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  • 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 (34 ratings)
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Where the Sky Begins cover art

Where the Sky Begins

By: Rhys Bowen
Narrated by: Emma Griffiths
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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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sublime Performance from Emma Grifiths

Totally captivated from beginning to end. The narrator, Emma Griffiths, is the most wonderful actor with an incredible voice. She really takes you on a journey. The story itself holds your attention and takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions thanks to Emma's storytelling and great writing.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice bit of escapism

Not my usual genre, but well-written and performed. Listened to it across a few days of miserable, depressing weather and it was just the thing. A little formulaic, but happy ending guaranteed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Thoroughably enjoyable listen.

Very easy to listen to this narration and story. Expect multiple listens in the future on long car trips.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A good and engrossing read

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Found it difficult to put down and good to listen to during a winter afternoon.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful

Really lovely story and great narration. Highly recommended Rhys Bowen is an excellent author, thanks

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely slow story

Lovely story however felt like the it took a while to to get the main juice of the plot and then very rushed at the end.
Excellent narration by Emma Griffiths

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A very nice, very gentle, very predictable story

This audiobook, overall, was nice. Literally, the best word to use to describe it. It wasn't fast-paced or demanded your attention, it was easy to listen to - perfect for driving or if you're working in the kitchen which is mostly how I listened to this book. The storyline was very predictable but although unexciting it was pleasant to listen to and there is no chance of not finishing it. THe narrator was generally good, though accents were muddled very frequently mostly between the Irish and the Canadian which made it a bit confusing to discern which character you were listening to and I don't know if the weird grammatical errors were verbal or printed errors. Do I recommend? Sure! It's inoffensive, it's gentle, but for me who would prefer a little more excitement I would listen to another book by this author only if it came as a free download or was a sale title.

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