Fly The Plane, Maddie.

[redbrunja]

I think Code Name Verity has ruined me for all other WWII romances because each time I try to read a novel set in WWII - novels that come with recommendations! - I am terribly, terribly disappointed.

Anyone have recommendations for good WWII romantic adventure novels?

Things I like:

• Ladies having agency and being active both within the narrative and within the world they're living in.
• Attractive gentleman who like ladies with agency.
• Actions! Adventure! Air raids! Passion! Longing!

Things I don't like:

• "romantic heroes" who have to be convinced that the heroine is his equal.
• the author's religious beliefs dripping from every page.

Comments

[empressearwig.livejournal.com]

Hm, well, have you read Montmaray?

And this is a straight romance and may fall under your do not like, though I enjoyed it for the sheer realism, His Very Own Girl by Carrie Lofty.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

They are working their way up to WWII, but Jo Graham and Melissa Scott's "Lost Things" series is very good. "Lost Things" is the only book out at the moment, but the others are on their way, and they are excellent. I'm beta-reading Book III right now, and it's the build up to WWII. I think Book IV will actually be the start of it (or nearabouts).

Flying, great characters, magic, archaeology (book I), etc.

Also, no romance at all, but THE BOOK THIEF is really, really good.

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

I haven't read it yet but I've heard interesting things about Carrie Lofty's His Very Own Girl. It's actually a romance novel, but it breaks all kinds of genre "rules" as the heroine is a pilot for the Air Transport Authority (like one of the heroines of Verity, I believe?) and the hero is a medic and apparently it gets very realistic about depicting the war setting.

There's an interesting post about it at this excellent blog I recently discovered: http://wonkomance.com/2012/11/08/on-escapism-in-romance-a-case-study/

(Wonkomances, by the way, sound like the kind of books we're interested in! Unconventional and interesting heroines! Not your typical alpha heroes!)

Oops just saw your response up thread. I was actually going to add by the way that it seems like the hero might be a bit difficult about the heroine's job from comments. NVM.

I'm currently reading Cecilia Grant's books and they are SOOO GOOD, btw. Just put up a rave on my LJ this morning of the current one, with a little excerpt because the writing is very sophisticated and striking and different. <3

[qualapec.livejournal.com]

Whatever you do, don't read The Welsh Girl.

Right now, I'm reading Deathless. It's more of a Russian retelling of Persephone, but I'm enjoying it a lot so far. EDIT; Oh wow I completely forgot my point. It's not just WWII, but it has a lot of Russian History crammed into it.

http://www.amazon.com/Deathless-Catherynne-M-Valente/dp/0765326310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359358119&sr=1-1&keywords=Deathless (http://www.amazon.com/Deathless-Catherynne-M-Valente/dp/0765326310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359358119&sr=1-1&keywords=Deathless)

[purple_bug.livejournal.com]

Probably not exactly what you're looking for, but have you read The Night Watch by Sarah Waters? It's sadder than you'd probably like from a WWII romance, and it kinda goes in reverse chronological order, but I really enjoyed it. Cos Sarah Waters writes brilliantly.

[nocturnalrites.livejournal.com]

Hi, there! Long time no hear, I know.

Have you ever read Shining Through, by Susan Isaacs? (Yes, I know they made a movie, but the book is completely different. Also better.) It probably falls more into the category of 'women's fiction' rather than straight romance, but the characterization's great and I bet you'd like it. And it does have an HEA. :) Oh, and it has all of what you required, in spades.

(Sorry for the edits.)

[fairest1.livejournal.com]

Anti-rec because you'll probably come across it looking for awesome ladies in WW II and it seems good at first glance: Flygirl. Starts out interesting, but then the engine stalls and it never gets off the ground.