This novel focused on restoration of a city ravaged by war, as well as the restoration of a marriage broken by wartime secrets and separation.

Brent served in WW2 and although the war is now over, his frightful memories remain. The author did a nice job depicting how the physical and emotional scars of war remained with Brent and how these scars threatened to end his marriage.

Diana, his wife, worked for the Foreign Office during the war, intercepting codes. The secrets she carried after the war and choices she made had a monumental effect on Brent and caused him to question her loyalty to him.

I found this book to be hard to follow and often unbelievable, specifically surrounding the details around what Diana did as a spy during and after the war. The characters lacked depth and insight. I would have a hard time recommending this book to anyone.

The London Restoration is a unique historical romance that takes place immediately following the end of WW2, but also gives flashbacks of the main characters' responsibilities and thoughts during the war. As Diana and her husband, Brent, reunite following the war, Diana is still involved in post-war responsibilities that Brent is unaware of. As they seek to reconnect in their young marriage, Diana and Brent must learn to trust one another again, even when circumstances aren't as they appear. Author McMillan does a fantastic job of leading the reader into the thoughts and emotions of Diana and Brent. The characters have depth. The plot is interesting and attention-holding. The historical facts about London, the churches of London, and the onset threat of Communism at the end of WW2 all meld together into an intriguing story that holds your attention from beginning to end. Great story!

The London Restoration is a story of secrets....spies, love, and friendships... it is a historical romance fiction book and one that is worth reading.
You are transported to post war London with bombed buildings, rubble lined streets and a young couple Diana, architectural historian and Brent, professor of theology at King's College, attempting to reconnect and start their married life again. They have both lived different lives during the war Diana at Bletchley Park and Brent, a stretcher bearer at the front and returning home with physical and emotional war wounds.
Diana has signed the Offical Secrets Act and can’t tell her husband the truth of her war life but even though the war is now over she is still caught up in searching for a Russian spy.
A riveting story with wonderful descriptions of post war London and it’s magnificent Christopher Wren churches.

Behold the majestic spires in they're search fir eternity. This tells of the destruction and rebuilding of the many churches destroyed over the centuries, This is an enduring love story about the people who loved these edifices, knowing they are the glue that holds a community together for the greater glory of God,

The London Restoration – one might imagine it entails restoration of London after a devastation of war. Or maybe it’s about restoration of love in London. One young couple gets married at the beginning of the war, then pushed away due to war, and now after the war trying to restore the love bond damaged by war. A beautiful love story.

London, 1945. Diana Somerville is a woman of great intuition and ability to read hidden messages. Thus during the war she was recruited as a codebreaker. However, what her husband knows is that she was doing translation work. He on the other hand was a stretcher bearer in the Belgian trenches, and later Italian. Once the war ends, she disappears for five weeks without any word. When he needed her the most, she was gone. “Then there were the weeks of convalescence when his pain and flashbacks were secondary to his worry for her.”

The story goes back in time to 1941 and reveals how she was enlisted as a codebreaker agent. And further back in time, how they met in 1938.

Now after her five week assignment in Vienna, she is back in London and looks forward to her regular life. But Simon Barre, her colleague agent, insists that there is a new war brewing, “a quieter one of propaganda and intelligence.” Simon believes that there is a spread of Soviet ideology in London and he needs to stop it from spreading. Diana is indebted to Simon and has no choice.

At the same time, her husband finds a relic at a church or what is left of it. He wonders how workers missed it. He wants to trace history of the relic and that takes him to a place where he finds out unexpected information about his wife.

The story builds up slowly, but it’s a good slow. It’s a delectable slow. You want to enjoy this journey and not rush through it. It takes time to get to know someone. And that’s how it’s reflected in this story. It reveals their story, their love for each other and their love for the subjects they studied and pursued their careers in. It is a very mature love, beautifully revealed.

The time period of restoration doesn’t come through in this story. There is no noise of cranes moving the rubble and there is no noise of hammers preparing for new constructions. And there is no hardship of everyday life. Instead, this story offers something fresh, with concentration on churches, it sheds light on Christopher Wren. Among many accomplishments, he was one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history. After the Great Fire in 1666, he was rendered responsibility for rebuilding 52 churches in the city of London. Most of them were destroyed during WWII.

The character development is masterful, revealing many aspects of their lives, what they think, how they feel. She is heartbroken by the wall she built between them. He pours out his heart and soul in his thoughts, how different it was between them before the war and how it is now. Once very talkative, later saying very little. Before she wasn’t able to keep a secret from him, now she seems to be so secretive. He struggles with her careless decision to disappear for five weeks. It’s so real. I’ve read many wonderful stories with interesting characters, but this is the epitome of well-developed characters. If you are a struggling writer or want to improve on character development, then this is the book to learn from.

Very skillfully woven story. I’m also full of admiration for the author to create such complex story, which flows so effortlessly. Written with evocative and heartfelt prose, infusing characters with so much humanity, passion, warmth, and love, keeping the plot moving smoothly.

P.S. I almost passed this book, because it’s under category of Romance. The unfortunate thing is that the genre of historical fiction got flooded with immature romances. Thus, when I see Romance category, my first reaction is no, thank you. And this is unfortunate for such books as this one, which brings a very mature love story.

This book hooked me from page one. Definitely an adventure and it didn’t let go. I didn’t want the story to end. Loved it.

I saw this book on bookstagram and knew I wanted to read it. I absolutely loved it. It drew me in and I didn't want to take a break. Definitely did not disappoint!

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan is an excellent and riveting historical fiction/romance. The author even adds a dash of mystery to the deliciously intricate mix as well to make this truly a book that can appeal to a full range of readers.

Time and place: mainly post-war Vienna and London 1945. Everyone is dealing with the destruction and damage to their lives and towns after the end of WWII. Everyone is now trying to pick up the remaining pieces, trying to put everything back together again, however most are realizing that it just isn’t that easy. Many are finding themselves, their society, and their loved ones are different now and nothing is quite the same. Trying to find out who you are and where you go from here is a monumental task. Add that with the uncertainty of the post-war fears, instabilities, and healing wounds, one can imagine the difficulties that can present themselves. That is what we seem to find with the two main characters: Diana and Brent Somerville.

There are two main themes to this book: the wonderful architecture, descriptions, and descriptions of damages done to the historical structures in London, most specifically in this book, the structures designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The second theme is the nuclear relationship between the married couple. The two themes are explored extensively and both have overarching parallels: both tested, damaged, scuffed, wounded, separated, and tested during time of war and stress. Both however, held by a strong and formidable foundation, survive and remain strong. The author’s ability to find the beauty and resilience of both subjects and the hope that prevails in the end is amazing.

This book is beautiful and earnestly written. The architectural descriptions were so intricate and vivid that I literally felt as if I was sifting through the rubble and dust myself. The story told of Diana and Brent and their respective parts that were contributed to the war, who they are now, and where they go from here is just beautiful. The human spirit was perfectly expressed.

I loved the interweaving of the above themes, the concepts, pace, plot, and ending.

Just beautiful. 5/5 stars

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

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

THE LONDON RESTORATION by RACHEL McMILLAN is an historical WWII based romance novel which takes place between London and Vienna in 1945. The war is over, leaving London's beautiful old churches in a very bad state, church bells silent, and Diana and Brent Somerville's marriage also badly in need of restoration. In both cases we see the importance of a strong foundation on which to rebuild that which has been damaged.
I love the way Diana's architectural knowledge and passion for Christopher Wren and church history, together with Brent's professorship in Pauline biblical studies, form the basis of their marriage and the story in general. It is a very cleverly written book, backed by an incredible amount of research.
Diana and Brent both have secrets and are hurting having put all their energy into the war effort, and when Brent is faced with Diana's involvement in unearthing communist activists, it is almost too much.
I am not going to tell you any more excepting to say that it is a really good read and one that I can highly recommend.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The London Restoration is a love story, a spy story, a friendship story and most of all an addictive story of secrets...during WWII and afterward. Wrapped up in the restoration of bombed Christopher Wren designed churches is the search for an elusive Soviet spy called Eternity and one man’s desire to thwart the rise of another abusive ideology. Poetic in places this well researched book will educate as well as entertain. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.