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The Spitfire Girls:
**Don't miss Jenny Holmes's latest wartime series, The Air Raid Girls. Part 3 - The Air Raid Wartime Brides - is available now!**----------------------------'Anything to Anywhere!' That's the motto of the Air Transport Auxiliary, the brave team of female pilots who fly fighter planes between bases at the height of WWII. Mary is a driver for the ATA and although she yearns to fly a Spitfire, she fears her humble background will hold her back. After all, glamorous Angela is set to be the next 'Atta Girl' on recruitment posters. Bobbie learned to fly in her father's private plane and Jean was taught the queen's English at grammar school before joining the squad. Dedicated and resilient the three girls rule the weathering storms and dodging enemy fire. Mary can only dream of joining them - until she gets the push she needs to overcome her self-doubt. Thrown together, the girls form a tight bond as they face the perils of their job. But they soon find that affairs of the heart can be just as dangerous as attacks from the skies. With all the fear and uncertainty ahead - can their friendship see them through the tests of war? A heart-warming, romantic story of friendship, camaraderie and triumph over adversity that fans of Donna Douglas, Nancy Revell and Call the Midwife will adore.---------------------------- Readers love Jenny 'There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book' 5 star review 'I couldn't put this book down' 5 star review 'Loved the whole story' 5 star review 'This is a totally absorbing book' 5 star review 'An excellent read put together in fine style' 5 star review
445 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2019
63 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Holmes
43 books68 followersJenny Holmes lives in a beautiful part of Yorkshire and sets her sagas in the industrial heartland nearby. She enjoys horse riding, gardening and walking her dog in the dales. She also writes children's books as Jenny Oldfield.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 23, 2019
This book disappointed me. I did want to like it as it's a subject I love.
However, I couldn't relate to any of the characters. They were all very stiff and unbending. The romances were quite bland and uninteresting too.
The descriptions of the flights and the aircraft were enjoyable but overall it fell flat for me.
However, I couldn't relate to any of the characters. They were all very stiff and unbending. The romances were quite bland and uninteresting too.
The descriptions of the flights and the aircraft were enjoyable but overall it fell flat for me.
August 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and rather funny in parts. I sat there with a huge smile on my face at the mention of one of my favourite places-lossiemouth, which is just a few minutes away from me. I loved how the ATA girls embraced flying and this book gave us a great insight into their world. I enjoyed how even though the backgrounds of some of the characters were so different to others, they all lived and worked together, helping each other to overcome personal difficulties.
The girls of the ATA were just as brave as the RAF pilots, and just as important to the war effort!
One of the main characters in this story is Mary, and all the way through this book I had the image of Mary Ellis in my head, who really was one of the ATA girls,flying spitfires during ww2. It was nice to see her name mentioned at the end in the authors notes. I don't know if Mary was one of Jenny's inspirations for Mary in her book, but hers was the face I saw in my minds eye as I read the story. It would be great if there is another book to see what happens to the girls next.
I highly recommend this book, great job Jenny!!
The girls of the ATA were just as brave as the RAF pilots, and just as important to the war effort!
One of the main characters in this story is Mary, and all the way through this book I had the image of Mary Ellis in my head, who really was one of the ATA girls,flying spitfires during ww2. It was nice to see her name mentioned at the end in the authors notes. I don't know if Mary was one of Jenny's inspirations for Mary in her book, but hers was the face I saw in my minds eye as I read the story. It would be great if there is another book to see what happens to the girls next.
I highly recommend this book, great job Jenny!!
January 16, 2020
Slow to get in but glued to the end
August 28, 2019
A delight to read of Angie,Bobbie,Jean and Mary's rise in the ATA a very good story that has you wanting more.Jenny Holmes always draws you into her books i have loved all her books and this book is well worth 5*
July 19, 2020
This is a novel of some of the women of the Air Transport Auxiliary, A group of talented pilots who spent much of the Second World War transporting airplanes. They did not fly in battle, or just deliver new planes, but also those whose airworthiness was of a doubtful nature to be repaired.These women were not fair weather aviators; they had to fly planes as needed even when conditions were not perfect and enemy aircraft were present. While there is much written in non fiction about them, this is a novel which shows the fictional world of three characters who fly with the service, and one woman who would desperately like to despite the danger. This is a powerful story of love and devotion to duty, but also of the very real feelings of the women involved. These brave women were young, and sometimes made mistakes, but essentially they were fixated on flying craft without some of the cover that male pilots had during battles. This novel is the first in a series of books featuring the women, and men, who were responsible for getting the aircraft to the correct place to enable a vitally important element of the war to be fought.
The three pilots that fly the aircraft at the start of the novel have all had opportunities denied to many people, let alone women, in the 1930s. Planes were far more rare and relatively expensive to fly. In the First World War impossibly fragile planes had flown over the trenches to see the lie of the land, and the technology had advanced to provide planes which could be used for aerial combat. Angela, glamorous and wealthy, whose family owned woollen mills, had wanted to fly and could afford to. She blossomed in the ATA, flying bravely and well. It is known that she has been chosen to be the model on the ATA recruiting poster, and is well known on the base in Yorkshire in September 1943 as the novel begins. Her friend Bobbie is also well known as a pilot with ambitions, who had first learnt to fly on her father’s own plane in Scotland. She is however naive and when she becomes the object of interest to at least one male pilot, she is unsure how to cope despite her bravery. The third pilot, Jean, had a less easy path to flying. Having gained a scholarship to grammar school, she has had to work really hard to get the opportunity to fly, and makes the most of her chance by being the most able and courageous of the women pilots. Mary, meanwhile, is a driver, who is nonetheless brave and dedicated to getting personnel to the right place, even when in shock and physically affected by the dangers of the bombing which to the area was subject. Her friend Stan pushes her to apply for training, but she knows that women from her background are fighting a huge battle to get behind the controls of a plane under any circumstances, let alone when their importance to the country’s fate was so acute.
This novel gives an excellent account of both the excitement and dangers of flying planes at this time. It shows that it was not only a matter of ability, but also background and opportunity. The tension is not always confined to being in the skies; the male pilots and ground staff have their own agendas on occasions, even feeling jealous of the women and their abilities. This novel is a well written look at the real humanity, the romances and intrigues of the women and those around them who flew planes in the most challenging of circumstances. It is an engaging and even gripping read, which more than kept my interest and kept me reading. I recommend this as a real book of the humanity and excitement of aviation in the Second World War.
The three pilots that fly the aircraft at the start of the novel have all had opportunities denied to many people, let alone women, in the 1930s. Planes were far more rare and relatively expensive to fly. In the First World War impossibly fragile planes had flown over the trenches to see the lie of the land, and the technology had advanced to provide planes which could be used for aerial combat. Angela, glamorous and wealthy, whose family owned woollen mills, had wanted to fly and could afford to. She blossomed in the ATA, flying bravely and well. It is known that she has been chosen to be the model on the ATA recruiting poster, and is well known on the base in Yorkshire in September 1943 as the novel begins. Her friend Bobbie is also well known as a pilot with ambitions, who had first learnt to fly on her father’s own plane in Scotland. She is however naive and when she becomes the object of interest to at least one male pilot, she is unsure how to cope despite her bravery. The third pilot, Jean, had a less easy path to flying. Having gained a scholarship to grammar school, she has had to work really hard to get the opportunity to fly, and makes the most of her chance by being the most able and courageous of the women pilots. Mary, meanwhile, is a driver, who is nonetheless brave and dedicated to getting personnel to the right place, even when in shock and physically affected by the dangers of the bombing which to the area was subject. Her friend Stan pushes her to apply for training, but she knows that women from her background are fighting a huge battle to get behind the controls of a plane under any circumstances, let alone when their importance to the country’s fate was so acute.
This novel gives an excellent account of both the excitement and dangers of flying planes at this time. It shows that it was not only a matter of ability, but also background and opportunity. The tension is not always confined to being in the skies; the male pilots and ground staff have their own agendas on occasions, even feeling jealous of the women and their abilities. This novel is a well written look at the real humanity, the romances and intrigues of the women and those around them who flew planes in the most challenging of circumstances. It is an engaging and even gripping read, which more than kept my interest and kept me reading. I recommend this as a real book of the humanity and excitement of aviation in the Second World War.
April 16, 2020
'Anything to Anywhere!' That's the motto of the Air Transport Auxiliary, the brave team of female pilots who fly fighter planes between bases at the height of World War Two. Mary Holland is a driver for the ATA and although she yearns to fly a Spitfire, she fears her humble background will hold her back. After all, glamorous Angela Browne is set to be the next 'Atta Girl' on recruitment posters. And Bobbie Fraser is wealthy and we'll connected and learned to fly in her father's private plane and Jean Dobson got a flying scholarship to study and also studied at a prestigious grammar school before joining the squad. Dedicated and resilient the three girls rule the skies: weathering storms and dodging enemy fire. Mary can only dream of joining them-until she gets the push she needs to overcome her self doubt. Thrown together, the girls form a tight bond as they face the perils of their job. But they soon find that affairs of the heart can be just as dangerous as attacks from the skies. With all the fear and uncertainty ahead-can their friendship see them through the tests of war? The ATA, was a British civilian organisation set up during WWII that ferried new, repaired and damaged military aircraft between factories, assembly plants, transatlantic delivery points, maintenance units, scrap yards, and active service squadrons and airfields. Notably, a lot of its pilots were women, and from 1943 they received equal pay to their male colleagues.By 1 May 1940 the ATA had taken over transporting all military aircraft. On 1 August 1941 the ATA took over all ferrying jobs, thereby freeing combat pilots for duty. The ATA also recruited pilots who were considered to be unsuitable for either the RAF or the Fleet Air Arm by reason of age, fitness or gender. A unique feature of the ATA was that physical handicaps were ignored if the pilot could do the job, thus there were one limbed, short sighted and one eyed pilots. And the ATA also took in pilots from neutral countries. They flew Spitfires, Hurricanes, Mosquitoes, Mustangs, Lancasters etc. I can't wait to read the rest of this fantastic trilogy.
February 20, 2023
Not the greatest book
My parents grew up during WW2 in Canada and Australia so I enjoy reading books about those times. The book came up on my suggestions because of past ones I have read. I mean who wouldn't like to read about ladies being able to fly during WW2? Their stories are not often told. WRONG!! I should have read the reviews before purchasing it and then I would have saved myself almost $10. It became hard to understand frequently as one page would be about one person and what they were going through and then next page wouldn't continue the story but instead go to someone else or even days/weeks later. I stopped reading after 3 chapters. sadly can't get a refund.
My parents grew up during WW2 in Canada and Australia so I enjoy reading books about those times. The book came up on my suggestions because of past ones I have read. I mean who wouldn't like to read about ladies being able to fly during WW2? Their stories are not often told. WRONG!! I should have read the reviews before purchasing it and then I would have saved myself almost $10. It became hard to understand frequently as one page would be about one person and what they were going through and then next page wouldn't continue the story but instead go to someone else or even days/weeks later. I stopped reading after 3 chapters. sadly can't get a refund.
September 18, 2021
I read this book last year and it was the first book that I wholeheartedly enjoyed. I had no idea there was a second and third book so I may have to reread and purchase the rest of the trilogy. It was such and easy, comfortable read with likeable characters and a great setting. Although it is a very comforting book it doesn’t lack plot and moments of surprise and ‘oh my gosh’. I would read this book again with no issue and I hope to do so. A very enjoyable read.
September 14, 2025
Jenny what can I say. This book was wonderful in all emotions. I absolutely love a book that stirs mine. I don’t think the ferrying women or men really got the shout out they deserve and this book highlights the brilliance of the women during ww2 and what they went through. Bobbie, darling Bobbie her story really did open up the heart with some of her storylines. I can’t wait to read the next book. I should really do that sooner rather than later.
October 5, 2025
The way Jenny captures the era and the settings is astounding. I love how this book is written and really brings home what these women went through. Being women pilots during the war although needed and did their job well it saddened me they didn't really get the recognition they deserve. Jenny has certain done her research and I will be making my way through the series.
I would highly recommend these books as a good read with a nice cup of string tea.
I would highly recommend these books as a good read with a nice cup of string tea.
Read
May 7, 2022This was not a page turner for me, although it did get a bit more interesting towards the end. It was basically Mills & Boon romance set during the second world war. It is now in the local charity shop.
October 5, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. How the era was portrayed and the work these women did and challenges they faced for being women during that time. Yet so capable and confident with their jobs but always the silent heroes were ATTA girls.
Currently reading the second one now.
Currently reading the second one now.
November 30, 2019
Very interesting but I was surprised to read about red kites in Yorkshire in 1943 as they hadn’t been seen in England for centuries.
February 27, 2020
Recommend this book highly
April 17, 2020
Great book really enjoyed it
January 4, 2021
Brilliant
I loved this book and have got all three in the series, can't wait to continue reading about their lives
I loved this book and have got all three in the series, can't wait to continue reading about their lives
November 17, 2021
Very gripping story from start to finish very interesting characters that you actually thought you were in the story. Fabulous.
March 11, 2022
Great series looking forward to the next installment
July 11, 2022
I don’t know if it was the book or the narration but I just didn’t like this book. It is an era I love & when I have the time I will get the ebook and see how that goes.
March 15, 2024
read this awhile ago very good book I had read this more then once. BOOK ONE IN SERIES.
December 27, 2025
thanks for the escapism ☺️
June 26, 2020
I was a little disappointed with this book I found the characters rather boring
And had to force myself not to give up on it
And had to force myself not to give up on it
August 25, 2022
Enjoy reading about the courageous women of WW11
This book tells of the spitfire girls from different backgrounds, their love lives - the companionship
This book tells of the spitfire girls from different backgrounds, their love lives - the companionship
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews