I read a lot of WW II historical fiction. I thought The Whispers of War would be interesting as it takes place in England and is focused on a deep friendship of three girls with the main character Marie, whose German parents sent her to live in England when she was twelve years old. Her friendship with Nora and Hazel started at a boarding school and continued as young women in London at the brink of WW II.

This story is told in a dual timeline style. I normally like dual timeline stories, but I think Marie’s grand-daughter, Samantha’s story is completely unnecessary. I think if this had been written as a first-hand account with the three girls being the narrators, the story would be much stronger and make more of a connection with the reader. I did learn some interesting history that I did not know about before.

My thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three young women, friends since childhood, struggle to come to terms with the changes in their lives. Germany has invaded Poland and England is about to go war.

These three young ladies are a determined bunch. Marie is originally from Germany. She has lived in England most of her life. Now she is threatened with an internment camp. Her friends come together to make sure this does not happen! But, they have some tough decisions to make.

I loved Julia Kelly’s novel Light Over London. (It is definitely a 5 star read) But this one fell short for me. I just felt like the story did not go anywhere. It is basically three young women worried about whether their German friend is going to be placed into an internment camp. I kept waiting for the story to have action and more intensity. This did not develop. But, it is well researched and I did learn some things about London during the beginning of WWII.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Lindas Book Obsession Review "The Whispers of War" by Julia Kelly, Gallery Books, January 2020

Julia Kelly, Author of "The Whispers of War has written a captivating and intense Historical Fiction novel. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction and Romance. The timeline for this story is set around 1939 when it looks like England will be entering a war with Germany. The story goes to the past, or future when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her characters as loyal, courageous and brave. Other characters are complex and complicated.

I love the way Julia Kelly writes and describes her characters, the landscape and the political climate of England. The themes for this story are friendship and the importance of sisterhood, especially during Wartime. Nora, Hazel and Marie are close friends. All of them have been in school together in England.  Now as adults, they are as close as ever.

As Britain contemplates another tragic and devastating war with Germany, the girls are facing a heartbreaking problem. Marie was born in Germany and lives with her Aunt and Uncle in England. She has papers to prove that she has the right to be in England, but everything changes. The Germans living and working in England are grouped by letters and called up for internment. Will Marie have to go live in an internment camp? Mary is declared to be an enemy because she is German. How is it possible for her friends to help her?

I appreciate that Julia Kelly discusses the internment camps in England, that hold German people, many who are citizens. It reminds me of the German and Japanese people that lived in the United States that went to Internment camps. It also raises the questions of immigrants being sent to camps today.

I would highly recommend this Historical Fiction novel for those readers who appreciate reading about World War II. This is quite a thought-provoking novel.

The Whispers of War is Julia Kelly's second novel, a deftly plotted story of female friendship set against the backdrop of the early days of World War II. Its well-drawn characters and strong sense of place make it a book that is sure to appeal to fans of historical fiction everywhere.

Nora, Hazel and Marie have been the best of friends since their boarding school days, and now, years after bidding farewell to the schoolroom, the three women are as close as they ever were. When war breaks out in 1939, they are determined to stand by one another no matter what difficulties they are presented with.

Marie was born in Germany, but was sent to England by her parents when she was only twelve, and she has absolutely no desire to return to the country of her birth. Instead, she lives with relatives and works as a secretary for the German department of a large university. In every way that counts, Marie considers herself to be British, but she knows the government might have other ideas. More than anything, Marie fears being branded an enemy of the country she loves and being forced into an internment camp. She's heard stories from those who suffered this fate during the Great War, and she's willing to do whatever she has to in order to remain free.

On the outside, Hazel has the perfect life. She helps to run one of London's most sought-after matchmaking services, and her own marriage to a government official is the stuff storybooks are made of. Unfortunately for Hazel, her life isn't nearly as perfect as it appears. She has suffered numerous miscarriages since she and Nathaniel first got married, and she's beginning to wonder if motherhood is really on the cards for her at all. Nathaniel has grown distant over the past few months, and Hazel doesn't know what to make of this change in his behaviour - and there's a small part of her that wonders if allowing him to pull away from her might be the safest thing to do.

Nora has spent her adult life struggling to get out from under the expectations of her upper-class family. She's not the least bit interested in finding a husband and settling into a life of charitable works and society parties. Instead, Nora longs to live life on her own terms. She wants to make a real difference to the war effort, something more than serving as an overworked secretary. She's quick-witted, tenacious and determined not to be shoved into the role the world seems more than ready to foist upon her.

As political tensions continue to mount, Nora, Hazel, and Marie are forced into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a government official who is suspicious of Marie's true intentions. He believes her to be a German operative, and he's desperate to gather enough proof to arrest her and keep her locked up until the end of the war. The three women are equally determined to stay one step ahead of him, even if it means breaking the law.

The best thing about The Whispers of War is the relationship shared by our three heroines. I love the way the author is able to bring each of the women to life, giving her distinct personality traits that allow her to stand out from the rest of the cast of characters. No one feels like a cardboard cut-out, and the deep and abiding love each woman feels for the other two shines through on every page. It is these relationships that set this novel apart from the countless other books set in this period of history.

There are hints of romance woven throughout the story, but they definitely take a back seat to the rest of the plot. This didn't bother me at all, but it could put some readers off, especially if you go into it expecting the romance to be front and center. Hazel, Nora, and Marie grapple with all sorts of deep emotional baggage, and the glimmers of romance added the perfect amount of joy to what could have otherwise been quite a heavy read.

It's clear the author did quite a bit of research before writing The Whispers of War, and I applaud her ability to bring this dark period in history to life so vividly. This really is the kind of story that transports its readers to another place and time, allowing us to leave our real lives behind for a few hours. I loved every moment I spent in the world Ms. Kelly has created, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for her next book.

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This was such a great read. Samantha, in the present day, is told the story of what happened to her grandmother and her two friends during the Second World War. The focus of the story is about the strong friendship of Nora, Hazel and Marie. Also, because Marie was a German, there was also the threat of internment and their fear was palpable. The story also touched on how women were regarded in the workplace. Even though their ideas for improvement were good, they were disregarded and not taken seriously, mainly because a good number of men thought a woman’s place was in the home. There is also the beginnings of a romance but could anything come of it, given the situation? This was a most engaging read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a beautiful beautiful story of how wars affected all those even bystanders are pulled into the throws without any intentions. When the main character faces imprisonment she has to make choices that will affect herself and her family for her life.

The Whispers of War tells the story of Nora, Marie, and Hazel, best friends since meeting as pre-teens at a British boarding school, as they face the escalation of World War II and what that means for them in London. The book alternates between sections in present day, where Marie's granddaughter goes to England to visit Nora, and 1939-1940 with parts focused on each of the three friends. I loved their deep friendship and each of their personalities - lots of ambition and sass among these ladies. The title was fitting, because the events in the book were strongly related to individuals being investigated and how the people in Britain were preparing for war, but there were no battle scenes. The threat of internment camps was a plot point I hadn't read before in other books of this same type and style. I didn't think the portions of the book in present day added much, because it seemed like the story could have been told with just the sections focused on the friends.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher Gallery Books through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Fear can be a terrible motivator. We see this throughout history. It's hard to believe that while Hitler was unleashing terror across Europe, the United States and Great Britain were also instilling a similar fear in those with enemy blood. Just like the Japanese in America, people of German decent were forced into interment camps across the country of Great Britain to appease the mass hysteria of the times. This is the premise of Julia Kelly's new novel and the whispers that are spoken of in “The Whispers of War”.

Within the first pages we are introduced to Samantha Morris. The granddaughter of Marie Bohn who in her Last Will and Testament has left instructions which compel Samantha on a journey into the early days of World War II from 1939 to 1940. It's Samantha's hope that by learning from the past she can better understand the woman of whom she was so close. Through a series of stories told by her Grandmother's dearest friend Nora and through the perspectives of each friend, Nora unravels the strings of time telling a story of three brave and fiercely loyal women. Their friendship exemplifies such extraordinary acts of selflessness, love and sacrifice as they navigate through their fears and uncertainties of a time filled with hate and prejudice. How far would you go for the ones you love?

Marie Bohn was born in Munich Germany. As a young girl she is sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle in London where she attends a school for girls. It's here she meets Nora and Hazel. The three instantly form a close friendship, a sisterhood so to speak “we'll always be, just us three” as they like to say.

As the years go by, despite having their own lives they remain close, sharing in each others dreams, disappointments and secrets vowing to meet the last Friday of the month at a Ladies' club. Marie is a University secretary with the German department in London. She is quiet and timid but with an inner strength that becomes more apparent as the days go by.
Hazel works at Mayfair Matrimonial Agency as a matchmaker helping people find love and companionship all the while struggling with feelings of loneliness and rejection in her own marriage; she hides her pain and secrets behind a mask of cheerful optimism. Than there's confident, daring and independent Nora. A former debutante who owns her own home and works at the Home office for the Air Raid Precautions department where she strives to make a difference yet is treated and dismissed by her male boss as a mere annoyance.

Everything changes when war is declared and Marie is labeled an enemy alien and the possibility of being locked up for the duration of the war, threatens to tear the friends apart. Julia Kelly writes a beautiful and emotional story of the incredible bonds of friendship. Her elegant storytelling, her strong women characters and her thought provoking portrayal of this time in history will be hard to forget. I very much enjoyed reading about what it was like for people like Marie who found their country turning against them but despite the injustice they experienced, they exhibited such amazing strength and unyielding loyalty.

My review can be found on Amazon, Goodreads and my instagram page Lost_in_a_book_reviewer.

I received a free electronic ARC of this historical novel from Netgalley, Julia Kelly, and Pocket Books - Gallery. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. The Whispers of War is a personal look into the effects of war on London women both before and during the war years. I can highly recommend this work to friends and family. It gives us another look at WWII from non-combatants that we don't often see.

Nora, Hazel, and Marie met in the fall of 1928 as they enter school at the Ethelbrook School for Girls, a prestigious boarding school in Herefordshire. The girls are all about 12 years old, isolated from close family, and become support for one another rather quickly. All bright compassionate people despite their family problems, their friendship grows all through their school years.

Marie is a German citizen, her parents prominent in German society and too busy to fool with children. They ship Marie off the boarding school in Herefordshire, where she excels in her scholastics, and have her spend school vacations with her mother's sister, Tante Matilda Mullens and her family, Onkel Albrecht, and cousin Henrik there in England. At the end of her formal education, though still classified as an alien resident, Marie refused to return to Berlin, choosing instead to take a job at first the switchboard at the Royal Imperial University and then as a secretary for the German Department. In a light flirtation with Neil, one of the shining-light speakers at the German Department, Marie attends a couple of meetings of the CPGB - the Communist Party of Great Britain. Thinking better of the association, Marie backs off but cannot undo her attendance at those controversial group meetings. That and the fact that despite her every effort, she cannot seem to lose her German accent which can only count against her if Britain enters the war. And the Germans have invaded Poland... Soon Marie's status will change to that of 'enemy alien', she loses her job and then her home, and her cousin Henrik will foolishly take actions that will get him and his father interred for treason. Staying out of sight at Nora's home, Marie plans her flight. The girls can perhaps get her out of the country but they must act quickly.

Hazel is the only child of a single mother with a bad reputation, and they lose the sponsorship of her natural father on his death when Hazel is 12. In perhaps the nicest thing her mother accomplished in Hazel's lifetime, she has somehow attained admittance to and a scholarship for Ethelbrook School for Girls which puts Hazel into the much-welcomed neutral environment of this boarding school. After school, she is quickly married to Nathaniel Carey and finds employment the cushion needed to shield her from six years of miscarriages and the viciousness of her in-laws. Motherhood has been her only dream. It is hard to let it go. She shines, though, in her positions held within the matchmaker business of Lady Moreton, the Mayfair Matrimonial Agency. And there comes a time when she and Nathaniel can say goodbye to their life together without pain. At loose ends, Hazel moves in with Nora.

And Nora. Nora is the socialite granddaughter of one of the Founding Few, the late nineteenth-century founders of The Harlan Club, the social club for women. Naturally a member, Nora has ensured the fact that her friends will always be welcome at the Harlan. All of their adult life they have met there on the last Friday night of the month for supper and a quiet, catch-up with their worlds. Despite her social standings and her pushy mother, Nora is determined to work with the Home Office's Air Raid Precautions Department. Sir Gerald is just as determined to keep women out of the decision-making parts of government. Nora's really good ideas are carried out under the Gerald umbrella, and occasionally he doesn't even read her proposals. And then it becomes known that enemy alien Marie is living under her roof - and Sir Gerald has grounds to fire Nora. And France falls to the German forces...

And we see this all transpire through the eyes of Samantha and David, from the current time. A very interesting presentation and a colorful, absorbing story told very well.

The Whispers of War is a fantastic title for Julia Kelly's latest book. Kelly follows three young women in England while they navigate rumors surrounding actions during the start of WWII. Nora, Hazel and Marie met in boarding school and since leaving school remain best friends while holding down jobs and complicated personal lives. Marie is a German national who is labeled an enemy alien and her dear friends Nora and Hazel are instrumental in helping her survive this false label. Kelly's characters are fascinating, and her plot is riveting. She uses Marie's granddaughter for a modern day plot twist that completes the circle of friendship. A definite must read.

The Whispers of War by Julia Kelly is a wonderful, heartfelt historical fiction novel that has a little bit of everything: there is suspense, love, friendship, war, intrigue, mystery, history, and the tale of overcoming the obstacles thrown into one’s way. It is breathtaking.

This is a dual timeline story involving current day Samantha (the granddaughter of Marie Bohn and newly appointed executer of Marie’s will) and her quest to fulfill her late grandmother’s wishes and to also find out more about this woman that she loved, but grew apart from when she went away to college. The other aspect of the novel is in 3 parts, one for each of the three best friends that takes place mostly in England (and a little bit somewhere else which I will not give away) during WWII: Marie Bohn, Hazel Ricci, and Nora Walcott.

This is an amazing and intricate novel that takes the reader back to a time when fear and uncertainty pushed aside the importance of humanity, for some, and led to the interrogation, detainment, and housing/imprisonment of people that were citizens of England, but yet had the “unfortunate” aspect of being born in another country : Germany, Austria, Italy, and for Jewish citizens and refugees as well.

I knew that some of this occurred in the US after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (Japanese internment camps for example), but did not realize how widespread it was in England. It is heart wrenching to see how people’s lives and families were torn apart and sometimes permanently altered and damaged due to wrongful detainment just because of where they were born. This brings light to a less known aspect of the war and what humans are capable of when mass hysteria rears its ugly head.

I love how Ms Kelly was able to artfully weave the two story lines together to leave us with a tearful, sweet, heartwarming, satisfying, and memorable ending, all the while learning in the process.

I loved all four characters: current day Samantha, and Hazel, Nora, and Marie. All three girls had their own strengths and weaknesses that they brought to the table, but yet together they were stronger and better equipped to beat the odds. I loved their banter, love for each other, and chemistry. I loved how each had a chance to have a history, a voice, and to let their story be told in the novel.

I thank Ms Kelly for her thoughtful Author’s Note at the end. We do need to learn from history and in the process, break the cycle, and be all the better for it for the future.

Truly amazing read.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for this gem of an ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR account immediately and it will be posted to my Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Thank you again.

B&N as Rachel_Denise01 posted on 1/14/2020

Perfect for those who love stories of strong female friendships. While this book is set at the start of WWII there are no war scenes in it. The story revolves around Marie, Nora, and Hazel. There is also a present-day storyline that really doesn’t offer much to the story (in my opinion) except to provide a conduit for the main story to be told.

Just as the US had internment camps during the war so did England. Marie, born in Germany but has been in England since she was twelve years old, has always considered England her home. However, that all changes with the passing of the Aliens Restriction Act. Now she is in danger of internment. But her friends will not let that happen without a fight. But is it enough?

There is some romance involved, but it is not the focus of the story. If you are looking for something light and with a feel-good story, this is the book for you. While I enjoyed the story, I would have preferred more depth.

Thank you to Gallery Books for the e-galley to read and review. Opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a satisfying tale of three young women in London on the cusp of WWII. What distinguishes it from others in the genre is Marie, who is German born and thus under threat of internment, especially after her supervisor, also German, at the university decamps without notice. Marie met Nora and Hazel at boarding school and their friendship has borne them through much; it's even more important now. Nora takes risks for Marie; Hazel takes risks for other as well. This is framed by periodic parts about Samantha, Marie's grand daughter who arrives in London to see Nora after Marie's death. The Samantha sections are only a device- the real story is told in three sections with particular emphasis on one of the women. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Well written characters and a bit of suspense made this a good story well told.

Historical fiction at it's best. The story of three friends in London at the cusp of WWII. This is the story of women during wartime.

Many, many book have been written about this time period, and many have done it well. Julia Kelly is another one to add to that list. I was transported.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Whispers of War is a breath of fresh air into the WWII historical fiction genre. The story doesn't focus so much on the actual war but rather on a friendship between three very different women. Julia Kelly had me hooked from page one!

This is a MUCH anticipated book, the second historical fiction from Ms. Kelly. Once again, she takes a smaller, unknown story about women from World War II and brings it to life in heartbreaking and heartwarming ways.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

There's a lot to like about this book. The story centers around the friendship between three (Marie, Hazel, Nora) very different women during WWII. I loved reading about three strong, smart women navigating the challenges of life and wartime.

The book also features a dual timeline. The second timeline follows Marie's granddaughter Samantha as she learns about her grandmother's life in London during the war. However, I don't think it added very much to the story. It felt a bit like an afterthought.

Altogether though I thought it was sweet story and different from many WWII historical fictions.

perhaps, when i tell you this is another world war ii story, you groan, "not another one." and when i tell you it's set primarily in london, you say, "seriously, another one?" because let's face it, there are so many historical/women's fiction stories set during world war ii and at least 65% of them are set in london.

but, the whispers of war, focuses its story on three friends, one of whom is german, but who emigrated to england well before the war. marie is no nazi sympathizer, she is not conflicted about the jews or about what is right or wrong about the war. she is a kind, sweet, shy young woman. she loves her aunt and uncle, and does her best to keep her head down.

but anti-german sentiment is high in england, and the issue at the heart of this story happens to be the very real threat of internment for german citizens. assigned threat levels by the british government, marie is classified a level b threat, so while she is not immediately rounded up (that ill-fortune would fall to those classified as level a threats) there is a very real danger she will be.

the threat taints everything about the life that marie is trying to build. and she refuses to be rounded up into an internment camp. and she must rely on her beautiful, brilliant friends to make it out of the country before that threat becomes reality.

the parallels the author is drawing between then and now are very real. japanese internment camps are a black mark in the us's war history. the internment of german people, most of whom escaped germany to avoid concentration camps as they were of jewish or non-aryan descent only to find themselves in a similar situation they sought refuge in england from, is beyond ironic. but even today, the us is holding thousands of refuges in similar camps. call them whatever you want, detention camps, internment camps, concentration camps, the type of prejudice that creates these movements in our government should be disavowed and stopped entirely.

beyond that bit of politicizing, this is a book about female friendships, loving and enduring and uplifting even when things get hard.

**the whispers of war will publish on january 14, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/gallery books in exchange for my honest review.

Captivating story!

This is one of those books that brings out an incredible amount of emotion! Although this is a book of fiction, it is based off of historical events. The fear and anxiety lived in so many at this time.

I loved the beautiful relationship the three ladies shared. To not have one but two people who are there for you at any given time must be superb! The characters are all very wonderfully written. A close look into each of their lives and time together. I enjoyed how the past and present are weaved together throughout the book.

This is my second book by Julia Kelly. There is so many historical fiction books that are being published recently that the genre is bursting. This book was enjoyable and educational. At its heart this is a story of friendship. This is the story of three devoted friends in WWII London and their trials and hardships during those turbulent years. Marie, Nora and Hazel are faced with the issues of being women during a time when women were considered inferior and incompetent. It was a time when the world was changing because of the war and thus the war was creating new roles for women.

The story is heartwarming and compelling. WWII fiction is a regular genre of mine, I feel that The Whispers of War elevated the story of it in ways that felt brand new. Ms. Kelly touched on themes that are part of the history of this period and gives it a human face. The author has mixed together women’s issues, wartime politics, friendship and romance to create a very engaging novel.

If you have read my reviews before you know I do not give away any spoilers. I was truly saddened to finish this story but it wrapped up beautifully despite me wanting more. I would also recommend to read the author’s notes. You will learn why and how writers bring their work to life. I highly recommend this book. Great job. Can’t wait to see what Ms. Kelly has for us next.

I would like to thank the author, Gallery Book and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.