First off I'd like to say that I think the cover and title of this book are beautiful. Really well done.

It's hard for me to know how to review a book that has me feeling so conflicted. I'm generally a HEA kind of reader and when I read a book about war I want to end it feeling like something good came from the war. That's why war stories usually have a romance to carry the story. We need something happy to keep us from drowning in the sorrow of the bad.

When I got to the end of this novel I was crying. And I felt conflicted about rating it because I wanted to be mad at the author for how he ended it. But then I realized I still did feel something good. Yes I felt sad but I was crying because I felt something good still came from all that bad.

Wesley Bowers was a real man but most of this story is fiction because like most veterans of war he shared very little about his experiences. I've never read anything about the bomb disposal teams before and it was really fascinating. The other members of the disposal team were interesting characters and I felt attached to and was rooting for the entire team.

Audrey's *true* story was just awful. War is ugly and brings out the worst in people. In *some* people. In others it brings out the best. That's how I felt about Audrey.

I loved the letter writing and how cathartic it was for everyone who wrote one.

Even though I was crying at the end it was still a beautiful story and I liked how it ended.

This is a hard book to rate. Between 3 1/2 and 4.

It's not the usual genre I read, but I liked the story and it kept me interested to the end.

This is a fictional account based on historical facts, and it describes the bombings in London and the one of units tasked with disarming the bombs.

There's a lot at stake for Audrey as she tries to do the best she can to transport children to the countryside while keeping her true identity a secret.

Wesley is an American lieutenant who's been sent to England to learn more about defusing bombs.

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

The formation of the W.V.S. a group of women - ordinary and untrained throughout England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to help displaced people and orphans to find help. There is also a secondary story of the live bomb in the apartment block. A multi-layered book that holds your attention.

In Times of Rain and War by Camron Wright is an excellent historical fiction novel that takes place primarily during WWII.

This book is so wonderful, heartwarming, heartbreaking, memorable, and unique.

There are several plots and subplots that take place throughout the book and I will leave it to the reader to check out the synopsis.

I loved how the book alternates between Wes and Audrey primarily, however we also get snippets into the thoughts of many of the secondary characters. It was truly wonderful and insightful to peek into the souls of so many characters and get their respective histories, memories, hopes, and dreams. It added so much perspective, appreciation, and complexity to the story.

I also loved learning so much about the Bomb disposal squads and the “Backroom” fellows that used these disarmed segments to help find out how to understand, learn, and outsmart the Nazis and their own bomb-making technology.
It was so sobering to see how so many risked (and lost) their lives during the war from yet another perspective. I do not think I have even read anything including these jobs. It was fascinating.

I loved the development of the full character cast. I honestly loved every character, but for some reason I truly connected with Colonel Moore. He was smart, daring, distinguished, a father figure, respected, but yet placed himself on the same level of his team. His advice, insights, personality, and faith truly made him an exceptional character. He could easily have his own story.

I loved the story of Wes and Audrey. Their respective pasts, traumas of past and current, their relationship, and the way it all tied up and ended.

Needless to say I teared up several times during this book. I won’t mention when as I do not want to spoil the surprises. Also, the discussion of PTSD from a multitude of sources was important.

I also loved the letter writing concept, that putting secrets, hopes, fears, and dreams onto paper could somehow make it to the intended despite if they were present or not was so wonderful. It really pulled at my heart.

I also really enjoyed the impressive Author’s Notes at the end. What was real, inspired, and added was important. Also reading Rachel’s story was fascinating. I have nothing but respect for what she has sacrificed.

Lastly, I am still thinking about the fundamental concepts brought up by the book. Light mingling with dark. Good mixed with evil. Sacrifice mixed with regret. One cannot feel the warmth of the sun unless they have not truly experienced the dark. Rain can add to misery, dampness, darkness, and flooding, however it is needed, essential, restorative and refreshing, and making things anew. That is how it is coming out of despair, loss, separation, sacrifice, and war and finding hope, life, second chances, a better life, repurpose, faith, love, and life anew. One does not truly appreciate the goodness and rewards in life unless they have experienced the valleys and depths. That is what this book, I feel, is also about.

All of this wrapped up into one wonderful novel. Truly breathtaking and one of my top reads this year. I will remember this for years to come.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, and Instagram accounts immediately (as of 10/31/20 a BB listing has not been created) and will post it to my Instagram, Amazon, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/6/21.