The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Thomas Nelson
Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook
Genre: Historical Fiction
From author Rachel McMillan comes a richly researched historical romance that takes place in post-World War II London and features a strong female lead.
Determined to save their marriage and the city they love, two people divided by World War II’s secrets rebuild their lives, their love, and their world.
London, Fall 1945. Architectural historian Diana Somerville’s experience as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park and her knowledge of London’s churches intersect in MI6’s pursuit of a Russian agent named Eternity. Diana wants nothing more than to begin again with her husband Brent after their separation during the war, but her signing of the Official Secrets Act keeps him at a distance.
Brent Somerville, professor of theology at King’s College, hopes aiding his wife with her church consultations will help him better understand why she disappeared when he needed her most. But he must find a way to reconcile his traumatic experiences as a stretcher bearer on the European front with her obvious lies about her wartime activities and whereabouts.
Featuring a timeless love story bolstered by flashbacks and the excavation of a priceless Roman artifact, The London Restoration is a richly atmospheric look at post-war London as two people changed by war rebuild amidst the city’s reconstruction.
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Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐I've been wanting to read a Rachel McMillan book for a while so I was super excited to pick up The London Restoration! That cover has been slaying me for months! Isn't it gorgeous!?
Another reviewer said that The London Restoration is McMillan's "love letter to London and it's churches", and I can't think of a better way to describe it than that!
Set in 1945 the book starts with Diana Somerville being in Vienna after the war. Destruction has ravaged the once beautiful city. Diana is there doing work as a code-breaker and decoding ciphers for MI6 with fellow agent Simon Barre. The war is over but they are on the hunt for a Soviet agent named "Eternity" who is rumored to have a file that could start a new war.
Diana returns to London and to her husband Brent, who she hasn't seen since they married right before the start of the war. All of that time apart has made for an awkward reunion. She keeps her war-time job a secret from him and he doesn't share what he went through during the war. They do have a shared love of Architecture, particularly of churches. I looooved the parts where they spoke about the architecture - it was fascinating!
Now that Diana is back in London she is tasked with monitoring the churches in the city to try and find the Soviet agent "Eternity" who may be meeting with someone at one of the locations. Tired of lying to her husband she decides to bring him into the mission.
The book goes back in time to when Diana and Brent meet and what they both experienced during the war. The scenes at Bletchley Park with Simon and Sophie Villers were my favorite!
Rachel also includes some fabulous historical notes at the beginning of the novel that I greatly enjoyed.
The London Restoration is a stellar historical fiction novel that I practically inhaled! I loved Diana and Brent and hated when I got to the end! I cannot wait for her next release, The Mozart Code! Highly recommended.
About the Author
Rachel McMillan is the author of The Herringford and Watts mysteries, The Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries and The Three Quarter Time series of contemporary Viennese romances. Her next work of historical fiction, The London Restoration, releases in Summer 2020 and takes readers deep into the heart of London's most beautiful churches. Dream, Plan, Go (May, 2020) is her first work of non-fiction. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada and is always planning her next adventure.
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Blog Tour Schedule
Tuesday, August 18Review at Nursebookie
Guest Post at Let Them Read Books
Wednesday, August 19
Review at Austenprose
Review at Amy's Booket List
Thursday, August 20
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Review at Little But Fierce Book Diary
Friday, August 21
Interview at Heidi Reads
Review at Foals, Fiction, and Filligree
Saturday, August 22
Review at Donna's Book Blog
Monday, August 24
Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals
Interview at The Green Mockingbird
Tuesday, August 25
Review at The Green Mockingbird
Wednesday, August 26
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Interview on Jorie Loves A Story
Thursday, August 27
Review at The Lit Bitch
Friday, August 28
Review at Read Review Rejoice
Saturday, August 29
Review at Books and Backroads
Review at Reading is My Remedy
Monday, August 31
Review at Passages to the Past
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away 5 copies of The London Restoration! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on August 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
The London Restoration
I've got this one and looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteYay, I hope you love it! It was wonderful!
DeleteI like the sound of this one!
ReplyDelete