About the Book The Widow & The War Correspondent

Book: The Widow & The War Correspondent

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: June 15, 2020

Are a new life and new love possible in a country devastated by war?

Barely married before she’s widowed after Pearl Harbor three years ago, journalist Cora Strealer travels to England where she’s assigned to work with United Press’s top reporter who thinks the last place for a woman is on the front lines. Can she change his opinion before D-Day? Or will she have to choose her job over her heart?

A sought-after journalist, Van Toppel deserves his pick of assignments, which is why he can’t determine the bureau chief’s motive for saddling him with a cub reporter. Unfortunately, the beautiful rookie is no puff piece. Can he get her off his beat without making headlines…or losing his heart?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts on The Widow & The War Correspondent

I love the WWII time period.  I know I’ve said it before, but it needs to be said again as I’ve loved reading this novel set during WWII.  In it, you’ll find yourself transported back in time to England during the war, and from there other shores.

This is a particularly timely book for me to tell you about as I went to a WWII reenactment yesterday.  Of course, I read this book a few months ago.  The minute it came to me I was diving in! 

Please know that this is part of a series of books.  While you don’t have to read them in order and they will make sense read out of order it is always nice to know when you’re reading a series so you can read them in order if you wish to.  I’ve loved this series so far and can’t wait for the next book!

Now to the actual storyline!  

Cora lost her husband to the war.  They were married a short time before he was off fighting and lost his life.  Cora is left on her own and struggles with what to do now that she’s a war widow.  But not for long.  She works for the local paper.  But she’s tired of the humdrum they let her cover.  She wants the exciting stuff!  She wants what the men get. 

And then.  With one well-placed friend, she gets what she wants.  She is off overseas to do some reporting.  But maybe it’s not all that she thought it would be.  She’s still not getting the exciting articles and assignments she wants. 

What happens when she takes matters into her own hands and sets off on the search for a story on her own without permission. 

This was a wonderful tale and I couldn’t put it down.  I loved Cora.  Van is also a wonderful character with secrets and dreams of his own.  I loved watching the two of them navigate a relationship and come to terms with their pasts.  You’re going to love this book!  Grab a copy now!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

About the Author of The Widow & The War Correspondent

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is a former trustee for her local public library.

She is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry. Linda has lived in historic places all her life. She is now located in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

More from Linda

Dear Readers:

I’ve been intrigued by female war correspondents since I first saw a museum exhibit about Therese Bonney, a WWII photojournalist. Further investigation turned up Martha Gellhorn, Margaret Bourke-White, Dickey Chapelle, Toni Frissell, and Lee Miller.

Of the more than 2,000 accredited U.S. correspondents who travelled overseas to cover World War II, only 127 were women. Accreditation acted as a contract: The Army or Navy transported correspondents into war zones, fed and sheltered them, and sent their dispatches home. In return, correspondents followed military law and censorship. Correspondents who defied rules lost credentials. They received a pocket-sized “Basic Field Manual” of accreditation rules. Frighteningly, it included a waiver of liability for injury or death.

Correspondents carried a green accreditation card and wore uniforms without symbols of rank, to indicate they would neither give nor take salutes. War correspondents wore green “WC” armbands, which evolved into “U.S. War Correspondent” patches. They were treated as captains, a rank that allowed them to eat with officers and facilitated POW exchanges if taken prisoner. Women correspondents wore skirts with male uniform blouses.

Nearly every commander in the Allied forces refused to allow women near combat.

They feared women breaking under pressure (a fate that befell many men), balking at the lack of women’s latrines, or influencing soldiers to take risks to protect them.

Still, accredited women saw combat. Sometimes the front shifted, catching women in the thick of the action, as was the case with Ruth Cowan in North Africa. Some asked officers to write letters of introduction to combat zones, as did Bourke-White in Italy. Still, others got there by hook or by crook.

Female journalists fought a double war: a war against evil and a war against the system.

They fought red tape, ridicule, derision, lewdness, and downright hostility to do the job they were hired to do. The grit and gumption of these women enabled them to provide eyewitness accounts of the harrowing events of WWII.

Political-reporter-turned-war correspondent May Craig summed up their achievements in a 1944 speech at the Women’s National Press Club: “The war has given women a chance to show what they can do in the news world, and they have done well.” BBC Correspondent Lyse Doucet agrees, “They did it, not just because they were exceptional women, but because they were great journalists.”

I wrote The Widow & The War Correspondent to honor these brave women in some small way, and I hope you enjoy Cora’s story.

Blessings,

Linda Shenton Matchett

Blog Stops for The Widow & The War Correspondent

Texas Book-aholic, June 7

Beauty in the Binding, June 8 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 8

Inklings and notions, June 9

Betti Mace, June 10

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, June 11 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, June 12

For Him and My Family, June 13

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 14

Splashes of Joy, June 15 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 16

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 17

Connie’s History Classroom, June 18

Artistic Nobody, June 19 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 20

Giveaway for The Widow & The War Correspondent

To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Visa Gift Card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1e7fd/the-widow-and-the-war-correspondent-celebration-tour-giveaway