The Call of the Wrens, Jenni L Walsh
The Call of the Wrens, Jenni L Walsh
1 Rating(s)
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
Club: $13.99

The Call of the Wrens

Author: Jenni L Walsh

Narrator: Fiona Hardingham, Amanda Sanfilippo

Unabridged: 10 hr 17 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Harper Muse

Published: 11/15/2022

Synopsis

The Call of the Wrens introduces the little-known story of the daring women who rode through war-torn Europe carrying secrets on their shoulders.An orphan who spent her youth without a true home, Marion Hoxton found in the Great War something other than destruction. She discovered a chance to belong. As a member of the Women’s Royal Naval Service—the Wrens—Marion gained sisters. She found purpose in her work as a motorcycle dispatch rider assigned to train and deliver carrier pigeons to the front line. And despite the constant threat of danger, she and her childhood friend Eddie began to dream of a future together. Until the battle that changed everything.Now twenty years later, another war has broken out across Europe, calling Marion to return to the fight. Meanwhile others, like twenty-year-old society girl Evelyn Fairchild, hear the call for the first time. For Evelyn, serving in the war is a way to prove herself after a childhood fraught with surgeries and limitations from a disability. The re-formation of the Wrens as World War II rages is the perfect opportunity to make a difference in the world at seventy miles per hour.Told in alternating narratives that converge in a single life-changing moment, The Call of the Wrens is a vivid, emotional saga of love, secrets, and resilience—and the knowledge that the future will always belong to the brave souls who fight for it.Historical, stand-alone novelBook length: approximately 94,000 words

About Jenni L Walsh

Jenni L. Walsh worked for a decade enticing readers as an award-winning advertising copywriter before becoming an author. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in historical or contemporary settings. She is a proud graduate of Villanova University, and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband, daughter, son, and various pets. Jenni is the USA TODAY bestselling author of historical novels Becoming Bonnie, Side by Side, A Betting Woman, The Call of the Wrens, Unsinkable, and Ace, Marvel, Spy. She also writes books for children, including the nonfiction She Dared series and historical novels Hettie and the London Blitz, I Am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies, Over and Out, and Operation: Happy. To learn more about Jenni and her books, please visit jennilwalsh.com or @jennilwalsh on social media.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader

Oh, this book. I discovered Jenni Walsh’s writing through her books on Bonnie from Bonnie and Clyde fame. I was so excited to read her newest, The Call of the Wrens, and will tell you outright, hist fic fans, don’t miss this one. About the book: “Introducing the little-known story of the daring women......more

Goodreads review by Dea

I'm generally not a massive fan of the dual narrative and dual timeline combination as one character's story is generally more interesting or more thoroughly developed than the other, but that's not the case here - I found both characters and storylines equally compelling. Our two protagonists initi......more

Goodreads review by Srivalli

4 Stars One Liner: A less-explored area of WWI and WWII; Well-written 1917 England Marion has to leave the orphanage when she turns eighteen. With nowhere to go, she joins the Women’s Royal Navy Service (Wrens) as a typist before becoming a motorcycle dispatch rider on the Western Front. With her ne......more

Goodreads review by Marilyn (having surgery- trying to catch up)

4.5 glowing brilliant stars for this historical fiction novel! The Call of the Wrens was a compelling and riveting saga that spanned the years of World War I and World War II. It explored the various roles and assignments women who signed up for the Women’s Royal Navy Service (Wrens) were asked to p......more

Quotes

A tale filled with strong emotion, hope, and determination, it is highly thought-provoking and entertaining. It is clearly evident Ms. Walsh has spent indeterminable hours researching and putting together a well-written and memorable story about past events to make them truly authentic as well as informative. New York Journal of Books

From its intriguing cover to the author's note at the end, this book will captivate readers . . . The characters (including a brave pigeon) are sympathetic and believable, the plot has plenty of surprises, and the history of these heroic women is fascinating . . . an ideal read in a cozy chair with a cup of tea in front of the fireplace. Historical Novel Society

Walsh (Becoming Bonnie) offers an enticing story of two Englishwomen serving their country during both world wars . . . Walsh expertly contrasts the life of orphaned Marion and privileged Evelyn to expose their common desire to show their value outside societal labels. Historical fiction fans will be riveted. Publishers Weekly

Walsh (Side by Side, 2018) follows two English women, Marion and Evelyn, showing how they became involved with the Women's Royal Naval Service, more commonly known as the Wrens . . . This well-written, straightforward book will be of interest to readers curious about the types of work available to English women who wanted to aid in war efforts during both world wars. Booklist

Walsh really captures the intensity of war, transporting the reader back in time and driving home the anxiety and uncertainty of the era, but also the fortitude and sacrifice of the men and women who dared to join the fight. Nashville Book Review

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List