My Thoughts on The Foxhole Victory Tour by Amy Lynn Green

 

About:

Based on true World War II stories of life in the USO variety shows, worlds collide when performers from around the United States come together to tour North Africa.

Vibrant and scrappy Maggie McCleod tried not to get fired from her wartime orchestra, but her sharp tongue landed her in trouble, so an overseas adventure with the USO's camp show promises a chance at a fresh start. Wealthy and elegant Catherine Duquette signs with the USO to leave behind her restrictive life of privilege and to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the handsome pilot whose letters mysteriously stopped arriving.

The two women are joined by an eclectic group of performers--a scheming blues singer, a veteran tap dancer, and a brooding magician--but the harmony among their troupe is short-lived when their tour manager announces he will soon recommend one of them for a coveted job in the Hollywood spotlight. Each of the five members has a reason to want the contract, and they'll do whatever is necessary to claim it. As their troupe travels closer to the dangerous battlefront in Tunisia, personal crises and wartime dangers only intensify, putting not only their careers but also their lives on the line.

My Thoughts:

I have read a lot of WWII stories, but I haven't read one that dealt with a USO group before. This is the group that brought entertainment to war-weary soldiers, giving them a bit of levity during times of brutality. 

The story is mostly told through Maggie, the comedian and trumpet act, and Catherine, the violinist, in the show. The smaller viewpoint, yet one that fills in the gap, is through written letters between their manager, Mr. Douglas, and his higher-ups. I enjoyed how all of this flowed and made the story more real somehow.

So, this particular group consists of six members: Mr. Douglas, the manager and rule keeper; Maggie; Catherine; Judith, the singer; Gabriel, the magician; and Howie, the tap dancer. All of them have a goal and are competing against one another to become the one who will be picked to go on to the bigger show after their tour is done. Even though there is competition between them, they do form a somewhat close family. They are traveling, performing, and escaping danger with one another. Not only that, but we also get to know the characters' backstories and what made them join up.

I enjoyed going on their assignment to northern Africa with them. Again, I had not visited that area before in other WWII stories. This was a perfect blend of actual historical characters, like Bob Hope and others, with fictional ones in a part of history I was not that familiar with. 

I was provided a copy of this novel by Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Amy Lynn Green (amygreenbooks.com) has always loved history and reading, and she enjoys speaking with book clubs, writing groups, and libraries all around the country. Her debut novel, Things We Didn't Say, was nominated for a 2021 Minnesota Book Award and won two Carol Awards. Things We Didn't Say and The Blackout Book Club received starred reviews from both Booklist and Library Journal. Amy and her family make their home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.