Christmas with the Ops Room Girls

The Women's Auxiliary Air Force #2

by Vicki Beeby

When there’s so much to be afraid of, can May help bring festive cheer to the Ops Room?
After failing to help evacuee siblings whom she witnesses being separated, May wishes she’d had the confidence to speak up. When Jess suggests a pantomime to boost morale on the station, May is desperate to help – but is held back by her own insecurities.

With her low self-esteem also affecting her relationship with Squadron Leader Peter Travis, May is fed up with being her own worst enemy and decides to take charge of her destiny. But the past she ran from, plus a crisis with one of the evacuees, throw May into the midst of a drama that will test all of her newfound confidence.

May, Jess and Evie must work together once again to help each other through the challenges of war and of their own hearts.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christmas, Fiction, Audiobook, British Literature, World War II

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2020

About the author

Vicki Beeby writes historical fiction about the friendships and loves of service women brought together by the Second World War.

Her first job was as a civil engineer on a sewage treatment project, so things could only improve from there. Since then, she has worked as a maths teacher and education consultant before turning freelance to give herself more time to write.

In her free time, when she can drag herself away from reading, she enjoys walking and travelling to far-off places by train. She lives in Shropshire in a house that doesn’t contain nearly enough bookshelves.

Reviews

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas With The Ops Room Girls is the second in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force series by Vicki Beeby. May, a member of the WAAF during World War II, witnesses two evacuee children being separated and feels powerless to do anything. Meanwhile, Jess has volunteered her to play Prince Charming in a Christmas Pantomime. She is also getting uncomfortably close to Peter while dealing with memories from her past. She struggles to find the confidence and strength to handle all of these developments.

This book can be read separately, but characters from the first book show up midway through, so reading the first book would be helpful. This isn't quite a cozy mystery, but there are mysteries to be solved and a slight crime subplot.

Overall, I found this book to be heartwarming and fun, and I would definitely recommend this series.

I received a free copy of this book from Canelo and Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the series is spent with May and Jess, mainly May. The war almost appeared as a back drop to the story in this one. The girls were organising a pantomime for Christmas and this took up a large chunk of the book. They must have had lots of free time at the base!
There was also a problem with an evacuee which the girls decided to solve themselves.
Once again though, it was mired in self pity. Yes I know May had trouble trusting men and she had no confidence but did we have to be told it over and over again? It got really wearisome and by the end May just annoyed me.
There's one more book to go, Jess's story and even though I'd like to know what happens with her I don't think I can face it.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book from The Ops Room Girls
A beautiful enchanting story
May Lidford an aircraftwoman stationed in the RAF in Amberton, when she sees a group of children gathering, Evacuees, when a little girl holding her brothers hand catches her eye, Peggy and Davey Hardy from Coventry, and were been split up. May felt heartful sorry for them but only been a WAFF she had no say in the matter. Along with her friend Jess Halloway working together in the operations room she Missed Evie who had taking a transfer to Bawdsey Manor in suffolk. the little girl Peggy never left her thoughs and hoped that Mrs Evans was treating her right. even the handsome Peter Travis letter didnt cheer her up she didnt want to get committed to a relationship.
A pantomime is been rehearsed in the village hall ready for christmas day and the children are all included to do their part. this is a good time to keep her eye on Peggy.
Throughout this book the author draws you into the characters.
its a wonderful read that I enjoyed with a seasonal beautiful ending.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley

Member Review
Cover Image: Christmas with the Ops Room Girls
Christmas with the Ops Room Girls
by Vicki Beeby
Pub Date: 24 Sep 2020
Review by

jeanie m, Reviewer
Last updated on 20 Aug 2020
My Recommendation
With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.
Was utterly fantastic to be back with jess and Amy and the evacuees there was so much more going on in the village as well a truly magical fantastic read.
Don't forget! Come back to your Review on the pub date, 24 Sep 2020, to post to these retailers.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having loved the first book i was so looking forward to reading of how May,Evie and Jess are getting on in the WAAF.Evie has gone to do officer training so May and Jess get together after shift or on days off.Evacuee children arrive in the village and to make them feel welcome jess comes up with a plan to put on a panto to cheer them up,when may recieves a letter from home it changes her.I have loved this book as i feel i know the girls.5*

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been quite some time since I read the first book in this series and I've quite honestly all but exhausted the genre of wartime fiction as they all get a little bit "samey" after a while. I enjoy the camaraderie of sagas that focus on the homefront with the war as merely a backdrop but anything that gets into the nitty gritty of war work such as this, I tend to glaze over now. I do remember that I enjoyed the first book but I can't recall anything except the ending, and even that is a fleeting memory.

I began this book in the hope that I would pick up the story and go with the flow but unfortunately I found the opening pages to be irritating with the poor evacuees and then a brother and sister having to be separated because one woman billeted refused to take both. Anyone could see the little things were scared and being together was their only security in an unknown and uncertain world. But no. She flatly refused and made it known that even taking one was at a stretch. She wasn't knocking back her rations that came with the little girl. Horrible woman.

So anyway with the evacuees having arrived in the village, the girls - May, Jess and Evie - decide to put on a pantomime for Christmas to help cheer the up. But war continues despite the festivities and the bombings continue to rain down around them. With plenty of harrowing moments, the girls wonder if they can pull this off but then May receives a letter from home and things change.

A delightful heartwarming story in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) series, that focuses less on the war efforts and more on keeping the spirits up of those at home. Despite that horrible draper shop woman.

Overall, an enjoyable read.

I would like to thank #VickyBeeby, #Netgalley and #Canelo for an ARC of #ChristmasWithTheOpsRoomGirls in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Hannah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a while ago now that I read book 1 in this series, The Ops Room Girls, and it was my first taste of historical fiction. Since then I’ve read a few but May, Jess and Evie have definitely found a little hole in my heart which they’ve wedged themselves into.

This book was quite different to book 1 and was much more about the girls themselves rather than the war effort. It was also set around Christmas so we saw the WAF’s trying to mingle with the community more and include the evacuees into their Christmas panto - even if not everyone was quite as keen… There were a few harrowing moments in this though, the bombing of Coventry and May walking around the destroyed streets for one. This just took me back into all the war museums I’ve been to and could see the massive destruction right in front of me, it’s an image that I don’t think would ever leave you…

There are a lot more cheerful moments in this book though and the majority of the time I was smiling along as I was reading this, it was so so great to see May come out of her shell a bit. We all know how much of an incredible woman she is but it’s about time that she started to see that a little bit as well.

I actually spluttered at one point during the panto rehearsals - you’ll know the moment if you’ve read this and it has made me really want to try and get to a panto this year, it’s been so long since I’ve attended one and this book has just given me all the feels!

Can’t believe I’ve waited so long to get my act together and read this book, I’m now super excited to read book 3, Victory for the Ops Room Girls!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book featuring the girls in the WAAF. Having really enjoyed the first one I was delighted to get hold of this one. One of the previous characters only has a peripheral part in this one, having moved on to officer training. Jess & May continue at the base. They are both upset to see brother & sister evacuees being separated, especially as the girl is stuck with the unpleasant draper's shop owner. In an attempt to cheer the children up she decided that putting on a pantomime & including them would be a great idea. Somehow shy May ends up persuaded to play Prince Charming- well she did want to be more assertive!

This is a heart-warming story, it includes real historical events as well as the fiction of the base. I enjoyed it & would like to thank Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

[Linda Oleniuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the continuation of book 1 and really could not be a stand alone book.
It follows the lives of 3 women in the Royal Air Force , their emotional development and determination.
I love all the characters in this book, even the nasty ones.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

[Sandy Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series and this is a heartfelt, heartwarming follow up by Vicki Beeby. Highly recommended.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THESE GIRLS. absolutely loved that this was more about may and her whole journey was so good. also a little festive but not so much that reading it in almost march felt odd? just great. excited to read the third book!

[Clare Ballinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read following the adventures of the ops room girls. A great 2nd book in the series. A book that ticks every box of a genre i enjoy reading about.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual in my reviews I won't rehash the plot - plenty of other reviews like that out there if that is what you are looking for!

This is the second book I've read in the "Ops Room Girls" series. As with the first, I enjoyed this book - I like the author's style and there were several layers to the plot. There's a nice mix of characters from the previous book - who we get to know in more depth - plus plenty of new characters.

The plot is laced with references to actual events from WWII, which enhances the atmosphere of the book. This is a nice easy read, mixing elements of friendship, romance and history, and peopled by believable characters.

I will happily read more in this series.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

[Brenda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book,onto reading book three.

[Marea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series about the ladies who served in WW2 in England focusing on a selected few in the WAAF.

May is the main character in this book as the last one in the series was more focused on Evie. May is from Birmingham and grew up in a household where the women were treated like crap and the men ruled the house. Serving was her chance of breaking away physically but sadly mentally there was a long road ahead. Also in the book is Jess and May’s beloved disabled flyboy Squadron Leader Peter Travis.

When children arrive in the town from the towns and villages that have been bombed, May immediately notices 2 of them, Peggy and Davey. While they should be together, they are sadly put in 2 very different homes. Davey is lucky and placed in the Bowes home where there is lots of love and support and other boys to be with. Peggy is placed in the house of Mrs Evans, the village haberdasher (in the UK it is who sells small articles for sewing, dressmaking, knitting, etc..) who while popular and vocal in the village, she isn’t the greatest person at all. Which brings May to worry about Peggy and the way she is being treated.

Jess wants to help May not only expose Mrs Evans but also in building a backbone and a voice to go with it. So she comes up with the idea of doing a Christmas pantomime production of Cinderella with May playing Prince Charming, local children (especially Peggy in it) and some of the Czech pilots who are trying to prove they are not the enemy. Will everything come together in the end and May stand up for herself not only in the town but also against her father and brothers? Or will she fall back into her old self and lose everything?

Vicky Beeby just touched on some of the things that happened in the UK during this time, some were wonderful but others were not sadly. What she did write about many have forgotten or even never heard of. I could talk about this book more but that would mean I give away so much of the plot. While there are a few parts that drag, it is still a great book to read and one to add to your reading list. It doesn’t matter if it is during the holidays or not. I hope she continues the series and can’t wait for the next one to come out!

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHEN THERE’S SO MUCH TO BE AFRAID OF, CAN MAY HELP BRING FESTIVE CHEER TO THE OPS ROOM?After failing to help evacuee siblings whom she witnesses being separated, May wishes she’d had the confidence to speak up. When Jess suggests a pantomime to boost morale on the station, May is desperate to help – but is held back by her own insecurities.With her low self-esteem also affecting her relationship with Squadron Leader Peter Travis, May is fed up with being her own worst enemy and decides to take charge of her destiny. But the past she ran from, plus a crisis with one of the evacuees, throw May into the midst of a drama that will test all of her newfound confidence.May, Jess and Evie must work together once again to help each other through the challenges of war and of their own hearts.The Chelsea bun is a type of currant bun that was first baked in the 18th century at the Bun House in Chelsea,an establishment favoured by Hanoverian royalty. The bun is made of a rich yeast dough flavoured with lemon peel, cinnamon or mixed spice. Before being rolled into a square spiral shape, the dough is spread with a mixture of currants, brown sugar and butter. The process of making this bun is very similar to that involved in producing the cinnamon roll. After being baked, traditionally the chelsea bun is glazed with syrup (or cold water and sugar). It is glazed while still hot so that the water evaporates and leaves a sticky sugar glaze, making the bun much sweeter.The Brummie dialect, or more formally the Birmingham dialect, is spoken by many people in Birmingham, England, and some of its surrounding areas. "Brummie" is also a demonym for people from Birmingham.The evacuation of civilians in Britain during WWII was designed to protect people, especially children, from the risks associated with aerial bombing of cities by moving them to areas thought to be less at risk.Coventry was bombed many times by the Luftwaffe.The most devastating of these attacks occurred on the evening of 14 November 1940 and continued into the morning of 15 November.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the second character among the threesome working in the WAAF during WWII. May escaped from an unhappy family situation and joined the WAAF. We don't really know the full extent of her family until it is brought out in this book. She is currently working as a driver and has caught the eye of Flight Squadron leader Peter Travis and while she is attracted to him, she has such a low self esteem and an awareness of how downtrodden her own mother was that she is not even considering marriage, ever!
Peter is kind and gentle and is willing to take his time courting her.
When May receives a letter from one of her brothers, she is reluctant to open it for fear she wlll be drawn back home and never escape. She carries the letter around with her until finally Peter suggests he read it for her to let her know what the contents might contain.
With Christmas nearing, Jess suggests a pantomime might be a good distraction for the local community and by involving some of the Czech pilots, it might be a way to help the residents accept them for the hard work and dedication they are displaying. When May and Jess witness some small children from the London area standing at the railroad station waiting to be boarded with some of the local residents, they are dismayed to see a young girl reluctant to be separated from her younger brother, Davy. While Davy is assigned to go with a loving family, the girl is assigned to a unpleasant woman who owns the haberdashery store. May is determined to help her and done way of doing that is to involve her in the pantomime. With Jess's encouragement, May becomes much stronger that she has ever thought possible.
The story continues with this theme in mind.
The main focus of this book is May, her driving ability, her relationship with Peter, the young girl and her ability to gain an awareness of her own strength and self esteem.

[Lucy-Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas With The Ops Room Girls is the second in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force series, and again centres around three WAAFs: Evie, May and Jess.
In this book, Evie has gone off to do officer training, whilst May & Jess remain together, though in a new location. We get another glimpse of the war, as they meet the evacuee children from Coventry who are being billeted in the local village, but also see the heartbreak & devastation faced by so many when Coventry is bombed & nobody knows if the children’s parents are still alive.
The story centres around a pantomime that May & Jess decide to organise to help cheer the evacuee children up at Christmas. Of course all doesn’t go to plan when May gets a letter from home, or when her relationship with Peter starts to deepen. May lacks confidence to handle these situations but can Jess help her through them?
It's quite unrealistic to think that so many wartime personnel could have been released to participate in a pantomime, though if we ignore that, it’s an uplifting story that works well. It is very much a continuation of book 1 in the series and I don’t think it could really stand alone. I also think that pantomime is a very British thing and as such this book probably won’t appeal to people unfamiliar with it in quite the same way. After the first 2 in the series, you will definitely want to read the third book & Jess’s story.

[Kylie Dowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot. I know Vicki got a three book deal. I look forward to the announcement of the next book. I know I'll like it. Very promising new author. I learned things I didn't know despite the many books I've read about the Wars. Vicki really did her research. I enjoyed reading about and learning of life on the WAAF and what the ops rooms duties involved, what the job was like ams it's many pressures. What different planes were flown by the pilots. What engines they had. What manoeuvres they used. The terminology. The things they had to do before they could engage the enemy. It was nice to have all that included. Other authors leave put all the details of the working and personal lives of the love interests of the female lead characters, which is a shame. I came to like May a lot. I'm fond of Evie and Jess. I suspect the next book will focus mainly on Jess, it's her turn. I enjoy books like these that don't reply solely on the romance. Though to keeps lemty of it in its is balanced out nicely with everything else. I don't know if you'll see the this Vicki, but, good luck and best wishes for the future, you deserve it!

[Barnes Torie · Rating 3 out of 5]

🖤 Review 🖤

Book: Christmas with the Ops room girls
Author: Vicki Beeby
My Raiting: 3⭐

From Blurb:

After failing to help evacuee siblings whom she witnesses being separated, May wishes she’d had the confidence to speak up. When Jess suggests a pantomime to boost morale on the station, May is desperate to help – but is held back by her own insecurities.

My Thoughts 💭

Okay so this series is one of those cute and comfortable reads for me.
I've had a couple of bad pain days and it's been so nice to sink into a series that doesn't require too much thought.
You can quite literally make yourself a cuppa and sit down and just enjoy the story.

Although there are things that annoy me about these books the positives outweigh them.

I felt like the book didn't quite know what it wanted to be. A story of friendship or a romance.

However the vivid descriptions of the world we are in, the emphasis on the womans roll during WW2 and the heart wrenching story of the children evacuated from their homes was enough to keep me with the story.

I'd definitely recommend it if you need a good easy read on a bad day.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vicki Beeby (2021) CHRISTMAS WITH THE OPS ROOM GIRLS (AUDIOBOOK)
BorrowBox - Bolinda Audio

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars

BorrowBox writes, "After failing to help evacuee siblings whom she witnesses being separated, May wishes she’d had the confidence to speak up. When Jess suggests a pantomime to boost morale on the station, May is desperate to help - but is held back by her own insecurities. With her low self-esteem also affecting her relationship with Squadron Leader Peter Travis, May is fed up with being her own worst enemy and decides to take charge of her destiny. But the past she ran from, plus a crisis with one of the evacuees, throw May into the midst of a drama that will test all of her newfound confidence. May, Jess and Evie must work together once again to help each other through the challenges of war and of their own hearts."
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Stunning story. Lovely lovely characters. Very Christmassy.
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#VickiBeeby #ChristmasWithTheOpsRoomGirls #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #BorrowBox #Christmas #Xmas #MerryChristmas #HappyChristmas #MerryXmas #HappyXmas #HappyHolidays #CrimboReads

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ARC of this book was kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #ChristmaswiththeOpsRoomGirls #NetGalley.
This was exactly the kind of fun, lighthearted read I was looking for. Having already been familiar with these characters, there was a comfort in returning to their lives and this setting. The casual banter and conversations between May and Jess were entertaining to read, as was the general festivities mentioned. I particularly enjoyed reading about May's character development, I expressed an interest in reading a book mainly from her perspective after reading the first instalment in this series and this didn't disappoint! I can only hope the next one will be from Jess' point of view, I would have liked a little more exploration into what Evie was up to, however, the small mentions and appearances from her were enough given that this was primarily May's book. Once again, a very entertaining and comforting read! Can't wait for the next one.

[Cherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and enjoyed this just as much as the first one. The friendship between the girls is as strong as ever in this book and they are preparing for Christmas with a special panto but in and around that they have lots to deal with including romance, family issues, careers, helping children who have been evacuated and self development. I especially enjoyed following May's story with Peter and also seeing her standing up to her family with her new found confidence that those around her have helped her with. This confidence also means that May helps and stands up for one of the children who have been evacuated and this plot line was a really interesting one for me. Another thing I really like is the author's style of writing which I think is really easy to follow and is to the point. I would have liked a little more on Evie's story as I felt that was missing for me in this book but overall another very good read from this author and looking forward to reading the third book in the series.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the previous story, which had plenty of detail about the war work in the flight ops room. This book mainly sticks to the surrounding village and looks at the plight of child evacuees. There is a lot of padding about a Christmas pantomime. Unless you have never read about a panto and rehearsals you can skim it. The costume assemblage is the most relevant given the lack of suitable material.
One of the girls we follow is a driver, another has gone on to be an officer and only makes brief visits. We also follow a pilot, already missing a leg, as he flies missions to hunt enemy bombers. I do not for the life of me see why a lady breaks up with him, and think that section is highly contrived.
We see bombed out streets of Birmingham and Coventry, and we learn that even in these days, dirty deeds are afoot. There's nice detail of the food available and shortages from soap to fabric.
Giving women new roles and new strengths of personal determination is the main theme. I like this book but not so well as the first story.
I read a paperback. This is an unbiased review.

[Deborah J Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story, a group of evacuees from Coventry arrive in the village and are allocated billets. Some are lucky and have caring foster parents. Others are not so lucky. May becomes concerned about one in particular, Peggy, and promises to help her.

Jess persuades May that they should put on a pantomime for the children and involve the Czech airmen to help improve relations between RAF Amberton and the village. The friends also decide to offer parts to the evacuees so that they can befriend Peggy. Some of the locals are less than friendly, and in helping Peggy, May and Jess uncover some illegal activities in the village.

This is an era I enjoy reading about, and the plot line certainly held my attention throughout, although I felt it was a little thin towards the end, leaving me with lots of unanswered questions.

I enjoyed watching May's confidence grow as she took on a leading role in the pantomime, and then found inner strength to deal with issues that normally would have seen her bend to someone's will.

Whilst part of a series, Christmas with the Ops Room Girls could easily be read as a standalone.

[Liz (elizabethfleur) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to be back with The Ops Room Girls again.

I've been enjoying this series more than I thought I would. It's well written and there's lots of sub-plots to keep you interested. I was excited to see how the Panto would play out, and I thought Peggy's story was important, as sadly I think the mistreatment of evacuees happened far too often.

This would have been a 5* read, however I found the near constant mention of May's shyness irritating. I am someone who has always been shy and quiet, so I relate to May and loved hearing her story. However, her low self esteem was mentioned so often that it became annoying. We know that events in her past have made her timid, so we don't need to be constantly told.

I am looking forward to reading Book 3, which I hope & assume will follow Jess and her story. I was sad not to see much of Evie in this book, but it was realistic and I appreciated that.

[joyce brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Excellent book from Vicki Beeby.

I did not think , after reading the Op Room Girls, that a sequel could match up to it. Well, this Christmas book did and actually superseded it. The author brings to life the characters and the reader feels their jobs as well as pains. It is a heart rending story of love and tribulations during war time. I could not put this book down. Now that 2 of the Op girls have found their true loves, I hope the author will write a third book to finish the happy ending for all 3 girls. It would be great to see Jess and Milan get together and to see how all 3 girls get on as officers. Thank you Vicki Beeby, your books are riveting and told from the heart. I hope to read more from you.

[The Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas with the ops room girls is the second book in the women’s auxiliary Air Force series. This time the book is narrated in May’s perspective. After witnessing two evacuees children being separated she feels the urge of helping them, all this while getting pushed into playing Prince Charming into a pantomime and trying to deal with the pressure that comes from a loving relationship.

Even in this book I’ve loved Vicky’s writing style and how she has kept the consistency of the plot’s pace. And moreover I enjoyed a lot the inclusiveness of mystery, romance and historical fiction in the story. For sure you won’t get bored, but you will end up the book with an heartwarming and uplifting spirit.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book two of the Ops room girls and continues with more of the lives of Evie, Jess and May. Evie has gone off for Officer training and May and Jess decide to entertain the villagers and the evacuees with a Christmas pantomime. May is worried about Peggy a young girl from Coventry who has been sent to stay with Mrs Evans. Will May’s involvement with village affairs affect her chances of Officer training and even her chance of love with Peter. I highly recommend this book as it goes into more detail about May’s home life before she joined up.

[Lucy Dunphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was a great to catch up with The Ops Room Girls. I'm so glad this book was focused on May. She intrigued me during the previous book. I loved seeing her confidence soar and see her finally stand up for herself. There were times I was so angry at how things were going due to how damaged she was from her past and there were times I just wanted to hug her. This is a wonderful story of hope love and friendship during the Second World War. I really hope that there'll be a third book focusing on Jess.