Sophia Rose is here with an inspirational historical fiction that takes place during WWII in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. The Women of Oake Ridge by Michelle Shocklee spans two generations. Grab a cuppa and read Sophia Rose’s thoughts….
by Michelle Shocklee
Genres: Faith-Based Fiction, Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm *affiliate
In the hills of Tennessee, two women work at a Manhattan Project site during World War II and uncover truths that irrevocably change their lives in this captivating new story from award-winning Southern fiction author Michelle Shocklee.
1944. Maebelle Willett arrives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, eager to begin her new government job and send money home to her impoverished family. She knows little about the work she will be doing, but she’s told it will help America win the war. Not all is what it seems, however. Though Oak Ridge employees are forbidden from discussing their jobs, Mae’s roommate begins sharing disturbing information, then disappears without a trace. Mae desperately attempts to find her but instead comes face-to-face with a life-altering revelation—one that comes at significant cost.
1979. Laurel Willet is a graduate student in Boston when she learns about the history of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where thousands unknowingly worked on the atomic bomb. Intrigued because she knows her Aunt Mae was employed there, Laurel decides to spend the summer with her aunt, hoping to add a family connection to her thesis research. But Mae adamantly refuses to talk about her time in the secret city. Mae’s friends, however, offer to share their experiences, propelling Laurel on her path to uncovering the truth about a missing woman. As Laurel works to put the pieces together, the hidden pain and guilt Mae has tried so hard to bury comes to light . . . with potentially disastrous consequences.
Standalone Southern historical fiction great for fans of Lisa Wingate, Donna Everhart, and Lynn AustinA compelling dual-timeline novel set during WWII and the 1970s about the weight of secrets and the power of forgivenessIncludes discussion questions for book groups
Sophia Rose’s Review
During the dark days of WWII, a top-secret project was happening in America and it was so secret, many of the people working on individual components of the Manhattan project had no idea what it was. Hidden in the Smoky Mountains of Eastern Tennessee a secret city of Oak Ridge housed part of the project and is at the heart of a story that stretches across two generations and told in two-timelines.
This was my first time picking up one of Michelle Shocklee’s books, but I’ve had my eye on her releases and have been itching to try one of her Southern fiction stories for a while. It took The Women of Oak Ridge to push me off the fence because I formed a small personal connection to the town when, years ago, I was able to visit friends there a couple of times, visit the museum to see the story of the town, and hear about the history from those living there. Michelle Shocklee put a great deal of time into her research of the era and this little microcosm of history so that there was an atmosphere created as I was reading the book that drew me in and made me feel I was right there on the spot during that 1944 timeline.
The Women of Oak Ridge, as I said was told in two timelines. Maebelle the aunt came as a young woman needing to leave her hard-up family and no prospects situation behind in Kentucky to take up one of the civil job opportunities Roosevelt was offering toward the war effort. The pay was greater than she could imagine and enough that she could send money to help back home. It was a hidden and secretive world including espionage and those in it were vulnerable at times when villains were about their own agendas.
Maebelle and her roommate have adventures in romance situations and this was part of the conflict and a terrible situation including her roommate’s disappearance. As reader, I saw a bit of what was going to happen and begged Maebelle under my breath, but… too late. Maebelle carried on, but was never the same, riddled by guilt over something- one of those rock and a hard spot choice- and needs the encouragement of family and friends with the healing of forgiveness after all that time.
Several years later, her niece, Laurel is working on a grad school research project related to the Manhattan Project’s effects goes to her aunt anticipating some good first-person accounts, but Maebelle won’t speak of it. Laurel has to interview the other Oak Ridge women and gets wind of a mystery. What has Maebelle fearful and closed-lipped about even years later? Laurel and a local cop are about to find out as they dig into the past refusing to let Mae’s silence stand.
The Women of Oak Ridge was a fabulous look into a time and place most people know little or nothing about and this historical detailing was paired with a suspenseful plot for the earlier timeline and engaging present investigative timeline. There are whiffs of inspirational elements that grow stronger near the end of the tale particularly forgiveness. This was a fine blend of several elements and I would definitely like to try out more of Michelle Shocklee’s books.
About Michelle Shocklee
Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels including ALL WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, a 2025 Christy Award Finalist; APPALACHIAN SONG, a 2024 Christy Award Finalist; COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award in Fiction; and UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Award & Selah Award finalist. As a woman of mixed heritage--her father's family is Hispanic and her mother's roots go back to Germany--she has always celebrated diversity and feels it's important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction. With both her sons grown and happily married, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Sophie
Oooh say no more you won me over!
Sophia Rose
Glad I could tempt you in, Sophie! 🙂
Carla@CarlaLovesToRead
Great review, Sophia Rose. You don’t find many books set during WW2 set in the US. I like the idea of the faith based aspect as well.
Sophia Rose
I thought the states-side setting was cool, too. Yeah, it was neat to see her aunt work through her spiritual struggles dealing with her past so she could let that go.
Mary Kirkland
That sounds really good. I wonder why they wouldn’t talk about it.
Sophia Rose
It was a top secret plant to help build the atom bomb so they learned to keep secret about that, but as far as her personal secrets, she was involved in a friend’s disappearance and hiding things about it. Good mystery!
Teresa Broderick
Lovely review Sophia! Sounds like a good read.
Sophia Rose
Yes, I loved delving into Oak Ridge’s past and was really curious about what Maebelle was hiding.