Whiskey Creek: A World War II Novel

by Christine Kling

Every war produces unlikely soldiers. Annie Jeeves never meant to be one of them.

Florida, 1942. While her brother Jack rushes to enlist, Annie Jeeves is content working her family's charter fishing boat and waiting tables at The Deck. She's just a small-town girl who happens to be good with charts and navigation.
When tragedy draws her into the civilian U-boat patrols, Annie discovers an unexpected she's exceptional at war. Her cartographer's eye spots what others miss. Her artist's hand draws intelligence that saves lives.
Success brings complications in the form of two men who see different futures in her charts. Finn Taggart, no longer the safe boy from her past but a passionate man who knows exactly what he wants. And the enigmatic Will Hersey, a man she pulled from a flaming wreck with stories that don't quite add up.
Through tragedy, betrayal, and a love that nearly slips through her fingers, Annie evolves from a fisherman’s daughter to wartime cartographer, from Florida girl to an Army WAC on a secret mission to seize Nazi map data from behind enemy lines.

562 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2026

About the author

Christine Kling doesn’t just write about the sea — she's lived on it. She and her husband have sailed their boats across the Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean, and the Caribbean, and they’ve logged thousands of miles in a converted ambulance/RV when they’re on land. It’s a nomadic life, and it suits her just fine.
That life on the water is what powers her fiction. Her Seychelle Sullivan series follows a female tugboat captain on the Fort Lauderdale waterfront who keeps finding dead bodies in her waters. The Shipwreck Adventures trilogy sends readers globe-trotting through international nautical thrillers full of history, danger, and buried secrets. And her World War II novel, Whiskey Creek, tells the story of a young woman who takes the helm of her family’s boat to patrol for U-boats off the Florida coast.
With more than forty years of “simply messing about with boats” — as Rat said to Mole in The Wind in the Willows — Christine brings the salt air, the engine grease, and the gut-punch of open ocean to every page. When she’s not writing, she’s probably anchored somewhere new with her two Havapoo pups, Razz and Zoë, planning the next adventure.

Reviews

[Smith Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whiskey Creek is a captivating blend of historical fiction, wartime suspense, and heartfelt romance that shines a light on an often-overlooked side of World War II. Annie Jeeves is a remarkable heroine whose transformation from a small-town fisherman's daughter to a skilled wartime cartographer feels both inspiring and believable.

What stood out most was the unique focus on navigation, mapmaking, and civilian U-boat patrols. These lesser-known aspects of the war add authenticity and freshness to the story, while Annie's courage and growing confidence make her journey deeply rewarding.

The emotional threads are just as compelling as the historical ones. The evolving relationships with Finn and Will add warmth, mystery, and tension without overshadowing the larger story of sacrifice, resilience, and duty.

For readers who enjoy World War II fiction featuring strong female protagonists, rich historical detail, adventure, and romance, Whiskey Creek is a memorable and engaging read.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

couldn’t put it down.

Wonderful book of a terrible time in history. I grew up in LAUDERDALE in the late 50s and 60s. Brought back so many wonderful memories. Racial discrimination was real and big at that time. The book was true to so so many topics. Great writing and I sincerely hope everyone has a chance to read it.

[robert griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. Didn’t know that it was historical fiction before I bought it. So much in this book really happened. It caused me to search on the internet and read more in-depth about the programs the government instituted during the war

[Philip Duss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Whiskey Creek. It took to fascinating parts of history, coastal life and entertaining me with interesting characters. I can't wait for the next two books of this trilogy!