#Bookreview The Spark Girl by Fiona Ford @Fionajourno

‘Can her fight for the country fix her broken heart?’

The first in a series of wartime sagas, The Spark Girl is a novel by Fiona Ford, recently published with Orion Fiction.

Set in 1940s Coventry, The Spark Girl is ‘packed full of adventure, romance, heartbreak and friendship.’

Such a warm and comforting read, I really settled into this book. Here’s why?

Book Info:

A knock on the door early one morning shouldn’t be cause for concern but it is 1941, Britain is at war, and Kitty Williams’ fiancé is far from home fighting Hitler with the Navy.

As Kitty’s heart is shattered into pieces hearing the news she had been dreading, resolve kicks in and she becomes more determined than ever to do her bit for the war effort.

Signing up to the Women’s Army is just the sort of challenge Kitty needs and on meeting new recruits Mary, Di and Peggy, she is happy to learn that the challenge won’t be a lonely one. But it also won’t be easy and when bombs start to fall on her home town of Coventry, and supposed allies turn against her, Kitty must find the strength she never knew she had to save her family, fix her broken heart and help her country to victory.

My Review:

Kitty Williams…..what an incredible person!

The Spark Girl is not just the story of a young woman’s journey through the hardships of war. It tells the story of a nation as it faced up to the challenges that such horror brings and the unlikely friendships that develop between folk when the chips are down.

Kitty Williams had her life planned out. Her parents had both been involved in a fatal accident when Kitty was only eight years old, leaving her in the custody of foster families and care homes. The one stable fact of life for Kitty was her fiance Joe. Having known each other from a very young age, they had their life mapped out together, with a future that would be wonderfully kind to them. But fate intervened…..England went to war and Joe joined up.

‘Kitty spotted the paper….studded with the tell-tale insignia of the War Office and the words, “regret to inform you”….Kitty allowed her head to fall into her lap and she let out a brief tortured wail as she contemplated a future without the man who was her rock.’

In that moment, Kitty’s life changes forever. A very capable person, Kitty decides to continue Joe’s work and she joins the Women’s Army, determined to fight Hitler in any way she can.

Kitty, though very hesitant about leaving her friends, her job and all that is dear and familiar, heads off, with conviction in her heart, to fight for her country. Used to the care homes, the lifestyle of the army suits Kitty and it’s not long before she makes new friends and settles into the regulations of a structured environment. Constantly missing Joe, she closely guards her memories in her heart and when times get difficult, it is to Joe she often turns.

To Kitty’s absolute dismay, she becomes a target of some rather unpleasant individuals during her time as both a trainee and full time volunteer. Kitty soon begins to think that life has dealt her a very tough hand. Every-time she has hope, her dreams come crashing down around her.

With the support of a fantastic bunch of friends, Kitty tries to remain positive. Her fortitude and loyalty are stand out characteristics and it is these that she will need to fight for, not just her country, but for herself.

With The Spark Girl, Fiona Ford has written a charming and very appealing story. In her own words ‘camaraderie is at the heart of this book’ and this warmth shines through on every page. Kitty Williams is the girl we all want to be. Her sincerity, her positivity, her lack of judgement for people, are all attributes many of us aim to achieve but most of us fail to master. It is very obvious from both the opening acknowledgement and the story itself, that Fiona Ford has put in a lot of groundwork with this novel. There is a great attention to detail in every sentence written and also in the style of the language throughout.

Fiona Ford’s next book in the series, The Spark Girl’s Promise, (due out Spring 2018) follows the fate of Peggy Dando as she ‘falls in love, faces grave danger and searches for hope during the darkest days‘. I, for one, am looking forward to it, but in the meantime can I suggest you curl up on a sofa, grab a blanket and settle in with a copy of The Spark Girl.

Purchase Link ~ The Spark Girl

Bio:

Fiona Ford was born in Cornwall and grew up in Bath. As well as having a thirst for books Fiona had a huge interest in history and adored listening to her grandfather talk about his time in the navy during World War Two. Together they spent many a happy afternoon poring over the large collection of photos he had taken travelling the globe, somehow managing to perfectly capture life during wartime.

Although Fiona went on to develop a successful career as a journalist, she never forgot her passion for the past.

Now, Fiona has combined her love of writing with her love of days gone by in The Spark Girl, the first in a series of wartime sagas.

Website ~ http://www.fionaford.co.uk/home

Twitter ~ @Fionajourno