angyhicks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
robintz's review
3.0
I loved the first two novels about Velva Jean and couldn't wait to read this one. Unfortunately (for me) this is definitely a war story and I'm just not a big fan of war stories. Although I still like the character of Velva Jean (takes on the alias of Clementine during the war), I just didn't feel that drawn into the story. And there were a few too many coincidences for my taste. Jennifer Niven is a good author and I'll look forward to reading other books by her....just wasn't that thrilled with this one.
blodeuedd's review
4.0
I do love fiction books. I might love other genres more, but fiction is the genre that gives me so much. Good writing, good stories and well just a good genre.
This is actually book 3, but that does not show. It's a perfectly good standalone novel that shows us the life of Velva Jean as she in 1944 flies over the Atlantic. She is a Wasp, one of the forgotten of the WWII. The book shows what women did in the war. Velva Jean is brave and wonderful. She goes to France to find her brother. She goes into a warzone cos of family. And to be a tool of war.
I have heard about the Wasps, the women pilots of the war. But I never knew much and they struggled. The men were not happy, no one was really happy. Not that there is much flying, no, instead there is spying, and danger.
The book is well written and there is this tone over the book that I liked. Velva thinks, feels, and well it just have to be read.
A great book about forgotten heroines.
This is actually book 3, but that does not show. It's a perfectly good standalone novel that shows us the life of Velva Jean as she in 1944 flies over the Atlantic. She is a Wasp, one of the forgotten of the WWII. The book shows what women did in the war. Velva Jean is brave and wonderful. She goes to France to find her brother. She goes into a warzone cos of family. And to be a tool of war.
I have heard about the Wasps, the women pilots of the war. But I never knew much and they struggled. The men were not happy, no one was really happy. Not that there is much flying, no, instead there is spying, and danger.
The book is well written and there is this tone over the book that I liked. Velva thinks, feels, and well it just have to be read.
A great book about forgotten heroines.
weweresotired's review
4.0
See the full review at Short & Sweet Reviews.
Becoming Clementine is actually the third in a series of novels about Velva Jean Hart, but it works very well as a stand-alone. I've never read any of the other books and had no problems diving right in. Enough of her backstory is explained throughout the book, and Velva Jean herself is a very strong character, so you have no problem getting an idea of who she is or where she's come from.
I really loved this book. Velva Jean is a woman who knows herself and knows what she wants. The first two books in the series apparently cover her coming-of-age, showing from how she went from being a little girl in North Carolina to a poised, fearless woman flying across the ocean. She proves herself time and time again to not be a burden like many of the men in the war think she is going to be. She is smart, resourceful, and resilient even in the face of great danger. She has a great narrative voice as she speaks to her inner thoughts, her greatest fears, her secrets while she is posing as Clementine in France. I do wish that she had more to do; she spends a lot of time hiding and waiting for things to happen, but I also suspect that's what life was really like then -- a lot of waiting and hiding in plain sight.
The romance in this book is realistic, especially considering that there's a war on and that everyone's lives are in danger all the time. I might have had different thoughts on it had I read either of the previous books and knew more about Velva Jean's prior love interests, but I thought Emile was an interesting character, even if he kept his feelings buried deep down inside. I actually have a lot of feelings on the romance and how things are left at the end of the book, but as they're spoilers, I'll keep them to myself.
Becoming Clementine is actually the third in a series of novels about Velva Jean Hart, but it works very well as a stand-alone. I've never read any of the other books and had no problems diving right in. Enough of her backstory is explained throughout the book, and Velva Jean herself is a very strong character, so you have no problem getting an idea of who she is or where she's come from.
I really loved this book. Velva Jean is a woman who knows herself and knows what she wants. The first two books in the series apparently cover her coming-of-age, showing from how she went from being a little girl in North Carolina to a poised, fearless woman flying across the ocean. She proves herself time and time again to not be a burden like many of the men in the war think she is going to be. She is smart, resourceful, and resilient even in the face of great danger. She has a great narrative voice as she speaks to her inner thoughts, her greatest fears, her secrets while she is posing as Clementine in France. I do wish that she had more to do; she spends a lot of time hiding and waiting for things to happen, but I also suspect that's what life was really like then -- a lot of waiting and hiding in plain sight.
The romance in this book is realistic, especially considering that there's a war on and that everyone's lives are in danger all the time. I might have had different thoughts on it had I read either of the previous books and knew more about Velva Jean's prior love interests, but I thought Emile was an interesting character, even if he kept his feelings buried deep down inside. I actually have a lot of feelings on the romance and how things are left at the end of the book, but as they're spoilers, I'll keep them to myself.
booksoverbreakfast's review
4.0
I really liked this story! I liked that it didn't follow a predictable romantic storyline even though I was sure that it would. I only learned this was a series when I added it to goodreads. Now I'm curious to learn more about Velma Jean. Since I read this as an audiobook, I have to say the narrators voice was perfect for it although it was a bit slow. I would fade out because of her soft voice.
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