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

Hastily married at the beginning of the war after a time of dating Diana and Brent spend WWII apart as many other couples did. Brent was sent to the frontlines and worked for hospitals. Now at the end of the war, he’s been sent home, slightly battered, and ready to resume life as usual. However, he arrives only to find his dear wife is gone doing a favor for a friend. Brilliant Diana spent the war working at Bletchley Park, where her knack for pattern recognition helped greatly in the war effort. Unlike Brent, Diana’s duties didn’t end when the war did. Searching for patterns in Churches connected to the traitor code named Eternity, Diana must continue to lie to the very man she is trying to reconnect with.

While trying to reconnect, both Diana and Brent have barriers in between them. For Diana, it’s the continuation of her secret job and the Official Secrets Act. For Brent, it’s the memories of war and the nightmares that plague his sleep. The two have to start relearning the people they have both become. This book is in part a romance as it explores their relationship both past and present, but also a slow mystery as they team up to try and catch the spy.

The premise of the book initially drew me to it. I love any story involving employees at Bletchley. While The London Restoration focuses on post-WWII analyst work, it was still very fascinating and plot-driven. I enjoyed it and would recommend for any historical fiction lover.

Note to publisher: reading the ARC was difficult as the PDF formatting was super messed up.

Held back by cumbersome writing:
This book had great potential however it wasn't as polished as her other works. Overall the pacing and flow felt stilted and off and I was disappointed that I couldn't just relax and enjoy it. It was hard to get into as the writing was cumbersome and disjointed, yet I am glad that I persisted as I found the subject matter interesting.
I enjoyed the mystery and investigative aspects of the book and found myself curious as to how it would all play out. I appreciated that it took a unique perspective on that time period and highlighted what life was like after the war and the new threat that Soviet Russia presented. I also liked how it showed the main characters having to get to know one another again and having to adjust to them being in their lives again after so many years apart. Add to that Diana having to keep secrets from Brent due to the nature of what she was doing for the government and you can certainly understand the challenges that they faced as a couple.
I think it would have been better to place the 'historical note' at the end of the book rather than at the beginning because I didn't have a reference point for most of the information and clarifications that were provided.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Rachel McMillan has written a story with a wonderful premise - the layering of the restoration of a couple's marriage and the restoration of the wonderful Wren churches of London after WWII. Diana and Brent were separated by war immediately after their marriage. Their war efforts led them in different directions, and once the war was over, both of them changed by their work, they have to work to recover and reconcile their love with their war experiences and each other. Add in a spy story, and there is a lot going on - just at a very slow pace. The story was perhaps just a bit too ponderous for me, too much repetition in the dialogue and thoughts and actions of the characters in some areas and not enough depth in others. I alternated between "this is beautifully written" and "come on, get on with it." But some of the characters are really engaging, and I think this has the possibility of being an interesting series if the author so chooses. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the e-arc. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for originality and potential.

I adore this cover. Rachel McMillan has a fabulous cover. The red hat really shows up, but the picture of Big Ben and Parliament next to the River Thames really captures my eye. As someone who has been dying to visit London for a very long time, I enjoy reading stories that take me there and allow me to travel as I read the novel. With The London Restoration, McMillan does a fabulous job at allowing readers to see the ruins of the London churches before World War II, during World War II, and after World War II. The churches represent the pain and joys of the London people as they seek refuge, but tried to be strong under the Germany's invasion on their soil. The characters told their story in 3 different time frames. They were telling us what happened when they met, right before the separation to fight in the war, and after they came home. Personally, there were many moments that I was confused as to what was actually going in the plot. Then I would have to flip back and reread the time period to try to set myself in the story. Not a lot of action. A little PTSD. What was the heroine, Diane actually doing during World War II? It took a long time to figure that out. I adore McMillan's ability to use words to craft a delightful story; however, this one didn't hold as much moving forward dynamics I needed to give it a higher rating.

I received a complimentary copy of The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Parts of this story dragged for me. I liked the premise, I just had difficulty becoming immersed in the story. I liked the extensive history of the churches and the author's descriptions. The relationship between Diana and Vrwnt was stilted and awkward. I appreciate the author's explanations in the prologue.

Thanks to publisher Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

One of my favorite genres - historical fiction, and this one takes place just after World War II: espionage and battlefield memories; codes and secret agents; music and architecture; faith and trust. This is a love story (not a "romance") between newly married Diana, architectural historian, and Brent, theology professor, set amid the rubble of war-torn London. Meticulously researched, the author connects architecture of the many London churches with classical music, blending these topics in a race to discover a suspenseful and clever conspiracy to break the code that will protect Europe from further threats to recent peace. This espionage thread is woven into the story of the rebuilding of Diana's and Brent's relationship, after being apart for four years during the war. Loved the authentic details of life after the war: the rationing, the clothes, the parties, the churches, and the tea. Also appreciated the author's double meaning in the title - restoration of the city of London, as well as the restoration of Diana's and Brent's marriage. These characters were both likable and honest, and I am looking forward to reading about them in Vienna, in what I hope will be the next book.

The London Restoration provides a unique setting for a clandestine undercover operation, beginning during wwii and culminating during the cold war.  Rachel McMillan's knowledge of Christopher Wren's churches of London is very impressive and gives much insight into these very old landmarks.  If you like a good spy vs. spy plot, and old architecture, you will love this book.

I started this book when I wasn’t feeling like reading but once the characters grabbed onto me the book was so hard to put down. I loved this story and would love to find out more about them and what happens next.

This book is set towards the end/after ww2, a period I particularly like to read about. The prose his is meticulously crafted, it’s atmospheric, intelligent and realistic.
Unfortunately for me the storyline just didn’t hold my attention, which is a huge shame. I found to slow going and honestly a little predictable.

This was a slow-building read. Every sentence and even every word was meticulously crafted and placed forcing the reader to slow down and carefully digest it all so as not to miss a single nuance.
It wasn’t your typical romance but it was a love story. A story of two people who fell in love just before war ripped them apart and who are discovering who they are now after years of separation and unshared life experiences are finding their way to a new kind of love. Despite secrets, and wounds, and even disagreements they always chose each other and found their way back.
There was so much history and facts about buildings I’d never even heard of in this book and you could tell the author thoroughly researched every bit and had a true love for the information she was sharing.
For me it wasn’t a pleasure read but it was a pleasure to read even if I occasionally found myself getting a little bogged down. But overall it was a well-written novel sure to enchant history loving readers.

This was an interesting book, even if hard to follow at times. It's set in England, just after WWII.

Diana and her husband Brent married just before they went separate ways to serve in the war effort, At the end of the war, Brent goes home after having been injured. Although Diana was physically safe, her expertise about church history architecture, has her sent to Vienna for five weeks. When Diana at last returns to London, she and Brent have to learn to make a life together and to their new roles.

I liked seeing Diana and Brent's relationship grow. They love each other, they've missed each other, but they're keeping secrets from each other and they suffer from it.

While they're learning to navigate their new life together, Diana is trying to sort out the identity of someone and Brent gets pulled along to protect her.

There's a lot of history about rebuilding the churches that were destroyed in London during the war, which was very interesting to learn.

The intrigue and backflashes made it hard to follow the narrative at times, but watching Diana and Brent fall in love with each other again made up for it.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

The text was too tiny for me to read. I needed to expand it every time I turned the page.

The language was eloquent. I enjoyed reading what I was able to read.

Diana Somerville and her husband Brent try to find a new normal in post-World War II London, but MI6 agent Simon Barre is determined to have Diana's help to prevent a new war with the Soviets by finding a mysterious foreign agent code named Eternity.
Diana Foyle and college professor Brent Somerville were married in the smoking ruins of a London church during the Blitz and were almost immediately separated for 4 long years as the war raged. Now the war has ended but they are both forever changed by the experiences of war. Diana is weighed down with government secrets from her work at Bletchley Park that cannot be shared even with her spouse and feels obligated to repay her debt to colleague and friend Simon Barre. Brent is dealing with post-traumatic stress and the scars of war and cannot understand why Diana remains so distant since the war has ended. Can Brent and Diana learn to trust each other when there is so much that remains unspoken? London Restoration is a fascinating look at rebuilding relationships in the face of unalterable changes.

#netgalley #thelondonrestoration

I loved this historical romance set after WWII. It was beautiful written and the storyline was exciting and suspenseful.

Many WWII stories follow the typical route of surviving the war, then soldier comes home to love of their life and they live happily ever after. Rachel McMillan took a different route that I much appreciated. The story actually begins at the end of the war and when Brent and Diana reunite life isn’t perfect. They have been estranged for years and the war has, in many ways, changed them both. This is a story of two people learning to know and love each other once again. There is a great deal of realism in that. Don’t expect a book full of MI6 action/suspense here. There was some of that of course, but the author’s focus is on the characters themselves. This novel was very well researched and you can tell the author is passionate about what she wrote.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I thought this book was great. If you know me, I love a good love story and historical fiction. It warmed my heart to see 2 people fighting for their marriage after being away from each other for years. There is suspense, love, and espionage. I loved the humor and all of the architecture (I learned a lot about churches).

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

Reading The London Restoration during the current social and political climate of shortages due to quarantine from Covid, allowed me to relate to the events in this story more than I would have otherwise (not having lived through rationing and shortages after WWII.)

I definitely liked Brent. He was a man worthy of admiration, but I just couldn't like Diana. Yes, she was a kind and loving person, but her obsession with churches bordered on the narcissistic. Had she not been "so beautiful," I wonder if everyone would have been so willing to admire her the way EVERYONE did.

I was fatigued by the number of times I read how beautiful she was and how wonderful the Wren churches were. This is saying a lot, because I am a huge fan of old buildings in London (churches and everything else), but this went far beyond that.

I also couldn't understand where Simon's obsession with the threat of communism came from. Possibly this was due to my not knowing enough about the time period, but I questioned his animosity (especially since Stalin's terrorism against his own people was not known at this time). I wondered if his hatred came from his privileged background, but if this was the case, it was not emphasized enough in my thinking.

I found Simon's requests strange, and yes that was explained in the story that Diana had a particular gift for finding patterns, but I couldn't see how it was useful in her visits to the churches. And his requests kept putting Diana in danger, so I couldn't like Simon's character (at all), which made Diana's mission tainted (in my view).

Finally, it was difficult to follow the dialogue, because it wasn't always clear to me who was saying what.

All that said, I really did enjoy the book once I was about halfway through it. It has stayed with me and my mind goes back to the story periodically, but I felt I was missing something while I was reading it.


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

"The London Restoration" by Rachel McMillan is an absolutely wonderful tale of rediscovery, first of one's self, and then of the partners long separated by the effects of war. Brent and Diana are so very real that the reader is apt to forget that this is a work of fiction. World War II has changed London forever, but it has changed the people as well. Brent and Diana are the quintessential example of what so many couples experience during and after such a separation. This is romance. This is love.



Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan

A love story disguised as historical fiction, this novel is short on action and long on angst and pining. The protagonists, married couple Brent and Diana, are together face to face after World War II, yet are not yet reconnected emotionally. Lies and trauma keep them apart.

While Brent went to fight on the front, Diana “did her bit” decoding messages. They’re back in London now, but their relationship suffers from Diana’s lie and Brent’s nightmares.

There is intrigue, mystery and espionage for Diana and Brent. Brent’s secondary role in the story, however, is to repeatedly describe Diana’s beauty, perfume, silhouette, clingy dress and terrible cooking skills. Thus, the love story.

Diana’s fascination with old churches, especially those of architect Christopher Wren, and her friendships play an important part in the intrigue and bring the tale to its resolution. If you enjoy a love story combined with some history of Britain’s place in WWII, this adventure is for you.

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

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.