Ambulance Girls Under Fire (Ambulance Girls 2)
This novel tells the tale of Celia Ashwin, an ambulance driver who has worked throughout the Blitz. Based in 1940, her past life of a societal debutante threatens her new-found independence as her Nazi-supporting husband, Cedric, is released from prison. Determined to assert herself against her overbearing husband who is refusing to give her permission to divorce him, Celia continues to work both at the depot and for a charity that supports Jewish orphans, where another side of her is revealed.
Throughout the novel, ideas of patriotism, family and love are enmeshed together to create a powerful effect as it becomes clear that there were members of society who resented Churchill and anticipated a German invasion. Burrows successfully demonstrates how class barriers became blurry during the war, for Celia, who was once part of high society, develops a relationship with a young Jewish doctor while they help a Jewish orphan. Similarly, Burrows captures 1940s London in subtle ways. For example, she writes about how Londoners attempted to carry on as normal – even going dancing – despite the bombings that were happening regularly. There is plenty of suspense and action in this story, particularly seen during air raids and their consequences. It is against this backdrop of death and destruction that love becomes even more important in the lives of these characters.
