Beyond the Shadow of War

The War Trilogy #2

by Diane Moody

The long awaited sequel to Diane Moody's bestselling Of Windmills and War.When the war finally ended in May of 1945, Lieutenant Danny McClain made good on his promise to come back for Anya in Holland. He expected her to put up a fight, but instead found her exhausted and utterly broken. Maybe it was unfair, asking her to marry him when she was so vulnerable. But this much he he would spend a lifetime helping to make her whole again.The war had taken everything from Anya--her family, her friends, her home, her faith. She clung to the walls she'd fortressed around her heart, but what future did she have apart from Danny? At least she wouldn't be alone anymore.Or so she thought. When the American troops demobilize, Danny is sent home, forced to leave Anya behind in England. There she must wait with the other 70,000 war brides for passage to America. As England picks up the pieces of war's debris in the months that follow, Anya shares a flat with three other war brides in London and rediscovers the healing bond of friendships.Once again, Danny and Anya find themselves oceans apart, their marriage confined to little more than the handwritten pages of their letters while wondering if the shadow of war will ever diminish.What readers are saying about Beyond the Shadows of "Since I enjoyed the first book so much I read the second...I'm so happy I did. Excellent.""So informative and the characters are so real. I could not stop reading as it was like being transported back in time to an era I have often wondered about. The feelings of each character make them come alive on the pages of this book.""One of the best stories I have read in the longest time. This was as great as the first book Of Windmills and War.""Didn't think the author could top the first book, but she did. My emotions ran the gauntlet. HIGHLY recommend this series.""Beautiful story. Side of war not often told. Touching. Tender. Perfect.""I could feel myself in history. I cried. What a beautiful story brought to life by the pen of Diane Moody.""This was even better than Of Windmills of War. It is unusual to enjoy the second book more than the first in a series, but in this case it is true. I had a difficult time putting it down."

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Historical, War, Audiobook

531 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2015

About the author

Born in Texas and raised in Oklahoma, Diane Hale Moody is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. She lives with her husband Ken in the rolling hills just outside of Nashville. They are the proud parents of two grown and extraordinary children, Hannah and Ben.

Just after moving to Tennessee in 1999, Diane felt the tug of a long-neglected passion to write again. Since then, she's written a column for her local newspaper, feature articles for various magazines and curriculum, and several novels with a dozen more stories eagerly vying for her attention.

When she's not reading or writing, Diane enjoys an eclectic taste in music and movies, great coffee, the company of good friends, and the adoration of a peculiar little pooch named Darby.

Reviews

[Joyce (Chloe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just like, awww, I am so happy I read the sequel to Of Windmills & War. I loved both books, and was enthralled with the characters in the stories.

[Rhonda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed. This was the second book in a two book series that would have been more interesting as a couple of chapters added to the first book. I found it tedious.

[Larry Bassett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book comes as close to a book, where nothing happens as any that I can recall reading. There are a couple of what appeared to be major incidence, which are ultimately somewhat glossed over. The author seems to specialize in making you think something big has happened and then gradually letting you know that it really wasn’t quite that big, after you have spent a few pages worrying about the outcome.

This book is the second in a trio, and as a dedicated reading person, I will undoubtedly listen to the third book as much because I have it as I am looking forward to it.

This book is really all about how our Dutch woman gets from the Netherlands to England to Chicago. It takes the whole book for that to happen and a good deal of life for multiple characters occurs.

The book is definitely a bit sappy and a bit dedicated to religion and patriotism. It even takes a slap at pacifist along the way. If you pray it will happen. In spite of all these little nuances of disagreement, I have with the portrayal in the book, it did keep me involved from the beginning to the end, possibly simply hoping for something better on the next page. Everyone in the book does not live happily ever after, but the ones who do not are definitely relegated to the background. The author likes to focus on the people whose prayers come true. With the help of God, of course.

[Kim Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like history, you will really enjoy this book. Not only a great story, but I learned so much about war brides, the Cubs, the Red Cross, etc. The author loves the details. I bought the series for my parents and they are enjoying reading them out loud to each other.

[Fergie · Rating 4 out of 5]

** 4 1/2 stars ** I am officially a Diane Moody fan. I love the characters she created for her trilogy of WWII historical fiction novels. Dutch Resistance fighter, Anya, and her flyboy American husband, Danny, survived the war that was the focus of Moody's first book in the series...OF WINDMILLS AND WAR. In this, her second book, BEYOND THE SHADOW OF WAR, the story finds Anya a war bride to Danny. Their new marriage is tested by their separation as Danny is forced to go back to America while his new wife must wait with the other foreign brides until they can make their way to their new husbands and homeland.

Moody writes with heart and compassion for her characters. Her story is filled with likable characters written with compelling, moving storytelling.

This is one of those books that was simply hard to put down. In fact, I read the second and third installments together in less than two weeks. Highly recommend.

[Piyushi Dhir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frankly, a disappointment after reading Windmills & War. While that book never lost its pace, this one, Beyond the Shadow of War, keeps going off the point. One does want to know what happens to Danny and Anya after the first book ends, and this book does start by going into the entire historical chapter of 'War Brides', but it spends almost as much time detailing baseball matches in US! If you really want to know their story after Book 1, read the parts about Anya in London and skim through Danny's parts... But you could just skip this book all together...

[Lauren G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great sequel to Of Windmills and War. It takes you through the difficulties, and sometimes harsh realities, of war brides trying to get back to their husbands. Although not a cliffhanger ending, it does leave room for a third book exploring what happens in America. Overall, it was a well written, easy read

[Wanda Burquest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diane Moody's sequel to Of Windmills and War continues the story of the young people caught up in World War II. Danny and Anya move on into their relationship. The insights into post-war Great Britain were of great interest to me. I never knew what the war brides went through. Makes me want to do some more research.

[Jolanthe Erb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second installment in the trilogy. Can be read alone, but honestly there is so much important back story that it wouldn’t be near as impactful without reading the first.

While at times it feels like the author adds in unnecessary details/text, I will admit that this book actually made me tear up in a few places. ❤️

[Sherry Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series, will be hard to say goodbye to these people when the series ends.

[Zsuzsanna Jobbagy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in the War trilogy, I found again that hope and faith can help you through the hardest times in your life. Having read the third book first, (not realizing it was a trilogy) it was fantastic to read the back story of the two main characters in the book. I just found and purchased the fourth and newest book in the series and can't wait to read it.

[Carol A. Glaude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excess information

Unnecessary information about baseball in this book. It distracted too much from the story line. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond The Shadow of War: The War Trilogy Book 2 is by Diane Moody. When I read the first book, I didn’t realize this was a trilogy. I am very glad that it is. This book just adds to the first one and makes the story come alive. The book is fantastic and is definitely worth reading. It is better than the first book which says a lot.
This book begins after the end of the war. Danny and Anya have been reunited in England. They go to Framlingham where Danny is stationed. Charlie and Sophie are there too. Charlie is married to Sophie and works in the Pub with her Father when he is not on duty. They welcome Anya with open arms and hearts and accept her into their family as they had Danny. Danny is waiting to be shipped home. They know that Anya won’t be able to go with him since he is flying a plane home and will be on duty. However, he wants to make sure she is on the list of brides and all the paperwork is done to get her home to him. The only thing making it easier to leave her is that she will be with Charlie and Sophie. Charlie had no family in the States so decided to stay in England with Sophie and her Dad. Finally, he has to leave and Anya has to stay. They have no idea how long they will be separated.
They are back to writing letters. Danny is finally dismissed from the Army and begins school to finish his college degree. He finds it quite different than it was a year ago before he went to war. However, he is determined to finish. While there, he runs into his college girlfriend, Beverly. She had broken up with him and broke his heart. She had become engaged over the summer to Ronnie and let Danny find out the hard way. Now she was a widow. Ronnie had been killed in the Japanese war. He had left her and a girlfriend who was pregnant. Beverly had found this out the hard way. Now she begins to look to Danny for sympathy. Will he succumb to temptation?
Meanwhile, Anya is going through the long, drawn-out process of trying to get to the US. She gets a break when Danny’s CO is finally leaving and his assistant puts Anya’s papers on top with a note to be processed quickly. Then, she decides to be extra nice to the Lieutenant who processes her in at the American Embassy in London. Because she chose to be kind instead of harass him after a long day of lines, he was nice in return and helped her process through and then kept her informed of where things were in the process. But just how long would the process last? There were over 70,000 war brides to be processed, most were British. Would a bride from the Netherlands be processed over them? Would she ever get to see Danny again?

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel is the 2nd book in the War Trilogy by Diane Moody. I read the first novel in the triology a few years ago and had forgotten there would be novels continuing the story of Danny, an American Air Force pilot, and Anya, a Dutch young woman involved in the Dutch resistance during WWII.

I enjoyed this book very much except for the 2 chapters describing Chicago Cubs baseball games. I had absolutely no interest in this and just skimmed over it. I saw no need to go into such detail on these games. It added nothing to the story. This is why I have given it only 4 stars.

However, the story of what happened to Anna during her 8 month wait in England to be able to go to the United States as a war bride was very interesting. I loved the characters in this story---especially the other war brides Anna becomes involved in. I also enjoyed reading about Danny's family in the United States. I am not going to go any further into the plot to avoid spoiling it for others.
Although Christian faith is mentioned in this book, it is definitely not a preachy book.

[sharon mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Anya, even after the war ends, life remains a turmoil of emotions.

Danny must leave England at war's end but must leave his young bride behind. It is so hard for Anya to adjust to peacetime especially away from the Netherlands where she spent so many years losing everyone she loved and worked as a very determined member of the resistance. In England she must learn to trust again, to make friends and to rely on strangers, all things she has avoided during the war years. The incredibly hard waiting for passage to America to join Danny is exhausting, frustrating and exasperating. But finally, after many months of waiting, Anya joins the boatload of hundreds of other War Brides for their new homes. Keep in mind however, that nothing in Anya's life has come easy, her journey is burdened with loss, tragedy and nightmares. The strength and courage Anya displays throughout this second book of the trilogy makes her ultimately an exceptional heroine worthy of her own book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Largely Enjoyable

Book two of The War Trilogy. Danny and Anya are married for mere weeks before he exits England to the US with the waves of returning WWII soldiers. Anya is left to navigate the war bride immigration process on her own. The book follows the long wait to reunion from both of their perspectives, Anya’s story far more interesting than Danny’s in this reader’s opinion.
Anya works through war induced PTSD, develops deep friendships, dispatches a thug, battles military bureaucracy, shepherds fellow war brides across the ocean and steels herself for life in America.
Danny goes to the World Series between Detroit and his beloved Cubs, attends college and fends off the attentions of an old girlfriend.
I think I made my point.
Just like it’s predecessor book however, this one contains fascinating true information about the subjects it addresses. Most interesting to me was the war bride experience of some 70,000 women who immigrated to the US, leaving everything they knew behind to devote themselves to their new American soldier husbands. The book does a good job of presenting slice of life experiences of these women and the many circumstances and different fates that awaited them.
I appreciated and related to the faith based focus in this story, mostly expressed through Danny’s long suffering, good hearted mom. Through her, there is prayer, pot roast, biscuits and a soft guiding hand, the archetypal parent that provided the foundation for America’s greatest generation to thrive and serve.
On to book three....

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book in the trilogy follows Anya and Danny as they stagger through the dark days at the end of the war and during its aftermath when all of Europe was consumed by flames at war's end. I'm not going to tell the story as it emerges in this tome, but I'll say this about the author's view of the world. At this late date in my life, I'm amazed that I've come upon the grace of God. This group of books is not beset by sin and evil on the part of our protagonists or those around them. In spite of the flames of the world and evil of Nazi predations, our characters come from families of faith (Anya's dad is a minister and Betty, Danny's mom, is a committed Christian). The protagonists react to the physical attacks they suffer by praying more and hoping that God will save them in the midst of the storms that surround their lives. We learn a great deal about the Operation Chowhound, a mission of mercy by the US bombers left after the war that began to drop tons of food and necessities on the Netherlands. The shipping of thousands of war brides from Europe to their husbands in the US is another dominant subplot in the second book. It deserves our time and appreciation. As well, the value of faith and prayer to the happiness of the protagonists, their families and the people of Europe cannot be underestimated. There is no subplot of deception or even loss of faith although Anya, who has lost everyone feels the dark night of her soul.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the continuing story of Anya and Danny as the war has ended and he must return home to Chicago alone. Anya is left in England to endure the long tangle of paperwork and red tape before permission is granted for thousands of war brides to enter the US. The process is arduous, a test of love, and incredible patience on both ends of the marriage. For those of us who are not of that generation, it gives us a good look of what it was like for thousands of war brides. The road was not easy, and many problems became life changing, some happy, some sad.

For me, the criticism of “too much about the Chicago Cubs” by a couple reviews, (including my friend who only read 100 pages and quit) was unfair. The ’45 World Series and Anya’s letters were Danny’s lifeline to sanity while enduring the long wait. And the couple chapters detailing the ’45 Cubs were certainly tolerable. I read enough for the gist and scanned the remainder. It was fine.

I finished this part of the trilogy enjoying the incredible shores of Fiji. Only sorry I didn’t have book #3 here with me. I absolutely will read it when I get home. Another enjoyed read Diane Moody!

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in this trilogy and WWII is over. Danny & Anya marry in England but soon Danny is sent back to the US by the military. Anya must wait behind with so many other war brides trying to join their husbands. It demonstrated the frustration and red tape that these women had to go through during this time as well as the fickleness of some men who married English women only to regret their decision when they returned to America. Danny, though, remained steadfast as he waited for Anya, feeling helpless that there wasn't more he could do to expedite her passage. Anya continues to grow and heal from the horrors of the war and all the loss it brought her. One character from the book #1, Cosmos, returns in a fun way. He is a young Italian man who has a zest for life like no one else and always leaves a bright spot in his wake. No sex or profanity.

[Marty Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been one of the best books - along with the first book  "Of Windmills Of War", that I've ever read!! These two books told such harrowing experiences, such atrocities that happened during WWII. But more than getting across the horrors of war, Diane Moody, accurately captured the emotional, physical and psychological wounds of war! Ayana, was perfectly written. I'm in awe of Diane Moody's writing and very few authors get that praise. I'm ready to read any and everything Diane Moody writes! You'll love this book, but read them in order to really get the full story. She does a great job of catching up anyone who might have read this book first, but you really get the feel of this story, you need both.

[history49 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such realism! While it may feel a bit slow at times, but Moody, I’m sure, was going for realism: what was going on with Anya after all the tragedy and horrors of the war that she experienced, and Danny wanting to share all he loved with his new wife: his life in Chicago - including his beloved Cubs - and of course, his family. It had been some time since I had read the first book, so I was happy that there were some reminders within this story although some were difficult reminders of what Anya experienced in her homeland. I would have liked to have seen more of their faith in action, not just from Danny’s mother; that was my biggest regret of the story. But, we all can’t be pleased. Anyway, I’m on to book 3, so we shall see what Moody has in store for her readers.

[Cathy Bickerstaff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond the Shadows of War, sequel to Of Windmills and War, is a very looking book. I would have given it 4 stars if it hadn't been so long. It was very well researched, with a bibliography at the end, with interesting characters, as well as being true to history. It was definitely worth the effort to finish it. It is not as dark as Of Windmills and War, as the war is over. There are plenty of problems and had things still happen, but all in all, it's a happier book. If you're one of the people that wait for a whole series to be published before you read the first book, you should like this. For whatever reason, I "rest" between books in a series. Definitely read Of Windmills and War first, but I will wait before I read From the Ashes of War, but I do plan to read it.

[Sven · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book was really good and I was very excited when I found out this is a trilogy and got the second book to read. Well they should have stopped after the first book. That book wrapped up nicely with the end of the war and the couple living happily ever after. The ENTIRE second book was about the separation of the war pilot husband back to America while his war bride was stuck in England waiting for transit to America. Finally she starts on the journey and there was a brief exciting moment as the ship runs into a storm and nearly sinks. Then the couple is reunited and they live happily ever after. Again. What could the third book in the series possibly be about? Sadly I was hooked on the first book so I will probably add it to my want to read list.

[Dawn Cooper · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the 1st novel in this trilogy, but this book was unimpressive; I never felt connected to Ayna, like I did in the first novel, or felt like she actually loved Danny. I know she was working thru the horrors of life thru war, that would make her disconnected, but even in her view chapters, I could not connect with her thru disconnection. Her love for Danny felt forced, not natural. The entire story felt forced and the 2 (or 3) chapters that were solely dedicated to Cubs Baseball just about ruined the entire book for me. I ended up skipping those chapters as they were overdone, and when I finished the book it was a huge relief. But then I tortured myself with the 3 book in the series....

[Andrea anetzley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant

I didn't really know what this book was about before I picked it up, but I am so glad I did! My mother had been an English war bride, you see. She never talked about it. It must have been very traumatic for her. I would like to thank Diane Moody for writing this book. It has made me appreciate my mother more. She's been gone almost 20 years now. I wish I had asked more questions. This book is a tear-jerker. But so full of faith and truth, and characters you can look up to. Great book!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great sequel that I think I even liked better than the first one. Until recently I had never heard much about the "war brides" and I have really enjoyed learning about this party of history. Also what I originally mistook for cheesy dialogue in the first book, isn't so much cheesy as it is abundant. These books are very dialogue heavy. There's nothing wrong with it, it just takes some getting used to reading every little word spoken in a conversation. Anyway, I think this is a great series and I'm looking forward to the third book.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first book, despite a rather simplistic writing style. I was interested in the characters enough to read this second book. I should have just stuck with the first book. In my opinion, this book was very predictable and fairly bland. There's too much about baseball and American colloquialisms that Anya didn't understand. Also, I'm not sure if it is just me, but I almost felt that the author tried to insert too many historical tidbits into the story that just didn't seem to naturally flow into the story. I don't think I'm going to bother with the third book..

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing

This is the second book of a trilogy. The first was okay, and I haven’t read the third yet, and am not sure now that I will. This book read like a bunch of facts with some dialogue interspersed to try to make it work. I never felt totally absorbed in the story. For me, the worst part was the section with a play by play of the Cubs game. If I wanted to read about a baseball game, I would be reading the sports section of the newspaper, not an historical novel. Read it if you want, but this is not a “don’t miss it” book.

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second novel in Moody's World War II trilogy follows Danny and his new bride as they struggle to reunite in Chicago. It gets off to a somewhat slow start, and after such a wide range of well-drawn characters sharing the stage in Book 1, the tight focus on the couple feels a bit constricting.
But once we've gotten past the honeymoon and the newlyweds are each experiencing life on their own, the pace picks up and we find ourselves absorbed in the goings-on of assorted family and friends.
Nothing is fully resolved at the end, leaving the stage set for Book 3.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in The War Trilogy book series by Diane Moody.

This book follows Danny and Anya as WWII ends and the healing begins. Danny did find Anya, exhausted and broken, in The Netherlands. She had lost everything - her family, friends, her house, and her faith. Danny is sent home while Anya must stay in England with all the 70,000 other English war brides until passage to American can be arranged. Will they ever get back together, with their life not confined to little more than the handwritten pages of their letters while wondering if the shadow of war will ever diminish?