Today it's a pleasure to take part in the Blog Blitz A Wing and a Prayer by M.W. Arnold.
About the Author
Mick is a hopeless romantic who was born in England and spent fifteen years roaming around the world in the pay of HM Queen Elisabeth II in the Royal Air Force before putting down roots and realizing how much he missed the travel. This he’s replaced somewhat with his writing, including reviewing books and supporting fellow saga and romance authors in promoting their novels.
He’s the proud keeper of two Romanian cats, is mad on the music of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, and enjoys the theatre and loving his Manchester-United-supporting wife.
Finally, Mick is a full member of the Romantic Novelists Association. A Wing and a Prayer will be his second published novel, and he is very proud to be welcomed into The Rose Garden.
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About the book
When Betty Palmer's sister dies under suspicious circumstances whilst landing her Tiger Moth, Betty and three other women pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary in WWII England unite to discover who killed her and why.
Estranged from her family, Penny Blake wants simply to belong. American Doris Winter, running from a personal tragedy, yearns for a new start. Naturally shy Mary Whitworth-Baines struggles to fit in. Together though, they are a force to be reckoned with as they face the mystery that confronts them.
Against the backdrop of war, when ties of friendship are exceptionally strong, they strive to unravel the puzzle's complex threads, risking their lives as they seek justice for Betty's sister.
Review
When Betty Palmer's sister dies, she just has this feeling that something isn't quite right. Penny, Doris and Mary all unite and become drawn into the dangerous mystery, whilst dealing with their own trials and tribulations.
I think the roles of women in past wars tend to be overlooked, especially if it was in more of a voluntary capacity, although plenty of roles became mandatory for single women of a certain age bracket. To a certain degree it's because it is spoken about less, the women and their contributions tend to be considered as less grand of a sacrifice or gesture, whereas a man in any contributory role tends to be put on a pedestal.
That doesn't mean their sacrifice is diminished in any way - it's just pointing out a fact of life. The women of the Air Transport Auxillary played a big role in the war, perhaps more so because they filled gaps caused by the deployment of so many able bodied men, who would have been in the role had they not been needed elsewhere.
Arnold manages to balance to importance of the historical facts with the feeling of sisterhood, support and friendship. It then isn't just a mystery or women's fiction, it becomes war fiction in its own right, but with a sleuthing feel to it. Also perhaps a smidgen of a Carry On humour vibe to ease the more serious aspects of the story.
Given the way it finishes I think there may be more to come from the mixed bag of women introduced in this book. Their individual stories may have only just begun.
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