In the Shadow of War

The Three Fry Sisters #3

by Adrienne Chinn

‘An emotive and engaging read’ Bestselling author Rosanna LeyOne war may be over, but their fight for survival continues…

For sisters Etta, Jessie and Celie Fry, the Great War and the hardships of the years that followed have taken a heavy toll.

Determined to leave her painful past behind her, Etta heads to the bright lights of Hollywood whilst Jessie, determined to train as a doctor and use her skills to help others, is hampered by the men who dominate her profession. On the vast, empty plains of the Canadian prairies, Celie and her small family stand on the brink of losing everything.

As whispers of a new war make their way to each sister, each must face the possibility of the unthinkable happening again…

Praise for Adrienne evocative and utterly immersive, this beautifully written book swept me away' Jenny Ashcroft, author of Meet Me in Bombay

'It is one of those books that you can't put down but also don't want to finish too soon!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'An excellent read which once started was impossible to put down. I’m so hoping for book 4! Highly recommend this series’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Brilliant storytelling. Highly recommended. I can't wait for the next one.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Fabulous characters and storylines which bring in aspects of real history. Superb storytelling.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'An excellent read which, once started, was impossible to put down. Highly recommend this series.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A fantastic book which kept me enthralled all the way through.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

435 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Adrienne Chinn was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, grew up in Quebec, and eventually made her way to London, England after a career as a journalist. In Britain she worked as a TV and film researcher before embarking on a career as an interior designer, lecturer, and writer.

Her second novel, The English Wife -- a timeslip story set in World War II England and contemporary Newfoundland -- was published in June 2020 and has become an international bestseller. Her debut novel, The Lost Letter, was published by Avon Books UK in 2019. Her third novel, Love in a Time of War, the first in The Three Fry Sisters series centred around three English sisters, was published in 2022, with the second book in the series, The Paris Sister, following in 2023. The third book in the series, In the Shadow of War, was published in 2024. A stand alone historical timeslip novel, The Queen's Necklace, will be published in 2025, and the fourth book in The Three Fry Sisters series will be published in 2026.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Shadow of War is the third book in The Fry Sisters Series, I have enjoyed following what’s happened to Cecelia, Etta and Jessie and their scheming mother Christiana Fry.

Celie and her husband Frank Jefferies moved to Alberta, Canada as part of the Soldiers Land Settlement Scheme, and he has no idea about being a farmer and especially in a different country. The couple have a daughter Lulu, Frank isn’t an easy man to live with and Celie feels trapped. Life on the Canadian prairie is hard, the weather is fickle and a grasshopper plague strikes, then no rain and a drought and many families in the area have lost their farms and will the Jefferies be next?

Etta has been struggling with her mental health, her daughter Adrianna has been raised by her grandmother Christina and is angry at her mother. Etta leaves England and travels to Hollywood, California, she lives with CJ Melton and wants to be an actress, and she has to lie about her age and finds it very difficult to get even small role in a movie.

Jessica is married to Dr. Aziz Khalid, they live in Cairo, Egypt and they have a daughter Shani. Jessie is studying to be a doctor, she and the other female students are frustrated by how they are being treated, made to sit at the back row of the auditorium and ignored. The Young Egypt Party wants to end British rule and are protesting, her mother-in-law Layla is still being difficult and the two women don’t agree with how Shani should be raised and what faith she should follow?

I received a copy of In the Shadow of War by Adrienne Chinn from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The author's narrative is inspired by her grandparents settling in Canada and she’s very aware of the sacrifices her grandfather made serving in The Great War and immigrating to another country.

This story follows the three sisters from London, to Hollywood, Cairo, Spain during the Spanish Civil War and ends at the beginning of the Second World War in London, England. An historical saga about the changes in women’s roles and how working mothers were judged, the personal struggles of each sister and the challenges they faced, a long kept family secret and will it finally be exposed?

I highly recommend reading all three books, Love in a Time of War, The Paris Sister and In the Shadow of War, I wonder if there will be another book in the series and about what happens to Adrianna and Lulu? Four stars from me, my favourite characters were Jessie for her resilience and how she coped with adversity, Mavis, Fred and Ben Wheatley who helped to Jeffries family when they first arrived in Canada and Mavis was Celie's best friend and Hettie Richards Christina’s housekeeper and she always makes me laugh out loud.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

One war may be over, but their fight for survival continues. For sisters Etta, Jessie and Cecilia Fry, the Great War and the hardships of the years that followed have taken a heavy toll. Determined to leave her painful past behind her, Etta heads to the bright lights of Hollywood whilst Jessie, determined to train as a doctor and use her skills to help others, is hampered by the men who dominate her profession. On the vast, empty plains of the Canadian prairies, Cecilia and her small family stand on the brink of losing everything. As whispers of a new war make their way to each sister, each must face the possibility of the unthinkable happening again.

This book covers the interbellum period that lasted from 11th November 1918 - 1st September 1939, from the beginning of WWI to the beginning of WWII. Cecilia is living in Alberta, Canada with her husband Frank. Jessie is in Cairo with her husband Aziz. Etta is still struggling with her mental health.

The characters are well-developed, the story has been descriptively written. The story has been told by the three Fry sisters and their mother's perspectives. There were a lot of loose ends left hanging, and it also ended on a cliffhanger, hopefully we have not heard the last from the Fry sisters.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #AdrienneChinn for my ARC of #InTheShadow of War in exchange for an honest review.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Shadow of War is the third book in The Fry Sisters Series, that follows the lives of sisters Cecelia (Celie), Etta and Jessie and their mother Christiana Fry. This is the first book I have read in this series and although was able to follow the storylines, I missed a lot of background. I will read the others. This book has all three of the sisters married or widowed and living all over the world. Celie, her husband Frank and daughter Lulu live in a small town in Alberta and are struggling. With a drought, locusts, hot dry weather and the depression, they are trying to survive and hang onto their farm. Jessie is married and living in Egypt with her husband Aziz and daughter Shani. She is going to medical school and helping her husband run their clinic. With political unrest in the Egypt, the family deals with several issues. Eventually, Jessie ends up working in a hospital in Barcelona during the Spanish Revolution and Shani is in England with her mother. Etta is a widow with her husband dying after falling or being pushed off a cliff in one of the previous books. She has a breakdown and ends up in a Sanitorium. When she is released she abandons her daughter in England with her mother and heads off to Hollywood to be a star. Wow, what an interesting and unlucky family they turn out to be.

I enjoyed this story, but didn't love it as much as I had hoped, perhaps because I didn't read the others? The characters were all well-developed and each had a very distinct personality. I really liked Celie. She was a devout catholic and even though her marriage was an unhappy one, she stayed and worked with Frank. She did everything she could to make money and help with the family finances. I understand Frank was dealing with a sense of failure, but I wasn't a fan. I thought he was weak, and not very kind to Celie. Etta was extremely hard to like. Yes, she had mental health issues, but she was very self-centered and selfish. The way she turned on her mother was terrible. Then there is Jessie. She is an independent woman who wants everyone to be treated equally. This is difficult when you are trying to break into a male dominated profession, as well as doing it in a country that is Muslim. Was what she did to help others worth alienating her daughter? Christina is a piece of work. She has secrets and she has to lie to keep them. It seems everything she does is for her family, but at times I was unsure. The book is set from early 1932 and ends in 1939 when England declares war on Germany. There was a lot going on in this story with 4 POVs, but Adrienne Chinn did a good job keeping them separate and for the most part, the transitions fit together. I was invested in all the storylines, except Etta's. She just really annoyed me. I found the book interesting and wanted to know what was going to happen to the family. I hope there will be one more tying up all the loose ends and letting us know how the three granddaughters/cousins fare.

[Sue Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been great to reconnect with the Fry sisters and their families. Definitely best to read the other books first. Getting to know Cecelia, Jessie and Etta and their families in different parts of the world has been wonderful. It was a good ending but I would love to know more as the end felt a bit abrupt. With the wars in Egypt and Spain in the background and WW2 about to happen it’s a great historical thread for the sisters. Thanks to Adrienne and her publisher.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book and the series!! I can't wait for the next one. The three Fry sisters definitely live adventurous lives. Celie is still braving Alberta, Canada, without much success in the wheat growing business. She's still married to her dug addicted husband. Throughout the whole book, I wanted Celie to come to her senses, leave Canada and return to England. They had nothing in Alberta. Frank lied and hid so many things from her. Losing everything and ending up in a chicken coop was bad enough, then he pawns her beloved camera for more drugs. Frank even allows the bank to take possession of Lulu's dog. The best thing about Alberta was Celie's friendship with Mavis and Fred. Without them, Frank and Celie would have never survived. I have wishful thinking that Celie will get back together with Max.

Jessie is still living in Egypt and constantly battling her mother-in-law until tragedy strikes. I knew this would happen, I just had a feeling. Jessie had the most stable and loving relationship with Aziz than her sisters had with their husbands/partners. I always thought Jessie was a responsible, loving mother, until she abandons Shani. She doesn't keep a single promise to her daughter or see her for three years. How does one night in Spain turn into years?

Then there is Etta. She is my least favorite of the Fry sisters. With each book I like Etta less and less. She is completely selfish and always needs someone to come to her rescue. I really don't know how she got the idea that she would be a big time Hollywood star. Etta definitely has mental health issues, which never seem to get better. She lives in her own little world and expects everyone else to finance it. Jessie seems to becoming more and more like her twin. Both shrugged off the responsibility of raising their daughters to someone else. Adriana and Shani are never their main priority. Etta wants to party, spend money be with her lover and work in film. Jessie is always chasing after the next adventure.

There are so many secrets in the Fry household. Christina is behind most of them. How is she going to keep everything hidden with everyone living at home again? I bet she almost died when she heard about Lulu and Christopher. I hate to say but I actually laughed when when Dorothy called her with the news. I have a feeling that Hans/Henry might be hiding something. I can't wait to see what's next for Celie, Jessie and Etta.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, story and writing style. I was so sad when it ended. I wanted to keep reading about the Fry sisters. I felt like I was part of their family and got to know everyone so well. I can't wait until the next book in the series, I still have so many questions. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book three in the Three Frey Sisters series. It was good to follow up with the three sisters. Each one trying to live their life with possible threat of another war. I thought this book was hard to follow and only because I had read the previous one awhile ago. Definitely read these in order, one after the other and I think you’ll enjoy them more

[Alda Delicado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in The Fry Sisters series. After WWI and the 20s, now they have reached the Depression years. Difficult come for the three girls that live completely different adventures: Celie in Canada experiences the full effects of the economic troubles; Jessie in Egypt is finalizing her doctor's degree but in a very conservative country, she has many obstacles to overcome; Etta is decided to pursue her dream of a Hollywood career. Also, their mother Christina is still facing the consequences of her previous actions.
The story continues, vivid and gripping, with many rich details giving the reader a pungent picture of life in the beginning of the 20th century. Loved it and can't wait for the conclusion!

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realise when I chose to read this book but it is book 3 in a series. However, the fact I hadn’t read the first two books didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. Any information missing from past books was quickly recapped by the author but in a subtle way so that a new reader of the series can keep up and follow the story and for readers who have read the first two books it acts as a bit of a memory jogger for them. I know if I read books in a series, no matter how much I enjoy any book I will have forgotten the finer detail in twelve months time.

Having read this book, I would definitely like to read the first two when I have a chance. I would love to know about the characters pasts and the detail of what happened in the years before. It might seem a little odd to want to read them after having read the third book, but even though I would know what happens in future years, certainly this story was so good it’s worth reading them purely for entertainment value. It is such a compelling story and the three sisters lives, along with their mother’s are so fascinating.

I loved moving on to each new chapter as each one would be set in a different country, as we hear more about each of the sisters and what was happening with them. I enjoyed the dialogue, and that coupled with the flitting from one scene to another and one country to another kept the story fast paced. Often in a book which has been written this way I usually end up favouring one particular character and scene but with this book I enjoyed all the story threads equally.

Fabulous characters and storylines which bring in aspects of real history. Cecelia in Canada, struggling through the great depression trying to make ends meet and the struggles she has with her husband. Jessie in Egypt training to become a Doctor, she faces struggles both with the culture and the attitude of male colleagues to females who just want a career on an equal footing with the men. Etta, selfish, self absorbed, a bit of a wild one and quite immature moves to Hollywood hoping to become a movie star. Meanwhile there’s their mother Christina back at home in London trying to hold everything together and attempting to put right mistakes as well as secrets from the past that threaten to disturb the equilibrium.

A fabulous book that really came to life for me. I found the acknowledgements at the end interesting too, where the author tells of her own family and how she came up with some of the ideas for her book. Superb writing with quite the cliff-hanger at the end. I was a little bit “What? The end…..nooooo” Perhaps there’ll be a 4th book, I do hope so.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Sisters

This story takes place in the prewar years of the 1930's, the depression years leading up to World War II. It was a hard time for everyone. Each girl has a different set of challenges and heartbreak. Each handles their challenges in a different way.

Celie is on a farm in Alberta, Canada. She is in love with one man, but married to another. She works hard to make the marriage work and the farm even when she finds out her husband is hiding a secret that could tear them apart.

Jessie is a nurse in Egypt. Then she leaves for Britain when her husband is killed by a mob and she no longer feels safe. She stops of in Spain to spend a few days with her friend and is caught up in the fighting. All she wants is to return to Britain to be with her daughter, but when she finally returns it may be too late.

Etta heads to Hollywood after she recovers from a breakdown. She tries to start a new life, but sometimes things just don't work out the way we wish.

It is the story of love, hard work, heartache and the devastation caused by the depression then the heartaches caused by the war. It is a story of choices and living with the choices we make in life.
My favorite character was Celie. She just tried to hold everyone and everything together with no complaints and at the expense of her own happiness.

My least favorite character was Etta who was always looking out for herself and expecting everyone else to look after her as well. She just never was able to face life and it's challenges.

I thought the mother was very wrong in how she treated Celia. The secrets she withheld from her daughter should have been brought forth.

I hope there is another book so I can find out how everything turns out for the girls.

I enjoyed reading this book , it was a very interesting time in history and it was very well written.

Thanks to Adrienne Chinn for writing a great story, to Harper Collins Uk, One More chapter for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy to read and review.

[Doreen Prentiss Gabriellini · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Shadow of War by Adrienne Chinn is the third in a series about three sisters with a very selfish mother. This books time frame is the inter war period, including the Depression. The story itself is written from multiple points of view.

I really like Ms. Chinn’s writing style. She has a wonderful command of the written word. Ms. Chinn’s characters are so well done. In some instances you can anticipate their next move. The letters between the sisters create another layer of each sisters personality and adds depth to the story. These characters are so well crafted that they easily come alive to the reader. You can picture what they are doing and what they are thinking. The oldest sister Celie is the one who is a traditionalist. The next two sisters are twins and are definitely different. Jessie is fulfilling her dream to become a doctor. Etta wants to be a Hollywood Starlit. Distance keeps the sisters apart. Each sister is going through their own struggle.

The settings are beautifully done. You can picture England, Canada, Egypt and Hollywood. You can feel the barren fields and cold in Canada. You can see the markets in Cairo and feel the temperature. Hollywood is just as we know it. Full of self absorbed people all trying to make it big.

I would not recommend this story as a stand alone read. I would definitely read them in order. Spoiler alert: this book ends abruptly. I am hoping that it means Ms. Chinn is planning a book four but I have no confirmation of that.

I would like to thank Ms. Chinn HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book of the Fry sisters series, Cecelia, Etta and Jessie. I have read only one of the series but like the Paris Sister as far as I am concerned this read has too much going on, although I did not leave a comment re the Paris Sister.

The book moves through a series of events including WW2. From the struggles against the British in Egypt where Jessie, Egyptian husband, a doctor, daughter and mother-in-law live, to the civil war in Spain after Jessie's husband is killed in an Egyptian uprising, travelling to Spain which leaves her estranged from her daughter left in England, to sister Celia, husband and daughter and their farming attempt in Canada and to Etta institutionalised due to her mental health problems, after her release she leaves her daughter in England and heads off to Hollywood, her painting career on a shelf. Her husband had been a successful artist but even though she was a better artist and fraudulently copied his works (while he was in prison) for a Paris dealer she had not been able to achieve the same fame in her own right. Fame is what she desires, so why not Hollywood? Here, she rekindles a previous love of hers, one she had deserted for the artist. Etta has no money and constantly sponges off everyone, even Celia, who, along with her husband, are living a farming nightmare. The farm is a failure and eventually they are foreclosed by the bank. Celia's husband, suffering with PTSD kills himself, mother and daughter return to England. Mother Christina has a secret for which circumstances threaten it to be revealed while all the while she is desperately trying to negotiate on an estate matter.

[Pamela Beckford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fry girls - mom, Christina and daughters Celie, Etta and Jessie along with their own daughters, lead very disparate lives. This story follows each of them in parallel and tells us each of their secrets. At first I found it difficult to follow each of them and how they related to each other but it quickly became easy to see how they intertwined.

Celie had moved to Canada with her husband a daughter, Lulu. Farming was hard and Celie was barely hanging on. As the oldest, her sisters looked to her as a confidante. But Celie had her own secrets she kept to herself. And her own burdens.

Jessica was studying to be a doctor while she was in Egypt with her husband, Aziz, and daughter. With all the civil unrest and fighting, Jessie ended up in Barcelona as a surgeon helping during their own uprising. Jessie is driven to being a surgeon and leaves her daughter with her mother Christina in London while she focuses on helping in Spain. Jessie seems to be the most financially solvent of the daughters and is always being asked for help.

Etta, Jessica's twin, dreams of being a famous actress. Actually I think she just liked being in the spotlight. Etta is in Hollywood and her secrets are catching up with her.

Put all these things together and you have the making of a great story with various wars in the background and the foreground. I recommend this book, especially if you enjoy family dramas and sagas.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, for a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

I find that I sometimes connect more with historical novels than with novels set in the present day, as they help me to escape. When I first started reading this, I felt that if I escaped into this book, I might be there for a while.

I felt there were a lot of characters to keep track of, but I enjoyed getting to know them while I was reading. The characters interested me, and I felt that each of them may bring something different to the story. I didn't really identify or connect with any particular character, and that was something that interested me, as in most cases, it would prevent me from enjoying a book. In this case, it did not.

I think one of my favourite qualities about this book was its naughtiness. It seemed that the characters were harbouring secrets, and I sensed a possible scandal. I found myself turning the pages in anticipation, waiting for something to be brought out into the open.

I felt there was a clever efficiency in the writing, and that was something that held my interest. The reader was told everything they needed to know, and no more. For example, there were no explicit love scenes, just suggestions.

This is the type of book that I might choose for an escape, rather than a light read, and I would recommend reading a little at a time, rather than in one. If you like historical fiction or sagas, you might like this.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the series runs through the 1930s and all the unrest in Egypt, Spain and Germany. Celie is still in Alberta trying to make the best of her life with Frank and raise her daughter, LuLu. After Etta's husband dies she moves to Hollywood to become an actress. Jessie is finally pursuing her dream to become a doctor in Egypt when she has to leave due tothe political climate and ends up sending her daughter to England while she uses her medical skills in Spain during the Civil War.

The characters didn't seem that well developed in this, just more of the same from book #2. It made me sad the way Etta treated her daughter but she had always been self-centered and I was really surprised at Jessie's attitude. I would have liked to see more growth in the daughters, Lulu, Shani and Adriana. There was a lot going on with Celie trying to survive the depression and bad weather on the farm in Alberta. Jessie was fighting against prejudice in medical school, her sister-in-law and husband fighting for Egypt but on two different paths and then she goes to Spain. Etta was just being Etta, selfish and delusional. Just as I would get comfortable in one story then it would switch to another. The ending is a cliffhanger and that always spoils the whole book for me. I would recommend the series but only when it is all written and no cliffhangers.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins UK One More Chapter for providing me with a digital copy.

[Lesley N · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series of books about the Fry sisters and their mother by Adrienne Chinn. For some reason I have it in my mind that it was due to be a trilogy. I hope that I have got this wrong as this is the third book and there are so many loose ends to tie up. Please hurry up and write another one!

"In the Shadow of War" covers the inter war period, including the Depression, and features a number of celebrities from that era. We find oldest sister Cecilia in Alberta, Canada with husband Frank and daughter Louisa. Etta is still struggling with mental health issues and chasing fame. Jessie is in Cairo with husband Aziz and daughter Shani, and is pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor. As all three girls struggle with the their lives, mother Christina faces her own challenges in London.

The characters are so well drawn, the locations are described so that you can readily imagine a film or TV series playing out in front of you, and the storyline is really well plotted. It is one of those books that you can't put down but also don't want to finish too soon!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Fry Sisters series and this continued the stories of Etta, Celie and Jessie during the 1930s, each in different countries, all with their own issues.
Etta has left behind the art world in France and Italy and has moved to Hollywood in an effort to make her name in film - despite linking up with CJ Melton again.
Celie is in Alberta, Canada with her husband Frank and family trying to make a living in the famine and depression on the prairies while Frank continues his battles with the effects of WW1
Jessie starts in Egypt but as the political unrest rises she and her daughter escape back to London ... except Jessie sends Shani on to London while she stops in Spain ... and gets caught up nursing in Barcelona during the Civil War.
I have really enjoyed this series with great characters through the history of the inter-war years. The sisters are all strong women in their own way but with flaws and vulnerabilities too. I hope that the series might continue bringing in the stories of the sisters daughters as they too grow up in a changing world.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers HarperCollinsUK for the early ebook access in return for an honest review.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great follow on in the authors series featuring the Fry sisters and their mother Christina. I really enjoyed this book, much, much more than the previous one and liked following the three sisters and their lives in Alberta, Cairo and Hollywood. I'm still not a fan of Etta and didn't particularly like Christina here either. I liked the authors writing, it is beautifully descriptive and the letters between the sisters and their mother gives the story more depth and really suits it. The characters jump out of the pages and I can picture them vividly in my mind when reading. I was drawn into the story immediately and it held my interest all the way through. The ending is left open, and I hope there will be a further book that addresses the unresolved threads and I definitely want to read it. If you like historical fiction, I think you'd enjoy this although I'd say read the series in order so you know the characters from the beginning.

4 stars

[Nancy Mazgajewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley to read an advance copy of Adrienne Chinn's newest book, In the Shadows of War. It was a very powerful book looking at the many aspects of war from the aftermath of WWI to the beginning of WWII.

I think the list of characters at the very beginning of the book is a useful aid since so many characters are involved in this intricately woven tale of the three Fry sisters and their matriarchal mother.

This book does not candy coat the revolution in Egypt, the Spanish Civil War, the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and Hitler's rise to power throughout Europe. Rather it tells the story of how real people are affected by the times and locale that they live in.

My only complaint with this book was the ending. It just ended - there was no building up. It seems as if the author had run out of paper! Therefore it missed the mark at the 5 star review I would have given to it.

[Jean A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most enjoyable read about the three Fry sisters, Etta, Jessie and Celie. The war is over and the women are doing their best to resume life. Etta, recovering from a mental breakdown sets out for Hollywood and the glamorous life of a hopeful movie star; Jessie continues her fight to be recognized for her medical education in the paternalistic country of Egypt, and Celie is struggling to make a home for her family raising wheat in Alberta, Canada. As each faces the challenges of the life they have chosen, another war looms making it more difficult to move forward.

While this book can be read as a stand alone, reading the previous two books about the Fry sisters would have made this read a much more rich experience.


Thank you NetGalley for introducing me to a new author and the Fry sisters.

[Jenni Ogden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another novel in the saga of Christina and her three challenged daughters and their families. These novels always take me a while to get into, esecially as there is so much 'refreshing' of the prevous novels which can be irritating, but once that is out of the way, I do want to find out what disasters they are next going to have to face! I wonder if any man is safe in the hands of Adrienne Chinn; they always seem to be dying, even the nicer ones. Her characters are mostly fairly unpleasant, especially Christina, a mother no-one would want. The other irritating aspect is the way the novels each finish very abrubtly, very clearly a strategy to send us to the next book in the series. I do thig there could be a better way so that each novel seems more finished, and the following novel more a story in itself. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the Fry Sisters Saga, I have not read the others, but that did not hamper my enjoyment of the book. I will definitely be reading the first two books in the series, as I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

Jessie, Etta and Celie had made it through the Great war but putting their lives and the lives of their families back together is a daunting task. Sometimes it felt like there were a lot of characters to keep track of but I was instantly hooked by this story and read late into the night to finish it. The three sisters live such vastly different lives, from Cairo, to Alberta to Hollywood, but at heart they are connected. This was a wonderful story of hardhsip, loss and love.

[Katrina Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third novel in the series about the Fry sisters and In Love and War does not disappoint.
Following the lives of Celie, Etta and Jessie the reader becomes embroiled in 1930s history- the Spanish Civil War, the Golden Age of Hollywood and the Great American Depression all play a part in this novel. I really enjoyed the historic backgrounds used and the author's research really shines through the writing. I was fascinated to find that the Depression part of Celie's story was based on true experiences of the author's family, and this adds so much depth to the book overall. The Fry sisters are such engaging characters- each very individual in their own right- and their experiences and lives kept me fully engaged in this story. Fascinating! I cannot wait for the next installment to find out how their lives developing that the Second World War has started.

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the previous books in this series so was very pleased to be given access to this third book .The story follows the three Fry Sisters Jessica Etta and Celie and their overbearing Mother Christina .The story goes from London to Cairo and Canada to Hollywood and Spain during the Spanish Civil War and ends just as War has been declared the start of WW2.A fascinating story of how different it was for woman back in those times and how brave they were The characters were interesting some more so than others I felt the ending was very abrupt and a lot of lose ends left dangling. I do hope there will be a 4th book so we can find out what happens to the Fry Sisters .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

[Colin Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series, I hadn't read the first but did the second. I'll be honest, this book wasn't for me, it is a family saga with multiple viewpoints, albeit clearly marked. However if you enjoy such types of books I'm sure that you'll love this one and hence I've given it 4*to reflect this. It covers the depression in the 1930s, the struggle for independence in Egypt and the film industry in Hollywood - I loved the "guest appearance" by Groucho Marx.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

[Mrs Penelope A Cottell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t realise this was the third book about the Fry sisters but it didn’t ruin the story as in it’s self it is a stand alone book.
It is one of those brilliant sagas that envelops you from the very first page. It did not matter that you were unaware of what had gone before as there are flash backs as to what happened before and how the sisters have reached their stations in life so far.
My only disappointment was the ending because it was left so open. I just hope there is another book to follow .
Can’t recommend it enough and I am immediately off to read the first two books in the series

[Kathleen Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is based on 3 sisters from London, England as they spread their wings and pursue lives all over the world. This book is set in the 1930’s and we watch history unfolding in Egypt as they resist British influence, the bombings in Spain, Hollywood glamour and the Great Depression in the Canadian Prairies.

We very much explore family relationships, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, friends that hold the readers interest.

Each book tackles a decade in time, the first centered around WWI, the second the 1920’s, this book the 1930’s, I am hoping there will be a fourth book in the series.

[JUDITH Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

While In the Shadow of War was expertly researched and imparts a great deal of history leading up to World War II, it had one major flaw for me: I really did not have a connection with any of the characters. Etta was the most irritating--selfish and abrasive. Both she and Jessica just abandoned their daughters, then wondered why they could not establish a relationship. Matriarch Christina is just as indulged as the girls. Most of the Celi thread was just morose. I wanted to scream as that plotline unfolded. The characters seem one dimensional. By the end, I found I was not even curious about their future storys. I just didn't care about any of them.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this last chapter only because I was invested and was expecting an end to the series. Atlas, that did not happen. So, what to say about this installment. Like the previous one, there are way too many past references. Readers don't need a constant reminder of what went on in past books. As for character development, I have totally lost any interest in Etta's character. I can not relate to her on any level, and unfortunately, Jesse's character seems to be going down the same path. The only storyline that's the least bit interesting is Celies. If the next book is not the final, I'm afraid I may just pass.

[Jenny H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book of the series charts the lives of Etta, Jessie and Celia Fry between the wars. Their lives have separated them from each other and their rather selfish mother, in distance at least. Celie’s husband has taken her to his remote prairie homestead, not what she had expected at all. Jessie decides to train as a doctor, rare for a woman at the time, while beautiful Etta opts for Hollywood. As war looms again, how will it affect their lives? A great family drama but it’s best to read this series in order. Looking forward to a fourth book about these strong women.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a third book in a series about three sisters who are spread all across the world. Each sister tells their story and it is interesting to see global events in history in the book. This book can be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading the series in order because things from prior books play parts in this book. I’ve enjoyed this series from book one and watching the sisters grow. If you enjoy reading about historical events from around the world and a complex family you will want to read this series.