Beneath a Rare Blue Moon

by Johnnie Alexander

One rare night. One risky mission. A second chance at love.

Kathleen Forrest, a guard at Norris Dam during WWII, carries the pain of a love changed by the war. But everything changes on a rare blue moon night when she confronts a saboteur—none other than the man who once held her heart.

As an Army Intelligence agent, Roger Craig has slipped past guards, outwitted enemies, and dodged death more than once. But his latest mission to plant a fake bomb at the dam goes awry when Kathleen catches him red-handed.

Forced into an uneasy alliance by the Counter Intelligence Corps after a key informant’s mysterious death, Kathleen and Roger must uncover a potential spy ring in Tennessee’s “Secret City.” As they work together, every shared glance forces them to confront the painful history between them.

With danger closing in and national security at stake, can they trust each other with their lives—and their hearts?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2025

About the author

Johnnie Alexander is a wannabe vagabond with a heart for making memories. As a bestselling, award-winning novelist, she has written more than thirty works of fiction in a variety of genres.

She is a Mosaic Collection author, co-hosts a weekly online show called Writers Chat, serves on the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference Executive Board, and is a regular contributor to the HHHistory.com blog.

A fan of classic movies, stacks of books, and road trips, Johnnie shares a life of quiet adventure with Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon. Connect with her at JohnnieAlexander.com.

Reviews

[Carolyn Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exciting WWll-era Christian romance novella combines suspense, faith, and second chance love unfolding within the secretive world of dangerous wartime intrigue. Set at Norris Dam in Tennessee, the story centers around Kathleen Forrest, a guard at the dam, and Roger Craig, a Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) agent and former love. The undercover mission they are assigned to forces them to face both past pain and present danger, offering a possibility of reconciliation and rekindled love. I quickly came to care about Kathleen and Roger, becoming emotionally invested in their struggles and the outcome of their mission. I was completely surprised when the secrets were uncovered, and the culprit was revealed! Rich historical detail lends the story authenticity and meaning. I enjoyed learning about the Women Officers of Public Safety (WOOPs) and the important role that Norris Dam and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, played during the war. I cherish the reminder that even in times of uncertainty, God's love and guidance never waver. I totally enjoyed this story of wartime courage and love and recommend it as a quick, satisfying read.
I read a copy of this book from the author/publisher with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is always educational to read a story by Johnnie Alexander. I enjoy her historicals so much. Beneath a Rare Blue Moon was fascinating. I had read another book about the secret city of Oak Ridge, Tennessee and this one just added to the mystique of the place.
Kathleen Forrest is part of WOOPs, women guarding the Norris Dam in Tennessee. She had lost touch with her one true love when he went to war. Roger Craig is currently trying to get back to the war in Europe. They meet again unexpectedly and are thrown together and tasked with finding out what happened at a secret facility at Oak Ridge.
It was an exciting adventure for Kathleen and Roger as they felt their way in unfamiliar territory to solve the mystery. The two sweethearts wanted to do what was right for the country and sought to please God as well. They ultimately follow their hearts as they reunite amidst obstacles.
Short but informative, this story is packed with interesting details of the secrets of WWII.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author through Stories Past and Present. I was not required to post a favorable review. All,opinions are mine alone.*

[Dana Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful WWII story that can easily be read in one sitting. Set in the hills of East Tennessee at Norris Dam, the book follows the women of the WOOPS unit as they patrol the dam to protect it from potential threats during the war. When a young woman spots a dark figure carrying a suspicious bag, she sends her guard dog after him—and that’s when the action and suspense take off, keeping me turning the pages!

Alongside the tension and mystery, a sweet second-chance romance unfolds, adding just the right touch of heart to the story. If you love history, mystery, suspense, and clean romance, this book is absolutely for you. I loved it!

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher/author, and this review reflects my honest opinion.

[Martha Ladyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your mood is leaning towards a historical romance with a dash of action thriller and suspense, set in WWII, and featuring a remarkable dog, well, dear reader, you want to read BENEATH A RARE BLUE MOON, by Johnnie Alexander. I devoured this novella in one sitting, as I absolutely had to know what happened next.

Kathleen Forrest is a WOOPS, one of the Women Officers Of Public Safety hired by the Tennessee Valley Authority to patrol dams and strategic cities during WWII. She and her Army guard dog Liberty, confront a saboteur one blue moon night, leading to a chain of events that ends with Kathleen being drafted into the Counter Intelligence Corps.

Roger Craig, the would-be-saboteur of Norris Dam, is (a) an Army Intelligence Agent, and (b) Kathleen's former fiancé. Kathleen and Roger are forced into an uneasy alliance to uncover a potential spy ring in Tennessee's "Secret City."

And that's all I'm going to say, except that I stopped breathing a couple of times during the story, and I really, really want to adopt Liberty, the dog. Really.

Johnnie Alexander, a master of historical fiction, has again crafted a lovely story, set against one of the most critical times in American history. (Did you know about the WOOPS? I certainly didn't.) Well written, with great characters and a happy ending, it checked all my boxes for a good book. My only complaint is that I wish it had been longer.

[Erin Laramore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet second chance romance novella that takes place during the time of WWII. I enjoyed learning more about the Women Officers of Public Safety (WOOPs) and the army Counter Intelligence Corp (CIC) that were both described in this story. When Kathleen is out for a midnight stroll on a lonely blue moon night, she encounters a saboteur whose mission seems to be an act of terrorism. Her unauthorized stroll creates some issues with secrecy and trust and Kathleen is forced to join forces with an old flame to go undercover to find a possible killer, bringing her into the killer's sights. This story hit the ground running and had an enjoyable plot line. The romance moved quickly, but because it was a second chance romance, it was a reasonable pace. The faith thread was present, but a bit under the surface. My only complaint is that this could have been fleshed out a lot more and been a longer story. Since this was originally part of a collection of stories, though, it's a good length for that and the story was tied up neatly by the end. All in all, this was an enjoyable homefront WWII novella and one I can easily recommend to fans of clean historical romantic suspense stories. Special thanks to the author for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

[Trudy Cordle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!! Kathleen and Roger grew up together and loved each other. They thought that as soon as WWII ended, they would marry. That was before Kathleen's brother was killed in action and Roger blamed himself. He thought Kathleen blamed him, too. Now, Kathleen is a WOOP and unknown to her, Roger is with CIC. Unknown to both, they're in the same small town in TN. That is, unknown until Kathleen catches someone sneaking around and catches him. When things don't turn out quite as she imagined, she and Roger are tasked with working undercover to find out who killed an informant at the Secret City. When things take a dangerous turn, will it help these two figure out they're still in love, or will it be too late?? Love how things work out, and love hearing about something I never learned in school!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another captivating story by Johnnie Alexander that I was able to devour in one delightful Sunday afternoon. I know a lot about WWII, but I had never heard of the WOOPs (Women Officers of Public Safety) that were hired to guard TVA’s facilities. The book was very informative without being dry and made me want to learn more about these women who have faded into obscurity. I loved Kathleen, a force to be reckoned with, and the special relationship she had with her dog, Liberty. The war and associated secrets impacted lives on so many levels, and the author does a great job of conveying that. This is a book I will read again.

I received an ARC from the author and was not required to leave a review. All opinions are my own.

[Brittany Searfoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s not to love about this WWII novella? The setting was unique and rarely written about, the women who worked for the TVA were very brave, the main characters had great chemistry, and Liberty the dog was my favorite character. Every time I read a book by this author, I always learn something new about the historical setting and the people who lived and worked during that time period. I appreciated the author’s note at the end of the story as well as the way that I felt transported back in time as I read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and I am looking forward to reading more from this author!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[J.E. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The historical aspects of the story are seamlessly woven into the fictional details. It held my attention from the beginning.

Kathleen's character is courageous and quick-thinking, and I liked her right away. Roger is also cunning and brave. When they are forced to work together to catch the murderer of an informant at Tennessee's "Secret City," things quickly change.

The story has some twists that create tension and danger. A great tale that will keep you turning pages. I've never been disappointed in any of the author's books-highly recommend.

[Linda Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story set during World War ll. And set in an
unusual area and with an unusual plot. Great characters in Liberty, Roger and Kathleen. A great story for those who enjoy clean historical fiction, with a little romance.

[Judy Crewdson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An edge of your seat read from the beginning. Well written!

[Diane Harland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. The story line was different and very interesting!