I absolutely loved this story. The author weaved together a story that grabbed me from the first page and had me reading until it was over. Could not put down.

Siobhan Curham, in “Beyond This Broken Sky,” explores the strength of the human spirit in face of war and the remarkable women who put themselves in danger on the front lines during the Battle of Britain.

Set in London, 1940, Ruby, 34, volunteers at the ambulance service. With her neighbour, a conscientious objector, Joseph, they drive during blackout conditions and pull survivors from the rubble. Fiery and sarcastic, she’s determined to fight back and with Joseph’s help, they stop at nothing to save lives. Although aloof and flighty at times, Ruby has a heart of gold and is determined to protect Joseph against backlash for refusing to fight. She’s determined to protect him and risks everything.

Set in London, 2019, Edi, 35, has just moved into the top flat after a divorce. She has an eccentric neighbour, a spitfire named Pearl. A cozy crime writer, Pearl has her books listed on Amazon and has fantastic reviews on Goodreads! One day, Edi is exploring the attic when she lifts a floorboard in the attic and makes a discovery about people who lived in the flat in the 1940s. She uncovers a wartime love story full of danger and betrayal.

You’ll love the witty banter and fresh perspective Curham brings to this WW2 historical fiction. I loved Pearl and Ruby’s character and found myself laughing out loud when Ruby explained that what she wore on her finger wasn’t an engagement ring, but a freedom ring. Equally amusing was when she arrived home with a head from Madam Tussaud’s in her bag. The unique plot and cast of eccentric characters are the highlight of this book. Yes, there's heartache and loss in this war era novel, but through Ruby, we see that it doesn't dampen the spirit of all and, for some, it's a necessary survival trait. Curham successfully shows that in the midst of war, hope and love can bloom. You won’t want to miss this one come April 20, 2021.

Thank you Siobhan Curham, Bookouture and NetGalley for a fantastic advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

It’s 1940 and England is under constant bombing from the Nazis. Ruby is only one of the many young women who step up to drive the sick, injured and dying to hospitals in ambulances, putting aside the threat to their own lives as bombs rain down over them. Ruby has the help of Joseph, a man many call a coward, or worse, because he cannot fight. But Ruby has seen him put his life on the line over and over again to save the same citizens who blacken his name, and it’s not long before the two are in love. Fast forward 60 years and Edi has moved to London to try to recover her equilibrium after a divorce. In the attic of her new home, Edi discovers the story of Ruby and Joseph and is moved to discover the difference that one woman, one love, can make. Books like this make us understand why people living through the Depression and World War II are called the “Greatest Generation”, self sacrifice, honor and duty are something we can learn from them today