The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan is an in-depth look at war and the secrets that never leave those who fought it. Diana and Brent are married during World War 2 and both leave to do their part for the war effort. When they return, the secrets that they are bound to keep drive a wedge between them. Will they be able to look past the war and their individual roles and remember what they felt when they fell in love and married? Set amid the backdrop of post war London, when the city was trying to reconstruct, and filled with the music of Mozart and the beauty of Wren's churches, this book will enfold you as you hope for Diana and Brent's marriage and for the future they have together.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this story.

This was an incredibly beautiful book with a wonderful romance and an exciting suspense plot. In fact, the first chapter really reminded me of a John le Carre novel, crafting the intrigue of Diana’s work with a deft literary hand that created mystery and excitement.

The characters are multi-dimensional and realistic, and I enjoyed the journey toward healing their marriage.

The description of post WW2 London was incredibly rich and detailed, making the city come alive. I especially learned so much about Wren’s churches, and the author’s love for the architecture really shines through.

I admit I did get a little lost with the time jumps, but that’s only because it’s hard for me to keep two story threads—even those that intertwine like this one—in my head. The flashback chapters were done very well and were very romantic.

Overall, a very enjoyable book and a great new-to-me author!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

First, thank you to NetGalley, for my copy of The London Restoration. This was my first time reading this author and I was very excited about this book, I loved the cover and the description of the story. This book is very detailed, especially around the Christopher Wren churches and it bogs down the story. I understand the author loves these churches but this book is very, very descriptive. I could not get to the plot for all the descriptions about the churches and architecture. There have only been a few time that I laid a book down before it was finished and this was one of those times.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I enjoyed reading historical fiction and enjoy reading about strong women. This book was no exception. Diana Somerville's story will keep you on your toes and uncover new secrets along the way.

This historical fiction novel released August 18th from a Canadian author known for her historical mysteries and romance stories. This one is set in the year after the end of WWII. Diana served during the war as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park while her professor husband was in action. Now that the war is over, she has been asked to continue working in secret, using her archeological knowledge of London's great churches, to track a suspected communist agent. Keeping this a secret from her husband, who is keeping is own secrets adds to the difficulty of the dangerous task. This is a good recommendation for fans of books such as Jennifer Robson's "Somewhere in France" series. It is somewhat lighter in feel than many historical fictions and has a touch of romance.

VERDICT Fans of the author may still want to give this a try. For readers seeking a more nuanced historical mystery, one might suggest Sherry Thomas’s “Lady Sherlock” series.

This is not your typical historical romance! The story revolves around a married couple Diane and Brent Somerville. It is set amidst the devastation of post-World War II London which is in need of restoration as is their marriage. After a four year separation caused by the war, Diane and Brent are shrouded in secrets that impact their present as well as their future, and they encounter danger, betrayal, and espionage on their way to restoring their relationship and marriage which are damaged by the changes brought on by their war experiences. The characters are well-crafted and memorable. The intriguing plot twists and turns with history, romance, and suspense skillfully intertwined. Ms. McMillan has a remarkable “way with words”, and her vivid detailed descriptions and imagery bring the story and setting to life impacting the senses and emotions. The rich historical detail which she infuses into the fictional narrative is fascinating as well as informative and evidences extensive research. Although I prefer a chronological narrative, Ms. McMillan effectively executes the flashback element without stalling the flow of the story or creating confusion thus adding interest and depth to the narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan is my first book by this author, and I absolutely loved it. This is a completely different WWII novel than I’ve ever read, but that’s what made it so interesting! Danger, secrets, mystery, romance, and history...this novel has it all! You will fall effortlessly into post-war London, walking it’s ravaged streets with Brent and Diana and feeling the gut-wrenching devastation of the city, its churches, and its inhabitants.
Rachel McMillan does a brilliant job of layering the many facets of this story--everything from war secrets to breath-taking architecture--the depth of this story will astound you.
I loved Diana--her enthusiasm over her love of Wren churches, her pride in the woman she became during the war, and her determination to heal her marriage. I would love to see London’s churches through her eyes, especially since she could see beyond the devastation to a brighter future.
I listened to most of this story on audiobook, which I have to say I LOVED. The narrator’s voice was perfect and made the scenes and London come to life. It was difficult to turn it off when I arrived at my destination! I wanted to listen for hours!
Any fan of Christian historical fiction will appreciate the history of this book, and I believe you will love the characters and their tales of survival through the war and beyond. It is a unique and interesting read with never a dull moment!
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Title: The London Restoration

Author: Rachel McMillan

Ch: 30

Pg: 315

Genre: Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Thomas Nelson



The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan answers the question I’ve always asked at the end of a book or when the movie credits roll what happens after the happy ever after or the wedding. This book focuses on the couple after the wedding and what happens after a couple separated by war are reunited


Not only do Diana and Brent have to figure out how to rebuild their lives together and separate but they have to come to terms with Diana’s secret life in the war. While around them the city of London figures out how to rebuild. And even through churches were bombed they weren’t destroyed.


I loved The London Restoration. A strong and capable heroine who still wants the hero in her life. And a redhead nerdy hero my favorite kind of hero. Brent is one of my favorite historical fiction heroes and the fact he’s nerdy professor with red hair doesn’t hurt. But he’s a flawed hero scares both inside and out from the war. Showing that even in WWII there’s no such thing as uninjured soldiers even the ones who never fired a weapon. Brent is showing symptoms of PTSD even if that wasn’t the name of it. Making him even more realistic and even more loveable in my opinion. And love Diana even more because she doesn’t run away.

All of Rachel’s books are awesome but The London Restoration shows that her authors heart is with historical romance and I for one can’t wait for The Mozart Code and any other historical romance from her.



I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This isn't just a story about London being restored, it's about Diana and Brent Somerville's marriage being restored. The ink was barely dry on their marriage certificate before Brent went off to war and Diana signed up to help with the war effort. Now it's four years later, and instead of the reunited couple being like the newlyweds they basically are, they're uncomfortable with each other and keeping secrets. Brent's keeping his scars (physical and emotional) and stories secret because he would rather bury them than talk about them, but they come out in the form of nightmares. Diana's secrets involve what kept her away another 5 weeks, when she was supposed to return home.

We find out how Diana and Brent met and fell in love through flashbacks. There are also flashbacks of when they each served during the war mixed in with the present time. I got a little confused every now and then in Diana's story because of all the intrigue she was involved with, but liked learning how the couple fell in love.

This is a story of choosing love. Diana and Brent chose each other before the war, and chose each other again after the war, when it might have been easier to say goodbye and start over with someone else, because they were different people than they were four years prior. Diana was an architectural historian so there's a lot of information about churches being bombed during the war, and their restoration which I didn't know before. It was very interesting.

I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in my review are my own.

The London Restoration; its plot is full of mystery, secrets, spies, double agents and members of British Secret Intelligence Service. Tucked between this "James Bond" type of story, is a couple, Diana and Brent Somerville whose lives are turned around and not quite the same as they imagined they would be from the beginning of their marriage. She is a code breaker, he is a professor who becomes a stretcher bearer during the war. Yet after the war, normalcy for them is not to be. This book was excellent, filled with intrigue, filled with people whose lives were difficult to put back together, I found it to be an honest assessment of life in a country during and after war. Historical Fiction, filled with facts though it is, also gives us a glimpse of the human side of life. If you want just the facts read a textbook, however, if you want the human emotion reading a book such as "The London Restoration" will offer you an opportunity to see and understand the reality and frailty of lives such as Diana and Brent. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is probably a good book but the sentences were hard to put together for me. I began reading it and had to stop halfway in as I just didn’t “get” it.

Wow, I enjoyed this incredible WWII novel told from a perspective I had not read from before. This author has a passion for the artistry and history of churches in London. They shine in this story. “The author states, “The parish churches: whole or maimed were still a mainstay of a community in the midst of the upheaval of war. To add, the determination to rebuild was rampant. If one church had a price that another did not in the midst of the chaos and destruction, they swapped. The rebuilt churches in London are a complicated and beautiful puzzle piece.”

I had never given a thought to the rebuilding process but these main characters did. I adored this couple’s faithfulness to each other and to the war effort. They were married in a maimed church and then went their separate ways to fight the good fight. It had been three years since they’d lived together. Now that the war was over how did they put the pieces of their life back together?

Brent says, “Diana, if we rebuild in one way, if I give myself completely to you, I’ll be no better than the man who nearly fell off the bench at Great St. Bart’s. Before you would fall into me so easily. It was endearing, but I always knew there was something more to you.”

…”I’ll fall in love with you as many times as I have to, to make it right. But I won’t start there. That’s like..rebuilding the dome at Walbrook before making sure the columns are straight.”

I enjoyed the flashbacks to when this couple met and before they couple married. The reader sees them struggling in current time and watches them fall in love in the flashbacks. As the churches are rebuilt so is the marriage of these two extraordinary people. It’s a win win! This is a great escape with characters to cheer for and to learn from. This would make a great book club pick as there is so much to discuss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan is a sweet story about Diana and Brent Somerville in London. He goes off to war and she goes off to help how she can. Upon their return to each other, they find difficulty in sharing what happened while apart in order to keep the promises made and to shelter the other from the mayhem they experienced.

Diana carries secrets she cannot legally share with her husband. Yet she’s asked to risk her life to find out what’s happening at her beloved churches, most of which that have crumbled due to bombing. She insists on visiting these churches, or what’s left of it, late at night. Brent goes with her because he worries about her safety and for good reason as they happen upon a man wandering around at one church and another church they run into a man with a gun. Why are there men wandering these church remains in the middle of the night? And why with a gun?


Slowly, Diana and Brent begin to share what they’ve been doing while apart. Share as much as their hearts will allow. Details buffed, but they each begin to heal as they learn more about these men they’ve been finding at the church remnants. Working together to put this strange puzzle together, Diana and Brent are slowly begin to unravel their time apart while realizing they’ve both changed over the four years they were apart. Will they be able to put their past behind them? Can they survive the changes in each other?

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan was provided complimentary by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I give this book five out of five tiaras because it kept me guessing throughout the book. I was also quite surprised at how the story ended! Definitely worth the read!

**review will publish on bookslattesandtiaras.wordpress.com/blog/ on 11SEP2020.

The London Restoration ticked off many boxes for me and I was delighted with the read. There was history in spades, archaelogy, nice ancient churches and a touch of romance with lots of mystery as well.

The story set in post WWII deals with a couple, both returning from the War with secrets to hide. Diana wants to get back to married life with Brent the love of her life but her signing of the Official Secrets Act and her involvement post WWII puts paid to that. Brent has to put up with a wall of silence as to what his wife did, and what she continues to do and obviously with a degree of danger.

Diana is in love with churches and particularly those built by Christopher Wren and when the churches are linked to an espionage network, she becomes the obvious candidate who can decode the mystery and uncover the mole. Balancing a fragile marriage despite a lot of love on both sides is hard when so many secrets cannot be told and Brent and Diana have to reach far inside themselves to trust their partners that things will eventually work out.


The story throws another aspect of WWII ( perspectives and stories are endless and imaginative always) and this was no exception.

Excellent reading.

I love a good audiobook but I struggled with this one. I enjoyed the story and plot but struggled with a few things. Diana married a soldier shortly before he deployed to war and became a spy. They went long periods of time without seeing each other and when the war was over things between them were different because she was keeping secrets.

I struggled with the fact that even though the war was over she was still spying and her husband was suspicious. My other struggle was the narrator...it was very mono toned. Now I can definitely see myself getting the book version and trying to read it again but the audiobook was not for me at all. A narrator needs to add tone to the book but this narrator did not.

As I love historical fiction, especially war historical fiction I see myself trying this again. It seemed to be a great story I just kept zoning out because of the narrator and feel like I missed a lot due to this.

Rachel McMillan has just gained a fan!

The London Restoration is beautifully written and I savoured every page.

It's not only the story of the restoration of London after WW2 but it is also the story of Diana and Brent who also have to restore their marriage after being apart during the war and how could war not change who you are.

I felt like I was in post war London and loved the history of the churches.

There is also espionage , secrets the whole gambit.

I did not want the story to end .

Thanks to Net Galley and to the publisher Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary copy of The London Restoration , all the opinions are my own

A London Restoration is rightly described as the author's "love letter" to London. You can feel the author's love and appreciation for the city, and especially it's ancient churches and buildings throughout this novel.. What I also loved about it is that although the author *could* have fallen into the trap of writing a traditional romance, she's didn't.

The protagonists are already married, as a result of whirlwind wartime romance. Diana is an architectural historian with a passion for 17th century churches studying at King's College, where Brent teaches theology.
The 'restoration' in the title is essentially the restoration of their relationship after several years being separated by the war, and by the secrets and barriers which have risen up between them.

One gets the "feel" for London and Britain in the months following the end of of WW2 in this novel, especially the struggles of a population still having to deal with rationing and loss in a city that was still marred by bomb damage. Yet the overall tone is hopeful, not gloomy, which some humourous passages and scenes: especially Diana's lack of cooking skills.

As the two seek to reestablish their trust with the possibility that Brent may have PTSD, a potential plot comes to light in the form of a Soviet Agent. This reveals what Diana was really up to, and put all the more strain on their relationship. Will it break, or will they have to learn to trust one another and anew?

The characterization in this story was excellent, and the historical and geographical details woven in seamlessly. Of course, I appreciated the details about religious relics, and the purpose of building churches. The faith message is there, but it doesn't overwhelm the story, and its realistic. in the sense that many people did struggle to reconcile their beliefs with their wartime experiences.

Thoroughly recommended for all lovers of Historical Fiction.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read a PDF of this story via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

It's been a long time since I've read a novel with layers of rich historical detail, espionage, and a poignant love story so deftly intertwined. The London Restoration brings post-World War II London to life in a book that deserves a long, slow read so the reader can soak up every nuance.

Theirs was a love full of promise and passion. That was before Brent Sommerville boarded a train on the way to four agonizing years of serving as a stretcher bearer on the battlefields of Europe and before his new wife Diana took a top-secret job decoding German messages at Bletchley Park. Their reunion after peace is declared has only small echoes of their brief fairytale courtship and wedding. Now they struggle to rebuild their marriage while Diana holds secrets she is compelled not to reveal, and Brent carries memories too horrifying to be brought out into the light of day. The one thing they are sure of is their love for one another, but they both fear love may not be enough.

The author has fashioned a complex story of four intermingled plotlines. First, Diana's expertise in church architecture has led to her continued involvement with an ongoing MI6 effort to uncover Russian Communist agents within Britain and on the Continent.  Second, the London churches themselves serve as characters in the story, and through both Diana's and Brent's eyes, the author educates the reader about each church's unique place in history and the value of careful reconstruction of the bombed structures. The churches played a role in bringing the lovers together, and are meeting sites for the Communist agents, leading Diana and Brent into deadly danger. Third, throughout the book, the couple fights for their love despite the deep divide formed from secret-keeping, and Brent's PTSD and survivor's guilt.

The fourth layer comes from regular jumps back in time to before the war when Brent and Diana met and married, and to their experiences during the war. In this novel, the flashback technique is powerful, although it does have drawbacks. The flashbacks are meant to support a particular event in the current timeline, so they do not occur in a chronological sequence, but are simply dated, making it difficult to keep track of where in the story's journey the action actually takes place. For many of these time jumps, I found the beginning sentences to be vague so that I would need to work out when in the past storyline the scene fell. For people familiar with this period of history, there may not be a problem, but the flashbacks did throw me out of the story several times.

The Christian aspect of this novel lies in the characters' backgrounds. Diana is an expert on the churches of London, particularly those built by Sir Christopher Wren, and she studies the structures to gain insight into the spirits and minds of the builders. Brent is a theology professor at Kings College, and he has pondered religious and spiritual concepts in the course of his work. The couple's conversations and introspections are filled with their impressions and thoughts about God's purpose and actions in the world, given the war experiences both have had. The author makes good use of intellectual discussions to lend insight to the spiritual stance of these two people.

This novel is not a light and fluffy romance. The London Restoration delves into the difficult subject of relationships created, strained, and torn by the experience of war. The author adds details of church architecture, important considerations for London's rebuilding, and the rise of a political movement during a chaotic time. In the end, the novel honors the people who lived through that devastating and inspiring time. If you're ready for a book that will enfold you in history and tug at your heartstrings, then The London Restoration should be your next reading choice.

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Romance set in WWI is always an interesting read because the women characters tend to be incredibly strong and finding their feet. This story was no different and it was a delightful historical romance which made for an easy lazy summer afternoon read.