Some Lucky Day by Ellie Dean

Some Lucky Day is a novel set in wartime Britain in 1942 with the work of the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) as its dominant theme. Although homesick for Argentina, where her parents live, Kitty and her brother, Freddy, are determined to remain in England and play vital roles in the war. Kitty's adventurous spirit does land her in trouble with her commanding officer but she is allowed to continue flying and is unfortunate to have two flying accidents, the second of which results in the tragic loss of her leg. After a long spell in hospital, she is taken under the kind wing of Peggy Reilly who runs the Beach View boarding house.

Kitty overcomes depression and a great deal of physical discomfort to arrive at an extremely happy period in her life. Ellie Dean lives in the South Downs in Sussex and she uses her background knowledge to provide an excellent description of the area where Kitty and her brother are based. All the characters support one another in a time of rationing and hardship, and really do pull together to overcome so many difficulties.

What was not obvious to me as a first time reader of Ellie Dean, is that this book is one in a series. It was only on looking at a list of her previous novels that it is obvious they are all based at the same location during the war and with some of the same characters. The book flowed well after the first few chapters, and, for lovers of Ellie Dean, there is a new book due out in January.

BARBARA DAVIS