period and another role woman played. I loved the characters and their distinct personalities and how that influenced their paths and their futures. It was my first read by Lane and I am really interested in reading more of her work.
#TheSpitfireGirls #LakeUnionPublishers @SorayaMLane

Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this book. My favorite thing about this is learning about the nearly forgotten role that women pilots played in WW2 and being introduced to the Air Transport Auxilary (ATA) in England and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) in the USA.
There is some romance in the story line as well which I believe would've been true for any young ladies serving in this capacity, at this time of their life and definitely in this era. One of our 3 main characters deals with the prospect of losing her fiance (be it to the war or his mother's meddling); another deals with overwhelming grief (and hiding it from someone she doesn't trust herself or the war to invest time in); and finally one is so driven to prove herself that she pushes people away (both friends and romantic interests).
Overall this book gave me some characters to invest in, brought these historical women to life for me and taught me about WW2 History that I knew little to nothing about.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own. :-)

This historical fiction novel introduces us to three brave young women committed to doing their part for the war effort. I had never heard of the women’s British Air Transport Auxillary and its American plane ferrying counterpart. The fearlessness of these women flying planes in hazardous conditions with no instruments and no radio contact was monumental in supplying fresh aircraft to the front lines and removing ailing aircraft for repair. Set amidst personal competition, loss and triumph our heroines May, Ruby and Lizzie bring a personal narrative to this bit of forgotten history. I enjoyed Ms Lanes writing style and voice. I would highly recommend this book. I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable historical fiction read about women pilots from Britain and the United States who joined together to ferry planes to soldiers in WWII. Amazingly they did it without using instruments or radios, which put them in danger every time they went up in the air. The US eventually started their own women's service as well.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Spitfire Girls was wonderful! I enjoyed the close friendships between the women and the way that their lives were portrayed. May is in charge of the British division of the female pilots. This is a new organization where women fly the planes to the areas where they are needed for the officers. Lizzie is trying to get this same type of organization in America. She is given the opportunity to work in England with May’s group of women and is soon creating quite a stir among the others. The different women that come together to become part of this female pilot opportunity will experience so much. They will form close friendships with each other. But they will also face incredible challenges both with the flying that they must do and with the people that they will deal with along the way. The mixture of friendship, love, and adventure throughout this story made it a beautiful story!

This is the story of three female pilots in WW2, May the commander of the group, Ruby the second in command and Lizzie the brash American who thinks she knows it all, a brilliant flyer but one who doesn't know the meaning of team. The three girls have to fight their way into being allowed to fly and as the war progresses they become invaluable to the RAF moving planes around the country but can they overcome the personality clashes and become friends?

A great book about a very interesting period in history, it is amazing what those women did flying the planes without any instruments even, in the greatest of danger. The characters were great as they were all so different but worked well together and I loved the way that Ruby who appeared to be so lacking in confidence managed to stand up to her fiance and his mother. Definitely recommend.

The author did a brilliant job of capturing the time period in this novel. The characters and plot were also well written. This was a great piece of historical fiction!

This was a very interesting read about female aviators during the second world war and concentrates on three main characters. May - the cool commander of the British girls, Ruby - her second in command and Lizzie - the brash American whose personality is larger than life.

As a woman who was born after these women were taking to the skies (and yes, the book, although fiction, does document what it was really like for those early female pilots), I can't even imagine someone telling me that my place is in the home or that I couldn't become a pilot if my talents lay in that direction. But that, and many others things, is what these women had to overcome. These women had their work cut out for them; they faced resistance at every turn, even from their nearest and dearest in some cases.

It is WWII, men are taking to the skies for the war effort, especially in Britain, where there is a very real danger of the country being bombed into oblivion and being taken over by Adolf Hitler. The attrition rate is very high for these pilots and there is a shortage of trained pilots to take aircraft to where they are needed. Enter the ladies; highly trained and skilled, and itching to do their bit for the war effort.

The three main characters in this book were fabulous and the author does a great job of bringing them to life. The only little niggle I have is that after a while the "wailing and flailing" that May was doing about her brother, got a little bit uncomfortable. Yes, of course, she was upset that her brother had died, but the way she was describing him made it sound like he was her husband, and not her brother. Just belaboured the point a tad, that's all.

Anyway, great read overall.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

The Spitfire Girls by Soraya M. Lane. The Spitfire Girls by Soraya M. Lane was a great book. I really liked the book. I really like historical fiction. Books about women pilots in the war and what it was doing for the country. The Spitfire Girls had a lot of historical information woven in. One of the women talked to Mrs. Roosevelt about allowing women to fly.

The Spitfire Girls by Soraya M. Lane has readers traveling back to World War II. May Jones along with Ruby Sanders are members of the British Air Transport Auxiliary. These courageous women ferry new and repaired planes without radios or instruments for the Royal Air Force. Lizzie Dunlop has been trying to get the United States to implement a similar program without success. General Henry Arnold needs convincing and suggests Lizzie volunteer for the ATA to get experience. Lizzie is a confident and brash woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. She knows she is an excellent pilot, but Lizzie is not a team player. Lizzie attitude tends to rub the other pilots the wrong away along with her competitive spirit. As commander, it falls to May to get these talented female pilots to work together. These women must continually fight for fair treatment and respect from their male counterparts while dealing with losses and being away from their loved ones. Will these women succeed in their missions?

I like that The Spitfire Girls shows the role of female pilots in England and America during World War II. I enjoyed learning more about the WASPs and ATA. I thought the author accurately portrayed how women were treated during this time period. The powers that be may not have wanted the women’s help, but they needed their assistance (I can just imagine the discussions that took place). Of course, once the war was over, females were soon ousted from their wartime positions. May Jones was a strong female character with a hard exterior. She kept her emotions in check while fighting for the women in her command. It was hard for May to show weakness and open up to someone. Ruby Sanders is the petite beauty who lacks confidence. She is engaged to Tom who is under his society mother’s thumb and feels that women belong at home. Ruby is a good flyer, but she needs to believe in herself. Lizzie Dunlop is a talented flyer and lets people know it. She is big, bold and brash (from Texas). Lizzie feels that flyers are on their own in the sky and does not understand the team mentality. Each woman has a different issue that they need to overcome. I thought the characters lacked depth. Each lady finds the right man for her and they fall in love. The story played out in a predictable manner. The pace was steady in the first half and slowed down considerably in the second. I liked the author’s note at the end which provided additional information on the WASPs, ATA and female pilots from WWII. I can tell the author did her research for The Spitfire Girls. However, I wanted more depth, realism and emotion. Readers who take pleasure in reading light, historical romance novels will appreciate The Spitfire Girls.

A lovely book historical fiction strong women women pilots .Iwas drawn right in to this well written novel ,.Looking forward to more from this author.highly recommend

I enjoy books about women in World War Two and the Spitfire Girls dealt with an area I knew very little about. At the height of the war fighters were running out of planes and although the powers that be were very dubious about the idea, they eventually agreed that women pilots could deliver planes to where they were needed. The story follows the path of three women who were part of this essential service.

The stories of May, Ruby & Lizzie were a little predictable. Although they were engaging characters, it was quite easy to predict how things were going to turn out for them personally.

I learned a great deal about what was expected of these brave women. With no more than briefing notes they flew a huge variety of planes. They flew without wireless & without instruments relying on the geological & meteorological knowledge whilst battling against the idea that they should not be in the air at all. The research that went into the book was very good and overall it was an enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Genre: Historical Fiction / Romance

Synopsis: In the midst of WWII, several brave, young women volunteered to ferry fighter and bomber planes between military bases. These women are known as the ATA Girls (Air Transport Auxiliary). Their participation set a new precedent for women’s equality and involvement in military operations. ‘The Spitfire Girls’ primarily follows the stories of Lizzie, May, and Ruby as they take to the sky and set new equality standards.

Review: Let me start with the fact that Soraya Lane is a terrific author and her writing style is incredibly conversational, which I graviate toward. Her ideas are very clear which makes following along with the story a breeze. And she handled multiple protagonist perspectives well.

Now, I wanted to love this story. The initial plot was super intriguing (referring to meeting the president) and actually encouraged me to do a lot of research into the women of the ATA. But story focused less on women making a mark and more on egoism and romance.

I would say that 50% of the dialogue within the book revolved around Lizzie being petty. That kinda soured the experience for me. I don’t mind a rivalry, but to dominate the plot was a little overwhelming. I wish there was a bit more character development so that Lizzie’s incessant need to win had a backstory. I also wish that some of the predictability related to gender roles was toned down. And I think that’s why the romance was a little off-putting for me, because I anticipated this to be about women empowerment and, yet, still a man was pivotal to prop them up (specifically May and Ruby).

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a historical romance, easy read. It perfectly fits that ticket. I just went in with different expectations based on the premise.

Thank you, Net Gallery for this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Favorite Quotes:

Ruby is no sidekick, nor is she relegated to office duties… She might look like a doll –in fact I was told by our doctor that a gust of wind might blow her over –but put her up in the cockpit and she’s got the heart of a lion and the bravery of a team of men.

And how in God’s name did you manage to convince a bunch of old men to let women ferry fighter planes? I’ve been petitioning for years – I want to wring all their wrinkly old necks!

I’m in some sort of hell. Honestly, I know hospital was bad, but I’d do anything to be back there and not under the same roof as my mother.

… she smiled when she saw it was a piece of metal welded into a small circle. ‘I promise I’ll give you a proper ring when the war is over,’ he said, pushing it onto her finger. ‘But for now, this is from the damaged engine of a Spitfire.’

We are told as little girls what our expectations should be, and it’s made abundantly clear what our limitations are, but I’m standing here today to tell you that there are no limitations for women, or at least not in the sky. You don’t need to be a burly six-foot man to fly an enormous four-engine bomber, but you do need a brain and single-minded determination. It’s no wonder men feel threatened by us…

They used us when they needed us, and now they want to pretend we’re the inferior sex all over again.


My Review:

I don’t often read historical fiction but I enjoyed this enlightening tale that equally threaded fact with fiction in featuring the adventurous and brave trailblazing women of WWII aviation. I learned so much, proving my mother’s lectures to be incorrect about my perusal of fiction being a waste of time. The storylines were engaging and entertaining with each of the women being given a uniquely flawed personality and individual quirks, some not so endearing as the brash American Lizzie was an arrogant show-boater, she was ambitious and overly endowed with confidence to the point of obnoxious entitlement. I admired her moxie though, and I also appreciated her spirit and drive.

Lizzie’s nose was eventually lowered, somewhat painfully, but I admired Ms. Lane’s insightful depiction of all the pilots’ various learning curves. I cannot imagine the pressure they were under and I doubt few people realized the danger they were in as they had no weapons, no instruments, no radios, and no artillery, yet they were delivering bombers and other aircraft in a war zone and flying damaged aircraft back for repair or unserviceable craft to the junkyard - which I would believe to have been the most dangerous missions of all. And they did this in poor weather, for twenty percent less pay, among rampant disrespect from the military and often their own families; and although they were pivotal in winning the war, they were quickly iced once the war was over as they were seen as “taking jobs away from men.” My indignation and ire burn hotly – which is why I don’t often read historical books... These courageous gals became known as the ‘Attagirls,’ I like that, sounds sassy!

This was my first experience with Ms. Lane’s words and one I would readily repeat. I found her writing to be easily accessible, engaging, emotive, cleverly amusing, and well-balanced. I noticed two separate listings for her work on Goodreads; one as Soraya M. Lane and one under Soraya Lane, with different types of books on each.

First, I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis sounds incredible: the first female military pilots fighting against all odds for the chance to demonstrate the strength of the female sex and establish themselves as respected pilots. I was so excited to read this book, but I was let down very early. I do not enjoy writing negative reviews, but it is very hard for me to find anything positive to say about this novel.

In the first chapter we meet the American pilot Lizzie. Her bravery is amazing at first. She is writing to the First Lady to ask for her support for female pilots to support the war effort by ferrying planes, releasing the men to be free for combat pilot roles. When she gets the chance to actually meet the First Lady and President Roosevelt, Soraya Lane writes, “Lizzie held herself together as first the president rose and then the man in uniform beside him.”

Stop. Stop right there.

This is where I realized that I was not going to like this book.

How exactly did the president rise? Did he miraculously overcome his paralysis from polio and stand up from his wheelchair? I realize that Ms. Lane is not an American writer, but for all the research she claims to have done on this subject, FDR’s paralysis seems a MAJOR oversight. I hope this is corrected in publishing because it will seriously damage the credibility of the author and the publishing company if this goes to print.

In addition to this factual error, there are three other major issues with this book. First, the excessive use of clichés! I could physically feel my eyes rolling each time I read one. Great writers are those who craft the phrases that turn into clichés; great writers do not regurgitate clichés.

Second, the overuse of deus ex machina. For those unfamiliar with this phrase, it refers to when an author gives the characters the easy way out, so to speak. Every time one of these girls is presented with a problem, she frets over it, but by the end of a chapter or two it is easily resolved without effort or conflict. There is only one true devastating event in this book. Everything else is resolved before it even becomes a real problem.

Third, every single character lacks depth. The worst of all of them is Lizzie. Each time she is accused of being cocky, she thinks about it and just casually decides she won’t be cocky anymore. This is not how cocky people think. This is not how anyone thinks.

A side note about Lizzie: she has far too much of a contemporary attitude to be a believable character.

This book could have been incredible if it was afforded the proper character and plot development it deserved. Of course the author was constricted as she was basing her characters on real people, but there is so much more that could have been done to make the characters believable.

Overall, this book was a very quick and easy read being that it is highly conversational. It would be a good book for the beach or for just before bed as it is not very complex.

I'm a big fan of the historical fiction genre. This was a fantastic book that had me hooked from the first page. Based on historical events and people, this book is about three women and their critical contribution to the war effort during WWII. These women are members of the British Air Transport Auxiliary. They ferry new and repaired planes without radios or instruments. These women are constantly fighting for fair treatment and respect for their male counterparts. The government didn't want the women's help but they really needed it. However, once the war was over the women were kicked out of there wartime positions.

I loved each individual character. They each brought something different to the table. May Jones is the strong character with a hard exterior. It's hard for her to show weakness and open up to anyone. Ruby Sanders lacks confidence. Her fiance's mother feels that she should be at home not out at war. She's a good flyer though. Lastly, there's Lizzie Dunlop. She's a talented flyer and makes sure everyone knows it. A native Texan, she is big, bold and brash. She makes no apologies for it either. She's not a team player. This book was also a romance. Each woman found the right man for them and fell in love. If you enjoy historical romance novels set during the war, then this is the book for you. It's such an enjoyable read.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

A wonderful story of friendship and determination. Strong characters who each played a role in the story telling.
I do like a war time tale and felt this was a new story to be told based on true events by fictional characters

An exciting action filled historical fiction book is what the Spitfire Girls delivers! During WWII women pilots were needed to ferry planes between bases to be ready for men to take them into combat. May heads up her new recruits Ruby and Lizzie, who compete to be the first to fly the bombers. Sparks fly as Lizzie is sure she will be chosen, after all she feels she is the superior pilot. These women have to prove they are equal to men. They have to fly under frightening circumstances, without radios or other instruments. They are brave, their courage outstanding. Love, family, friendship, loyalty, loss and romance fill these pages of this delightful, well researched and written novel. I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy reading about women pilots and their extraordinary dedication to help the war effort during WWII.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read, "The Spitfire Girls" by Soraya M. Lane. A truly beautiful work of women's fiction! The story follows three women aviators who find themselves flying planes to air force bases during World War 2. I truly felt the highs as well as the lows that May, Ruby, and Lizzie endured during a time when women were homemakers and not taken very seriously. I highly recommend this book.

A really good read. I was aware of this piece of history. It was lovely to learn more about it. It was a pleasure to read about the characters and their achievements.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I give The Spitfire Girls a 4.5 star rating for this beautifully written WWII historical fiction novel. Soraya M. Lane is a new author for me and I enjoyed her writing style and topic. The book focused on three pilots, that happen to be women, who wanted to help with the war efforts by using their skills. May helped to create and manage a women's division for the British Air Transport Auxiliary, which was not an easy task in a man's world. Lizzie came from America to learn the ropes so she could set up the same division for the United States military. Ruby, a unsure petite British pilot, found herself in the middle of a contest with an extremely competitive and sassy Lizzie.

The friendships, scares, and tension from the war bonds these women in more ways than one. This will be a great addition to anyone who loves to read a different story about strong women who beat the odds to help with the war flying war planes for the military.

“I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book follows the lives and work of three women pilots during WWII. I hate to say this but I really disliked the book. May, the leader of the women pilots, was weepy and prone to break down. She only seemed comfortable in the arms of her mechanic, who she eventually fell for. Lizzie, the American pilot, was arrogant, over-the-top, and a complete caricature. Ruby had a little bit of promise, but she continually obsessed over her fiancee and her relationship with her soon to be mother-in-law. These were not the strong determined women that I expected to read about. Overall, a complete disappointment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this inspiring historical fiction novel.

Interesting WWII novel - As the quote at the end of the book says, “We will not again look upon a women’s flying organization as experimental.” Not only did the women pilots in this book (and in real life) learn they could do so much more than given credit for, but so did the Army Air Force.

'The perfect ladies’ plane’, that’s what they used to call the Spitfire, although I doubt they were ever designed with women in mind. – a quote from the epilogue.

These courageous women made a great contribution in both England and the US during WWII, willing to risk their lives while faced with discrimination from almost everyone -including the male pilots and often times, their own families.

Three women’s life stories are told here, all with flying skills but very different personalities. Women who must overcome their differences to step up and help their country during WWII.

It’s an enjoyable, informative read!

Historical fiction describing the women who ferried planes to help the war effort in England and the US during WWII, the writing was a bit lighter than I anticipated. Although some serious issues were attempted, the three women, May, Ruby and Lizzie, were not described with as much depth as would have been required of a group of women taking on the prejudices against women flying. A light take on the subject, easy to read, but left me wanting a little more.

The Spitfire Girls is a good WWII historical fiction that is well written and has great characters. A very interesting story and I would read more from this author.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Spitfire Girls was surprisingly good! Once I started this ebook, I couldn't put it down. Not even to do my actual work. The girls in this book were such bad asses and I love how they wouldn't let the manly nay-sayers make them stop doing what they love: flying planes.

Speaking of these wonderful pilots, we get to meet Lizzie, Ruby, May, and a bunch of other wonderful ladies. Now this type of lifestyle is a bit frowned upon because men are idiots. They just love to think they are more superior.. well maybe just in this book? Ha - we all know most men think they are better at anything and everything. So yeah, it happens a lot in this book plus in our every day lives.

For Ruby, it's her fiancé and his mother who seem to think that war is just for men. Pish posh, but yeah let's go with what Tom says for a second. Well, after seeing his beautiful and talented fiancé flying one gigantic plane (that the men in this book have only dreamed about being able to fly) he has realized what a douche canoe he is. Oh lord, I was about to punch him in the nuts until he finally redeemed himself.

Then there's Lizzie who likes to think highly of herself. Like she's better than any other female or male pilot out there. I mean, she is.. but she doesn't need to boast about it publicly all the time. It does suck that she gets severely pushed off of that little pedestal but it does make her a lot more likable. For the longest time, I just annoyed with her but towards the end I definitely ended up like her a lot more.

Heck, all of the girls in this book were lovable. They each had their own voice and I loved getting to see them improve their flying techniques as well as fall in love. Oh lord, the ending was freaking adorable. I loved the little reunion - it kind of reminded me of that one baseball movie.. like girls playing baseball because the men were off to war.

Oh lord, this is gonna drive me nuts.. what is it called..

Tom Hanks is in it I think?

Some blonde woman too?

WAS MADONNA IN IT?

Hold up, lemme google this shit.

HA - A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN.

I knew it! Okay, I'm done!

🌟REVIEW🌟

I have to admit I actually quite liked this book. I got sucked in with feelings for the 'main' women. And the ending was just lovely! I did like the fact that in the epilogue it states the book has been written with a mix of fact and fiction! And that women really did help ferry planes in 1940's!

Was a nice need and had a bit of a 'pick me up' feel towards the end :)

Interesting WWII novel - As the quote at the end of the book says, “We will not again look upon a women’s flying organization as experimental.” Not only did the women pilots in this book (and in real life) learn they could do so much more than given credit for, but so did the Army Air Force.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and Soraya M. Lane for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having read The Huntress, which told of women pilots in WW2 from Russia, it was interesting to hear the story of British and American women pilots during this same time. All of these women made such courageous contributions to the war effort and constantly put their lives on the line. I have read many different WW2 historical fiction novels and it was neat to see this history from different perspective.

I found The Spitfire Girls by Soraya M. Lane to be such a pleasant and enticing read. It tells the story of three women pilots, two from Britain and one from America and their experiences flying for the British Air Transport Auxiliary. While they all have great flying abilities, their personalities couldn't be any different, creating dynamic relationships between them. Each character faces unique situations and challenges that help them to grow and prosper; all while proving to the world that they can be just as successful if not more than their male counterparts. I greatly enjoyed this novel and loved learning about the historical impact that women made during WW2.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book for my honest review.

I'm sure you have heard the saying "Anything boys can do, girls can do better." Well, that quote is quite close to what this story portrays. A brave young group of women decides that in World War 2 that they can fly planes just as well as the men and help in the war effort. This book shows the brave women who fight danger and ridicule around every turn to help out. In most stories you see of the war, you see that women stay close to home, or they are nurses, but this book shows the brave of the brave: the ones not tucked away at home or in a hospital, but the ones that are tucked away in an airplane cockpit.


So far I have read each one of Soraya Lane's books, and each one is better than the last. They are full of history, touches of romance, danger, and most feature brave women that go above and beyond the norm for that time period. I absolutely loved this story. The characters are rich and detailed and so easy to love. The story is written in such a way that you can't help but be captivated.


This is a story that I will tell any lover of historical fiction about. The ending was just awesome! I think I even let out a "You go, girl"! This story was just, and I loved every minute.

I loved the idea of a book that highlights the female aviators of WWII. As the daughter and granddaughter of war pilots, I was looking for something more heavy on the aspects of flying. Very little of the story actually involved the woman in the air. This story really highlighted the the women's personal lives and is more of a romance novel.
While I did appreciate some of the history of the WASPs and the A.T.A. in the story, I felt the all around research of the time was not thorough. For example, I highly doubt that in worn torn London thick steaks were being served and that champagne was flowing (especially since France was occupied by the Germans ). I also felt that both the British and American personas were off. I could tell the author was neither American or British. It was said over and over that America was not affected at home by the war (which is just not true on so many levels). Lizzie, herself, was more of a characture of an American than an actual person. I really don't believe a woman of the 1940's (especially a well bred one from the South) would have been as rude as Lizzie was. This was an ok read for me but not what I was expecting.

Lizzie is a skilled Texas pilot trying to convince the President and Mrs Roosevelt that women should be helping with any war efforts by ferrying airplanes to the front lines to free up men for battle. She is sent to Britain to join a squadron of women pilots doing just that for their country, to learn and train on developing her own squadron back in the United States. She meets and befriends Ruby, another skilled pilot and her top competition, and May, the commander in charge of the squadron, but also a fine pilot in her own right. Each woman is trying to balance her needs with that of her country's, while trying to make a name for women pilots.

I love a good historical fiction novel, and this one had the twist of a great romance novel, which made me enjoy it even more. I found myself cheering for Lizzie, Ruby, and May, and hoping they would succeed in their careers, and with the loves they met along the way. With such relatable characters, and interesting turns of events, I would highly recommend this book.

I will never tire of WWII stories of strong women! Women who have bucked tradition and societal norms to go our and make a difference. Soraya Lane is the best at writing strong women in history!

This book was different from many that I have read about WWII. It was refreshing to come at this with a new perspective, a different type of hero, and get a "not your usual war story" feel.

If you are looking for a great weekend read, you found it!

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to review this digital copy of The Spitfire Girls. It was an easy read that started well but I found that I wasn’t drawn in by either the characters or the plot.

A great read. I enjoyed reading it and it has a great plot and characters. I also look forward to more books from the author.

In The Spitfire Girls, Soraya M. Lane tells the story of three brave women who are also highly skilled pilots. They have no doubt that their place is not at home but helping their countries win the war. They know they won't be able to fight or serve in combat situations but they desperately want to help in any way they can, other than knitting socks or working in the factories. Lizzie Dunlop is an spirited American pilot determined to do her share. The American military isn't willing to let women fly yet but she isn't giving up. She'll do whatever it takes, even if it means going to speak to the President and his wife to get their support. At the height of World War II, she goes to join the British Air Transport Auxiliary, a civilian organization made up of women pilots who are ferrying damaged planes to be repaired and the freshly repaired planes to the men who will be flying them in combat. Her goal is to show the American government how useful the women pilots can be and to make her fighter pilot daddy proud. From the moment, Lizzie arrives she is turning heads with her audacity. She sets out to show that she is the bravest, most talented pilot out there. The word team player isn't in her vocabulary and definitely isn't in her skillset. She's so incredibly different from the sweet, petite Ruby who is only shy on the ground. Ruby isn't at all diminutive in the sky. It's the responsibility of their matter-of-fact leader, May to bring them together and help make them a team. She certainly has her hands full in trying to help Lizzie realize that none of what they're doing is about her. They're trying to help win a war and they have to do so while being held to a higher standard than the men pilots. The women May leads not only have to do their job better they're doing so with less equipment than their male counterparts. They're flying without instruments and without radios. May has to convince Lizzie to work with the team as they try to make sure that everyone comes home and to prove that they are just as capable as the male pilots.

Soraya Lane has, once again, written an powerfully touching story highlighting strong, intelligent talented women. The women she writes about weren't real but the groups these women flew with actually existed and assisted in World War II. They truly helped turn the tide of the war. Soraya does enough research that the characters she writes could easily describe the women who actually were part of these organizations. I always learn so much when I read Soraya's work. I love how complexly written her characters are. Nobody is all bad or all good. Every single characters has their flaws and their talents and strengths. The scenarios faced in The Spitfire Girls show how much research Soraya does and how committed to detail she is. I have truly enjoyed everything I've written by her.