Mrs. Witherspoon Goes to War

Mary Davis

Feb 2022 · Heroines of WWII Book 4 · Barbour Publishing

About this ebook

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?

​Don’t miss these other stories about Heroines of WWII:
The Cryptographer’s Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander
Picture of Hope by Liz Tolsma
Saving Mrs. Roosevelt by Candice Sue Patterson
 

Ratings and reviews

This fabulous novel set during WWII is fast-paced and includes realistic faith struggles and day-to-day work experiences of women contributing to the cause. The WASP – Women Airforce Service Pilots – program was not new to me, but I learned more about what women did to free men to fight overseas. WASP was made up of civilian women willing to do what they could for the country they loved. At times it is a pulse-pounding thriller, at times a front-row seat to a woman’s struggle while feeling the Lord turned away from her, and at times a tender family drama with a chance for romance that did not overtake the story. Major Howie Berg was sent stateside after being seriously injured when being shot down over Germany. He was unhappy with his new assignment. One of the areas he was to oversee at Bolling Field in Washington DC was the work of the WASPs assigned there. Most men did not think women should be involved with the military or fly, even though most of their flying was ferrying planes for overseas use. Peggy had lost her father and brother in The Great War. She always wanted to fly. George and Peggy had officially met and got to know each other over the plane she bought to repair and fly when she was seventeen. Once married, they had a business delivering people and parcels until the war began. George did not object when she became a WASP. Her mother lived with them and cared for their young daughters while Peggy was at work. Fifteen months ago, Peggy lost her husband over Germany. Peggy, call name Mama Bird, and two other women did not adhere to the myth that they could not do what men did in the military. Her two closest work friends were Brownie and Nightingale. They flew a variety of planes, repaired them, trained new men to fly, and even flew planes towing material to be used by new recruits as target practice for the “big guns”. The women heard about three American soldiers who disappeared and were thought to be held captive in Cuba, despite Cuba being an ally. They learned that the military would not go on a rescue mission for them, and why, and were furious. Howie did not like it, either. When his plane went down, had anyone tried to find him before a farmer helped him? Mama Bird and her friends were determined to do something, especially after she met the wife of one of the men. I was beyond impressed with how the author designed what the women knew, learned, and did! I loved the premise, the characters, and the incredible risk the women took. I had much empathy for Peggy and her faith struggles and how well the author portrayed them. Her daughters and mom had the most to lose when she chose to go on a mission not sanctioned by the military, but the women believed they would be safe. I appreciated the tremendous, detailed research the author did, and the background shared in the author’s notes. This novel was not based on an actual documented event, yet it could have happened. I highly recommend this to women of all ages who like Christian novels about women enduring in a very tumultuous time, faith challenges, and a stateside view of WWII military airfields. From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from Celebrate Lit, the publisher, and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Was God using this man’s simple considerate actions to aid in welding her heart back together? Imagine wanting to fly so badly that you use all your money to buy a plane that doesn’t work with the intention of bringing it back into usable form. This is the beginning of the story of WASP Margaret (Peggy) Deny. Not only did she earn her wings and fly that plane, she became a leading member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots that were stationed just outside of DC. These incredible ladies were able to do almost everything it took to keep the lousy planes they were given in the air. Major Howie Berg, injured in Europe, is now responsible for the base where the WASPs are stationed. Finding it difficult to accept the capabilities of these highly skilled women, they found it prudent to make plans without his knowledge. Could they possibly manage to safely follow through on those plans without help? Another wonderful book in the Heroines of WWII, this ARC was received through Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

About the author

MARY DAVIS is a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty titles in both historical and contemporary themes. She has been in numerous compilations and collections. Stories and characters have been running around in her head for as long as she can remember. Her published works have been on Publisher’s Weekly bestselling lists several times. Some of her works include her award-winning Quilting Circle series and Newlywed Games. An empty-nester, Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-seven years and a black Norwegian Forest cat. She has three adult children and three incredibly adorable grandchildren. She enjoys playing board and card games, rain, and cats. She would enjoy gardening if she didn’t have a black thumb. Her hobbies include quilting, porcelain doll making, sewing, crafts, crocheting, knitting, and papercrafts.