• Where the Sky Begins

  • A Novel
  • By: Rhys Bowen
  • Narrated by: Emma Griffiths
  • Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,190 ratings)

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Where the Sky Begins  By  cover art

Where the Sky Begins

By: Rhys Bowen
Narrated by: Emma Griffiths
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Publisher's summary

A woman’s future is determined by fate and choice in a gripping WWII novel about danger, triumph, and second chances by the New York Times best-selling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Tuscan Child.

London, 1940. Bombs fall and Josie Banks’ world crumbles around her. Her overbearing husband, Stan, is unreachable, called to service. Her home, a ruin of rubble and ash. Josie’s beloved tearoom boss has been killed, and Josie herself is injured, with nothing left and nowhere to go.

Evacuated to the English countryside, Josie ends up at the estate of the aristocratic Miss Harcourt, a reluctant host to the survivors of the Blitz. Awed as she is by the magnificent landscape, Josie sees opportunity. Josie convinces Miss Harcourt to let her open a humble tea shop, seeing it as a chance for everyone to begin again. When Josie meets Mike Johnson, a handsome Canadian pilot stationed at a neighboring bomber base, a growing intimacy brings her an inner peace she’s never felt before. Then Stan returns from the war.

Now a threat looms larger than anyone imagined. And a dangerous secret is about to upend Josie’s life again. Her newfound courage will be put to the test if she is to emerge, like a survivor, triumphant.

©2022 Janet Quin-Harkin, writing as Rhys Bowen (P)2022 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Where the Sky Begins

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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The characters

I enjoyed listening to the different accents of the characters read by the narrator. The upbeat character of Josie, how she touched other people's lives in such a positive way. How her tea room and her kindness helped the homesick pilots and their ground crew.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A great book about England in WWII

I loved this book. The characters were well developed and interesting. I really loved the main character.

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1 person found this helpful

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Entertaining

Great storytelling ,narration made it very real. It was a romance but also interesting characters were introduced

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1 person found this helpful

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great portrayal of various characters.

Enjoyed this book, I like stories of the past centered in England or Europe.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Delightful

Enjoyed this WW2 story so much. It was a treat to listen to. Looking forward to more.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Another great story by Rhys Bowen

Loved it! Narration was excellent. Didn’t want to stop listening. Can’t wait for her next book.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Good book

Good book!! Enjoyed this war time novel very much! Thank you for the novel audible.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

History and romance

This was a great change of pace book, and a good reminder of what the times were like during WWII in England. I’m not a romance or Hallmark type book person as a rule but this was an exception.

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Wonderful

This was a delightful read. It went so quickly that I was so sad to be done. Now what should I read?

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Great book

I enjoyed this book tremendously. Anyone who likes historical fiction should take the time to read it.

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