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Sheridans #2
And in the Morning
The Sheridan family fought for king and country through the Great War, when two of the brothers were killed in action. Now, two days before Christmas 1939, the one who survived against all odds faces another world war along with his family. Many years have passed since those earlier war days, but the desires and betrayals that once threatened to destroy the family are stirred yet again by the new conflict.
Sir Christopher Sheridan, knighted for his services to world peace, had believed he would grow old in the exquisite Dorset village of Tarrant Royal, but he is wearing Khacki again, knowing that the War Office desperately needs his formidable intelligence skills and experience.
David, his son, is obsessed by the legend of his late Uncle Rex, the Royal Flying Corps Ace who was hailed as a hero. Hoping to emulate him, David eagerly takes to the air with his Spitfire squadron against the Luftwaffe. Within weeks, however, a tragic incident replaces his illusions with the reality of war's death and destruction. When glory proves an empty reward, David turns to the love of a beautiful foreign woman, unaware of the price he will have to pay for his momentary happiness.
Vesta, David's sister, who is embittered by an unhappy love affair of her own, joins the army and learns the hard way what it takes to be a woman on active service and what it takes to love or trust another man.
Elizabeth Darrell, who has been acclaimed for her universal characters and themes, has once again written a spellbinding story of human emotions set against an impeccably researched background. She brings rare insight into the effects of war on ordinary men and women to this powerful story of a new generation that is willing to risk everything for family and country.
Sir Christopher Sheridan, knighted for his services to world peace, had believed he would grow old in the exquisite Dorset village of Tarrant Royal, but he is wearing Khacki again, knowing that the War Office desperately needs his formidable intelligence skills and experience.
David, his son, is obsessed by the legend of his late Uncle Rex, the Royal Flying Corps Ace who was hailed as a hero. Hoping to emulate him, David eagerly takes to the air with his Spitfire squadron against the Luftwaffe. Within weeks, however, a tragic incident replaces his illusions with the reality of war's death and destruction. When glory proves an empty reward, David turns to the love of a beautiful foreign woman, unaware of the price he will have to pay for his momentary happiness.
Vesta, David's sister, who is embittered by an unhappy love affair of her own, joins the army and learns the hard way what it takes to be a woman on active service and what it takes to love or trust another man.
Elizabeth Darrell, who has been acclaimed for her universal characters and themes, has once again written a spellbinding story of human emotions set against an impeccably researched background. She brings rare insight into the effects of war on ordinary men and women to this powerful story of a new generation that is willing to risk everything for family and country.
608 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1986
81 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Darrell
39 books24 followersA pseudonym used by Edna Dawes and Emma Drummond.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 25, 2021
This is the second book in the Sheridan series. It focuses on the second generation but there is still significant dialogue about the one remaining brother, Christopher. He is still very much involved in intelligence services and works in secret with only a few knowing his true job. His son, David, becomes a flyer and does well until he accidentally kills a colleague. He returns home and is transferred to Singapore where he meets a young girl with whom he falls in love and marries. He tries to get her to safety but she refuses to leave without her family. He is on the last plane leaving the falling city and his plane crashes on a beach. He is discovered by some secret force personnel but they cannot risk taking him to safety. Discovered by the enemy, he is tortured for not telling where they are. After three days, two of the soldiers return to save him from certain death. He is nursed back to health and comes home but is badly maimed and feels like a failure. Chris's daughter, Vesta, survives a disastrous affair with a Polish airman and becomes a war artist. She travels to Africa to cover the Desert Rats, then to Cairo, and to Italy. She returns to London where the apartment she is staying in is bombed and she is injured. Central to the entire plot is the ancestral home at Tarrant Royal and it is there that they return to heal. Chris is killed when trying to assist a defector to come to England and his son, David, must leave him behind. The horrors of war are set against the tranquillity of rural England. This is an amazing story and I am looking forward to reading the third in the series.
March 8, 2021
World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars, and the Sheridan family has paid dearly in it. Yet as World War II begins, Christopher Sheridan is drawn from his country estate back into war work in London where his brilliant mind and prowess as a linguist are invaluable. Now he has two children: David, the son who shuns him after learning the truth of how he was conceived and his father's flight from a newborn family, and Vesta, a daughter who shares her father's love of beauty and artistic talent.
Once again, the world is plunged into war, and the Sheridan family is forced to endure even more hardship and strain. Nationals fall and with them ideals. Disillusionment and bitterness threaten. It will be David and Vesta's generation who must attempt to rebuild if the war ever ends.
Once again, readers are mesmerized by a word mural of such vast and varied proportions that one can only admire the author's skill in writing it. Joy, sorrow, love, betrayal, and all manner of other human emotions are on display, rendered in clear, poignant, and beautiful language that enthralls and illuminates by turns.
Once again, the world is plunged into war, and the Sheridan family is forced to endure even more hardship and strain. Nationals fall and with them ideals. Disillusionment and bitterness threaten. It will be David and Vesta's generation who must attempt to rebuild if the war ever ends.
Once again, readers are mesmerized by a word mural of such vast and varied proportions that one can only admire the author's skill in writing it. Joy, sorrow, love, betrayal, and all manner of other human emotions are on display, rendered in clear, poignant, and beautiful language that enthralls and illuminates by turns.
January 10, 2021
More Sheridan's Intrigue!
Maybe, a little more predictable than the first book, but nevertheless a page-turner and again a far better learning of history than much taught in schools. The backdrop is now WW11 and we move all over the world, interestingly to Cairo, but still with the 3rd Sheridan brother as the lynch pin and the family home in Dorset as the place to radiate out from and to return to, to regain your soul and refresh. Great suspenseful romance, well researched, with new 'friends' slowly introduced, so as the reader is not overwhelmed with lots of new faces all at once. I look forward to book 3!
Maybe, a little more predictable than the first book, but nevertheless a page-turner and again a far better learning of history than much taught in schools. The backdrop is now WW11 and we move all over the world, interestingly to Cairo, but still with the 3rd Sheridan brother as the lynch pin and the family home in Dorset as the place to radiate out from and to return to, to regain your soul and refresh. Great suspenseful romance, well researched, with new 'friends' slowly introduced, so as the reader is not overwhelmed with lots of new faces all at once. I look forward to book 3!
January 30, 2019
Intense!!
What a devastatingly real portrayal of life during WWII in Britain, Singapore and Italy! The descriptions of battle zones and villages, both people and areas, is so realistic you feel you are there.
The suspense is but wrenching as characters fight for survival and attempt to live for the day. The loss of so many is devastating. I sobbed through almost the entire last chapter of this amazing story. Talk about unsung heroes!!!!
Readers of romance and historical fiction should read this highly charged series. This author brings it home!
What a devastatingly real portrayal of life during WWII in Britain, Singapore and Italy! The descriptions of battle zones and villages, both people and areas, is so realistic you feel you are there.
The suspense is but wrenching as characters fight for survival and attempt to live for the day. The loss of so many is devastating. I sobbed through almost the entire last chapter of this amazing story. Talk about unsung heroes!!!!
Readers of romance and historical fiction should read this highly charged series. This author brings it home!
January 19, 2021
Continuation of the Sheridans
And in the Morning is just as heart warming & heart breaking. The Sheridan family story continues into World War 2 with Chris, Marion, & their children David & Vests, as well Bill, Tessa, & their daughter, Pat. The Sheridan all continue to mature & grow as they learn about themselves & each other. Again I couldn't put this book down. Of course I cried. I highly recommend this book.
And in the Morning is just as heart warming & heart breaking. The Sheridan family story continues into World War 2 with Chris, Marion, & their children David & Vests, as well Bill, Tessa, & their daughter, Pat. The Sheridan all continue to mature & grow as they learn about themselves & each other. Again I couldn't put this book down. Of course I cried. I highly recommend this book.
January 21, 2022
What an amazing family!
What an amazing family! The Sheridans are a privileged family who are unspoiled by their wealth and who give freely of themselves to others. Their story made me feel like a good friend of the family,and I feel that I grew as a person by reading about them. This series has touched me in a way that few books do. I put it among my all-time favorites!
What an amazing family! The Sheridans are a privileged family who are unspoiled by their wealth and who give freely of themselves to others. Their story made me feel like a good friend of the family,and I feel that I grew as a person by reading about them. This series has touched me in a way that few books do. I put it among my all-time favorites!
March 31, 2020
The book is sort of a poor man's Downton Abbey meets WW2. It follows the story of the Sheridan family, their wartime exploits, their family conflicts and their various romances. A bit of a soap opera in spots and I thought the very end was the weakest part of the book but overall I quite liked it.
January 16, 2022
Exceptional
History from another view. Was a relief not to deal with bad language or soft porn writing, but rather with an author that could grab your mind and heart and take you places to feel the emotions with war.
History from another view. Was a relief not to deal with bad language or soft porn writing, but rather with an author that could grab your mind and heart and take you places to feel the emotions with war.
February 26, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic account of WW2 and the Sheridan family's involvement.
There is so much detail and history of this war; covering England, Europe, Singapore, Egypt and Italy.
A brilliant read; however, the lack of 'punctuation' at times was VERY frustrating.
There is so much detail and history of this war; covering England, Europe, Singapore, Egypt and Italy.
A brilliant read; however, the lack of 'punctuation' at times was VERY frustrating.
July 5, 2019
1939-1945 Dorset family in all facets of WWII life
January 18, 2021
And In The Morning
Just loved the second Book of the Sheridans trilogy . Author brings war time England and Europe to live in her special way.
Just loved the second Book of the Sheridans trilogy . Author brings war time England and Europe to live in her special way.
February 19, 2021
Very good
The story of the family continues Makes you aware of lost opportunities in life Look forward to finding how the family get on
The story of the family continues Makes you aware of lost opportunities in life Look forward to finding how the family get on
April 4, 2021
The Sheridan books
I think this second book in the series is even better than the first. I intend to read the third one.
I think this second book in the series is even better than the first. I intend to read the third one.
May 8, 2015
Continuing the saga of the Sheridan family, this novel also has the historical relevance of the first book in the series. It also includes a series of love stories for family members, which tended to be a bit mawkish at times. I have to admit that I cried at the end. A story of courage and beauty that ultimately transcends. the horror of WWII.
August 23, 2016
A moving story set amidst a war that changed so many lives.
Well told in a style which flows over the pages. Human nature, love and war all entwined. The characters leaped from the pages.
Well told in a style which flows over the pages. Human nature, love and war all entwined. The characters leaped from the pages.
April 23, 2017
Marvellous history of ww2. Having been part of it I found only one error--gas masks were not mandatory in UK 1942 I like this 2nd book even more than 'at th going down of the sun' and can't wait to read book 3 'we will remember'
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews