Title: The Foxhole Victory Tour
Author: Amy Lynn Green
Publisher: 23rd January 2024 by Bethany House Publishers
Pages: 400 pages
Genre: Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance | WW2
Rating: 4.5 crowns
Synopsis:
In World War II, worlds collide when performers across the United States unite to tour North Africa in a USO variety show.
Vibrant and scrappy Maggie McCleod tried not to get fired from her wartime orchestra, but she can't keep from speaking her mind, so an overseas adventure with the USO's camp show seems like the perfect fresh start. Wealthy and elegant Catherine Duquette signs with the USO to leave behind her restrictive life of privilege and to find out what happened to the handsome pilot whose letters mysteriously stopped arriving.
The two women are joined by an eclectic group of performers--a scheming blues singer, a veteran tap dancer, and a brooding magician--but the harmony among their troupe is shattered when their tour manager announces he will soon recommend one of them for a new job in the Hollywood spotlight. Each of the five members has a reason to want the contract, and they'll do whatever is necessary to get it. As their troupe travels closer to combat in Tunisia, personal crises and wartime dangers only intensify, until not only their careers but also their lives are on the line.
My Thoughts
I have read a great deal about WWII but never a book about those who went overseas to entertain the troops. Straight away the mind goes to Bob Hope or Marilyn Munroe (although she was in Korea not WWII). The Foxhole Victory Tour - apart from its stunning cover - looks at the unsung heroes who endured difficult conditions to entertain the troops on USO’s Foxhole Circuit.
‘She’d spent most of her life trying to do what other people wanted. This was her golden opportunity, and she was going to take it.’
This is not the glamour associated with tours by Marlene Dietrich, Bob Hope, or Carole Lombard. This story recounts the lives of performers in a USO troupe, why they signed up and how their lives changed in the Summer of 1943 in North Africa. Amy Lynn has done fabulous research (there is a great Author’s note at the end about the historical events behind the novel, inclusive of great questions for a book club group) about the conditions, atmosphere and dangers for all involved.
‘Suddenly, the uniforms they wore seemed to come with more responsibility. They weren’t play acting for a costume ball. This really was the US Army, and that meant the potential for danger.’
All up I found this to be a super story both inspiring and impactful for all concerned on this particular USO tour in WWII. It tells the backstory for the main characters and has themes of friendship and family, desire and danger, with a little bit of romance. This is a Christian book with subtle nods to God and faith, especially in troubled times. It slotted in really well with Maggie’s struggle with her Salvation Army upbringing and her father’s refusal to accept her brand of music.
I most definitely recommend The Foxhole Victory Tour for a unique look at a different side of WWII and the challenges for organising such a tour and the brave entertainers who partook. It was a rare thing to travel through North Africa and appreciate the impact of war as Amy Lynn expertly captured the settings. This book has it all - fun and laughter, friendship and love, setting and history - for readers of this time period you are sure to enjoy this unique perspective on WWII.
‘No, their little variety unit wasn’t famous, and they still missed notes and lost their voices and complained about the weather. They sure didn’t have the glamour and star power of the bigger Hollywood tours, or an entourage to help with makeup, hair, and costuming. But they were brave enough to fly into bitter headwinds in biplanes that looked like five-and-dime models, determined enough to give one more encore after a long day of travel, and ordinary enough to remind the soldiers of home. And it turned out that’s all the troops needed.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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AUTHOR BIO
Amy Lynn Green is a lifelong lover of books, history, and library cards. She worked in publishing for six years before writing her first historical fiction novel. She and her husband live in Minnesota, where she teaches virtual classes on marketing at writer’s conferences, engages with book clubs, and regularly encourages established and aspiring authors in their publication journeys.
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