Wartime Wishes at Bletchley Park

The Bletchley Park Girls #3

by Molly Green

‘The characters are multi-faceted, the settings are described with a depth that makes you feel you are there, and the storyline sweeps you along to the very end’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The third heartwarming novel in the inspiring Bletchley Park Girls series from bestselling saga author Molly Green…Munich. September, 1938.

When twenty-one-year-old Madeleine Hamilton is asked to smuggle two young pupils to Berlin, she nervously agrees. But, when they run into trouble on the train, it is Maddie’s turn to be saved by a chance encounter with a handsome man.

Bletchley Park. September, 1939.

A year later, Maddie is undertaking training in Morse code when a familiar face shows up unexpectedly. The attraction between them is as deep as it is instant, but Maddie knows one person holds the potential to harm her country and her heart – and it is her duty to protect both…

The third novel in Molly Green’s moving wartime series set at Bletchley Park, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Donna Douglas.

Praise for Molly Green’s Bletchley Park ‘Such an exciting book! I loved the attention to detail, especially around Bletchley!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A journey for the reader…tantalizing…interesting…try this one!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What can I say…I love it! Can’t wait to read more’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Outstandingly fabulous’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A lovely story’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One of those can't-put-down books’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A cracking good read!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Moments of being held spellbound…Kept me on the edge of my seat. Couldn't put it down’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A fantastic addition to what has been a fantastic series so far’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Great story. Great characters. Wonderfully written and oozing wartime spirit. Couldn’t ask for more!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Historical Fiction, Family, Romance

464 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2023

Reviews

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series. This time it took us abroad to Germany and the Jews being persecuted by the Germans. A sad story but well written. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[eyes.2c · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rocky start!

Madeline Hamilton had always wanted to be an actress. Something her mother forbade.
Maddie is sent down from University after being found with a man in her rooms. She takes a position as a nanny to a Jewish family returning to Munich.
It’s 1938 and Maddie becomes alarmed at the changes in the German people. Hitler has come to power and anti semitism is rife
When Mr. Weinberg is taken by the Gestapo, Madeline decides to leave for England. Mrs. Weinberg begs her to take the children with her to their aunt and uncle in Berlin. When that strikes problems she’s asked to take the children with her to other relations in London.
Maddie’s return to England is dangerous with the children. Fortunately she has help from someone she met by chance on the train to Berlin. James Sylvester is a cultural attaché with the British Embassy in Munich. He helps her to get the children to England.
On her return home, knowing what’s going on in Germany, Madeline applies to the Foreign Office as a German speaker.
She ends up in Bletchley Park. James makes a reappearance there as well. Romance is definitely in the air until she finds out that James has secrets.
I must admit that the fleeing from Germany was exciting, as was Madeline’s time at Bletchley and further north, (in ‘Forbes War’ country!) but I found Madeline’s refusal to talk to James about her feelings for him illogical and frustrating.

An Avon ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this exceptional book

oh my goodness me what a ride of a book this one was...

right from the start with maddie one of the main characters having to escort the twins through germany and finally to england, with all that entails and the worry with the nazi at any time challenging her and with the travel rules being changed daily for jews

but its the work she begins at Bletchley house and the conditions that they lived in and the added stresses

it brilliantly written and you feel everything that maddie goes through and i have to admit having a little tear in my eye at the ending..so beautifully done

cant wait to see what is next with this author

[Kelly Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Wartime Wishes at Bletchley Park, author Molly Green once again illustrates how literature can enhance and bring to life historical events to make them more poignant, and the reader more empathetic to the plight of those experiencing those events.
The story of Maddie's escape from Germany with the young twins whom she has been teaching is intense and heart-wrenching, giving human faces to the many who made similar journeys prior to the second world war. I found myself almost holding my breath as I turned the pages, worried for her and her charges as they barely make it out of the clutches of the Nazis, with the help of a handsome British man and many others along the way.
But Maddie's story doesn't end there; her recruitment into top=secret work for the war effort is fascinating, and the things she experiences up to and including the bombing of London, bring the war to life in a way history books never can. Add to that an intense and sudden romance that faces various challenges, and a difficult mother/daughter relationship, and the book has all of the elements needed to keep the reader riveted from start to finish.
With this book, Green has maintained the excellence with which she presented the first two books in the Bletchley Park Girls series, and fans will not be disappointed. The characters are multi-faceted and sympathetic, the settings are described with a depth that makes you feel you are there, and the storyline is one that is well-researched and sweeps you along to the very end.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy excited tears that there is another book in this series :’). I have LOVED the previous written by the author and this has been one of my most hotly anticipated reads. To anyone who hasn’t read this series before, it’s okay fear not. You needn’t have read the others in this series as it works as a standalone but I would highly recommend reading the other two if you can get round to it, because they are also epic.

I loved the opening to this book and how we get a perspective of what life was briefly like in Germany a few years pre-war. Where the rumblings of disastrously big changes are afoot as the Hitler youth, rallies, discrimination and rumours of war begin to stir. It was a great way to set the tone of the book and begin to introduce our main character, Maddie.

She was a wonderful character to follow, as we meet her as a private teacher teaching English to two little Jewish German twins. Her German may come in handy if the rumours of war are true.. I hear there’s a certain mysterious station in Bletchley who are desperately in need of German speakers and decoders…!

It had all the elements of a wonderful wartime story and anything centred around the enigmatic Bletchley Park peeks my interest! Great characters, great wartime feel, wonderful romance element and I always respect the amount of work and research that goes into these books. Honestly couldn’t recommend this series enough.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Angela Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

I have read the other books in the series and this one did not disappoint.

At a time when once again Jews are facing more problems in the Middle East (Nov 23) this sadly brings home what a terrible time they had over 70 year ago in Germany.

This is a story of a young lady (Madelaine) that was teaching English to German Jewish twins when it became apparent that they needed taking to a safer place - England - and relatives there. I have to admit how this all transpired was slightly contrived but in a very clever way.

Madelaine was of course fluent in German and had learnt Morse Code at her fathers knee so a transition back to finish her German degree and to be 'sent' to Bletchley Park.
Of course, along the way, there was the inevitable romance, misunderstandings and redemption.
Madelaine's mother was not a pleasant lady - though I wonder if she was 'of the era' and just someone we find less easy to understand these days.

I enjoyed the book, it is well written and well researched. The addition of the 'vegetarian' landlady was amusing - who knew kidney beans had been around for so long.

For anyone that likes historical fiction and especially books set around Bletchley Park then I highly recommend this book

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been looking forward to this third Bletchley Park novel by Molly Green, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Maddie is a complex and well-motivated character and I was rooting for her at all times as she navigated her personal as well as professional life. I particularly enjoyed her backstory of learning Morse code as a little girl and the technical accuracy of telegraphy, code-breaking and translation. Ausgezeichnet, author!

As with previous stories, Ms Green has done her research. She has obviously dug deep in order to get as authentic a picture as possible of the reality working during wartime in a cold hut with boring food and long hours.

Of course, it’s Maddie’s personal story and the ending that catch you but I won’t spoil it!

This is a complete story and works perfectly well as a standalone as Ms Green has centred each story in the series on a different main character although as with her Barnados series, the characters do occasionally interact between books.

This is an enjoyable story with a spirited heroine, but you will also learn a great deal not only about the grimmer side of the late 1930s but also about the inner workings of a secret wartime establishment. Highly recommended.

[Sue Garland · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARTIME WISHES AT BLETCHLEY PARK is the third book inthe Bletchley Park series by MOLLY GREEN. It is a well written and well researched WW11 novel, starting in Munich in in 1938 where Madeleine Hamilton is living with the Weinberg family teaching their eight year old twins, Erich and Lotte, English. With the Nazi horrors against the Jews gaining momentum, Maddie ends up on a train to Berlin with the twins who their parents are sending to family friends who they hope will take them to their aunt and uncle in England……
Back in England, after passing her final year in languages with distinction, Maddie is sent by the foreign Office to Bletchley Park. Maddie has a distinct suspicion that Jack, from the British Embassy in Germany, who she met on the train, has had something to do with her posting……
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good WW11 story, with much suspense and a romance that may never lead to anything!
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Avon Books. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

[Tracey Dyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free courtesy of Netgalley

This is the 3rd book I have read by Molly Green and they keep getting better.

21 year old Madeline has travelled to Munich to teach English to two Jewish German children. Whilst there the political outlook is changing and Hitler is starting round up the Jews. The family begs Maddie to take the twins to their friend in Berlin, who will get them to England but circumstances are changed when she gets to Berlin and is persuaded to smuggle them to England so they can live with their Aunt and Uncle there. She is assisted by a man she met on the train on the way to Berlin, he works for the British Embassy.

When she gets home, her life changes again when she is ordered to report to Station X to partake in War work, where her German will be useful.

The book follows her story of the war and the mysterious man she met on the train.

I absolutely loved this book, and had to sit with my thought for a day or so after I had finished and wasn't ready to start another book (which is what I normally do). I would recommend it to anyone who loves stories about WW2 and Bletchley park.

[Tracy Eyles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Wartime Wishes at Bletchley Park by Mollly Green is a historical novel based on events which occured during the second world war. Madeleine made a terrible mistake in school which got her expelled so she decided to live abroad for a year. Little did she know that the war was on their doorstep and that she would have to take risks she never could have imagined. Jack, a man working in the British Embassy, helps her get out of a sticky situation but did he have ulterior motives? The characters in the story were quite likeable and I could almost feel the fear that went through Madeleine as she left Berlin. Although I found the work that both she and Jack did at Bletchley Park interesting, I found the story didn't really go anywhere. I also found the ending to be a little too good to be true. It read almost like a fairytale. I was also put off in the end by Jack's omission of truth. Overall, though I would not be likely to recommend it, I didn't hate it.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow start to this novel is soon replaced by a rather lovely read. Set during the days before and during WW2 in England, this is a story of the courage and dedication of a young woman, Madeline, who is a private tutor to Jewish twins in Munich. At the outbreak of war in Europe Madeline is beseeched to take the twins to safety in England. Once back home Maddie continues her studies and is then recruited to work initially at Station X, Bletchley Park. Not wishing to spoil the novel for other readers, suffice to say there is romance and a happy ending.

Lovely characters, relaxing reading, a touch of WW2 reality and romance make for a good book. Not having read any of Molly Green’s books I was pleasantly surprised.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers HarpersCollins for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book about what Madeleine did during the war at Bletchley Park, coding and translating. It started off with a girl and ended with a woman. The fun she had along the way acting on stage made me feel like I was in the audience. The long shifts made me feel tired and exhausted. The constant changes in where she was working and what she would be doing were frustrating, but I guess that was the War. And the love was beautiful. I did feel like the ending was a little bit rushed, but that was easily forgiven with how long the story was. Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest review. I will be looking out for more books by this author.

[Katie Awdas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly I found the title to be somewhat disappointing. It had the makings of a good book but didn't deliver.

Lots of aspects of the storyline seemed too far fetched to bare any resemblance to truth. The book also had some inaccuracies in the storyline which I found frustrating (I remain questioning the availability of kidney beans in WW2).

The way the main character was portrayed she didn't appear to have the gumption or brains to undertake the things she did.

Having enjoyed previous titles by the author this did not appear to be of the same calibre of book. I thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the preview copy.

[Sarahlovesbooks76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maddie is working in Munich as a Nanny to 2 young German Jewish children. When war threatens, Maddie is asked to take the children to family in Berlin. On the journey, they run jnto trouble and are saved by a mysterious British gentleman. A year later, Maddie is training at Bletchley Park when a familiar face arrives. Can Maddie and Jack work through their secrets to be together?

The book is part of a series, but works as a standalone novel as it is not linked to previous books in any way other than the setting. I didn't feel like there was a lot of depth to the story which was a shame, but it was a nice easy read love story.

[Miranda YEUNG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wartime Wishes at Bletchley Park by Molly Green

Oh yes! That’s the book I highly recommend to those who like WW2 story.

I like the main character Madeline a lot. Strong character, caring, smart and warm! I read this book in one sitting. Fast paced, page turning and I just want to know what is coming next.

The topic or theme that the author chose just too smart to attract the readers. I love it! The story setting is amazing and fascinating.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my copy.

Pub date: Nov 23, 2023

[Amber Rush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usual Molly Green magic! There’s something about her writing that just makes me want to keep reading all the time. This book travels through nazi occupied Germany before the war and the journey back for young Maddie and the twins (who she teaches in Germany) to England. Her romance with her saviour on the train and then her secret war work at Bletchley park and Hastings receiving crucial war info. Even through the book was highly predictable , it was still good and I didn’t want it to end.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up in a charity shop for holiday escapism and that’s what it was.
While the characters were complex, the storyline compelling (if predictable) the book was a great escapist novel, to read while bored on holiday. It was better than expected, but not a standout. That being said the writing style was comforting so I’ll probably go find another Molly Green to read…

[Lesley Puncher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series and Molly Green's other books especially the Orphan series.
This book was very interesting but I got fed up of Maddie being sick every time something upset her. It was the description of each occasion I found off putting and it was very repetitive. (I do have a phobia of sickness)

[Dizzy Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story, some great characters, unputdownable book, and the need to read it was inspiring - absolutely brilliant !

Molly Green you really have a great talent for writing, as part of me can visualise the setting in-front of me and that I was there. Superb

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book in the series but I didn’t think this was as strong as the others. Great characters, especially Maddie, but it just felt that the book didn’t have a conclusion like the others had.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner and a wonderful read. I loved the characters. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure, So many twists and turns making for a great story. Madeleine was a lovely character and so brave bringing the twins to London.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the advance copy.
This was an easy read and I really got absorbed in the story from the start. This definitely could be read as a standalone. I really enjoy the setting and learning more about what went on at Bletchley Park. ,⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was completely different to the others in the series. It starts with Maddie living in Germany before the start of war, she's living with a family and teaching the children English. I really enjoyed this a d hope there's more!

[Jan Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got annoyed with the heroine of this book - Madeline. Why on earth didn’t she just speak up or ask questions. Would have saved an awful lot of waffling about ‘does he love me/is he lying etc. The story with the twins was good and enjoyed that part, but honestly woman - just ask!!

[Carol Perreault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about a young woman who makes her way out of Germany with 2 children to England where she trains for working at BP.

[Charlotte Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy all books set in Bletchley Park, this part of WWII fascinates me and I enjoyed the characters in this book and how they fit in. Would recommend

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the stories about Bletchley Park look forward to more.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed. Good 3 parts and a nice ending

[Kylie Dowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite of Molly's trilogy's. I was hooked. I wish it wasn't ending. I need more of bletchy park. I really hope Molly has a new book, and soon

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good historical book .With a love story.