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For Love and Country
For fans of Janet Beard’s The Atomic City Girls and Marie Benedict’s The Only Woman in the Room, this powerful, romantic novel tells the story of a woman determined to aid her country, finding love in the midst of tragedy along the way during World War II.
When Lottie Palmer runs away the day before her wedding to join the Navy WAVES program, she not only leaves behind a fiancé, but also the privileged lifestyle that she has known as the daughter of one of the most important manufacturers in Detroit’s auto industry. Spurred by a desire to contribute meaningfully to the war effort, Lottie pours all of her focus and determination into becoming the best airplane mechanic in the division, working harder than she’s ever worked before.
Her grit impresses her handsome instructor, Captain Luke Woodward. But when the war ramps up and she is assigned to Pearl Harbor she must fight her growing feelings for Luke and navigate her role as one of the only female mechanics among a group of men, all while finding out what it means to be your own hero.
Illuminating the story of a woman who sets out to make a difference in the world by following her heart, Candace Waters draws on her extensive research, transporting us from Detroit to New York, and San Diego to Pearl Harbor during the tumultuous time of World War II.
When Lottie Palmer runs away the day before her wedding to join the Navy WAVES program, she not only leaves behind a fiancé, but also the privileged lifestyle that she has known as the daughter of one of the most important manufacturers in Detroit’s auto industry. Spurred by a desire to contribute meaningfully to the war effort, Lottie pours all of her focus and determination into becoming the best airplane mechanic in the division, working harder than she’s ever worked before.
Her grit impresses her handsome instructor, Captain Luke Woodward. But when the war ramps up and she is assigned to Pearl Harbor she must fight her growing feelings for Luke and navigate her role as one of the only female mechanics among a group of men, all while finding out what it means to be your own hero.
Illuminating the story of a woman who sets out to make a difference in the world by following her heart, Candace Waters draws on her extensive research, transporting us from Detroit to New York, and San Diego to Pearl Harbor during the tumultuous time of World War II.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2020
15 people are currently reading
2527 people want to read
About the author
Candace Waters
1 book18 followersCandace Waters lives and works in Brooklyn. Her great-aunt and great-uncle were survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor. For Love and Country is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
November 15, 2022
Charlotte Palmer is engaged to Eugene, both of their families are rich and own factories in Detroit. As her wedding day draws closer, Lottie feels trapped and guilty. Her parents are spending a fortune on an extravagant wedding, when American is fighting in world war and Lottie wants to serve her country.
Lottie runs away, she joins the Navy WAVES program, they discover in basic training that Lottie can drive and she can also fix a car. Lottie’s sent to San Diego, California to be trained as airplane mechanic and in charge of the crew is Captain Luke Woodward. Lottie faces decimation, the male recruits think she isn't strong enough or have the mental capabilities to fix an airplane. Lottie proves them all wrong, by working hard and she doesn’t mind getting her hands greasy.
Lottie's stationed at Pearl Harbor, she’s a machinist mate and her job is to get planes ready to be loaded onto a airplane carrier. The war is suddenly very real, the planes Lottie and the crew are fixing, have bullet holes, cracked windscreens and damage all along the underbelly. Lottie admires Captain Woodward, he’s a good looking man and leads by example.
I received a copy of For Love and County from NetGalley and Howard Books in exchange for an honest review. Candace Waters has written an enlightening story about one woman wanting to break free of the stereotypical expectations at the time, she wanted to serve her country and when it needed her the most. I really admired Lottie’s character, how she broke down the walls around her prickly roommate Maggie Duckworth and for being a ingenious mechanic. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this book for fans of WW II historical fiction with a focus on strong and courageous women.
Lottie runs away, she joins the Navy WAVES program, they discover in basic training that Lottie can drive and she can also fix a car. Lottie’s sent to San Diego, California to be trained as airplane mechanic and in charge of the crew is Captain Luke Woodward. Lottie faces decimation, the male recruits think she isn't strong enough or have the mental capabilities to fix an airplane. Lottie proves them all wrong, by working hard and she doesn’t mind getting her hands greasy.
Lottie's stationed at Pearl Harbor, she’s a machinist mate and her job is to get planes ready to be loaded onto a airplane carrier. The war is suddenly very real, the planes Lottie and the crew are fixing, have bullet holes, cracked windscreens and damage all along the underbelly. Lottie admires Captain Woodward, he’s a good looking man and leads by example.
I received a copy of For Love and County from NetGalley and Howard Books in exchange for an honest review. Candace Waters has written an enlightening story about one woman wanting to break free of the stereotypical expectations at the time, she wanted to serve her country and when it needed her the most. I really admired Lottie’s character, how she broke down the walls around her prickly roommate Maggie Duckworth and for being a ingenious mechanic. Five stars from me, I highly recommend this book for fans of WW II historical fiction with a focus on strong and courageous women.
January 17, 2020
A throughly enjoyable novel of WWII For Love and Country will be on sale March 24, 2020. A young woman joins the Navy WAVES program-this was a program to place women in non-combat support roles during WWII. Our protagonist is assigned to an aircraft mechanics shop after demonstrating a penchant for machine repair.
There is a love story running parallel to the theme of our young woman attempting to prove herself as the only female in a male occupation. For lovers of historical WWII fiction you will find this an easy and enjoyable read.
There is a love story running parallel to the theme of our young woman attempting to prove herself as the only female in a male occupation. For lovers of historical WWII fiction you will find this an easy and enjoyable read.
April 24, 2020
During WWII, a wealthy woman leaves everything behind to become an airplane mechanic.
I was instantly interested in this book when I read the heroine was an airplane mechanic during WWII. It is one of those stories that shows what humans are capable of when facing extreme circumstances.
In times of Corona Virus and uncertainty, I've seen the same spirit shown by the heroine and her fellow soldiers, in doctors and other health workers, volunteers, and all involved in keeping essential services running. The current events enhanced the reading experience.
The story starts with the heroine, Lottie Palmer, attending one of many parties thrown to celebrate her impending wedding to Eugene. Daughter of a Detroit car manufacturer, her sheltered life kept the war being fought in Europe distant and abstract.
But deep inside, Lottie felt she needed to do something. Amidst a war, she should not be dressing up and attending parties. This feeling was overwhelming.
She ends up jilting her fiance and enlisting into the navy where she becomes an airplane mechanic.
The book tells in detail her struggle to be accepted and respected by her comrades. It takes the reader through her training and her service at Pearl Harbour.
I love the fact that the author takes the time to develop her relationship with her colleagues and superiors, and even describes in detail her many adventures fixing different kinds of engines.
There is a love story in the background that, as fits the heroine, is marked by duty, loyalty, and bravery.
A wonderful read. I highly recommend to everyone that enjoys a strong heroine in a soul searching story with a bit of romance and a happy ending.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was instantly interested in this book when I read the heroine was an airplane mechanic during WWII. It is one of those stories that shows what humans are capable of when facing extreme circumstances.
In times of Corona Virus and uncertainty, I've seen the same spirit shown by the heroine and her fellow soldiers, in doctors and other health workers, volunteers, and all involved in keeping essential services running. The current events enhanced the reading experience.
The story starts with the heroine, Lottie Palmer, attending one of many parties thrown to celebrate her impending wedding to Eugene. Daughter of a Detroit car manufacturer, her sheltered life kept the war being fought in Europe distant and abstract.
But deep inside, Lottie felt she needed to do something. Amidst a war, she should not be dressing up and attending parties. This feeling was overwhelming.
She ends up jilting her fiance and enlisting into the navy where she becomes an airplane mechanic.
The book tells in detail her struggle to be accepted and respected by her comrades. It takes the reader through her training and her service at Pearl Harbour.
I love the fact that the author takes the time to develop her relationship with her colleagues and superiors, and even describes in detail her many adventures fixing different kinds of engines.
There is a love story in the background that, as fits the heroine, is marked by duty, loyalty, and bravery.
A wonderful read. I highly recommend to everyone that enjoys a strong heroine in a soul searching story with a bit of romance and a happy ending.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2020
I wanted so badly to like this book as it sounded like it would be right up my alley, but alas it fell flat for me.
I didn't like how the book started, and as we met more characters they felt 2 dimensional and stereotypical. I didn't like how Lottie took things personally, and seemed to think the worst of people. Lottie is determined, and wants to see if there is more to life than the privileged upbringing she's known, which is great, but her timing was terrible.
The plotting of the book seemed unrealistic, and didn't pack a punch the way I wished. I did like how it showcased the WAVES and their part in the war. In the end this just wasn't for me personally.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
I didn't like how the book started, and as we met more characters they felt 2 dimensional and stereotypical. I didn't like how Lottie took things personally, and seemed to think the worst of people. Lottie is determined, and wants to see if there is more to life than the privileged upbringing she's known, which is great, but her timing was terrible.
The plotting of the book seemed unrealistic, and didn't pack a punch the way I wished. I did like how it showcased the WAVES and their part in the war. In the end this just wasn't for me personally.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are my own.
March 8, 2020
A decent historical fiction tale about a woman working on airplanes and Pearl Harbor.
Further Review:
For Love and Country by Candace Waters is a strong female character driven historical novel centered around the WAVES program and Pearl Harbor. While overall I found the plot fascinating, I also found several issues in this book that I wasn’t expecting to have encountered. This book is very Christian based. There’s praying every few chapters, an always when Charlotte Palmer, our heroine, prays she seems to be able to get what she wants, even if it takes a bit in doing so. She’s a ‘proper rich girl’ and though I admired her for leaving her home, she seemed woefully ignorant about a lot of things around the world, not just the war. Maggie was far more interesting to me, as a whole, and I identified with her a fair bit.
Men treated women harshly back then, I understand, and it hasn’t gotten much better if my mother being a car mechanic and carpenter is anything to go by. So this is accurate, but a lot of the men’s comments, and the fact that she got punished for the most minor of infractions is infuriating. I get that was what the author was aiming for, and applaud her dedication to the accuracy of her research in terms of writing this book. Even so, I despised a fair few male characters in this book.
I did like Charlotte, but she seemed to eager to please in terms of those that surrounded her. I wanted more from the story, and the way she handled Eugene could have been handled better, in my opinion. I'd like to leave a longer review, but I don't want to include spoilers. Overall the story was captivating, despite several issues that I had as a person. Others might not have the same issues. 4 solid stars for a new to me author, and I’ll definitely be keeping an interest in any of her future works.
Further Review:
For Love and Country by Candace Waters is a strong female character driven historical novel centered around the WAVES program and Pearl Harbor. While overall I found the plot fascinating, I also found several issues in this book that I wasn’t expecting to have encountered. This book is very Christian based. There’s praying every few chapters, an always when Charlotte Palmer, our heroine, prays she seems to be able to get what she wants, even if it takes a bit in doing so. She’s a ‘proper rich girl’ and though I admired her for leaving her home, she seemed woefully ignorant about a lot of things around the world, not just the war. Maggie was far more interesting to me, as a whole, and I identified with her a fair bit.
Men treated women harshly back then, I understand, and it hasn’t gotten much better if my mother being a car mechanic and carpenter is anything to go by. So this is accurate, but a lot of the men’s comments, and the fact that she got punished for the most minor of infractions is infuriating. I get that was what the author was aiming for, and applaud her dedication to the accuracy of her research in terms of writing this book. Even so, I despised a fair few male characters in this book.
I did like Charlotte, but she seemed to eager to please in terms of those that surrounded her. I wanted more from the story, and the way she handled Eugene could have been handled better, in my opinion. I'd like to leave a longer review, but I don't want to include spoilers. Overall the story was captivating, despite several issues that I had as a person. Others might not have the same issues. 4 solid stars for a new to me author, and I’ll definitely be keeping an interest in any of her future works.
January 22, 2020
Thank you to Goodreads and Atria Books for my giveaway win!
I really liked this book. To be honest, this was an easy sell for me. WWII historical fiction, especially involving strong women, is my favorite niche. At first I thought Lottie wasn't going to be super likable, because she is very a silver-spoon, life-of-privilege character, but I actually really ended up enjoying following along as she grew up in ways she never imagined. She even had a moment where she thought she could try to slip seamlessly back into her old life, but quickly realized it would never be that simple. Lottie experiences love, loss, and the real heartbreak that is war in her time with the Navy WAVES. I loved her character growth. I loved the friendships she made. I loved watching her fight sexism and lean into her strengths to contribute to the war effort. This was well-written, interesting and engrossing.
TW: Sexism, war, war injuries, death
I really liked this book. To be honest, this was an easy sell for me. WWII historical fiction, especially involving strong women, is my favorite niche. At first I thought Lottie wasn't going to be super likable, because she is very a silver-spoon, life-of-privilege character, but I actually really ended up enjoying following along as she grew up in ways she never imagined. She even had a moment where she thought she could try to slip seamlessly back into her old life, but quickly realized it would never be that simple. Lottie experiences love, loss, and the real heartbreak that is war in her time with the Navy WAVES. I loved her character growth. I loved the friendships she made. I loved watching her fight sexism and lean into her strengths to contribute to the war effort. This was well-written, interesting and engrossing.
TW: Sexism, war, war injuries, death
October 22, 2019
I should have known this wouldn't be very good when I saw it compared to The Atomic City Girls, another extremely pedestrian piece of historic fiction, with simplistic writing and a cliched plot.
THERE ARE A FEW SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW, THOUGH IF YOU'VE READ A FEW OF THESE, THERE'S NOTHING TO SURPRISE YOU IN THIS ONE:
Basic story: a poor little rich girl runs away from her wedding and finds herself in the WAVES during WWII. Sort of "Private Benjamin" like, though it's not funny. She meets the tough girl with a chip on her shoulder who becomes her enemy, and then her close friend, she falls in love with her handsome commanding officer, even though it's against the rules, and she succeeds as an airplane mechanic.
While this last part IS authentic--lots of WAVES did this sort of work, as the sole woman in her unit, she gets amazingly little crap from the men because she is the BEST MECHANIC EVER. Yeah, right.
Then, her dream MAN goes MIA during the Battle of Iwo Jima, her former fiance turns up in the hospital she just happens to be volunteering in (neatly setting up her possible return to her old silver spoon life), and some poor zhlub she's made friends with gets to die dramatically so that she can have a sad War Is Hell scene. Followed by a preposterous rescue mission of a downed plane (not only is it against orders to do it, her boss takes her along as "his best mechanic,") which allows Guess Who to turn up alive and okay, ready for a happily ever after.
This is another brain candy, but it's not even GOOD brain candy, and I am begrudging it the hour of sleep it cost me last night.
And I have just noticed that the cover art seems to show the Brooklyn Bridge, and I am trying to figure out why, since the only NYC action (and there's only a chapter or two set there) takes place in my native Bronx, in fact, just around the reservoir from my home neighborhood. You can't SEE the Brooklyn Bridge from anywhere in the Bronx. OY!
THERE ARE A FEW SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW, THOUGH IF YOU'VE READ A FEW OF THESE, THERE'S NOTHING TO SURPRISE YOU IN THIS ONE:
Basic story: a poor little rich girl runs away from her wedding and finds herself in the WAVES during WWII. Sort of "Private Benjamin" like, though it's not funny. She meets the tough girl with a chip on her shoulder who becomes her enemy, and then her close friend, she falls in love with her handsome commanding officer, even though it's against the rules, and she succeeds as an airplane mechanic.
While this last part IS authentic--lots of WAVES did this sort of work, as the sole woman in her unit, she gets amazingly little crap from the men because she is the BEST MECHANIC EVER. Yeah, right.
Then, her dream MAN goes MIA during the Battle of Iwo Jima, her former fiance turns up in the hospital she just happens to be volunteering in (neatly setting up her possible return to her old silver spoon life), and some poor zhlub she's made friends with gets to die dramatically so that she can have a sad War Is Hell scene. Followed by a preposterous rescue mission of a downed plane (not only is it against orders to do it, her boss takes her along as "his best mechanic,") which allows Guess Who to turn up alive and okay, ready for a happily ever after.
This is another brain candy, but it's not even GOOD brain candy, and I am begrudging it the hour of sleep it cost me last night.
And I have just noticed that the cover art seems to show the Brooklyn Bridge, and I am trying to figure out why, since the only NYC action (and there's only a chapter or two set there) takes place in my native Bronx, in fact, just around the reservoir from my home neighborhood. You can't SEE the Brooklyn Bridge from anywhere in the Bronx. OY!
March 22, 2020
First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley and the author for this ARC...For Love and Country
by Candace Waters.
This was an enjoyable and quick read. It is about a wealthy, pampered young lady (Lottie) who lived a glamorous life. She is about to marry but skips out on her fiance wanting to build a life of more value. She had a small amount of experience as a mechanic working on her father's cars (he owned the company in Detroit.) This somehow translated int her quickly becoming one of the best mechanics working on AIRPLANES for the navy, HUH??? Anyway, there are other times when plots and incidents are a bit unbelievable but if you can ignore that you will like the book. You will probably like Lottie more as well. She grows up and her character builds. It was a good book.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys any or all three of the following Romance/woman power/historical fiction. Enjoy.
by Candace Waters.
This was an enjoyable and quick read. It is about a wealthy, pampered young lady (Lottie) who lived a glamorous life. She is about to marry but skips out on her fiance wanting to build a life of more value. She had a small amount of experience as a mechanic working on her father's cars (he owned the company in Detroit.) This somehow translated int her quickly becoming one of the best mechanics working on AIRPLANES for the navy, HUH??? Anyway, there are other times when plots and incidents are a bit unbelievable but if you can ignore that you will like the book. You will probably like Lottie more as well. She grows up and her character builds. It was a good book.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys any or all three of the following Romance/woman power/historical fiction. Enjoy.
July 18, 2020
I was so engrossed in this novel until almost the end; the writing flowed, the events progressed realistically, and the plot was unique and intriguing. Except, the ending was horrible. There were too many elements left undone.
Like, what happened with her parents? Maybe a phone conversation between them would have helped because the mother was such a beautiful, strong character who was just dropped from the story. And why didn’t we learn any more about Maggie? She was a troubled girl with a past that as a friend, Lottie should have looked into. And the worst part, who agrees to marry someone they have never even kissed??! So unrealistic and very uncharacteristic of Lottie. I don’t know how the editors accepted the end of this novel. It could have been so much stronger without that movie-like action scene on the plane that was so far fetched and that ridiculous ending.
Like, what happened with her parents? Maybe a phone conversation between them would have helped because the mother was such a beautiful, strong character who was just dropped from the story. And why didn’t we learn any more about Maggie? She was a troubled girl with a past that as a friend, Lottie should have looked into. And the worst part, who agrees to marry someone they have never even kissed??! So unrealistic and very uncharacteristic of Lottie. I don’t know how the editors accepted the end of this novel. It could have been so much stronger without that movie-like action scene on the plane that was so far fetched and that ridiculous ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2022
Lottie is about to marry her high school sweetheart, Eugene. He’s wonderful and they are best friends but the night before their wedding Lottie decides she is made for something more interesting than marrying her best friend and leaves to join the Navy WAVES, a female group helping on the front lines of the war.
Lottie is sent to Pearl Harbor on assignment and forgets about poor ol’ Eugene while she works on plane engines. For the majority of the book she is struggling to prove herself to all the men and is frustrated every day that she doesn’t receive the same treatment and respect as all the male officers who have spent years fighting on the front lines of the war. Finally, she gets an opportunity to show herself as a real hero at the end of the book when her commanding officer is believed to be taken as a POW and she attempts to rescue him.
Oh, man I hope you can detect the sarcasm in my words up there 😆☝🏼
This book just didn’t work for me. I really enjoy WWII historical fiction but this one seemed to lack enough research to make it believable. There were quite a few things that left me scratching my head and Lottie wasn’t a very lovable character. Most of the time she just seemed kind of whiny and unworthy of the respect she was so desperate for.
If the book was meant to be a story of female empowerment, it was way off its mark 😬
2/5 ⭐️ - it was okay.
Lottie is sent to Pearl Harbor on assignment and forgets about poor ol’ Eugene while she works on plane engines. For the majority of the book she is struggling to prove herself to all the men and is frustrated every day that she doesn’t receive the same treatment and respect as all the male officers who have spent years fighting on the front lines of the war. Finally, she gets an opportunity to show herself as a real hero at the end of the book when her commanding officer is believed to be taken as a POW and she attempts to rescue him.
Oh, man I hope you can detect the sarcasm in my words up there 😆☝🏼
This book just didn’t work for me. I really enjoy WWII historical fiction but this one seemed to lack enough research to make it believable. There were quite a few things that left me scratching my head and Lottie wasn’t a very lovable character. Most of the time she just seemed kind of whiny and unworthy of the respect she was so desperate for.
If the book was meant to be a story of female empowerment, it was way off its mark 😬
2/5 ⭐️ - it was okay.
April 8, 2020
Literally blown away. That's what this novel did to me. I had read many great reviews and had talked to many people about this book before reading it, so I knew it would be good. However, I was not prepared for how much this book would affect me, and how I would drop every other book I was reading in order to finish it.I
Lottie Palmer was blessed with an easy life filled with party after party and each one was grander than the last. So when she decides to marry her high school sweetheart, the families go all out. Lottie does her best to be happy but despite being in love, she can't help but feel lost. She's never quite cared for all this superficial stuff and with the war raging across the ocean, she feels pulled to do something to help.
She decides to leave everything she has ever known and join up with the Navy Waves. She writes a note to her fiance and takes off for the adventure of a lifetime. Lottie doesn't know what she's in for.
This novel had struggle, triumph, fear and forgiveness. It has romance and history. It is told in such a quick style with short chapters that just make the reader want more. I'd love for everyone of you to go get your copy of this sweeping historical fiction novel now. You won't regret it.
Lottie Palmer was blessed with an easy life filled with party after party and each one was grander than the last. So when she decides to marry her high school sweetheart, the families go all out. Lottie does her best to be happy but despite being in love, she can't help but feel lost. She's never quite cared for all this superficial stuff and with the war raging across the ocean, she feels pulled to do something to help.
She decides to leave everything she has ever known and join up with the Navy Waves. She writes a note to her fiance and takes off for the adventure of a lifetime. Lottie doesn't know what she's in for.
This novel had struggle, triumph, fear and forgiveness. It has romance and history. It is told in such a quick style with short chapters that just make the reader want more. I'd love for everyone of you to go get your copy of this sweeping historical fiction novel now. You won't regret it.
April 7, 2020
For Love and Country was a book that grabbed me in the first pages and never let go. It is the story of Lottie, a girl born and raised in a very wealthy Detroit automotive family. Her life has revolved around meeting the expectations of the wealthy: fashion, parties, gaiety. and worrying about nothing more than making the perfect match. It is a life and a world that slows down for nothing, including WW II. It is a world that Lottie has never felt comfortable in and with the war going on, one that she finds to be more frivolous by the day. On the eve of her wedding to Eugene, the son of another wealthy Detroit family and her lifelong friend, Lottie decides to leave home and join the Navy WAVES. Breaking into the WAVES as a rarity: a girl who who is comfortable with and skilled at repairing engines, Lottie braves what has been up to now, a male only setting. As the story unfolds, Lottie more about herself, and the war than I believe she had ever expected. And like so many who enlisted and worked during the war, she does not walk away unscathed. I found For Love and Country to be an engrossing read and was sorry when the story ended.
November 23, 2021
Good story, somewhat predictable and simple. I appreciated that the author kept the romantic tension the entire way through the story, and didn’t give it up for a sex scene. Good enough that I kept listening to it, but wouldn’t listen to it again.
September 14, 2025
Would have been 4 star if not for the last 2 pages
March 13, 2020
Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
I’ve been loving WWII books that are centered on women in the war effort. This story follows Lottie, who decides to join the Navy WAVES program for women after being inspired by her childhood of learning how to repair cars.
While the story was fairly predictable and a borderline love story/romance, I didn’t mind it and it was just what I needed to escape this stressful week (and the weeks to come 🙅🏻♀️). I’d recommend if you loved books such as The Alice Network. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)
I’ve been loving WWII books that are centered on women in the war effort. This story follows Lottie, who decides to join the Navy WAVES program for women after being inspired by her childhood of learning how to repair cars.
While the story was fairly predictable and a borderline love story/romance, I didn’t mind it and it was just what I needed to escape this stressful week (and the weeks to come 🙅🏻♀️). I’d recommend if you loved books such as The Alice Network. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)
April 9, 2024
I received a free copy from Netgalley for a honest review. I read this book in a day and couldn’t put it down. The story follow Lottie, a girl who seems to have it all - loving parents, riches, and weeks from marrying her childhood friend. What’s missing is a way to help the war efforts. She leaves everything behind to join the WAVES program. Knowing what she knows from her past handling car engines, she eventually becomes a mechanic on planes. Her story only begins there. She goes through some rough patches only to come out stronger than she was going in. The author has a couple different storylines throughout the book but she pulls it al together in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author does a great job of keeping the reader engaged and guessing of what will happen. I found myself not wanting the book to be finished. A great story of a badass woman being dominate in a male geared war story.
November 15, 2019
I received this book in a GoodReads give away. The title caught my eye as it was compared to Janet Beard’s The Atomic City Girls and Marie Benedict’s The Only Woman in the Room which are great books. Lottie is a woman who sets out to make a difference in the world by following her heart. The plot is boring and predictable, the characters are dull and unbelievable. Some of the story line is improbable. Candace Waters draws on her extensive research on WAVES, car and plane engines and WWII. The book takes place in Detroit to New York, and San Diego to Pearl Harbor during the tumultuous time of World War II.
If you want to quick read and a love story you might enjoy this book.
If you want to quick read and a love story you might enjoy this book.
January 10, 2021
Lottie Palmer is a privileged young woman, daughter of a successful owner of an automobile manufacturer. She is set to be married to a young man, Eugene that she has known all her life but WWII is raging and she just can't seem to imagine herself not helping in some way. Eugene has bright ideas about their future; a fancy home, stay at home wife and lots of children. She struggles with her dilemma and decides to join the Navy WAVES. She has always been drawn to mechanics and spent hours with the family mechanic helping him fix cars and learning whatever she could. She decides to leave home the morning of her wedding without telling anyone.
After 6 weeks of grueling training, she passes the exam and is sent to San Diego as a mechanists mate to work on planes. She arrives and is a bit intimated when she is the only woman to enter the hangar as a new recruit but her upbringing helps, chin up and persevere. Captain Luke is her instructor and he drives her hard. She often believes he singles her out for verbal abuse and extra work but she is determined. When she passes the training she finds she is stationed in Pearl Harbor which is still recovering from the disastrous attack by the Japanese sometime earlier. She is surprised to find Captain Luke arriving the same days she does and finding he is in charge of the shop where she is now assigned.
She works hard but never really makes any friends among the men but she does finally become friends with Maggie whom she roomed with during her first 6 weeks of training. Their background was very different and Maggie always considered her a 'princess' because of her upbringing.
Lottie and the team work long hours to ensure there are enough planes fit to fly for the carrier ship scheduled to leave for the Pacific where the Americans plan an attack on Japan. Many of the men she has been working with are assigned to the carrier as well, including Luke.
I enjoyed the book because I haven't read anything about women trained to work as mechanics on planes in the war. I loved her grit and determination and her ability to figure out a solution to the problems that she is confronted with.
After 6 weeks of grueling training, she passes the exam and is sent to San Diego as a mechanists mate to work on planes. She arrives and is a bit intimated when she is the only woman to enter the hangar as a new recruit but her upbringing helps, chin up and persevere. Captain Luke is her instructor and he drives her hard. She often believes he singles her out for verbal abuse and extra work but she is determined. When she passes the training she finds she is stationed in Pearl Harbor which is still recovering from the disastrous attack by the Japanese sometime earlier. She is surprised to find Captain Luke arriving the same days she does and finding he is in charge of the shop where she is now assigned.
She works hard but never really makes any friends among the men but she does finally become friends with Maggie whom she roomed with during her first 6 weeks of training. Their background was very different and Maggie always considered her a 'princess' because of her upbringing.
Lottie and the team work long hours to ensure there are enough planes fit to fly for the carrier ship scheduled to leave for the Pacific where the Americans plan an attack on Japan. Many of the men she has been working with are assigned to the carrier as well, including Luke.
I enjoyed the book because I haven't read anything about women trained to work as mechanics on planes in the war. I loved her grit and determination and her ability to figure out a solution to the problems that she is confronted with.
May 19, 2020
For Love and Country isn’t a typical novel. It’s more historical fiction with romantic elements rather than a pure romance. It’s from a Christian fiction publisher, but it’s more Christian-lite. There’s very little that’s overtly Christian, but also no on-page violence or sexual content.
The story moves in fits and starts. The first three chapters move relatively slowly as they introduce Lottie, her fiance, and her background. But the story then skips ahead, sometimes days or weeks at a time and that felt a little off, as though something was missing. The writing is solid but not spectacular, but it’s a compelling story and I found it hard to put down (which is saying something, given my current attention span. Thanks, lockdown and quarantine).
Lottie is one of the most original characters I’ve come across. She’s a child of wealth and privilege, in that her father owns a Detroit motor company. On that basis, it’s not altogether surprising that Lottie is interested in cars and engines. What is perhaps surprising is that she’s prepared to give up her lifestyle and her fiance to serve in the WAVES—Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service.
I’ve read various novels about women serving in World War I and II, but I think this is the first I’ve read about the WAVES. I enjoyed the historical aspects, especially watching Lottie’s challenges in working in a male-dominated field. But I also enjoyed Lottie’s personal journey, her realisation that we do get to make choices in life and how those choices can change us.
Overall, For Love and Country is a must-read for fans of World War II fiction from authors such as Sarah Sundin and J’nell Ciesielski.
Thanks to Howard Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
The story moves in fits and starts. The first three chapters move relatively slowly as they introduce Lottie, her fiance, and her background. But the story then skips ahead, sometimes days or weeks at a time and that felt a little off, as though something was missing. The writing is solid but not spectacular, but it’s a compelling story and I found it hard to put down (which is saying something, given my current attention span. Thanks, lockdown and quarantine).
Lottie is one of the most original characters I’ve come across. She’s a child of wealth and privilege, in that her father owns a Detroit motor company. On that basis, it’s not altogether surprising that Lottie is interested in cars and engines. What is perhaps surprising is that she’s prepared to give up her lifestyle and her fiance to serve in the WAVES—Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service.
I’ve read various novels about women serving in World War I and II, but I think this is the first I’ve read about the WAVES. I enjoyed the historical aspects, especially watching Lottie’s challenges in working in a male-dominated field. But I also enjoyed Lottie’s personal journey, her realisation that we do get to make choices in life and how those choices can change us.
Overall, For Love and Country is a must-read for fans of World War II fiction from authors such as Sarah Sundin and J’nell Ciesielski.
Thanks to Howard Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
May 13, 2021
First off, I would like to say that this is an empowering tale of love and perseverance, written beautifully from a naval viewpoint during WWll. Me being a military child, I greatly appreciated the carefully thought out jargon used by Candace Waters to display this story and give it vivid life. But please do not let this scare you off from reading this amazing novel. Although Waters uses words and phrases that are accurate for the military setting the book is backdropped in, it is far from being a sailor's guide. So this means that the book is not overloaded with military talk and the writing is very impressive, which makes this a green light for you to go read this gorgeous book. The story follows the life of Lottie Palmer, a rich girl from Detroit. She has money, a loving fiance, and a pretty face, and that is all anyone expects from her. Although Lottie is not ungrateful of her privileged life, she longs for more than money and a marriage. So to flee the pressures of rich life and contribute something meaningful to the world and the raging war, she decides to sign up for the Navy WAVES, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. The story follows her throughout her Naval career and to many duty stations across the US. The main characters and their sides are very well put together and bring forth emotion, talents, and hardships which many readers can relate to. Although this title is not labeled as Christian, it does include prayer in some scenes and overall a hopefully message of perseverance, love, and the sacrifice for others. Once again, this book is something that should not be missed by lovers of WWll, romance, hopeful messages, and just genuinely good books.
March 23, 2020
4.5 out of 5 stars!
Lottie is a well to do girl in Detroit at the start of WWII. She’s engaged to be married to her childhood sweetheart, she’s well known in social circles...everything is going according to plan. But as the wedding draws nearer and the war starts to rage on, Lottie realizes that she wants more than the life expected of her. She wants to do her part and flees Detroit the night before her wedding to join the Navy WAVES. She has to prove herself to be more than just a spoiled rich girl and when she excels in mechanics...she proves that not only to her other WAVES but to the men she’s stationed with. Enter Captain Luke Woodward who challenges her and at times makes her question everything. And somewhere along the way...he opens up her heart.
One of the things I love the most about WWII fiction is that there are so many different perspectives! Learning of the Navy WAVES and their role in the war was incredibly interesting! Many of these women’s stories aren’t told but if a fictional story encourages readers to look up those stories, then the author did their job. Lottie is a strong woman. She’s challenged daily not only by her cremates but the challenges she places upon herself are equally as tough. She’s determined and it’s exciting to watch her growth from beginning to end!
I gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars because I felt it ended rather abruptly. I was hoping for a bit more or an epilogue or even sequel. I wasn’t ready for it to end!
Thank you NetGalley for allowing access to this lovely novel!
Lottie is a well to do girl in Detroit at the start of WWII. She’s engaged to be married to her childhood sweetheart, she’s well known in social circles...everything is going according to plan. But as the wedding draws nearer and the war starts to rage on, Lottie realizes that she wants more than the life expected of her. She wants to do her part and flees Detroit the night before her wedding to join the Navy WAVES. She has to prove herself to be more than just a spoiled rich girl and when she excels in mechanics...she proves that not only to her other WAVES but to the men she’s stationed with. Enter Captain Luke Woodward who challenges her and at times makes her question everything. And somewhere along the way...he opens up her heart.
One of the things I love the most about WWII fiction is that there are so many different perspectives! Learning of the Navy WAVES and their role in the war was incredibly interesting! Many of these women’s stories aren’t told but if a fictional story encourages readers to look up those stories, then the author did their job. Lottie is a strong woman. She’s challenged daily not only by her cremates but the challenges she places upon herself are equally as tough. She’s determined and it’s exciting to watch her growth from beginning to end!
I gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars because I felt it ended rather abruptly. I was hoping for a bit more or an epilogue or even sequel. I wasn’t ready for it to end!
Thank you NetGalley for allowing access to this lovely novel!
April 2, 2020
Princess goes to war
On the night of Lottie's wedding to Eugene she leaves him a letter and leaves to join the Waves. It isn't easy for a rich pampered girl but she makes it through basic training. She has no idea how hard it will get. She is stationed in San Diego for training under a tough leader Named Woodward. After training she is stationed in Hawaii only to find out her superior officer is none other than Woodward.
After some harrowing days she finally earns respect as the only female airplane mechanic. She also learns war is for real. Her enemy in San Diego, Maggie becomes her best friend in Hawaii. She finds out Woodward's first name is Luke and fights an attraction to him.
It isn't until Woodward ships overseas to join the fight that she realizes how much he means to her. When he is missing in action it really hits home.
Her daring unauthorized rescue of some escaped sailors afloat in a tiny boat with a wounded Luke on board gets her sent home, but not before Luke proposes to her.
This story was well written it had wonderful characters and beautiful descriptions of Hawaii. The story was about a young woman that wanted to be more than a pampered wife with endless parties. Lottie wanted to make a difference, she wanted to do her part in the war effort. She learned discipline, compassion, and Love.
This was a really good read, and I recommend it.
Thanks to Candace Waters, Howard Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy for an honest review.
On the night of Lottie's wedding to Eugene she leaves him a letter and leaves to join the Waves. It isn't easy for a rich pampered girl but she makes it through basic training. She has no idea how hard it will get. She is stationed in San Diego for training under a tough leader Named Woodward. After training she is stationed in Hawaii only to find out her superior officer is none other than Woodward.
After some harrowing days she finally earns respect as the only female airplane mechanic. She also learns war is for real. Her enemy in San Diego, Maggie becomes her best friend in Hawaii. She finds out Woodward's first name is Luke and fights an attraction to him.
It isn't until Woodward ships overseas to join the fight that she realizes how much he means to her. When he is missing in action it really hits home.
Her daring unauthorized rescue of some escaped sailors afloat in a tiny boat with a wounded Luke on board gets her sent home, but not before Luke proposes to her.
This story was well written it had wonderful characters and beautiful descriptions of Hawaii. The story was about a young woman that wanted to be more than a pampered wife with endless parties. Lottie wanted to make a difference, she wanted to do her part in the war effort. She learned discipline, compassion, and Love.
This was a really good read, and I recommend it.
Thanks to Candace Waters, Howard Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy for an honest review.
September 24, 2021
Lottie Palmer is preparing for her wedding when her discomfort with her coddled life as a debutante grows until she gets her first view of a Navy WAVE. She has spent her life wanting to “do” something. She had learned the basics of mechanics watching or working with the family chauffeur. This and her aptitude get her training as a machinist mate. In every phase of her training she runs into Capt. Luke Woodward. Both of them eventually end up in Pearl Harbor. There her attraction to Luke is reciprocated and their feelings grow into something more.
Lottie is a gifted mechanic and her expertise is soon recognized. She is made a second in command on her crew. As the only woman in any of her training or work crews. So she is constantly under scrutiny with everyone watching her every move. There is a fairly unlikely ending but if you suspend belief a little, it is quite an enjoyable read.
There are some Christian elements with Lottie’s prayers during times of stress. However it was not enough to interfere with flow of the story. It dealt with a lessor known aspect of WWII—women in service arms of the military to free men for combat. In particular, the WAVES have not been covered. I was engaged early on in the story and it kept me reading straight through. The characters are likable—except for some of the men who always make things difficult for women. Lottie’s roommate, Maggie, was an unusual character and I would have liked to know more about her. All in all it was a good read.
Lottie is a gifted mechanic and her expertise is soon recognized. She is made a second in command on her crew. As the only woman in any of her training or work crews. So she is constantly under scrutiny with everyone watching her every move. There is a fairly unlikely ending but if you suspend belief a little, it is quite an enjoyable read.
There are some Christian elements with Lottie’s prayers during times of stress. However it was not enough to interfere with flow of the story. It dealt with a lessor known aspect of WWII—women in service arms of the military to free men for combat. In particular, the WAVES have not been covered. I was engaged early on in the story and it kept me reading straight through. The characters are likable—except for some of the men who always make things difficult for women. Lottie’s roommate, Maggie, was an unusual character and I would have liked to know more about her. All in all it was a good read.
May 25, 2020
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour is an important date earmarked in history; it foraged the entry of the United States into the war.
This book plunges us into the depths of how the aircrafts, damaged during the war, were brought back to life, by the American flight machinists. The day to day working of the aircraft hangar at the Pearl Harbour is depicted through the eyes of the protagonist, Lottie Palmer. A woman of strength, she defies the role allotted to woman as an at home decorative centre piece by society, and takes up the rigorous training with the Waves, leading to her being assigned to repair airplanes. A rich heiress, who could have lived a life of luxury, enjoying garden parties and becoming a rich wife, opts to take up the rigours of military training. The story shows a typical day at the hangar and how women helped the war effort by taking on jobs meant for men in those times.
Loved the determined character of Lottie Palmer, her smart rebukes to men who find it odd that she is the lone woman trained mechanic. Also what makes the story real is the way she takes time to contemplate before jumping into relationships, always giving priority to what she wants to accomplish in life.
This story is for all the women who believe in themselves and have the courage to pursue their dreams.
History over the ages has shown us how the fairer sex never failed to surprise the world with their determination.
This book plunges us into the depths of how the aircrafts, damaged during the war, were brought back to life, by the American flight machinists. The day to day working of the aircraft hangar at the Pearl Harbour is depicted through the eyes of the protagonist, Lottie Palmer. A woman of strength, she defies the role allotted to woman as an at home decorative centre piece by society, and takes up the rigorous training with the Waves, leading to her being assigned to repair airplanes. A rich heiress, who could have lived a life of luxury, enjoying garden parties and becoming a rich wife, opts to take up the rigours of military training. The story shows a typical day at the hangar and how women helped the war effort by taking on jobs meant for men in those times.
Loved the determined character of Lottie Palmer, her smart rebukes to men who find it odd that she is the lone woman trained mechanic. Also what makes the story real is the way she takes time to contemplate before jumping into relationships, always giving priority to what she wants to accomplish in life.
This story is for all the women who believe in themselves and have the courage to pursue their dreams.
History over the ages has shown us how the fairer sex never failed to surprise the world with their determination.
January 8, 2022
although it took me a while to finish this book, I really got into in the beginning because I was expecting it to get better and it just never did. Everything about this book just felt rushed. We never really got the chance to connect with any of the characters be everything was happening so fast and for what??? DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON LUKE AND LOTTIE. Also Eugene ended up joining too like????
I’m all for a happy ending but them getting married in the end was bullshit. They talked outside of work literally for 2 nights and then all of a sudden he was all she was thinking about in battle???
The thing that grinds my gears about this book is that every single relationship just feels so bleh. There was no excitement with Eugene and Lottie. Maggie and Lottie were so predictable (and sometimes predictable isn’t bad but for this book it was) and it felt like Lottie and Luke were just thrown together with no passion in their “relationship”. This book was advertised as a powerful love story in the midst of a war, but in reality it’s just a story about a rich girl who is bored with her life and decides to join the war, OH! and she gets married too!!!
I was expecting a book comparable to the movie Titanic, and I just felt like I was reading a children’s book.
THIS BOOK HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL TOO.
I’m all for a happy ending but them getting married in the end was bullshit. They talked outside of work literally for 2 nights and then all of a sudden he was all she was thinking about in battle???
The thing that grinds my gears about this book is that every single relationship just feels so bleh. There was no excitement with Eugene and Lottie. Maggie and Lottie were so predictable (and sometimes predictable isn’t bad but for this book it was) and it felt like Lottie and Luke were just thrown together with no passion in their “relationship”. This book was advertised as a powerful love story in the midst of a war, but in reality it’s just a story about a rich girl who is bored with her life and decides to join the war, OH! and she gets married too!!!
I was expecting a book comparable to the movie Titanic, and I just felt like I was reading a children’s book.
THIS BOOK HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL TOO.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2021
I really liked this book. Although some things were predictable, there was big excitement and some surprises towards the end of this book.
Maybe some of the harsh reviewers couldn't relate to a time when women whether rich or poor, often only had expectations of marriage and children rather than any other calling or career. Even into the 1950's and 60's this seemed to be the focus of most women. No wonder the main character was confused about how to use her gifts.
I loved reading about a woman mechanic and other jobs done by the WAVES during WWII. (My Dad worked on planes during WWII and I loved being reminded about the atmosphere he may have encountered around a hanger, although he was mostly in England and France.)
Hat's off to the author for her descriptions of engines, planes and other things during this time era and the exciting and romantic parts. I just loved it!
Maybe some of the harsh reviewers couldn't relate to a time when women whether rich or poor, often only had expectations of marriage and children rather than any other calling or career. Even into the 1950's and 60's this seemed to be the focus of most women. No wonder the main character was confused about how to use her gifts.
I loved reading about a woman mechanic and other jobs done by the WAVES during WWII. (My Dad worked on planes during WWII and I loved being reminded about the atmosphere he may have encountered around a hanger, although he was mostly in England and France.)
Hat's off to the author for her descriptions of engines, planes and other things during this time era and the exciting and romantic parts. I just loved it!
May 13, 2025
solid 4 stars
story time how i bought this book: i went to book sale sm fairview 6 days ago to buy into the wild and sanditon, near another bookself, I saw this book laying on top like someone left it there for some reasons. The title caught my attention so i read the sypnosis and it got me interested because ive been looking for books similar to Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. it was only 3 dollars so i bought it.
I just finished it today afternoon. i visioned the book like im watching a tv series since it was written very simple, witty, and descriptive. I couldn't help giggling and kicking my feet everytime Luke and Lottie have an interaction. I wrote so many little comments of how i feel everytime i feel an emotion, like when lottie first called captain woodward's first name for the first time.
I'm hanging onto this book forever. I'll treasure it because its special to me.
story time how i bought this book: i went to book sale sm fairview 6 days ago to buy into the wild and sanditon, near another bookself, I saw this book laying on top like someone left it there for some reasons. The title caught my attention so i read the sypnosis and it got me interested because ive been looking for books similar to Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. it was only 3 dollars so i bought it.
I just finished it today afternoon. i visioned the book like im watching a tv series since it was written very simple, witty, and descriptive. I couldn't help giggling and kicking my feet everytime Luke and Lottie have an interaction. I wrote so many little comments of how i feel everytime i feel an emotion, like when lottie first called captain woodward's first name for the first time.
I'm hanging onto this book forever. I'll treasure it because its special to me.
March 19, 2020
Lottie Palmer is not what you’d expect from a rich girl from one of the powerful car companies in Detroit. You’d think she’d love the glitz and glamor, parties and such that the rich life provides. But when she decides to break off her engagement the day of her wedding and join up with the Navy WAVES your not sure this ‘princess’ of privilege (even though she’s different) can hack it! Turns out having a knack for engines back home turned out to be an amazing path for Lottie. She goes through the hardships of being the woman in a mans world and definitely excels. Although, I felt like the ending (which I won’t spill) after the flight was quite rushed. There definitely could have been more to those last few pages but it just kind of dropped you suddenly. Over all a very interesting and intriguing WWII historical fiction.
April 19, 2020
I just finished reading “For Love and Country” by Candace Waters. I read this book in one day because I just could not put it down. I am such a lover of historical romances set during W.W.II and was privileged to have been chosen to read and review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.
Not only is the story told in a manner that will tug at your heart strings for more reasons than one, but the main characters and the minor characters in this book bring a real feel for the time of the setting of the novel. I am unaware of any other books by this author, but I would be very interested in reading more novels by Ms. Waters.
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley.com in return for my review. You can find this review on my blog at https://wp.me/p2pjIt-zB. Reviews of other books can be found at http://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com.
Not only is the story told in a manner that will tug at your heart strings for more reasons than one, but the main characters and the minor characters in this book bring a real feel for the time of the setting of the novel. I am unaware of any other books by this author, but I would be very interested in reading more novels by Ms. Waters.
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley.com in return for my review. You can find this review on my blog at https://wp.me/p2pjIt-zB. Reviews of other books can be found at http://imhookedonbooks.wordpress.com.
October 28, 2022
For Love and Country is the story of Lottie, a young woman from a wealthy Detroit family. Lottie is about to marry a childhood friend from another privileged family while World War II is being fought both in Europe and the Pacific. Lottie is strongly drawn toward doing more to support the war effort and joins the WAVES.
Overall, not a bad book, but it was somewhat rushed and predictable. The most enjoyable part was the depiction of the WAVES, but I found Lottie's assignment somewhat hard to believe since she quickly went from someone who tinkered on cars to being the "go to" airplane mechanic. The strength of her character was a positive, however.
I would have enjoyed the book more as a pure historical novel without the added romance storyline which I feel was underdeveloped and somewhat rushed.
Overall, not a bad book, but it was somewhat rushed and predictable. The most enjoyable part was the depiction of the WAVES, but I found Lottie's assignment somewhat hard to believe since she quickly went from someone who tinkered on cars to being the "go to" airplane mechanic. The strength of her character was a positive, however.
I would have enjoyed the book more as a pure historical novel without the added romance storyline which I feel was underdeveloped and somewhat rushed.
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