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Time Waits for No One
It's April 1944, England is preparing to take the war back into Europe, and the girls of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club become mixed up in a desperate fight to save a dear friend from forces who would threaten the very existence of the country. The girls find solace in their deep friendship, even though the presence of a Nazi spy ring threatens their essential war work and their very lives.Can love blossom through a fortunate meeting, and will they survive a period where life seems determined to put them in mortal danger? The girls find the strength to battle through all the war throws at them, whilst still keeping a stiff upper lip, a witty repartee, and unbreakable spirit.
380 pages, Paperback
Published March 6, 2024
31 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
M.W. Arnold
8 books123 followersI grew up outside Bournemouth on the south coast of Dorset and at just shy of 18, I entered the Royal Air Force. For the next 16 years, I traversed the world having a great time!
There came a point, however, where I decided it was time to set down some roots. At about this time, I started to dabble in writing again. In 2013, I joined the Romantic Novelists Association and had my first novel, a romantic drama, 'The Season for Love', published in December 2017; then took a time out.
'A Wing and a Prayer', book 1 in the 'Broken Wings' series, is my first Historical Saga. With my longstanding love of history, this seemed a genre ready made for myself.
I am published by The Wild Rose Press.
There came a point, however, where I decided it was time to set down some roots. At about this time, I started to dabble in writing again. In 2013, I joined the Romantic Novelists Association and had my first novel, a romantic drama, 'The Season for Love', published in December 2017; then took a time out.
'A Wing and a Prayer', book 1 in the 'Broken Wings' series, is my first Historical Saga. With my longstanding love of history, this seemed a genre ready made for myself.
I am published by The Wild Rose Press.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 14, 2024
It’s almost eighteen months since I last had the pleasure of being part of the lives of the brave ladies of the Air Transport Auxiliary at RAF Hamble, as they risk their lives daily delivering planes wherever in the UK they’re needed in support of the war effort – and I was very much looking forward to spending time in their company again. If you haven’t come across the series before, it’s one I’d highly recommend – each book has a standalone story or two, and there’s always enough gently done catching up with earlier storylines, but I think you’ll be missing out a little without having been with them through life’s many ups and downs or understanding the depth of friendship and support between the many well drawn characters.
As always, this book had a number of intriguing threads with more than their share of well written drama. Lawrence is on a secret assignment and spending rather more time in Hamble than usual – on instructions from “the ministry”, he’s working with a young woman who’s received a letter allegedly from her seriously ill grandmother in the Channel Islands under Nazi occupation. Medical attention has been promised in exchange for classified information about the planned D-day landings, and the content and wording of their correspondence needs to be particularly carefully handled. With their work together strictly under wraps, the time they’re spending together isn’t going down too well with pilot girlfriend Mary – and it soon becomes increasingly clear that she’s not the only one watching them, but their other covert observers bring a far greater edge of danger.
And then, there’s something rather strange going on at Ambrose’s farm where Ruth exchanges chickens and rabbits for their supplies of butter – and it might just be that there’s some connection with the digging work noticed on the piece of land recently acquired to extend the runway. The Murder Club just have to investigate, but it’s a situation that escalates rather quickly – and becomes an edge-of-the-seat drama with several established characters finding themselves in life-threatening situations.
And then there’s the business-as-usual on the base – with far more to worry about at times than whether Mavis’ tea-making skills have really been improved by the presence of Sharon. It’s plain that the Allied effort is escalating, and there are constant daily reminders of the scale of the danger and potential for loss of lives – but there’s also that lovely balance with the minutiae of their daily lives. Doris (my goodness, I do love her!) still sometimes has a rather short fuse, but is also the most loyal and caring friend you could possibly wish for – and perhaps, in time, marriage to the injury-prone but lovely Walter will make living with her rather easier for everyone. But married life for Penny and Tom is proving rather more difficult, especially with no opportunities to be together – and her mood isn’t helped by being banned from flying and confined to base as Jane’s Second Officer while she recovers from her trauma and injuries.
But when everyone’s at home and together – after some shuffling of the sleeping arrangements – there’s all the usual banter and leg-pulling you find in the strongest of friendships, often accompanied (of course) with the occasional Guinness and a round of fish and chips. And Bobby the dog certainly has his moments in the spotlight too – the first rather unexpected, but the later one allowing him to show that he’s can most definitely still be the hero he always was.
The pacing of the story is just perfect – it’s a real page-turner, and I read it in two really enjoyable sittings – with plenty of drama and intrigue along the way, but also the palpable warmth of the relationships between the characters. As this is the fifth book in this lovely series that I’ve read and enjoyed, I’ve grown to think of them all as my friends too – so many of them have taken a place in my heart – and I’m really looking forward to reading more about their adventures together. Such a lovely read – and one so many others would equally enjoy.
As always, this book had a number of intriguing threads with more than their share of well written drama. Lawrence is on a secret assignment and spending rather more time in Hamble than usual – on instructions from “the ministry”, he’s working with a young woman who’s received a letter allegedly from her seriously ill grandmother in the Channel Islands under Nazi occupation. Medical attention has been promised in exchange for classified information about the planned D-day landings, and the content and wording of their correspondence needs to be particularly carefully handled. With their work together strictly under wraps, the time they’re spending together isn’t going down too well with pilot girlfriend Mary – and it soon becomes increasingly clear that she’s not the only one watching them, but their other covert observers bring a far greater edge of danger.
And then, there’s something rather strange going on at Ambrose’s farm where Ruth exchanges chickens and rabbits for their supplies of butter – and it might just be that there’s some connection with the digging work noticed on the piece of land recently acquired to extend the runway. The Murder Club just have to investigate, but it’s a situation that escalates rather quickly – and becomes an edge-of-the-seat drama with several established characters finding themselves in life-threatening situations.
And then there’s the business-as-usual on the base – with far more to worry about at times than whether Mavis’ tea-making skills have really been improved by the presence of Sharon. It’s plain that the Allied effort is escalating, and there are constant daily reminders of the scale of the danger and potential for loss of lives – but there’s also that lovely balance with the minutiae of their daily lives. Doris (my goodness, I do love her!) still sometimes has a rather short fuse, but is also the most loyal and caring friend you could possibly wish for – and perhaps, in time, marriage to the injury-prone but lovely Walter will make living with her rather easier for everyone. But married life for Penny and Tom is proving rather more difficult, especially with no opportunities to be together – and her mood isn’t helped by being banned from flying and confined to base as Jane’s Second Officer while she recovers from her trauma and injuries.
But when everyone’s at home and together – after some shuffling of the sleeping arrangements – there’s all the usual banter and leg-pulling you find in the strongest of friendships, often accompanied (of course) with the occasional Guinness and a round of fish and chips. And Bobby the dog certainly has his moments in the spotlight too – the first rather unexpected, but the later one allowing him to show that he’s can most definitely still be the hero he always was.
The pacing of the story is just perfect – it’s a real page-turner, and I read it in two really enjoyable sittings – with plenty of drama and intrigue along the way, but also the palpable warmth of the relationships between the characters. As this is the fifth book in this lovely series that I’ve read and enjoyed, I’ve grown to think of them all as my friends too – so many of them have taken a place in my heart – and I’m really looking forward to reading more about their adventures together. Such a lovely read – and one so many others would equally enjoy.
March 10, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed returning to RAF Hamble and catching up with the gang in the Air Transport Auxiliary. It’s true that there’s never a dull moment with this terrific bunch of characters. When we last visited, there was a wedding and some serious action, which nearly broke a couple of the characters and saw the untimely ending of a pregnancy. I was eager to see what Book 5 would have in store for the friends.
In the opening moments, we learn that Lawrence is to take part in a potentially dangerous mission as he is asked to escort a young woman whose grandmother is under Nazi occupation in Guernsey. Dangerous because he would be engaging with the enemy and risking the wrath of his girlfriend, Mary Whitworth-Baines.
The story moves at a great pace, and the friends encounter plenty of jeopardy to deal with. Once again, their adventures are fuelled by Fish and Chips and washed down with either Guinness or tea. The bonds of the friendships are strengthened as new challenges are faced and lives are risked with the constant reminder that their role of delivering aircraft is incredibly dangerous.
Mick has created some truly wonderful characters, and his insider knowledge as a former member of the RAF is easy to spot. While it’s a bit like following Midsummer Murders as so much adventure and mystery finds a resting place at RAF Hamble, I wouldn’t change a thing. Despite the fact that he’s writing about desperate times, there is a warmth in the pages that matches the stories I’m familiar with from family accounts of the war years.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and would encourage you to read the entire series. It’s something a little different but totally enjoyable.
In the opening moments, we learn that Lawrence is to take part in a potentially dangerous mission as he is asked to escort a young woman whose grandmother is under Nazi occupation in Guernsey. Dangerous because he would be engaging with the enemy and risking the wrath of his girlfriend, Mary Whitworth-Baines.
The story moves at a great pace, and the friends encounter plenty of jeopardy to deal with. Once again, their adventures are fuelled by Fish and Chips and washed down with either Guinness or tea. The bonds of the friendships are strengthened as new challenges are faced and lives are risked with the constant reminder that their role of delivering aircraft is incredibly dangerous.
Mick has created some truly wonderful characters, and his insider knowledge as a former member of the RAF is easy to spot. While it’s a bit like following Midsummer Murders as so much adventure and mystery finds a resting place at RAF Hamble, I wouldn’t change a thing. Despite the fact that he’s writing about desperate times, there is a warmth in the pages that matches the stories I’m familiar with from family accounts of the war years.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and would encourage you to read the entire series. It’s something a little different but totally enjoyable.
January 29, 2024
We are back with the ladies of the Air Transport Auxiliary service who deliver planes all over the UK before they go into service in the second world war. They have a knack of solving mysteries and of being in such a position that they overhear or see things without being conspicuous. They get in all manner of scrapes and adventures both in delivering the planes and in their daily lives. There is everything from drama, to a little romance and a war based mystery. Life is not easy during the war and the women tackle pretty most everything head on, sometimes at their peril.
I really enjoy this series, they are a wonderful, relaxing easy read. There’s always a great plot and the characters are heart-warming, with several threads of what is going on around their lives and of course solving whatever mystery springs itself upon them. This is a series, they do stand alone, but why miss out on other terrific reads? I've enjoyed each and every one and love the simplistic nature of the time before technology and the bravery of those living through the war era. A story of determination and bravery, of being kind and thoughtful to those around you. A wonderful, evocative read I most thoroughly enjoyed.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter or Threads @nickisbookblog
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March 19, 2024
I received a copy of this for free, to review as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.
This book is set during WWII, and features the members of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club. I believe this book is part of a series, and I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but I quickly warmed to the characters and felt connected to them. What appealed to me was how relatable and ordinary these characters seemed, as though they could just as easily be people that I knew. There was nothing about these characters that seemed special or unusual, and yet, they were heroes. Their strong bonds of love and friendship resonated with me, as well as their love of books and reading.
I felt as though I was on an adventure, and getting to know all these characters along the way. This book was quite uplifting to read.
Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, the publisher, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
This book is set during WWII, and features the members of the Air Transport Auxiliary Mystery Club. I believe this book is part of a series, and I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but I quickly warmed to the characters and felt connected to them. What appealed to me was how relatable and ordinary these characters seemed, as though they could just as easily be people that I knew. There was nothing about these characters that seemed special or unusual, and yet, they were heroes. Their strong bonds of love and friendship resonated with me, as well as their love of books and reading.
I felt as though I was on an adventure, and getting to know all these characters along the way. This book was quite uplifting to read.
Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, the publisher, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews