Winter in June (edition 2009)

Third in the Rosie Winters series, Ms. Haines takes us to the South Pacific during World War II. Rosie and gal pal Jayne have joined the USO and are headed to the South Pacific to try to find Rosie’s ex-boyfriend, Jack, who is missing in action (MIA). The minute they step foot on the boat, the dead body of an actress/former WAC (Women’s Army Corp) is found shot and lying in the water.

What a start to an enthralling ride. Rosie and Jayne are wonderfully witty and downright stubborn in their pursuit of finding Jack, and their having to deal with military higher ups and movie stars—all who have something to hide--is an especially difficult challenge. The military slang was a delight and the USO events on the islands were memorable.

The historical settings seemed well researched and the characters had a down-to-earth realness to them, but the story was a little too neat and convenient when all those familiar faces were popping up in the same place. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and would like to go back and read the first two books in the Rosie Winters series. ( )