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

by Deb McEwan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 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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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Unlikely Soldiers
  2. Print length
    172 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    November 4, 2015
  5. File size
    3.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 4 books in this series.

From the Publisher

1970s girl with the caption: 1970s Britain
1970s image with the caption: Two teenagers.
Soldiers in silhouette with an orangey yellow sky background with the caption: The Army

Civvy to Squaddie Book Cover

Secrets and Lies book cover image

Friends and Revenge book cover image

Murder and Mayhem book cover image

Editorial Reviews

Review

Some of the reviews from Amazon and Goodreads:

"An amazing read from start to finish the story is up there with midsummer and Morse. It was a shame it ended."


"Rollercoaster of emotions, friendship, and the pain of maturing. Well defined characters and twists that make it hard to put down."

"Highly recommend for those who love a good tale with true to life characters."

"British Army culture in the eighties was fascinating to read about and the gangland crime reminded me of some of Martina Cole's books."


"From the very first page you know that this is going to be a great story and I wasn't disappointed. This book has it all, from excitement to sadness. A great read and look forward to book two."

"By the time I reached the end, I realized that for as deeply as the author submersed me in the 1970s, every truth and principle of overcoming presented still applies to today. Bravo Ms McEwan."

"Written with passion, humour and knowledge, Unlikely Soldiers is a riveting coming of age tale... Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good story, I'm waiting for the sequel with baited breath."

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars

Unlikely Soldiers: Civvy to Squaddie, Book One is a military fiction novel written by Deb McEwan. Guy's daily schedule was crowded from the moment he woke up until he went to sleep. His father was in prison, and his mother seemed unwilling to take any responsibility for the care of her four younger children. It was only due to the fact that his school was located too far away for him to be in charge of collecting his younger brothers and sisters from school that his mother had to accept that task, which she did in no small measure because she feared the fine a police report would bring. Guy kept the house in order, fed and cared for the other kids, and then went off to do his paper route after school. Still, his mother was outraged that he wanted to continue with his schooling instead of going to work full-time and becoming as she called it 'the man of the house.' He kept his savings hidden out of her reach and planned to open a savings account for his education. Mr. Jarvis, his next-door neighbor, gave him encouragement and advice about his plans for school, and his math teacher also recognized his abilities, but getting past his obligations to his family would be difficult. While he knew an education is important, the seventeen-year-old still wondered if enlisting in the army wasn't the best way for him to escape the trouble at home.

Deb McEwan's military fiction novel, Unlikely Soldiers: Civvy to Squaddie, Book One, is 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 was immediately drawn into Guy's story and found myself experiencing the culture of the seventies, albeit from distant shores. McEwan's descriptions of the military training each of them go through are authentic and masterfully presented, and the reader can't help but get involved in the day-to-day challenges each of her characters face as they endure the rigors of basic training and find their ways into their chosen career paths. This military fiction novel is also a marvelous coming of age tale that includes a sympathetic portrayal of the problems faced by children from dysfunctional families and the issues facing girls and women at the time. I had a marvelous time reading Unlikely Soldiers and am looking forward to the next book in the series. It's most highly recommended.

From the Author

I joined the British Army in 1979 and left in 2013. Unlikely Soldiers is a work of fiction, some of which is based on experience, the rest on my imagination - I'll leave it up to you to decide which is which. I hope you enjoy the story and would love to hear what you think.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B017ES5YA6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Deb McEwan; 1st edition (November 4, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.0 MB
  • 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:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 259 ratings

About the author

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Deb McEwan

Deb McEwan

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

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

3.9 out of 5 stars
259 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be a very good read with a lively story. One customer notes how the military lingo adds to the narrative, while another describes it as a rollercoaster of emotions.

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7 customers mention "Readability"6 positive1 negative

Customers find the book to be a good read, with one customer noting it is well written.

"I found this to be a delightful book in many ways. First of all, I was really drawn to the cover...." Read more

"This was a good review of what it is like to go from a civvy to one in the service...." Read more

"This is a good read,much about a Soldiers life. A wee bit 🐌slow, however I do give the story line 3 Stars...." Read more

"...Book is well written with a few mis-used words, thanks to a spell-checker (roll substituted for role.) It shows why you need a human editor." Read more

7 customers mention "Story quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the lively story of the book, with one customer noting how the military life and lingo enhance the narrative, while another describes it as a rollercoaster of emotions.

"...Reading about the training and military life was very interesting, especially knowing that McEwan had first-hand experience with her topic, and..." Read more

"...It makes for a great story not just in adventures but in how relationships are formed and kept...." Read more

"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...." Read more

"Unlikely Soldiers is a lively story. The narrative brings to light young people coming of age in the British military...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • 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 January 8, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Laura
    4.0 out of 5 stars Unlikely Soldiers Book One, review
    Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    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!
    One person found this helpful
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  • 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 May 29, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Angel Waggoner
    5.0 out of 5 stars The lingo really adds to the story
    Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Margaret Watkins
    4.0 out of 5 stars The courage to make good choices
    Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Barbara M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Took me back to my Guildford days
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    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.
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  • A. Lockwood
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet coming of age romance.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    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.
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  • Su
    5.0 out of 5 stars A real paged turner that brought back memories of the 70's
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 28, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    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.
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  • Micki
    3.0 out of 5 stars Hmmm
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    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.
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  • Miss Maria Gibbs
    5.0 out of 5 stars An insight into army life
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    Report

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