"A side of WWII that has not been presented before. Good series, interesting characters. A story for all ages...
Don't miss the other books in this series.." ~Rosie (Kindle Review)
Don't miss the other books in this series.." ~Rosie (Kindle Review)
A Matter of Trust
Stanford University is out of reach for most Colorado teens in 1939. The opportunity to gain an education there is beyond nineteen-year-old Dena Caulter's wildest dreams. Yet Uncle Walter, a professor at the prestigious university, extends an open door to his home as well as the Howard Hughes Aeronautics program, and Dena is more than willing to spread her wings, Upon arriving in California, Dena feels her rustic roots showing but easily adapts to a more sophisticated live style alongside her cousins, Emily and Stuart. Life may be offering opportunities and fun Dena never thought existed, but her naïve world is about to get a huge dose of reality. Uncle Walter is chosen to work with Howard Hughes in Virginia as part of elite, top secret team working on NACA technology, and the move threatens to break up the family with the o unfathomable divorce. Talk of war also breaks up the previously pleasant conversations and laughter that once provided the soundtrack for gatherings between Dena and friends. With opinions voiced, she worries that the boy she secretly has a crush on - Clay - will be whisked away before she gets a chance to truly know him. Even her beloved brother wants to join a war effort she has yet to understand. Studying blueprints no longer offers the intriguing escape it once held for Dena. Struggling to find balance in a life moving faster than one of Mr. Hughes' airplanes, she must hold on to the Christian values her mother always instilled in her youth, especially when the bright future of her friends and family begins to dim under the threat of war and A Matter of Trust.
If in Doubt Believe
It’s been over a year since Dena Caulter left her parents’ home in Colorado to come to Stanford University; now she knew that California was home—was where she wanted to live forever—but happily forever wasn’t to be. The 1940 fall semester brought continuous talk of war and politics; even President Roosevelt talked of war daily on the radio. War led to revisions in Howard Hughes program from wind tunnel velocity analysis and research to building and testing small motors and airplanes which caused discontent among the engineers. So, many of these men joined the service as did her only brother, Brock.
The support of good friends…such as Clay and Carl help her soften her dislike for war. Dena has become more than a friend. When he asks her to marry him, she does. Then a month later, enlistment papers arrive for the Royal Air Force in England. Clay will get to fly, thus following his other love. However, each time he asks her to come to England, she finds an excuse.
Only wanting stability for her and her babies, trying to understand the reality of war, and dealing with the finality of death, Dena struggles to hold on to her faith. It becomes a quiet constant through her daily life helping her to grow responsibly and spiritually. Her daddy always said, “If in doubt…believe, girl, just believe.”
The support of good friends…such as Clay and Carl help her soften her dislike for war. Dena has become more than a friend. When he asks her to marry him, she does. Then a month later, enlistment papers arrive for the Royal Air Force in England. Clay will get to fly, thus following his other love. However, each time he asks her to come to England, she finds an excuse.
Only wanting stability for her and her babies, trying to understand the reality of war, and dealing with the finality of death, Dena struggles to hold on to her faith. It becomes a quiet constant through her daily life helping her to grow responsibly and spiritually. Her daddy always said, “If in doubt…believe, girl, just believe.”
A Faithful Soul
War! On December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. If the Japanese can successfully bomb Hawaii, what would keep them from bombing the west coast? The year before, war had taken her husband, Clay from her. Dena Caulter’s world continues to crumble around her. Struggling to understand, she asks God why.
Carl was in Culver City working on airplanes. He had told her about a new carrier Hughes was going to build...the largest ever. With Carl not here in Palo Alto, how could she continue her education; how could she keep her boys safe? What about the blackouts and the rationings, especially on milk and gasoline? How could they as a country manage? How could she deal with all of these regulations? Dena wondered if the Japanese really bombed Culver City. Or are the rumors true? That it was a UFO. Even though Carl scoffed, Dena still wondered. She hated to listen to the news but felt she needed to know.
And where’s Brock? She worried if her brother was safe. Oh….Dena felt small, useless…but only for a moment. She squared her shoulders and moves forward with the nation at war…Carl will always be here if I need him.
Carl was in Culver City working on airplanes. He had told her about a new carrier Hughes was going to build...the largest ever. With Carl not here in Palo Alto, how could she continue her education; how could she keep her boys safe? What about the blackouts and the rationings, especially on milk and gasoline? How could they as a country manage? How could she deal with all of these regulations? Dena wondered if the Japanese really bombed Culver City. Or are the rumors true? That it was a UFO. Even though Carl scoffed, Dena still wondered. She hated to listen to the news but felt she needed to know.
And where’s Brock? She worried if her brother was safe. Oh….Dena felt small, useless…but only for a moment. She squared her shoulders and moves forward with the nation at war…Carl will always be here if I need him.
Home Front
Two years into the war, Dena Brewster still wrestled with her husband, Clay’s death and war in general. She struggled as a single mother, to move on, to make a life for her boys and herself. How could she answer her sons’ questions about their daddy when she didn’t understand herself?
Her freight business helped her tolerate the cruel war. Victory gardens and saving scrap metal along with making bandages gave the country hope. War bonds and rationing were enforced. Dena was rationed fuel at each base. Hauling freight for the military all over the United States, kept her away from home and her sons. How could she balance being a business woman and motherhood?
How could she make sense of the wrecks, bombings and natural disasters in the freight business? Even with the patriotism, how could she understand the holes left by missing loved ones, comprehend death, and war?
How could she juggle her career and be there for and with Carl? How could she move forward in a relationship with Carl without betraying her love for Clay?
Her freight business helped her tolerate the cruel war. Victory gardens and saving scrap metal along with making bandages gave the country hope. War bonds and rationing were enforced. Dena was rationed fuel at each base. Hauling freight for the military all over the United States, kept her away from home and her sons. How could she balance being a business woman and motherhood?
How could she make sense of the wrecks, bombings and natural disasters in the freight business? Even with the patriotism, how could she understand the holes left by missing loved ones, comprehend death, and war?
How could she juggle her career and be there for and with Carl? How could she move forward in a relationship with Carl without betraying her love for Clay?
Christmas 1943
War dominated everyone’s thoughts, yet life along with births and deaths continued. Even Dena Brewster had remarried. Carl was her late husband, Clay’s best friend. Slowly she had shut doors to her former life and started again. Her growing sons helped her to stay on course as did a new job. Some days, Dena wanted to stay rooted in the past; not to move forward or close all doors on her first love Clay. War was a companion to every household in the nation. Dena didn’t like what war had brought, but after two years she had at least learned to cope with the rationing of goods. She continued to see the gaping holes war had created and the suffering it had caused. Now that she had entered into a new relationship, how could she continue to move forward successfully? Her mother had told her one day at a time, but when life allows families to suffer and friends to disappear, how could she understand? How could she stay faithful to her belief through the Christmas holidays, when so many others had not?
Forever Thankful
1944. War was still going on. Three years and no end could be seen by Dena. She was weary of rationing food, fuel, and clothing. She was tired of men being killed. Every family had a loss, it seemed. Blue stars and flags hung on every home.
After three months away from Carl and her boys, Dena enjoyed the chance to sit and watch her sons play. She was expecting another child in early August. So far she felt great, but…
1945. Changes came to Dena’s household and to the nation. Both Roosevelt and Mussolini die while Hitler commits suicide. Dena wonders how the world will cope and will this end or escalate the war?
Carl takes a job a Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA. More changes. Dena will move across country. Her heart is raising three children yet she still wants to fly. Will she ever fly again?
After three months away from Carl and her boys, Dena enjoyed the chance to sit and watch her sons play. She was expecting another child in early August. So far she felt great, but…
1945. Changes came to Dena’s household and to the nation. Both Roosevelt and Mussolini die while Hitler commits suicide. Dena wonders how the world will cope and will this end or escalate the war?
Carl takes a job a Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA. More changes. Dena will move across country. Her heart is raising three children yet she still wants to fly. Will she ever fly again?
