The London Restoration

Written by Rachel McMillan

Narrated by Hannah Curtis

The secrets that might save a nation could shatter a marriage.

Madly in love, Diana Foyle and Brent Somerville married in London as the bombs of World War II dropped on their beloved city. Without time for a honeymoon, the couple spent the next four years apart. Diana, an architectural historian, took a top-secret intelligence post at Bletchley Park. Brent, a professor of theology at King’s College, believed his wife was working for the Foreign Office as a translator when he was injured in an attack on the European front.

Now that the war is over, the Somervilles’ long-anticipated reunion is strained by everything they cannot speak of. Diana’s extensive knowledge of London’s churches could help bring down a Russian agent named Eternity. She’s eager to help MI6 thwart Communist efforts to start a new war, but because of the Official Secrets Act, Diana can’t tell Brent the truth about her work.

Determined to save their marriage and rebuild the city they call home, Diana and Brent’s love is put to the ultimate test as they navigate the rubble of war and the ruins of broken trust.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Aug 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9780785235040

Rachel McMillan

Rachel McMillan is the author of The London Restoration, The Mozart Code, the Herringford and Watts mysteries, the Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries, and the Three Quarter Time series of contemporary Viennese romances. She is also the author of Dream, Plan, Go: A Travel Guide to Inspire Independent Adventure. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada. Visit her online at rachelmcmillan.net; Instagram: @rachkmc; Facebook: @rachkmc1; Twitter: @rachkmc; Pinterest: @rachkmc.

Reviews for The London Restoration

[Brittany · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book that I have read or listened to by this author and I enjoyed it. The narrator did a good job and I could hear slight variations between certain characters' voices as she read, which helped me follow along. The narrator also had a very pretty British accent, which set the stage nicely for this novel.

The story is a slow build and jumps back and forth through time. Sometimes the story is post war, which is definitely the main story line. In this time line, the reader follows along as Brent and Diana attempt to rebuild their lives as a married couple again after the war. To complicate matters, Diana is involved in some pretty dangerous activities and there are many secrets, which leads to frustration for Brent. And Brent brings his own complications to the marriage, as he is dealing with the aftermath of wartime trauma and injuries. Both Brent and Diana work throughout the novel to find a new normal. I really liked Brent and Diana and hoped for the best for them. It was clear that they truly loved each other, even though both had changed because of their experiences.

In the pre-war scenes, the reader gets to see the original courtship between Diana and Brent, which was sweet. And there were a few scenes that took place during the war years, where the reader learns what life was like for both Brent and Diana when they were apart for so many years.

I really enjoyed each scenario and the pace of this novel felt very much like watching the television series, Foyle's War. Not that the plots are the same, they aren't, but I am referring to the tone of mystery and uncertainty in the midst of war and rebuilding.

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book. All opinions are my own.

[fernemysteryreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is the autumn of 1945. Brent Somerville has returned to London to resume teaching theology at King’s College after serving in Belgium and Italy by helping the injured, hoisting stretchers after retrieving them from the battlefields and trenches. He has returned after recuperating from injuries in a foreign hospital with visible scars and PTSD. Prior to the war Brent’s wife, Diana Foyle Somerville was a student of architectural history and has not yet returned to London as she traveled to Vienna to “do a favor for a friend.” Husband and wife for only a short time before Brent went off to war. Now both have secrets from one another. What will become of their love for one another? Can a love story that began before the war endure?Romance, architecture, theology, PTSD, secrets, the aftermath of war’s destruction, and post-war Soviet threats are all within this beautifully written novel. Historical fiction with atmospheric writing that makes senses tingle. I was engrossed in feeling as though I was viewing the remains of bombed churches and wishing to hear the church bells ring in splendor as they did before the war and riveted in feeling there were goosebumps on my arms from the suspense in the darkness of night and not knowing if good will prevail over evil. It simply isn’t possible for me to separate reading this book and not think about the ongoing war in Ukraine.I highly recommend this novel with Brent Somerville based on the author’s grandfather’s service with the Royal Canadian Army, 24th Field Ambulance, 5th Armored Division. It shares a glimpse of the myriad of emotions as individuals returned from their service during the war and viewed the devastation in their city of London that is home. I also highly recommend the novel to anyone that has visited London and seen the splendor of the churches and admired the architecture of the churches or is planning an upcoming visit to enjoy the plethora of information particularly of the churches constructed with the architectural design by Christopher Wren. Enjoying this information within the novel brings history alive and allows one to appreciate the history and splendor of the churches that can’t be captured in a tourism or non-fiction book.

[jynell-71874 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This one left me a bit lost at times. There were so many different places and it left me a bit confused if I put the book down for more than a day before I was able to pick it up again. I found it realistic that both Diana and Brent would face barriers when the war ends, each trying to battle their own secrets and unable to communicate them.

Overall, I liked the book and think it's great for someone with the time to sit down and read it within a few days, maybe on a vacation.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Bravo! That’s the first word that came to mind as I turned the final page of The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan. This post-WWII novel is a complexly written novel that brings to life a London and its people that have suffered greatly. There are so many things to love about this book — great characters, interesting historical details, and a plot that keeps the pages turning. If you are a fan of this era, The London Restoration is a must-read.The London Restoration features married couple Diana and Brent Somerville. Their new marriage was interrupted by the war, and they are having to navigate a relationship impacted by their wartime experiences. Brent was a stretcher bearer and carries both physical and emotional scars from his time at the front. Diana’s secret wartime activities add another layer of distance between the two. This is a married love story — one that faces many obstacles, but is determined to succeed. The love of 1 Corinthians 13 is lived out in their lives. While for most Londoners the war is over and restoration of families, lives, and buildings is ongoing, a new kind of conflict — a Cold War — is just ramping up. There is mystery and suspense galore. McMillan’s love for music, churches, and the city of London shines through the pages of the novel. You will feel like you are walking the streets and viewing the Wren churches along with Diana and Brent. Simon, one of the secondary characters in the book is a fascinating addition. Readers will have the good fortune of going along with his new adventures, while seeing how Brent and Diana fare in the upcoming sequel, The Mozart Code.Again, bravo for a beautifully written novel. It is very highly recommended.Highly Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[susan0316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

London 1945. The war is over and the city has started restoring the bombed out churches. At the same time, the couples who were separated during the war are working to restore their relationships. This novel is a beautiful book about the churches in London - both the history and the damage from the German bombs. We see what is being done to restore these beautiful old churches. Many of the churches were severely damaged while the beautiful St. Paul's Cathedral only sustained minor damage.The churches aren't the only thing that need to be restored. Many couples who had been separated from each other through the war needed to work to restore their relationships because they aren't the same people that they were before the war. Diana and Brent were married right before he went to war. He was a professor of theology at King's College and she was working on her master's thesis on churches. After the war, he returns home wounded but she isn't able to return for 5 weeks. When she comes back, she has to keep secrets from him on where she'd been and her role during the war as a code breaker. The secrets between them keep them unable to restore their relationship. Even as he visits churches with her to look at the damage he doesn't totally trust her any more. Will they be able to get past the secrets between them and be happy together or will the secrets keep them apart?This novel has love and forgiveness, mystery and suspense and a lot of information about London churches - how they used to look before the war, how the war destroyed them and how they will look in the future after they are restored. It's historical fiction perfectly mixed with a beautiful love story.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan is an illustrative historical novel. Diana Somerville spent the war breaking code at Bletchley Park while her husband, Brent was a stretcher bearer in France. Brent has no clue as to the type of work Diana accomplished, nor can she tell him thanks to the Official Secrets Act. Brent saw terrible tragedies while serving in Europe. He is suffering from PTSD as well as a scar on his face and finger damage. Brent has nightmares, but he does not want to share his traumatic experiences with Diana. They married just before Brent shipped out and have been apart the last four years. This makes for an awkward reunion especially since Diana was gone for five weeks while Brent recovered and only told him she was doing a favor for a friend. Rachel McMillan is a detail-oriented writer. Her word imagery allows readers to visualize the scenes especially the beautiful churches plus I could felt I could hear the music. I did feel, though, that this slowed down the pace of the book. The story progressed at a snail’s pace (it is like walking through quicksand—you get no where fast). There is a slight uptick in the second half. I never did understand Simon Barre’s obsession with Eternity. I thought the characters lacked development. From the beginning, it felt like I was dropped into the middle of an ongoing story. There was more information on churches than the main characters. Diana seems to care more for the churches than her husband and seems oblivious to what he is experiencing. Brent comments often on Diana’s beauty (it got tiring). I can tell the author did her research on churches, music, and Christopher Wren. The history and architecture of the churches is interesting, but it was overwhelming. A little is good, too much has my attention wandering. The book is set in 1945, but it also goes back in time to show us what Brent and Diana did during the war. It could be confusing as to who was speaking and where they were at. They visited many sites and they all started to blend together. I would sit down my book and come back, and I would be completely lost. I ended up skimming through the second half so I could see how The London Restoration ended. I was unable to connect with this book despite my numerous attempts. I did not feel that the author was successful with the meshing of history and mystery. Those readers who like detail oriented historical fiction will enjoy The London Restoration.

[mishker-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

During World War II Diana Foyle and Brent Sommerville are hastily married before Brent ships out as a stretcher bearer.  While Brent is away, Diana wants to do anything to help bring him back safely.  With her experience in architectural history and her specific love of Christopher Wren churches, Diana is recruited as a codebreaker for Bletchley Park M16.  All of her work there is classified and when Diana discovers that Brent has returned from the war and is injured, she needs to put off their reunion for another five weeks while she completes a task.  Finally reunited, Diana and Brent are both changed from their experiences during the war and neither of them can talk about it.  Diana still has a special task to complete: to find  an agent named Eternity who is using Diana's favorite churches as rendezvous points.  Diana is determined to finish the job, but her involvement places Brent in danger alongside her. Set in Post World War II London, The London Restoration explores the devastated churches that were bombed during the war as well as the effects of war on relationships.    Through Diana's eyes and her unique love of architecture I was able to envision, not only what was left of the churches, but the beauty they still held.  Diana's work at Bletchley Park opened my eyes to another important role that women held during World War II intercepting messages and breaking codes that were sent directly to the Allies.  In addition, the women were not allowed to talk about their roles in any capacity.  The writing bounces back and forth between Diana and Brent's experiences during the War and 1945, when they are both battling inner demons as well as Eternity. While understanding what each character went through during their time apart is pivotal to the story, the transitions in time felt a little clunky to me and sometimes I had to backtrack to see if I was reading about the character's past or present.  Brent's experience during the War adds another layer to the secrets being kept as well as an important reminder of the mental health of Veterans.  The hunt for Eternity, the artifacts and codes kept my interest level up and the suspense heightened.  However, at the heart of the story is a marriage; and how secrets can change the marriage, but trust can make it stronger. This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[bookscookslooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was drawn to this book by the heroine’s interest in the old churches of London. She had a passion for their architecture, their history and their quirks. Diana came to this love through her father who owned a book store. It was through her fascination for these houses of worship that Diana meets her husband Brent, a professor of theology. They marry but almost as soon as they do Brent is off serving as a stretcher bearer in France while Diana is recruited to a secret division of the War Office to help with decriptions and the like. It’s because of her facility with languages and her bright intelligence that she finds herself as a sort of civilian spy.Brent is wounded in the war and he waits for Diana in London after it is over but she is in Vienna helping seek out a communist spy. After 5 weeks she finally joins him but they are both keeping secrets; his about how he was injured, hers about what she has been doing during the war. Can they find their way to each other after so much has come between them?This was a really complex and compelling book – from the focus on the restoration of the churches in London to the restoration of some semblence of normalcy in a post war society to the restoration of a marriage. The author keeps you riveted to the various subplots and weaves them all together with a very satisfying ending. The relationship between Diana and Brent was realistic and at times heartbreaking as they work towards finding each other after all that happened since they met.I also appreciated the author’s extensive note at the start of the book. It was a nice set up going into the novel. I didn’t quite finish this in one day as it’s harvest season but I suspect that had I been able to just read I would have. It’s a page turner!

[eyes92c · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Intrigue and the beginnings of the Cold War era!A compelling, even stunning marriage of ex Bletchley Park personnel, the aftermath of the second World War and the political jockeying of new world powers and their race for intelligence.Told through the eyes of an unusual woman and her equally unusual husbandTheir initial meeting and love is like a fairy story, scarred by real life, and searching for a way to readjust.Diana Somerville, an architectural historian whose passion is churches particularly those designed by Wren, was a codebreaker at Bletchley. Now she's being drawn into the post war intelligence service with the hunt for a Russian agent, Eternity by MI6.A chance meeting between Brent Somerville and Diana in a churchyard was really love at first sight. Brett, a theology professor at Kings college saw out the war as a stretcher bearer. They had married before he shipped out to the European Theater. Injured, he returns to England to find that Diana has mysteriously journeyed to Vienna.Their story hinges around these factors and more as Diana struggles to search for the spy Eternity. A search Brent is not going to let her take on her own. Not that he knows what the challenge or the stakes are. He just wants to protect his wife.Will the scars on their war torn relationship rule or will their love reblossom?A fascinating and different take on the interplay during the emerging Cold War era, especially with the inclusion of church architecture as part of the pieces of the puzzle. I did wonder about who Eternity might be, but that really wasn't confirmed until near to the end.Some great twists and turns with a cast of interesting characters as we are plunged between the now and then of Diana and Brett's wartime experiences.A Thomas Nelson ARC via NetGalley

[dubaireader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Spies and churches.Don't be put off by the drawn-out historical note at the beginning of this book, it does get better. Unfortunately it's hard to skip the introductory chapters in an audiobook and I almost gave up at the first hurdle.There were several elements of this book; some I enjoyed more than others. For me, the most appealing thread was the relationship between Diana and her husband, Brent. They had been madly in love before the start of WWII, but married in haste before Brent was whisked off to serve as a stretcher bearer on the front and Diana took a position at Bletchley Park, decoding intercepted German messages. After 4 years of war Brent was looking forward to seeing Diana and resuming their married life, but Diana was in Vienna, performing 'a favour for a friend' for a further 5 weeks and this gnaws on Brent's mind.Diana has signed the Official Secrets Act and can't tell Brent what she has been doing, which puts an interesting pressure on their marriage. On her return she tells him she has been tasked with making an historian's report on the damaged churches of London and they visit several together. This apparently innocuous pastime seems to be fraught with danger and Brent is less and less convinced that Diana is telling him the truth.I enjoyed this interaction between the couple, exacerbated by the PTSD symptoms that Brent is suffering. Diana's time at Bletchley Park, and the friends she made there were also interesting, although I did miss some of the switches in time if I lost concentration on the audio. I was less involved in the church aspect of the novel and the detailed descriptions of the Christopher Wren churches. Overall I enjoyed this but my feeling was that there was a bit too much church description and the book itself could have benefited from some editing to make the audio about an hour and a half shorter.