Eagles Over Britain

After Dunkirk #2

by Lee Jackson

The Battle of Dunkirk might be finished, but the war isn’t over.

The German Luftwaffe attacks Britain from the skies. With no allies, she stands alone. Her fate hangs in the balance.

As the first Axis aircraft streak across English Channel airspace, so begins a battle for the ages; one that will determine the trajectory of the war. Braced for engagement on their individual fronts, the Littlefields plumb the depths of courage and ingenuity to defend their beloved Britain.

Fresh from the slaughter of Dunkirk, youngest brother Jeremy is called upon to create a French Resistance network composed of former naval officers.

At MI-9 headquarters, Claire Littlefield has devised an intelligence coup that could change the tide of the war. But will it work?

Lance, captured and far from home, puts his resiliency and resolve to the test.

And frustrated at being sidelined from active combat, Paul is unaware that he is being groomed for a role beyond his imagination.

A sweeping story of war filled with intimate, day-to-day details of those closest to danger, Eagles over Britain is a captivating tale of bravery, sacrifice, and one family’s fight to bring Britain to victory.

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Fiction, War, Military Fiction, Historical

455 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2021

About the author

My Tagline: Lee Jackson Brings Heat To The Cold War. I write Historical Thriller Fiction - particularly surrounding the Cold War. Having lived in Morocco, Germany, Costa Rica, and of course in the United States; and, having been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for a combined 38 months, I've been up-close-and personal with many different cultures. I graduated from West Point and Boston University, resulting in a front row seat on many pivotal events. I live in Texas with my wife. My first novel, "Curse The Moon" was published on 10 December 2013. I publish under my own name, Lee Jackson.

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Two in this spectacular WWII series tells the story of the Battle of Britain through the eyes of the Littlefield family, each involved in the fight to keep England safe from Nazi warfare. I’ve always been intrigued by this time, by the courage of the Royal Air Force and the brave British people who held strong while freedom for the Western world hung in the balance. A beautifully written must-read for WWII buffs and lovers of great historical fiction.

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 04 May 2021
#EaglesOverBritain #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Severn River Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in thos series that I have read and it did not let me down. I like the charatcers in it, the story moves at a good pace and for the most part seems pretty accurate and well done. I like al the secindary characters and the story is not over the top I like the interactions between the two familys and how they are doing their best to fight the Germans. It has a good pace and flow to it and even the abd guys are good. I do think this book stayed twice to long with onne character but that is a minor complaint. If you like big sprawling historical books like Woulk or Michener the you like giving this series a spin. I am a tough grader But I gove this book a solid 4.5 stars.

[MR ALAN J HARDING · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t normally post reviews for fiction but I found Eagles over Britain so puerile that I’m afraid I couldn’t help myself. I suppose that it’s a normal feature of historical fiction that the reader is allowed to suspend disbelief as the story plays out against the appropriate historical context. OK so the author does use standard histories of the Battle of Britain to tie his plot together - although this is extensively and artificially woven into various ‘conversations’ and observations. However boredom is not my main criticism but rather that the author has neither knowledge nor sensitivity of the period he is purporting to describe. Examples of this are so prevalent that reading the book one has either to laugh or scream at the inaccuracies. So, the vocabulary used is dire - no Briton in the 1940s used “gotten” or “hellacious”. Militarily the forms of address are usually wrong as is the lack of knowledge about the weapon systems. Historically daters are often inaccurate, such as the invasion of Greece (1941). As for the heroines visiting a department store in Canary Wharf is laughable. If ever there was a case for an editor with some knowledge then this is it.

[Travis Whyte · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED learning more about the RAF’s heroic efforts to win the Battle of Britain and the remarkable story of how RADAR played such an important role in the success! Tally-Oh!

[Jim Rickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book

Great book and writing. During the bombing I got so mad I needed to remember it was a book. Love the family connection. Will read next one.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished listening to the second installment of the After Dunkirk series. Though the characters tend to be a little flat, I still enjoy the story for the sake of it taking place of an event I know very well. I’ve read and researched about WW2 since I was a little kid and still do today. A lot of the content these books talk about are ones I have much background knowledge on already and it’s been neat reading about them infused with fictional characters in the thick of things things. I appreciate how the author tells this story through the lens of one family doing their bit in the war and capturing the history of the war through their interactions with real historical characters and their engagement in events that really happened. Not too long before this book, I read another book that went in depth about the History of Britain and its neat seeing events of this story reflect that of what actually happened. Plus the content is clean and relatively family friendly enough that I can listen to it around my children. That aspect has been much appreciated.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each book in this series brings out the subtleties of WWII for the ordinary U.S. citizen. I learned more about WWII in this book series than in many other "historical fiction books." There is plenty of non-fiction as part of these reads without getting bored or distracted from the plot. Since I use a Kindle, I can highlight a person's name or event as it comes up in the book and see if they are actual or fictitious characters and events.

Then Wikipedia enhances the story by giving me background on each event or individual. I believe Britain and Russia took the tip of the spear between 1940 and 1941; London was bombed consistently and Russia lost many lives in the battle for Stalingrad.

If you want to learn more about the French Resistance and the Air Battle over Britain during the early years of WWII, this book series is a must-read.

[Robert Webber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This episode of the wartime series tracing the adventures of the Littlefield family Sark CherishTheClitoris vets the period of the Battle of Britain. Some of the plot lines stretch credibility a little but this is another enjoyable tale. Recommended.

[Tim Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this Book 2 in the "After Dunkirk" series. Just some good solid Historical Fiction in this series so far, with compelling characters and solid storytelling. I enjoyed this book a lot.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take three dimensional characters with great backstories mix them with an epic period and you have a great novel. I thought the first book in this series was great and couldn’t wait for the sequel. Luckily, I was given an advance reader copy. It far exceeded my expectations. I finish over 130 books a year (some don’t make it past the 50 page go/no-go decision point - I do not review these since I did not finish them). I highly recommend

Someone asked me to describe this novel without a spoiler: I said - “imagine that Follett’s historical fiction met Baldacci’s characters during the early years of WWII”

[Robert Keeley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unrealistic storyline and far too many historical errors

Too many silly historical mistakes.

Too many Americanisms spoken by British characters

To the point where it was getting annoying.

[Roger Randolph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Characters are too perfect

I like books where the characters aren't so perfect and never in disagreement. The book is too sugary for me.

[Dennis West · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of action?

There was Cera lot of detail and the action was non stop. But it seemed ho hum. The squadrons and Pilots and the sorties kept going adnausium. Lots of words.

[Jennifer Molyneaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd in the series.

[Kelly Baumer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eagles over Britain

I am enjoying this series a lot. However, it is very detailed in some areas and hard to follow. Other than that, I liked it and am ordering the next book now.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where was this book when I was taking British history classes? Where was this book when I was homeschooling my two boys? So happy it is here to share what I have discovered with my mum who lived through the war in England. WWII books have finally got my mum talking about a devastating time. This is not a textbook. This is not a dry story. This is a story of family supported with facts and truths. Fact checking was fun, a discovery, a desire to know more.

Lee Jackson has done a wonderful job bringing insight to the Battle of Britain. He shows four different perspectives in one fantastic book. Four family members with different jobs, different viewpoints giving me a better understanding of England's struggles against Hitler. Weaving the four stories throughout the the book put everything together. No one would have succeeded without the others.

My eyes were opened to dog fights as I read Jeremy Littlefield's story. My heart broke for the struggles pilots and supporting staff dealt with on a daily basis. I celebrated success. I cried over tragedy.

Visiting Bletchley Park gave me more understanding of the importance of the codebreakers. They didn't just decode, they solved puzzles. Claire Littlefield was brilliant and outspoken about things she discovered. They were an important part of the war effort.

My heart broke for Lance Littlefield. My great uncle survived the prisoner march from Dunkirk to Germany. Lance Littlefield became his voice. The struggles, the cruelty, the horrors have left me gutted.

Total respect for Paul Littlefield, a government paper pusher but so much more. Those behind the scene are just as important and those on the frontline. When you are in the know of what is known and going on cannot be put out there to risk capture. You support. You assist. You advise. Paul's project of visiting radar sites, talking to the WAAF's, observing the war rooms gave me understanding. I never knew how much was done behind the scene. I never knew how many people were necessary to aid the pilots.

Information is everything. Lee Jackson has given me so much information. I have purchased a copy of After Dunkirk and sent to my mum. I can't wait to visit my mum next week and discuss the book. I can't wait to get on a conference call with my aunt, a WAAF in WWII, and add her to the conversation. When we are done, I can't wait to buy my mom this amazing book.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

edge of your seat account of the Battle of Britain

Very intense story of the bravery of the Battle of Britain. Perhaps too deep into the details of the battle than the stories of the people, too clinical and not as personal at times. I loved hearing about the first air defense systems and brilliance in engineering of planes. This family is just so heartwarming and lovely. Still too many stories to follow and a LOT happening. Watching the intensity of that many planes and the brilliance and coordination it took for few to fight so many. In depth look at the battle landscape and the scary reality of how close things were. Really shows the level of debt that is owed these amazing, resilient, brave people. Love the Littlefields and how they look out for each other and support and love each other. Heartwarming their dedication to each other and their country. Amazing look at this battle and how it was won by the few

[Loretta McInnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I’m enjoying the series, I feel something was lost between Book 1 and Book 2. I felt, in general, that character development was rushed in this book. For example, given the title of the book, I felt that there should have been more development of the American characters, their relationships with the British pilots, their contribution to the British front, their feelings about fighting a war that was still not seen as urgent at home. I also would have liked more insight into the female characters. While portrayed as strong and intelligent, their training is mentioned but not discussed in detail, not used as a means to strengthen the reader’s connection to the characters. Finally, I wanted more about Lance and his situation - the development of his relationships, his experience as a POW, etc. Still, I enjoyed the action and the historical content enough to give this title three stars. I look forward to the next in the series.

[Linda Rollings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great WWII historical read!

The “After Dunkirk Series” is an excellent family saga that begins immediately after Dunkirk when the French rescue 300K+ of their countrymen but leave a large number stranded & in great danger. And the war builds, as does the many individual stories within this story, from there. This second book is full of espionage, flight training, air attack squadrons & the genius & ingenious men & women orchestrating & executing the attacks against Germany as Hitler’s mania & the war build exponentially. Reliving WWII thru Lee Jackson’s authorship is very interesting & exciting as you learn about the Littlefield family w/each new book. I highly recommend this series as an attention grabbing & holding story thru the first 2 books & I’m anxious to get started on Book 3!!! Happy reading! *****

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Musings

I love these characters, each is unique and enthralling. The plot is intriguing, but there is a lot of redundancy at times. An example of this is when Paul travels to several places to learn how they track the planes on the radar. He visits three sites and what's discussed is very similar just told from another characters perspective. At those times, the book reads more like an instructional manual. The first time is interesting if a little too technical, but by the third scene, I found myself wanting to skip. The romantic elements are satisfying, and I am vested in their love affair. I've already downloaded the next one, but it because I love the characters so much. Happy reading!

[Cara Rogers]

I love history and the time period of this book.
When I know I'm reading a fiction historial book, I will look up certain characters and this book has some pretty amazing 'real' people hat achieved many honors and helped the British and the US beat Hitler. One such character I won't name here goes beyond the call of duty, was an advisor (secretly) to Roosevelt and instrumental in helping developed America's CIA. I really enjoyed all the characters and how they developed and I had a hard time putting this book down, as I did with the Dunkirk book, and have started on the 3rd book. I may have been a fictional book, but it sure did cover a great deal of the facts of WWII. I don't like that life gets in my way and I can't read the book in ust a couple of days ! !

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding story about WWII, the people who fought the evil Third Reich and their spiraling out of control leader, Adolph Hitler. The grit and determination, the love of country and the refusal to live under Nazi rule, all come together in this superb narrative. Unbelievably brave characters, gripping scenes of the dog fights encountered by a small group of under trained pilots who face fear but never backed down. Outnumbered but never outsmarted. Extensively researched and beautifully plotted, Mr. Jackson has written a novel that is powerful, poignant and fit for the ages.
Very Highly Recommended.

[Walter Schlillinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eagles over Britain

Nice quick read with lots of authentic details from Churchill's speeches to details of the air battles over England. This latter point in my estimation became too ill relative and detailed. Other than that this is a quick page turner covering lots of territory from occupied France, the channel islands to the RAF and why the latter was so successful due to Radar. We are also teased by the early development of atomic fusion and the roles that Britain and the USA played. All quite heady stuff that keeps the reader's interest. Can not wait for the next novel.

[Graham Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are going to write a 'historical novel', and this is, you should make sure that you get all the background and facts correct. When the author displays an abysmal knowledge of ranks in the Royal Air Force and many other errors of address and facts about the Battle of Britain. All of which was a pity because the overall plot and story line was imaginative and interesting - if a bit if a stretch in regards to credibility. I am afraid that the author displayed a distressing ignorance of the Royal Air Force and the quirks of English life, that it detracted from the overall. Not only that, it was misleading in many ways.

[Peggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more like 3.5 stars.
Like any series, the characters have to keep trucking on and they do here, but this series is catching my attention in the historical order of events. This is easier to read than a heavy nonfiction and you do get sucked into the characters and stories surrounding them. That said - I’ve already got a deeper piece of nonfiction ready to go to reinforce what I’ve read so far in this series, and I’m anticipating the Americans getting pulled into the war.

This subject matter, WWII, could provide thousands of things to read - literally, thousands - I’m finding this is a good series to get going on the subject.

[Peter Hendrycks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating! Well written and well researched, it was incredible to read about the fledgling RAF radar, the life and experiences of a typical RAF pilot, and the happenings at the RAF command center! I was left wondering if the radar and command center had been not given the British an advantage Germany did not know about, that the Battle of Britain, and the war in general, may have turned out differently. I also like the way Mr. Jackson intertwines compelling human characters in his story that show the stresses and trivulations that people were suffering and experiencing during this time! I look forward to more in this series!

[M J Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is correct when he says he’s found aspects of WW2 that we didn’t know about , which is why I so enjoy his books. Well done Lee! Good research, asking people to send their accounts in and then bringing them in to a great story, based on these facts, as Anthony Horowitz did in Foyle’s war. The continuing family interest through the series, gives valuable insights into different areas of the war, Resistance, Bletchley, Sark Channel Islands under occupation and America’s interest. I'm bereft when I finish one book, so delighted there’s a series. My library couldn’t get them as books or e-books, so it’s a shame they don’t reach more of the public, but understandable, balancing tight budgets in UK. Such good reads, thanks Lee. Mo

[Terry Throop · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the trilogy is as good as the first

Eagles Over Britain does a great job of providing insights into the war from multiple perspectives: French and British; Resistance fighters, POWs, pilots fighting the battle of Britain; differing strategies for that battle; it even reaches out to involve Churchill and US leaders.
Meantime there are love affairs, family discussions to further develop the people in the story.
We'll done, it involved me intellectually and emotionally.

[Richard S Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like historical drama and this is top notch. It is historically accurate with good details about the strategy on both sides during the Battle of Britain. A good characterization of the Dowding vs Mallory of rapid response vs the big wing. The mistakes of the German command and use of fighters is also well covered. The characters are interesting and keep your attention. The interaction of the fictional characters with the historical characters is very believable. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Bobirley Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUTSTANDING - MUST READ - ACTION & HEROS,

I thoroughly enjoyed this book which is the second in a series! It follows a courageous siblings as each tries to save England during WWII. Although the characters are fictional, they feel more like good friends who value the survival of England over personal survival.

This is one of the best series about WWII that I have read because it gives a peak into life at the time. Conversation is conducted as if you were listening in on them. EXCELLENT WRITING!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!