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Unexpected Detour: Courage and Intrigue in Wartime San Francisco
When bombs fall on Pearl Harbor, the trajectory of Faye Baxter’s midwestern life takes an unexpected detour. Her fiancé Steve Connor enlists in the Army, and Faye follows him to California for a spur-of-the-moment wedding just days before he ships out.
Eager to contribute to the war effort, Faye joins the workforce in San Francisco, a city awash with jobs, handsome soldiers, cheap cocktails, and nefarious secrets. When she is recruited to serve as a courier for a government intelligence agency, the assignment leads her into a web of misogyny, deception, and espionage.
Will she learn to trust her instincts, value her own opinions, and raise her voice against injustice? Or are the risks too great?
Eager to contribute to the war effort, Faye joins the workforce in San Francisco, a city awash with jobs, handsome soldiers, cheap cocktails, and nefarious secrets. When she is recruited to serve as a courier for a government intelligence agency, the assignment leads her into a web of misogyny, deception, and espionage.
Will she learn to trust her instincts, value her own opinions, and raise her voice against injustice? Or are the risks too great?
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 9, 2024
December 1941: Faye Baxter lives in Evanston, Chicago with her parents and she’s engaged to her high school sweetheart Steve Connor when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour and he enlists. Faye and her friend Midge follow their beaus to San Francisco, California, and all the troops leaving America after basic training embark from the Bay Area and just before Steve ships out they get married.
Faye's employed as an executive secretary for Gregor Corporation Engineering Plant and Midge a shipyard welder and she loves it and they stay with her aunt. Faye moves into an apartment at Fella Place with two girls from work, a married Faye makes it clear she’s taken and how can she refuse to dance with a soldier or sailor who’s about to be fight in a war and she’s sure Steve would understand.
Faye is recruited to serve as a courier for a government intelligence agency by her boss Mr. Dalton, using his car she drops off papers and at times she feels likes she’s being followed. Faye checks supply and delivery paperwork at work and she notices some discrepancies in the invoices, she has to trust the little voice in her head that’s telling her that something isn’t right, and Faye has no idea what she’s going to uncover and it will put her and a friend in danger.
I received a copy of Unexpected Detour by Lynn Marie Jackson from NetGalley and Acorn Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The author creates a historical fiction story based on real events and describes what it was like to live in America during the Second World War and I found it really interesting.
The population of San Francisco increased by over ninety five thousand, mainly women who wanted to help the war effort, they filled the gaps in the job market left vacant by men and also helped build things that were needed to win the war, like ships and jeeps, boots and uniforms.
Faye had a map of the world, she kept track of where the fighting was, she spent many sleepless nights worrying about her husband and dreaded getting a telegram and the reader really gets an inside look what it was like for mothers, wives and girlfriends of men serving overseas and how they helped each other to keep going and during the good and hard times.
Five stars from me, an inspirational and moving narrative about women and how their roles changed during and after the Second World War and I highly recommend.
Faye's employed as an executive secretary for Gregor Corporation Engineering Plant and Midge a shipyard welder and she loves it and they stay with her aunt. Faye moves into an apartment at Fella Place with two girls from work, a married Faye makes it clear she’s taken and how can she refuse to dance with a soldier or sailor who’s about to be fight in a war and she’s sure Steve would understand.
Faye is recruited to serve as a courier for a government intelligence agency by her boss Mr. Dalton, using his car she drops off papers and at times she feels likes she’s being followed. Faye checks supply and delivery paperwork at work and she notices some discrepancies in the invoices, she has to trust the little voice in her head that’s telling her that something isn’t right, and Faye has no idea what she’s going to uncover and it will put her and a friend in danger.
I received a copy of Unexpected Detour by Lynn Marie Jackson from NetGalley and Acorn Publishing in exchange for an honest review. The author creates a historical fiction story based on real events and describes what it was like to live in America during the Second World War and I found it really interesting.
The population of San Francisco increased by over ninety five thousand, mainly women who wanted to help the war effort, they filled the gaps in the job market left vacant by men and also helped build things that were needed to win the war, like ships and jeeps, boots and uniforms.
Faye had a map of the world, she kept track of where the fighting was, she spent many sleepless nights worrying about her husband and dreaded getting a telegram and the reader really gets an inside look what it was like for mothers, wives and girlfriends of men serving overseas and how they helped each other to keep going and during the good and hard times.
Five stars from me, an inspirational and moving narrative about women and how their roles changed during and after the Second World War and I highly recommend.
April 29, 2025
In this brilliant new World War II historical fiction novel, readers follow Faye Baxter, who has decided to leave her comfortable home in the Midwest for the excitement of San Francisco, following her fiance Steve Connor before he is shipped out. Eager to do her part, Faye finds a job in the city and, to her shock, is recruited as a courier for a government intelligence agency, and this new life pulls her into a complex web of misogyny, espionage, lies, and secrets. Forced to trust her gut and her own opinions, Faye’s new role will push her limits and force her to confront a web of secrets that threatens the war effort here in San Francisco. Brilliantly written with a high-stakes plot, readers will love this powerful and exciting new historical fiction novel set in wartime San Francisco. In bringing the lives of working women and the dangers of the American home front to life, Jackson explores another facet of the war in this excellent new addition to the World War II historical fiction genre. With brilliant characters and a protagonist with some fascinating growth and an incredible arc ahead of her, readers will love joining Faye in this new world and struggle to put this book down.
Thanks to NetGalley and Acorn Publishing for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Acorn Publishing for the advance copy.
September 2, 2025
I’ve read countless WWII books but haven’t read any from the perspective of American women who stepped up to take over men’s jobs when they went off to war. What a time for women to show the world their true worth and how sad that they had to give up these opportunities when the men returned.
I had no idea San Francisco was such a hub of wartime activity. Jackson painted a vivid picture of the era and city. The historical elements were fascinating. I had no idea Oregon was bombed by the Japanese. The idea of spies infiltrating key U.S. industries added an unexpected layer of intrigue to the story.
I enjoyed following the main character Faye to San Francisco to build a new life. Her friendships and life events were fun to experience. I wanted her to be a little sharper with her investigation skills and identification of spies. I found myself telling her “come on, you’re just putting this together now!”.
Overall an enjoyable read that sheds light on a unique and underrepresented part of WWII history.
I was a Goodreads giveaway winner.
I had no idea San Francisco was such a hub of wartime activity. Jackson painted a vivid picture of the era and city. The historical elements were fascinating. I had no idea Oregon was bombed by the Japanese. The idea of spies infiltrating key U.S. industries added an unexpected layer of intrigue to the story.
I enjoyed following the main character Faye to San Francisco to build a new life. Her friendships and life events were fun to experience. I wanted her to be a little sharper with her investigation skills and identification of spies. I found myself telling her “come on, you’re just putting this together now!”.
Overall an enjoyable read that sheds light on a unique and underrepresented part of WWII history.
I was a Goodreads giveaway winner.
February 11, 2025
There is a lot packed into this fast-paced book.
One of the unique aspects of the novel that I particularly enjoyed was the expansive storyline, you get backstory but you also get to be right there with Faye during a difficult time in the world.
Through Faye's journey, readers are not only immersed in wartime but also a woman's life during that time.
A heart-wrenching, compelling story, beautifully written. the story was well-paced, the author didn't sugarcoat the time or the atmosphere.
One of the unique aspects of the novel that I particularly enjoyed was the expansive storyline, you get backstory but you also get to be right there with Faye during a difficult time in the world.
Through Faye's journey, readers are not only immersed in wartime but also a woman's life during that time.
A heart-wrenching, compelling story, beautifully written. the story was well-paced, the author didn't sugarcoat the time or the atmosphere.
January 31, 2025
I loved this book and the way Lynn Marie Jackson draw you into her story.
Apart from the setting and the world she created, I was hooked on the characters and the way she developed them as well. I wanted to know more about the people and was right along with them as the unexpected twists came along.
The flow of the writing is very well done and really lends to the high paced storyline.
Jackson has created a stunningly detailed unique and wonderful book.
Apart from the setting and the world she created, I was hooked on the characters and the way she developed them as well. I wanted to know more about the people and was right along with them as the unexpected twists came along.
The flow of the writing is very well done and really lends to the high paced storyline.
Jackson has created a stunningly detailed unique and wonderful book.
February 19, 2025
WWII West Coast stateside
The story is fictional but the characters were all real. It was an interesting light war read. It's more about the women left behind to await the return of their boyfriends and husbands. A pulling back of the curtain while we peek in on one group forming their own tight knit community. It's life in the bay area during the war. Women are getting a taste of freedom and responsibilities outside the home.
The story is fictional but the characters were all real. It was an interesting light war read. It's more about the women left behind to await the return of their boyfriends and husbands. A pulling back of the curtain while we peek in on one group forming their own tight knit community. It's life in the bay area during the war. Women are getting a taste of freedom and responsibilities outside the home.
January 17, 2025
Unexpected emotion and pleasure.
This book sucked me in, exhausted my kindle' battery and wrung exhausted emotion from me! Lynne Jackson's characters were full, and the plot ingenious. I shall be looking for more from this author!
This book sucked me in, exhausted my kindle' battery and wrung exhausted emotion from me! Lynne Jackson's characters were full, and the plot ingenious. I shall be looking for more from this author!
February 18, 2025
Book you will give up sleep to read
I loved the book. I found the information inspiring and showed the true strength of the women during the war. So many women on the home front gave so much to make sure our men fighting had what they needed.
Excellent book!
I loved the book. I found the information inspiring and showed the true strength of the women during the war. So many women on the home front gave so much to make sure our men fighting had what they needed.
Excellent book!
February 9, 2025
I loved this book! Faye was such a powerful character. I lived in San Francisco and it was so great to visualize all the places they went to. It was a fast read and I didn’t want it to end!
November 1, 2025
4-1/2 stars. Inspirational and enlightening. Learned a lot about the wartime homefront. Great characters and dialogue. Beautifully paced.
August 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Lynn Marie Jackson, and the publisher for allowing me access to the e-Arc.
3.5 stars
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I thought it was interesting and it kept me engaged. Faye was such a strong and smart FMC. I adored the female friendships represented. There were a few things that felt repetitive and unrealistic dialogue. But they didn’t take me out of the story.
3.5 stars
Overall, I really enjoyed the story. I thought it was interesting and it kept me engaged. Faye was such a strong and smart FMC. I adored the female friendships represented. There were a few things that felt repetitive and unrealistic dialogue. But they didn’t take me out of the story.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews