Series: Pendleton Promises #2
Publication date: June 11th, 2024
Synopsis:
Inspired by the Hello Girls, America's first women soldiers who helped win World War I.
She longs to make a difference.
He yearns to claim her heart.
After years of managing the Pendleton telephone office, Molly Thorsen answers the call for women to serve as telephone operators during World War I. Upon her arrival in France, she navigates the challenges of working near the front lines and battles the prejudices and skepticism of the men around her. Determined to prove her worth and skill, Molly faces adversity head-on while unexpectedly falling in love with a charming soldier.
Friday Fitzpatrick may not have eager to engage in combat, but when he is drafted into the American Expeditionary Forces, he embraces the role of a soldier with unwavering determination. While fighting to survive the harrowing battlefield experiences, he clings to his sanity by dreaming about the captivating Hello Girl who has captured his heart. Though his opportunities to see her are limited, she serves as a beacon of hope in the midst of his darkest days.
Through their shared experiences and the trials they endure, Molly and Friday find comfort and encouragement in each other's company, forging a connection that defies the chaos of a world in conflict. As the war draws to a close and they return home, will civilian life bring them together or pull them apart?
Find out in this sweet and wholesome historical romance filled with hope, faith, courage, and love.
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Excerpt
Dear Friday,
I did receive your most recent letters. Thank you for writing.
A hearty congratulations to you on your field promotion. That is grand. They don't pass those out to everyone, you know. Thank you for serving with such bravery. Someday, if you want to talk about it, I'd like to hear what led to the promotion.
For entirely selfish reasons, I'm so happy you are no longer in the private or citizen category!
I hope things are going as well as they can there. Your last letter reminded me of a haunting poem that was published a few years ago, written by a Canadian who died in service. Are you familiar with it? The one about poppies? If not, I shall endeavor to find a copy and share it with you because I don't recall every line to write it from memory.
It's wonderful your division held a memorial service. I hope it was a time of remembering with rejoicing your fallen comrades instead of recalling their losses with bitterness and sorrow.
I was sent to give another training. It was a one-day affair, thank goodness! The bumpy truck ride was sufficiently awful, but the driver seemed to think he would receive a medal for breaking a land speed record and hit the gas the moment I got in. I hung on for dear life the entire way there and back, but I'll admit I laughed the whole trip. What fun!
A group of five officers stopped by on their way elsewhere the other day just to see some real American girls. We smiled and welcomed them. I hope they weren't too disappointed. None of us have spared any of our precious time for pampering ourselves. There are days we've had to turn our blouses inside out when we haven't had a chance for catching up on laundry, and I'm not sure I'd even properly combed my hair that morning. Gracious, I have no idea why I just shared that with you. Just pretend you didn't read that, please.
Yesterday, two of us had just finished getting ready for the day when we had unwelcome visitors (some of those snooty look-down-their-nose types) stop by our barracks to speak with us about the morals of women in the military. Elizabeth and I should be perfectly ashamed of ourselves, but we climbed out the window and hightailed it to the mess hall, giggling as we ran across the camp. From there, we slipped undetected into the switchboard building and got to work.
I have never liked turnips. If you liked them before, I'm guessing you aren't so keen on them now.
Be safe and know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Also, if you've had word from Harley John, please let me know. We're all worried about him.
With fondest regard,
Molly
P.S. As I was about to seal the envelope, I received word from Sadie. Harley John is at the hospital with her. Full recovery expected! Hurrah!
USA Today Bestselling Author SHANNA HATFIELD writes sweet romances rich with relatable characters, small town settings that feel like home, humor, and hope.
Her historical westerns have been described as "reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian" while her contemporary works have been called "laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way."
When this farm girl isn't writing or indulging in rich, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. She also experiments with recipes, snaps photos of her adorable nephew, and caters to the whims of a cranky cat named Drooley.
To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her website or find out more about her on her other social media pages.
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