Trial and Tribulation: A Novel of World War II

When I started reading Trial and Tribulation I didn't realize it was book four in the series. It didn't matter because the author never left me confused about what had happened in past books. He wrote a story that grabbed me from the beginning and kept me reading well past my bedtime. He left me in such a wonderful state after finishing the story that the first three books are already on my Kindle.

The two main characters, Johnnie and Eleanor, gave me great insight into some of the going ons during the war. As an Analyst with personal contact with Winston Churchill, Eleanor was in the thick of things as the allies plotted and planned future invasions. She travelled back and forth to the United States illustrating the importance of communication and the unfortunate situation of stroking egos. Everyone knew best, but her numbers don't lie. Eleanor had left Johnnie in a recent book, (I can't wait to read all about it.) Her actions created a bridge between her defense planning and his actions in the sky. Without realizing it she will put him in great danger.

Johnnie's side of the story is brilliant. I have never read so much detail about missions. I never understood what went on between all of the flyers. I didn't realize the tedious testing and practice that was done before a plan was initiated. The author opened my eyes to some of the many challenges, not just physically but emotionally as well, that pilots experienced. It must have been so difficult to keep living when every day you lost one or more people you knew.

If you enjoy WW2 historical fiction this is a must read. The different perspectives made for an amazing read. The behind the scenes situations give understanding to bits of the past. I can't wait to go back and read the other books, and hope that there will be more.

This, the fourth in the series, continues the stories of John Shaux and his wife Eleanor tow people caught up in British service in WW2. My copy of the novel is an advanced reader copy which I received via Net Galley.
The previous episode ended with John and Eleanor living on the embattled, besieged island of Malta. John’s fatalism has grown almost crippling. After another ditching his Spitfire in the Med when the overstressed wings failed during violent combat, John has become more remote. Since he is the only other person Eleanor is close to on the island ( their dog doesn’t quite count as human) she feels as if she has made a mistake left when behind her job she as an analyst for the War Office. There she was in close daily contact with the highest levels of the Cabinet , even the PM himself. Stress cracks are showing in their marriage, too.
Still, it was a bit of a surprise when T&T begins with the two lovers separated. The fog of war extends into their personal lives. Both are in England, but not together. Eleanor left John in Malta, brooding, and she does not know that he is stationed but a few miles away, combat flying the new Mosquito fighter. “ Trials and Tribulations” is about two lovers apart in a world that offers them little to live for. She is involved with planning for the invasion, he does not think more than a day ahead.
The author continues to give his readers realistic portrayals of the stress and dangers aerial combat. In this book , he adds more of a look into the loneliness of two despairing lovers torn apart by war.
I thought that this was the best in the series so far. I look forward to the next book