"I shut my eyes and envisioned myself in front of these men, their faces brightening--if only for a moment--with my music. My voice couldn't end a war or spare their lives, but it might give them the strength to continue on to tomorrow."

Broadway star, Calla Connolly, wants nothing more than to be "over there" in France with the troops to brighten their spirits. She feels compelled to entertain the troops, carrying out the dream she shared with her fiance who died in the war. As Calla awaits permission from General Pershing to tour France, she falls ill with the Spanish flu while performing at Camp Greene. Her hopes of touring abroad are dashed when its discovered she accidentally overheard war plans. To protect that secret, the Army restricts her to Camp Greene for the duration of the war, and this puts her at odds with Colonel Jesse Erickson, the man who inadvertently exposed her to the secret and caused her detention. As frustrated as Calla is, she is determined to make lemonade out of lemons and boost the spirits of the men of Camp Greene by entertaining them, until the secrets she keeps threaten all her dreams and friends.

I really enjoyed Calla, Jesse, and the other characters' devotion & support of each other at a time when there was a "war to end all wars", a pandemic, and lean times. Calla keeps a positive outlook and is not only humble but self-sacrificing in many ways. The enemies to friends' (closed door) romance with Jesse is tender and healing as both of them have previously had their hearts broken. In some ways, I would describe this as a character driven novel, as the author builds relationships through the day-to-day activity of the camp. You get a real sense of the morale of the soldiers and their fear of being sent to fight the Huns.      

This was such an interesting look at WWI history on the home front. The author is based in North Carolina, a state that I love to visit, and I appreciate how Joy finds nuggets of NC history for her novels. I had no idea that during WWI the city of Charlotte with a population of about 46,000 supported Camp Greene which housed 40,000 men mostly in a city of tents. After the war, Camp Greene was dismantled. I've followed Joy's books from her debut, and she never fails to leave me feeling uplifted with her books. This is another great one!

I loved the e-ARC so much that I requested the audio version and swooned all over again!

As a reader with a musical background and family ties to the military, I could not have been more excited to read The Star of Camp Greene by Joy Callaway. My goodness, I loved this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is not your typical wartime novel. In her creative way, Joy gifted us with a new spin on the historical fiction carousel and I cannot recommend this book enough for those who appreciate the genre blended with romance and southern fiction.

Readers follow Calla Connolly (a Taylor Swift-esque musician with a soft spot for bringing joy to soldiers serving their country during WWI) and her adventures, setbacks, heart breaks, scandals, and successes! Even though she is forced to remain at Camp Greene after she overhead a secret, Calla is such a light and determines to shine as she scoffs at race "rules," calms and engages the masses, and wins the hearts of everyone caught in her rays.

With the majority of the action taking place in Charlotte, NC, Joy skillfully wove in bits of the city's history throughout the novel (detailed further in the brilliant author's note.)

Joy hooks you, keeps you, breaks you, and rebuilds you in this MUST-read tale of finding/being the silver lining even in the most challenging times.

The narrator perfectly elicits every emotion Joy wove throughout the scenes of this beautiful book. Brava to all for a splendid production!

In The Star of Camp Greene, Calla Connolly is a famous broadway singer that finds herself stuck at Camp Greene in Charlotte during the First World War. After losing her fiancé during the early years of the war, she is doing her best to honor him by continuing her performances to bolster the spirits of the American soldiers. When she falls ill at Camp Greene and mistakenly hears some sensitive wartime information, her dreams of touring on the front in France are put on hold indefinitely.

I’ve read very few World War I historical fiction novels, so I was excited to give this one a try! It had such a unique perspective, too. I loved the scenes of life at Camp Greene and in Charlotte. The mix of emotions as the soldiers prepared to ship out overseas added such depth to the characters and story. I fell in love with Calla and the other residents of Camp Greene over and over again! And I thought the romance plot was perfect without completely overshadowing the wartime, historical fiction aspects of the story. Overall, I really enjoyed this one! The audio narration was great as well.

Now, this is my first book by this author. And even though I found it a bit too sweet in places. I did enjoy it.

While convalescing, Calla inadvertently overhears a sensitive Army secret and is ordered to remain at Camp Greene for the duration of the war while her former mentor and rival steals her tour out from under her. Having no choice but to stay at the camp, she becomes the resident performer and forms attachments to several musician and soldiers, one being the head of the whole camp, Jessie

I loved the setting of Camp Greene during WWI. There are not too many books that I have read lately during this time period. So this was definitely a unique setting for me.

Then there is Calla and Jessie. While I enjoyed Calla and her personality, I was not a fan of some of her dramatics. She was a bit over zealous about some things and that was a bit annoying 😂. Then there is Jessie. He is top notch! I loved his principles. He is a stand up guy and I fell for him!

The narrator, Brittany Pressley, did a great job. There was one voice I was not a big fan of. But it was a minor character. There are a lot of characters in here and she did a great job keeping them all straight and different.

This story has a little bit of everything…romance, secrets, drama and of course music!

Need a tale set in a great time period…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Thanks to Harper Muse Audiobooks and Netgalley for ALC.

Ever since I was traumatized by Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale I try to avoid stories that are set during WWI and WWII, but this was a unique setting; in 1918 a vaudeville/broadway star entertaining the troops in a training camp in North Carolina, Camp Greene. Calla Connolly wants to gain permission to entertain the troops on the front in Europe, driven by a promise she made to her late fiancé. Due to the unfortunate event of contracting the Spanish flu and a misunderstanding with one of Camp Greene’s senior officers, she is unable to achieve her goal and is stuck on the camp. There she examines her life and relationships and finds love and friendship in the most unexpected places.

This was beautiful! The narrator Brittany Pressley really brought the story to life and I found myself looking into all the historical references, political, social and fashion related too.

The Star of Camp Greene
by Joy Callaway
Narrated by Brittany Pressley

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish this audiobook, as I found that it didn't resonate with me personally. I made it to about 30%, but I struggled to connect with the characters and the plot. While the writing and narration were well done, I believe this particular story simply wasn't the right fit for my tastes. Others may enjoy it, but it didn't hold my interest.

Calla Callaway is a broadway star mourning her dead fiance who contracts the Spanish flu, overhears classified information and is forced to remain at the Camp Greene training camp in North Carolina. Calla forms bonds with some fellow musicians while staying at the camp and ends up falling for the commander responsible for her confinement. This was a great look at a different side of WWI entertainers and excellent on audio narrated by my very fav, Brittany Pressley. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and #gifted finished copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for and advanced copy to listen to and review.

This story begins in the terrible summer of 1918, not long after the United States was persuaded to round up its men for active duty on the western front. The nation is filled with dread, thanks to rising casualties, pressure to enlist, conscription, and the Spanish flu. All of these figure strongly in Joy Calloway’s story, as they do in all Great War fiction. What sets hers apart is that it is actually a story about the American home front—the protagonist, performer Calla Connolly spends the better part of the novel longing and plotting to go to France, arriving only in the epilogue, when the war is over.

Calloway has done an enormous amount of research on the largest American military base on native soil, Camp Greene in North Carolina. She is especially good at conjuring up everyday life for men training to take up arms, for the women who also work at the base, such as nurse Grace, tending to the flu-stricken with limited supplies and at great risk to themselves. I also found her attention to racism and segregation and the impacts of Jim Crow laws on both Black and White enlisted men and women very compelling. Plus the glimpses of popular culture, with Broadway still the jewel of popular culture and the growing interest in jazz, are fascinating. There is also romantic intrigue in various corners, in and outside of the camp, to keep things interesting.
There is lots going on.

There are many positives, including the author’s writing. But there are also many ways in which the plot and various ways in which there is ‘lots going on’ leads to a certain change for readers to keep things straight. I was especially befuddled about the leading men, whether army officers of varying ranks, including her eventual love interest Jesse, musicians, ordinary soldiers, those on their way overseas, those already there, those like her fiancé, with the British army and already a casualty through all this. The same is true for the women in the story. They flit in and out of the main action. The musical scenes are fun but too long. And Calla really does play the star—she is truly in the spotlight everywhere, all the time.

What’s worse is that I really don’t like Calla. For a women who is very much a supporter of equality, described by all who know her as strong and unafraid, she spends a lot of time snuffling, tearing up, holding back tears, wailing, whining and sobbing. I kept thinking I should have kept count of the many times those descriptors were used. It makes for much eye rolling to accompany the listening. I felt sorry for veteran narrator Brittany Pressley, who had to use a high pitched whinging tone to convey the protagonist’s emotions. A little more backbone and a lot less tangential detail would have made this novel much more satisfying.

This has NOT YET BEEN RELEASED!! Please look 👀 for it on 5/6/25!!

I. Am. Torn. Apart!
I….loved, loved, llllooooovvvved this book!
Honestly, with the title…I thought this was going to be about Hitler…and Auschwitz. And so, I had put it off a little bit, in order to be in the right frame of mind for that type of book. Well, I was happily surprised.

This instead takes place in the USA….in North Carolina… in the mid 1910’s, and revolves around a young woman who is a well known singer, who lost her fiancé in the war. However, she had PROMISED him that she would continue singing FOR THE SOLDIERS… in order to boost their morale, as they prepared for and entered war zones.

As we begin our story in Camp Greene, Calla is performing for the troops… gets lightheaded with a dry, scratchy throat… and proceeds to pass out. She wakes up much later, in the hospital, with a fragile diagnosis… one that she’s not sure she will make it through… but, with much time, care, and new friendships… she does.
Unfortunately, during this time she hears something that she was NOT privy to, and is now basically under house arrest.
SHE. IS. NOT. HAPPY!!
She wants to get out of there to continue performing, but her hands are tied. She is now STUCK there for the foreseeable future. 😫

As time goes on, with her beautiful, caring, sweet personality she meets and makes many friends, and also finds many soldiers who are musically gifted!! She is intent on getting them in the spotlight… somehow.

Although she continues to plead her case to leave so that she can entertain the troops overseas, her pleas seem to land on deaf ears…

As time goes on, her friendships become stronger and soon she is bonding to so many of the people at the camp… soldiers and townspeople alike. Until soon enough, she feels like she is one of them!

I’m going to 🛑🛑 stop it right here! 🛑🛑 There is so much more to this story, but I don’t want to give anymore away, so, if this sounds like something you’d enjoy, please look 👀 for it in a few days!
**** RELEASE DATE IS MAY 6, 2025… so a few days from now! ****

#TheStarOfCampGreene by #JoyCalloway. Narrated phenomenally by #BrittanyPressley!

ALL THE STARS FOR ME…. AND THEN SOME!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫💫💫💫💫✨✨✨✨✨🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This one had it all! Made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me think…

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarperMuseAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

Another great book from author Joy Callaway! She obviously puts her heart and soul in researching and writing her books and this one is no exception! I would recommend this book to anyone that loves historical fiction and characters that are easy to fall in love with! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

Joy once again draws us in with this new wonderful book about Camp Greene and many events that are well known in history. Her character development -and the deep relationships explored keep the reader hooked. I love when a book brings a smile and this one definitely does. And the narrator is fantastic too. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Camp Greene was located in Charlotte, NC in 1918 and that is where Calla Connolly was performing when she got sick with the Spanish flu. After overhearing a secret conversation, she is required to stay at Camp Greene till the end of the war and ends up falling for the man responsible for keeping her there. She deals with hearing another secret and keeping it even though it will change the lives of the guys she has grown to care for. I loved Calla and Jesse and how he wanted to look out for her and pursue her. There was sweet romance in this one somewhat fueled by forced proximity since Jesse was supposed to escort Calla everywhere. I just loved Calla as a person and how she cared for everyone at camp.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Brittany Pressley who does a great job telling the story!

Calla is a performer at military camps during WWI and contracts Spanish Flu. While convalescing at Camp Greene, she overhears a sensitive army secret and is required to remain at Camp Greene for the duration of the war. She becomes the camp resident performer and falls in love with the man responsible for her imprisonment at the camp.

I know my rating falls into the minority but this one just fell short for me. I did not find Calla's passion for performing for the troops or the army's acceptance of her as a resident performer very believable. During WWI, men barely accepted female nurses let alone a woman performer. I am certain there are readers who enjoy a cozy WWI story but this one just did not hold my interest.

I would call this romance historical fiction as it focuses more on the romance than the war so be forewarned if you’re not into the romance genre. If you love both romance and HF this is a great choice.

After listening for several hours I noticed that the story seemed overly long which made the pace feel slow. The writing is good, it just needed more editing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC for my honest opinion.

4.5 star read! I love diving into historical novels that are rooted in historical truth as this book is, AND one that is narrated in such an easy-to-listen-to way. I appreciate a book where the main character is likable despite being an American star (almost kind of a diva) who learns to blend in and adapt to the people and situations around her. The romance portion was anything but a slow burn and I would’ve loved to see that developed a little deeper… but maybe in times of war, people didn’t have time to waste!

If you’re looking for a historical war novel that takes place during World War I AND takes place on American soil, this book is for you! If you’re looking for a thoroughly enjoyable read with wonderfully likable characters, this book is for you!

My book review is based solely on my opinion, but thanks for the advanced reader copy goes to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks.

As a big fan of historical romance, I was excited for the opportunity to try a new to me author with The Star of Camp Greene, a WWI novel. The setting for this book was really unique and fascinating as it took place in the US at a military training camp instead of overseas in Europe or any of the battlefield areas. That created so many opportunities to share rich historical elements occurring in the US at the time and unique pieces to move along the story.
I thought it was intriguing how Calla was a stage actress and intriguing what her motivations for being at the camp in the first place were. Her acting and Broadway background created such a neat bond with some of the soldiers and I liked how it both effected moral and the way this played out in a twist towards the end. When she is forced to remain at the camp with Jesse in charge of basically chaperoning her, I loved how this created some forced proximity moments and played into the "enemies to lovers" vibe the story had though I would say it was more of a "misunderstood to lovers" which was nice how that unfolded.
I did get worried there at the end that this book wasn't going to have a happy ending as the final chapters are quite intense and made me nervous. I was really happy, though, with how things did turn out in the end.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and thought that the narrator, Brittany Pressley, did a really good job capturing the class and socialite aspects of Calla's character as well as did a good job with the dialogue so it was easy to follow along to. I would listen to it again and recommend the audiobook version.
Content: there is a fade to black scene between a non-married couple that I was not expecting. Other than that, it contained no language and only some innuendo to other relations outside of marriage. Nothing detailed or on the page.
I received an advance listening copy of this novel from Netgalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I recommend this book.

Thank you to Harper Muse Audiobooks, Joy Calloway, and NetGalley for this ALC. Everything in this review is my true and honest opinion.

I absolutely adored this audiobook! To me, it was the perfect blend of historical fiction and romance. As a public health professional (who works especially in infectious diseases), I appreciated the inclusion of the Spanish influenza and how that played such a big role in the overall premise of the story. I appreciated even the little details like noting characters putting on cloth masks as needed (which was a historically accurate practice for medical and hospital wards during that time).

Being from NC, I also appreciated the story taking place at Camp Greene/in Charlotte and could tell the amount of research that went into representing the Camp and Charlotte accurately for that time period. I appreciated the times during the book where segregation was noted and how Calla felt it was wrong and didn’t understand it. It was a good balance of not just brushing it off while also acknowledging that’s accurate for how things would have been during this time period.

At first I wasn’t sure how interesting a story with a performer stuck at a military camp for so long would be but as it turns out, A LOT can happen during that time, even with the setting remaining the same!

This book did a great job, in my opinion, of portraying the anxiety of being at a military training camp during a major world war and the fears of being sent to the front not just from the soldiers but also their families/loved ones and everyone working at the camp.

Finally, the narrator, Brittany Pressley, did a great job and was easy to listen to!

I’m so grateful for this advanced listening copy for The Star of Camp Greene. Thank you Joy Callaway and Harper Muse Audiobooks.

It’s sad to say that most of what I remember of the history of WWI comes from Downton Abbey. Enter Joy Callaway.

Joy writes the fictional story of Calla Connolly visiting a training camp in Charlotte, NC. Calla is broadway star visiting training camps in hopes of making it to the front in France. She wants to bring hope, joy, and even a little peace to those forced to fight. Unfortunately, there’s a Spanish flu outbreak and during her visit to Camp Greene she becomes very sick. During her recovery she overhears an Army secret, and after that is required to stay on base and supervised at all times.

And her supervisor is Jessie the new head of the army camp. He never wanted her there, does not understand why she thinks her performances help anything related to training an army, and is extremely disgruntled by this inconvenience.

The story has many nuances surrounding how people handle thoughts of war, family, and happiness. While Calla and Jessie are the main characters, there’s an amazing cast crucial to the story that you will easily fall in love with as well.

Joy truly captures the voice of the time and Brittany Pressley does an a perfect job of narrating. I felt transported back in time. Make sure you listen to the Author’s Note (I was excited to hear Joy graduated from the same high school my kids attend!).

~3.5*~ Rounded Up

What was most facinating/unique about this book for me was that it was a Historical Fiction Book set in 1918 actually takes place in the United States!!! I have had my fill of WW1 books set in Europe involving female spies (no disrespect, but I have read that enough now) I loved the opportunity to engage in a book that showed us what it was like here in the united states (Charlotte-in my homestate at that) This is why I love reading! I never would have known about Camp Greene or the fact that singers were sent to army camps to entertain and bolster the soldiars.
Joy Callaway captures the unknown that awaited the soldiars training for war, which in most cases was a death sentence.Her main character Calla Connolley was battling her own private war, but showed up to serve her country.
At times the novel seemed like not much was going on, but take in the atomosphere and character development, it really does pay off in the end for a truly beautiful story of patriotism, love and friendship.
Thank you Joy Callaway and Netgalley for allowing me to review this advanced copy of The Star of CAmp GReene , I was not influenced or paid in exchange for this honest review.

The Star of Camp Greene is a fascinating and informative insight into life in a US Army training camp in North Carolina during the First World War. Then with the addition of music and a Broadway star, this was a moving, yet entertaining piece of historical fiction that has evidently undergone meticulous research.

There are some wonderful underlying messages contained within the story:
Music has the power to inspire, lift morale and give hope.
Sometimes we find ourselves on unexpected and unwanted paths without knowing that it’s exactly what we needed.
And finally, we are stronger together.

The audiobook is superbly narrated by Brittany Pressley. She beautifully brings every character to life with accents, tone, expression and emotions.

The Star of Camp Greene brings illness, romance, secrets, battlefields, music, tragedy and triumph….and the ending is perfect!

Thank you to the audio publisher, Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.