The Foxhole Victory Tour - by Amy Lynn Green (Paperback)

A refreshingly unique view of a lesser known facet of WWII, this book kept me engaged from the beginning. Watching the unlikely cast of characters, with their divergent quirks and personalities, come together into a ragtag group of unpredictable friends was such an enjoyable ride. And the historical details, paired with the dynamic settings that made me feel as though I were sweltering in the African heat, made this a read not to be missed. My first book genre love is historical fiction, and spending time in some historical fiction brought me a great deal of joy. Maggie and Catherine couldn’t be more different in personality, physical bearing, and familial history. And yet, through a whirlwind sequence of events, the two are thrown together into the world of showbiz and performing, by joining a USO variety show. Though she might make me a little crazy in real life, I loved Maggie on page. She is just the kind of feisty, spunky heroine I love to read about in my books. As stated in the book, the girl has moxie, and lots of it. Her forthright manner, ability to adapt, and instinctual desire to help people, make me love her. And she provides the perfect counterpoint to Catherine, the wealthy and pampered, refined, timid and soft spoken woman, trying to venture out on her own, despite her overbearing and controlling family. The book absolutely needed both characters. I loved watching them each grow and change over the course of their African USO tour, and how they became such good friends. I thought it was neat that the book was written from the POV of these two females, with only some occasional letters thrown in from the male director of the USO unit. There are other characters (Howie, Gabriel, and Julia) that feature in the book in some big ways, but we don’t get their POV. While I expected it at first, I think the way it was written was very well done. I would say this book most particularly fits into the historical fiction genre, with a whisper of budding romance. There are brief glimpses of faith throughout that are the perfect touch for a bit of a Christian element. While it is a WWII novel, it isn’t heavy or depressing. There are a couple of particularly meaningful scenes, where the troupe members utilize their music in specific ways to bring comfort to the soldiers and people to whom they perform, and they are beautifully done. I got choked up during one scene in particular, and the hymn Nearer, My God, To Thee, will never be the same. This is a must read for fans of WWII fiction. It was my first read by Amy Lynn Green, but I’m looking forward to more. Her writing brought the story alive for me. *CW/TW: talk of dead/dying soldiers; one scene of being shot at by a fighter plane; overbearing and controlling parents; demeaning language toward women not uncommon to the era **Thanks to the publisher and Austen Prose for the copy. I have provided this honest review of my own volition. Quotes I loved: “Pretty girls aren’t meant for ugly wars.” “The way I see it, if some of those men are going to die in battle, the best thing we can do is sing them home.”

The Foxhole Victory Tour by Amy Lynn Green is my first novel by this author. I’ve heard so many good things about her stories, and I’m so glad I had an opportunity to read this one! Filled with a unique perspective of WWII and vibrant characters, this novel was pure entertainment. I loved how expertly the history was woven into this story so that the characters are allowed to shine. My favorite aspect was watching this rag-tag group of characters come together in a meaningful way. Their personalities are such that you wouldn’t put them together, but by the end, you couldn’t imagine a different group filling the roles. And just as inspirational was how their focus and priorities shifted as the regular world shrunk farther behind them and the war surrounded them. Truthfully, I loved everything about this book. And the longer I read it, the more I wanted to keep reading! If you’re looking for your next historical fiction novel–this is it! Don’t miss this title if you are a fan of WWII-era history, as I am. Put this book on the top of your TBR pile, you won’t regret it! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Wow! I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could! When I reached the end of the book, I just wanted it to keep going! I laughed, and I cried. I think my heart even stopped a few times! The characters are relatable, and each one touched my heart. I became deeply invested in their lives. The way that the group became a family was heartwarming. I especially enjoyed visiting the various places described in the book! My favorite is Casablanca, Morocco! The imagery brought the city to life. It's books like these that make me think and desire to learn more! I was provided a copy of the book by Bethany House through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Foxhole Victory Tour is much different that any of the other World War II era books I have read. Rather than focusing on what was occurring in Europe, this story focuses on the members of a USO troupe touring in North Africa. The author examines their motives for joining the troupe and the evolution of the relationships among the members. Character development if key to the story, and well done by the author Amy Lynn Green. She also very adeptly immerses her readers in the settings from a Minneapolis performance hall to the streets of Casablanca, Morocco. The plot moves along at a slow, steady pace. Some readers may be wishing for a bit of intrigue, but if they stay with the sweet story, there are memorable moments and lessons to be learned. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Foxhole Victory Tour from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.