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Together Under the Stars
October 1943. Nancy Dalton, working at the RAF base at Scampton in Lincolnshire, has been holding vigil for the Lancaster bomber pilots whose missions seem endless. But her watchfulness has not prevented her own pilot brother from failing to return. In the midst of mourning him, fresh recruits arrive to continue the war effort, among them charismatic Canadian Steve Allard.
The months ahead will be long and hard, with danger a constant companion, and although both Steve and Nancy never intend to complicate wartime life with romance, their attraction becomes impossible to ignore.
The months ahead will be long and hard, with danger a constant companion, and although both Steve and Nancy never intend to complicate wartime life with romance, their attraction becomes impossible to ignore.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 4, 2021
A charming and engaging read about characters that captured my attention and my heart. Just a lovely story and highly recommended.
January 25, 2023
A wonderful feel good wartime tale. Filled with strength, perseverance, bravery and romance in the face of it all. We have hunky Canadians, bomber pilots and some damn brave WAAF’s.
Nancy has not long lost her brother to the skies so when a band of handsome Canadians (definitely not yanks. They will tell you otherwise) she adamantly decides she will not get attached. Easier said than done however …
It was a really compelling story and I enjoyed seeing it from the perspective of some of the Air Force pilots in the air whilst on their missions, driving Lancaster’s and in the thick of it in enemy territory. It was great from start to finish and we got to follow them all from in the midst of war until the end of it, with the adjustments to post war life. A great audiobook and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Nancy has not long lost her brother to the skies so when a band of handsome Canadians (definitely not yanks. They will tell you otherwise) she adamantly decides she will not get attached. Easier said than done however …
It was a really compelling story and I enjoyed seeing it from the perspective of some of the Air Force pilots in the air whilst on their missions, driving Lancaster’s and in the thick of it in enemy territory. It was great from start to finish and we got to follow them all from in the midst of war until the end of it, with the adjustments to post war life. A great audiobook and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
August 16, 2021
October 1943. Nancy Dalton, working at the RAF base at Scampton in Lincolnshire,has been holding vigil for the Lancaster bomber pilots whose missions seem endless.But her watchfulness has not prevented her own pilot brother from failing to return.In the midst of mourning him, fresh recruits arrive to continue the war effort, among them charismatic Canadian Steve Allard.The months ahead will be long and hard, with danger a constant companion, and although both Steve and Nancy never intend to complicate wartime life with romance, their attraction becomes impossible to ignore.Scampton is a village and civil parish in Lincolnshire, England.In the civil parish,between the village and the A15,is RAF Scampton.The airfield first opened in 1916 as Home Defence Flight Station Brattleby,becoming Scampton in 1917.It re-opened in 1936.Love with a Canadian was probably the furthest thing from the minds of single British women as WWII began.But with British men away fighting and America not entering the war until late 1941,Canadian servicemen based in England were often the only men at country dances and big-city pubs.British women were drawn to the Canadians' tailored uniforms and carefree manner.For the Canadians, local women offered companionship and calm during daunting circumstances.With death and destruction so close, thousands of these couples met, dated and married hastily, determined to live for the present, but there were long lasting relationships as well.Some Canadians were there for virtually the entire war;others stopped there only briefly en route to their duties elsewhere.Canadian Wives' Bureau was set up in 1944 by the Department of National Defence.A joint effort between Canadian immigration officials, the military,and the Canadian Red Cross,it arranged ship and train travel for war brides and dependents to their Canadian husbands.Adjustments and compromises had to be made.The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is a company created by the British government on 9 December 1920 to run recreational establishments needed by the British Armed Forces, and to sell goods to them.The NAAFI's greatest contribution was during WWII.
April 19, 2024
I bought this book as I wanted to learn more about bomber squadrons during WW2. The first half of the book was better and I enjoyed the Canadians, but it did seem to drag and I think overall it could have been a much shorter book.
The romance element was interesting at first between Steve and Nancy but became a bit lacklustre half way through. Steve's declaration of love was quite underwhelming after a little bit of a build up.
I like dual POV books and this was that and more, but sometimes I thought the author couldn't decide which POV to use and some scenes would have been better from a reader perspective from another POV.
I also didn't think there was hardly any emotions being conveyed. When Nancy lost her brother and the odd time when an airman would be drunk and cry, but other than that both Steve and Nancy seemed a bit devoid of emotions when they were living through the most emotional times of their lives! I wanted to be drawn more to the characters and would have been if I had seen more emotion expressed.
Overall I enjoyed the first half more and this part did give me some good insights into life on a British airbase during WW2.
The romance element was interesting at first between Steve and Nancy but became a bit lacklustre half way through. Steve's declaration of love was quite underwhelming after a little bit of a build up.
I like dual POV books and this was that and more, but sometimes I thought the author couldn't decide which POV to use and some scenes would have been better from a reader perspective from another POV.
I also didn't think there was hardly any emotions being conveyed. When Nancy lost her brother and the odd time when an airman would be drunk and cry, but other than that both Steve and Nancy seemed a bit devoid of emotions when they were living through the most emotional times of their lives! I wanted to be drawn more to the characters and would have been if I had seen more emotion expressed.
Overall I enjoyed the first half more and this part did give me some good insights into life on a British airbase during WW2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2024
I found this book fine, but it wasn't a romance as I had expected.
The first two thirds of the book were very much focused on life on the airfield during WWII and on the friendship between the crew members, including Steve, plus Nancy and Jean.
It was interesting to learn more about the role of pilots during the war and see what missions they did. However, I found that the book was very emotionless, the characters are a little too two-dimensional and robotic, so I didn't get attached to them, and couldn't understand why Steve and Nancy had developed a romantic relationship. Indeed, there was nothing that explained why they liked each other, very few times they conversed with one another, etc.
In the remaining third of the book, the focus was more on Steve's effort to marry Nancy, but again, I didn't find it fit under the romantic category; and it somehow didn't fit with the rest of the book.
Overall, a good read a bit flat and emotionless.
The first two thirds of the book were very much focused on life on the airfield during WWII and on the friendship between the crew members, including Steve, plus Nancy and Jean.
It was interesting to learn more about the role of pilots during the war and see what missions they did. However, I found that the book was very emotionless, the characters are a little too two-dimensional and robotic, so I didn't get attached to them, and couldn't understand why Steve and Nancy had developed a romantic relationship. Indeed, there was nothing that explained why they liked each other, very few times they conversed with one another, etc.
In the remaining third of the book, the focus was more on Steve's effort to marry Nancy, but again, I didn't find it fit under the romantic category; and it somehow didn't fit with the rest of the book.
Overall, a good read a bit flat and emotionless.
May 15, 2022
Its October 1943 and at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire the crews of the Lancaster bombers are always on the alert and ready to complete another bombing mission. One of these is a Canadian called Steve Allard, he is a pilot and a brave one at that and his crew trust him completely. His girlfriend is Nancy an English girl who works on the base also and as the time goes on these two grow closer. Nancy is still recovering after losing her brother who was also based at Scampton and she is always worried that she will lose Steve in the same way. As the months go by and the war comes to an end the big question is "what will become of their relationship, will he go back to Canada or stay in England?".
A lovely 5 star wartime read.
A lovely 5 star wartime read.
September 21, 2023
What an emotional roller coaster. Get ready to sob with all the emotions. Happy, sad, funny. I had tears rolling down my face listening to the story of this Lancaster bomber crew/squadron.
I know this is fictional, however I’m sure this would have been a similar story for many RAF personnel.
On a personal note:
This topic is very close to my families hearts as we lost a cousin and his crew as their Lancaster bomber was shot down on a bombing raid over Breman, Germany - 6 Oct 1944 - Pilot F/O John Middleton ❤️ Lest we forget ❤️
I know this is fictional, however I’m sure this would have been a similar story for many RAF personnel.
On a personal note:
This topic is very close to my families hearts as we lost a cousin and his crew as their Lancaster bomber was shot down on a bombing raid over Breman, Germany - 6 Oct 1944 - Pilot F/O John Middleton ❤️ Lest we forget ❤️
April 12, 2025
A nice simple and engaging read. A whistle stop tour of life at Scampton RAF base, following the lives of a Canadian Lancaster bomber crew and the WAF's who worked there as well. All bar two of the key characters we're introduced to survive to the end of the story and there is a happy ending for those who do. The in's and out's of the relationships are believable. Beryl Matthews is always go to author.
November 14, 2023
Light hearted read about Canadian pilots during ww2 based in England. Clean. Very spelled out plot. Single timeline. Very simple and easy to read. Not as gripping or deep as others in the genre but sometimes that’s welcome after several heavy Reads. This is mostly a HF Romance and the drama is related to what to do when the war ends and the two people are from different countries.
March 25, 2025
I would give this book10 stars if possible!
Such a great book! The plot is excellent and the characters are so believable. This is a side of the war that I haven't read that much about in all the WWll books I've read. The different jobs that were held to keep the bombers doing their jobs and at such a cost. The romances in the story were excellent and believable.
Such a great book! The plot is excellent and the characters are so believable. This is a side of the war that I haven't read that much about in all the WWll books I've read. The different jobs that were held to keep the bombers doing their jobs and at such a cost. The romances in the story were excellent and believable.
September 14, 2021
At first it felt like this book didn’t have an end goal, I like the detail though and about 2/3 of the way through you started to see what the end goal might be. Turned out to be a really excellent book.
August 18, 2022
I liked the story once I got into it. Four Canadians come to England to join the war effort in WWII by flying in the RAF. I found it interesting to read as there were lots of Canadians who came to Britain during this time to help the allies win the war.
September 20, 2021
Audiobook. Easy read. Loved the story!
November 25, 2022
A really lovely book, didn't want it to end !
February 14, 2024
Such a sweet wartime romance. I felt the end was a bit predictable but it was heartwarming all the same.
August 21, 2024
Not my usual read, but I throughly enjoyed it and recommend reading this book.
July 2, 2021
Loved this as all her books
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews