Cover Image: Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War

Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War

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This fourth book in the Heroines of WWII series centers around the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). It was very interesting to see all the supportive roles that women performed during the war to free up men to fight, but in turn were not always supported by military men. Widowed and single mother Peggy Witherspoon is a strong woman struggling with her faith after the lost of her husband. Peggy not only transports planes, but is also responsible for repairing anything on a plane. This book has wonderful characters, suspense, witty dialogue, and a sweet romance. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I really like this story and read most of it in one day.

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This is a humorous, fun, thrilling, and tear-inpiring story of historical fiction set during WWII, stateside USA. There is the romantic element and the Christian faith aspect of reliance upon the Lord in prayer, which I appreciated. It gave the book extra purpose, at least to my way of thinking.

I enjoyed learning about the WASPs, that all female civilian corp of pilots that emerged during WWII to take up the slack for their male counterparts who went off to the war front. Peggy, aka WASP Witherspoon aka Mrs. Witherspoon, along with Jolene and Brownie are the main WASP heroines - intelligent, capable, not-to-be trifled with, pilots cum aviation mechancis, target practice bait and more.

The thing these gutsy girls got up to kerflummoxed Major Berg who at first didn't think women could or should be engaged in such dangerous exploits. I really love their mission impossible where they really heroically go to war. Oh my, just wait til you get a hold of a copy and read for yourself!

As I read more and more about these WASPs from the Author's Notes at the end of the book which gives a brief history of these courageous women who just wanted to serve their country and aid the male soldiers however they could, I just wanted to give them all a big shouted cheer and salute. I'm so glad author Mary Davis did her research homework and wove the WASP ways into a very enjoyable tale.

Yes, a 5-Star ovation from me on this one.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

January 2022

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy given by NetGalley and the publisher.

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What a wonderful story! It is well written and holds your attention from the first page until the last. It' has just enough drama, suspense, action and romance to make it a page-turner. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Christian historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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My thoughts:
As soon as I saw the title and the cover, my curiosity was piqued. I was aware of the series and most definitely aware that Barbour publishes fantastic books. Ms. Daivs is a new to me author, so that was interesting to me, too.
I found the subject matter interesting; I had some idea the important role WASPS played in the war, but I didn’t realize how disparaged they were. It was great that the WASPS established strong friendships and encouraged each other during such difficult times.
I enjoyed the relationship between Peggy and Howie which was sweet, his kindness to Peggy’s little girls made me like him even more than I thought possible. The one thing that bothered me is the spelling of “Oxen Hill”, Maryland, I live very close to it and it’s spelled, “Oxon Hill”. It’s a small thing and maybe that was the original spelling or maybe it was corrected in the final printing of the book. However, it didn’t interfere with my overall enjoyment of this informative, sweet story of courage, friendship and romance.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. through Netgalley. All opinions are my own

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Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War by Mary Davis is the fourth book in the multi-author Heroines of WWll series. Peggy Witherspoon is a pilot flying for the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots). Her duties are relatively safe, ferrying airplanes from one military base to another. But when she stumbles across information that three U.S. soldiers are being held prisoner in Cuba and that no one plans to rescue them, she is furious. She devises a secret daring rescue mission with the help of two other WASPs. If something goes wrong, they are on their own. This was an awesome story. I really enjoyed it. Starting out the author tried to use too much technical jargon about the planes and their workings but that didn’t last long. Peggy was an inspiration. Even with everything going on she still took time for others. Although she felt abandoned by God, she was finally able to see that He had been there all along! He will never leave you.


I received this book from Celebrate-Lit for my honest review.

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This book had brave soldiers, smart women, romance, adventure and excitement. Although I liked the subject matter, (WASP fliers during World Warr II), there was a major theme of how men don't take women seriously as pilots and sabotage their efforts that was very heavy. Yes, it is true, but it was spelled out a lot. This is part of the series, "Heroines of WW II" and wonder if they all have the same tone.
That being said, it was interesting to see what they did from their perspective. They were definitely a big asset in winning the war. Unfortunately, when it came to their mission, it lost some credibility. The romance aspect was also fun.

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This is the story of a widow working for the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) organization during World War II. I enjoyed learning about this organization and what these women did for the war effort as I was not familiar with it. This story is an energetic rah-rah for women. It is full of strong female characters who want to be recognized for their contribution. Apparently, this is part of a series of books written about various things women did during World War II to help free up men to fight. I enjoyed my time with this story.

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I have mixed feelings about this book. The editing should have been tighter, there is a lot of repetitiveness that for me ruined the story. I found myself skipping parts. Also the women of the WASPS were amazing and fabulous they were not super women as outlined in this book. I felt that reduced the impact of their real life bravery and heroism. Nancy Love wasn't mentioned but she was just as much, if not more, of an influence on the WASPs as Jackie Cochran who went to the UK to help with the ATA ferry pilots. The exploits of these brave women should have got more recognition and not taken years to gain military honors. This book will raise their profile so hence the four stars.

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Clear your schedule if you intend to read Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War. Mary Davis has written an exciting and intense WWII adventure. Peggy Witherspoon is a WASP, one of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, who served the US during the Second World War. Peggy and two fellow WASPs not only fly the planes, they repair, maintain, transport the planes, and provide towed targets for soldiers learning to shoot down aircraft. Like so many women who took over men’s jobs during the war, their efforts were often unappreciated. Women were assumed to be incapable of doing men’s work. Mary Davis’s characters are likable. The detailed descriptions of preflight routines, children’s clothes and toys, flight gear all add to the reality of the story. Excellent fun!

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This WW2 series by Barbour Books is very captivating. Not only do I learn new things, with this book all about the WASPs, through the detail historical research the authors performs, but we also get an entertaining fictional story as well.

I really enjoyed Peggy and Howie as characters and their sweet romance. But I loved Nightingale and Brownie - I just enjoyed their personalities. One small thing for me was that I didn't really liked Peggy's call sign even though it fit her. The author did a great job of showing the reader, through these characters, just how many challenges women pilots faced.

There was one thing which felt a bit unrealistic which the three ladies performed for that time period and their training, but overall I enjoyed the story and I adored the part of the dolphins!

Recommended to fans of Historical Fiction.

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Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War

Heroines of WW2 series

by Mary Davis

Barbour Publishing, Barbour Fiction

Rated: 3-4

Back of the Book: “A WASP Goes Above the Call of Duty to Free Captive American Soldiers
Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.
Peggy Witherspoon, a widow, mother, and pilot flying for the Women’s Airforce Service in 1944 clashes with her new reporting officer. Army Air Corp Major Howie Berg was injured in combat and is now stationed at Bolling Field in Washington D.C. Most of Peggy’s jobs are safe, predictable, and she can be home each night with her three daughters—until a cargo run to Cuba alerts her to American soldiers being held captive there, despite Cuba being an “ally.” Will Peggy go against orders to help the men—even risk her own life?”

Impressions: As exciting and adventurous as this book was the viability of Peggy’s character and situations seemed farfetched. I wholeheartedly believe that the WASPs did some amazing things in service for our country. I believe trying to make one character exhibit all the traits and talents was what made the story less enjoyable. It was exciting and easy to read, it just didn’t have its full effect of reverence because of the difficulty to believe character and storyline.

Quotes: “’ I have a difficult decision to make, and I don’t know how to make it.’ ‘Prayer is always the best place to start.’”

“’ How do you always think of everything?’ ‘It’s part of being a mother. I always have to stay one step ahead.’” -Truth! I didn’t realize this until I became a mother.

“Everyone needed a second chance. And God was the champion of second chances.” - And third, fourth, and fifth...

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review shared here.

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This is a fantastic Christian historical romance WW2 novel about a WASP who goes on an unsanctioned rescue mission.

Margaret ‘Peggy’ Witherspoon is a 34-year-old widow and mother of 2 little girls. She’s been a pilot of her own plane since she was a teenager and is now in service with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Her role includes ferrying aircraft, transporting cargo, being an airplane mechanic, and relieving male pilots of overseas tasks for their combat in war.

When she learns of 3 American soldiers being held captive in Cuba, she, her reporting officer (Major Berg) and two fellow WASPs devise a plan for a daring unsanctioned rescue mission. She has to be cautious, though, as Cuba is an ally in the war and she can’t afford to spark an international incident or risk being caught.

Davis has written a 5-star tribute to the unsung female contributors to the war effort. I don’t read romance books as a rule because it’s rare to find an author who can master the delicate balance between a heart-stopping romance and a compelling broader narrative. Davis has wowed me with her fully-realized characters and locations, her pacing, her taut emotion, and her well-executed and sustaining tension! WOW! Thank goodness for someone stepping up to the plate and showing us that it’s possible to write a romance with building physical and emotional tension. I loved the ‘almost’ kisses and the brief touches.

Most of all, I loved the heroine and hero. Peggy was strong without being repelling and vulnerable without being weak. Readers get to see her intelligence and her humanity in addition to seeing how ethical and capable she was. Howie was strong without being overbearing, and vulnerable enough to know he needed Peggy. Crafted perfectly, reader and protagonist both fall for him!

This is book 4 of the Heroines of WW2 series but can be read as a stand-alone book as each book has different characters and settings yet are united in their focus.

I was gifted this advance copy by Mary Davis, Barbour Publishing, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

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I read the disclaimer at the beginning of the manuscript which warned of proofing and formatting errors. I thought I could live with that but I think ‘Mrs Witherspoon Goes to War’ needs some serious editing as well.
Much as it pains me to say so, I read about 50 pages and then gave up. I feel it is overwritten, lacks depth in characterisation, suffers a paucity of sense of place and the dialogue is stiff and unsuited to the (especially) more senior officers.
I’m very disappointed not to have continued but, given an editor’s eye, I think it would make a terrific novel. I was attracted to the subject matter and would have liked to see the story unfold in a more skilled manner. There is a fascinating chunk of history here that begs to be told, so I hope this manuscript develops into a meaningful and memorable read.
Many thanks for the opportunity to read this manuscript.

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So amazing to learn about the role of the WASPs in WW2! This is wonderful addition to the WW2 Heroines series from Barbour. WASP, Peggy Witherspoon is a widowed mother of two who works at Bolling Field near DC. Great plot and interesting characters in this story that highlights the pros and cons of women in the military (although technically the WASPs were civilians). The flow of the story kept me engaged and turning the pages to see what would happen next. Highly recommended!

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

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The story focuses on the role of the WASPS during the second World War. Peggy lost her father and older brother in WWI and her husband in this one. She is an experienced pilot who wants to do her part, along with many other women, to support the war effort. Her mother is helping her with her two young daughters as she often must be away late or overnight. The story is a novel based on the historical facts of the time. I found this book to be fascinating and will be purchasing it for others. The characters are so deep that I felt I knew them, especially Peggy and her friends. I could feel the frustration of the Major who had been injured and limited in what he could do. I stayed up really late to finish this book; I just couldn’t put it down. It gets a full 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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This is the fourth WWII book in a series I’ve been reading, highlighting the importance of the women who fought the battle stateside. The WASP program was developed to help ease the shortage of male pilots stateside.
No matter your personal views on women in the military, this story is very enlightening as to both pros and cons. The main character, a recent war widow and mother, but skilled pilot, is part of the WASP group ferrying goods, doing maintenance on planes, as well as trying to work harder than any man to be accepted as an equal. However, the WASP participants were technically civilians, but answered to the Army.
As in any organization, decisions made higher up can sacrifice lives and leave the “foot solider” extremely upset. Romance between the men and women, along with men’s natural instinct to protect women were some of the difficulties these men and women faced. The idea that women were simply not smart enough to do the jobs was false.
Regardless, women were needed to help in the war effort and provided countless benefits.

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A very well written WWII novel. This book is a great addition to the Heroes Of WWII series. Great plot and character development. I love this series and recommend it. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

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I just finished devouring this book. The story starts with an edge of your seats landing by Mrs Witherspoon. I had no idea the story that would come next. I read this book so fast and was left a crying mess at the end. I am truly enjoying the heroines of WWII series and they seem to just keep getting better.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this title.

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Adventures of three WASPs based in Washington DC during WWII. Widow Peggy Witherspoon can do everything with planes: fly them, repair them, build them. And not only she, but all the WASPs. Peggy discovers three US soldiers are being held in Cuba and she devises a rescue mission with her two pals, Brownie and Nightingale. They have to build a plane from scrapped planes and locate the prisoners, but no problem. The WASPs can do anything.
This is a fun story. I enjoyed it. I know most men did not appreciate women flying and gave the WASPs a hard time. The women were treated abominably. However, I felt this story was hitting us over the head with that fact. The ladies were not wonder women. And the secret rescue mission seems unreasonable. But it’s a fun story.

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I loved everything about this book! Growing up in an aviator-family, the author's descriptions of airplanes and aeronautic maneuvers, with the lingo, felt like slipping into a warm, comfortable blanket. She has definitely done her research on the world of aviation as well as on the WASPs and even the weather of this time! Like any good air show, the book took twists and turns, appeared as though the protagonist would fall to her death, and then recovered at the very last moment to bring cheers from the audience....ahem, readers. A must-read!

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