"Saving Mrs. Roosevelt" by Candice Sue Patterson

 

"Shirley lifted the string of the tea bag up and down, watching the herbs steep and the water turn a dark brown." — Saving Mrs. Roosevelt by Candice Sue Patterson

Saving Mrs. Roosevelt by Candice Sue Patterson is the latest selection of my book group, and I loved it so much that I was delighted to find a couple of tea references, which convinced me that I should mention it here! This book is part of the Heroines of WWII series by Barbour Publishing, and I definitely am interested in checking out some of the other titles in the series.

Our heroine, Shirley Davenport, is bored to death trapping lobsters with her family in Maine, so she applies to join the SPARS.  Now while I knew about the WAVES, the US Navy's corps of female members during the war, I must say that I don't ever remember learning about the SPARS, the US Coast Guard's Women's Reserve. (Their name was an acronym for the slogan "Semper Paratus—Always Ready.")

When she goes for training, Shirley falls for a dashing officer, but his interest in her seems to be purely professional. He thinks she would make a great spy, and one is needed since someone back in her hometown has been threatening to kill First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Shirley and her Black roommate, Alma (an intriguing character as well), definitely prove their willingness to lay down their lives for their country, and I can't remember the last time I read a book and cheered for the leading ladies as much as I did with these gals. This exceptionally well-written book also had, to my delight, an inspirational angle, and the conclusion was one of the most satisfying I've read in a while. If you're looking for a new read, I highly recommend this one.