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Unlikely Soldiers Book One (Civvy to Squaddie): A Coming of Age Novel of Love, Humour, and Tragedy Kindle Edition

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 259 ratings

“Deb McEwan has created a beautiful portrait of the times, with just the right touch of romance." Goodreads and Amazon Reviewer
1970s Britain. Two teenagers. The Army. In a small Welsh village, naïve Michelle Warbutton is devastated by a shocking family secret. Forced to rethink her future, she longs to leave her world.
In Yorkshire and already world-weary, Guy Halfpenny is desperate to escape his miserable life.
Both have limited choices.
Their paths aren’t destined to cross until they join the British Army - where their futures are determined by the decisions of others. Discover how lives are shaped, friendships forged and loves won and lost in this gripping, coming-of-age adventure of love, humour, and tragedy.
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite - 5 stars!
“A fascinating and enthralling look at Great Britain in the 1970s as experienced through the eyes of Guy, a North Yorkshire teen, and Mouse, a Welsh girl. I had a marvelous time reading Unlikely Soldiers and am looking forward to the next book in the series. It's most highly recommended." Goodreads and Amazon Reviewer “Deb McEwan puts passion, skill and dedication into every page. This one will have you teary, hooked and feeling all the wiser. For the older readers, you’re in for a special trip down memory lane. For the younger readers, get ready to have your eyes opened to how the world used to be.” The Unlikely Soldiers Series comprises four books: Book 1: Civvy to Squaddie Book 2: Secrets & Lies Book 3: Friends & Revenge Book 4: Murder & Mayhem

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From the Publisher

An image from the 1970s with the caption: '1970s Britain'.
Image of a pretty woman from the 1970s with the caption: 'Two teenagers'.
An image of soldiers in silhouette against a pretty sky background with the caption: 'The Army'.

Civvy to Squaddie book cover image

Secrets and Lies cover image

Friends and Revenge cover image

Murder and Mayhem cover image

Product description

About the Author

Following a career of over thirty years in the British Army, Deb and her husband moved to Cyprus to become weather refugees.

She’s written children's books about Jason the penguin and Barry the reindeer and adult books about aliens, the afterlife, soldiers, and netball players.
The first book in the latest series 'Unlikely Soldiers' is set in nineteen seventies Britain. The second covers the early eighties and includes the Falklands War, service in Northern Ireland and (the former) West Germany. 'Friends and Revenge' is the third in the series, and takes a sinister turn of events.

'Court Out (A Netball Girls' Drama)' is Deb's latest standalone novel. Using netball as an escape from her miserable home life, Marsha Lawson is desperate to keep the past buried and to forge a brighter future. But she’s not the only one with secrets. When two players want revenge, a Tsunami of emotions is released at a tournament leaving destruction in its wake. As the wave starts spreading throughout the team, can Marsha and the others escape its deadly grasp, or will their emotional baggage pull them under, with devastating consequences for their families and team-mates?

'Beyond Possession', book four in the Afterlife series was published in February 2018. It's a fast-paced supernatural thriller involving child possessions, reincarnations and telepathic twins, with angels trying to keep the Devil and his evils at bay.

‘The Island Dog Squad’ is a series of novellas inspired by the rescue dog Deb and Allan adopted this March. The real Sandy is a sensitive soul, not quite like her fictional namesake, and the other characters are based on Sandy’s real-life mates.

Deb spends her time writing, avoiding housework and playing tour guide. She also tries - and mostly fails - to keep off the pounds.

For a free book or more information visit www.debmcewansbooksandblogs.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B017ES5YA6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Deb McEwan; 1st edition (4 Nov. 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3113 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 172 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 259 ratings

About the author

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Deb McEwan
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During her downtime Deb likes escaping from reality (and housework) to the bondu. This is where her characters and their stories are born.

She enjoys writing in different genres and this could be the reason why she’s not a New York Times best seller yet (though there could be lots of other reasons too.) Deb’s series include the supernatural suspense Afterlife books, the first of which was inspired by ants, Unlikely Soldiers (based on some of her experiences in the British Army) and The Island Dog Squad series of novellas. She’s also written children’s books about Jason the penguin and Barry the reindeer, a novel about netball players, as well as a non-fiction book about a boy born to be different (co-written with Zak’s Mum, Joanne). There are also two novels in the Aliens Guide series. Her latest books, The Island Expats, are cosy mysteries set on the fictional island of Souvia.

Her current work in progress is a fun read (not) about how she coped with cancer.

Deb’s husband, Allan, is also a weather refugee and they live in Cyprus with their rescue dog, Sandy.

To sample her writing, click the link to download your free copy of 'The Island Dog Squad Book 1: Sandy's Story', exclusively for subscribers. https://dl.bookfunnel.com/wdh6nl8p08

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
259 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book and found it easy to read. They appreciated the honest, raw writing style that brought back good memories. The characters were interesting and kept them engaged from start to finish.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

24 customers mention ‘Readability’24 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book and find it relatable. They describe it as an enjoyable read with an honest and raw narrative that takes them back in time. The book is described as a riveting coming-of-age tale written from the heart with true life experiences that enthralls readers.

"...' and 'stagging on' plus the 'passion killers' and the grand old NAAFI were wonderful ...." Read more

"...I also liked that the story is told from Guy’s perspective and also from the perspective of a girl; Michelle also known as Mouse...." Read more

"What a wonderful story, a great flashback to the 70's bringing memories of the fashions of the day and the music heroes we worshiped...." Read more

"Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was surprised how quickly I skipped through the pages, it was so easy to read I didn't want to put it down....." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Writing quality’9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They find the narrative honest and raw, written from the heart with true life experiences. The book is easy to read and a real page-turner. Readers appreciate the authenticity, real life experience blended into a complex girl.

"...You will enjoy the read whether you've served or not. Very well written and my ex soldier husband agrees!..." Read more

"...The writing was YA and it would suit a younger person, but not too young as the book deals with issues like being gay in the military, rape,..." Read more

"...The characters are likeable and realistic, without resorting to stereotypes. The pacing of the story is great." Read more

"...and was surprised how quickly I skipped through the pages, it was so easy to read I didn't want to put it down..great character and great twisting..." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Memories’8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a nostalgic read that brings back memories. They say it's rich in experience and keeps them thinking from start to finish. The book takes readers through different emotions, including laughter and tears.

"...as truthfully and as comical as Iremember the army life being, a real tonic. You will enjoy the read whether you've served or not...." Read more

"What a wonderful story, a great flashback to the 70's bringing memories of the fashions of the day and the music heroes we worshiped...." Read more

"...This is a book that will make you laugh and cry as you journey through this book which is rich in experience...." Read more

"Really enjoyed reading this,, it brought back many memories of training in Guildford Mouse very much mirrored my life at that age and that of many..." Read more

7 customers mention ‘Character development’7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's characters. They find them interesting and relatable.

"...The characters are likeable and realistic, without resorting to stereotypes. The pacing of the story is great." Read more

"...the pages, it was so easy to read I didn't want to put it down..great character and great twisting storyline...can't wait for Part 2" Read more

"...The characters individual stories give a great insight of what it was like to join the British Army and how it can change lives...." Read more

"...about this book, and being ex military, I could totally relate to the characters in the book. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Pacing’3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it easy to read and say it grabs them from page one.

"...The pacing of the story is great." Read more

"...enjoyed reading this book and was surprised how quickly I skipped through the pages, it was so easy to read I didn't want to put it down..great..." Read more

"...I recommend this book because it grabs you from page one and is a real page turner." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 May 2020
    This book was a great memory jogger for me as I trained at Guildford and Catterick as a switchboard op in the early 70s and the joys of recalling the 'block' and 'stagging on' plus the 'passion killers' and the grand old NAAFI were wonderful . The story was told as truthfully and as comical as Iremember the army life being, a real tonic. You will enjoy the read whether you've served or not. Very well written and my ex soldier husband agrees! Thank you, looking forward to reading the rest of them.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2018
    Two youngsters with some problems in their personal lives decide to join the army. I liked the fact that this book is set in late seventies Britain and the Armies role in Northern Ireland and the thread of the IRA form an important backdrop. It adds tension to the decisions these youngsters are taking. I also liked that the story is told from Guy’s perspective and also from the perspective of a girl; Michelle also known as Mouse. The writing was YA and it would suit a younger person, but not too young as the book deals with issues like being gay in the military, rape, domestic assault and sex. It does steer clear of anything too graphic and I only counted one mild swearword. The romance is rather sweet and I was rooting all the way for Michelle and Guy to get together. There is a follow up and I would like to find out what happens to our young heroes. The title left me a bit confused though as both Guy and Michelle are not that unusual for joining the army, just ordinary kids hoping to get away from home and making something of their lives.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 August 2016
    What a wonderful story, a great flashback to the 70's bringing memories of the fashions of the day and the music heroes we worshiped. A story of how life in Yorkshire and Wales shaped the future for two young people beginning their adult lives. Both venturing into careers that would see them serving their country. Experiencing life's highs and low's along the way being bullied and gaining new friends and experiences.
    Very highly recommended I started this late Saturday evening and finished it before Sunday lunch a real page turner. I am just about to dip into Book 2.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2022
    Very slow read for me struggled to make my way through it as I couldn't really grasp the foundation with how slow a read it was for me.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 March 2019
    This is the first book I've read by this author but it certainly won't be the last.
    Two teenagers leave home to join the army due to family situations, but their upbringings couldn't be more different.
    Michelle is from a Welsh village and Guy from Yorkshire, in ordinary circumstances they would never have met but the army makes their paths cross.
    This is a book that will make you laugh and cry as you journey through this book which is rich in experience.

    The characters are likeable and realistic, without resorting to stereotypes. The pacing of the story is great.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 July 2018
    Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was surprised how quickly I skipped through the pages, it was so easy to read I didn't want to put it down..great character and great twisting storyline...can't wait for Part 2
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 February 2016
    Written with passion, humour and knowledge, Unlikely Soldiers is a riveting coming of age tale of a boy from Northern England and a Welsh girl. It gives an insight of what life was like living in a dysfunctional family in the 1970's Britain and the way women were treated back then. The trials and tribulations during their early period in the British Army are fascinating and made it even more irresistible.
    Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good story, I'm waiting for the sequel with baited breath.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2016
    Not read yet keeping for a holiday read

Top reviews from other countries

  • Gloria Antypowich
    5.0 out of 5 stars This was a great read--Book # Two is on my Kindle!!
    Reviewed in the United States on 8 January 2017
    I found this to be a delightful book in many ways. First of all, I was really drawn to the cover. I loved the free-spirited image of the girl (typical 70’s look) and the contrast to the image of army personnel in silhouette below it.

    Second- the local slang used in the book really caught my attention and had me smirking: Bullying Shoes, Div, Numpty, Shuggle, Stonking, Milling, Puttees to list a few—Thank You, Deb McEwan, for including a Glossary!!

    Third-The story was educational for me. I have never been involved in the military, or the unrest that was prevalent in that setting in the 70’s.
    Reading about the training and military life was very interesting, especially knowing that McEwan had first-hand experience with her topic, and brought authenticity to the story. I loved the true to life way she portrayed her characters personalities as she revealed their thoughts and actions.

    Fourth-Both the main characters, (Guy and Michelle) and many of the secondary characters (KC, Graham, Jill, Elaine, and Grace) were well defined and felt real to me.

    17-year-old Guy Halfpenny lives in Yorkshire, Britain. His father is in prison, his mother has shoved off most of what should have been her responsibility for his four younger siblings onto Guy. She wants him to quit school and get a job to support the family, and constantly nags at him about it. She constantly tells him that he needs to pull his weight and help her with the family, and nothing that he ever does is enough.

    The one person who gives Guy good advice and moral support is his friend and neighbor, Mr. Jarvis. He encourages Guy to get and education so he can better himself, and then get away from home as soon as possible. He encouraged Guy to go into the army, but Guy wants to get an education and he feels that he needs to look after his family. Then one night Mr. Jarvis shows a side of himself that amazes Guy, and it changes Guy’s life.

    !5-year-old Michelle Warbutton lives in South Wales with her parents and her brother Graham. She has finished school and when her dad tells her to take a college course she does. Michelle found it boring, and she decides to go into the army like her brother has. Graham is against it, her parents are against it, but Michelle has made up her mind and she goes when the opportunity comes.

    Guy and Michelle’s paths cross. They are immediately attracted to each other, but misinformation makes it seem impossible for them to be together.

    There a many twists and turns in the plot. Will Elaine tell Michelle the truth? Will Michelle marry KC?

    The end of the book opens the door to the next one, with hints of rediscovered love and revenge.

    I thoroughly enjoyed Unlikely Soldiers Book One: (Civvy to Squaddie) and book two is already in my TBR list on my Kindle.
  • Laura
    4.0 out of 5 stars Unlikely Soldiers Book One, review
    Reviewed in the United States on 9 December 2020
    This was a good review of what it is like to go from a civvy to one in the service. It makes for a great story not just in adventures but in how relationships are formed and kept. I enjoyed the story and can’t wait to read the rest to finish the adventure. Very good read!
  • jack kregas
    3.0 out of 5 stars Many have joined the military for lack of a better choice and this novel follows that path
    Reviewed in the United States on 29 May 2017
    I found it to be more about romance and less about being a soldier. Many have joined the military for lack of a better choice and this novel follows that path. The characters were well developed but left me waiting for how the decision to join the army would change their lives. It never did. It became a naive love story in uniform. I expected more.
  • Angel Waggoner
    5.0 out of 5 stars The lingo really adds to the story
    Reviewed in the United States on 7 May 2017
    A very enjoyable read. It was interested seeing the military side and I am glad the author started at beginning of each main character’s story. The lingo added even more fun as I followed each character through training and watched them grow.
  • Margaret Watkins
    4.0 out of 5 stars The courage to make good choices
    Reviewed in the United States on 25 August 2017
    The seventies were a turbulent time in the history of the world. Everything we knew was upended as social norms, politics and lifestyle were all challenged. Unlikely Soldiers accurately depicts the darkness and narrow world view of a small segment of the British population at that time. In the midst of the happenings of the day Guy, Mouse and Graham all took steps to move away from the expectations their families had for them and found a new way of life. I found the language in this book rather brittle and at times I had difficulty following the story as it seemed to jump around a bit. Nevertheless there were two very important truths that were highlighted. The first was that one can never underestimate the value of a role model in one's life. Mr Jarvis' influence on Guy gave him the courage to make choices that would change his future. The second truth is that while background and family may influence us, it does not necessarily determine the choices we make, as brought out by the three principle characters. This book tackles various unpleasant aspects of life, which may make some readers uncomfortable. I did purchase a copy of this book but I also received this book from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

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