The Linen Queen by Patricia Falvey

 Book Description from Hatchette Book Group

Abandoned by her father and neglected by her self-centered, unstable mother, Sheila McGee cannot wait to escape the drudgery of her mill village life in Northern Ireland. Her classic Irish beauty helps her win the 1941 Linen Queen competition, and the prize money that goes with it finally gives her the opportunity she's been dreaming of. But Sheila does not count on the impact of the Belfast blitz which brings World War II to her doorstep. Now even her good looks are useless in the face of travel restrictions, and her earlier resolve is eroded by her ma's fear of being left alone.
When American troops set up base in her village, some see them as occupiers but Sheila sees them as saviors--one of them may be her ticket out. Despite objections from her childhood friend, Gavin O'Rourke, she sets her sights on an attractive Jewish-American army officer named Joel Solomon, but her plans are interrupted by the arrival of a street-wise young evacuee from Belfast.
Frustrated, Sheila fights to hold on to her dream but slowly her priorities change as the people of Northern Ireland put old divisions aside and bond together in a common purpose to fight the Germans. Sheila's affection for Joel grows as she and Gavin are driven farther apart. As the war moves steadily closer to those she has grown to love, Sheila confronts more abandonment and loss, and finds true strength, compassion, and a meaning for life outside of herself.

My Thoughts:

The Linen Queen by Patricia Falvey is the second book by the author that is located in Ireland. Ms.Falvey's first book was The Yellow House and is an excellent book. I was very excited to read The Linen Queen as I really enjoyed The Yellow House as did my husband and two of my daughter's.

The premise of the story is about Sheila's wish that she be the winner of the 1941 Linen Queen, a competition that involves the linen mills that are in Sheila's area, and in which she works. She hopes to win as she would like to get the money and escape the small town that she lives in. Sheila and her mother live with Sheila's aunt and her husband. Not an ideal situation because the aunt is not very nice and her husband is a lecherous person. 

Sheila does win the competition but is unable to flee as the war with Germany has come close to home, in Belfast in fact. 

Sheila has a childhood friend Gavin who she really likes but soon with the American soldiers in Northern Ireland, she meets Joel Solomon. Joel is a Jewish army officer with whom Sheila becomes very close to. Sheila does not have a close relationship with her mother at all so Sheila is seldom at home. She loves to go dancing at the clubs and escape the pains of every day living with blackouts and rationing. Another character in the story is Grainne who is an evacuee and comes to live in the household. Grainne distrusts Sheila and Sheila does not like Grainne and even though they share a room and bed they do not have a close relationship at all. This is a story of secrets, romance and most of all the war. As time and circumstances change for Sheila, she comes to realize what it is she really wants for her life. This book is very well researched and written in such a way that the reader can feel the passion for life that Sheila has in spite of her mothers constant complaining and belittling of her. I loved the book and look forward to the next from this great author. I think this book would be enjoyed by the fan of WWII and Ireland themed story. I highly recommend both of Patricia Falvey's novels.
I received this book from Hatchette Book Group and was not monetarily compensated for my review.