What do you think?
Rate this book
A Burning London Sky
London’s skies are burning. But two young women are ready to fight back.
In 1941 London, World War II is far from over.
Identical twins Maggie and Tillie have each suffered loss and heartbreak, but their hardships are only just beginning.
With Maggie’s beloved Micah far away in German-occupied France, and Tillie’s fiancé Trevor fighting on the front line, the girls need each other now more than ever. Which is why, when Maggie is confronted with a choice, it is one of the hardest she will ever have to stay with her sister and family or leave them behind for a dangerous role in the Women’s Army, manning the anti-aircraft batteries protecting London’s skies.
However much it pains her to leave, Maggie can’t ignore her duty. And besides, fighting on the front line makes her feel just a little closer to Micah. But life as a war girl puts Maggie’s bravery and resolve to the test every single day.
Will Micah get out of France in time? Will Trevor return safely from the front line? And will Maggie and Tillie beat the odds and survive when the sky above them is ablaze in war?
Previously published as The Kingston Wartime Heart.
In 1941 London, World War II is far from over.
Identical twins Maggie and Tillie have each suffered loss and heartbreak, but their hardships are only just beginning.
With Maggie’s beloved Micah far away in German-occupied France, and Tillie’s fiancé Trevor fighting on the front line, the girls need each other now more than ever. Which is why, when Maggie is confronted with a choice, it is one of the hardest she will ever have to stay with her sister and family or leave them behind for a dangerous role in the Women’s Army, manning the anti-aircraft batteries protecting London’s skies.
However much it pains her to leave, Maggie can’t ignore her duty. And besides, fighting on the front line makes her feel just a little closer to Micah. But life as a war girl puts Maggie’s bravery and resolve to the test every single day.
Will Micah get out of France in time? Will Trevor return safely from the front line? And will Maggie and Tillie beat the odds and survive when the sky above them is ablaze in war?
Previously published as The Kingston Wartime Heart.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2023
341 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Deb Stratas
20 books39 followersI tell well-researched and highly readable stories about powerful women in extraordinary circumstances. Readers are transported to other times and places, inspired to be authentic in their own lives.
As a proud British royalist, I've been fascinated with the English monarchy - from the early days of the War of the Roses, through the Tudor era, the trials and triumphs of England during World War II, and the current royal House of Windsor.
In researching England, I've developed a strong passion for the brave women of World War II. What they did was nothing short of heroic - sending their husbands and sons off to fight, dealing with rationing, long queues, and the terror of bombing and its aftermath while looking after the home. And starting in 1941, they were conscripted to work in the forces, factories, or fields.
So, I started writing a series about young women facing numerous challenges in wartime London.
My latest book is the first in my Bletchley Park series: The Unquiet Translator, about a young linguistics student recruited to work at the home of the codebreakers - Bletchley Park. Watch for books 2 and 3, which follow Violet's sister, Fern and cousin Isabelle.
The War Twins of London, A Burning London Sky, and The Code Girl from London follow sisters in dangerous roles - fighting for love, family, and life itself. The final book in the series is Christmas with the Kingston Girls, focusing on the family's wartime Christmases.
Having read many books about Diana, Princess of Wales, I decided to write the book I always wanted to read - one that would capture the thoughts and feelings of this young Princess during her extraordinary royal life. Explore them through my Diana Spencer series and At Home with Diana.
I share more about the childhood of the Duke of Windsor and his mindset when he abdicated in The Royal Key. I combined this with a modern-day love story about Annabelle and her healing journey. The Time Traveller's Wife meets Downton Abbey in this time travel story.
As a proud British royalist, I've been fascinated with the English monarchy - from the early days of the War of the Roses, through the Tudor era, the trials and triumphs of England during World War II, and the current royal House of Windsor.
In researching England, I've developed a strong passion for the brave women of World War II. What they did was nothing short of heroic - sending their husbands and sons off to fight, dealing with rationing, long queues, and the terror of bombing and its aftermath while looking after the home. And starting in 1941, they were conscripted to work in the forces, factories, or fields.
So, I started writing a series about young women facing numerous challenges in wartime London.
My latest book is the first in my Bletchley Park series: The Unquiet Translator, about a young linguistics student recruited to work at the home of the codebreakers - Bletchley Park. Watch for books 2 and 3, which follow Violet's sister, Fern and cousin Isabelle.
The War Twins of London, A Burning London Sky, and The Code Girl from London follow sisters in dangerous roles - fighting for love, family, and life itself. The final book in the series is Christmas with the Kingston Girls, focusing on the family's wartime Christmases.
Having read many books about Diana, Princess of Wales, I decided to write the book I always wanted to read - one that would capture the thoughts and feelings of this young Princess during her extraordinary royal life. Explore them through my Diana Spencer series and At Home with Diana.
I share more about the childhood of the Duke of Windsor and his mindset when he abdicated in The Royal Key. I combined this with a modern-day love story about Annabelle and her healing journey. The Time Traveller's Wife meets Downton Abbey in this time travel story.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 17, 2023
This is the second book in the series about the Kingston identical twins, Tillie and Maggie. The previous book did discuss both and the family but was more focused on Tillie. This one spends more time on Maggie and goes through the rest of the years of World War 2. It touches on the treatment of the Jewish people in the cities and countries that were controlled by Hilter and the 3rd Reich.
Maggie had decided to join the Women’s Army and was placed in the anti-aircraft batteries and they were known Ack Ack girls. They were the ones that manned the guns that protected the UK from the air attacks by Germany. While they were not allowed to fire the guns, the women did contribute a major amount of knowledge, skill and determination to make sure those guns were firing on the right targets. Leaving the home she knew and the family she loved was hard, but Maggie was determined to help win the war. It also helped her keep busy so she was not thinking about her love Micah, who was trapped in France with his parents and sister Hannah. Her Uncle Thomas worked endless on getting Hannah out finally succeeding. Now he was working on doing the same for Micah and his parents. Would it work and they not suffer like the other Jewish people were suffering? Or would it all be too late and Maggie lose the man she had loved forever? Would Maggie, Tillie and the rest of the Kingston survive the blitzes on London?
I am glad that I found out about this series by chance, it is well put together and touches on subjects that not many talk about and others forgotten. Many people have no idea what they lived through in the UK before the US joined the war in 1941. These two books are actually part of a bigger series of books released touching on the women who made a difference in some way during WW2 all over Europe. So if you get a chance, definitely add this to your reading list.
This book had been released under a slightly different name as a hardcover before.
Maggie had decided to join the Women’s Army and was placed in the anti-aircraft batteries and they were known Ack Ack girls. They were the ones that manned the guns that protected the UK from the air attacks by Germany. While they were not allowed to fire the guns, the women did contribute a major amount of knowledge, skill and determination to make sure those guns were firing on the right targets. Leaving the home she knew and the family she loved was hard, but Maggie was determined to help win the war. It also helped her keep busy so she was not thinking about her love Micah, who was trapped in France with his parents and sister Hannah. Her Uncle Thomas worked endless on getting Hannah out finally succeeding. Now he was working on doing the same for Micah and his parents. Would it work and they not suffer like the other Jewish people were suffering? Or would it all be too late and Maggie lose the man she had loved forever? Would Maggie, Tillie and the rest of the Kingston survive the blitzes on London?
I am glad that I found out about this series by chance, it is well put together and touches on subjects that not many talk about and others forgotten. Many people have no idea what they lived through in the UK before the US joined the war in 1941. These two books are actually part of a bigger series of books released touching on the women who made a difference in some way during WW2 all over Europe. So if you get a chance, definitely add this to your reading list.
This book had been released under a slightly different name as a hardcover before.
June 27, 2025
Life on the homefront
A Burning London Sky is not your typical war story with spies and espionage, battles and lots of killing and unending horrors. A Burning London Sky is basically a story about daily life on the English home front, with the focus on twin sisters and their lives and adventures during the war. There is low key romance in the story. The story is somewhat slow with the daily descriptions of what people were doing. There are moments of devastation, loss of life and fears, as people tried to cope with rationing and Nazi aerial bombing. The book includes descriptions of some of the Nazi concentration camps and what those imprisoned there had to go through. It is a good story of life on the home front during the war. It is also a story that shows how much life can change in a war environment.
A Burning London Sky is not your typical war story with spies and espionage, battles and lots of killing and unending horrors. A Burning London Sky is basically a story about daily life on the English home front, with the focus on twin sisters and their lives and adventures during the war. There is low key romance in the story. The story is somewhat slow with the daily descriptions of what people were doing. There are moments of devastation, loss of life and fears, as people tried to cope with rationing and Nazi aerial bombing. The book includes descriptions of some of the Nazi concentration camps and what those imprisoned there had to go through. It is a good story of life on the home front during the war. It is also a story that shows how much life can change in a war environment.
December 22, 2023
This book lets us know how lucky we are
This book covers how awful things were for the people of England during the blitz. The constant bombing, the nights in uncomfortable shelters and the rationing of so many things.
The story of the Kingston family and all the pressures of just trying to stay alive and sane. Worrying about all the individuals serving in the military and how precarious life was for all.
This book covers how awful things were for the people of England during the blitz. The constant bombing, the nights in uncomfortable shelters and the rationing of so many things.
The story of the Kingston family and all the pressures of just trying to stay alive and sane. Worrying about all the individuals serving in the military and how precarious life was for all.
January 30, 2024
Good story but poor dialogue
I only read this book ( I skimmed through it) because I wanted to the up loose ends from the previous book.
The story line and characters were ok but it was spoilt be immature writing. The overuse of the work albeit was annoying and the conversational dialogue between the family members poor. The friendships between Maggie and her colleagues could have been better.
I only read this book ( I skimmed through it) because I wanted to the up loose ends from the previous book.
The story line and characters were ok but it was spoilt be immature writing. The overuse of the work albeit was annoying and the conversational dialogue between the family members poor. The friendships between Maggie and her colleagues could have been better.
June 7, 2024
This is WWII historic fiction that takes place in England. Twin sisters, Maggie and Tillie, are both working g to help the war effort. Maggie is an ack-ack girl helping to defend the English skies while Tillie is an ambulance driver. Both have suffered loss but find love again as their world is on fire. It’s a story of love, and heartache, courage and bravery. I really enjoyed it
December 1, 2023
Good book
Very real, at times raw story of a very difficult time in these peoples lives. They just wanted to do whatever to save the world from Hitler. Deb writes a very good story. If you are interested in homefront England this is a very good book series.
Very real, at times raw story of a very difficult time in these peoples lives. They just wanted to do whatever to save the world from Hitler. Deb writes a very good story. If you are interested in homefront England this is a very good book series.
February 18, 2024
Wonderful
The third book in this series is just as good as the first two. English family's joys and heartbreak during WWIl in London. Full of love, strength and determination. What a superior read!! Hard to put down.
The third book in this series is just as good as the first two. English family's joys and heartbreak during WWIl in London. Full of love, strength and determination. What a superior read!! Hard to put down.
March 15, 2024
A book filled with family love bravery happy and sad
Loved both books They were filled with characters who felt real as they lived loved and died I smiled at the language and cried with them 2 great books
Loved both books They were filled with characters who felt real as they lived loved and died I smiled at the language and cried with them 2 great books
April 11, 2024
Great story of England family living through WWII
Great story of England family living through WWII. Reading first hand what a family lived through in London during the blitz. How the people rallied up to support the country.
Great story of England family living through WWII. Reading first hand what a family lived through in London during the blitz. How the people rallied up to support the country.
January 5, 2025
Another great book from Deb Stratas!
I really enjoyed the first book of this series and I have to say that book 2 was just as good, if not better! I am emotionally invested in this family and what happens to them during the war. I can’t wait to begin book 3.
I really enjoyed the first book of this series and I have to say that book 2 was just as good, if not better! I am emotionally invested in this family and what happens to them during the war. I can’t wait to begin book 3.
December 10, 2023
A burning London Sky.
An interesting book about the jobs the British Women were doing during World War Two. I had no idea what manning a anti aircraft gun intailed.
An interesting book about the jobs the British Women were doing during World War Two. I had no idea what manning a anti aircraft gun intailed.
December 15, 2023
Good story
Good continuation of book 2 in the series but still seems unfinished. It would have been better if it went past the end of the war.
Good continuation of book 2 in the series but still seems unfinished. It would have been better if it went past the end of the war.
January 22, 2024
As a the war continues...
As the horrible war rages on, so does life. Laugh, cry and hurt right along with this family. So hard to put down.
As the horrible war rages on, so does life. Laugh, cry and hurt right along with this family. So hard to put down.
February 11, 2024
The story line was good. I did not enjoy the conversational dialogue. I skimmed a lot.
July 17, 2024
London Afire
Well written well documented this Family saga during such a trying time in History..Looking forward to the next book in series
Well written well documented this Family saga during such a trying time in History..Looking forward to the next book in series
January 29, 2025
Couldn't put this down!
As good as the first book in this series. You must read them in the right order. Even though it's 1 am, I'm going to start on the 3rd book in the series!
As good as the first book in this series. You must read them in the right order. Even though it's 1 am, I'm going to start on the 3rd book in the series!
March 12, 2025
As good as expected
This author knows how to write a book that entangled all characters and keeps your attention. Look forward to the next in the series!
This author knows how to write a book that entangled all characters and keeps your attention. Look forward to the next in the series!
May 25, 2023
Brought back memories
Who alive at the time will ever forget rationing and doodle bugs.
Great story although a bit emotional at times.
For the generations with scant knowledge of the 2nd World War in the U.K. This fictionalised novel is true. Leaving me with the hope that it will never happen again.
Who alive at the time will ever forget rationing and doodle bugs.
Great story although a bit emotional at times.
For the generations with scant knowledge of the 2nd World War in the U.K. This fictionalised novel is true. Leaving me with the hope that it will never happen again.
October 31, 2024
I love reading world war 11, stories. This book was well written, it was a part two in a series and you probably do need to read the first book but the series is well worth reading. The story follows a London family as they live work volunteer and enlisting all branches of the military. I highly recamend both this book and the series.
February 22, 2023
This was a very well written book, so enjoyed this series
July 7, 2023
the best
One of the best heart warming bold ave ever read in wartime drama an excellent book highly reccomend the best by far
One of the best heart warming bold ave ever read in wartime drama an excellent book highly reccomend the best by far
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews