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    Girls on the Line: A Novel
    Girls on the Line: A Novel
    Girls on the Line: A Novel
    Audiobook11 hours

    Girls on the Line: A Novel

    Written by Aimie K. Runyan

    Narrated by Kathleen Gati

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    “A moving tale of female solidarity and courage.” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network

    December 1917. As World War I rages in Europe, twenty-four-year-old Ruby Wagner, the jewel in a prominent Philadelphia family, prepares for her upcoming wedding to a society scion. Like her life so far, it’s all been carefully arranged. But when her beloved older brother is killed in combat, Ruby follows her heart and answers the Army Signal Corps’ call for women operators to help overseas.

    As one of the trailblazing “Hello Girls” deployed to war-torn France, Ruby must find her place in the military strata, fight for authority and respect among the Allied soldiers, and work to secure a victory for the cause. But balancing service to country is complicated further by a burgeoning relationship with army medic Andrew Carrigan.

    What begins as a friendship forged on the front lines soon blossoms into something more, forcing Ruby to choose between the conventions of a well-ordered life back home, and the risk of an unknown future.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateNov 6, 2018
    ISBN9781978644045
    Girls on the Line: A Novel
    Author

    Aimie K. Runyan

    Aimie K. Runyan is a multi-published and bestselling author of historical and contemporary fiction. She has been nominated for a Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Writer of the Year Award, a Historical Novel Society’s Editor’s Choice selection, and a four-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards. She is an adjunct instructor for the Drexel University MFA in Creative Writing program and endeavors to be active in the literary community in Colorado and beyond. She lives in the Rocky Mountains with her wonderful husband, two (usually) adorable children, two (always) adorable cats, and a dragon.

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    Reviews for Girls on the Line

    4.5/5

    82 ratings9 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I would have enjoyed the book a lot more with a different narrator. I doubt the characters speech would have sounded the way she read it.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      We need more ww1 and women stories! Well read audio just enough inflection
    • 5/5
      Excellent book, the history at the end was a welcomed surprise!
    • 5/5
      Wonderful book! It tells a great story with real life events.
    • 5/5
      Really good! Great story based on WWI timeline. Author made the characters real.
    • 5/5
      Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “GIRLS ON THE LINE” By Aimie K. RunyanAimie K. Runyon, Author of “Girls on the Line” has written an intriguing, intense, captivating, riveting, enthralling and amazing novel. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction and Fiction. There is a touch of Romance and Suspense. The timeline for this novel is around World War 1. The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complex and complicated, possibly due to the circumstances.I love that Aimie K. Runyon describes the importance of women and the part they played during World War 1. Although it will be many years until women were given the same benefits as the men in the army during war, I appreciate seeing that women were heroes, and worked in dangerous situations to save their country. One of the ways that women did help out was by being switchboard operators, and constantly manning the phones.Often they had to learn new codes. The women in this story had to know French, and wound up going to France.Ruby Wagner is one of my favorite characters in this story. She seems to exist in two types of life. One is the wealthy “line” in Philadelphia where she is engaged to a prosperous gentleman that belongs in her “circle”. After Ruby’s brother dies, Ruby is determined to do her part. The other “line” in World War 1, as an operator in horrible conditions, and in the way of bombing and fires. Ruby works hard, and becomes a supervisor, and has girls that have to follow her orders. Ruby has to follow orders as well, and at times it is difficult.Ruby is considered one of the “Hello Girls” and sent to France. She meets and makes friends. One of them is a medic that wants to become a physician. Will Ruby’s worlds collide? I recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy Historical Fiction. I appreciate the research that the author has spent hours and hours on. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
    • 4/5
      Girls on the Line by Aimie K. RunyanHaving watched my grandmother work the hospital telephone switchboard when a teen I was eager to read a book that stars a switchboard operator. I learned more about the Hello Girls and their job in the war and found their work and lives interesting. The camaraderie, effort expended, socializing, people met, impact of war and loss and so much more were intriguing. Having been through a few wars myself I could also relate to those aspects of the story even though it took place one hundred years ago. I found the writing to be well done if a bit slow in some ways. It had the feel and character of the past and was an interesting read. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review. 4 Stars
    • 4/5
      Loved the book!! The cover is beautiful . I hate to say that I never knew women were sent oversees to work as operators during World War I. The book was very eye opening at the part women played during the war. How horrible that these woman risked their lives as operators and then weren't even recognized by the military or received benefits until so many years later. I loved the characters, especially Ruby. She was such a strong woman, except when it came to her mother (although I will agree her mom was a little scary.) Ruby was strong enough to join the Army Signal Corps, go to France during the war but would rather marry a man she didn't love so she wouldn't disappoint her parents and make them unhappy. Ruby Wagner is from a prominent Philadelphia family. Her brother, Francis, and her fiancé, Nathaniel (a man she hardly knows), are overseas during World War I. Ruby helps with the Red Cross and works as an operator at the Pennsylvania Bell Company. When word comes the Francis was killed during combat, Ruby feels the need to take his place. She becomes an operator for the Army Signal Corps and is deployed to France. Loved the story, writing style and characters. I loved reading about Ruby, Margot and the rest of the girls working as operators. They were all so brave, even when they weren't seen as equals. Andrew, the charming Army medic was a plus and he adds some romance to the story. Definitely recommend the book, especially if you enjoy historical fiction with a bit of romance. Look forward to reading more from the author. Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author, Aimie K. Runyan, for a free electronic ARC of this novel
    • 5/5
      I love reading historical fiction when I am given not only a fantastic story but have the opportunity to learn about something that I knew little or nothing about. Aimee Runyan has done considerable research into the Army Signal Corps during WWI and their need for women operators to go overseas to help with the communications of the war. This was at a time in history that women's main goal was to marry well and spend their days taking care of their husbands and families. It was because of women who were willing to step outside society's norms that women finally got the opportunity to vote. Ruby was 24 years old. As a member of high society in Philadelphia, she was engaged to another prominent member of society. While he was away in the war, she took a job for the telephone company. She loved working and when there was an opportunity for the best of the best to get a job with the Army as a member of the Signal corps, she applied and was accepted much to her parents' dismay. After training, Ruby is sent to war torn France to work in communications. Not only is she totally out of her comfort zone but she has to prove her worth as a member of the army to the male members of the Army. Will she be able to return to her society life or will her experiences as a woman who helped win the war send her on another path when she returns home?This is a wonderful well written, well researched novel about the unknown role of women in WWI. It's about love and family and friendship and how women's roles were changing during this time. Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.