The Ack Ack Girl by Chris Karlsen.
First Book In The Love and War Series.
The Ack Ack Girl won a ‘Distinguished Favorite’ designation from NYC Big Book Awards.
The Ack Ack Girl is a finalist for first prize in military genre from Book Excellence. The winners will be announced sometime this spring 2023.
In 1941, the German war machine had conquered all of Europe, only England remains free. Hitler knows to invade England the Luftwaffe must defeat the Royal Air Force. While under constant attack, the valiant pilots of the RAF manage to keep the enemy from executing an invasion. But the RAF suffers great losses. England is in desperate need of more pilots. As a result, the government takes a huge chance and establishes unique teams of women known as Ack Ack Girls. These women are trained to work anti-aircraft units, freeing men up for other combat details.
The Ack Ack teams are high risk assignments, targeted by enemy bombers and fighter planes. Ack Ack Girls must be courageous and quick-witted. Ava Armstrong is excited to be chosen to be among them. Her anti-aircraft unit borders a major RAF base where several squadrons of pilots are deployed. Chris Fairfield, who earned a Distinguished Flying Cross in the Battle of Britain, is one of pilots stationed by Ava’s unit.
When Ava and Chris’s paths cross, sparks fly. War lends an urgency to life and love. Their romance grows deep and strong despite the danger that surrounds their daily lives. After the men in Chris’s squad see his plane get shot down, Ava is told he went down in flames and cannot have survived.
Logic says the men who were with him that day are right in believing him dead.
Her love says they’re wrong.
Ack Ack Girl Back Cover Blurb: A country under attack and the story of one woman’s fight to protect England and her heart.1941. The German war machine has crushed all of Europe-only England holds fast. To force a surrender, the German Luftwaffe bombs cities and villages the length of the country. As the battle rages, Britain is in desperate need to put more pilots in the air.
To free up more men a new unit is formed: The Ack Ack Girls. These special teams of courageous women will now fight in the anti-aircraft stations. Determined to be part of the effort, Ava Armstrong, volunteers for one of the special teams.
Her unit just happens to be located near an RAF airfield teaming with pilots. Sparks fly, and not just from artillery, when Ava crosses paths with Chris Fairfield, a handsome and cocky pilot stationed there. But nothing is easy in time of war, not even love.
5 Stars: ‘The Ack Ack Girl’ is a World War II Historical Romance by Author Chris Karlsen. This book to be very educational, with a compelling story. We should all respect the bravery of these The “Ack Ack Teams”. They shot down enemy planes from the ground. England did use female teams to ferry planes, cargo, fighters and bombers from the factories to the airfields. That is a different unit entirely and they did not engage enemy planes or participate in combat.
If you love danger, romance and suspense, you will love this first book in the “Love and War’ series by Author Chris Karlsen. I wrestled over what passage of the book to share with you. At first, I thought I would share a wonderful romantic scene, instead I decided to bring you into the war. I quote from Chapter Twelve: December 7, 1941:
…Team members not on duty huddled around the radio in the women’s barracks, listening to the Spike Milligan comedy hour.
…As many women as could fit lounged on the nearest cots, the others sat on the floor with the gunners. Ava adjusted the pillow from her bed against the iron leg of Vera’s cot to cushion the middle of her spine. She’d just got it fixed when the BBC announcer came on.
…“We interrupt this program with an important announcement. The United States and Britain are now at war with the Japanese Empire.”
…All the team members exchanged looks of shock.
…“No, it can’t be,” Vera said, staring at the radio while the announcer continued.
…“At 7:55 this morning, Japan’s long threatened aggression in the Far East began with an air attack on U.S. Naval bases in the Pacific.
…Fresh reports are coming in every minute from Tokyo that Japan has announced a formal declaration of war against both the U.S. and Britain.”
…Fear, deep and soul-crushing gripped, Ava that they might lose the war. Then despair hit her. That brought tears she fought to keep from shedding. She’d fought any acknowledgement that England might lose to Germany. But a war with Japan meant they’d have to defend the British colonies in the East. How? Every able-bodied man not an old-age-pensioner was already serving. Manpower was stretched from Europe to the North Atlantic all the way to Northern Africa.
…“How can we fight on four fronts? We can’t,” Vera asked Tommy.
…Tommy was the oldest and most senior team member. All the others naturally went to him for war advice and analysis.
…Ava wasn’t the only one worried about manpower, which was no relief to her at the moment.
…“Steady on, Vera,” Tommy said. “The Canadians and Aussies have been fighting cheek-to-jowl with us from the start. They’re not going anywhere.”
…Ava thought Tommy’s theory wrong this time. Either the Aussies pull their division from Singapore, leaving the British alone to defend it or they pull divisions from the west. “Their forces aren’t that big. They’ll have to split some off. With this attack on Pearl, the Aussies have to be damned twitchy over a possible invasion by Japan.
…..I wouldn’t blame them for leaving to protect their homeland.”
It is up to you to read this book “Ack Ack Girl” to find out how everything turns out for the “Ack Ack Teams”. The characters come to live in your hands and they are heroic. The Author’s Note at the end of this book is very interesting and the author shares a couple of chapters from her other romance series at the end of this book.
Enjoy all Author Chris Karlsen’s Historical Romance and Historical Romance Suspense Thrillers: “Dark Water Series”, “Knights in Time Series”, “The Bloodstone Series”, and a new single Historical Romance title “Choosing Heart or Home” (warm-hearted holiday novella). Many of Chris Karlsen’s books have a Spanish and/or Portuguese Edition.
I am looking forward to reading Chris Karlsen’s second book in this “Love and War” Series.
Editorial Review (Book Marketing Global Network).
Product Details:
Paperback: 331 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published (February 3, 2021)
Language: English
Romance (Historical)
Romance Historical Suspense Thrillers
Amazon Print:
https://www.amazon.com/Ack-Ack-Girl-Chris-Karlsen/dp/B08W3P3LVS/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Audiobook:
https://www.amazon.com/The-Ack-Ack-Girl/dp/B09597SRPB/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
About The Author: Chris Karlsen is a retired police detective. She spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. The daughter of a history professor and voracious reader, she grew up with a love of history and books.
An internationally published author, Chris has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and North Africa, satisfying her need to visit places she read about. Having spent a great deal of time in England and France, she used her love of both places as settings for her Knights in Time (5 book) series.
Author Chris Karlsen presents her Historical Romance and Historical Suspense Thrillers and Historical Love & War series.
Her series now include Knights in Time series, the Bloodstone series, Love & War series, Dark Water series and a Holiday short story selection: Choosing Home or Heart. Her novels are available in digital, e-book, Android App, paperback, audio format, and some books are presented in foreign language format.
A Chicago native, Chris has lived in Paris, Los Angeles, and now resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two rescue dogs. A city girl all her life, living in a small town on a bay was an interesting adjustment. She’d never lived anywhere so quiet at night and where traffic wasn’t bumper to bumper 24/7.
Some of Chris’s favorite authors are: Bernard Cornwell, Michael Connolly, Joseph Wambaugh, Julia Quinn, Julie Anne Long and Deanna Raybourne.
Author Chris Karlsen Presents Her Historical Romance and Historical Romance Suspense Thrillers!
Knights in Time
- Heroes Live Forever
- Journey in Time
- Knight Blindness
- Losing Time
- In Time for You
Bloodstone Series
- Silk
- Snifter of Death
- A Venomous Love
Love & War Series
- The Ack Ack Girl
- Moonlight Serenade (New Historical Romance)
Dark Water Series
- Dangerous Waters
- Golden Chariot
- Byzantine Gold
Holiday Selection: Choosing Home or Heart (this is a Christmas story where my Victorian detective from the series, Rudyard Bloodstone, goes home to Wales for the holidays and to introduce his lady love to his family. No murder, just a warm-hearted holiday novella)
Amazon Author’s Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Chris-Karlsen/e/B005HYTQQI?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1583106694&sr=1-2
Professional Website:
http://www.chriskarlsen.com
You Tube Video Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3Ms9lq6d_E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ6oRpQK0c0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FZp3NafSKI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWVJYtFDPYs
Author’s Page At Book Marketing Global Network:
https://bookmarketingglobalnetwork.com/book-marketing-global-network/chris-karlsen