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

Did book was ok. I guess i expected something else from it. I liked the synopsis. I liked the Main characters and the glimpses we got of architectural London. But for me, personally, it became too difused to what the book wanted be. Is it a historical fiction is it a mystery book. As Said too confusing. But thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc

The London Restoration is one of those rare and beautiful books that will stay with me for a long time. Husband and wife are separated by four long years of war and an immense number of secrets. But so strong is the foundation of their relationship that they will do anything to emotionally find their way back to one another. And I never doubted that they would.

It’s a clean read, and there’s a nice Communist mystery as well, but it’s Brent and Diana’s relationship that will keep you hooked. I never wanted this book to end.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The London Restoration is one of the most thoroughly researched books I have ever read. The scope of the two main character's intellect is jaw-dropping and McMillan must be applauded for the monumental effort this must have taken.

With the backdrop of post World War II England and the newly emerging threat of communism, Diana Sommerville is pulled into British Intelligence's hunt for a Russian Operative known only as Eternity. Diana is an expert on churches designed by Sir Christopher Wren, which Eternity seems to be using to pass information.

Theology Professor Brent Sommerville laid in a hospital bed at the end of the war, lost as to why his wife didn't hurry to be with him, and the Official Secrets Act prevents her from telling him the full extent of her war effort. The distance between them is is evident as the deep-seated love they share, but her mysterious silence hampers their efforts to reconnect.

This haunting and evocative love-story will enchant readers who love this era in time.

The London Restoration
by Rachel McMillan
Back of the Book: “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.”
Impressions: I read up to chapter 8 but the book was not to my liking.
Liked: I liked the idea of this book.
Disliked: I felt the beginning was too slow and the switching back and forth slowed the story down even more and I lost interest.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 Stars Rounded Up! This book is incredible! It is suspenseful, heart-wrenching, heartwarming, romantic, and really insightful. Whenever I picked up “The London Restoration”, I traveled back in time, and went on an incredible journey with this story. For me, the word “Restoration” in the title refers to quite a few different things for me in the book.

This is the first book I have read by Rachel McMillan, and I so look forward to reading more. Her writing style is incredibly vivid and visceral. She truly knows how to bring the past to life, and everything from her characters, to the various locations, to the plot jump right off of the page. Furthermore, I can only imagine the amount of meticulous research Ms. McMillan must have done for this book. From the various churches, to a little bit about Mozart, etc., I feel I learned so much while reading,, as everything felt real and authentic to the era.

Diana and Brent were married right before the war forced them to separate. Both have secrets they are keeping from their time during the war, and both have reasons for doing so. As Diana has agreed to continue working on a mission (for reasons I won’t spoil here), she and Brent must learn to trust one another again, and to come together. What ensues is heartbreaking, yet hopeful.

(Possible Spoilers)
What a beautiful couple Brent and Diana are. You can really feel their yearning for one another...to not only return to as close of a life as possible to what they had before the war, but also to be able to completely open up and let their guards down. Four years is a long time to be away from someone, and they need to find one another again.

I also found the flashback sequences really interesting. The different mysteries of everything slowly started to be revealed. The flow between past and present was beautifully written so all of the puzzle pieces slowly start to unravel and finally come together. It was almost as if for Brent and Diana to move forward, they had to relive these moments to see how it would push their relationship and work on.

If you enjoy historical fiction mixed in with historical romance, I highly recommend this book! I had a hard time putting it down, and found myself reading until the early hours of the morning to see what happened next. There were certainly a few twists and turns that left me quite shocked, and the strength Diana and Brent have is just remarkable. I hope we see many of these characters in the next book!

Thank you so much to HFVBT, NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson—Fiction for the ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Please Note: The author deals with some heavier topics in this novel, such as PTSD from fighting in WWII. I believe she handles these with great care.

Diana grew up with just her father, an academian at King's College in London. She knew more about Christopher Wren and the churches in London than most anyone. She fell in love with a theologian professor, Brent, she met in a church yard. When England was thrown into WWII, Brent went to serve as a stretcher bearer. She was then recruited to serve as one of the code breakers for England. The three people she became close to were Simon, Villiers, and Fisher. Even before the end of the war, Simon had started a war against communism, and he was recruiting Diana to help him ferret out Soviet agents.

As Brent and Diana were trying to piece their marriage back together after the war, she was drawn into the web of intrigue with the Soviets. Could they rekindle the love they once shared? Would the Soviet spy ring be found? to find out, read The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan. I was allowed to read it on NetGalley. The book will be releasedSeptember 18. If you have ever been to London, you will especially enjoy this book.

The London Restoration
By Rachel McMillan
5 stars

“There is something beautiful in sacrifice, isn’t there?” she said in a low voice. “Something liturgical in rebuilding. In reconstruction.” But it was a dark beauty and one distilled in shadow, stone, and exhumed graves.

The London Restoration was such a pleasure to read. I would say there are two stories going on in this World War II novel.
The story of intrigue. The story of restorating churches that were destroyed by nazi bombs. The adventures that we go on with these characters was thrilling. I felt like I was right there with them.
And the story of the restoration of a relationship. The story of Brent and Diana Sommerville.
"How often did one just understand someone . . . from the very first moment?" I was pulling for Bent and Diana, I so wanted them to be happy. For their trust in each other to be restored
And do yourself a favor and go onto youtube and listen to Vera Lynn sing, A Nightlingale Sang in Berkeley Square. If you know, you know.

The London Restoration was a delightful read set during WWII in London. The characters are charming and the plot is engaging with plenty of twists and turns.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

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.
This is the tag line for The London Restoration. Brent and Diana are finally back together after years apart because of World War II. London's churches and cathedrals have been bombed out by the Germans and Diana would like nothing more than to see them restored. Diana was in a clandestine job during the war and secrecy was prime for her very survival. Brent served as a soldier who saw more and experienced more than any one man should.

Rachel's research into post-war London and Europe is spot on and tends to take center stage in this novel. It seems that Brent, Diana, and a host of other characters take second place to the settings and events of restoring Europe after the war, as well as the beginning of the Cold War. For me, there wasn't enough of the restoration of Brent and Diana's marriage after the war. I wanted to delve more into Brent and Diana and find out who they were as individuals and as a couple. There were places where the technicalities of the restorations made me glassy-eyed.

I believe my lack of enthusiasm for this book is a matter of taste. It just didn't scratch that reading itch for me.

For me, it's a three star book, but for others, it's probably four or five stars.

Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This one left me a bit lost at times. There were so many different places and it left me a bit confused if I put the book down for more than a day before I was able to pick it up again. I found it realistic that both Diana and Brent would face barriers when the war ends, each trying to battle their own secrets and unable to communicate them.

Overall, I liked the book and think it's great for someone with the time to sit down and read it within a few days, maybe on a vacation.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.

“The London Restoration” by Rachel McMillan is an historical fiction masterpiece with a touch of film noir spy story thrown in and a major emphasis on love.

Taking place just before, during and after World War II, “The London Restoration” tells the story of Diana and Brent Somerville, both who served during the war — he as a stretcher bearer eventually wounded, and she who used her intelligence and decryption skills at the infamous Bletchley Park to search for hidden messages from the enemy.

When a favor for a friend delays her return home after the war, the couple has to learn how to reclaim their relationship that had barely started before the war, while each holds on to their own secrets and demons. And when Brent gets pulled into Diana’s secret post-war mission that involves her code breaking skills and her deep love for London’s churches, they must learn to open up and trust each other while also protecting each other.

McMillan takes a deep dive into Europe’s, and especially London’s, historical churches with Diana’s fascination with the divine buildings. She also does a great job of presenting what the secret code breakers of Bletchley Park went through, and reveals the very real horrors of the war — both on the people and on the cities themselves.

“The London Restoration” is not only a lovely historical WWII tale, but it also deals with historic relics and has a mysterious espionage spin to it. So fans of both historical fiction novels as well as spy stories will enjoy this book.

Told in an almost introspective tone, this story also deals with some deep themes, like the concept of being marred but similar, broken yet recognizable; loving beyond the scars; and seeking fulfillment.

Five stars out of five.

Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

An entertaining and well written inspirational romance. A great post WWII plot set in London. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical romance. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’ve got to say, I was really tired of the constant proper nouns/place names on seemingly every page in the book. Not being familiar with London—other than famous places like Parliament or Buckingham Palace or Big Ben, it was really difficult to keep up with all the churches and places listed. I also had trouble following the dialogue and keeping straight who was speaking. I couldn’t figure out how Di’s ability to see patterns fit into the constant visits to churches. Maybe I just missed something in the reading? I liked Brent better than Di. He seemed more “real” to me. I was curious how the mystery would play out and what all the “clues” meant, so I kept reading to the end. I did admire the restoration of the Sommervilles’ marriage and their determination to persevere as they got to know each other again after the war. Not my favorite due to the difficulties mentioned above.

#TheLondonRestoration #NetGalley
With World War II ending, Diana Somerville hopes to go back to London and be with her husband Brent. But she finds herself still in the middle of working for the secret service, trying to find information from old churches in London. Brent served on the front lines and finds himself scarred in both his mind and body. He just wants his wife, Diana to finish her degree and stay at home, but he doesn't realize that she is hiding her past war life from him.

McMillan is superb at research, setting, characterization, and really everything in this book. Her knowledge of Wren churches, WWII history, and music is amazing. I learned so much in this book about the churches and loved doing it through the eyes of Diana. I also loved learning about Paul and love languages from Brent. I loved that their relationship included learning from each other.

The meet cute in this story was so good. So we're subsequent meetings. I loved how McMillan weaved their relationship. I especially loved that it wasn't an easy or perfect happily ever after. I was glad to read about a real relationship where there were issues to work through and I also appreciated that battle fatigue from service during WWII wasn't casually glossed over.

This book did a fabulous job telling their story in the beginning before war service, after the war ended, but also snippets of during the war. The sections were clearly marked so I always knew what time period it was and everything fit so well together.

There were so many good quotes in this book but I really loved the theme of restoration throughout.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

The London Restoration – Rachel McMillan
This is an intelligent, thought-provoking, and heart-wrenching novel by Rachel McMillan. London Restoration opens up with Diana and Brent Sommerville being reunited after the war is finished, but in many respects, another one has already started up and it forces Diana to keep secrets from Brent.
As a married couple, they should feel comfortable in each other’s company, but they are strangers with four years of war that separates them. Brent has been hurt physically and emotionally (his nightmares) affected by his time on the front, and he doesn’t know how to share this with this wife, that he’s not sure of anymore.
We learn how they met, fell in love, and how they are around each other after the war has ended. Each chapter goes back and forth to before the war, during the war, and post-war.

Despite their struggles, their love is stronger than all the arrows that are being flung at them. They are remembering what they had and what they will have if they believe that they can work through what they want to have. I like that it wasn’t just Brent who struggled but Diana who was not sure if she wanted to go down the path that she had started before the war. They are realizing that they are not the same people when they married, and how do they reconcile that now?

I am not a fan of everything WW ll, but what I am a fan of is, a novel that shows this kind of love is worth fighting for, a married love, and showing that it is hard work if it is what you truly desire in the end.
My gratitude to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.