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The Serve #1
The Call to Serve
It was 1943 and things were heating up.
Hearts broke everywhere as they prayed for the safety of their country. Friends Helen, Annie, Bernice & Joan struggled to hold onto devotion and service in a changing world. Would their loved ones survive the dark and destructive dangers of the War?
When Helen’s husband Harry and Annie's Sylvester go MIA at the same time, Joan and Bernice are determined to keep their dear friends from losing faith. As Christmas approaches, they are all possessed of a very special kind of hope. But will their prayers be answered?
Hearts broke everywhere as they prayed for the safety of their country. Friends Helen, Annie, Bernice & Joan struggled to hold onto devotion and service in a changing world. Would their loved ones survive the dark and destructive dangers of the War?
When Helen’s husband Harry and Annie's Sylvester go MIA at the same time, Joan and Bernice are determined to keep their dear friends from losing faith. As Christmas approaches, they are all possessed of a very special kind of hope. But will their prayers be answered?
284 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2017
30 people are currently reading
1430 people want to read
About the author
Cece Whittaker
13 books125 followersDear Friends,
Thank you so much for your support in my first six books in the Serve Series! There is nothing like good readership to keep the heart & soul alive of an author. It's hard to know whether a book will be well-received, but in all honestly, we can't worry about that. We write what we're called to write, and so far, this has been a wonderful experience.
The latest in the Serve Series, Glorious Christmas, updates our four main characters Joan, Annie, Helen, and Bernice and sends them in directions that one might not have anticipated! Father Bertrand and Monsignor Kuchesky come back more fully into the story, showing more of the compassion of the holy men of the 1940s as well as their humor and generosity. Glorious Christmas brings out the true joy that particularly Joan feels in having found a new and deeper happiness in the real spirit of Christmas!
Thanks for checking in! I wish you very sincerely, a richly rewarding and spiritually enriching Christmas Season.
My desire is to write about and champion experiences that promote goodwill, honesty, and genuine love toward others in all its forms.
My site.
href="https://www.cecewhittakerstories.com">my link text
Thank you so much for your support in my first six books in the Serve Series! There is nothing like good readership to keep the heart & soul alive of an author. It's hard to know whether a book will be well-received, but in all honestly, we can't worry about that. We write what we're called to write, and so far, this has been a wonderful experience.
The latest in the Serve Series, Glorious Christmas, updates our four main characters Joan, Annie, Helen, and Bernice and sends them in directions that one might not have anticipated! Father Bertrand and Monsignor Kuchesky come back more fully into the story, showing more of the compassion of the holy men of the 1940s as well as their humor and generosity. Glorious Christmas brings out the true joy that particularly Joan feels in having found a new and deeper happiness in the real spirit of Christmas!
Thanks for checking in! I wish you very sincerely, a richly rewarding and spiritually enriching Christmas Season.
My desire is to write about and champion experiences that promote goodwill, honesty, and genuine love toward others in all its forms.
My site.
href="https://www.cecewhittakerstories.com">my link text
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 27, 2019
I found this book difficult to get into at first, however, once I'd persevered I actually did enjoy it. I haven't read Christian historical books before but I will in the future. I'd recommend this book for others to read.
November 17, 2018
‘Italy surrendered, they put Mussolini in jail! He’s in jail!’
New Jersey author Cece Whittaker is a Christian romance writer, specializing in heartwarming ladies’ fiction. Both THE CALL TO SERVE and VICTORY GARDEN are heartwarming stories set in 1943 -44 and deal with not only the men’s call to serve in the military but also the women’s call to serve the men who have departed for war. Cece is a Christian romance author and her initial novel in this series is warm and rich in friendship and dedication and love – and humor!
The main characters of the story are Annie, Joan, Bernice and Helen – four Catholic women of varying ages who support each other in all ways as their men are off to war. As the synopsis offers, ‘The story is set in fictitious Abbotsville, New Jersey in the autumn of 1943. Caught between the desire to marry and have families, and the requirement to stay patient, even vigilant, during the grim World War II era, these four Catholic heroines find comfort in the humor and solace of camaraderie. Annie, Joan, and Bernice, all young ladies in their 20s, set out to find the loves of their lives. Annie is a fast-paced North Jersey gal whose Italian heritage is rich in the love and creation of food, much to the joy of her friends. Joan, comfortably brought up in South Jersey, is a little naïve about the ways of the world, but not in what truly counts. Bernice, the youngest of the group, and the least affluent, is wise-cracking but always the first to tune in to a situation. Beloved and a guiding force to them all is Helen, a 50-something homemaker with her own experiences of war. When Annie’s fiancé is called up, Joan thinks there is nothing sadder in the world—that is, until she experiences her own love trauma. She falls instantly for a handsome man during a chance meeting. But she then bears the frustration of not knowing which girl he prefers, her or the bubbly redhead that won’t go away. Both girls are distracted by Bernice’s sudden and mysterious behavior, as she begins to disappear regularly into nearby Philadelphia for unknown reasons. Annie’s heart begins to break when her fiancé’s letters stop coming. Although Helen assures her this happens often when soldiers are moved around, her stable support begins to erode when, as the weeks tick by, she hears nothing from her own husband. Will their shared love of God and family be enough to keep them together and find happy resolution to their struggles?’
A sample of Cece’s warm writing is evident from the opening of the book – ‘Joan took a seat at Helen’s dining room table. “Helen, do you think I’ll ever get married?” she asked. Helen looked up suddenly. “What in the world brought that on?” “Oh I don’t know, just, well, Annie and Sylvester, Bernice and Henry. . .” “They’re not engaged! Neither one of them!” “Well, don’t you think it’s just a matter of time?” “I wouldn’t give it another thought, Joan. Your friends are all your age or near it. Things may seem urgent right now, but that’s just the times—and your ages.” “How old were you when you got married?” Helen went over to the sink washed the glue from her hands. She had been showing Joan how to make jewelry from little shells. She sat down beside her. “Times were different then, really. I was young, younger than you and Annie.” “Bernice’s age?” “About that,” said Helen, nodding. “But it hasn’t been an easy road, Honey, no matter how it looks. It’s always something and then when you think you’re all set, along comes a big war!” Helen looked away and for the first time in a long time, Joan saw her older friend falter. But only for a second. “But he’s a tough old cuss. He’ll make it through,” finished Helen. “And he’s an officer.”
A refreshingly sentimental and wholesome study of friendships and how they fortify the rigors of the effects of a country at war. Cece’s Christian inspiration makes the story just that much more reminiscent of the era and the strength of the women ‘left behind’.
New Jersey author Cece Whittaker is a Christian romance writer, specializing in heartwarming ladies’ fiction. Both THE CALL TO SERVE and VICTORY GARDEN are heartwarming stories set in 1943 -44 and deal with not only the men’s call to serve in the military but also the women’s call to serve the men who have departed for war. Cece is a Christian romance author and her initial novel in this series is warm and rich in friendship and dedication and love – and humor!
The main characters of the story are Annie, Joan, Bernice and Helen – four Catholic women of varying ages who support each other in all ways as their men are off to war. As the synopsis offers, ‘The story is set in fictitious Abbotsville, New Jersey in the autumn of 1943. Caught between the desire to marry and have families, and the requirement to stay patient, even vigilant, during the grim World War II era, these four Catholic heroines find comfort in the humor and solace of camaraderie. Annie, Joan, and Bernice, all young ladies in their 20s, set out to find the loves of their lives. Annie is a fast-paced North Jersey gal whose Italian heritage is rich in the love and creation of food, much to the joy of her friends. Joan, comfortably brought up in South Jersey, is a little naïve about the ways of the world, but not in what truly counts. Bernice, the youngest of the group, and the least affluent, is wise-cracking but always the first to tune in to a situation. Beloved and a guiding force to them all is Helen, a 50-something homemaker with her own experiences of war. When Annie’s fiancé is called up, Joan thinks there is nothing sadder in the world—that is, until she experiences her own love trauma. She falls instantly for a handsome man during a chance meeting. But she then bears the frustration of not knowing which girl he prefers, her or the bubbly redhead that won’t go away. Both girls are distracted by Bernice’s sudden and mysterious behavior, as she begins to disappear regularly into nearby Philadelphia for unknown reasons. Annie’s heart begins to break when her fiancé’s letters stop coming. Although Helen assures her this happens often when soldiers are moved around, her stable support begins to erode when, as the weeks tick by, she hears nothing from her own husband. Will their shared love of God and family be enough to keep them together and find happy resolution to their struggles?’
A sample of Cece’s warm writing is evident from the opening of the book – ‘Joan took a seat at Helen’s dining room table. “Helen, do you think I’ll ever get married?” she asked. Helen looked up suddenly. “What in the world brought that on?” “Oh I don’t know, just, well, Annie and Sylvester, Bernice and Henry. . .” “They’re not engaged! Neither one of them!” “Well, don’t you think it’s just a matter of time?” “I wouldn’t give it another thought, Joan. Your friends are all your age or near it. Things may seem urgent right now, but that’s just the times—and your ages.” “How old were you when you got married?” Helen went over to the sink washed the glue from her hands. She had been showing Joan how to make jewelry from little shells. She sat down beside her. “Times were different then, really. I was young, younger than you and Annie.” “Bernice’s age?” “About that,” said Helen, nodding. “But it hasn’t been an easy road, Honey, no matter how it looks. It’s always something and then when you think you’re all set, along comes a big war!” Helen looked away and for the first time in a long time, Joan saw her older friend falter. But only for a second. “But he’s a tough old cuss. He’ll make it through,” finished Helen. “And he’s an officer.”
A refreshingly sentimental and wholesome study of friendships and how they fortify the rigors of the effects of a country at war. Cece’s Christian inspiration makes the story just that much more reminiscent of the era and the strength of the women ‘left behind’.
November 6, 2018
Period fiction rarely comes better than 'The Call to Serve' by Cece Whittaker. It follows four women, each of which are experiencing their own difficulties during the time of the Second World war. It is beautifully written, with characters you will fall in love with. It shows the strength of the women back then, as they watched their loved ones head off to war, not knowing if they will ever return, still having to hold the fort at home.
Although faith is an important theme in this novel, you don't need to have a religious mindset to enjoy the resolve that God gives these four remarkable women. They find just as much support and strength in each other, making this a tale of true friendship that survives in an extremely difficult time.
Although faith is an important theme in this novel, you don't need to have a religious mindset to enjoy the resolve that God gives these four remarkable women. They find just as much support and strength in each other, making this a tale of true friendship that survives in an extremely difficult time.
October 30, 2018
This Christian historical fiction has a lot to offer the reader. Whittaker does a great job with her characters here, they feel real and a lot of care was obviously put into them. The story is set in the 1940s and follows a handful of characters during the war.
The story starts off with Joan and Helen, setting the stage for their close friendship and touching on a bit of Joan’s persona and worry.
From there we see what it was like for these women worried about their loved ones in the war, and how to survive themselves with their mind intact. Their friendships and faith really pull them through the trying times, and the bonds there feel real even though it’s fiction. The writing is solid, and the plot pacing is good. You can get through this book and it’s over before your ready for it, great piece by Whittaker!
The story starts off with Joan and Helen, setting the stage for their close friendship and touching on a bit of Joan’s persona and worry.
From there we see what it was like for these women worried about their loved ones in the war, and how to survive themselves with their mind intact. Their friendships and faith really pull them through the trying times, and the bonds there feel real even though it’s fiction. The writing is solid, and the plot pacing is good. You can get through this book and it’s over before your ready for it, great piece by Whittaker!
October 15, 2018
The Call to Serve (The Serve #1) by Cece Whittaker is a great book with an earnest tone following the lives of a group of women during wartime in 1943. Set in New Jersey, Annie, Joan, Bernice, and Helen have a lot to live for, but much of the future is unknown. This story tells of how they cope during a hard time in American history, and through their friendship and camaraderie, forge their way forward in their respective lives. Heartwarming and wholesome, the author has certainly captured the tone of the era, the reverence for God, and the love of country. This book is fantastic Christian historical fiction that will win your heart. You will want to read this story over again, just to enjoy the story and the characters. Looking forward to more in this series, highly recommend.
August 23, 2020
In a scene where a newspaper boy yells, “Extra – Extra, read all about it!” readers are taken back to the year of 1943 when Italy declared war on Germany; a time when the war resulted in the capture of Mussolini, a time when faith and perseverance guided the footsteps of those serving others. To that end, The Call to Serve introduces four young ladies of the Catholic faith (Annie, Joan, Bernice, and Helen) who are full of life and eager for the war to end. As they craft jewelry to sell at the bazaar or cook to serve others, they often speak about the men in their lives (or the lack thereof). Their primary concern resides with WWII and its impact on their ability to see their men and/or interact with them; this includes their sons and the younger males who might get drafted into war. The Call to Serve certainly speaks to the issues women face, in general, with having the responsibilities that their men leave behind during wartime, but more importantly, how they serve one another through moral support and faith, and how they serve their community and the men that remain at home (that haven’t been called to serve). While the fear and anxiety that they could be called at any moment is a constant concern, through it all, the ladies maintain their girlish notions of romance and friendship. This gives the story a bit of hope during a time when hope is hard to come by. The Call to Serve is written with passion. It is family-oriented with a positive and warm connotation that extends itself to the community as well. However, since this story touches numerous characters, it would be helpful to gain knowledge on the background and personal attributes of supporting characters referenced. Without that, it’s difficult to imagine their connection or their significance. On the other hand, it is refreshing to read about the cuisines, holiday customs, the music, and the dances. These elements help build the story nicely, especially as it relates to the background elements. Overall, The Call to Serve, is a glimpse into the lives of how families strive for normalcy through faith and a sheer will to survive in the face of adversity.
July 27, 2019
A very enjoyable book with lovable characters.
March 8, 2019
I have to admit that it was difficult to read starting out & a bit slow. I wasn’t too sure where this story was going either. But as the book went on it did get better. I wish that the writing was a bit more clear & concise. I would get confused or lost at times.
I did enjoy the connection between the ladies & how the men at war were also connected to the women.
I did enjoy the connection between the ladies & how the men at war were also connected to the women.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews