A Wedding for the Spitfire Girl

Fenella J. Miller

Oct 2019 · Head of Zeus Ltd

About this ebook

1942 – The war rages on and Ellie must do her bit!

Ellie Simpson isn't your usual Spitfire pilot, but then with the world at war nothing is quite as it used to be! The ATA is calling upon its most expert and trusted pilots to deliver the precious bombers wherever they're needed, and Ellie, who can fly a Spitfire as well as the boys on the frontline, is their newest recruit.

Giving her all to a job she loves leaves Ellie precious little time for Squadron Leader Jack Reynolds. And while Ellie is brave enough to take the controls of a Spitfire, it takes a different kind of courage to open her heart to love once again. With her friends and family in constant danger she realises that their love is strong enough to stand the test of all the hardship the war can throw at them.

An emotional historical fiction that tells the story of friendship, camaraderie and triumph over adversity.

Ratings and reviews

I've loved this series so far, and this is another worthy addition. The war is moving on, and with it the role of women. Now in the ATA, Ellie is busy ferrying planes around from one base to another; she loves her job and is glad to be kept busy after the deaths of both her brother and her fiancee. Her friendship with Jack is ongoing and he would like it to be much, much more but she is still grieving for Greg. It's hard to further any kind of relationship when their paths cross so rarely . . . This third book continues on seamlessly from the first two; it's a wonderful series and I love that it focuses on a different aspect of the war. There is no doubt that the women of the ATA were both brave and fearless, and in today's world of equality it's good to remember how far the 'fairer sex' have come! This author always scripts an easily readable novel with full on information on the war as well as excellent characterisation throughout. I was a bit surprised when it ended a little abruptly though! It's a marvellous tale, and one I really enjoyed. As the end of the war is still some way off, I can look forward to the next book and I can't wait. I'm delighted to give this one four and a half stars!

A Wedding for the Spitfire Girl by Fenella J. Miller is the third novel in The Spitfire Girl series. We journey back to 1942 where Ellie Simpson is working for the ATA ferrying planes and so is her beau, Jack Reynolds. Ellie loves flying a spitfire, but she is needed to ferry bombers, so she takes the necessary classes which also earn her a promotion. Just because Ellie is flying over England does not mean the skies are safe. There are untold dangers for pilots. Ellie and Jack are so busy working, they get to see little of each other. Jack is ready to commit, but he knows Ellie has not gotten over the loss of Greg Dunlop. Ellie is not sure she can open her heart to Jack despite her fondness for him. What will it take for this Spitfire Girl to risk her heart once again? A Wedding for the Spitfire Girl is gripping historical novel. I found it to be well-written and it moved along steadily. We get to see what it was like for a woman working in the ATA during World War II. I could tell the author did extensive research for this book from the historical details included. A Wedding for the Spitfire Girl has developed characters that are realistic and suit the time period. I love that Ellie is a modern, spirited and intelligent woman. I feel that Jack is the perfect man for Ellie as they complement each other. I have a feeling, though, that there will be a few bumps along the way considering Ellie’s stubbornness and Jack’s male pride. I like the intrigue that was added to the story. Jack’s wayward uncle, Joe Cross may be dead, but his misdeeds continue to haunt Jack. It seems that Joe may have some information hidden that would help the government. The government wants it and so do the bad guys who will do what it takes to get results. Ellie would like to reconcile with her mother and brother, but she wishes to avoid Sir Reginald, her tyrant of a grandfather. It was sweet how the female pilots supported each other and became close friends. I was surprised at how the story ended a little abruptly and there is mild foul language throughout the book. A Wedding for the Spitfire Girl cannot be read as a standalone. You do need to read The Spitfire Girl series in order as each book builds upon the previous one. A Wedding for the Spitfire Girl is an engaging story with pilot peril, criminal contraventions, fussing families, a raging war and a real romance.

Elle has not quite gotten over the loss of her first love even as Jack, a childhood friend, has made his intentions clear. But there are things to do, planes to ferry from base to base, and new challenges to face as the war continues in 1942. With bombers strafing Britain, Jack having lost a hand and now part of the ATA, and Elle finally being pushed forward to ferry bombers and larger planes, the weather and spectre of her grandfather’s treason, combined with Jack’s uncle’s bad behavior has them both under scrutiny from the government. We’ve seen Elle take charge of her life and her love for flying allowing her to learn quicker and move faster up the chain of command than many others, including her male counterparts. But she’s content with Jack as a simple “friend” his influence and desire to commit to her has them agreeing to a “fake engagement” much to the delight of many in the group. With Elle and Jack finally tackling the issue of their family’s combined ‘treasonous and illegal acts” danger abounds, but it brings Elle and her mother back together – and allows for the family to celebrate as one – the birth of her remaining brother’s child, Christmas and the upcoming real wedding for Jack and Elle. What Miller does so well in this saga is to connect us instantly to Elle – we understand her as she is very modern and take charge where flying and her skill are concerned, we understand her heartache and concerns, and we know that while Jack may not have been her first choice, together they work beautifully as a team, and their affection is rooted in long standing. Miller brings in other friends, flyers and the atmosphere of war-weary Britain, allowing people to show their true colors, determination to beat Hitler and his threats, and the often heartbreaking tales of loss, struggle and challenges that were faced by the people left behind. A lovely story for both Elle’s part and the depictions of a country under siege, and how that brought most closer together with a common goal, you can see the early filaments that were forming into what has become a more modern approach to women’s roles, capabilities and abilities that we take much more for granted today. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

About the author

Fenella J. Miller was born in the Isle of Man. Her father was a Yorkshire man and her mother the daughter of a Rajah. She has worked as a nanny, cleaner, field worker, hotelier, chef, secondary and primary teacher and is now a full-time writer. She has over sixty Regency romantic adventures published plus four Jane Austen variations, four Victorian sagas and fourteen WW2 family sagas. She is a widow and lives in a small village in Essex with her British Shorthair cat. She has a son, daughter-in-law, and a grandson.