Glamour Girls: A Novel

by Marty Wingate

Overview

This heart-warming historical fiction debut about a female pilot is “like reading a personal diary of the brave women who were unsung heroes of WWII” (Rhys Bowen, New York Times–bestselling author of the Royal Spyness mysteries).

During World War II, farmer’s daughter Rosalie Wright becomes a pilot assisting the RAF. But will a romantic rivalry send her aerial dreams plummeting to earth?

Ever since she was 10 years old, Rosalie Wright’s eyes have been on the skies. But at the age of 18, on the verge of earning her pilot's license, the English farmer’s daughter watches her dreams of becoming an aviatrix fly away without her. Britain's entry into World War II brings civilian aviation to a standstill. Then, Rosalie's father dies, leaving her, her mother, and her brothers to run the farm.

Everything changes when she learns that the Air Transport Authority is recruiting women pilots to ferry warplanes across Britain to RAF bases. Despite her mother’s objections, Rosalie cannot resist the call of her country—and the lure of the skies. During her training on Gipsy Moth aircraft, Rosalie forms a fast friendship with fellow flyer Caroline Andrews. Her trusty Ferry Pilots Notebook by her side, Rosalie delivers to five airfields in a day—while fighting an endless battle against skeptical male pilots and ground crews.

She would much rather spend her time on the wing than on the arm of any man...until she meets gruff pilot Snug Durrant and RAF squadron leader Alan Chersey. Snug is a cynical, wisecracking playboy, and Alan is every WAAF’s heartthrob...and Rosalie catches both their eyes. As the war drags on, and casualties mount, will love and tragedy send Rosalie’s exhilarating airborne life crashing to the ground?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781643855271
Publisher:	CROOKED LANE BOOKS
Publication date:	01/12/2021
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

USA Today best-selling author Marty Wingate writes mystery series and historical fiction set in England with the occasional foray into Scotland. The First Edition Library mysteries (Berkley), set in Bath, feature Hayley Burke, the curator of a collection of books from the Golden Age of Mystery. Murder is a Must, book two, will be released in the fall, 2020. Marty is also the author of the Potting Shed books (Alibi) with Pru Parke, a middle-aged American gardener transplanted from Texas to England, and the Birds of a Feather series (Alibi) with Julia Lanchester, bird lover, who runs a tourist office in a Suffolk village.

Marty and her husband live near Seattle, but she prefers on-the-ground research whenever possible, and so they travel regularly to England and Scotland. There, she can be found tracing the historical steps of her characters—including flying a Spitfire simulator and visiting World War Two airfields—followed by stopping for tea and a slice of Victoria sponge or enjoying a swift half in a pub.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Glamour Girls:
“[Wingate’s] command of WWII history and the uncelebrated roles of women is exemplary, and the emotional resonance makes this a deeply fulfilling read.”
—Booklist, starred review

"The author manages to depict Rosalie’s friendships with fellow Attagirls and RAF pilots in a manner that is both realistic and touching."
—Kirkus Reviews

“Glamour Girls is a heart-warming story of family, friendship, and romance...I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a new and unique perspective of WWII fiction.”
—Girly Book Club

“A winner [featuring] a smart, strong female lead.”
—Red Carpet Crash

"Tender and fierce, the book is always well-written and captures the spirit of the time." 
—Manhattan Book Review

"A fascinating, well-researched look at the ATA and the “glamour girls” who helped win the war."  —Historical Novel Society

“Glamour Girls feels so real it’s like reading a personal diary of the brave women who were unsung heroes of WWII. Marty Wingate has managed to get the feel for wartime Britain spot on. Well done!”
—Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author

“Fans of strong women defying the odds will love Wingate's novel of Englishwoman Rosalie Wright's struggle to become pilot during World War II—there's friendship, romance, adventure, and wonderful attention to period detail."
—Susan Elia MacNeal, New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope series

"Marty Wingate delivers it all in Glamour Girls—wartime love, heartbreaking losses, endearing characters, fascinating period detail."
—Candace Robb, author of the Owen Archer historical mysteries

“Glamour Girls will take you on a fascinating journey into the lives of female pilots in WWII Britain. Blending female friendship with romance and loss, this is vivid and heartfelt read!”
—Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author of Red Sky Over Hawaii

"A wonderful, heart-warming tale of the women of the ATA. Be prepared to fall in love with some very special characters, and experience adventure, heartbreak and love with them... I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.” 
—Soraya M. Lane, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Wives of War

From the Publisher

2020-10-27
A young woman leaves her family home to fly airplanes for the British Air Transport Auxiliary during World War II and gets caught in a confusing love triangle.

In 1932, Rosalie Wright, a 10-year-old farm girl from Cambridgeshire, takes her first ride in an airplane and is forever smitten with flight. When she turns 16, her parents finally allow her to take flying lessons. Only a short time later, World War II erupts, and the local airfield halts civilian operations. It seems Rosalie will be stuck working the family farm forever. But then she stumbles on an article about Pauline Gower, a pilot she's long admired, who has been appointed to the Women’s Division of the Air Transport Auxiliary, a group that ferries airplanes for the Royal Air Force. After repeated rejections based on her age, she finally secures a position with this elite squad of aviatrices, often referred to as “Attagirls.” As Rosalie builds her career within the ATA, she develops close friendships with the other Attagirls and also finds a love interest. Unfortunately, the man has questionable intentions, and another intriguing fellow is vying for Rosalie’s attention. As the story progresses, it is unclear whether Rosalie will realize that sometimes the best route to happiness comes from following the path of least resistance. Full of interesting details about the different types of airplanes used by the British during World War II, as well as the purposes of each, the narrative takes an unhurried approach toward detailing Rosalie’s adventures. The book reads almost like a diary, delving into many of the mundane parts of Rosalie’s life, often too deeply, before getting to the juicier tidbits. Even so, the author manages to depict Rosalie’s friendships with fellow Attagirls and RAF pilots in a manner that is both realistic and touching. A few twists and turns keep the story engaging despite its often sluggish tempo.

A detailed recounting of one woman’s passion for aviation above all else.

Kirkus Reviews