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Where the Sky Begins

A Novel

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Where the Sky Begins

Written by: Rhys Bowen
Narrated by: Emma Griffiths
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About this listen

A woman’s future is determined by fate and choice in a gripping WWII novel about danger, triumph, and second chances by the New York Times best-selling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Tuscan Child.

London, 1940. Bombs fall and Josie Banks’ world crumbles around her. Her overbearing husband, Stan, is unreachable, called to service. Her home, a ruin of rubble and ash. Josie’s beloved tearoom boss has been killed, and Josie herself is injured, with nothing left and nowhere to go.

Evacuated to the English countryside, Josie ends up at the estate of the aristocratic Miss Harcourt, a reluctant host to the survivors of the Blitz. Awed as she is by the magnificent landscape, Josie sees opportunity. Josie convinces Miss Harcourt to let her open a humble tea shop, seeing it as a chance for everyone to begin again. When Josie meets Mike Johnson, a handsome Canadian pilot stationed at a neighboring bomber base, a growing intimacy brings her an inner peace she’s never felt before. Then Stan returns from the war.

Now a threat looms larger than anyone imagined. And a dangerous secret is about to upend Josie’s life again. Her newfound courage will be put to the test if she is to emerge, like a survivor, triumphant.

©2022 Janet Quin-Harkin, writing as Rhys Bowen (P)2022 Audible, Inc.
20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction
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What listeners say about Where the Sky Begins

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Amazing

An incredible story that somehow manages to include so many important events from such a unique main character. I loved every minute.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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great story line

Really liked this book, great story line and good listening. Found it very hard to turn off good have listened to it in one setting beginning to end if possible.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Good old fashion love story

Really enjoyed the story
Memories of my mother and fathers life in Britain during WW11
Loved the descriptions of life in those times

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Lovely Listen

Great performance - loved the accents.
Nice and enjoyable story. Nothing too deep but a good “take me away” treat without the sappy Hallmark dribble on W tv.

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Check your Canadian History, Ma. Bowen!

Although for the most part I enjoyed Ms Bowen's latest, I have a huge complaint.
At one point Mike is introduced as somebody who came over to Britain to join up with the RAF because Canada wasn't getting on with it. Well that is just plain wrong! Canada was in the war independently of everybody before just about any other country. Almost 2.5 years before the US! They joined the fight on September 10th, 1939. just one week after Britain and France. They had so many volunteers that Canada never did have to use subscription. The RCAF was one of the most successful and hard-working branches of the Air Force in Britain. To have it disparaged having Mike say I joined up with Britain because Canada wasn't getting on with it is just an absolute insult to the memories of Canada's magnificent armed forces.
It doesn't take much to Google Canadian Armed Forces in World War II, Ms. Bowen. Maybe next time you'll be a bit more diligent in your research.

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31 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

No real substance

The main character fractured her collarbone which was a terrible hardship for her. Boohoo. The main character skipped about the countryside and opened a tea shop. Meanwhile, everyone else DIED. The Canadian character had some kind of bizarre Boston accent. No actual war grit to this story, a fluff piece.

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