She sees it as an opportunity to help the country she loves and live up to her father's expectations. When the Special Operations Executive invites her to be an agent in France in World War II, her childhood of anonymity and her love of languages make her the perfect fit. She throws herself into education, collecting languages like candy in a desperate attempt to finally earn her father’s approval. Miraculously, Violet survives, but her obligation to her mother and siblings still remains, leaving Violet to wonder if she'll ever be able to put her tumultuous life at sea behind her and pursue a life and love all her own.ĭaphne Chaundanson grows up as an unwanted child after her mother died in a tragedy. But disaster strikes again, this time as the Britannic strikes a mine. When the world enters the Great War, she becomes aboard as a nurse, helping men who could very well be her brothers. Her distraught mother is too ill to work, that responsibility falling to Violet as the oldest of nine.

Her childhood was fraught with illness and death in her family. No one can understand why she would return to sea, but Violet is simply trying to survive. Violet is a stewardess and wartime nurse who not only survives a shipwreck but also two sinkings, one on the infamous Titanic. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in historical fiction and especially if you enjoy reading about strong female characters.The Titanic was only the beginning. I am very thankful that I came across this book to learn more about these unsung heroes. This was a fascinating look at the lives of these brave women who served to “free a man for the front.” These women volunteered for dangerous missions bringing messages to the front lines to fight for freedom and their country. Marion is called back into service, where she meets Evelyn and everything changes. Twenty years later, Evelyn has finally overcome her disability and can think of nothing better than to serve her country during World War II. Marion enlists with her best friend Eddie during World War I, where they both become dispatch riders, only with it to end in tragedy. Both young women enlist as motorcycle dispatch riders with the Women’s Royal Naval Service, affectionately called the Wrens, and discover that they have more in common then they know. Twenty years apart and in two different wars, both Marion and Evelyn hear The Call of the Wrens. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in historical fiction and especially if you enjoy reading about strong female characters.

Fascinating look at the lives of these brave women who served to “free a man for the front'.

Unsinkable by Jenni L. Walsh