The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan is a love story. A love story between Diana, a London architectural historian interested in the reconstruction of the churches damaged during the blitz in WW II, who served four years in England at the Government Code and Cipher School at Bletchley Park as a codebreaker and her husband, Professor of Theology Brent Somerville, a gifted artist who liked to sketch churches, and taught about the apostles—Paul and Peter and John, the letters to the Corinthians, “that lot,” who had his own secrets, crisis of faith, and war baggage to overcome. They had both changed dramatically since they’d rushed into marriage at the beginning of the war, and they were trying to find their way back to each other. She was still a notoriously bad cook and housekeeper with a terrible singing voice, but the war had fashioned her into her own woman who wanted to pursue goals her husband didn’t approve of. It is also about Diana’s “love affair” with Christopher Wren and the London churches he designed. The novel featured intrigue, a priceless Roman artifact, and spy craft to thwart Cold War enemies in a shadowy network called “Eternity.” The writing and the concept were very good, but I found myself wading through obsessively endless passages about churches and religion until, by the end, which was really the best part, I was skimming over the religious references and tedious church descriptions I thought distracted from the story. But if you like that type of thing you will probably love this book. It just wasn’t my cup of tea. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In this mannered, 1950s-styled novel, a Bletchley Park alumna-turned-informal-spy and her husband, reunited after WWII, seek out a Soviet spy amidst the churches of London. The woman has poor communication skills, loves churches more than her husband, and is oblivious about many things, despite being called a person with great observation and pattern-finding skills; her husband is jealous, a chauvinist, and has poor communication skills; this is not a functional relationship and throughout I kept telling the woman to leave, but she didn't. There is a lot of pressing of hands and bodies before dramatic turning away from each other, all very 1940s novels kinds of things. The spy hunt also lacks drama or much interest, and of course the spy is found to be close to home for the protagonists.

What a charming read! Delightful beach reading. I really enjoyed this WWII romance.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc to read and review.

This novel really drops you into the story quickly. I really enjoyed the mystery and members of the British Secret Intelligence Service. The main characters were good and I enjoyed their story, there was romance and mystery in historical fiction which in my opinion usually leads to a great book. However, I also really enjoyed the research and history that went into creating this story and would recommend it to those who love history and London.
The writing is good and I would definitely like to check out more books by this author.

The cover art captured my attention. This novel is deep. One that you need to concentrate on reading. Well written. Highly researched. Thought provoking. Five stars.

I will be Giving a more detailed review closer to the book tour

From author Rachel McMillan comes a richly researched historical romance that takes place in post-World War II London and features a strong female lead.

Determined to save their marriage and the city they love, two people divided by World War II’s secrets rebuild their lives, their love, and their world.

London, Fall 1945. Architectural historian Diana Somerville’s experience as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park and her knowledge of London’s churches intersect in MI6’s pursuit of a Russian agent named Eternity. Diana wants nothing more than to begin again with her husband Brent after their separation during the war, but her signing of the Official Secrets Act keeps him at a distance.

Brent Somerville, professor of theology at King’s College, hopes aiding his wife with her church consultations will help him better understand why she disappeared when he needed her most. But he must find a way to reconcile his traumatic experiences as a stretcher bearer on the European front with her obvious lies about her wartime activities and whereabouts.

Featuring a timeless love story bolstered by flashbacks and the excavation of a priceless Roman artifact, The London Restoration is a richly atmospheric look at post-war London as two people changed by war rebuild amidst the city’s reconstruction.

#TheLondonRestoration

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

When I started reading this book, I felt as if I had skipped something and was already a couple chapters in. It was a bit disconcerting to be plunged into the middle of the action without being acquainted with the characters first. I settled into the book a couple chapters in, but I didn't really like the back and forth of the timeline from pre-war, midst of the war, and post-war scenes. It gelled together, but it was jarring for me as a reader. I didn't really like any of the main characters so it didn't make me care about their stories unfortunately. An ok read, but not a memorable one.

3.5

The message that resonated with me after reading this book is that there is beauty in brokenness. The story takes place mostly in London after WWII. The city itself was bombed extensively during the war and is in the process of being rebuilt. Diana and Brent Somerville both served in WWII in unique ways and bear the physical and emotional scars from their service. Throughout the book, there is much description of how both cities and relationships are rebuilt in this new post-war world.

I struggled with the first part of this book because I am not very familiar with church architecture or the churches of London. This is clearly a passion of McMillan's and I truly appreciate that. It would have been helpful to have a map of London and perhaps a glossary of architecture-related terms.

Overall, I found the story itself interesting with espionage and intrigue throughout. I also loved seeing the healing in the relationship between Brent and Diana.

Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson-Fiction and Rachel McMillan for my copy of The London Restoration.

London 1945, Diana Somerville's has been working during WW II at Bletchley Park as a code breaker, she hasn’t seen her husband Brent four years and he thinks she’s been working as a translator. Brent Somerville left his new bride to be a stretcher bearer during the war it’s a very dangerous job, in fact it’s actually safer to be in the army and he’s wounded towards the end of the war. When he’s sent home from hospital he assumed Diana will be at their flat waiting for him and it’s not the case at all. She arrived home five weeks later; she’s been working in Vienna with agent Simon Barre and Brent has no idea why? Diana can’t tell her husband anything about her work during or after the war as she’s signed the Official Secrets Act and after the war ended the biggest threat to England was believed to be communism, the secret service think there is a Russian cell infiltrating the country and they need Diana's help to find the leader.

Brent Somerville is a professor of theology at King's College, he’s battling to live and work as a civilian again after the things he experienced during the war, and he lost a finger and has terrible scars. He assumed he and Diana would start doing the things they had planned to do after the war ended, live in domestic bliss and start a family. Instead like many couples separated by WW II they found it hard to live together, no intimacy and their war time experiences have changed them. Brent starts following his wife when she visits churches at night as he’s worried about her safety and he’s trying to find out what she’s up to!

I really enjoyed reading The London Restoration; its plot is full of mystery, secrets, spies, double agents and members of British Secret Intelligence Service. What I loved about the book was the main characters; Diana is an intelligent woman, who’s torn between helping her country and being with her wounded husband while he recuperates in hospital. Brent is a Professor; he loves his wife Diana, but he’s scared to sleep in the same bed as her as he has terrible nightmares and he’s also very self conscious about his injuries. Of course, after WW II ended it created a lot of issues with relationships; it was very hard for couples to live together after being apart for so many years and the insecurities and vulnerabilities of people in these situations were highlighted and included in the plot of this book. Also included in the story is information about London’s beautiful old churches, many were severely damaged during the war and they play an important role in the story.
Well done Rachel McMillan I gave The London Restoration five stars and I highly recommend this book.

Rebuilding is key to this intriguing story of a failing marriage, a war-torn city, and the hunt for a Russian spy in London 1945.

Diana Somerville, a Bletchley code-breaker during the conflict, is an expert on London churches. She is enlisted by MI6 to help catch the Ruskie agent named Eternity, as her knowledge of Wren-built structures is critical to finding him.

But her husband, a stretcher bearer during the war, knows nothing of Diana’s work. When he was sent home badly injured, she was inexplicably away. When she returns, she can’t tell him why she was absent because of the Official Secrets Act she signed. The effect is a marriage as damaged as London.

Can they repair their relationship? Will British intelligence catch the spy in time? Is hope, both for the couple and the city, possible?

THE LONDON RESTORATION is a compelling read set during a momentous time, sure to please lovers of romance and historical fiction alike.

4 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 18 Aug 2020

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

#TheLondonRestoration #NetGalley

Thank you netgalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for access to this arc. Despite a beautiful cover and intriguing blurb, I'm afraid this one just isn't for me. The pace is slow, the action is confusing, and the writing at times clunky. I lost count of the number of times I read sentences only to stop and ask myself - "what on earth does that even mean?" DNF

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan is a stunning read. I was immediately hooked by the storyline and felt transported to 1945 London. What a time that must have been — the destruction, the rationing, the rebuilding of lives that had been devastated by WWII. My heart ached for the characters in this book. I found that I related to Brent and Diana’s struggle to find their way back to one another as a married couple after four years of separation. The feelings they experience as they attempt to navigate a “new normal” are relatable and realistic. And, I love that I am leaving this story filled with hope. Life can really do a number on us all. We may feel down and out, but God always makes a way for us in the end. We just have to trust the journey. The London Restoration is a superb story of reconciliation; one that should not be missed.

I am the most impressed by how realistic McMillan portrays the struggles Brent and Diana experience as a married couple who have gone through trauma in the early days of their marriage. When they first are a couple, it seems like nothing can come between them. Their love is so passionate and so big. It’s unfathomable that they would ever feel differently. But then Hitler comes with his bombs and murder and hate, and their lives are irrevocably changed. When the war ends and things go back to normal, Brent and Diana struggle. How does one just go back to normal after experiencing something as awful as Hitler and his war machine? What does normal even mean? Both Brent and Diana have been blown away by the four years they spent desperately and separately trying to survive the war, and are now completely different people than when they first married. Feelings are different. Things are awkward. How do they get back to where they once were as a couple when they don’t even know how to do that as individuals? Is there a way to reconcile their experiences in the war, the traumas they experienced, and still follow the dreams they had for their marriage before the war? To see how Brent and Diana navigate these difficult questions, you will just have to read this beautiful novel. But as a married woman of many, many years, I can say their journey is poignant, relatable, and so very, very true to life. In fact, it is their journey as a married couple in a crazy awful time that filled me with the most hope.

The London Restoration is more than just a good story. It forces the reader to wrestle with things like change — change in feelings, change in time, change in self, change in relationships — and it illustrates that grace and forgiveness and understanding cover a multitude of frustrations and confusions and misunderstandings. It also shows that in the end, it really all does boil down to love — all seven of the Greek forms! The London Restoration is a must-read novel that I highly recommend. If you are a fan of sophisticated historical romances that include a little mystery and intrigue, and timely themes, then this is definitely the book for you!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I'd requested this title because I was expecting a mystery, but it's much more a problematic-marriage title, which isn't something I enjoy. I suspect there's a solid readership out there for it, but it doesn't include me. Three stars because the quality of the writing is good, even if the book didn't do much for me.

This "London Restoration" by Rachel McMillan was a fantastic unusual historical fiction story. The research that went into this book impressed me so very much. The characters, they surround all of what happens after WWII, their lives apart and together is a heatfilled, and a emotional story that you will know both of them so well! Grab some tissues,I had to! Miss Rachel she really put a lot into writing this book and I see this book going far. Wait till you read it,you will see what I mean about the relationship between this husband and wife,their love and can they really get back together or do they learn something new and is that love strong enough!

The author's love for London, architecture and music is apparent in this tribute to Wren's churches in London. Interwoven throughout is the love story of a couple who married and were separated by war. Unlike many stories, this one centers around their post-war relationship as they come to grips with their roles as husband and wife. Like many couples, Diana and Brent bear the scars and secrets of war. I loved the symbolism of rebuilding, that of the treasured churches and that of relationships. McMillan's plot addresses the beginning of the Cold War, the one that was fought with intellect and spies, not the armies on the battlefields. Beautifully written love story that tugs at the heart!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine.

This book was fun, engaging, suspenseful, and mysterious! I thought that the pacing was great, and the characters really kept me engaged.
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The war is over, except for people like Diana. She is working hard to try and uncover a spy ring in London that could lead to a dangerous Cold War that is looming with the Soviets. While using her knowledge of Christopher Wren and churches to try to uncover the secrets and codes, she is also trying to get back to normal life with her husband, Brent, who was a stretcher bearer in the war and has returned home injured.
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I thought it was cool how Diana used her education to track down spies and decipher codes. The author portrayed her as an awkward academic, which is what drew her to her husband. He is a professor at King's College before and after the war and you can tell that they are very suited for each other. I also really appreciated how he supported her studies and encouraged her to go back to school, even though she is torn between going back and continuing her work chasing spies! This is a really fun WW2 era novel that kept me engaged throughout the whole book!

Rachel McMillan's The London Restoration is a genre-less novel. Is it a spy thriller? A love story? Historical fiction? An architectural tome? I don't know and neither does Rachel McMillan. I find it hard to recommend much about this book. Writing, plot, pacing... I wish I had nicer things to say. McMillan clearly has a deep and abiding love of London's churches and cathedrals. Yet, the way in which she shares that does little to engender the same feeling in her readers. (There's loving cathedrals and then there's being unable to speak coherently about any other topic.) The spy plot--telegraphed, slow--is shoehorned into the main character's obsession with cathedrals. The love story is simply odd. A man comes back from the war and is enraged because his wife did war work. To win the war. That he fought in. Like the majority of young British women. It makes no sense, especially not for the character in question. The best part of this book is the general idea--a book about what happened to women after Bletchley. With editing, with revision, it might get somewhere. It's not the worst book I've ever read, but it isn't a triumph.

A true love story, not just a sappy romance. This would be a great book for lovers of historical fiction==especially WWII era. It's got a different twist to it, with the character who's really into church architecture, as well as the spies, etc.
I had a bit of trouble getting into it at the beginning, but it was worth plugging along.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance e-book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really wanted to love this book-I was really looking forward to reading it. I can tell that the author has done her research. However, I only got about a fourth of the way into the book before I had to stop reading. I didn't feel that the transitions between the different time periods flowed very well, and the dialogue seemed stilted to me. I do appreciate being given the opportunity to read this book, and I am sorry that I am not able to give it a better review.

This is a multi-time period novel that takes place during and just after WWII, set mostly in London. It involves Dianna Somerville, who is an Architectural historian and does a fascinating stint at Bletchley Park as a code breaker. Her husband, Brent Somerville, worked as a stretcher bearer in the trenches and was wounded. They met in a churchyard and were married during the war so that when the war is over, they have been married for over four years, but are still essentially newlyweds.

The characters of Dianna and Brent are perfectly developed. As a reader you feel their struggle to understand each other and make their marriage work. They have been married for several years, but they have been separated by the war. They both have secrets that are keeping them from fully trusting each other. It was refreshing to read the story about a couple actively trying and working on saving their marriage.

The “restoration” in the title speaks to restoring London after the war. We learn that many of Wren’s churches were destroyed during the war. I felt like the atmospheric writing put me in London visiting these destroyed churches with Dianna and Brent. Using the churches as a plot device was masterful and executed very well.

The mystery itself surrounding Eternity, the Russian agent, was not that difficult to figure out. This isn’t really a spy novel, however I especially enjoyed hearing about Dianna’s time working in Bletchley Park.

I think modern readers are going to have a hard time with the fact that Dianna is expected to be content with her new domestic life, burning roasts and tidying up around the flat. I admit I cringed a bit at the idea that someone with the intellect of a Bletchley Park code breaker having to settle down to being a homemaker after the war. But those are just facts and essentially how it was in 1940’s. That’s just plain old good storytelling when the author makes you feel for her!

I appreciate that the Historical Notes were put in the beginning of the book instead of the end. It really helped navigate those first few chapters when facts and locations were important to understanding the story.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy WWII historical fiction with a touch of romance and intrigue.
4.5/5 rounded up