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Misfits and Millionaires #2
Harmon General
Harmon General is book two in the WWII historical fiction series entitled Misfits and Millionaires—set in Longview, Texas. The novel picks up about two months after the story line in The Big Inch ended.
Familiar characters and locations get a shot of adrenaline from the biological hazard espionage going on at the U.S. Army’s new medical hospital treating diseased and wounded soldiers—a 156-acre pop campus created as part of a master plan to place U.S. Army hospitals around Texas specializing in long-term wound care for WWII soldiers. The Office of Strategic Services has one of its best agents in place as a nurse at Harmon General—Sgt. Emmie Tesco—and she’s soon up to her blood pressure cuff in intrigues at the hospital campus, particularly the mission to stop a culprit code-named “Dr. Death” who is accused of skewing the malaria test protocols being established at Harmon so that no one will notice him preparing to sell the malaria research to the enemies of the Allies. Heroes and villains circulate in Longview from the post at Harmon General, and Emmie ropes Lane Mercer into helping manage the overload of responsibilities. Readers of The Big Inch will better understand what drives Emmie Tesco and why poking at old wounds can be a messy affair. The backstory of Lane Mercer and her first husband gets a brutal airing too, and stakes grow dangerous for Lane and Zeke Hayes as the plans they’d wanted for their wedding are upended by well-meaning, Aunt Edith.
Familiar characters and locations get a shot of adrenaline from the biological hazard espionage going on at the U.S. Army’s new medical hospital treating diseased and wounded soldiers—a 156-acre pop campus created as part of a master plan to place U.S. Army hospitals around Texas specializing in long-term wound care for WWII soldiers. The Office of Strategic Services has one of its best agents in place as a nurse at Harmon General—Sgt. Emmie Tesco—and she’s soon up to her blood pressure cuff in intrigues at the hospital campus, particularly the mission to stop a culprit code-named “Dr. Death” who is accused of skewing the malaria test protocols being established at Harmon so that no one will notice him preparing to sell the malaria research to the enemies of the Allies. Heroes and villains circulate in Longview from the post at Harmon General, and Emmie ropes Lane Mercer into helping manage the overload of responsibilities. Readers of The Big Inch will better understand what drives Emmie Tesco and why poking at old wounds can be a messy affair. The backstory of Lane Mercer and her first husband gets a brutal airing too, and stakes grow dangerous for Lane and Zeke Hayes as the plans they’d wanted for their wedding are upended by well-meaning, Aunt Edith.
- GenresHistorical
Unknown Binding
Published June 16, 2018
6 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Fish
22 books149 followersKimberly writes award-winning novels about women discovering their grit. With accolades ranging from Best Texas Book, Best Romance, and Best Historical Romance, her novels set in the Texas Hill Country. Her WWII historical fiction details exploits and spy dramas on the American home front and reveal just what women can accomplish when they work for the greater good. With over 30 years in the writing industry, Kimberly delights in entertaining with wholesome stories, second-chance romances, and people finding their purpose--the books are mental vacations! Discover her novels and the backstory she blogs about at www.kimberlyfish.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 26, 2018
Loved it! Review can currently be found here: https://sydsavvy.blogspot.com/2018/06...
It’s a gorgeous book. You really do want to enter the giveaway. Great second in the series, revving it up.
It’s a gorgeous book. You really do want to enter the giveaway. Great second in the series, revving it up.
June 26, 2018
OH MY GOSH. I never do this, but I must start this review by saying the epilogue at the end is magnificent and I CRIED Y’ALL. There, I said it. To say I really enjoyed reading Harmon General, book two in the Misfits and Millionaires series by the always awesome Kimberly Fish, is a gross understatement. The mark of a great book is when I get so caught up in the story that I forget I am supposed to be reading it critically. What wonderfully unexpected twists there are – right to the very end. This is a five-star story, all the way.
Harmon General begins with a prologue that does a great job of setting Emmie Tescoe’s state of mind and the numerous conflicts she’s battling (internally and externally). Where in The Big Inch, (side note: free Kindle download 6/27-28/2018!) she was tough-as-nails and somewhat cold, in HG, she’s human and readers will enjoy watching more of her complicated story unfold. The epilogue that concluded the book, also about Emmie, (did I mention it MADE ME CRY, Y’ALL), was the perfect bookend to the story. I may have hugged my gorgeous print copy when I closed the cover.
In addition to the perfect bookends, Fish includes some cool features that truly help readers get a feel for the setting. There are maps included that show both actual historical locations and fictitious ones that are included in the story line. Plus, there’s a “Cast of Characters” section that helps readers reacquaint/acquaint themselves with who is who and from where each character hails. These touches are what make the book top-notch.
This is the third book I’ve ready by Kimberly Fish, and her writing shines in Harmon General by painting vibrant pictures of people and places that bring the story alive. The world-building puts readers in the midst of a bustling and exciting Longview, Texas at the height of the war. The characters are real, really flawed, and really memorable – from the quirky clothier to the jazz club diva, the book is filled with personality.
One of my favorite aspects of the plot is that in the midst of all the spy action and the romance and the friend and family drama, main character Lane Mercer is a businesswoman running a book store! (Ka-ching: librarian points scored). Between the Lines Bookstore is a hub of activity (both during and after business hours) and adds several extra dimensions to the plot.
Of course, Harmon General ends with a little hook that assures us there are more dangers and adventures ahead for Lane and Emmie. The author has said that there’s another book in the works, and readers can look forward to Lane and Zeke’s East Texas wedding (and certainly more of Aunt Edith’s shenanigans). I love Lane Mercer and can hardly wait for the next Misfits and Millionaires book… and how about a companion book about Emmie??
Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tours and the author for sharing her amazing story with me in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This review and other special features on . Hall Ways Blog
Harmon General begins with a prologue that does a great job of setting Emmie Tescoe’s state of mind and the numerous conflicts she’s battling (internally and externally). Where in The Big Inch, (side note: free Kindle download 6/27-28/2018!) she was tough-as-nails and somewhat cold, in HG, she’s human and readers will enjoy watching more of her complicated story unfold. The epilogue that concluded the book, also about Emmie, (did I mention it MADE ME CRY, Y’ALL), was the perfect bookend to the story. I may have hugged my gorgeous print copy when I closed the cover.
In addition to the perfect bookends, Fish includes some cool features that truly help readers get a feel for the setting. There are maps included that show both actual historical locations and fictitious ones that are included in the story line. Plus, there’s a “Cast of Characters” section that helps readers reacquaint/acquaint themselves with who is who and from where each character hails. These touches are what make the book top-notch.
“You have so much energy that you make people believe that danger is just a passing ghost.”
This is the third book I’ve ready by Kimberly Fish, and her writing shines in Harmon General by painting vibrant pictures of people and places that bring the story alive. The world-building puts readers in the midst of a bustling and exciting Longview, Texas at the height of the war. The characters are real, really flawed, and really memorable – from the quirky clothier to the jazz club diva, the book is filled with personality.
One of my favorite aspects of the plot is that in the midst of all the spy action and the romance and the friend and family drama, main character Lane Mercer is a businesswoman running a book store! (Ka-ching: librarian points scored). Between the Lines Bookstore is a hub of activity (both during and after business hours) and adds several extra dimensions to the plot.
Of course, Harmon General ends with a little hook that assures us there are more dangers and adventures ahead for Lane and Emmie. The author has said that there’s another book in the works, and readers can look forward to Lane and Zeke’s East Texas wedding (and certainly more of Aunt Edith’s shenanigans). I love Lane Mercer and can hardly wait for the next Misfits and Millionaires book… and how about a companion book about Emmie??
Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tours and the author for sharing her amazing story with me in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give. This review and other special features on . Hall Ways Blog
June 30, 2018
Harmon General is book 2 in the Misfits and Millionaires series. I have not yet read the first book, The Big Inch, but I plan on remedying that as quickly as I can. Book 1 apparently flows into Book 2, but that didn't stop me from being thoroughly enraptured by Harmon General. Despite the many references to previous events, once I settled into the characters, I quickly became engrossed in the story.
Longview, Texas, is a long way from Europe and the front lines of World War II, but that doesn't mean this town doesn't pack a mean punch, filled with intrigue and spies around every corner.
The two main women, Lane Mercer and Emmie Tesco, spies extraordinaire, couldn't be more different; however, their similarities should not be overlooked. They both bear similar internal scars from a less than idyllic childhood and from making poor choices along the way, but it's how they interact with other people that marks their differences. Emmie is abrasive and closed off to mask her vulnerability and insecurity, whereas Lane's natural kindness attracts people where ever she goes. But don't be fooled. Both women are hard-core spies who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty, break some bones, and wear pantyhose for their country. They are strong female characters with secrets to keep, axes to grind, and lives to save, including their own.
While I enjoyed all the main characters, I actually loved several secondary characters even more: J. Lassiter, with his words of wisdom; Patrick, with his unlikely loyalty and his humorous insistence that he won't take orders from a woman, but then he does; Molly Kennedy, with her stubborn refusal to admit weakness; and Jewel Carter, with her fierce determination and misguided need to fight for her man. It's quite obvious that Kimberly Fish has a knack for developing both major and minor characters that make their mark and leave a lasting impression.
The overall plot of Harmon General is a thrill ride all the way through. Surprises, twists, and constant artifice will keep you riveted, wondering how, or even if, Lane and her band of misfits can even hope to lure a rogue spy into their trap. How exciting!
What's more exciting is that Lane's front for a safe house in Longview, Texas, is a bookstore, with the mandatory resident cat, Stevenson. Whatever it takes to contribute to the war effort, I say: rationing food, spying for your country, owning a business, surrounding yourself with books. And I'm still reeling from that epilogue. Well done!
***
"You either have the spirit to persevere or you don't.
Do not believe it has anything to do with the fact that you wear a skirt."
"War makes us do things we never knew we could."
Longview, Texas, is a long way from Europe and the front lines of World War II, but that doesn't mean this town doesn't pack a mean punch, filled with intrigue and spies around every corner.
The two main women, Lane Mercer and Emmie Tesco, spies extraordinaire, couldn't be more different; however, their similarities should not be overlooked. They both bear similar internal scars from a less than idyllic childhood and from making poor choices along the way, but it's how they interact with other people that marks their differences. Emmie is abrasive and closed off to mask her vulnerability and insecurity, whereas Lane's natural kindness attracts people where ever she goes. But don't be fooled. Both women are hard-core spies who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty, break some bones, and wear pantyhose for their country. They are strong female characters with secrets to keep, axes to grind, and lives to save, including their own.
While I enjoyed all the main characters, I actually loved several secondary characters even more: J. Lassiter, with his words of wisdom; Patrick, with his unlikely loyalty and his humorous insistence that he won't take orders from a woman, but then he does; Molly Kennedy, with her stubborn refusal to admit weakness; and Jewel Carter, with her fierce determination and misguided need to fight for her man. It's quite obvious that Kimberly Fish has a knack for developing both major and minor characters that make their mark and leave a lasting impression.
The overall plot of Harmon General is a thrill ride all the way through. Surprises, twists, and constant artifice will keep you riveted, wondering how, or even if, Lane and her band of misfits can even hope to lure a rogue spy into their trap. How exciting!
What's more exciting is that Lane's front for a safe house in Longview, Texas, is a bookstore, with the mandatory resident cat, Stevenson. Whatever it takes to contribute to the war effort, I say: rationing food, spying for your country, owning a business, surrounding yourself with books. And I'm still reeling from that epilogue. Well done!
***
"You either have the spirit to persevere or you don't.
Do not believe it has anything to do with the fact that you wear a skirt."
"War makes us do things we never knew we could."
June 27, 2018
What makes Harmon General such a good piece of historical fiction? Story! Story! Story!
Seldom have I ever read a story with such a breakneck pace to the climax! You’ll know when you get to that part because you won’t be able to stop reading. The author uses the first two-thirds of the book to set everything up, just like someone setting up a room full of dominoes. Then, without notice, she tips that first domino over, and the action is non-stop to the climax near the end of the story!
The Setting and Characters of Harmon General
Set in Longview, Texas, during World War II, Harmon General is a new army hospital quickly constructed to care for thousands of U.S. military personnel either wounded in battle or victim or disease, such as malaria. Add to that the crude oil resources of the region and a new pipeline to get that oil to tankers destined for our troops overseas. This setting provides some realistic insight into the dangers that could have lurked in our homeland, unknown to the general public, and handled by secretive heroes
These secretive heroes dominate the cast of Harmon General. But we couldn’t have secretive heroes without similarly secretive villains! They had disguises that blended in with the setting like chameleons in a tree - a store owner, a nurse, even a prestigious medical doctor, among others.
This story covered all the bases: small town life, racism in the South, skeletons in closets, period vehicles with grinding gears and flat tires, family values, love, jealousy, danger, the ever present smell of oil, and the list goes on.
Technically Speaking
The pacing was awesome, especially over the last half of the novel. The character arcs were good and genuine.
Unfortunately, I do have to comment on SPAG - spelling, punctuation and grammar. This story is inundated with SPAG errors. Luckily, with such a good story, the overall impact of these errors is minimal - at least to me. For the most part, these errors consist of missing words or extra words that were obviously left in after an edit. I’d venture to say there were dozens of these errors throughout the story.
There were a few other small things, such as an anachronism that briefly took me out of the story, but I don’t particularly want to mention or dwell on them. Kimberly Fish wrote a very compelling story, and I highly recommend it to everyone!
This is the second book in the Misfits and Millionaires series. Although this story can stand on it’s own, I think it was even more enjoyable for me because I read the first book, The Big Inch.
Rest assured that I will be at the front of the line when the next installment of this series is released!
(I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.)
Seldom have I ever read a story with such a breakneck pace to the climax! You’ll know when you get to that part because you won’t be able to stop reading. The author uses the first two-thirds of the book to set everything up, just like someone setting up a room full of dominoes. Then, without notice, she tips that first domino over, and the action is non-stop to the climax near the end of the story!
The Setting and Characters of Harmon General
Set in Longview, Texas, during World War II, Harmon General is a new army hospital quickly constructed to care for thousands of U.S. military personnel either wounded in battle or victim or disease, such as malaria. Add to that the crude oil resources of the region and a new pipeline to get that oil to tankers destined for our troops overseas. This setting provides some realistic insight into the dangers that could have lurked in our homeland, unknown to the general public, and handled by secretive heroes
These secretive heroes dominate the cast of Harmon General. But we couldn’t have secretive heroes without similarly secretive villains! They had disguises that blended in with the setting like chameleons in a tree - a store owner, a nurse, even a prestigious medical doctor, among others.
This story covered all the bases: small town life, racism in the South, skeletons in closets, period vehicles with grinding gears and flat tires, family values, love, jealousy, danger, the ever present smell of oil, and the list goes on.
Technically Speaking
The pacing was awesome, especially over the last half of the novel. The character arcs were good and genuine.
Unfortunately, I do have to comment on SPAG - spelling, punctuation and grammar. This story is inundated with SPAG errors. Luckily, with such a good story, the overall impact of these errors is minimal - at least to me. For the most part, these errors consist of missing words or extra words that were obviously left in after an edit. I’d venture to say there were dozens of these errors throughout the story.
There were a few other small things, such as an anachronism that briefly took me out of the story, but I don’t particularly want to mention or dwell on them. Kimberly Fish wrote a very compelling story, and I highly recommend it to everyone!
This is the second book in the Misfits and Millionaires series. Although this story can stand on it’s own, I think it was even more enjoyable for me because I read the first book, The Big Inch.
Rest assured that I will be at the front of the line when the next installment of this series is released!
(I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.)
July 1, 2018
It's been a while since I read book one, The Big Inch, but I'm glad to see that my wish to read more about Sergeant Tesco (Emmie) has been granted. I'm glad to see that Lane is still as strong and independent as ever, but it looks like she hasn't improved on reading people yet.
From the beginning of book two, you know that Emmie and Lane are secret agents; but what you don't know is why their relationship seems tense. You later learn that the two ladies stayed at the same boardinghouse at one time, and obviously they have the same occupation. It makes you think that they would be more friendly with each other, especially since they're on the same side (you assume, since they have the same boss). It got me thinking that maybe Fish was making a comment on how women tend to get in each other's way rather than help each other excel. At any rate, she introduces a small collection of men from both the civilian and spy sects who further muddle the relationship.
Understandably, it takes a while to unravel a story when you have so many interesting characters, but I was antsy for the action to begin. Heck, it took about halfway through the book for Lane to have the very serious conversation with her fiancé that we are expecting from the moment we find out the widow is already engaged to another man. But once we hit that halfway point, strap in folks. There is definitely more than meets the eye when it comes to these characters. I guess that's why they are spies, right?
If this series gets picked up for the big screen, do not turn your HD on. The Texas heat is a character of its own that makes the spies miss Europe. I felt their pain every time Fish detailed the way perspiration ran rampant on everybody. Fish's attention to detail goes far beyond climate, but these were details that really stood out to me and made me smile because I'm living in the same hell every time I walk out the door.
So, go get The Big Inch and read it, pick up Harmon General and read it, and then eagerly anticipate book three. You're welcome.
From the beginning of book two, you know that Emmie and Lane are secret agents; but what you don't know is why their relationship seems tense. You later learn that the two ladies stayed at the same boardinghouse at one time, and obviously they have the same occupation. It makes you think that they would be more friendly with each other, especially since they're on the same side (you assume, since they have the same boss). It got me thinking that maybe Fish was making a comment on how women tend to get in each other's way rather than help each other excel. At any rate, she introduces a small collection of men from both the civilian and spy sects who further muddle the relationship.
Understandably, it takes a while to unravel a story when you have so many interesting characters, but I was antsy for the action to begin. Heck, it took about halfway through the book for Lane to have the very serious conversation with her fiancé that we are expecting from the moment we find out the widow is already engaged to another man. But once we hit that halfway point, strap in folks. There is definitely more than meets the eye when it comes to these characters. I guess that's why they are spies, right?
If this series gets picked up for the big screen, do not turn your HD on. The Texas heat is a character of its own that makes the spies miss Europe. I felt their pain every time Fish detailed the way perspiration ran rampant on everybody. Fish's attention to detail goes far beyond climate, but these were details that really stood out to me and made me smile because I'm living in the same hell every time I walk out the door.
So, go get The Big Inch and read it, pick up Harmon General and read it, and then eagerly anticipate book three. You're welcome.
July 6, 2025
I loved the first book in this series, so I’m not sure why it took me so long to jump into the second—maybe I was saving it like the last bite of dessert. Once again, the author delivers an enjoyable read full of Texas history and characters that practically leap off the page.
The way historical tidbits are woven in without slowing the story really works for me. It’s like learning by accident—my favorite kind!
Now, a quick heads-up: if typos make you twitchy, be prepared. Proofreading doesn’t seem to be a priority, and I spotted over a dozen along the way. But if you can look past that (and I could), you’re in for another fun Texas tale.
The way historical tidbits are woven in without slowing the story really works for me. It’s like learning by accident—my favorite kind!
Now, a quick heads-up: if typos make you twitchy, be prepared. Proofreading doesn’t seem to be a priority, and I spotted over a dozen along the way. But if you can look past that (and I could), you’re in for another fun Texas tale.
August 20, 2019
Enjoyed the suspense, the drama and the history....
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March 25, 2019Average rating 5 for the Lone Star Book Blog Tours team.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews