WICKWYTHE HALL

I enjoyed this book very much. The story is compelling and the book is well written.

Anelle LeMaire is destined to be a nun, but as the Nazis approach her abbey, she escapes and makes her way to England with the Dunkirk evacuation. She finds work as a kitchen maid at Wickwythe Hall, home of Mabry Springs, an American married to an Englishmen named Tony. Anelle is desperate for information about her brothers who are fighting in North Africa.

Reid Carr is an American representative for a French champagne house whose job is to befriend the rich and famous. He is in contact with President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. After France is invaded, he goes to England at Roosevelt's request to talk to Churchill.

At Wickwythe Hall, Churchill is coming to visit to get away from London, and Reid is invited too.
Without giving away too much, Anelle and Reid meet. She tells him about her brothers, and he promises to find out about them. This occurs against a backdrop of negotiations and uncertainty of the Americans entering the war.

The story takes some twists and turns, but it's based on a true story which makes even more interesting.

Thanks to Black Opal Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In the past year, I took a big interest in books written about WWII. And I am very happy to come upon this wonderful book.

We have 3 completely different characters that build the story of the book. French refugee Annelle LeMaire, Mabry Springs - American by birth and a wife of wealthy Brit, and another American - Reid Carr, a soldier in the past and a champagne seller in the present. And in May 1940 they all meet at Wickwythe Hall.

Annelle LeMaire and her 2 older brothers became orphans after a tragic death of their parents. They were taken in and raised by nuns in a convent. When LeMaire brothers became older, they joined the French and Spanish armies. Annelle was about to join a convent an become a nun when Germans have invaded the France. Desperate for freedom and to reunite with her brother, Annalle leaves the convent and ends up in England. She is being noticed by Mabry, who takes a young refugee in and offers her a job and a roof over her head. Annelle never loses hope to reconnect with her Legionnaire brothers. And when she meets Reid, he gives her hope that one day she will reunite with her brothers.

All Mabry Springs wants is a happy marriage and a child. She left America for England, where she found a great suitor, Tony Springs. Years and 6 miscarriages later, Mabry finds herself in a troubled marriage and loses all the hope of ever becoming a mother. She turns her attention to war victims. Mabry is helping soldiers who are back from the war, takes in 23 kids from London and arranges their stay and comfort in Wickwythe Hall. Meeting Reid again makes her rethink her past choices, and find her true calling of becoming a mother.

Reid Carr, a seller of French champagne "Pol Roger", is actually a mediator between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill. On Roosevelt's request, Carr is heading to England where he makes negotiations between America and England. While at Wickwythe Hall, Reid meets Annelle, learns of her story and gives her a promise to find her long-lost brothers. Later, he is sent by Churchill to an attack on Mers-El-Kébir. After the attached, Reid discovers that Annelle's brothers there on the ships that Brits have bombed. Instead of going back to England, Carr sets of to find LeMaire boys.

The story ends in June 1946. The war is over. But will each character get their happy ending?

A Beautiful story of friendship, love, and loyalty during a wartime.

I adore Historical Fiction, and the way this book is written is one reason why! Judithe Little has such a way with words and I was drawn in from the beginning. There are 3 very well written characters, who have depth and are likeable. I am always impressed by the amount of research Authors must do to write the books! I highly recommend you try this book!

I enjoyed reading this World War II Historical Novel. The novel centers around Annelle LeMaire as she escapes from France as Hitler invades. She becomes caught up in Dunkirk and finds refuge at Wickwythe Hall. The Lady of the Manor Mabry Springs has her own heartbreak and offers a refuge for children and statesmen during war. American Reid Carr has arrived as an advisor between Churchill and Roosevelt. All three are drawn together because of the war, their desire to help the war effort and heal their heartbreak. The author does a very good job with the setting and the historical background. This book will appeal to fans of World War II Historical Fiction. Enjoy

Wickwythe Hall by Judithe Little is set in England during World War 2. The main characters are Annelle, Mabry, and Reid. Each shares in telling the story by narrating alternating chapters. Their personal lives are revealed against the backdrop of the ever present war. President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill are not main characters in this novel but they do make appearances are their presence is felt.

Reid is an American who has been sent to England by President Roosevelt to serve as an unofficial liaison between himself and Winston Churchill. Annelle is a young French woman who along with her brothers was raised in a convent. Annelle flees France when the Germans invade and the British military also flees back to their native land. Annelle wants to reconnect with her brothers who are in service with the French Foreign Legion. Mabry is an American woman married to an English man of means. Mabry aids the war effort in various ways. She is troubled by her inability to bear children. She also knew Reid when she was a young woman and still lived in Virginia.

This historical fiction novel is Little's first. It is an impressive effort and I look forward to reading more by this author. The writing is well crafted and keeps the reader engaged and wanting to discover what happens to the characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.

Captivating and enchanting! This book will keep you entertained the entire way through!

Amazon Affiliate Links Used



Synopsis:

May 1940. Hitler invades France, a move that threatens all of Europe, and three lives intersect at Wickwythe Hall, an opulent estate in the English countryside–a beautiful French refugee, a take-charge American heiress, and a charming champagne vendeur with ties to Roosevelt and Churchill, who isn’t what he seems. There, secrets and unexpected liaisons unfold, until a shocking tragedy in a far off Algerian port binds them forever…

Wickwythe Hall is inspired by actual people, places and events, including Operation Catapult, a sea action in which Churchill launched a bloody attack on the French fleet to keep the powerful ships out of Hitler’s reach. Over 1,000 French sailors, who just days before fought side-by-side with the British, perished. Humanizing this forgotten piece of history, Wickwythe Hall takes the reader behind the blackout curtains of upper-class England, through the bustling private quarters of Churchill’s Downing Street, and along the tense back alleys of occupied Vichy, illustrating what it took to survive in the dark, early days of World War II.

“…it had substance with endearing characters and solemn subjects. It is based on the true events of WWII Operation Catapult, when Churchill made the decision to bomb the French naval fleet at Mers el-Kebir to prevent their battle ships being handed over to Germany. Little’s characterization of Churchill is so well done. She makes his personality and presence so real. A good read with a satisfying ending.” Historical Novels Review

“…a riveting and enlightening mix of history and fiction that puts a human face on the costs of war…engaging… ” Foreword Reviews

“If you love history, beautifully rendered characters, and stories that will tug at your heart, add Wickwythe Hall to your list.” Book Perfume

“…an emotional and touching story about the lives of three people during World War II at the time of Hitler’s invasion of France in 1940. Inspired by real people, places, and events in history, this whirlwind novel will no doubt leave an imprint on your heart long after you finish reading.” Reader Views

“Judithe Little tackles war and masterfully boils it down to personal moral dilemmas. Beautifully written and rich with atmosphere, the narrative strands are seamlessly interwoven into a top-notch story where characters are pushed to unforeseen places. Little is a gifted writer who with remarkable insight confronts the timely questions of just how much loyalty is owed to country, family, and to preserving the past. Wickwythe Hall is a stellar achievement.” Ann Weisgarber, author of The Personal History of Rachel DuPree and The Promise.



About the Author:

Judithe Little

Judithe Little grew up in Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. After a brief time studying in France and interning at the U.S. Department of State, she earned her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law where she was on the Editorial Board of the Journal of International Law and a Dillard Fellow. She lives with her husband and three children in Houston, Texas.

My Thoughts:

First of all, I’m totally fangirl swooning over the fact that Judithe Little send little ole me a SIGNED copy of Wickwythe Hall! SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

OK, OK, on to my thoughts. I could say a million things here, that would all sum up to just this: I loved it. Its amazing that all my feels can be summed up into three little words!

The characters felt so amazingly real to me! As a HUMONGO Downton Abbey fan, I was totally picturing everything in the back of my mind, from the servants to the sheer size of the house and the way its ran. But not only that, but that setting in the start of war!

German troops marching through France, trying to make it their own; evil taking over, black and oozing, a shroud of terror; France, a place of free spirits, of light and joy, flavor, finesse, passion, taken over by men more machine than human.

Judithe Little, the perfector of the amazing descriptive run on sentence! No seriously though, Little has a gift of detail without just plain-jane telling us whats going on. Her writing was executed beautifully!

I also really appreciated the setting of the book. I love when authors hone in on little about known happenings that are a part of something big. Little’s use of drawing attention to Mers el-Kebir is just that.

You have GOT to read this book!! You can get your copy on Amazon Here.



I was given this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions stated above are my own.