Tag Archive | Fenella J Miller

Duty Calls At Goodwill House by Fenella J Miller

Strangers Become Friends

Duty Calls At Goodwill House by Fenella J Miller is a marvellous historical novel and the third book in the Goodwill House series. It can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the other books first.

The war is continuing in 1940 as we rejoin the residents of Goodwill House. It was a pure delight to catch up with familiar faces, both civilians and serving RAF members. The reader follows the action from the village to the base to the skies.

Whilst war looms large, every day life continues. There are adjustments to be made in the running of Goodwill House. The residents have never been aloof but friendly with those below stairs. We witness the mellowing of the matriarch as love permeates the residents. It is a delight to witness the teenage twins transform from rough east enders to beloved family members.

Tragedies still happen in everyday life that have nothing to do with the war. Illness strikes and cruelly cuts down young lives, leaving gaping holes.

Continue reading

New Recruits At Goodwill House by Fenella J Miller

Stepping Up

New Recruits At Goodwill House by Fenella J Miller is a marvellous historical novel and the second book in the Goodwill House series. It can be read as a stand-alone. I, however, loved meeting up with familiar faces.

The action is set during 1940 and covers familiar events such as the evacuation of Dunkirk. The reader witnesses the willingness of all to drop whatever they are doing and welcome the returning men with food, drink, blankets and a warm smile.

World War II gives women the opportunity to show just what they are capable of. Traditional roles are abandoned as women step up into the previously occupied men’s shoes. The women are resilient, proving they are more than just trinkets.

Continue reading

The War Girls Of Goodwill House by Fenella J Miller

Wartime Life Perfectly Captured

The War Girls Of Goodwill House by Fenella J Miller is a marvellous historical novel set at the beginning of World War II.

War brings changes. Large traditional family homes need to be used to accommodate those in the services. Cold, empty mansions spring back to life in the midst of death. Draughty old houses are transformed.

Living near an airfield opens up life for the villagers with tea dances and parties to which all are invited.

Years of oppression for some characters ends with the advent of war. A domineering head of a household is away at war which allows the subservient women to begin to bloom. For years women were seen as status symbols for the upper classes. Now they can show that they are more than just a pretty face as the old order begins to crumble.

Continue reading