Deep in the Blitzkrieg, one unlucky pilot must fight to survive.
When aspiring pilot John Archer finds himself caught in the middle of the devastating Nazi invasion of France, he quickly realizes that his vacation could cost him his life. As an American swept up in a wave of refugees fleeing the chaos of the German advance, deep down he knows he’s in way over his head.
After a Stuka dive bomber attack forces him to flee into the woods, Archer stumbles upon an ambulance driver named Barney James. Together, they hatch a plan to escape the German Blitzkrieg and make it to safety. But it won’t be that simple. When an unfortunate capture leads to Archer discovering vital information about the Nazi’s plans, he knows he has no choice but to slip out from under his enemy’s nose and tell the Allies what he’s found.
With nothing more than his basic pilot training and a determination to succeed, Archer will need more than a stroke of luck to pull off the escape of the century. Even if he manages to make it behind Allied lines, he won’t be safe—the Nazis are advancing.
Combining classic action and adventure with a riveting and historical World War II setting, the first book in the John Archer Series is ideal for history buffs and casual readers alike. This action-packed adventure is perfect for teens and young adult readers.
I write books and narrate audiobooks about WWII Pacific Theater history.
My focus covers three areas: the island-hopping campaigns that defeated Japan, the cultural forces that made Japanese soldiers fight to the death, and the extraordinary stories of Pacific War survivors who defied the odds.
What matters are the real experiences—the Marines on the beaches, the sailors under kamikaze attack, the soldiers who refused to surrender, and the commanders making impossible decisions.
As the invading German army speeds across France and Belgium in the spring of 1940, American John Archer and his English sidekick Barney James, both seventeen, are unexpectedly landed in the thick of the action. In a manner reminiscent of the Biggles books I read as a child, our resourceful duo continually find themselves in hot water. Will they be able to grapple their way repeatedly out of trouble and ultimately save the day? I think we all know the answer!
War Heroes is an enjoyable, quick-paced piece of historical fiction. Daniel Wrinn does a particularly good job conveying the confusion of war without feeling the need to get unnecessarily gory. As such, this would also be a great book for younger readers.
I have to admit that when Archer is thinking to himself, past and present tenses tend to get a little confused and inconsistent. Nevertheless, this is a minor point, and I certainly look forward to Archer and Barney’s next adventure.
Answering his father's demands that he cut short his Paris vacation and go to Britain as the Germans sweep into Belgium, American John Archer escapes the destruction of the road he's travelling on, meets his new friend and sidekick Barney and tangles with the Germans on his way to saving the day for the British all with an irreverence and mental dexterity that kept me laughing, wincing and crossing my fingers and toes for the pair's safe delivery. This book offers an interesting and informative look at the early days of the second world war with a humous touch that makes it a pleasure to read.
I loved reading this book. One of the best books I have read thus far this year. I can't wait to get into the second one, Bombs over Britain. Very captivating book. I couldn't put it down!
A rather good novel about the early stages of WWII through the eyes of two young lads. The author was able to tell the reader how Belgium fell and the fall of Dunkirk. Look forward to reading other books by this author.
Quick read, not very sophisticated with historical/ factual inaccuracies and implausible events. Would be a fun book for a teenage reader but less so for folks with a bit of historical ‘nous’.