I've seen films about Bob Hope and other popular Hollywood people who joined USO tours during World War II to entertain the soldiers overseas. They usually had great accommodations and didn't get too close to the front lines of the war. The Foxhole Victory Tour is about an eclectic group of performers who join a USO tour. They often sleep on the ground or in their truck and they performed for the soldiers who were close to the front lines of the fighting and were often put into dangerous circumstances' as they worked to bring some joy into the daily strains of the war.

This tour in North Africa is made up of a rag-tag group. Maggie was a trumpet player who was never afraid to express her opinions even if it got her into trouble. Her father was a minister in the Salvation Army and she grew up in a very restrictive home. Catherine is totally opposite and grew up in a rich and sheltered family. She was quiet and only seemed to come alive when she was playing her violin. She didn't tell her parents that she was going on a USO tour until after she was gone because she knew that they would prevent her from going. There is also Gabriel, a magician who appears very secretive, Howard, a vaudeville performer and WWI vet and Judith, an older blues singer who is looking for her break in Hollywood. They started out as strangers but became friends as their troupe of performers went further into the war area and their lives were put into danger.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were all well written and it was easy to get involved in their lives as they entertained the troops and as they got shot at by German planes. When they started their trip, they didn't really understand the danger that they would be in and the fact that by the end of the tour, they would all end up as friends. It was apparent throughout the book that the author had done extensive research on the smaller USO tour groups who put their lives on the line to entertain the soldiers.

Amy Lynn Green is a new author to me and after reading this book, I checked out her previous books. It appears that she has written several World War II books that have high ratings on Goodreads. I've already ordered one of the books on her back list. ( )

I’ve read a lot of World War II books, but this is the first one I’ve come across from the point of view of a USO team traveling to entertain the troops on a 1943 tour to North Africa. I liked that the story focused on the performers, and there were little actual war scenes even though the threat of attack and the resulting danger was always a possibility.

None of the five misfit performers knows each other before being recruited for this USO tour, and despite their differences – personalities, talents, interests, and backgrounds – they end up becoming friends and supporting each other. In addition to their goals of entertaining the troops and keeping military morale up, this USO tour is like an audition as they are all being considered for one coveted position with a prestigious USO group of Hollywood performers including Bob Hope.

The well-written story is told from alternating characters’ points of view, which gave me the opportunity to see the situation from various perspectives. As the characters revealed things about themselves such as their pasts, their fears, and dreams, I became sympathetic and understanding of each one’s motivation. The novel is as much about this historical period as it is about how each character deals with their personal struggles and comes to realize the important role they play in the war effort.

In addition to setting realistic scenes in Algiers and Tunisia, Amy Lynn Green focuses on the faith and fears of troops soon going into battle. I appreciated how the entertainers become perceptive and discover creative ways to support the soldiers through their performances.

This was a heartwarming story of found family, faith, and the fascinating if lesser-known history of World War II USO variety shows. I recommend this novel which focuses on the ordinary men and women performers who risked their lives and sacrificed comfort to bring respite from war with music, laughter, and entertainment. ( )

This book was so good! I love the history, the setting, and reading about an aspect of WWII that I haven’t studied much. Makes me want to jump in and learn more! ( )

A refreshingly unique view of a lesser known facet of WWII, this book kept me engaged from the beginning. Watching the unlikely cast of characters, with their divergent quirks and personalities, come together into a ragtag group of unpredictable friends was such an enjoyable ride. And the historical details, paired with the dynamic settings that made me feel as though I were sweltering in the African heat, made this a read not to be missed. My first book genre love is historical fiction, and spending time in some historical fiction brought me a great deal of joy.
Maggie and Catherine couldn’t be more different in personality, physical bearing, and familial history. And yet, through a whirlwind sequence of events, the two are thrown together into the world of showbiz and performing, by joining a USO variety show.
Though she might make me a little crazy in real life, I loved Maggie on page. She is just the kind of feisty, spunky heroine I love to read about in my books. As stated in the book, the girl has moxie, and lots of it. Her forthright manner, ability to adapt, and instinctual desire to help people, make me love her. And she provides the perfect counterpoint to Catherine, the wealthy and pampered, refined, timid and soft spoken woman, trying to venture out on her own, despite her overbearing and controlling family.
The book absolutely needed both characters. I loved watching them each grow and change over the course of their African USO tour, and how they became such good friends. I thought it was neat that the book was written from the POV of these two females, with only some occasional letters thrown in from the male director of the USO unit. There are other characters (Howie, Gabriel, and Julia) that feature in the book in some big ways, but we don’t get their POV. While I expected it at first, I think the way it was written was very well done.
I would say this book most particularly fits into the historical fiction genre, with a whisper of budding romance. There are brief glimpses of faith throughout that are the perfect touch for a bit of a Christian element. While it is a WWII novel, it isn’t heavy or depressing. There are a couple of particularly meaningful scenes, where the troupe members utilize their music in specific ways to bring comfort to the soldiers and people to whom they perform, and they are beautifully done. I got choked up during one scene in particular, and the hymn Nearer, My God, To Thee, will never be the same.
This is a must read for fans of WWII fiction. It was my first read by Amy Lynn Green, but I’m looking forward to more. Her writing brought the story alive for me.

*CW/TW: talk of dead/dying soldiers; one scene of being shot at by a fighter plane; overbearing and controlling parents; demeaning language toward women not uncommon to the era

**Thanks to the publisher and Austen Prose for the copy. I have provided this honest review of my own volition.

Quotes I loved:
“Pretty girls aren’t meant for ugly wars.”

“The way I see it, if some of those men are going to die in battle, the best thing we can do is sing them home.” ( )

The Foxhole Victory Tour by Amy Lynn Green is my first novel by this author. I’ve heard so many good things about her stories, and I’m so glad I had an opportunity to read this one! Filled with a unique perspective of WWII and vibrant characters, this novel was pure entertainment. I loved how expertly the history was woven into this story so that the characters are allowed to shine.

My favorite aspect was watching this rag-tag group of characters come together in a meaningful way. Their personalities are such that you wouldn’t put them together, but by the end, you couldn’t imagine a different group filling the roles. And just as inspirational was how their focus and priorities shifted as the regular world shrunk farther behind them and the war surrounded them.

Truthfully, I loved everything about this book. And the longer I read it, the more I wanted to keep reading! If you’re looking for your next historical fiction novel–this is it! Don’t miss this title if you are a fan of WWII-era history, as I am. Put this book on the top of your TBR pile, you won’t regret it!

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own. ( )