Shannon here: Terri Wangard shares a romantic excerpt from her Historical Romance, No Neutral Ground, plus a chance to win an e-book copy. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing. Deadline: Sept 21st, 11:59 pm central. Here’s Terri:
Imagine traveling on the Queen Mary during World War II when it served as a troopship with over twelve thousand servicemen and only a few dozen women. Elbow in the ribs. Toes trod upon. All the men would be pleased to keep you company.
Excerpt from No Neutral Ground by Terri Wangard:
The wind sliced right through Jennie Lindquist’s coat. It felt as thin as a pillowcase. Late winter was the wrong time of year to cross the North Atlantic. The temperature hovered around ten degrees, but with the wind and the ship’s speed, it seemed far below zero.
Ice crystals sprinkled down. Lifeboats hung suspended overhead. A flexing chain caused more ice to break loose. Dismal gray camouflage paint hid the Cunard Line’s signature colors of red, white, and black. Behind her, one of the ship’s funnels belched smoke as the ocean liner charged full speed ahead at thirty knots. At least the frigid wind prevented soot from drifting down on the military personnel crowding the deck.
An officer standing ten feet away didn’t seem to mind the arctic blast as he raised his face to it. Jennie avoided contact with the military men. Her father had warned her to be wary of their intentions.
This one, however, tempted her. His profile presented classic lines an artist would beg to paint. Portraits weren’t her specialty, but his handsome features begged her to try her hand at capturing his likeness. Close-cropped hair, below the edge of his cap, gleamed blond and his eyes, when he turned his head, shone a startling blue. His heavy coat failed to hide broad shoulders tapering to a slim waist.
Stray snowflakes swirled about him, and he brushed them away. She set aside Dad’s advice and invaded the solitude surrounding him. “You must be a northerner to be enjoying this glacial wind.”
He straightened to his full height, at least six feet tall, and settled his gaze on her. A quick grin lit his face, and her numb fingers itched to start sketching. “With a choice between enjoying the invigorating sea air or the warm, uh, unventilated air inside the ship, the cold air won.”
“Unventilated air?” Jennie laughed. “How polite.”
His smile came easily, as though he was used to wearing it.
The restless waves continued to heave up and batter themselves against the ship’s hull. He maintained his grip on the railing. “And to think I used to enjoy being in a sailing club.”
“Did you sail on the ocean?”
“Sail, no, although I’ve been on a previous ocean voyage. Rivers or the North Sea was where I mostly sailed.”
The North Sea? In Europe? Jennie grabbed the railing as the Queen Mary veered to port. Every eight minutes, the ship zigzagged to avoid a potential submarine’s crosshairs. She’d timed the turns.
His voice held an unfamiliar accent. It wasn’t English. He’d been on an ocean voyage, singular, and he’d sailed on the North Sea. He must be from Europe, maybe from a country overrun by Hitler’s army. He should have some stories to tell.
The cold and the pressing crowd of soldiers faded into the background. “Where are you from?” She leaned forward for his reply.
“Milwaukee.”
“Milwaukee?” She stepped back. So much for hearing about foreign lands. “Really? I’m from Chicago.”
A soldier stumbled hard into the officer, who muttered something under his breath that didn’t sound like English.
She stared at him. “You said something that wasn’t in English.”
He looked at her for a long moment, and his relaxed posture stiffened. “I am Rafe Martell, second lieutenant and navigator in the United States Army Air Force. In a more peaceful time, I had another name and lived in Germany. But then Germany decided I wasn’t good enough to be a German, and America offered me a new home.”
A hint of challenge gleamed in his eyes.
Why would Germany not want him?
“I’m Jennie Lindquist. May I ask why Germany didn’t want you?”
He stared out to sea as though he wouldn’t answer. Why should he? His experiences were none of her business. Then his gaze probed her soul, and she resisted the urge to squirm. “I’m half Jewish.”
He’s an airman headed for the war in Europe. Is that wise? What if he became a prisoner of the Germans, and they found out he had Jewish ancestry?
Jennie jumped at the blast of the Klaxon horn, and she searched the ocean for a periscope. Conversations around them ceased as others peered about.
Rafe slapped the railing. “Abandon ship drill. Time to report to our lifeboat stations. Stop by again. This is my self-appointed post for the voyage.”
Jennie’s smile grew as she turned to leave. He would welcome her company.
Question for Readers: How would you have felt on a ship packed with men? Cautious? Intimidated? Thrilled?
About Terri: Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her WWII research included going for a ride in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor. She also serves on the Genesis and First Impressions contest teams and as secretary of the Wisconsin Southeast chapter. Learn more & connect:
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About the book – No Neutral Ground:
Germany rejected him. America took him in. Now he’s back,
at war with his homeland and his father who betrayed him.
Rolf Schilling was an enthusiastic member of the Naval Hitler Youth in Cologne, Germany, until he was kicked out for being half Jewish. His father divorced his mother rather than lose his job or leave Germany. The rest of the family fled to America, and Rolf is angry. As Rafe Martell, he sails on the Queen Mary for England and the war zone in 1944, and meets Jennie Lindquist, en route to Sweden.
A B-17 navigator, he flies bombing missions against Germany. He knows not all Germans are in favor of Hitler and the war, but as he recalls despicable actions he witnessed, he hardens his heart. When their B-17 Flying Fortress is severely damaged on a mission to Berlin, Rafe and his crew head to neutral Sweden.
Jennie assists the OSS at the American legation in Sweden. She expected to work behind the scenes, but is pushed into a more active role. Her dad is a military attaché working with the American air crews who can’t make it back to England and land in Sweden. An artist, Jennie hopes to create a Swedish art exhibit and focuses her attention on Sweden through the eyes of the interned air crews. She accompanies her dad to Malmö to southern Sweden where most of the planes arrive. They witness Rafe’s plane crash land.
Rafe joins Jennie in black propaganda intended to demoralize the enemy with rumors and sow discord among them. During a visit to the Stockholm airport, he spots an old friend working as a Lufthansa mechanic. Bertil tells Rafe his dad did him a favor by rejecting him, leading to him escape from the madness in Germany.
When Rafe visits distant relatives in western Sweden, he witnesses a father’s distress over his young son’s death and realizes how his own father may feel. He determines to avoid a life of regrets.
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No Neutral Ground Terri’s Books
Come back Sept 17th for Candace West!
Being a woman on a ship full of men wouldn’t bother me.
Why?
Because I was the girl guys would talk to for hours on end and close the conversation with, “I guess I just don’t know how to talk to women.”
Kathy, were they being complimentary? 🙂
Being a woman on a ship, full of men wouldn’t bother me one bit. As I’ve grown up, learnt how to converse Just about anybody.
Good for you. I would be totally tongue-tied.
I’m not sure but I grew up among male friends so I would probably like the attention.
I have a winner! Patricia Fellows won the drawing. I appreciate Terri for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.