--- product_id: 98576827 title: "Of Windmills and War - Book 1 (The War Series)" price: "€ 0.09" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.gr/products/98576827-of-windmills-and-war-book-1-the-war-series store_origin: GR region: Greece --- # Of Windmills and War - Book 1 (The War Series) **Price:** € 0.09 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Of Windmills and War - Book 1 (The War Series) - **How much does it cost?** € 0.09 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.gr](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/98576827-of-windmills-and-war-book-1-the-war-series) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description From eight time desertcart All-Star author Diane Moody comes Of Windmills and Wa r. An desertcart 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." Review: Excellent! - “Of Windmills and War” by Diane Moody is the story of the men of the 390th Bomb Group, Third division of the Eighth Air Force, a part of the Greatest Generation and a rescue mission called Operation Chowhound. The story begins 1938 in Chicago, Illinois with Danny McClain instructed by his teacher to acquire a pen pal from a different country, write to him and report on any response received. Danny draws the name Hans Versteeg from the Netherlands. The two boys keep up a correspondence over quite a few years until Danny learns from Hans’ sister, Anya that he had drowned in a skating accident. Danny and Anya keep writing and learning about each other until the Germans overrun Holland and the Netherlands. Danny’s family is very dysfunctional in that his father is a very violent opinionated man who tolerated no discussion or dissention. Mostly everyone stayed out of his way. He had made a decision that his sons would follow in his footsteps and take over his business. Of course, both Joey and Danny have other plans. Joey joins the Navy and Danny eventually joins the Air Force. Anya, family is quite different. Her father is a minister and her mother, devastated by the death of her son, is no longer a strong woman. After the Germans invade and their Jewish friends are systematically taken away, the family hides Jewish refugees and Anya joins the Resistance movement. The story of Danny as a co-pilot of the bog bombers and the missions they fly are as harrowing to read about as I’m sure they actually were. Anya’s life in the Resistance makes her a very strong individual with pent up emotions that she is afraid to show. When Danny is shot down over the Netherlands close to the German border, he makes contact with Anya through the Underground. The clandestine operations of the Resistance are extremely dangerous and deadly. Reading about this chapter in history is both enlightening and frightening. The story is well conceived and well written. It is one of my favorite books. I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley.com Review: You won't be disappointed - As a guy I thought the book was a little mushy but it was a good story and it kept me interested. I visited Amsterdam and other cities in the Netherlands some years back and I remember visiting the Ann Frank house and how much of an impression it made on me. Because of this connection I felt the book had more meaning for me than it otherwise would have. Historical fiction is just that so for those who felt some of the details were off just remember this is fiction with basic history thrown in. However, even if the details were a bit off (which they were) the basic crux of the history was correct. If you want a true and accurate history of the exact details regarding the Netherlands during WW II then you have to go to the history books. But if you want a good read with some history of the period as a backdrop then I highly recommend this book. And regarding the reference to Christianity, my experience from talking to WW II vets fits with what the book. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #76,028 in Kindle Store ( See Top 100 in Kindle Store ) #138 in Historical German Fiction #313 in 20th Century Historical Romance eBooks #476 in 20th Century Historical Romance (Books) | ## Images ![Of Windmills and War - Book 1 (The War Series) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81cHtpo30pL.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent! *by B***N on July 17, 2017* “Of Windmills and War” by Diane Moody is the story of the men of the 390th Bomb Group, Third division of the Eighth Air Force, a part of the Greatest Generation and a rescue mission called Operation Chowhound. The story begins 1938 in Chicago, Illinois with Danny McClain instructed by his teacher to acquire a pen pal from a different country, write to him and report on any response received. Danny draws the name Hans Versteeg from the Netherlands. The two boys keep up a correspondence over quite a few years until Danny learns from Hans’ sister, Anya that he had drowned in a skating accident. Danny and Anya keep writing and learning about each other until the Germans overrun Holland and the Netherlands. Danny’s family is very dysfunctional in that his father is a very violent opinionated man who tolerated no discussion or dissention. Mostly everyone stayed out of his way. He had made a decision that his sons would follow in his footsteps and take over his business. Of course, both Joey and Danny have other plans. Joey joins the Navy and Danny eventually joins the Air Force. Anya, family is quite different. Her father is a minister and her mother, devastated by the death of her son, is no longer a strong woman. After the Germans invade and their Jewish friends are systematically taken away, the family hides Jewish refugees and Anya joins the Resistance movement. The story of Danny as a co-pilot of the bog bombers and the missions they fly are as harrowing to read about as I’m sure they actually were. Anya’s life in the Resistance makes her a very strong individual with pent up emotions that she is afraid to show. When Danny is shot down over the Netherlands close to the German border, he makes contact with Anya through the Underground. The clandestine operations of the Resistance are extremely dangerous and deadly. Reading about this chapter in history is both enlightening and frightening. The story is well conceived and well written. It is one of my favorite books. I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley.com ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ You won't be disappointed *by R***K on August 11, 2014* As a guy I thought the book was a little mushy but it was a good story and it kept me interested. I visited Amsterdam and other cities in the Netherlands some years back and I remember visiting the Ann Frank house and how much of an impression it made on me. Because of this connection I felt the book had more meaning for me than it otherwise would have. Historical fiction is just that so for those who felt some of the details were off just remember this is fiction with basic history thrown in. However, even if the details were a bit off (which they were) the basic crux of the history was correct. If you want a true and accurate history of the exact details regarding the Netherlands during WW II then you have to go to the history books. But if you want a good read with some history of the period as a backdrop then I highly recommend this book. And regarding the reference to Christianity, my experience from talking to WW II vets fits with what the book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Surprisingly Good Historical Fiction *by L***Y on February 6, 2014* I am a big fan of historical fiction (from Colleen McCullough and James Michener to Jeffrey Archer, Bernard Cornwell and Ken Follett) and wasn't expecting "Of Windmills and War" to measure up to the works of these writers. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of writing in this book and the way the author brought the characters and story to life. It has been a while since I read a book compelling enough to keep me reading past 2:00 am, but this book did. I particularly liked that the story centered around one of the lesser known (or at least written about) aspects of WWII. We have all read and heard about the atrocities suffered by the Jews, but I thought telling a WWII story about the Dutch resistance from the perspective of a young U.S. teenager who ends up enlisting and becoming a co-pilot as well as from the perspective of a young female in the Netherlands who suffers untold tragedy due to Germain invasion and occupation very interesting. I thought the use of "pen pal" letters and journals early in the book was creative and added to my understanding of the characters in addition to helping set the stage for subsequent chapters. I understand that there may have been some inaccuracies related to dates and details surrounding events during the occupation of the Netherlands, but they did not detract from the story, in my opinion. More importantly, I would be surprised if almost everyone who reads this book does not find something in the relationships between various characters in the book that they can relate to, whether it is father/mother/son/daughter, brother/sister, schoolmates and/or the camaraderie that existed between pilots and flight crews or the Dutch resistance fighters. I found some of the interchange/conversations between characters to be fascinating, but believable, given the circumstances (e.g. banter between flight crew members to lessen tension and fear associated with flying dangerous missions). The book deserves between a 4 and 5 star rating, and I gave it 5 stars because I enjoyed the writing style and story and was surprised at how it held my interest and attention throughout. I have no problem recommending this book to any fan of historical fiction or anyone who thinks they may have an interest in a unique WWII story. It was a joy to read. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.gr/products/98576827-of-windmills-and-war-book-1-the-war-series](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/98576827-of-windmills-and-war-book-1-the-war-series) --- *Product available on Desertcart Greece* *Store origin: GR* *Last updated: 2026-11-01*