Beyond This Broken Sky by Siobhan Curham

Published April 20th 2021 by Bookouture

About the Book:

1940, London: An unforgettable novel about the strength of the human spirit in the face of war and the remarkable women who put themselves in danger on the front lines during the Battle of Britain.

As a volunteer for the ambulance service, Ruby has the dangerous task of driving along pitch-dark roads during the blackout. With each survivor she pulls from the rubble, she is helping to fight back against the enemy bombers, who leave nothing but destruction in their wake.

Assigned to her crew is Joseph, who is unable to fight but will stop at nothing to save innocent lives. Because he is not in uniform, people treat him with suspicion and Ruby becomes determined to protect this brave, compassionate man who has rescued so many, and captured her heart. Even if it means making an unthinkable choice between saving her own life and risking everything for his…

2019: Recently divorced Edi feels lost and alone when she moves to London to start a new life. Until she makes a discovery, hidden beneath a loose floorboard in her attic, that reveals a secret about the people who lived there in the 1940s. As she gradually uncovers a wartime love story full of danger and betrayal, Edi becomes inspired by the heroism of one incredible woman and the legacy that can be left behind by a single act of courage…

A sweeping tale of bravery and self-sacrifice that shows that even in the midst of war, hope and love can bloom. Perfect for fans of The Alice Network, The Secret Messenger and The Lost Girls of Paris.

4 Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Beyond This Broken Sky is told in two times lines, the 1940s and 2019. In 1940 we meet Ruby, the owner of a large house in London. She rents out the top two floors to Joseph, a conscientious objector and Kitty and her husband Reg who is in the armed forces. Ruby is a rich single woman, who wants to do something with her life. She begins working with the ambulance service once the blitzkrieg begins. Joseph, helps her to realize that there are a lot of people who are treated very poorly due to their station in life and she jumps in to help in her own way. The story in 2019 is that if Edi. Edi has recently moved to London for a job, leaving her marriage behind. She purchased the flat on the top floor of a large home in St. George’s Square. She meets her housemates, Pearl a rather eccentric author and a same sex couple who go out of their way to help her adjust when she has an accident. Purchasing one of Pearl’s older books, she finds herself immersed in a wartime story that has romance, death, war, social injustices and more.

I really liked the characters in this story, especially Ruby. She had a quick wit, a cutting tongue, a heart of gold and a lot of fear of closeness. She has some baggage that she needs to deal with and we will see her grow and change in this story. Kitty and Joseph were also caring, but with their own baggage and issues to deal with. Joseph was a conscientious objector, which I did not know much about. It was interesting to see the rationale behind his decision and what kind of toll that took on him. The present day story did not interest me as much, but I did like Edi and Pearl. We do see how these two stories tie together in the end. It always amazes me when I read about what the people who lived through the war had to endure. I enjoy historical fiction when I learn something and this one did that for me. The contributions that conscientious objectors often made to the war effort although being of the mind that they would never kill another, was not something I had really thought about before. Overall, this was a good story. Themes of caring, class structure, helping others, being true to our values and morals are all part of this story. There is also some domestic abuse and bullying that shed a light on the darker side of life. If you enjoy historical fiction, especially during WWII, and are looking for stories of those who were left behind to keep the home fires burning, then I recommend this book. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

Purchase Links: Amazon – Apple – Kobo – Google

About the Author: Siobhan Curham is an award-winning author, ghost writer, editor and writing coach. She has also written for many newspapers, magazines and websites, including The Guardian, Breathe magazine, Cosmopolitan, Writers’ Forum, DatingAdvice.com, and Spirit & Destiny. Siobhan has been a guest on various radio and TV shows, including Woman’s Hour, BBC News, GMTV and BBC Breakfast. And she has spoken at businesses, schools, universities and literary festivals around the world, including the BBC, Hay Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Bath Festival, Ilkley Festival, London Book Fair and Sharjah Reading Festival. 

Social Media Links: Website – Facebook – Twitter