--- product_id: 98576827 title: "Of Windmills and War - Book 1 (The War Series)" price: "¥32" currency: JPY in_stock: false reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.jp/products/98576827-of-windmills-and-war-book-1-the-war-series store_origin: JP region: Japan --- # Of Windmills and War - Book 1 (The War Series) **Price:** ¥32 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Of Windmills and War - Book 1 (The War Series) - **How much does it cost?** ¥32 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.jp](https://www.desertcart.jp/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: Outstanding Novel - I am going to have to agree with 72% of the reviewers and give this book a well-deserved five-star rating. It is well written, well-researched and is the work of a talented writer. It also sheds light on a little-known humanitarian effort to give emergency help to the starving Dutch people at the end of World War II, “Operation Chowhound.” The plot has been summarized many times by other reviewers, so I will not duplicate their efforts. What I Liked: The problem here is that I liked so much, so I am going to have to hit a few high points. This is an ambitious novel in that it has to set a credible background in three different places: 1930’s Chicago, Holland during the Nazi occupation, and the life of a B-17 crew in the U.S. 8th Air Force. Mrs. Moody handles all these challenges with aplomb. She captures a sense of place and makes it look easy. It is not. I like her dialogue and plotting. Her characters are believable, and the story kept me interested throughout. I really did not notice that the book is a bit longer than average, since there seemed to be no wasted words. The editing is superb. I also liked the spiritual aspects of the novel. I was impressed that Mrs. Moody correctly gave the title of an enlisted bomb-aimer as a “toggler.” This is a fine point, but it clearly shows careful research. What I Did Not Like: Honestly, there is not much that I can say here. One small problem is that I could never get a clear image of what Anya Versteeg looked like. Perhaps I missed her description. I also thought the plot wandered a bit when the action was centered in Holland. Finally, there is one (and only one) scene that did not ring true. “Anya was on him in a flash, shoving a scarf in his mouth at the same instant she kneed him hard in the groin. His eyes bugged briefly before rolling back as he passed out. She helped him fall to the ground to avoid a loud thud, then grabbed his head and swiftly snapped his neck.” I am afraid Mrs. Moody took her cues on hand-to-hand combat from the movies. That is a dangerous thing to do. In the first place, a knee to the groin is quite unlikely to cause instant unconsciousness, unconsciousness so immediate that he is literally out on his feet. Secondly, despite what we have all seen in films, breaking a man’s neck is not at all easy to do. If Anya had extensive training, had unusual upper body strength and the victim was unusually small framed and small-boned, it might be conceivable. But highly unlikely. Why not have her stab him in the back of his neck while he writhed in agony (but fully conscious)? Another problem is that there was no preparation for Anya’s action. If she is so skilled at hand-to-hand combat, there really should have been a bit of prefiguring, otherwise it seems totally out of character. Conclusion: My quibbles are minor, and the qualities of this novel are outstanding. It is a worthy read, and I enjoyed it very much. Review: A bit drippy but nice! - Fiction within reality could best describe this book. The fiction is the nice, but a bit drippy part. The horror of WWII is the real part. Also real, was that many soldiers who found and married the love of their life while fighting this war. it's a touching novel worth reading if you like history blended with an incredible story of determination and love. the drippy part might bring a tear to your eye and a smile on your face! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #32,513 in Kindle Store ( See Top 100 in Kindle Store ) #39 in Historical Romance (Kindle Store) #59 in Historical Fiction (Kindle Store) #59 in Historical German Fiction | ## Images ![Of Windmills and War - Book 1 (The War Series) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81cHtpo30pL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Outstanding Novel *by J***Y on September 22, 2017* I am going to have to agree with 72% of the reviewers and give this book a well-deserved five-star rating. It is well written, well-researched and is the work of a talented writer. It also sheds light on a little-known humanitarian effort to give emergency help to the starving Dutch people at the end of World War II, “Operation Chowhound.” The plot has been summarized many times by other reviewers, so I will not duplicate their efforts. What I Liked: The problem here is that I liked so much, so I am going to have to hit a few high points. This is an ambitious novel in that it has to set a credible background in three different places: 1930’s Chicago, Holland during the Nazi occupation, and the life of a B-17 crew in the U.S. 8th Air Force. Mrs. Moody handles all these challenges with aplomb. She captures a sense of place and makes it look easy. It is not. I like her dialogue and plotting. Her characters are believable, and the story kept me interested throughout. I really did not notice that the book is a bit longer than average, since there seemed to be no wasted words. The editing is superb. I also liked the spiritual aspects of the novel. I was impressed that Mrs. Moody correctly gave the title of an enlisted bomb-aimer as a “toggler.” This is a fine point, but it clearly shows careful research. What I Did Not Like: Honestly, there is not much that I can say here. One small problem is that I could never get a clear image of what Anya Versteeg looked like. Perhaps I missed her description. I also thought the plot wandered a bit when the action was centered in Holland. Finally, there is one (and only one) scene that did not ring true. “Anya was on him in a flash, shoving a scarf in his mouth at the same instant she kneed him hard in the groin. His eyes bugged briefly before rolling back as he passed out. She helped him fall to the ground to avoid a loud thud, then grabbed his head and swiftly snapped his neck.” I am afraid Mrs. Moody took her cues on hand-to-hand combat from the movies. That is a dangerous thing to do. In the first place, a knee to the groin is quite unlikely to cause instant unconsciousness, unconsciousness so immediate that he is literally out on his feet. Secondly, despite what we have all seen in films, breaking a man’s neck is not at all easy to do. If Anya had extensive training, had unusual upper body strength and the victim was unusually small framed and small-boned, it might be conceivable. But highly unlikely. Why not have her stab him in the back of his neck while he writhed in agony (but fully conscious)? Another problem is that there was no preparation for Anya’s action. If she is so skilled at hand-to-hand combat, there really should have been a bit of prefiguring, otherwise it seems totally out of character. Conclusion: My quibbles are minor, and the qualities of this novel are outstanding. It is a worthy read, and I enjoyed it very much. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A bit drippy but nice! *by K***O on January 18, 2025* Fiction within reality could best describe this book. The fiction is the nice, but a bit drippy part. The horror of WWII is the real part. Also real, was that many soldiers who found and married the love of their life while fighting this war. it's a touching novel worth reading if you like history blended with an incredible story of determination and love. the drippy part might bring a tear to your eye and a smile on your face! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent Book *by B***B on April 3, 2026* Of Windmills and War by Diane Moody is a heartfelt World War II historical novel that blends romance, faith, and wartime drama. The story follows Danny McClain, from his youth to his career as an American pilot in World War II. Danny and Hans Versteeg became pen pals through an assignment in school. Danny was from Chicago and Hans lived in Utrecht, Netherlands. When Hans died trying to save a young child, Anya, his sister, took over writing to Danny. Once Germany invaded the Netherlands, Anya, as young woman, joined the Dutch Resistance, saving Jewish children and downed airmen. Just like their lives intertwined on opposite sides of the ocean as youths, they now unfolded on opposite sides of the war before ultimately intersecting. The novel captures both the battlefield experience—especially B-17 missions—and the emotional toll of occupation in Holland. This book has strong character development and emotional depth, particularly Anya’s resilience and the evolving relationship between the two leads. The inclusion of real historical elements like Operation Chowhound adds authenticity and impact. The story leans heavily into faith-based themes and God, as both Anya and Danny discover what that means in their lives. That point of view enhanced the emotional connection I had with the book. --- ## 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.jp/products/98576827-of-windmills-and-war-book-1-the-war-series](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/98576827-of-windmills-and-war-book-1-the-war-series) --- *Product available on Desertcart Japan* *Store origin: JP* *Last updated: 2026-08-17*