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Tall Poppies Series #3
I'll Get By
A patriotic young woman . . . A dangerously exhilarating young aristocrat . . . A scandalous secret . . .
Meggie Elliot is a young woman of above average intelligence, and on the brink of adulthood. Living with her aunt and uncle in London at the outbreak of World War 2 she’s intent on going to university, then pursuing a career in law. She is encouraged in this by her solicitor – a man she admires a little too much. Too old for her, he lets her know it.
Meggie follows her dream as best she can, knowing it’s unlikely it will ever come to fruition. In a burst of patriotism she joins the WRNS to do her bit for the war effort. Sent to work in a decoding unit she meets the dangerously exhilarating young aristocrat, Nicholas Cowan, who sweeps her off her feet.
But Meggie suspects Nick of being the man who burgled her aunt’s home, and to expose him would ruin a lot of lives. Against all reason Meggie and Nick begin to fall in love . . .
Meggie Elliot is a young woman of above average intelligence, and on the brink of adulthood. Living with her aunt and uncle in London at the outbreak of World War 2 she’s intent on going to university, then pursuing a career in law. She is encouraged in this by her solicitor – a man she admires a little too much. Too old for her, he lets her know it.
Meggie follows her dream as best she can, knowing it’s unlikely it will ever come to fruition. In a burst of patriotism she joins the WRNS to do her bit for the war effort. Sent to work in a decoding unit she meets the dangerously exhilarating young aristocrat, Nicholas Cowan, who sweeps her off her feet.
But Meggie suspects Nick of being the man who burgled her aunt’s home, and to expose him would ruin a lot of lives. Against all reason Meggie and Nick begin to fall in love . . .
- GenresFiction
240 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2013
7 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 22, 2017
One of the "touching story of a young woman's coming of age during wartime" genre, with a little more substance to it than most. The author has a deft hand with characterization and she knows which characters she's interested in focusing on; it's very readable. Very definitely a later book in a series - and previous book(s) seem to have been action-packed, to judge from all of the narrative which we got packed in there - although that wasn't overwhelming. On the other hand, part of the reason it may not have felt overwhelming is that the dialogue at times was definitely ham-fisted: entire paragraphs of information being relayed from one character to another. The main character, Meggie, was briefly annoying, but we quickly entered her head thoroughly enough that this stopped. Unusually for this type of book, which is usually focused almost exclusively on a group of young people, Meggie's family play prominent roles, including several happily married older couples.
I did have some issues with the romance plot(s) - All in all, not a masterpiece by any means, but a good, readable example of the genre.
To add: this book is the third in a series, it looks like - the first being Tall Poppies, about Meggie's mother, and the second being Secrets and Lies, about Meggie's aunt Esme.
I did have some issues with the romance plot(s) - All in all, not a masterpiece by any means, but a good, readable example of the genre.
To add: this book is the third in a series, it looks like - the first being Tall Poppies, about Meggie's mother, and the second being Secrets and Lies, about Meggie's aunt Esme.
March 20, 2021
Great story of World War I, based in London. Love story. Intriguing plot. But she has about two pages of "love making" that I skipped as much as you can. I might have quit the book; but, the story line kept me there.
September 13, 2013
A beguiling 1940s saga about unexpected blessings, the perils of wartime and falling in love, I’ll Get By is first-class tale from Janet Woods’ talented pen.
On the brink of the Second World War, seventeen year old Meggie Elliott leaves her old life behind to go and stay in London with her aunt Esme and her husband, Dr. Leo Thornton. Meggie cannot wait to cast off the shackles of her old life for the bright lights of London. However, Meggie’s excitement quickly gives way to fear and unease when she ends up getting lost on her first day in the capital. Luckily for her, a kind-hearted and dashing police officer, Sergeant Benjamin Blessing saves the day and points her in the right direction to her Aunt’s house. However, Meggie soon realizes that her good-looking saviour is not all that he seems…
With the dark clouds of war gathering around them, Meggie realizes that she cannot possibly continue to idle away her life and that she must do something to help her country and do her bit for the war effort.
Although Meggie had initially come to London in order to go to University and make her dream of becoming a lawyer a reality, the intelligent young woman soon realizes that the time has come for her to put her ambitions on hold and make her country proud. In a fit of patriotism, Meggie decides to join the Women’s Royal Navy Service and is overjoyed when she is welcomed into their ranks after she aces the interview. Sent to work in a decoding unit, Meggie finally seems to have got all the excitement that she had been looking for when she had first decided to come and stay with her Aunt Esme in London. When she meets her boss, the dangerously charismatic aristocrat, Nicholas Cowan,
Meggie finds herself attracted to the sophisticated nobleman. Nicholas is good-looking, charming and debonair and he quickly sweeps Meggie off her feet. But Meggie cannot quite shake off this feeling that she had met the man who had stolen her heart once before…
As she begins to put together the pieces of the puzzle that is Nicholas Cowan, Meggie uncovers shocking lies and devastating truths that could not only destroy his reputation but jeopardise their burgeoning relationship. Torn between duty and desire, Meggie must decide whether she is ready to risk her happiness or whether she should reveal the scandalous secrets that could endanger the life of the only man she will ever love…
Janet Woods writes highly compelling, emotional and captivating historical sagas that are difficult to put down and absolutely impossible to forget and I’ll Get By is another example of this talented author’s wonderful ability to create spellbinding stories that linger in the reader’s imagination long after the last page is turned.
I’ll Get By has got a terrific heroine who is smart, feisty and intelligent, an enigmatic and charming hero and a wonderful cast of well-developed characters that come alive from the very first page. It is impossible not to fall in love with Meggie and Nicholas and not to cross your fingers and cheer on these wonderful characters onto their journey to happiness.
A fantastic historical novel that is intriguing, exciting and wonderfully romantic, I’ll Get By is an outstanding tale of love, loss and hope in wartime Britain that will enchant, enrapture and delight!
This review was originally published on Single Titles.
On the brink of the Second World War, seventeen year old Meggie Elliott leaves her old life behind to go and stay in London with her aunt Esme and her husband, Dr. Leo Thornton. Meggie cannot wait to cast off the shackles of her old life for the bright lights of London. However, Meggie’s excitement quickly gives way to fear and unease when she ends up getting lost on her first day in the capital. Luckily for her, a kind-hearted and dashing police officer, Sergeant Benjamin Blessing saves the day and points her in the right direction to her Aunt’s house. However, Meggie soon realizes that her good-looking saviour is not all that he seems…
With the dark clouds of war gathering around them, Meggie realizes that she cannot possibly continue to idle away her life and that she must do something to help her country and do her bit for the war effort.
Although Meggie had initially come to London in order to go to University and make her dream of becoming a lawyer a reality, the intelligent young woman soon realizes that the time has come for her to put her ambitions on hold and make her country proud. In a fit of patriotism, Meggie decides to join the Women’s Royal Navy Service and is overjoyed when she is welcomed into their ranks after she aces the interview. Sent to work in a decoding unit, Meggie finally seems to have got all the excitement that she had been looking for when she had first decided to come and stay with her Aunt Esme in London. When she meets her boss, the dangerously charismatic aristocrat, Nicholas Cowan,
Meggie finds herself attracted to the sophisticated nobleman. Nicholas is good-looking, charming and debonair and he quickly sweeps Meggie off her feet. But Meggie cannot quite shake off this feeling that she had met the man who had stolen her heart once before…
As she begins to put together the pieces of the puzzle that is Nicholas Cowan, Meggie uncovers shocking lies and devastating truths that could not only destroy his reputation but jeopardise their burgeoning relationship. Torn between duty and desire, Meggie must decide whether she is ready to risk her happiness or whether she should reveal the scandalous secrets that could endanger the life of the only man she will ever love…
Janet Woods writes highly compelling, emotional and captivating historical sagas that are difficult to put down and absolutely impossible to forget and I’ll Get By is another example of this talented author’s wonderful ability to create spellbinding stories that linger in the reader’s imagination long after the last page is turned.
I’ll Get By has got a terrific heroine who is smart, feisty and intelligent, an enigmatic and charming hero and a wonderful cast of well-developed characters that come alive from the very first page. It is impossible not to fall in love with Meggie and Nicholas and not to cross your fingers and cheer on these wonderful characters onto their journey to happiness.
A fantastic historical novel that is intriguing, exciting and wonderfully romantic, I’ll Get By is an outstanding tale of love, loss and hope in wartime Britain that will enchant, enrapture and delight!
This review was originally published on Single Titles.
November 12, 2013
Maggie Elliot is the heroine in this World War II story that takes place in London. She is living with her aunt in order to find a job since her home is located in Dorset. England. She is intelligent and intent on going to university, then pursuing a career in law. She has an inheritance due her when she turns twenty-one and she has a crush on her solicitor who is thirty-five to her seventeen. After the war breaks out, she joins the WRNS and works for a young aristocrat named Nicholas Cowan. She recognizes him as the man who burgled her aunt's home, but later returned the jewelry he took.
The story gives insight into the bombing of London and the rationing that resulted. It is a delightful tale full of danger and romance. I enjoyed this book because it historical fiction based on actual events of the war.
The story gives insight into the bombing of London and the rationing that resulted. It is a delightful tale full of danger and romance. I enjoyed this book because it historical fiction based on actual events of the war.
February 19, 2014
Easy read, enjoyed!
April 30, 2016
don't think I'll bother with this author again
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews