A review by theavidreaderandbibliophile
Duty Calls at Goodwill House by Fenella J. Miller

4.0

Duty Calls at Goodwill House by Fenella J. Miller is an engaging historical novel. It is the third book in the Goodwill House series. I recommend reading this delightful series in order as it will allow you to get to know the characters (and follow them from the beginning). I like Fenella J. Miller’s writing style. I was drawn into the story and just wanted to keep reading. It is like visiting with old friends. I love Joanna and the gang at Goodwill House. Joanna has come a long way since the beginning. She is a woman with a big heart. It is great seeing Liza and Joe blossom. Elizabeth still likes some things done a certain way, but she is becoming less formal and more congenial. We get to catch up with Millie, Ted, Di, and Freddie as well. I find the characters to be realistic and relatable. The author captures what the war was like for civilians, WAAF, and RAF. The members of Goodwill House and the local village live near an airbase. They can hear the planes coming and going. Unfortunately, it means the airbase is a target which means frequent air raid warnings. It is an emotional novel. We see what it is like to worry about a loved one who is in the air battling the Germans. You never knew if an RAF pilot would make it back to base. Measles hits the village affecting adults and children. Joanna and Elizabeth are worried about paying off the debt to the bank. The new Lord Harcourt is up to no good and the ladies are worried he will try to take Goodwill House. I like that we get to see what the day-to-day life was like for the characters. It must have been difficult trying to cloth and feed a family with rationing. With the war ongoing, it will be a while before things are tickety boo. I am eager for the next installment of Goodwill House. Duty Calls at Goodwill House is a gas with air raids, a measles epidemic, exploding eggs, pilots on a toot, a kite plight, cab happy WAAF, a cozy cottage, bank bothers, and war rationing.