Oath of Allegiance

by Jana Petken

Jana Petken presents the final instalment of the multi-award-winning bestseller, Swearing Allegiance, chronicling the Great War, the Irish War of independence, and the Carmody family’s struggle to survive the momentous events that are tearing their beloved Ireland apart. As the Great War enters its most deadly phase, Patrick, Jenny, and Danny Carmody must cast aside their personal desires in order to stand with Britain against Germany and her allies. Danny, who is recovering from serious wounds, is devastated when he learns he must return to the Continent to fight at the front. Patrick, traumatised by his experience on HMHS Britannic, prays for a shore posting, but the Royal Navy has something much more insidious in store for him. Jenny and Kevin rekindle their love for one another but their relationship is tested when the Irish people demand their independence from Britain and its king. Jenny must choose between her brothers and her new husband’s Anglo-Irish aristocratic family. “A gripping, monumental adventure that gives life to one of the most tumultuous periods in British history.” Editorial Review The Coffee Pot Book Club Award 5 Stars Petken is a multi-award-winning and international bestselling author, and I can understand why. Her books are amazing, I am already a massive fan of Petken's work, but Oath of Allegiance completely blew me away. It is outstanding. This book deserves a place on your bookshelf, and if ever a book deserved to be the next big series on Netflix, then it is this one. Where do I even begin to attempt to express how wonderful this book is? I could speak of how Petken stimulated all five senses with her vivacious storytelling. I could praise Petken for her fabulous historical descriptions. I could celebrate Petken's novelist eyes for human failings — her emphatic understanding of the human condition. I could, of course, praise the narrative, which is as lucid as it is enthralling. Or, the prose that washed over me in riotous colours of green and white and orange. This is a book where the patriots become the terrorists. Where those who are meant to protect become a seedy colour of Black and Tan. Where life is torn asunder by a war that had been going on for years and would continue to go on for decades more. This is a story about the day the Emerald Isle began to drown in the blood of her own people. This is a story about the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This is the story of one family whose life would never be the same again. The historical detailing of this book must be commended. Petken has really nailed this era. Not only is Petken a talented author, she is also the most dedicated of historians. Petken's knowledge of what conditions were like at the Somme, to her understanding of the events that led up to Bloody Sunday and the Civil War in Ireland also must be commended. One does not just sit down and write a historical fiction book that is so incredibly authentic and as true to the history as can be without hours and hours of research. Petken is, without a doubt the creme de la creme of historical fiction writers. If you don't believe me, pick up this book. More from Jana Petken Multi Award-Winning The Guardian of Secrets Screenplay The Guardian of Secrets Audio Book The Guardian of Secrets The Mercy Carver Award Winning Dark Shadows Blood Moon Audio Books, Mercy Carver Series The Flock Trilogy Multi Award-winning, The Errant Flock The Scattered Flock The Gathering of The Damned Audio The Flock Trilogy Allegiance Series Swearing Allegiance Audio Book, Swearing Allegianc

567 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2020

About the author

Jana Petken is a multi award winning historical fiction author.

She is critically acclaimed as a bestselling, gritty author who produces bold, colourful characters and riveting storylines. She is the recipient of numerous major international awards for her works of historical fiction.

Before life as an author, she served in the British Royal Navy. During her service, she studied Naval Law and history. After the Navy, she worked for British Airways and turned to writing after an accident on board an aircraft forced her to retire prematurely.

Nice to meet you all x

Reviews

[carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second and concluding part of the troubles between Eire wanting independence from Great Britain’s empire from 1912 onwards through WW1 and beyond until Southern Ireland gained their independence, as shown through the eyes of a family split by love and relationships on both sides of the fence.
This is an excellent two part story, Swearing Allegiance and this final part Oath of Allegiance
Historically sound, well researched, a family whose characters are believable and well developed so you feel as if real.
It has humour, action, horrors of wars and tension, and was an unputdownable read for me.
You really feel as if you are observing events real-time.
Jana Petken is an excellent writer of historical fiction, and holds bank no punches when showing the truth as seen from both sides.
Has to be five stars from me.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I promise you, my darlin', I'll not get involved in Ireland's troubles when I come home..."

That's if he came home. Danny Carmody had already cheated death once. He doubted he would do so again. Danny had thought his war over when he had been gassed at the Front, but no. Here he was back at the Somme, waiting for the orders that would send him over the top and towards certain death. And for what? To gain a few miles of land? It was a war governed by fools who sent lambs to the slaughter while expecting a result other than butchery.

Patrick Carmody had, unlike his brother, joined the Royal Navy. However, if Patrick never stepped on a boat again, it would be too soon. The White Star Line was cursed, or so it seemed. Patrick had survived the sinking of HMHS Britannic, but would he be so lucky a second time?

Jenny Carmody was at last married to the man she loved, and that was all that mattered. However, Kevin had not told Jenny the whole truth about who his family were. Jenny knew they were protestant and of standing, but there was so much more she did not know. So much more...

From the horrors of The Western Front to the disappointment of The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, Oath of Allegiance: Allegiance, Book 2 by Jana Petken is the unforgettable story of the Carmody family, and how they survived one war but were very nearly torn apart by another.

Where do I even begin to attempt to express how wonderful this book is? I could speak of how Petken stimulated all five senses with her vivacious storytelling. I could praise Petken for her fabulous historical descriptions. I could celebrate Petken's novelist eyes for human failings — her emphatic understanding of the human condition. I could, of course, praise the narrative, which is as lucid as it is enthralling. Or, the prose that washed over me in riotous colours of green and white and orange. This is a book where the patriots become the terrorists. Where those who are meant to protect become a seedy colour of Black and Tan. Where life is torn asunder by a war that had been going on for years and would continue to go on for decades more. This is a story about the day the Emerald Isle began to drown in the blood of her own people. This is a story about the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This is the story of one family whose life would never be the same again.

The historical detailing of this book has to be commended. Petken has really nailed this era. Not only is Petken a talented author, she is also the most dedicated of historians. Petken's knowledge of what conditions were like at the Somme, to her understanding of the events that led up to Bloody Sunday and the Civil War in Ireland has to be commended. One does not just sit down and write a historical fiction book that is so incredibly authentic and as true to the history as can be without hours and hours of research. Petken is, without a doubt the creme de la creme of historical fiction writers. If you don't believe me, pick up this book.

Petken's depiction of The Battle of the Somme was vivid in all its desperate detail. We experience the brutalities of trench warfare through the eyes of Danny Carmody. The horror of learning that you were being sent back to where you had almost died is beyond comprehension. But when in Hell, Danny is pragmatic enough to keep walking. Danny endures so many unbearable events in this book, and he finds himself embroiled in a world that is dark and dangerous. He survives one world war, only to fight in a very different type of warfare when he finally makes his way home. Danny is a fabulous example of an anti-hero — as a reader, I sympathised with Danny so much, he is dealt one terrible blow after another, and he finds himself in an incredibly dark place. Danny's demons are always near him, and for some reason, he seems to believe that he has no right to happiness and peace. However, what he becomes, and the things that he does with such cold and calculated precision makes him something short of monstrous. His character reminded me greatly of Frankie McGuire, in Vincent Patrick's, David Aaron Cohen's, and Kevin Jarre's, The Devil's Own. Like Frankie, Danny is a really likeable character, and I feared for him throughout this book. I just wanted him to escape this dangerous cycle of violence that he can't seem to see his way out of, not that he wants to be out of it. Danny becomes a fanatic, but there is so much more to him than that. I thought Danny's portrayal was absolutely fabulous, and his narrative made Oath of Allegiance unputdownable. His depiction was brilliantly executed.

Patrick Carmody is the glue that holds this troubled family together. He is the one constant in everybody's life. But unbeknown to anyone, Patrick has his own demons. Demons, that if discovered, could end in imprisonment and, in a worst-case scenario, his execution. Patrick fights a different type of war to his brother, although like Danny's it is one shrouded in secrets and untruths. This book is set during a time where a person's sexual identity concerning the gender to which they were attracted to was, in some cases, illegal, and if discovered, your life was over. Not being able to hold hands with the person you loved, having to be always on guard must have been a dreadfully frightening burden. I thought Petken approached Patrick's character with a tenacious understanding of the time this book is set in. I wept for Patrick, I really did. Add to that Patrick's attempts to keep his family together when circumstance was tearing them apart, made him, for me, the hero of this story.

Jenny Jackson is a very strong heroine, who, like Patrick, has to fight for what she wants. She is a woman and therefore should, as society dictates, be ruled by her husband. The very idea that she wants access to her own money seems almost scandalous. Times were changing, but they were not changing that fast. Thankfully, Jenny married Kevin, who adores the ground she walks on. Unfortunately, with the onslaught of escalating troubles in Ireland, Jenny must make an impossible choice. Jenny is married into a wealthy and very influential protestant family. Her father-in-law is a member of the House of Lords and a British Loyalist. Jenny's brother-in-law is a detective at Dublin Castle, whereas Jenny's brother, Danny, becomes a known member of the IRA. This is a family where loyalties are fundamentally divided, but the deep love the Carmody siblings have for each other makes estrangement incredibly challenging. Jenny comes from a very loving and very loyal family, and the path that Danny chooses has devastating consequences for all of them. I adored Jenny, she is a wonderful heroine who will not be cowed by her husband’s aristocratic family, nor will she be used by Kevin's brother who is desperate to find out Danny's whereabouts. I thought her depiction was marvellous.

As one would expect, there are some historical figures in this book. One cannot write a book about the IRA in the early 20th century without mentioning Michael Collins. Petken presents her readers with a very charismatic man in Collins, but she also stuck very close to the documented history about him. Collins commands respect, and he does not tolerate disloyalty. I was intrigued by her depiction of Collins, and although he is only a secondary character in this book, Collins is of course, as he once was in life, controlling the narrative.

Petken portrays the IRA as a very violent organisation, but she also explains why these men thought such actions were necessary. Petken does not make them heroes but like with Danny's characterisation, she does try to provide a balanced view of who they were and what they were fighting for, which of course was an independent Ireland. The actions are at times utterly deplorable, but then so was the activities of the RIC which Petken also depicts in all its reprehensible behaviour.

Petken is a multi award-winning and international bestselling author, and I can understand why. All of her books are amazing, I am already a massive fan of Petken's work, but Oath of Allegiance completely blew me away. It is outstanding. This book deserves a place on your bookshelf, and if ever a book deserved to be the next big series on Netflix, then it is this one.

I Highly Recommend

Review by Mary Anne Yarde
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

[Cindy Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

A passionate story

This second book of the series about the Irish Carmody family from 1917-1922 is very emotional as the unrest in their homeland escalates and WWI rages on in Europe.

With so much going on in Dublin and London, the lives of the various family members are a never ending struggle. Danny is the impassioned fighter for Ireland's freedom from the British yoke, Jenny must learn to live in poverty and Patrick as the eldest and now head of the family must find a way to finish his surgical training while keeping his family together.

The lives of a these three siblings during such a tumultuous era in history are each given a thorough telling. I found it hard to put down the book. The war years are bad enough as millions die in the conflict known as The Great War...The war to end all wars...only to return to Dublin where the internal guerilla war heats up.

In this installment of the series Danny has committed to the IRA and Michael Collins. The unrest in Ireland and unfair treatment of its people by Britain's oppression is hard to stomach and I found it very easy to understand and sympathize with the Irish Republic combatants. Being an American and raised with appreciation for political freedoms made the thought of this conflict even more real as I read on.

This is a good series that truly made me think while all sides of the political debates of this volital era are examined. I hope there is a third book in this series and will recommend to readers of historical fiction. Well done!

[Diana Febry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great follow-on from Swearing Allegiance. The two books follow the stories of the Carmodys, an Irish Catholic family.
This book covers the period from 1917 to 1922, covering the trench warfare in France to the political agreement to allow Southern Ireland some limited independence from England. The book does a great job of showing how families were divided and the early and violent struggles for freedom from Westminster.
For me, Danny Carmody was the central character and I had a great deal of sympathy for him despite the violent route he takes. One character I would have liked to see further developed was Patrick Carmody.
Overall, a great read I recommend to historical fiction fans. It could be read as a stand-alone but I strongly suggest reading Swearing Allegiance first.

[Frank Langman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding book

Very interesting book on Ireland during world war one and for a short period after. I had a severe problem, trying to put the book down after I started reading it. Fortunately I’m retired, so It did not interfere with work. In fact, I have trouble with all her books, putting them down as I think she is the best author of historical fiction that I have ever read. Always leaving something in suspense so that you have a desire to continue reading it. Can’t wait for Jana’s next book.

[jeannette Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean48no

A good read of the war between the Irish and British. The characters were very likable. The families triumphs and disasters. The Author has written a thoughtful book re: the Irish liberation from British rule. You find yourself on the side of the IRA. You understand them wanting to govern themselves. I liked how she weaved the historical figures like Michael Collins through the story understanding possible how he felt when the treaty he had worked and fought for was signed.Still Ireland is under British rule.

[E J DeBarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oath of Allegiance

We once again follow the Carmody family during the latter stages of the first world war and then to Ireland and it's fight for independence.
When I finished the book I had a better understanding of Ireland's fight to gain its independence from Great Britton. Atrocities were committed from both sides and the book does not shy away from this.

[Dorothy Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid writing

Such a great recounting of the terrible atrocities that occurred in Ireland as they sought after freedom. Mixed in with the history are wonderful examples of love between the family members.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as her other books. I was excited to read this series. I love good historical fiction and so far Jana Petken has been right on. But she had to subcome to the woke crowd. I am not sure if I will read any more of her books. Disappointing...

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. Definitely historical fiction and one of the best I've read about the "troubles" in Ireland.

[Garey Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat disappointing following the other books in the series. In the present day world we deal with having certain lifestyles "shoved on us", I like to escape that in my reading.