Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh
“Walsh has given us a riveting perception into a real surprise lady by mixing biography with historical past and journey, and an added sprint of romance.”
With a aptitude for mining out outstanding girls from obscurity in historical past, Jenny L. Walsh has as soon as once more unearthed the extraordinary in her newest novel Ace, Marvel, Spy. Alice Marble was a trailblazer, tennis champion, spy, and total American icon. I’ll be the primary to confess that I had by no means heard of Alice Marble earlier than, however she rapidly had me wanting to choose up a racket and begin swinging.
From Humble Beginnings
Spanning the Thirties and 40s, we first meet a younger Alice who performs the sport of tennis with fierce dedication however no skilled abilities. Whack the ball as exhausting as she will be able to is her motto. In steps Educate, a no-nonsense coach, able to whip Alice into the very best participant the world has ever seen. And whip into form she does. Alice proves herself repeatedly, rising by means of the ranks to turn out to be Wimbledon’s darling and outshining the professionals to turn out to be a little bit of a star on and off the court docket. When not swinging her racquet to victory, the glamorous star turns her vitality to writing “Surprise Girls of Historical past” options for DC Comics which tells the tales of outstanding girls in historical past in comedian kind.
A Change in Plans
Conflict rears its ugly head earlier than lengthy and the one factor Alice longs to do greater than play tennis is to serve her nation. Attributable to a medical situation, she’s turned away by each department, however her luck adjustments when the federal government realizes she could possibly be far more helpful than rolling bandages. As a tennis star, she’s in a position to rub elbows with the rich and influential … most notably these with enemy leanings.
Recruited as a spy, Alice is distributed underneath the guise of a tennis exhibition recreation in Switzerland to retrieve info on a former lover who could also be in cahoots with the Nazis. She harbors a small hope of rekindling their outdated flame, however the proof towards him is an excessive amount of and Alice is set to see him and different conflict criminals like him delivered to justice regardless of the non-public heartbreak it brings her.
A Champion Value Rooting For
I’m so thrilled I received to step into Alice’s sneakers, most likely the one time I’ll ever really feel what it’s wish to be an precise athlete, ha! Although a lot of her life gave the impression to be a whirlwind of grand slams, countless practising, cheering followers, and events, it was actually the softer, quieter moments within the story that really resonated with me. Alice suffered quite a lot of tragedy in her life together with dropping family members, surviving automotive accidents, and even the need to play tennis once more.
It’s at one notably black second the place she feels all could also be misplaced that she receives a letter from her pal and Hollywood star, Carole Lombard, who had had her share of ups and downs, together with a automotive crash that threatened to finish her profession. One thing Alice was sorely conscious of herself. Docs advised me I used to be by means of, Carole wrote, however then I started to suppose I had nothing to lose by combating, so I started to combat. I made my profession come true, simply as you’ll be able to — should you’ll combat. Such stunning encouragement to a lady who was on the prime of her recreation (actually) solely to have the rug pulled out from underneath her. Such inspiration for all of us to by no means surrender. Alice’s bravery and dedication are attitudes value aspiring to, sports activities fanatic or not.
Walsh has given us a riveting perception into a real surprise lady by mixing biography with historical past and journey, and an added sprint of romance in Ace, Marvel, Spy. A very distinctive spin (Get it? As a result of it’s tennis!) that makes it a must-read for followers of distinctive characters and sophisticated themes.
About Jenni L. Walsh:
Jenni L. Walsh is a USA Right now bestselling writer of over 13 books, together with Turning into Bonnie, Facet by Facet, A Betting Girl, The Name of the Wrens, Unsinkable, and the forthcoming Ace, Marvel, Spy. Her ardour lies in transporting readers to a different world, be it in historic or modern settings. She is a graduate of Villanova College, lives within the Philadelphia suburbs together with her husband, daughter, son, and numerous pets, and is a proud member of the Tall Poppy Writers, the one cross-genre, author-driven advertising and marketing cooperative within the U.S. that’s unique to feminine authors who publish in quite a lot of genres. To be taught extra about Jenni and her books, please go to jennilwalsh.com or @jennilwalsh on social media.
Publish Date: January 14, 2025
Style: Historic Fiction
Writer: Jenni L. Walsh
Web page Rely: 336 pages
Writer: Harper Muse
ISBN: 978-1400246748