Game More, Pay Less
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Millions of titles. Learn more
Read now
OR
£2.35

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon Media EU S.à r.l..
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 and Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Diane Moody
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Of Windmills and War - Book 1 (The War Series) Kindle Edition

by Diane Moody (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 10,127 ratings
From eight time Amazon All-Star author Diane Moody comes Of Windmills and War.

An Amazon Top 100 bestseller with over 100,000 copies sold, and over 7,000 ★★★★★ reader reviews and ratings.

The rumblings of war in distant countries mattered little to Danny McClain. Growing up in Chicago, his world revolved around after-school jobs, a rescued beagle, his pen pal in Holland, and the Cubs' chance to go to the World Series. Then, in December of 1941, during his first year at Northwestern University, news of the attack on Pearl Harbor hit much too close to home. After a series of unexpected events over the next couple of years, Danny found himself in the co-pilot seat of a B-17, stationed with the 390th Bomb Group in Framlingham, England.

Anya Versteeg had been just a teenager when Hitler's troops invaded her homeland of Holland in May of 1940. Forced to grow up much too fast, the feisty preacher's daughter eagerly immersed herself in the Dutch Resistance and its many efforts to thwart the enemy. Certain that God had turned His back on Holland, she closed her heart and did whatever she had to do to save her country before it was too late.

By 1945, the people of Occupied Holland were starving. Cut off from the outside world in retaliation for their failed attempt to oust the Germans invaders, the Dutch had no food, no electricity, no fuel, and little hope of surviving. Thousands were dying every day. Then, just days before the war ended, help came to The Netherlands like manna from heaven.

Operation Chowhound held special meaning for Lieutenant Danny McClain. Somewhere below in the battered land of tulips and windmills was the girl who needed rescuing--after rescuing so many others. And he would move heaven and earth to find her.

What readers are saying about Of Windmills and War:

"Without a doubt one of the finest World War 2 novels ever written! The storyline . . . is so well crafted, vivid and exquisite in character development, that reading this book not only informs but is also a lesson in writing."

"Action, romance, a page turner. I loved every minute of it, and was sad when it was finished. One of those books you wished never ended."

"One of the best books I've read."

"Scenes so clearly written I could see them."

"You felt like you were part of the story from the very beginning. The accuracy of events was amazing."
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 4
    The War Series
  2. Print length
    599 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    23 Nov. 2013
  6. File size
    11.3 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 4 books in this series.
Popular highlights in this book
What are Popular highlights?
Previous page
  1. “We cannot know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.”
    Highlighted by 624 Kindle readers
  2. I stopped asking why and started asking what He wanted me to do with the rest of my life.
    Highlighted by 330 Kindle readers
  3. Food instead of bombs. Life instead of destruction. Hope instead of despair. Not a bad day’s work.
    Highlighted by 232 Kindle readers
Next page

Product description

About the Author

Justine Eyre has turned her passion for reading and remarkable facility with accents into her dream career. This classically trained, multilingual actress has narrated well over 400 audiobooks and has been honored to receive a coveted Audie Award and multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards.

Born in Texas and raised in Oklahoma, Diane Moody is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. She has penned more than a dozen books, including The Runaway Pastor's Wife, The Demise, and Memphis & Me. Diane lives with her husband, Ken, in the rolling hills just outside of Nashville. Visit her at dianemoody.net.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AB859WK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ OBT Bookz
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 23 Nov. 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 11.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 599 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 4 ‏ : ‎ The War Series
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 10,127 ratings

About the author

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

Diane Moody

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Born in Texas and raised in Oklahoma, Diane Hale Moody is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. She lives with her husband Ken in the rolling hills just outside of Nashville. They are the proud parents of two grown and extraordinary children, Hannah and Ben.

To date, Diane has penned eighteen books with several more projects vying for her attention. She and her husband Ken, who writes as McMillian Moody, founded OBT Bookz in 2011.

When she’s not reading or writing, Diane enjoys an eclectic taste in music and movies, great coffee, and the company of good friends.

Visit Diane's website at dianemoody.net.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
10,127 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book to be an amazing read with a believable story and well-developed characters. They appreciate its historical accuracy, providing great facts about WWII and offering a different perspective on the conflict. The book elicits emotional responses from readers, and one customer notes its well-researched content. The storyline receives mixed reactions, with several customers finding it disappointing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

42 customers mention ‘Readability’42 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a well-written and believable story with an exciting plot.

"Loved this book. The characters were well developed and real...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book. I never knew about either Operation Manna or Operation Chowhound...." Read more

"This was quite an enjoyable read. Some parts went into too much detail and I found myself skimming through...." Read more

"...It's a terrific tale, and so well written. The research is to a high degree...." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Writing quality’10 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with one noting it is well researched.

"...This is a well-written, life-affirming, compassionate book, and I can't remember any typos...." Read more

"...This book is written with such knowledge and passion...." Read more

"...Thank you Diane Moody, you are a wonderful writer, and yes I had tears at the end," Read more

"...Poorly written with lots of short "statement " like sentences. Many reviewers talk about it being the best WW2 book they've ever read...." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Historical accuracy’8 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the historical accuracy of the book, which provides great facts about WWII and offers a different perspective on the conflict.

"...This book opens up a different side of the war and actions that have been underplayed in Britain Read it and you will probably not only find a good..." Read more

"A different perspective on the Second World War, as seen by a young American who is writing to a Dutch pen pal before war breaks out...." Read more

"...A story of war and the ravages and heartache the Dutch people underwent and the courage of the resistance." Read more

"...sure the author spent lots of time researching but the book had such glaring timeline errors that I could not finish it...." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Emotional content’9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, describing it as compassionate and deeply moving, with one customer noting how it evokes a range of feelings from laughter to sadness.

"...This is a well-written, life-affirming, compassionate book, and I can't remember any typos...." Read more

"...It evoked every emotion I could have- laughter, tears, anger, frustration, hope and so on...." Read more

"...We loved them, not just for sweets and gum but for the easy going, kind nature that most of them had. Two were billeted with my aunt...." Read more

"...Diane Moody conjures up the characters and situations with empathy and understanding and you feel as though you there with them. An excellent read." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Character development’6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with several noting the well-developed characters, and one customer highlighting how the author effectively portrayed their faith.

"...I liked too the way she dealt with the faith of the characters, she doesn't push Christianity, but shows how it can be part of a person's life, and..." Read more

"...I found this novel difficult to put down as the characters clasped my heartstrings and became close friends." Read more

"...The characters are well drawn and the author causes us to care about them and their fate." Read more

"...But the story itself is somewhat predictable and the good characters are simply good and the ones that are supposed to be bad are really bad." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Interest’6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and exciting, with one customer noting its thorough research.

"...more about the Netherlands during and after the war, as this s has piqued my interest . Certainly worthwhile reading." Read more

"...I found the parts set in Holland to be the most interesting and enjoyed the love story between Danny and Anya." Read more

"...It's a terrific tale, and so well written. The research is to a high degree...." Read more

"Exciting and well thought out story. It is obvious that much painstaking research has been undertaken...." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Storyline’4 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the storyline of the book, with some finding it disappointing, while one customer enjoyed the love story between Danny and Anya.

"...characters were a wee bit too goody goody for me, but a pleasant enough love story...." Read more

"...But the story itself is somewhat predictable and the good characters are simply good and the ones that are supposed to be bad are really bad." Read more

"...This book is written with such knowledge and passion...." Read more

"...The ending was also abrupt and whilst I know many readers enjoy being able to enjoy a happy ending it was only just too convenient for my taste." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Veronika
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read this year.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 June 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book. The characters were well developed and real. The places they lived in, America, Holland and England were well described, they too felt real. I learned several things about the second world war that I'd never heard of before. Ms Moody deals with the horrors of war with great delicacy. She tells it as it was, but doesn't wallow and dwell on them, to the exclusion of all else, and Operation Chowhound is such a wonderful display of all that is good in the human spirit. I liked too the way she dealt with the faith of the characters, she doesn't push Christianity, but shows how it can be part of a person's life, and how they grapple and deal with the hard questions. This is a well-written, life-affirming, compassionate book, and I can't remember any typos.

    I don't normally give a written review to anything that already has 20+ reviews, as that's about as many as I usually read, and there's seldom anything new to say, but this was so good I felt compelled to add my comments to everyone else's.

    With non-stop on-line coverage of everything that happens around the world, and so much fighting going on across the globe, it's easy to forget the high price people are willing to pay for their freedom, this book reminds us, perhaps more eloquently than constant video coverage the cost and destructiveness of war.
    10 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting subject.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 April 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book. I never knew about either Operation Manna or Operation Chowhound. The main characters were a wee bit too goody goody for me, but a pleasant enough love story. I don't think that I will read the sequel, (unless it comes as a freebie!!), there. are just too many other books out there for me to enjoy more. I will though, read a lot more about the Netherlands during and after the war, as this s has piqued my interest . Certainly worthwhile reading.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • mumma makeover
    5.0 out of 5 stars A truly amazing read. Un-put-down-able!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 March 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I cannot recommend this book enough. Even if a "war" book is not your normal read I think you would still be fascinated by this novel.

    This book is written with such knowledge and passion.

    It evoked every emotion I could have- laughter, tears, anger, frustration, hope and so on. I didn't think a book could inspire me as much as this one did. I now have a thirst for finding out more about Operation Manna/Chowhound.

    I also love the cover design which was created by the author's daughter.

    People reading it might be interested to look at [...] which has a Museum to commemorate the Airmen who flew from the very base depicted in this story. :-)
    6 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Highlander
    3.0 out of 5 stars Quite Enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 October 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This was quite an enjoyable read. Some parts went into too much detail and I found myself skimming through. I found the parts set in Holland to be the most interesting and enjoyed the love story between Danny and Anya.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • P. Wilson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Why the Dutch just love us
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 August 2015
    Verified Purchase
    As a frequent traveller to Holland, this book gives me the answers as to why the Dutch people are extremely polite and courteous to us Brits. It's a terrific tale, and so well written. The research is to a high degree. I am convinced there must be 100% truth and fact in this "novel" I remember the war as a young boy, and this book as opened up a lot more of the reality of a part of it we never knew. Thank you Diane Moody, you are a wonderful writer, and yes I had tears at the end,
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Pamela J
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heart wrenching and Inspirational
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 September 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I was two years old when Britain declared war on Germany because of its atrocities and taking what didn't belong to it. Those atrocities multiplied beyond anything that most people could conceive right until the very end of the war. We fought for nearly six long years and I grew up listening to all the radio news and watched the pictorial news at the cinema. We were under the planes dropping bombs on us. We walked amongst the ruins of towns and cities. We mourned for those we lost and we were so utterly proud of our young men and women and those from the British Empire who gave of their best including their lives. Then after our Royal Air Force had kept us from invasion in 1940 and we were hitting Germany hard, Japan attacked both the USA and Britain on the same day sinking Capital ships from both nations and leaving us now fighting on both sides of the world. When America declared War, we all said Thank God, I think. It's ironic that such tragedy brought such relief.
    I was excited about the 'Yanks' coming and at about the time that General Montgomery was defeating Rommel in North Africa and chasing him right across there, the 'Yanks' started to come in great numbers.
    We loved them, not just for sweets and gum but for the easy going, kind nature that most of them had. Two were billeted with my aunt. One was like having another kind uncle around who kept you safe. The other was more disassociated but both gave us a good insight into American life.
    Burtonwood, Americas biggest European air base was 5 miles away so I saw and could identify every aircraft from even its sound. The sky filled with American aircraft all day on D-Day and then all the soldiers left our town to fight in France.
    When I grew up I visited and explored as much of America as I could year after year.
    Holland is very close to Britain in more ways than one. It's people were valiant. Thank you to the author for writing this book.
    7 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • J. McNicol
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fact and fiction and very interesting well written
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 April 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A very interesting story covering an action in WW2 that up to now I had know nothing about. This book opens up a different side of the war and actions that have been underplayed in Britain Read it and you will probably not only find a good story but also learn something.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars The sacrifices of war
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 December 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Danny and Anya live different lives on different continents but fate conspires for them to meet as World War II takes place around them. This is a story of the sacrifices and suffering of those helping to rid the world of the Nazi regime in Europe. Diane Moody conjures up the characters and situations with empathy and understanding and you feel as though you there with them. An excellent read.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • cindy
    3.0 out of 5 stars Storia interessante
    Reviewed in Italy on 15 June 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Le vicende narrate nel romanzo mi hanno insegnato molto sulla guerra nei Paesi Bassi, la storia è perciò interessante, ma chi l'ha scritta (o tradotta?) sembra semplicemente trascrivere ciò che le è stato raccontato dal protagonista.
    Report
  • Jean Gilbert
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and heart wrenching story
    Reviewed in Canada on 3 July 2018
    Verified Purchase
    4.5 stars Excellent, well written story. I found it compelling and informative. I hadn't heard of Operation Chowhound and was blessed reading about it.Thank you Diane for writing this special story and giving us a true picture of what it was really like for both the Jewish people and those who helped them.
    Report
  • Sapna Gupta
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in India on 7 June 2017
    Verified Purchase
    good
    Report
  • C Hudspa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!!!!!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This as one of the best war novels that I have ever read! I felt like I was there. It made me so grateful that I am an American!

    I can't wait to read the next one, Shadows of war! If you love historical novels with some romance mixed in .... you must read this book!
    Report
  • Angélica
    4.0 out of 5 stars Bem legal, mas da vontade de chorar
    Reviewed in Brazil on 6 October 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Bem legal, adorei! Se você for daquelas pessoas que choram vendo propaganda, pode se preparar para dar uma choradinha básica. Adorei os personagens e quando o livro termina você fica com aquela sensação de quero mais...
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report