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Churchill's Angels #3
A Christmas Gift
The third in a series of books featuring four young women whose lives will be forever changed by WWII. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn. As the daughter of the local cinema manager, Sally Brewer has always dreamed of stardom. When she gets offered a theatre job in London, any fancy notions she has are quickly dashed when faced with the reality of long hours with no prospect of a speaking part. But all of this goes out of Sally’s mind once the nightly hail of German bombs start to rain down on London. She joins the newly-formed ENSA, the Entertainments National Service Association and is soon raising morale all over the bombed-out city – there is little time for love. One night, Sally discovers a valuable ring sewn into the lining of a cloak. Intrigued, she tracks down the owner – a Naval Officer called Jonathan – but they barely have time to get to know each other before he is recalled to sea. Then Sally gets the terrible news that his ship has been destroyed. With only the ring to remember him by, can Sally face the future without the man she loves?
387 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2014
6 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 25, 2023
Not my favorite of the series but I finished it anyway. Hopefully the 4th and final one is better.
May 12, 2018
Once again I have been transported to wartime England. The series is advertised as a woman’s series. However, this very male man is enjoying the series immensely. The books can be read in any order, but read them in published sequence to make the stories more comprehensive.
January 2, 2020
This book is the third of Churchill’s angels which was about Sally. She had dreams of being on stage, but I don’t think she had in mind performing for the troops but that’s what she did. After meeting Jon she loved him from the start. I love the way that through the ups and downs, she found her special man. It wouldn’t have been the same without Sebastian, I found his character to be fun yet loving and serious when he needed to be.
December 4, 2018
Bought this as I was looking for a Christmassy book to read, but despite the title this isn’t centred around or references Christmas at all which was very disappointing!
December 10, 2018
Not about Christmas at all despite the title. Had to force myself to finish it as it’s storyline is dull.
September 20, 2019
Typical boy meets girl WWII story.
November 18, 2019
It was a little slow times and I didn't like the predictable ending. However, loved the small details and depth and overall enjoyed.
Read
June 16, 202031st of may
November 16, 2021
Loved the book until the end
November 11, 2016
didn't enjoy this as much as the others in this series
January 4, 2015
A stirring, tender and evocative saga set during the Second World War, A Christmas Gift is the third stand-alone installment of Ruby Jackson’s enchanting and enthralling series, Churchill’s Angels.
The magic of the silver screen has long enchanted Sally Brewer. Having grown up in the projection room of her father’s cinema, Sally wants nothing more than to become a professional actress – and it looks like her dream might become a reality. When she gets the opportunity to study at a drama school, Sally is absolutely delighted, but her excitement turns to dismay when war is declared and she finds herself having to reluctantly put her dreams of stardom on the back burner. However, Sally is not a girl who gives up without a fight and when the chance to work in a London theatre comes along, she jumps at this unexpected chance to make her dearest wish come true. Determined to impress her new colleagues in London and to show them that that she’s not a country mouse, Sally goes shopping and buys herself a new wardrobe – which includes a gorgeous coat that changes her life forever…
Sally is head over heels in love with her new coat, but she is flabbergasted when she finds a valuable ring sewn into the lining. Determined to track down the owner of this ring and return the expensive and precious item of jewellery back to him, Sally begins her search, but what was meant to be an easy and straightforward operation is quickly complicated by unexpected emotion and forbidden desire for the ring belongs to the handsome Captain Jonathan Galbraith, a charismatic, dashing and good-looking aristocrat who awakens in Sally feelings she had never experienced before.
After the end of his marriage, Jonathan had never thought that he would find himself falling in love with someone else ever again, but Sally’s charm, innocence and kindness quickly gets under his skin and the defenses that he’d erected around his heart quickly begin to tumble down. But with the world at war, both Sally and Jonathan know that any chance they might have at happiness is fleeting.
Determined to do her duty for her country and to continue working towards becoming an actress, Sally joins ENSA, the Entertainments National Service Association, and she is soon travelling all over the country entertaining troops and trying her best to keep the nation’s morale up. However, at the back of her mind, Sally is constantly thinking about the man she has grown to love.
When she gets the news that his ship has been destroyed, Sally is absolutely devastated. Has the only man she has ever loved perished in a cruel tragedy? What else does life have in store for Sally? Will she triumph against all the obstacles standing in her way? Or will she be overwhelmed by the devastation that surrounds her?
Readers of historical fiction are in for a treat with A Christmas Gift! A vivid, evocative and highly compelling saga of hope, friendship, family ties and the power of love, A Christmas Gift deftly brings to life the pain, hardships, heartaches and courage of a country at war. Readers will feel every emotion which the characters of this fantastic story go through and they will find themselves unable to put down this captivating and outstanding story that will touch their hearts and make them shed a tear.
The heroine Sally is a resourceful, resilient, plucky and courageous young woman who comes to life from the very first page and readers are sure to fall in love with her and with the other fantastic characters who populate this novel: charming Sebastian, unconventional Maudie, compassionate Millie and Jonathan, the gallant aristocrat.
A wonderful saga I couldn’t bear to put down, A Christmas Gift is an outstanding tale from the exceptional pen of Ruby Jackson!
This review was originally published on Single Titles.
The magic of the silver screen has long enchanted Sally Brewer. Having grown up in the projection room of her father’s cinema, Sally wants nothing more than to become a professional actress – and it looks like her dream might become a reality. When she gets the opportunity to study at a drama school, Sally is absolutely delighted, but her excitement turns to dismay when war is declared and she finds herself having to reluctantly put her dreams of stardom on the back burner. However, Sally is not a girl who gives up without a fight and when the chance to work in a London theatre comes along, she jumps at this unexpected chance to make her dearest wish come true. Determined to impress her new colleagues in London and to show them that that she’s not a country mouse, Sally goes shopping and buys herself a new wardrobe – which includes a gorgeous coat that changes her life forever…
Sally is head over heels in love with her new coat, but she is flabbergasted when she finds a valuable ring sewn into the lining. Determined to track down the owner of this ring and return the expensive and precious item of jewellery back to him, Sally begins her search, but what was meant to be an easy and straightforward operation is quickly complicated by unexpected emotion and forbidden desire for the ring belongs to the handsome Captain Jonathan Galbraith, a charismatic, dashing and good-looking aristocrat who awakens in Sally feelings she had never experienced before.
After the end of his marriage, Jonathan had never thought that he would find himself falling in love with someone else ever again, but Sally’s charm, innocence and kindness quickly gets under his skin and the defenses that he’d erected around his heart quickly begin to tumble down. But with the world at war, both Sally and Jonathan know that any chance they might have at happiness is fleeting.
Determined to do her duty for her country and to continue working towards becoming an actress, Sally joins ENSA, the Entertainments National Service Association, and she is soon travelling all over the country entertaining troops and trying her best to keep the nation’s morale up. However, at the back of her mind, Sally is constantly thinking about the man she has grown to love.
When she gets the news that his ship has been destroyed, Sally is absolutely devastated. Has the only man she has ever loved perished in a cruel tragedy? What else does life have in store for Sally? Will she triumph against all the obstacles standing in her way? Or will she be overwhelmed by the devastation that surrounds her?
Readers of historical fiction are in for a treat with A Christmas Gift! A vivid, evocative and highly compelling saga of hope, friendship, family ties and the power of love, A Christmas Gift deftly brings to life the pain, hardships, heartaches and courage of a country at war. Readers will feel every emotion which the characters of this fantastic story go through and they will find themselves unable to put down this captivating and outstanding story that will touch their hearts and make them shed a tear.
The heroine Sally is a resourceful, resilient, plucky and courageous young woman who comes to life from the very first page and readers are sure to fall in love with her and with the other fantastic characters who populate this novel: charming Sebastian, unconventional Maudie, compassionate Millie and Jonathan, the gallant aristocrat.
A wonderful saga I couldn’t bear to put down, A Christmas Gift is an outstanding tale from the exceptional pen of Ruby Jackson!
This review was originally published on Single Titles.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews