The Shadow Ally (The Yankee Years Book 1) by Dianne Ascroft Review! @hfvbt @DianneAscroft #TheShadowAllyBlogTour #HistoricalFiction

Publication Date: December 4, 2015
eBook; 76 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
   

The Shadow Ally is a Short Read – approximately 2 hours or more – in The Yankee Years series. America is not yet at war, but the country is preparing for it. And it is essential that this remain secret. June 1941: Ruth Corey is puzzled by the attractive, enigmatic Italian-American civilian contractor, Frank Long, who is staying at her family’s hotel in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. Serious and reserved, he is nothing like the friendly, outgoing British and Canadian servicemen she knows. Nor, she discovers, does he even use his real surname. War is a time of alliances and secrets. The biggest secret in the county is the construction of an American flying boat base outside Irvinestown. Since their country is not at war, the American contractors must conceal the building project. America’s neutrality will be destroyed if Germany discovers its existence. Ambitious local reporter and Ruth’s almost fiancé, Harry Coalter is consumed with curiosity about the new American airbase. But why? When Ruth finds a letter Harry has written about the flying boat base she fears he is pursuing a path that will land him in serious trouble. She enlists Frank’s help to stop Harry from making a terrible mistake. Can Ruth safeguard a military secret that will have a profound impact on the course of the war and protect her beau? A tale for fans of Annie Murray, Ellie Dean, and Margaret Dickinson. The Yankee Years series: During the Second World War Northern Ireland hosted American, British, and Canadian troops. County Fermanagh welcomed Air Force squadrons hunting U-boats and defending shipping convoys in the Atlantic Ocean and Army battalions training and preparing for deployment to Europe’s Western Front. After the Allied troops arrived, life would never be the same again. The Yankee Years novels and Short Reads weave thrilling and romantic tales of the people and the era.

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About the Author

Dianne Ascroft is a Canadian writer living in Britain. Since moving to Britain in 1990 she has lived in Scotland and Northern Ireland. She writes both fiction and non-fiction and her fiction often has Irish connections. Her articles and short stories have been printed in Canadian and Irish magazines and regional newspapers including the Toronto Star, Ireland's Own, Senior Times, Celtic Connection and Irish Connections Canada. She is co-editor and a regular contributor to The Fermanagh Miscellany, the Fermanagh Authors' Association's yearly anthology and she also contributes material to other local history and writers' anthologies. Dianne is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, Historical Novel Society, Writers Abroad, Fermanagh Authors' Association and Fermanagh Writers. Dianne started life in a quiet residential neighbourhood in the buzzing city of Toronto and has progressively moved to smaller places through the years. She now lives on a small farm in Northern Ireland with her husband and an assortment of strong willed animals. If she ever decides to write her autobiography the working title will be 'Downsizing'.

For more information please visit Dianne's website. You can also find her on her Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

My Thoughts

The Shadow Ally takes place in June of 1941 just on the brink of war. The Americans are not in the war yet but preparing for it as they build a flying boat base in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. An American, Frank Longo is staying at the hotel belonging to Ruth Corey's family. She is attracted to Frank but has a fiance, Harry Coalter.

Ruth is curious about Frank and does some snooping when she cleans Frank's room and learns things that she probably should not have. She also becomes suspicious of Harry's behavior along with an ambitious reporter, she finds things in his room that cause her some concern. Is Harry's being treasonous and telling secrets that should not be divulged? Ruth takes her concerns to Frank and the story goes from there.

This story is a short read, I read it in two sittings, set in a turbulent time in our history and how America and Ireland became involved in the beginning of WWII. A time of intrigue and danger, an exciting read for sure. The ending left me wanting more so I will have to read the second in the series for sure!

The Shadow Ally will be followed by the second in the series continuing Ruth's story.

I received a copy of this book for review and for my honest thoughts.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, February 8
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Friday, February 12
Review at Back Porchervations
Tuesday, February 16
Review at Book Nerd
Wednesday, February 17
Review at CelticLady's Reviews
Friday, February 19
Review at Just One More Chapter

Giveaway

To win an eBook of The Shadow Ally by Dianne Ascroft please enter the giveaway via the GLEAM form below. Three copies are up for grabs! Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open internationally. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. The Shadow Ally