OR

Kindle Price:	$5.73
	Price includes tax, if applicable
Sold by:	Amazon Australia Services, Inc.

promotions apply when you purchase

Add Audible Narration to your purchase for just $2.99

Read with our free app

You've subscribed to ! We will pre-order your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.

Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your memberships & subscriptions

There was an error! We were unable to process your subscription due to an error. Please refresh and try again.

Follow the author

Suzy Henderson

Follow

THE BEAUTY SHOP: A gripping, heart-breaking WW2 novel inspired by a true story. (Heroes of War Series) Kindle Edition

by Suzy Henderson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

517

Part of: Heroes of War Series (2 books)

See all formats and editions

Bassingbourn, 1942: Americans swamp Cambridgeshire as bomber bases spring up across the county. For Stella Charlton, an aircraft woman in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, it’s a distraction from her own troubles as she listens to swing music drifting from the aircraft hangar.

When she catches the eye of charismatic US bomber pilot, John ‘Mac’ Mackenzie, he reaches for her friendship. Torn, she feels a spark between them and accepts. As they grow close, Stella, under pressure from her mother, faces a tough choice.
And as bombers fill the skies daily, the British and Americans suffer losses on a catastrophic scale. For Mac, flying missions over France, across Europe and into Germany, becomes a personal crusade.

Maverick New Zealand doctor Archie McIndoe risks his career and marriage to save badly burned airmen. Reliant upon his unorthodox methods, he battles to save and rehabilitate seriously injured pilots while pioneering plastic surgical techniques. Soon, he appeals to the town of East Grinstead for their help.

When Mac becomes another casualty, his world falls apart. Believing Stella will never look at him again, he pushes her away. Can Stella find her way back to Mac and help him conquer his demons? Can Archie help Mac picture a future beyond war, one filled with love, hopes, and dreams?

Based on a true story, "The Beauty Shop" is a sweeping tale of love, compassion, and determination against a backdrop of wartime tragedy, awarded with an indieBRAG Gold Medallion. A truly inspirational historical romance novel series.
For fans of The Beauty Chorus, Under an English Heaven, and Sarah Sundin’s A Distant Melody. Inspired by the true story of the Guinea Pig Club, a social club that provided support for all the British and allied pilots and airmen injured during WW2 who found themselves in the care of pioneering plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe.

Readers love The Beauty Shop:
"A superb debut novel which felt like a labour of love from the author. Extremely well-written story of a heroic time about ordinary people." Amazon review.

"The Beauty Shop isn't just a book or a story; it's a piece of art that has been stitched together so delicately, entwining both history and passion into one." Amazon review.

"The descriptions of the action in the air are magnificent." Amazon Review.

Part of series

Heroes of War Series
Print length

408 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

28 November 2016
File size

675 KB
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Enabled
See all details

Report an issue with this product

All 2 for you in this series See full series

See included books

Total price: $11.19 + applicable tax

Sold by: Amazon Australia Services, Inc.

Suzy Henderson
527
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $5.46
Shari J. Ryan
1,145
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $4.99
Ella Carey
1,451
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $4.99
Amanda Lees
3,256
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $3.99
Shari J. Ryan
579
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $4.99
Siobhan Curham
1,908
Kindle Edition
1 offer from $4.99

Product description

Review

"A fantastic topic to write about, dealt with sensitively and written in beautiful prose." Author Christoph Fischer. "I knew this was a book that had to be savoured. The depth of emotion that the author placed into each character's perspective was intriguing, and I found myself captivated by her talent and ability to weave a story." Author and historian Hunter S. Jones.

About the Author

Suzy Henderson was born in the North of England and initially pursued a career in healthcare, specialising as a midwife. Years later, having left her chosen profession, she embarked upon a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing at The Open University. That was the beginning of a new life journey, rekindling her love of writing and passion for history. With an obsession for military and aviation history, she began to write. It was an old black and white photograph of her grandmother in her WAAF service uniform that caught Suzy's imagination many years ago. Her grandmother never spoke of her war service and died in 1980 taking her stories with her. When Suzy decided to research her family history and her grandmother's war service, things spiralled from there. Stories came to light, little-known stories and tragedies and it is such discoveries that inform her writing today. Having relocated to North Cumbria, she has the Pennines and the Scottish Borders in sight and finally feels at home. Suzy is a member of the Historical Novel Society and her debut novel, "The Beauty Shop" was released in November 2016.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LXO5394
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avis Press (28 November 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 675 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 408 pages

Best Sellers Rank: 501,158 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 2,222 in 20th Century Historical Romance (Kindle Store)
- 3,483 in 20th Century Historical Romance (Books)
- 5,354 in Military Romance (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
517

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Suzy Henderson

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Suzy Henderson is the author of The Beauty Shop, Madame Fiocca, and SPITFIRE, novels which are set during the turbulent times of World War Two. She also writes romance and recently released a novella, Christmas in the Highlands, a best seller on Amazon UK.

Her debut novel, The Beauty Shop, was awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion. It is based on the true story of pioneering plastic surgeon, Sir Archibald McIndoe, and the Guinea Pig Club – an exclusive club for RAF pilots and airmen who required plastic surgery as a result of their war injuries and were under the care of this enigmatic New Zealander.

Madame Fiocca is also based on a true story. This gripping adventure follows the tempestuous life of SOE heroine, Nancy Wake before and during the Second World War.

Suzy lives with her family on the edge of the Lake District, where she can be found rambling around lakes, country lanes or roaming the fells. Armed with a pen, a love of reading and a growing obsession with military and aviation history, she is often lost in the 1940s, writing historical fiction.

To receive all Suzy's latest book news, do join her reading group here & claim a free story: https://www.suzyhenderson.com

Please do catch up with me on social media here: https://twitter.com/Suzy_Henderson

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSuzyHenderson

Review this product

Write a customer review

Sort reviews by

Top review from Australia

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Sandy

An exceptional story.

Reviewed in Australia on 6 March 2022

Verified Purchase

An exceptionally moving blend of fact and fiction; based on the incredible New Zealander, Dr Archie McIndoe, a plastic surgeon who changed the lives of many injured fighter pilots during World War II in England.
I always enjoy this genre, and this did not disappoint. It is well written and extremely informative, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

HM Holten

World War II Romance

Reviewed in Germany on 6 September 2020

Verified Purchase

Archie McIndoe, John (Mac) Mackenzie, and Stella Charlton are the main protagonists in Suzy Henderson’s WWII novel. The ‘beauty shop’ refers to the Guinea Pig Club and gives its readers a different viewpoint of the horrors happening during the Second World War, presenting the pilots who become casualties, with horrific burns, often permanent damage to their appearance, and, in many cases, their mental well-being. A New Zealand plastic surgeon, Archibald (the Maestro) McIndoe does wonders in restorative surgery at East Grinstead, the home of the 91st Bomb Group.
From the start, Stella is torn between her proposed fiancé and the American pilot she meets, doing service at close to the airfield. Mac falls for her the moment he sets eyes on her. He admires her integrity but can help to pursue her regardless of her prior ties. Stella’s doubts about her fiancé become pressing, especially because Mac shows her admiration as well as understanding.
The Beauty Shop is not only a romance, but it gives insight into the horror of war. Ms Henderson describes war action in all its aspects when the crew can return after a successful drop, and the anguish they live though when things go wrong. This is a realistic but touching read that leaves the reader wondering about human folly. Highly recommended.

Joy Cagil

Somewhat Gory, Yet Insightful, Unique, Wonderful, and Full of Action

Reviewed in the United States on 21 May 2018

Verified Purchase

This story takes place in England, mostly in East Grinstead, and in the air over Europe during 1942 and 1943. Mac, short for John Mackenzie of the US air force, flies bombing missions with several men in his plane and fights with the Luftwaffe. When he catches sight of the shy and beautiful Stella Charlton of the WAAF, he can’t erase her from his mind. Then, in a joint party between the Americans and the British, when Stella and Mac dance, they fall in love with each other. Stella has a friend in the British air force, who her mother pushes as Stella’s future mate, although Stella doesn’t love him but feels bound to him in some way.

When Mac gets burns in a crash and is disfigured afterward, he is sent to the burn unit of Dr. Archibald McIndoe, a plastic surgeon from New Zealand with unorthodox methods and a truly dedicated man to his profession. Dr. McIndoe is a real character of World War II as is the Guinea Pig Club formed of his patients. His burn unit is called the Beauty Shop.

In the meantime, Stella has a difficult time getting through to Mac who is upset with his disfigurement and is grieving the friend who he couldn’t save in the crash. The air fights, the lovers’ up and down affair, and the burn unit stories all add to the success of this story, which ends on a high note.

I enjoyed reading this story very much. It began with Archie’s burn unit and eased into Mac’s story as Mac being the main character with Stella as his counterpart; however, as the story progressed Dr. Archie McIndoe stole the show, and for a while there, overshadowed and took the place of the protagonist. Or maybe, who the real protagonist was became clouded somewhat. As well as the story is written, I am wondering if it wouldn’t be better to have Dr. McIndoe as the protagonist from the beginning and making Mac and Stella’s strong romance story a subplot.

Still, I applaud the author for the amount of research she must have conducted. The building of suspense, use of the language, storytelling, characterization, and handling of the setting also shine. The details in the story-- the air fights, crashes, burns, and wounds of the soldiers—are gory and probably not for the faint-hearted; yet, despite the pain and the gore, evading this story may be a loss for any historical fiction reader. I am glad I read it, and I feel enlightened by it.

One person found this helpful

Plain Jane

Good research but disappointing

Reviewed in Spain on 30 December 2018

Verified Purchase

The research behind the true story in this novel is sound, but the story itself wanders into stereotypes and clichés with too many flat characters. Some scenes are excellent, but on the whole I was disappointed after all the hype.

Clemens Schoonderwoert

A Superb Compelling Heroic Debut Novel!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 April 2017

Verified Purchase

This beautiful and engrossing book has been my very first encounter with this fine lady author and certainly a revelation, and hopefully it will not be the last time for I have to say in all honesty that this experience has been absolutely rewarding.
To clarify this wonderful story the author has produced a well documented Author's Note at the end of the book, explaining there about the marvellous achievements by this famous Dr Archibald McIndoe as a physician, in his treatment of his patients in both body and mind, as well being one of the driving forces of the Guinea Pig Club (Est 1941) where a lot of these servicemen could turn to after their ministrations by the same Dr McIndoe, they were later known as "Guinea Pigs", so they could celebrate their annual reunion with each other and with this same Sir Dr Archibald McIndoe.
Story-telling is of an absolutely superb and beautiful quality, and in my humble opinion what mainly female authors are very good at most of the time, is the ability to tell her story with such warmth and passion that it keeps you spellbound and gripped while at the same time she lets you feel the love, devotion, desperation and hate within this wonderful romantic tale.
This fantastic book is based on a true story, and it is set during the years 1942/1943, with a nice and warm epilogue which is set in 1990, and which will finish this captivating and compassionate book in a most splendid fashion.
The book has been divided into three main themes; firstly being Dr Archibald McIndoe who as a physician treats his patients not only physically but also mentally and so trying to restore his patients into human beings as whole as can be in body and mind, while also trying to lift their morale by introducing them into the Guinea Pig Club, where they can celebrate and share their brotherhood and camaraderie.
Secondly there's the pilote John "Mac" Mackenzie of the US Air Force, who after an amount of successful flights finds himself burned after a mission, but with the help of Dr McIndoe and his girl-friend Stella he overcomes his struggles and despair.
Thirdly there's the delightful and sensible Stella Charlton, who as a new recruit to the WAAF meets this American pilot, the same John "Mac" Mackenzie on New Year's Eve, and falls in love with him, and that relationship will finally turn into a beautiful fulfilling and everlasting love.
All three themes are intertwined in a very romantic and humanlike fashion, besides that all the characters are really lifelike in their dealings with each other within this gloomy atmosphere of Britain in 1943 during WWII, plus that all this is written down in a most heart-warming prose, and thus all these factors combined make this book such a superb compelling read.
Very highly recommended, for this is an elegant masterpiece in story-telling as well as bringing to life the world of WWII in a most authentic atmosphere, and that's why I would qualify this book as "A Superb Compelling Heroic Debut Novel"!

3 people found this helpful

Mahrie

Great blend of fact and fiction and the men who lost faces.

Reviewed in Canada on 19 July 2017

Verified Purchase

Flowing narrative of men who faced some of the greatest danger in WW11 and the doctor and nurses as well as loved ones who helped them heal inside and out.

OR

Image Unavailable

Follow the author

THE BEAUTY SHOP: A gripping, heart-breaking WW2 novel inspired by a true story. (Heroes of War Series) Kindle Edition

Customers who read this book also read

Product description

Review

About the Author

Product details

About the author

Suzy Henderson

Customer reviews

Review this product

Top review from Australia

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries