The London Restoration by Rachel McMillan
Synopsis
From author Rachel McMillan comes a richly researched historical romance that takes place in post-World War II London and features a strong female lead. Determined to save their marriage and the city they love, two people divided by World War II’s secrets rebuild their lives, their love, and their world. London, Fall 1945. Architectural historian Diana Somerville’s experience as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park and her knowledge of London’s churches intersect in MI6’s pursuit of a Russian agent named Eternity. Diana wants nothing more than to begin again with her husband Brent after their separation during the war, but her signing of the Official Secrets Act keeps him at a distance. Brent Somerville, professor of theology at King’s College, hopes aiding his wife with her church consultations will help him better understand why she disappeared when he needed her most. But he must find a way to reconcile his traumatic experiences as a stretcher bearer on the European front with her obvious lies about her wartime activities and whereabouts. Featuring a timeless love story bolstered by flashbacks and the excavation of a priceless Roman artifact, The London Restoration is a richly atmospheric look at post-war London as two people changed by war rebuild amidst the city’s reconstruction.
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Interview with Author Rachel McMillan
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I live in Toronto, Canada and I love to travel solo –especially for research for my books. I am also a Starbucks addict and Broadway nerd (I have seen Les Miserables on 3 continents). I am a Hallmark Christmas movie buff and my favourite movie is Master and Commander. I would love to visit Egypt someday and own a basset hound. But most of all, more than anything in the world, I love to read and gush about books.
What do you do besides writing?
Reading is a huge part of my life! I am a literary agent as well so I get to work in publishing basically all of the time which is wonderful for me. I love visiting my little nieces and nephew and I love being out and around in Toronto. Travel is a huge part of my life, as mentioned, and I am also a classically trained vocalist. I love music!
What was your favorite part of researching this book?
I loved learning all about the churches and studying the Wren designs from when he first rebuilt the churches after the Great Fire in 1666. Many of the churches rebuilt after the Blitz were based on those designs. The Toronto Reference Library has wonderful facsimiles of some of Wren’s original blue prints and it was so fun to sit there with my notebook and look over them all and take notes.
I also spent 10 days in London with a side trip to Bletchley Park immersed in this world. I specifically spent time in Clerkenwell (Where Brent Somerville’s flat is ), Along Fleet Street and the Strand and King’s College and in over 30 churches ( Wren designed and those from other architects) bombed or rebuilt after the war taking notes and pictures and doing on-location writing. All of that helped me capture Brent and Diana’s world: pre-war and post-war.
Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process?
Some writers create characters, I always say that I meet mine because they appear to me so clearly set in my mind that it is often hard to find real life counterparts. I see them down to the freckle and hear them so clearly in my mind.
That being said, I knew this question would come up and so I tried. Brent is especially hard because he has dark red hair and is broad-shouldered. One reader said she pictured Eddie Redmayne, another James Norton... maybe he’s a hybrid of both.
Diana is a striking, curvy blonde who might look a bit like Romola Garai.
What
are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book?
Mozart plays a pretty big role in this book and in the companion book releasing next year called The Mozart Code
So, I listen to a lot of Mozart. The Grosse Messe in C Minor, Ave Verum Corpus and his Piano Concerto No. 17 play a big part in London Restoration and in the upcoming The Mozart Code.
I once wrote a contemporary romance called Rose in Three Quarter Time where music played a huge role and so I “auditioned” songs, especially for key and pivotal moments in my conductor hero and violinist heroine’s lives. With The London Restoration, I knew that I had to find Brent and Diana the perfect song. So I listened to a lot of songs I knew--- standards and war ballads—trying to find something perfect. As a big music lover this was not a chore: amazing music came out of the pre-war and war periods. In the end, I settled on two different songs: I’ll Be Seeing You( a favourite of my Opa –who was a stretcher bearer for the Canadian forces and whom inspired that part of Brent Somerville’s life. I sang this song at his funeral when I was a teenager) and A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.
In the end, I went with the latter: because it is not only a love story between two people but also the city that they love. The London Restoration is a love story between Diana and Brent but also a love letter to London and it just fit. So music plays a huge part in this book as in all of my books.
During edits though? When times get tough? I just crack out my favourite Broadway musicals lol. So a lot of Phantom and Wicked!
What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book?
There is something so amazing about the building of cathedrals. Liturgical almost. I remember when I watched Notre Dame burn on tv last April and how overcome I was by the loss of history I loved and had spent hours exploring. But then even that day, firefighters were risking their lives to save it. And plans for rebuilding were already in place. In WWII Britain, Churchill was so adamant St Paul’s Cathedral be saved that he formed a Paul’s Watch of volunteers that would protect the cathedral from firebombs at the cost of their lives.
I find this so amazing. The testament to Matt 16:18 that the fires of hell will not prevail against God’s house on earth.
But more still, the stonemasons and carpenters and architects who designed the great cathedral (building as high as they could up to heaven) knew that during their lifetimes they would never see the fruits of their labour. They wouldn’t live to see the cathedrals in their entirety. They had to work knowing that what they were building would outlast them long after they were gone. I think that’s a really wonderful way to look at our legacy as humans. To be resilient when things crumble around us in adversity but also to recognize that we are just a blip on history’s timeline and the legacy and seeds that we plant now—the brick and mortar we contribute to a great cathedral of our works—can have eternal repurcussions.
What can we look forward to coming from you in the future?
On October 6, I have a Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide releasing---
Available for pre-order on Amazon
Are you a holiday film fan? If so, you’re in good company. Fellow made-for-TV movie buff Rachel McMillan invites you to skip the office Christmas party, put on your coziest pj’s, and crash on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate in one hand and your remote in the other to watch the movies that have become the “hallmark” of the holiday season.
This one-of-a-kind illustrated guide features 15 themed celebrations featuring customized viewing lists, fun suggestions for starting new traditions, and festive facts about the happiest season of all. From baking to books, romance to royalty, and more, Rachel has put together a picture-perfect selection of holiday films to suit any interest.
A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide is an ideal gift or stocking stuffer for the Christmas movie lover in your life or a welcome addition to your family’s holiday traditions.
Then, next Summer the companion book (though not a direct sequel ) to The London Restoration releases called The Mozart Code featuring two characters you meet in LR!
Available for pre-order on Amazon
From author Rachel McMillan comes a richly
researched historical romance that takes place in post-World War II Europe and
features espionage and a strong female lead.
Lady Sophia Huntington Villiers is no stranger
to intrigue, as her work with Alan Turing’s Bombe Machines at Bletchley Park
during the war attests. Now, as part of Simon Barre’s covert team in postwar
Vienna, she uses her inimitable charm and code name Starling to uncover a
lethal double agent immersed in the world of relics—including the death mask of
Mozart.
Simon Barrington, eighth earl of Camden, is
determined to end the Cold War before it becomes as devastating as the war
Britain has just won. He has been in love with Sophie Villiers since the moment
he met her. A marriage of convenience to save Simon's estate brings them
closer until a mission in Prague drives Sophie to a decision that will brand
her not only a traitor to her country but also to her new husband.
With Sophie’s allegiance in question, Simon is
torn between his duty to the crown and saving the woman who might have betrayed
his cause and his heart.
Thank you Rachel!
About the Author
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Blog Tour Schedule
Tuesday, August 18 Review at Nursebookie Guest Post at Let Them Read Books
Wednesday, August 19 Review at Austenprose Review at Amy's Booket List
Thursday, August 20 Review at Gwendalyn's Books Review at Little But Fierce Book Diary
Friday, August 21 Interview at Heidi Reads... Review at Foals, Fiction, and Filligree
Saturday, August 22 Review at Donna's Book Blog
Monday, August 24 Review at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals Interview at The Green Mockingbird
Tuesday, August 25 Review at The Green Mockingbird
Wednesday, August 26 Review at 100 Pages a Day Interview on Jorie Loves A Story
Thursday, August 27 Review at The Lit B*
Friday, August 28 Review at Read Review Rejoice
Saturday, August 29 Review at Books and Backroads Review at Reading is My Remedy
Monday, August 31 Review at Passages to the Past
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away 5 copies of The London Restoration! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on August 31st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
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