THE WOMEN OF WWII ~ Linda Shenton Matchett - Giveaway

What’s New Wednesday with Linda Shenton Matchett

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Spies & Sweethearts, my latest historic romance released today. The story is inspired by the brave women who worked undercover with America’s Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and Britain’s Special Operations Executive (SOE). Located all over the globe, these women were often stationed in enemy-occupied territory. Their identities are only now being revealed as more and more documents are being declassified, but many of the gals went to their graves never having shared their role in the fight against evil.

Women who raised their hand to work as spies, saboteurs, cryptographers, cartographers, analysts and experts in propaganda, recruiting, and communications came from all walks of life. Wealthy, poor, single, married, and divorced, they were secretaries, actresses, socialites, royalty, nurses, home makers, musicians, mothers, teachers, and telephone operators to name a few.

I’d like to introduce you to just a few of these stalwart women who served in France:

Virginia Hall: A native of my hometown, Baltimore, Maryland, Virginia transferred from SOE to OSS in April 1944 after her cover was blown in occupied France where she established agent networks. Well-known by the Gestapo for her exploits, they wanted her dead, and the sooner the better. Nicknamed the Limping Lady, she wore a wooden prosthetic leg as a result of a hunting accident when she was a young woman. Reports indicate that she often hid important items in the leg. She changed her image, transforming herself into an older woman and was sent back into occupied France where she organized three units of more than 300 agents that took part in sabotage against the Germans. She also maintained radio contact with London, sending vital information to headquarters.

Many Frenchwomen worked for OSS in occupied France. Hélène Deschamps was the daughter of an officer in the French colonial army and took on the responsibility of reporting Nazi activities along the Mediterranean. She spied on German defense works and fortifications, the strength and movement of enemy troops, and the transport of equipment and ammunition. Jeanette Guyot was a member of the Pathfinder mission during which she was charged with locating parachute fields, organize reception committees, and arrange for safe houses and local informants.

Betty Lussier was born in Canada, the daughter of a decorated WWI RAF pilot. Her family moved to Maryland while she was a child. A pilot in her own right, she headed to England at the age of twenty to join Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary. Angry that only male pilots were allowed to fly into combat zones, she resigned. A month later she was recruited by the OSS, and after completing her training was assigned to Algeria where she collected intelligence and sent it to headquarters. She then moved to Cannes, France where she tracked down Nazi spies, many of whom she managed to turn into double agents.

Each of these women risked her life to save a world at war. I don’t believe I have what it takes to serve as an undercover agent. Do you?

About Spies & Sweethearts:

A secret mission. A fake bride. A run for their lives.

According to the OSS training manual, the life expectancy of a radio operator in Nazi-occupied France is six weeks. Partnered with one of the agency’s top spies, Gerard Lucas, newly-minted agent Emily Strealer plans to beat those odds. Then their cover is blown and all bets are off. The border to neutral Switzerland is three hundred miles away—a long way to run with SS soldiers on their heels.

Will Emily and Gerard survive the journey?

And what about their hearts? Nothing in the manual prepared them for falling in love.

About Linda: Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, speaker, and history geek. She writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII, Linda is also a lecturer with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute through Granite State College. She is also a trustee for her local public library. Linda was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland and has lived in historic places all her life. Now located in central New Hampshire, her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

Connect with Linda:

Website/Blog: http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaShentonMatchettAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lindasmatchett

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/author_linda_matchett

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Shenton-Matchett/e/B01DNB54S0

BookBub: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-shenton-matchett

About the Giveaway:

Linda is offering an eBook copy of Spies & Sweethearts to one reader of this post who leaves a comment below with name AND contact information. This is  so we can let you know if you are our winner. 

Giveaway runs for one week from today, ending at Midnight, CDT, April 22, 2020.

For an extra chance to get in the drawing, become a follower of Whispers in Purple (see sidebar at left) and mention it in your comment.

Thank you Linda for being my guest today. I'm a sucker for WWII stories.