The Air Raid Book Club

Such a tender and loving story . I loved it right away..from the very first chapter. It can't help but touch your heart...the way ..life works out sometimes. All Our Wishes don't always come true...but its the strength of love and family and dear friends that help you to endure life's happenings and to push on. Harry and Gertie ( main characters) are the owners of Bingham Books..finally fulfilling their dream of owning their own book store. Over the years of their marriage...they were unsuccessful in having any children...So they lived a Happy Content life..the two of them..their much loved dog "Hemingway", and their beloved books and book store. As the years go on..Harry becomes very ill...and does not recover. Gertie is left alone...with her grief and sadness...she even finds the simple task of going to the bookstore everyday so hard to bare.....even though its there...she feels the closest to Harry's memories. Through the help of her friends and "The Book Club" members...she is persuaded to keep the store and the club going...instead of retiring ..and selling her business. She also..in the desperate time of need...Gertie opens her heart and home..to take in a Child...one of Germany's Jewish Refugees ..to keep them safe through the turmoil of war. Its through these memorable characters ...the story unfolds..through the horror and heartbreak the war brings. It's about Friendship, and Love..and community... coming together ...to help one another...through all the good and bad...and the power and Magic of Books !!. It's a totally uplifting ..feel good story..with the twists and turns..life throws at you...but its through genuine friendships and all the connections they have to each other...they uplift and help one another...all the while maintaining their connection through books and stories..while the backdrop of their lives..is the bombing of London during world war ll . Absolutely deserving of 5 Stars...even through... their real life sadness. I'ts truly a "feel good" book...and Beautifully written. Highly recommend...I loved every page and all the delightful Characters. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Can't say enough about this sweet, warm, story.

"You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read." —Charles Dickens, Great Expectations I loved the feel of this story. Gertie was a interesting woman, and I appreciated her love of reading. She felt like a Belle from the 40's, and I liked her character immediately with her zeal for life. Gertie and Harry's love story was so sweet, and reminded of Carl and Ellie in Disney's "Up". So heartwarming and full of innocence. The cover and title was what drew me to this story though, and quickly caught my eye in the huge stash of lovely books available to review. While this was a slower paced book than most that I typically read, it was a nice change and a book I quite enjoyed. Thank you to William Morrow Publishing for the complimentary e-book I received to review through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts written here are solely my own. For those who want a content review, read below. :) Negative Content Gertie and a friend have a glass of wine together. Gertie mentions Charles Darwin's misleading book on evolution, "The Origin of Species" and a customer comments that he was a great man. While he may have been smart in some aspects, I don't agree that he was great in regards to his book and his spiritually detrimental theories on creation and evolution.