The Liberators of Willow Run by Marianne K. Martin

Description

1943.

America is the Arsenal of Democracy.

Ships. Tanks. Airplanes. Munitions. With nine million men away fighting in Europe and the south Pacific, it’s up to America’s women to produce the tools of war—and victory rests on the wings of America’s Liberator, the B-24 bomber.

Audrey throws herself into the war effort. Hard work and long hours are just what she needs to keep the past at bay. Nona joins Audrey’s crew at the Willow Run Bomber Plant outside Detroit. She’s left her home in Kentucky to do her bit, and buys all the war bonds she can afford—she has a plan for her life. Ruth seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself—a life her mother would not recognize.

Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world, these women capture the spirit of the times through their determination, ingenuity, and enduring courage.

The Liberators of Willow Run is also available in audiobook format at Amazon and Audible.

“An absolutely riveting read from cover to cover, The Liberators Of Willow Run clearly showcases author Marianne K. Martin’s genuine flair for creating a memorable novel that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf.” —Midwest Book Review

“This is an important book as well as an enthralling adventure story. Written with a keen eye to both characterization and emotional transition . . .” —Grady Harp, Amazon.com, Hall of Fame • Top 100 Reviewer • Vine Voice

“Great writing style, perfect pacing, an excellent story, and memorable characters. This book had it all and I loved every minute of it. I especially loved how it explored the idea of public vs private identities, with the women carefully choosing what information to reveal and to whom in order to live their lives safely and in a way that’s emotionally satisfying.” —The Lesbian Review

“An enthralling read, a genuine glimpse into life in the 40’s, a world of secrecy, fear and a constant fight for basic self determination. This should be compulsory reading for every lesbian in the US struggling to hold on to hope in the face of a fascist administration. We fought then and we will fight to hold on to those gains. No matter what ‘executive orders’ are signed, we will not be put back into those boxes.” —The Lesbian Reading Room

“With discrimination against people of colour and the LGBT community seemingly legitimized by the current administration in the US, The Liberators of Willow Run feels like a very timely book. The fear and frustration that many people are feeling now is not new, and examples of quiet resistance like we see with Audrey, Ruth and Nona are more important than ever. This is a book that brings hope and a well-earned happy ending in a time when we need it, and it’s more than worth the read.”—Smart Bitches Trashy Books

The Liberators of Willow Run was a finalist for the Golden Crown Literary Society Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award and the 29th Annual Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Romance.

MARIANNE K. MARTIN is one of the most honored writers in the lesbian fiction genre. She is the author of ten novels, including five Lambda Literary Award finalists. She has been honored with the Trailblazer Award from the Golden Crown Literary Society, and she was inducted into the Saints & Sinners Literary Hall of Fame in 2013. She lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.