WICKWYTHE HALL
by
Judithe Little
Genre: Historical Fiction / WWII
Publisher: Black Opal Books
Date of Publication: September 30, 2017
Number of Pages: 324
*Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist*
*2018 Reader Views Readers’ Choice Award for Historical Fiction*
*Winner of the Tyler R. Tichelaar Award for Best Historical Fiction*
*Official selection of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club*
Scroll down for the giveaway!
May 1940. The Germans invade France and the course of three lives is upended. Annelle LeMaire is a French refugee desperate to contact her Legionnaire brothers. Mabry Springs, American wife of a wealthy Brit, is struggling to come to terms with a troubled marriage and imminent German invasion. And Reid Carr, American representative of French champagne house Pol Roger, brings more than champagne to Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Their paths entwine when Churchill and his entourage take refuge at Wickwythe Hall, the Springs' country estate hidden from the full moon and German bombers beneath a shroud of trees. There, as secrets and unexpected liaisons unfold, Annelle, Mabry, and Reid are forever bound by the tragedy they share.
Part Downton Abbey, part Darkest Hour, Wickwythe Hall was inspired by an actual confrontation between the British and French navies in July 1940 and is a story of love, loyalty, and heartrending choices.
PRAISE FOR WICKWYTHE HALL:
“...a riveting and enlightening mix of history and fiction that puts a human face on the costs of war...engaging...” — Foreword Reviews
“Little’s characterization of Churchill is so well done. She makes his personality and presence so real. Mabry was a character to be admired for her decisions and actions. A good read with a satisfying ending.” — Historical Novels Review
“Judithe Little tackles war and masterfully boils it down to personal moral dilemmas. Beautifully written and rich with atmosphere…Wickwythe Hall is a stellar achievement.”
— Ann Weisgarber, author of The Personal History of Rachel DuPree and The Promise
“...an emotional and touching story about the lives of three people during World War II, at the time of Hitler’s invasion of France in 1940. Inspired by real people, places and events in history, this whirlwind novel will no doubt leave an imprint on your heart long after you finish reading.” — Reader Views
“If you love history, beautifully rendered characters, and stories that will tug at your heart, add Wickwythe Hall to your list.”
— Book Perfume
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When the opportunity of reading and reviewing WICKWYTHE HALL
by Judithe Little popped up in our blogging group, I nearly broke my neck
jumping at the chance to get selected to review this book. Why, you ask? Well,
there are many reasons, I tell ya! Probably the main one is that I’m an avid
lover of anything to do with the WWII era, because I’m the daughter of a bona
fide WWII hero who served in the South Pacific during the war and then re-enlisted
to go to Europe after the fall of Germany. Daddy was awarded 5 Presidential
Citations for his service to our country. And he remained a true patriot his
whole life.
This is my handsome Daddy. He was a heart-breaker back in his
day. Doesn’t he look like a movie star? Well, I’ve always thought he did. Daddy
was a photographer in the Army Air Corps during the war, and many of the photos
you see in books about WWII in the South Pacific were taken by him. We still
have many of the originals he took, and we hold all the war stories he told us
in our hearts, my siblings and me. In truth, he was a magical, fantastical soul.
I know, I know … you’re scratching your head and thinking
that I look way too young to be a Baby Boomer. And you’d be right! My mother is
a Baby Boomer. At the time the above photo was taken, she hadn’t even been born
yet. (How scandalous!) Technically, I am a member of Generation X. But in
truth, I reside somewhere in the betwixt and between generations … somewhere in
that gap where magic casts its web through time and space. But I digress …
WICKWYTHE HALL arrived in my mailbox on a sunny day. To my
sheer delight, I carefully (as you know, I like my books to stay pristine)
turned back the lovely cover to discover that Ms. Little signed and personalized
my review copy! Just look at it! GAZE
UPON THE SPLENDOR! As an author, myself,
receiving a signed copy speaks volumes to me. It tells me that the author values
the reviewer and the time it takes to read and review her book. Ms. Little, I
am your newest fangirl, yo!
And now we dive into the heart of the subject … the world
between the (tactile-rich) covers of WICKWYTHE HALL. I must warn you now – as soon
as you read the intro pages, you won’t be able to put this book down. You’ll be
drawn in, unable to stop reading until your eyes will no longer stay open. I
suggest preparing yourself with the largest cup of tea you can muster before
reading the very first sentence. Like so …
Now, y’all know I’m not going to give away any spoilers,
because I never do. So, stop asking! What I will tell you is that Ms. Little’s
voice is impeccable and her narrative pristine and delightful. The reader
experiences the story in such a way as to fully know the main characters without
having to do all the work of piecing their history together.
I suspect, though I have no proof, that Ms. Little is an
enchanter. I say this, because this is my blog, and I can! I also say this,
because her character building is so carefully crafted as to make me wonder if
she’s actually captured real live people and transferred them into this story
by some dark magic. The ebb and flow of her storytelling is so intelligent, yet
so easily readable that I became more of an observer than a reader. Indeed, I
actually felt that I’d even slipped into the place of some of her characters. This is the type of
writing that a literature major loves to read. This is the type of story that a literature major who minored in history devours. (In case you are wondering: that was me
who majored in literature and minored in history.)
Within these pages resides a story of unrequited love, heart-wrenching
loss, danger, and love - all set against the backdrop of WWII. But what is a story that contains all of those elements without a rich setting? Well, let me tell you this – you’re about to take a jaunt over the pond where you’ll first land in the infamous town of Dunkirk. Then you’ll make your way north to a splendid English estate called Wickwythe
Hall. There, you’ll meet the most interesting people, including Winston
Churchill. You’ll also meet a horse named Valhalla. (I had to include that last
bit, because I spent two years studying Viking history, and I like saying Valhalla.
VALHALLA! Yeah, y’all know I’m a
nerd.)
Lovers of Downton Abbey will adore WICKWYTHE HALL by Judithe
Little. For it has all the same architypes as the TV show: the lush English
manor, the American heiress who marries a rich English lord, the enchanting
relationships of those both upstairs and downstairs, the interesting and sometimes
scandalous house guests, and the war that brings them all together – yet
threatens to change their lives forever.
Seriously, I cannot get this book out of my head. It’s the
type of story that lingers with you long after you’ve closed the cover and
placed it on your shelf next to your other favorite books.
You must … oh, you simply must read it! Scroll down to ENTER
TO WIN a signed copy of this fantastic book. Or go grab a copy on Amazon. WHAT
ARE YOU WAITING FOR???!
WICKWYTHE HALL by Judithe Little is the best book I’ve read
in many moons!
And that’s why I’m granting
WYCKWYTHE HALL
WYCKWYTHE HALL
5 Glorious, Stunning,
Enchanting Brooms!
Judithe Little grew up in Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. After studying at the Institute of European Studies and the Institut Catholique in Paris, France, and interning at the U.S. Department of State, she earned a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law where she was on the Editorial Board of the Journal of International Law and a Dillard Fellow. She lives with her husband, three teenagers, and three dogs in Houston, Texas, where she's at work on her next historical novel set in France.
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS
1ST: Signed Copy of Wickwythe Hall + $50 Amazon Gift Card
2ND: Signed Copy of Wickwythe Hall + $25 Amazon Gift Card
3RD: Signed Copy of Wickwythe Hall + $15 Amazon Gift Card
MARCH 27-APRIL 5, 2018
(US ONLY)
3/27/18
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Guest Post 1
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3/27/18
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Bonus Post
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3/28/18
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Review
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3/29/18
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Excerpt
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3/30/18
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Guest Post 2
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3/31/18
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Review
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4/1/18
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Notable Quotable
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4/2/18
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Guest Post 3
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4/3/18
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Review
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4/4/18
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Guest Post 4
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4/5/18
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Review
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