French Letters: Engaged in War by Jack Woodville London

French Letters: Engaged in War

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Vire Press (September 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982120710

 Product Description

French Letters: Engaged in War, is the second book in the French Letters Trilogy. The companion to Virginia s War, it is the story of Will Hastings, an army doctor caught up in the D-Day landings in Normandy and the drive to capture St. Lo, France. Isolated from Virginia Sullivan and the events taking place at home, Will faces the demands of combat surgery under fire and the losses of his brother, his friends, and his connection to home. Historically accurate and precise and covering events from exactly the same time frame as the events in the first volume, Engaged in War is a novel of the will to survive when war, distance, loss, and the uncertainty of the future separate a couple far beyond the breaking point. 

My Thoughts:

French Letters: Engaged in War has to be the first WWII book I have read in a long time and was apprehensive when I requested this book from Phenix & Phenix. This second novel in the trilogy by Jack Woodville London pretty much takes place in the French countryside during the attempted takeover of  St. Lo. The main character is Will Hastings, a combat surgeon, who is not attached to any unit but is treating wounded men . His brother is missing, presumed dead and Will is trying to find out what exactly happened to him. He is conflicted with his feelings for a woman (Virginia) back home and his growing love he has for a local French woman. The story goes back and forth between the battlefield and events and people left behind at home and people he meets along the way, locals and fellow soldiers. The book has all the elements of a well researched story, with accurate historical details about one of the most devastating of wars. Not necessarily a "war" story but more on how the war affects people and the actions that they take that they would not normally take. In time of war, people do things they may not do otherwise and they find that they do what they need to to survive.

I did not read the first novel but I would recommend reading the first novel in the series, Virginia's War then read this one. I did enjoy this book and look forward to the third one to see what happens.

 About the Author

A native Texan, Jack Woodville London is twice-recognized as a Super Lawyer by his peers. He graduated from West Texas State University in history and foreign relations before earning his Juris Doctor from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law. He served in the Army as a quartermaster officer and has traveled extensively while pursuing his interests in literature and history. His first novel, French Letters: Virginia's War, has been honored for three distinctly different best- finalists awards. Novels with a Romantic Element by Dear Author, Best Historical Novel of the Year by MWSA, and Willie Morris Best Novel of the South by the Williams Foundation. 
I received this book from Phenix & Phenix and was not compensated for my review.