Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This autobiographical novel is an authentic discourse about military life and all its challenges. Jackie Skingley reflects widely on the possibilities that women were given to become officers, even though they were not considered on the same level of male soldiers. Jackie follows a great military career in the WRAC, but she finally abandons this life to become an army wife. Her story of success in a predominantly male dominated world is a victory against the patriarchal society that relegates women into anonymity. Women like Jackie were able to challenge this old fashioned vision of the world and reshape it from their own point of view. ~ Francesco Camodeca (Reviewer) , NetGalley

Post-war Britain was a dark and dour place, and the first thing that leaps out of this book is the skill with which author Skingley paints a portrait of the world... in drab grey paint, of course, with the only glimpse of colour confined to the wildflowers on the bomb sites. It is into these surroundings that Skingley emerges, and it is through her eyes that we are led through the changing world of the next two decades, Often funny, sometimes moving and occasionally outrageous, it's the story of an "ordinary" woman living through extraordinary times, and all the more remarkable for that. ~ A_Place_In_The Orchard (Media) , NetGalley

........Women of today will be shocked at the way women were treated in the service.I found this a very interesting read, a book that I’m going to recommend to my book ~ Abby Siverman (Reviewer), NetGalley

This personal memoir on one woman's journey and experiences in military life should be compulsory reading today, especially in light of the #metoo movement. I think many would benefit from reading about her trials and tribulations just to get where she did, and the slightly more personal aspects as well.. ~ Melisende d'Outremer (Reviewer) , NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Today's young women, including those in the military, do not know the struggles their predecessors had when blazing a trail for others to follow. When I tell my grandchildren of times I had growing up, they have a hard time believing so much could have changed in such a short period of time. High Heels and Beetle Crushers tells the life story of a young woman who fought the norm and made her own way in the British Army. There were so few women in the Army that they were considered a novelty. Women had to fight to be taken seriously and shown respect. Jackie Skingley has done an excellent job of giving a good account of her experiences and how her efforts changed the way she was treated. A really good memoir that should be required reading for young women today. ~ Denice Langley (Reviewer), NetGalley

Jackie Skingley, the author of this fascinating memoir begins by taking her readers back to her earliest recollections, bitter sweet childhood memories of Christmas 1944 in Reigate, Surrey. Immediately, through her vivid descriptive writing I was catapulted back through the decades to wartime Britain. I could almost imagine being her, a small frightened child, hearing the air raid sirens going off and huddling in the damp, musky shelter with her heavily pregnant mother, and her Nanny Rose..........The price of peace was appalling, and shaped the future of the author and her family, as it did for so many people. Life went on, and the incredible community spirit of those post war years are brought wonderfully to life throughout these pages. These were times when families and friends were truly there for each other, the local bobby knew everyone and mums were to be found in the kitchen making jam and cooking Victoria sandwiches. However, most families have some secrets and the author bravely reveals those too. I read with interest of her convent education by strict nuns, and with envy of her life as a young woman at a time where young ladies wore taffeta dresses, gloves, and beaded bags, and of course had to adhere to strict etiquette codes. Despite being very popular, at a time when most girls wanted to settle down, marry and have a family, the author wanted more, she had a deep desire to serve her country. Accepted into the WRAC, she completed her training and began an interesting and eventful military career both at home and abroad, in which strong friendships are formed and love is lost and found. A powerful coming-of-age story, this memoir gives the reader a real insight into post war Britain, and the spirit of its people. This strong spirit is typified in the author, as her reader discovers within these pages as she overcomes adversity, and defiantly stands resolute and true to herself, and those she loves. ~ Susan Keefe's Bookshelf, Mid West Book Review

Rating: 4.0/5.0 I enjoyed reading this coming of age memoir about a young girl in the 1950s and the 1960s. Jackie Skingley, the author tells us the story about her life, experience with family, love, and being a working woman. A big part of the book is about how Jackie joining the Women's Royal Army Corps has changed her destiny and life decisions. I have never read anything before about women in the military. Reading this book was very insightful especially that it focuses on the post-war era. In an era that the world still was not as open as we are today. This memoir starts with Jackie's childhood and her relationship with her mother and grandmother, to her problem with her stepdad. The reader will get to read about all the fascinating moments and hard times in her life. For those readers who are only into fiction, this book will not be a problem at all because it reads like fiction too. So in addition to an enjoyable story, you will also get some interesting facts and information about that era. The only drawback I could find with the book is that despite being in the Cold War era, the Cold War aspect did not have a big impact on the story. Yes, it was in the background, but I was hoping to read more about how it has affected people then. High Heels & Beetle Crushers is a solid memoir and deserves 4 great stars out of 5.0. ~ Constantine (Reviewer), NetGalley

This memoir follows the life of Jackie Skingley as she grows from a young girl at home with her mother and stepfather, to an aspiring young ladies determined to strike out on her own by joining the Women's Royal Army Corps. The book is full of emotional stories of love and loss, as well as the great sense of camaraderie she found with the other women who joined the corps. The reader gets an understanding of the changes going on in Britain during the 1960s and how that affected women. Especially those who wanted to have a career and not just a life inside the home. It seemed a shame that married women had to choose whether to serve their country or build a life around a husband. But Mrs. Skingley faced that just like she faced any other obstacles and difficulties, head-on. High Heels & Beetle Crushers is more than just a personal memoir. It's a look at the changing roles of women in the 1960's. I found Mrs. Skingley to be an excellent storyteller. I became so engrossed in her story and with the details of how she handled issues that came up either while she was on duty or while trying to manage her personal life that I had a hard time putting the book down. I have a feeling that she might have some more exciting stories up her sleeve that readers would love to hear. Thanks to Chronos Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. ~ Susan Miller, Book Reviewer

.............This was a beautiful memoir of a young woman coming of age in post-war Britain. I wish the book had include a little bit more military history details, especially regarding the Woman's Royal Army Corp. Ms. Skingley would be a good role model for other women, even those in today's society. She wasn't afraid to go outside the norm when she knew it wasn't what she was was meant for. She took risks both in her career and her love life during a time period when such risks were frowned upon by certain members of society. Her writing voice made it feel like a truly genuine piece of work without any stretching of truths as you can find in some other memoirs such as this. The pace was good and took you on the highs and lows of her life. Thank you, Ms. Skingley, for sharing your story with others. ~ Marissa Giles (Reviewer), NetGalley

By the time I finished this book I wished the author was my friend. High Heels and Beetle Crushers is a lovely warm, lively memoir chiefly set in the early 1960s, a period that lots of us can relate to, but with one crucial difference - most of us won’t have joined the army. Jackie Skingley writes vividly about not just the challenges of her chosen career (both daunting and hilarious), but also the tragedy, true love and vital everyday experiences of her personal life. Do read it - both for its insight into the army life of a recent but very different time, and the delightful story of a woman I guarantee you’ll come to like. Go, Jackie! ~ Sarah Harrison, Author

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I know the cover is meant to be military-ish, but it simply isn’t appealing, eye-catching, or attractive. There were so many things in this book that would have made perfect cover material, that to have this is such a letdown. The story is the life of Jackie Skingley from her childhood until she had gone through her military career. She spares herself nothing going into her family life and shining lights into all the dark corners. The loss of her father in the Great War. Her mother’s remarriage, what type of man he turns out to be, and how he blights their lives. Her determination to escape this situation and do better for herself. Which is how she ends up applying for and getting accepted as a woman officer in HM Army. Just the application process is extensive and thorough. Out of the large group of women she applies with, only seven of them get accepted. And this is at a time when women didn’t go into combat, didn’t handle weapons. So there was no weapons training for them and no combat positions or positions where they had to handle weapons. They didn’t even have their own sports area. Yet, they were drilled extensively on military history and such as well as current events and current military functions. Diplomacy, leadership, thinking on their feet. These were all skills they had to learn as second nature. As well as whatever their specific job was for the assignment they were given at whatever base they were sent to and general military tasks which were common to all military officers on any military post. These women had to maintain their daily uniforms as well as dress uniforms in inspection-ready condition, plus maintain a civilian wardrobe to cover social functions they were expected to attend as officers at whatever command they were assigned to. This includes suits, cocktail dresses, and evening gowns with all the accessories. This was a very social era and women had to have clothes for so many events. Jackie shares many of the styles of the times with us as her mother was very fashion-conscious and an excellent seamstress, making many of her daughter’s clothes. I really enjoyed this aspect of the book, as I really like being able to visualize the women in their gorgeous clothes. I love the styles! And Jackie’s Mom really dressed her well. Ms. Skingley hits many emotional topics in her memoirs, proving that life is truly an experience that no one escapes from unscathed. She hits the highs and lows of sexual molestation, child abuse, emotional abuse of a spouse, death of a spouse and parent, bullying, lesbianism, death of a fiance, and loss of reputation. She also covers striving and succeeding professionally and personally. Finding and losing love and getting a second chance at love. This is a book that really covers life in so many of its various faces. And it’s fantastic! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys memoirs, memoirs of women, stories about the time after the Great War, British military, women in the military or just a great story. Cause this reads just like a great story, which it is, in spite of being a memoir. ~ Judi Easley (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. A poignant and well written memoir, interesting and gripping. I liked the style of writing and how well the writer talks about her life. An excellent read, highly recommended. ~ Anna Maria Giacomasso (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Jackie’s Skingley’s High Heels & Beetle Crushers is a memoir that explores her role in 1960s society. She goes from an innocent and delicate child to an independent soldier in the Women’s Royal Army Corps. These transitions are marked with insightful writing, heartwarming and witty retrospective, and a point of view and life story was destined and endlessly waiting to be told. This book opens with a prologue where Jackie is forced into a bomb shelter. It is the middle of WWII, and Jackie’s childhood is one of innocence and lack of understanding. She does understand the war, the panic around her, and is painfully unaware that this particular day is the day that will take her father away from her. This prologue places this pivotal event as a catalyst in her life. This is the first thing we learn about her. Jackie is the daughter of a time and a war that has taken her innocence. This is a catalyst.......There is a genuineness to this memoir because Skingley treats her faults and her triumphs with honesty and dignity. She respects the girl she was in building the women she became.......The most important aspect of this book, to me, was the telling of the experience of the Women’s Royal Army Corps. These were women who traveled a divergent path from those that were laid out for them. In those days (never have I sounded more twenty-one then I do now), the woman’s role was still primarily in the home and in marriage. To see the contrary, to see these women in this role of power and cunning, shows the dignity of their trailblazing mentality......Skingley, in sharing her story, has not only celebrated but immortalized the contributions of the women of the Women’s Royal Army Corps. Now, they shall be remembered.. ~ Angelina Veneziano (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. I went into this one completely blind. I didn’t know what it was about, but I really do enjoy this publisher, so I thought I would give it a try. I was actually very surprised at just how much I enjoyed this book. Like other books from Chronos Books, it’s written in a very easy, yet formative, writing style that allows for anyone to be able to follow the historical events without knowing anything about them. Once again, I knew nothing about Women’s Royal Army Corps nor really all that much about modern military life. The way that Jackie wrote this memoir made it so easy to dive right into the story and the people. I read pretty big chunks of this book in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down. Jackie is an amazing woman and storyteller......... ~ Serena Stone (Reviewer), NetGalley

...........I would highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a compelling, entertaining and quick read. It will make you laugh, make you angry, make you fight tears, but it will also teach you things and make you think. I would also recommend it for fans of things like Call The Midwife or Land Girls. I don’t read many memoirs but I’m glad I read this one and can’t wait for the follow up. ~ Emma Shaw (Reviewer) , NetGalley

A heart wrenching memoir. Jackie's early childhood was not a happy one after the death of her father in the war. It was a great struggle and parts of it very sad. There were limited career choices for women in the fifties and early sixties in Britain. She wants more in life. Gave us a peak into the Royal Army Corps and what life was like in the military and as an extended family of military. I look forward to more Books by this author. ~ Missy Waldrip (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. .......Jackie certainly has a story to tell of a fascinating era where women were making their mark, but as we follow her journey, this book becomes a heartfelt memoir of personal loss too. It was a privilege to witness the ups and downs of her time at officer cadet training, her visits to military bases in Germany and the roles she went on to have as an officer, even if some of the military terms and references were a little lost on me. She also shares her blossoming romances along the way and not surprisingly, her young men were all in the military too and her descriptions of the balls and her dresses, lovingly made by her mother, were vibrantly brought to life. She paints a great picture of the camaraderie of military life, the socialising and the rule breaking too, giving a great insight to what it felt like to belong to the extended military family. This is a beautifully written, honest memoir, where hard work, heartache and happiness all play a part, and it left me keen to read more. ~ Jacqui Brown (Reviewer), NetGalley

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. As a lover of "Call the Midwife", "Land Girls" "Back in time for Dinner" and said ilk of shows, I loved this book as it took me through the years covered in those books. It wasn't easy to be a woman then - think ten children being the norm in some places, going into the pill and the sexual revolution. (My mom speaks of those days, still - we watch those TV shows together). Anyone who loves history, women's rights, and everything UK will love this book - in fact, I am foisting it on my book club to discuss come January. Thanks for the chance to review this excellently written book. ~ Janet Pole Cousineau (Librarian), NetGalley

I was fortunate to be given a free author's copy of this memoir. What a fascinating read on many levels. The personal story of a young girl during the post war years in England catches the reader's attention immediately. This is a humorous but honest account of family, hardship, and survival after the death of her father during the war. It draws the reader into her school life in a convent school, her first relationship, her first job and the life changing decision to apply for officer training in the WRAC. I was interested to learn more about the social, cultural and historical contexts of Jackie's experiences which reflect slowly changing attitudes to women and the wider opportunities available. I gained an insight into male attitudes to women which resonate today, the ability of women to support and challenge each other in the workplace and the adventures of becoming a young officer and being posted to Germany. The memoir deals with serious issues and tragic life events but with sensitivity and understanding and interesting references to the music, film and fashions of the time. As a reader I shared feelings of love, anger, loss and fun. This is an absorbing read, well-written, and a book I strongly recommend. ~ Melanie More

My review today is for the memoir High Heels and Beetle Crushers by Jackie Skingley. Whilst this book is not set in France, the author is, and as well as sharing first names, we also live in the same part of France and have attended writing workshops and events together over the years. I was delighted to be asked if I’d like to review her first memoir and interestingly enough, as I read it, I discovered many of the places mentioned in the book, were places from my earlier years too. It is a small world! This memoir takes us from Jackie’s early childhood recollections of the war, to happy times spent with her great aunt and uncle, not so happy times with her stepdad, and then onto her new life in the Womens Royal Army Corps in the 1960’s. Growing up surrounded by military towns, Jackie’s life had plenty of military connections before she decided that this direction might be her chance to gain independence and adventure. Jackie certainly has a story to tell of a fascinating era where women were making their mark, but as we follow her journey, this book becomes a heartfelt memoir of personal loss too. It was a privilege to witness the ups and downs of her time at officer cadet training, her visits to military bases in Germany and the roles she went on to have as an officer, even if some of the military terms and references were a little lost on me. She also shares her blossoming romances along the way and not surprisingly, her young men were all in the military too and her descriptions of the balls and her dresses, lovingly made by her mother, were vibrantly brought to life. She paints a great picture of the camaraderie of military life, the socialising and the rule breaking too, giving a great insight to what it felt like to belong to the extended military family. This is a beautifully written, honest memoir, where hard work, heartache and happiness all play a part, and it left me keen to read more. ~ Jacqueline Brown, French Village Diaries

High Heels & Beetle Crushers is not only a personal memoir but also a record of postwar British social history. Jackie Skingley’s pilot father was shot down during World War II, and she was brought up by her mother and stepfather, Reg, who emerges from the book as less than sympathetic. Women’s career choices in the 1950s and early 1960s were limited in Britain, but Jackie Skingley wants more out of life than to walk straight out of school into a marriage. Following a stint as a hotel receptionist, she joins the Women’s Royal Army Corps. Much of the book relates her experiences, first as a cadet and then as a commissioned officer. Along the way, Jackie experiences love, loss and grief as well as fun and comradeship. This coming-of-age memoir is well written and reads like fiction. The author’s descriptions of her emotions are immediate and absorbing, making this book difficult to put down. The book is also of immense interest as a chronicle of the changing social landscape of postwar Britain. Sexism is still rife; women are still treated as second-class citizens in the workplace; and homosexuality is still taboo. But the sexual revolution is starting, and women are beginning to make their own way in the world. The story ends a little abruptly, but I hope this means that a sequel is in the offing, which I shall certainly read. I can highly recommend this book and thank the publishers for the opportunity to read an advance copy. ~ Vanessa Couchman, Author of the Tales of Corsica series and Overture, Book 1 in the Alouette trilogy

In this exquisite memoir, Jackie Skingley bids us walk by her side, into her world and her time. The skill with which she leads us through her own and her familial narrative, conjures the sights, smells, sounds and raw emotions of a family and community pulling together in ambiguous and uncertain times. But this isn’t just a historical memoir; about chit-chat, music, dancing, dresses and flirtations. Nor is it simply an insight into ‘women in the forces’; it’s so much more. Jackie’s intelligent and well-presented insights enable us to draw thoughtful parallels between a woman navigating the delicate balance between ambition, desire and societal expectation in days gone by and the challenges of navigating these contentions today. Her observations on community, the sexual ‘revolution’ and grief are as relevant now as they were in the past. She thoughtfully encourages us to reflect on our own lives and times through the gaze of her younger self. She has left this reader hungry for more and looking forward to enjoying more of her work in the future. ~ Clara Challoner Walker , Book Reviewer

Memoirs are a favourite genre of mine, but it's rare that a personal story reads like well written fiction. I was intrigued from her first childhood altercation with the local constabulary and followed the author's life from early loss, family trials, a strict education and finally to a career in the army in the post Second World War years. Sounds a little formulaic? Well the threads of romance woven through the chapters make for an intruguing read. I had to keep reminding myself this wasn't a fanciful story; these events actually happened. This book is definitely a page-turner and better still, the author left me wanting to know what happened next. ~ E J Bauer, Author

A wonderful memoir. I loved and thoroughly enjoyed this memoir by Jackie Skingley. The title having caught my eye; I didn't know what Beetle Crushers were. I don't know much about the Army-but you don't have to know to read this. A truly wonderful read. The author was a child at the time of the Second World. A coming of age memoir. Good atmosphere and scene-setting. Warmth and contentment which is suddenly changed irrevocably. Harder times, then chuckles and charming tales. Just a little way in and it was already a powerful read. Life, loves, losses, challenges, memories and emotions, all perfectly captured. I like how there are mentions throughout the book of what music was playing at the time, as in this example: You Make me Feel So Young by Frank Sinatra. I can highly recommend this book. It was well written, easy to read, and totally engrossing from the outset. ~ Julie Haigh, We Love Memoirs

Fascinating recollections of a bygone era. At the beginning of this powerful coming-of–age story, the author, Jackie Skingley, shares with her readers, her earliest bitter sweet recollections of a special Christmas day in 1944, and her family’s joy at unexpected arrival on leave of her RAF Flight Lieutenant father. Her childhood memories were of a Britain at war, of normal home life being interrupted by the screech of air raid sirens, and the rush to their damp, musky shelter, listening with dread to the droning of the German bombers as they flew overhead along Bomb Alley, towards London… Like many other families, the price of peace was high, when her father was tragically killed in action, and life for Jackie, her mother, and her new baby brother inevitably changed forever. These memoirs portray a wonderful insight into life in post war Britain, a time where families and friends pulled together with true community spirit. This was a time where the local bobby knew everyone, and mothers throughout the country could be found in their kitchens bottling, canning and making tasty filling meals for their families with anything which was available. For me this book rekindled my own childhood, watching my grandmother do the same, a few years on when the top of the fridge had bottles and cans of fruit and vegetables ready for winter, and an old chest of drawers contained her wonderful jams. I read with a touch of envy her nostalgic recollections of handmade taffeta dresses, gloves and beaded bags, and of her attending dances and balls with handsome beaus. My rose coloured glasses enabling me to overlook the strict etiquette demanded in those days. However post war Britain was a time of great social change. Boundaries were being stretched by the younger generation, hungry for sexual freedom, and determined to live life to the full after horrors and restrictions of the two world wars. Through her vividly descriptive writing the author takes us on her own personal journey through these years, and, at a time when young ladies were expected to marry and have a family, she decided that she wanted a career, and so she joined the WRAC. This career path shaped her years to come bringing friends, love, laughter, but also incredible heartbreak. Bravely the author has shared her story in this compelling memoir, giving her reader a real insight into post war Britain, and the spirit of its people, a spirit which is personified in the author herself, as she overcomes adversity, and defiantly stands resolute and true to herself, and those she loves. ~ Susan Keefe, Book Reviewer

In High Heels and Beetle Crushers Jackie Skingley takes us with her as she comes of age as a newly commissioned officer in the Women’s Royal Army Corps of the 1960s. Be prepared to fall in love with this stunning young woman as every young man falls in love with her, not just because she has the willowy frame of a model and the good looks to match, but because she is a generous and loyal friend and companion, open to loving and being loved. Jackie’s warmth and adventurous spirit is on every page and we cry with her through the tragedy of loss and cry laughing at her hilarious scrapes and faux pas. I loved the attention to detail in this book, the way we are brought into the light of the 1960s after the dark days of wartime London through the interest of young women in fashion and music, and then taken into a completely new world of military procedure and etiquette when Jackie joins the WRAC - this book will absorb you from start to finish. Emotional, funny and sexy, a really enjoyable read. ~ Janet Dean, Author

An emotional and compelling story of a young lady's emergence into womanhood. A tale of love, tragedy and determination, competing in the male-dominated world of sixties England. A beautifully written narrative you will not want to put down. I want to be first in line for the sequel. ~ Tom Atkins, Author

As soon as I heard about this memoir, I wanted to read it. A little later, I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy from the publisher. It didn't disappoint. I found it to be an evocative, nostalgic read. A social history. I couldn’t put it down. Jackie’s charming memoir starts during WW11 which I can easily relate to. Although not born until the early 50s, I grew up knowing that my Dad had been a Glider Pilot, a ‘Para’ or a ‘Red Devil’. Rationing was still a way of life and, during the whole of my childhood, almost everything that was said and done anywhere was related back to the war. Anyone whose life was impacted in any way by WW11 would find this a heartfelt social history. The memoir closes at the start of the swinging 60s which I clearly remember too as I emerged clumsily and awkwardly into my teens. I think anyone, men and women, who grew up in the 50s, 60s and even 70s would be interested to read this memoir and of course, it will be of huge interest to anyone who is serving, or has served in the armed forces. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to you ~ Jan Reeves, Author, owner of Jan Reeves Consulting

A fascinating look into life in Britain on the brink of the 'Swinging' Sixties. Well-bred, conventional young ladies still wore gloves and hats, while among them a rare few, more adventurous, rejected the stereotypical careers expected of them and chose a life in the armed forces, with all its considerable challenges. In this coming-of-age story written from the heart, the author relates her life, loves, heartbreaking loss, and her military career. I found it an engrossing read and valuable social history record that took me back on a wave of nostalgia to a bygone era. ~ Susie Kelly, author of I Wish I Could Say I was Sorry

A moving tale of ambition, love and loss set in post-WWII Britain and featuring Jackie, whose life changes when she joins the Women’s Royal Army Corps. The touching story is enhanced by the details of life as a woman in the army, which come from the author’s own experience. ~ Harriet Springbett, author of Tree Magic