An Extract From A Wedding For The Bomber Girls by Vicki Beeby

Happy to welcome Vicki Beeby back to my blog with an extract of her latest novel A Wedding for the Bomber Girls. I was fortunate to read and enjoy immensely an advance copy of this book, so I will give Morton’s review at the end of the blog post.

Thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog again, Morton. My latest book, A Wedding for the Bomber Girls was published by Canelo Saga at the end of April, so I thought I’d share an extract. Before I start, here’s a little about the book. This is what my publisher says about it:

As wedding bells ring out, joy will be found amidst the tensions of war…

At RAF Fenthorpe, instrument repairer Thea is helping her sister, Pearl, plan her wedding alongside fellow WAAF and maid of honour Jenny. A misfit amongst the women on the base, though, Thea is struggling to get others onboard.

When Flight Sergeant Fitz makes a point of befriending and standing by her, sparks fly between the two. And when Fitz’s crew member, Jack, faces being stripped of his rank due to cowardice, Thea throws herself into seeking justice and support for him.

Just as she begins to be accepted by her fellow WAAFs, a shadowy figure from her past has returned and is determined to ruin not just Thea, but also Pearl’s wedding. Will Thea’s reputation be marred once more? And will she face this struggle alone…?

A page-turning and feel-good Second World War saga, for fans of Johanna Bell, Daisy Styles and Kate Thompson.

This is the second book in my Bomber Girls series, featuring three WAAFs: Pearl, Thea and Jenny. Book two is Thea’s story, and as the story opens, Thea is being ostracised by most of the Personnel at RAF Fenthorpe after being accused (wrongly) of theft. Her sister, Pearl, on the other hand, is thriving in her new job and has just announced her wedding date. The extract I’ve chosen is near the start of the book as the three women meet at the pub to discuss wedding plans.

***

Pearl tapped the corporal’s stripes on her sleeves. ‘It feels like everything is changing so fast. I’ve hardly been at Fenthorpe for a year and already I’ve passed my NCO training, got the job of my dreams and met the man I’m going to marry.’

Thea mumbled something she hoped sounded encouraging. She tried not to mind that, although Pearl had only been in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force for just over a year, she already outranked Thea, who had joined in 1939. Thankfully she didn’t need to say anything more coherent, because a group of WAAFs on a neighbouring table, who had obviously overheard Pearl’s announcement, flocked around the corner table to congratulate her. None of them spoke to or even looked at Thea. It was as though she was invisible.

Jenny clearly felt uncomfortable about this treatment, and she did her best to include Thea in the conversation, but Thea shook her head with a wry smile. ‘Don’t worry, Jenny. I’m used to it.’ She raised her voice. ‘Everyone with more than half a brain values me, and I couldn’t care less about anyone else.’ The other WAAFs seemed to have selective hearing, however, for none of them betrayed even with the flicker of an eyelid that they had heard.

To Pearl’s credit, although she graciously thanked the WAAFs, she soon afterwards said, ‘You must excuse me. I need to discuss my plans with Thea and Jenny.’ Once they had drifted back to their table, she turned to Thea, looking annoyed. ‘Honestly, did no one read my report? It proves you were innocent.’

‘I know. But some people argue that it’s in your interest to clear my name, as I’m your sister. And heaven forbid they should let the truth stand in the way of good gossip.’ When Pearl opened her mouth to speak again, Thea silenced her with a gesture. ‘Leave it, Pearl. I can fight my own battles. And, as you say, we’ve got a wedding to plan.’

Pearl eyed her for a while as though contemplating saying more, but finally she pulled a pencil from her gas mask case, saying, ‘Fine. You’re right, we have got a lot to organise. I’m sure this will soon blow over. Now’ – she looked from Thea to Jenny – ‘first things first. I find myself in need of bridesmaids. Please say you’ll both do it. Blatchford promised to make sure you both get forty-eight-hour passes for the weekend.’

‘I’d love to,’ Thea said, feeling strangely tearful.

At the same time, Jenny said, ‘Of course. I’ve always wanted to be a bridesmaid.’

‘Wonderful. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have than the two of you.’ Then the brilliance of Pearl’s smile faded as she seemed to brace herself for saying something difficult. ‘The thing is… and don’t take this the wrong way, Thea…’ She tailed off.

‘Out with it.’ If Pearl was about to say something unwelcome, Thea wanted it out in the open right away.

‘Well, I want to ask Jenny to be my maid of honour.’

Jenny’s face lit up but her expression sobered when she caught Thea’s eye.

Thea would have laughed if she hadn’t felt so snubbed. ‘I have to ask myself what’s the right way to react. I’m your sister. What do you expect me to say? I’m—’ Thea suddenly noticed Jenny, shrinking away as though wishing herself to be anywhere else. Immediately she shut her mouth, feeling like the worst friend in the world. ‘Sorry, Jenny. I didn’t mean… You’ll make a wonderful maid of honour. Pearl’s right.’

***

I hope that’s whetted your appetite for more. If so, you can find purchase links here: mybook.to/WedBG

About Vicki Beeby

Vicki Beeby is a saga author who writes about the friendships and loves of service women brought together by the Second World War.

Her first job was as a civil engineer on a sewage treatment project, so things could only improve from there. Since then, she has worked as a maths teacher, an education consultant before she turned freelance to give herself more time to write.

She is published by Canelo and represented by Lina Langlee of The North Literary Agency. She was a finalist for the RNA Romantic Saga award in 2021 and won it in 2023.

Website: www.vickibeeby.co.uk

Facebook page: facebook.com/VickiBeebyAuthor

Instagram: @vickibeebyauthor

Morton’s Review of A Wedding for the Bomber Girls

5 Stars

I relished being back with Vicki Beeby’s Bomber Girls. Reading this book was like re-joining old friends and I loved the ups and downs and ins and outs of the story.

Pearl, Thea and Jenny definitely go through the emotional ringer in this book and it brought home some realities about what life must have actually been like in the war, even planning a wedding or getting a wedding dress was not straightforward. The bomber crews must have had terrible anxieties and flashbacks and felt such relief when they had completed the required number of missions.

Vicki Beeby has such a lovely way of writing that reading is effortless and flowing. I will admit to not wanting to stop at the end of the chapters and to often sneaking off to read when I should have been doing other things. Can’t wait for the next one.

Books by Vicki Beeby –