Two troubled people in a turbulent world.In July 1940, Gwen Collingwood drops her husband at the railway station, knowing she may never see him again. Two days later her humdrum world is torn apart when the sleepy English seaside town where she lives is subjected to the first of many heavy bombing attacks.In Ontario, Canada, Jim Armstrong is debating whether to volunteer. His decision becomes … decision becomes clear when he uncovers the secret his fiancée has been keeping from him. A few weeks later he is on a ship bound for England.
Gwen is forced to confront the truth she has concealed about her past and her own feelings. Jim battles with a bewildering and hostile world far removed from the cosy life of his Canadian farm. War brings horror and loss to each of them – can it also bring change and salvation?
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Loved this book and gave us more of an idea of what WWII was like.
Love historical books. We must never forget what the average person in England survived.
Very entertaining and heart felt.
Loved it.
Realistic historical story. Tells how everyday people coped in WW2. How they pulled together to help each other where before they didn’t even know or speak to each other.
Loved this book about the war era
Families in Britain during the bombings of World War II. How they interact and the life they lead. I won’t give away anymore plot than that. Just to say although I thought I knew history I had not heard much of the day to day of the people involved in that history and this gives some perspective in an entertaining format. It is fiction but this could have happened and either the author was there when this stuff went on or had relatives this happened to or it is well researched. Probably all of the above. How else would you know of the types of food ate at that time. I loved it.
The characters were so real.
Excellent novel; helped me understand more about WWII through vivid characters and their European experiences having this family members missing and homes bombed out. A glimpse of history in story form…
This book was interesting for the history and the story line had unique characters but I did not like the author’s moral values that she seemed to want to “sell”. I found it somewhat frustrating because I wanted to find out what happened, but was disgusted with the morality.
Nice, romantic read
Great book, I had drugged myself through 3 previous books, bored to death with them. Then started the Chalky Sea, what a relief to read a realistic, interesting book. War time 1 & 2 what a awful time to live with all the bombing etc. & no information. We never known what tomorrow holds in our daily lives. But for those that lived in those towns & cities it was more revelant, each moment.
Gwen learned to love & live with emotions. Many may not understand, her coldness, but I can understand the way she was raised in those times. Happy for her that she learned to give of her emotions.
captive reading, so real it was like I could smell the sea air and hear the bombings! Excellent book!!
Tina
Used true events to build a story around.
Very complicated characters.
I really enjoyed this book it had some history of war
Great story about England during WWII.
Liked the history behind the storyline.
Really liked this book, gives history of WWII from the Canadian viewpoint.
A new outlook on how some thought during the time of women being left behind during WW11 in England by their husbands,fiances and boy friends.