Saving Mrs. Roosefelt is a good book about some actual historical events. It deals with someone that needs to be a spy to help keep the first lady safe. But this also has some fiction in it as it is historical fiction. Some actual historical events do take place. This book is about Shirley Davenport and a few SPARS that help on the home front.

The author does a beautiful job of telling the story and adventures that Shirley Davenport goes through. She goes through some training and trials as she is on a mission but can not tell her family. The way she comes home and has to deal with losing her brother on the same day she comes home from training.

You will be surprised as to who it is in the end. Shirley and her friend Joan sign up to be SPARS. Will Joan be loyal to her country, or will she not be? Things do not all seem as they are when Shirley gets home. She must lie to protect herself and her family. Will she be found out?

She seems to be charming a young man who is a Captain. Will the Captain fall for Miss Davenport, or will he wall in his grief for his two young brothers? They have stood paired up to capture the person trying to kill the Roosevelts. Will Shirley be successful in finding out about the conspiracy against the first lady?

Suppose you are looking for an excellent book to read about history and the woman that help during world war two on the homefront. This book does tell a story about a few heroes of ww2. With a little bit of romance as well. ( )

Shirley and her friend Joan decide to join the SPARs, the wartime female branch of the Cost Guard. In order to uncover a plot against the First Lady, it is arranged for her to receive a fake dishonorable discharge for allegedly having a relationship with handsome Captain Webber. Together, Shirley, Webber , and a third SPAR return to her hometown to set up a covert operation.

I'm not entirely sure I enjoyed this book. Instead of reading about a strong woman, I was reading about a love sick woman who was mostly interested in her fledgling romance. I think this did a huge disservice to Shirley and the other SPAR's. Overall, 2 out of 5 stars. ( )

This is romance (with a bit of espionage) about a woman training to be part of the female coast guard during WWII. With its multiple religious references, (which I could have done without), and lack of anything saucy, I assume that this falls under the category of “Christian fiction”. The romance is pretty traditional. We see our young beautiful, female protagonist fall for her older and off-limits superior. He is the good-looking, silent type carrying some emotional baggage that has closed his heart, until he meets her. Though our protagonist is frequently described as “strong”, she cries; he comforts her and yada yada yada. So we are still going with that fairy tale.
The story was a little contrived, for example, I could not grasp how their efforts to foil a plot against Mrs. Roosevelt could go on for over 2 months. Surely, the “bad guys” would have already done the deed by now? Overall, it was an easy read that was initially quite enjoyable, but progressively less so. And towards the end, it became a little annoying.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the complimentary copy of this book; my review is an honest one. ( )

Title: Saving Mrs. Roosevelt (Heroines of WWII #3)
Author: Candice Sue Patterson
Pages: 325
Year: 2021
Publisher: Barbour Fiction
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
Shirley Davenport is 22 years old and longs to do her part helping in the war effort. Two of her brothers have enlisted and are serving overseas. All Shirley does is help her father fish in their small town of Lubec, Maine. She wants something more exciting in her life and when her best friend, Joan, tells her about the informational meeting about the SPARs program, Shirley quickly agrees to attend. The SPARs program is a reserve unit of the U.S. Coast Guard. The intent is for the women to be trained for six weeks and then they will staff the Coast Guard stations, allowing the men who currently staff the stations to enlist in the war.
Shirley is accepted into the program and sent to Iowa for training. This is her first time away from home and she suffers from some homesickness initially. However, she is soon too busy marching, exercising, learning signs and insignias to continue to fret. The commanding officer is Captain Webber, a handsome Navy officer, who Shirley finds herself thinking about all too often. Captain Webber’s commanding officer makes him aware of threatening messages against Mrs. Roosevelt. The code breakers have narrowed down the source to a few places, one of which is Shirley’s hometown of Lubec. She is notified that she will be returning home after her training and not being assigned at a Coast Guard station. Instead, she will be undercover as a spy, trying to discover who in her hometown is working with the enemy to harm Mrs. Roosevelt. Captain Webber will be going with her as her commanding officer.
I really enjoy novels that entertain and teach me something new. This is just such a novel. I had never heard of the SPARs program before and found their training very interesting. I wasn’t secretarial type of training. They exercised daily, had homework, took tests and prepared to take on the role as a member of the Coast Guard. I would have liked to have Mrs. Roosevelt actually have a part in the story, but other than that, the plot and writing are sound. The theme of persecution is a prominent one in the story and unfortunately still appears all too frequently today. If you enjoy historical fiction set during WWII, this is definitely one to check out!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )

Saving Mrs. Roosevelt is very much a reflection of the time in which it is set — WWII. While some of the attitudes of the people of the time may seem a bit out-dated or downright bigoted, I liked that author Candice Sue Patterson created an authentic framework for the reader to experience. The historical details are a wonderful backdrop for the plot. The story line involves main character Shirley Davenport’s desire to make a difference in her world. An opportunity to join the newly formed SPARS, the women’s reserve of the Coast Guard, gives her the chance for adventure and purpose. But newly minted SPAR Shirley has to draw from inner resources to fight for her country. Shirley’s story becomes a mysterious and suspenseful journey into homegrown espionage. The roles of women are explored, as are racial prejudices, and the pro-Nazi sentiments of American citizens. This novel was packed! It also has some romance along with the dangerous twists and turns — there really is something for everyone!

I learned a lot from Saving Mrs. Roosevelt, while enjoying a suspense-filled reading ride. I loved the characters, the setting, and the plot. It earned a recommended rating from me.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Barbour Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine.) ( )