The Light Over London
Written by Julia Kelly
Narrated by Lucy Brownhill
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
It’s easier for Cara Hargraves to bury herself in the past than to deal with the present, which is why working for a gruff but brilliant antiques dealer is perfect. While clearing out an estate, she pries open an old tin that holds the relics of a lost relationship: an unfinished diary from World War II and a photo of a young woman in uniform. Captivated by the hauntingly beautiful diary, Cara begins her search for the author, never guessing that it might reveal her own family’s wartime secrets.
In 1941, nineteen-year-old Louise Keene feels trapped in her Cornish village, waiting for a wealthy suitor her mother has chosen for her to return from the war. But when Louise meets Flight Lieutenant Paul Bolton, a dashing RAF pilot stationed at a local base, everything changes. And changes again when Paul’s unit is deployed without warning.
Desperate for a larger life, Louise joins the women’s auxiliary branch of the British Army in the anti-aircraft gun unit as a gunner girl. As bombs fall on London, she and the other gunner girls show their bravery and resilience while performing their duties during deadly air raids. The only thing that gets Louise through those dark, bullet-filled nights is knowing that she and Paul will be together when the war is over. But when a bundle of her letters to him is returned unopened, she learns that wartime romance can have a much darker side.
“Sweeping, stirring, and heartrending in all the best ways, this tale of one of WWII’s courageous, colorful, and enigmatic gunner girls will take your breath away” (Kristin Harmel, bestselling author of The Room on Rue Amelie).
Julia Kelly
Julia Kelly is the award-winning author of books about ordinary women and their extraordinary stories. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London. Readers can visit JuliaKellyWrites.com to learn more about all of her books and sign up for her newsletter so they never miss a new release.
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Reviews for The Light Over London
521 ratings34 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Admittedly I am a harsh critic, so three stars is actually a good score for me. I would've given it four stars except that some of the plot elements seemed a little too contrived, and overall the story - especially the current day storyline - was too "chick lit" for my taste. It was well written and I enjoyed it, but it's not a book I would want to read again.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great London history
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I enjoyed this very much. Particularly the bringing to life of what exactly the anti aircraft women actually did. Was a fantastic read.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5It was ok. Not an intricate plot, or characters. Ok
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love a mystery being solved and I enjoy reading about WWII… so this was a historical fiction mystery… two of my favorite types of books I read for pleasure.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a wonderful story. I really enjoyed every part of it. Well written and well read. Thank you. I will be listening to more of your books.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A beautiful and compelling story of war time sacrifice, this story is complemented by an exceptional narrator
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I tapped on the line that said see related titles and it won’t let me past this
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The narrator did a fantastic job. I really enjoyed this book!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Awesome details of two love stories and lives decades apart. Captivating
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a wonderful story of love, betrayal and new beginnings.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I truly enjoyed the way this book was written. I felt as if I were there in person witnessing the story. Great writing.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Well written, easy to listen too. Enjoyed the way the two subplots interwove with each other within the historical context
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Kinda of predictable. Sappy. A little too wordy at times.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The story fell a little short for me, too much tea drinking and a little predictable that said it was not a horrible story either.,
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Great narration and good story. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It was historically accurate and the characters held my interest throughout...
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/54.5 stars!
Oh I enjoyed this book so much! It was a cute read with historical and romance elements that made it so true and realistic!! The audiobook is really good! I loved Louise's story and it was amazing learning about how much women helped during WWII. I am happy I chose to read it as it was exactly what I needed to take a break from fantasy!! Hahaha!!! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Two parallel stories and many secrets slowly being solved. Good book, worth be read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Very nice, romantic story told in the present & letters from WWII.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5If you like romance this is the book for you! Very well written.!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5In the modern period, Cara discovers a diary written by a woman who served on a special assignment as a gunner during World War II. In the older story, we see how the woman who wrote the diary (Louise) joined up to escape an oppressive mother. She falls in love with RAF pilot she met at a dance she attended with a cousin. I'm not sure why so many people ruin a good story by using dual timelines. I found the older story the most fascinating although there is plenty of stuff that might attract some to the modern one. I listened to the audiobook.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cara Hargraves discovers her grandmothers secret past as a pilot in the RAF women’s auxiliary during WWII. Told in alternating chapters between 2017 and 1941. Recommended. Intriguing story.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I received a complimentary review copy of this book from GoodReads Giveaway and publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Cara Hargraves wants to make a good impression as she begins work for Jock Wilson at his antique shop in Barlow, Gloucestershire, England in 2017.
Wilson’s Antiques and Curiosities respectfully evaluates and acquisitions items from the estates of the wealthy after their passing.
While assisting Mrs Leithbridge with her great aunt Lenora house, Cara discovers the diary of Louise Keene. Since it is of no value to the family they allow Cara to keep the diary which she hopes to return to the owner. As she is drawn into this woman’s story as she describes life during the war. Her emotional investment in the life of Louise Keene spurs her curiosity into her own family history.
After both her parents were killed in a car crash, Cara maintains a close connection with her maternal grandmother, Iris Warren. Her grandmother although in her 90’s does very well living at Widcote Manor. After a traumatic divorce, Cara is content with her job and supportive friend Nicole. She unexpectedly develops a friendship with her new neighbor, Liam who works as a history professor.
Much to her chagrin, Cara finds herself seeking Liam’s assistance while investigating the owner of the diary. The more she reads this woman’s intimate journey during the war effort the more invested she becomes in returning the diary. When she discovers that the woman joined the military ATS during the war, it stirs up questions regarding her own family history.
Cara recalls an argument between her mother and grandmother just prior to the car crash. Her grandmother has always refused to discuss it or her own military service where she served the ATS as a gunner girl. The history of these brave women during the war fascinates Cara who continues to delve into history which uncovers secrets of the past.
The story provides a unique perspective of the British women during the war effort. Although fiction, the story does explore the courage and dedication of the gunner girls who were specially recruited. A touching and remarkable story of love, courage, betrayal and resilience. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book did a good job of weaving Louise's story through the journal with Cara in the present. The love stories were a little cliché but overall good. It was a good look into the life of one of the few anti-aircraft units that were composed partly of women.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I'm a sucker for novels set during World War II, but this one was a disappointment. It's told in alternating chapters set during the war and then in modern times, and as usual, the story set during the war is much more interesting than the one set in modern times.In the modern story, recently divocrced Cara Hargraves is making an inventory of items from an estate for her bosses antiques business and in one of the pieces finds a tin that contains a diary along with some other ephemera. Of course she starts to investigate the real people in the diary which then leads to her own journey of self discovery.I would much rather the author had just told a straight forward story set in World War II than this back and forth tale that diminishes both stories.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is not the sort of book I would usually pick up. There is a historical war time romance story and I prefer contemporary books. But once I started, I found myself pulled into the story and I ended up really enjoying it.
The book interweaves the story on Cara, an antique dealer in the present day, with that of Louise, a young woman who runs off to join the war effort in 1941. There are some similarities between the two woman. Both woman are unlucky in love and feel they will never meet the man of their dreams. You know what happens next. Cara meets her new neighbor and finds an attraction there. Louise meets a young pilot at a dance and begins a romance with him. I was hoping for both women to find love and was interested to see how Louise's life would turn out.
The book moved along at a nice pace and I was never bored reading it. The chapters alternated between each woman's point of view. That is not my favorite way to tell a story, but I enjoyed the book enough that it didn't bother me to much. I would recommend this book, especially for fans of war time romances.
I received a free ARC from the publisher through a goodreads giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5After beginning a job with an antiquities dealer, Cara Hargraves chances upon a diary written by Louise Keene. The diary begins during WWII. After meeting a soldier Paul, Louise joins the British Army and is drafted into an anti-aircraft gunner unit. Like many books that alternate between timelines, I found the present timeline unnecessary and a bit boring. Cara's romance was extremely predictable and lackluster. Louise story and romance was far more interesting. Overall, not a bad book, but not something I would re-read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Partly set in WWII-era England and partly in contemporary Britain, this novel tells the story of two women seeking to find their own paths. I really enjoyed the WWII storyline and particularly learning about the teams of anti-aircraft gunners that women were a part of. This is definitely one of the lesser-told tales of a war that has plenty written about it. This novel was like a glass of my favorite wine, rich and dynamic and perfect for a Saturday evening.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cara is an antiques dealer just learning the ropes. She finds some old love letters and this leads her to investigate the past. She discovers Louise. Louise is bound and determined to change her stars. Her mother wants her to wait for her rich boyfriend to come home from the war. Louise wants more out of life than that! Enter Paul Bolton, a larger than life Fight Lieutenant. He sweeps her off her feet. She decides to join the British Army where she is trained as a gunner girl. Their love letters keep her going, until they just stop.If you follow my reviews, you know I love strong women characters. Both Cara and Louise fit this to a “T”. Louise is unstoppable in her quest to help in the war effort. She does not intend to mend socks for the service men. She wants to be in the middle of the action. Cara is just as tenacious. Her grandmother is keeping a secret about her time in the war. And Cara is determined to find out more.This story has a little bit of everything. Family drama, love, mystery, action, just to name a few. Parts of this tale are purely magical. When Paul takes Louise into smugglers cave, I could just feel their connection. I fell in love with Paul …glad it was not in real life…I would have been hoodwinked. (Sorry spoiler alert).Well, well, well, this author taught me something. I knew women were nurses, ambulance drivers, spies and more in WWII. But, I have never heard of gunner girls or ‘ack ack’ girls. These ladies helped with the anti aircraft guns. How have I missed this! These ladies were so brave.To say I loved this read is an understatement. This is a fantastic, awesome novel. I ended 2018 with a bang! I would rate this one in my top five of 2018. Read this TODAY!