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Letters From Home
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Historical Fiction (2011)Chicago, 1944. Liz Stephens has little interest in attending a USO club dance with her friends Betty and Julia. She doesn't need a flirtation with a lonely serviceman when she's set to marry her childhood sweetheart. Yet something happens the moment Liz glimpses Morgan McClain. They share only a brief exchange--cut short by the soldier's evident interest in Betty--but Liz can't forget him. Thus, when Betty asks her to ghostwrite a letter to Morgan, stationed overseas, Liz reluctantly agrees.
Thousands of miles away, Morgan struggles to adjust to the brutality of war. His letters from "Betty" are a comfort, their soul-baring correspondence a revelation to them both. While Liz is torn by her feelings for a man who doesn't know her true identity, Betty and Julia each become immersed in their own romantic entanglements. And as the war draws to a close, all three will face heart-wrenching choices, painful losses, and the bittersweet joy of new beginnings.
Beautifully rendered and deeply moving, Letters from Home is a story of hope and connection, of sacrifices made in love and war--and the chance encounters that change us forever.
Kristina McMorris is an award-winning author and graduate of Pepperdine University. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Letters from Home is her first novel.
Thousands of miles away, Morgan struggles to adjust to the brutality of war. His letters from "Betty" are a comfort, their soul-baring correspondence a revelation to them both. While Liz is torn by her feelings for a man who doesn't know her true identity, Betty and Julia each become immersed in their own romantic entanglements. And as the war draws to a close, all three will face heart-wrenching choices, painful losses, and the bittersweet joy of new beginnings.
Beautifully rendered and deeply moving, Letters from Home is a story of hope and connection, of sacrifices made in love and war--and the chance encounters that change us forever.
Kristina McMorris is an award-winning author and graduate of Pepperdine University. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Letters from Home is her first novel.
357 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Kristina McMorris
24 books2,567 followersKRISTINA MCMORRIS is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of two novellas and seven historical novels, including the million-copy bestseller Sold on a Monday and, most recently, the instant international bestseller The Ways We Hide, selected as Target’s top-five reads of 2022. A recipient of more than twenty national literary awards, she previously hosted weekly TV shows for Warner Bros. and an ABC affiliate, beginning at age nine with an Emmy Award-winning program, and owned a wedding-and-event-planning company until she had far surpassed her limit of "Y.M.C.A." and chicken dances. Kristina splits her time between San Diego and Portland, Oregon, where she’s the proud mom of two teenage boys who recently stripped her of her longstanding boast of being “tall for an Asian.” For more, visit KristinaMcMorris.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 567 reviews
July 14, 2012
Let me start this off by saying I read this book front to back in 2 days. It was that good. I found myself staying up until 2 am both nights because I just needed to know how the story unfolded. I tried to read it about a year ago, got a few pages in, and put it down. This time I was fresh off reading "Next to Love" by Ellen Feldman and wanted another historical fiction (romance) set during WWII. Truth is, I will pick up any book concerned with our Greatest Generation...
What I particularly loved about this novel, aside from the obvious (storyline... military love story, etc) was that the story is told from different perspectives. Each chapter is told from one of the 4 main character's POV. Books like this I can become more engaged in - they give me a better sense of the story and the character's lives/thoughts/feelings.
That said, I felt a deep sense of connection with the characters. I don't know why this is, but I felt like the main character Liz could have been one of my friends. Maybe because I myself am an Army wife, maybe because I know what it feels like to long for the one you love. This may be silly but they all became a part of my life for a few days. They felt real. Then the book ended, and I felt a sense of loss! Not many books have that affect on me. I found myself crying on 3 separate occasions while reading this book. Not many books have that affect either.
The story-line isn't groundbreaking by any means. It's another story of a "doomed love affair" really. This one was different for me however. I couldn't help myself from rooting for Morgan and Liz from the first chapter. Morgan was just so dang lovable, how could you not root for his happiness!?
I think the reason I felt the connection I did with this book is because I actually fell in love with my husband long distance via phone (thanks again, Army!), Skype and email. I'm not comparing situations, as that is apples and oranges. However, this book truly made me cherish the fact that I have several means of communication during his deployments! I could not imagine going months without contact, and constantly worrying my mail might be returned with "DECEASED" stamped on the back.
All in all, if you like historical fiction, this book is for you. If you like the WWII era, this book is for you. If you like a good love story, this book is for you.
What I particularly loved about this novel, aside from the obvious (storyline... military love story, etc) was that the story is told from different perspectives. Each chapter is told from one of the 4 main character's POV. Books like this I can become more engaged in - they give me a better sense of the story and the character's lives/thoughts/feelings.
That said, I felt a deep sense of connection with the characters. I don't know why this is, but I felt like the main character Liz could have been one of my friends. Maybe because I myself am an Army wife, maybe because I know what it feels like to long for the one you love. This may be silly but they all became a part of my life for a few days. They felt real. Then the book ended, and I felt a sense of loss! Not many books have that affect on me. I found myself crying on 3 separate occasions while reading this book. Not many books have that affect either.
The story-line isn't groundbreaking by any means. It's another story of a "doomed love affair" really. This one was different for me however. I couldn't help myself from rooting for Morgan and Liz from the first chapter. Morgan was just so dang lovable, how could you not root for his happiness!?
I think the reason I felt the connection I did with this book is because I actually fell in love with my husband long distance via phone (thanks again, Army!), Skype and email. I'm not comparing situations, as that is apples and oranges. However, this book truly made me cherish the fact that I have several means of communication during his deployments! I could not imagine going months without contact, and constantly worrying my mail might be returned with "DECEASED" stamped on the back.
All in all, if you like historical fiction, this book is for you. If you like the WWII era, this book is for you. If you like a good love story, this book is for you.
January 17, 2021
When Liz attends a USO dance with two friends, she finds herself drawn to Morgan, a solider about to ship out. But Morgan only has eyes for her Betty, so Liz agrees to ghostwrite letters to him for her friend Betty. Strong feelings develop through the correspondence, but who is it that Morgan really loves? A sentimental and moving tale, this is one of Kristina's earlier books that is being newly repackaged and released.
March 18, 2018
In our age of email, text messaging, and high-tech cell phones that condense entire lives into tiny gadgets formerly reserved for spies, Kristina McMorris’ debut novel, Letters From Home, is a welcome dose of nostalgia, a love letter in itself for a simpler time, when patience truly was a virtue and a hand-scrawled note was treasured above all else.
The novel chronicles the radically diverse wartime adventures of four individuals: roommates Liz Stephens, Betty Cordell, and Julia Renard, and Private Morgan McClain. WWII, encapsulated by the romance of spontaneity, the rise of female independence, and the tragedy of loss, serves as backdrop to misunderstandings of the heart suffered by each character as they wade through the high waters of doubt and pain to the shores of self-discovery. For some, strength and healing awaits them; for others, unlikely yet fervent love formed out of deception. At its core, Letters From Home expounds on the belief that love is a blind endeavor, a leap of faith, because looks can deceive as much as signatures, but genuine feelings are hopeless to disguise.
While I am a sucker for all things WWII, I was surprised at this novel’s grace. A slight historical inaccuracy toward the middle derailed my interests momentarily, and I called all but one aspect of the underrated Julia’s narrative. But those minuscule hiccups I could easily overlook because the story as a whole, with its old-fashion charm and quaint dialogue, was absorbing and lovingly crafted (the plot was partly based on the author’s grandparents’ correspondence of courtship during the war).
Throughout, a lyric to an Arcade Fire song repeatedly came to me: It may seem strange / how we used to wait / for letters to arrive / But what’s stranger still / is how something so small / can keep you alive. Judging how our society hangs on the approval of the digital universe and derives self-esteem from Facebook updates, it’s evident that we’ve come far only in technology. It doesn’t matter if it’s 1944 or 2011; we’re still relying on human connection, in some form or another, to keep us going.
The novel chronicles the radically diverse wartime adventures of four individuals: roommates Liz Stephens, Betty Cordell, and Julia Renard, and Private Morgan McClain. WWII, encapsulated by the romance of spontaneity, the rise of female independence, and the tragedy of loss, serves as backdrop to misunderstandings of the heart suffered by each character as they wade through the high waters of doubt and pain to the shores of self-discovery. For some, strength and healing awaits them; for others, unlikely yet fervent love formed out of deception. At its core, Letters From Home expounds on the belief that love is a blind endeavor, a leap of faith, because looks can deceive as much as signatures, but genuine feelings are hopeless to disguise.
While I am a sucker for all things WWII, I was surprised at this novel’s grace. A slight historical inaccuracy toward the middle derailed my interests momentarily, and I called all but one aspect of the underrated Julia’s narrative. But those minuscule hiccups I could easily overlook because the story as a whole, with its old-fashion charm and quaint dialogue, was absorbing and lovingly crafted (the plot was partly based on the author’s grandparents’ correspondence of courtship during the war).
Throughout, a lyric to an Arcade Fire song repeatedly came to me: It may seem strange / how we used to wait / for letters to arrive / But what’s stranger still / is how something so small / can keep you alive. Judging how our society hangs on the approval of the digital universe and derives self-esteem from Facebook updates, it’s evident that we’ve come far only in technology. It doesn’t matter if it’s 1944 or 2011; we’re still relying on human connection, in some form or another, to keep us going.
April 20, 2018
📚Dans pistinin ortasında gerçekten de Morgan’ı görmüştü, fakat kollarında bir kızla. Hem de öylesine bir kızla değil, Betty ile. Gözlerini kapamış, başını omzuna dayamış bir halde.
Bu iyi olmuştu. Hatta herkes için en iyisi buydu.
O zaman Liz neden kalbinin sıkıştığını fark etmişti? Neden içine öfke dalgası yayılıyor, kendini aldatılmış gibi hissediyordu? Tepkisi yersizdi. Morgan ona hiçbir şey borçlu değildi.
Sıradan ama birbirinden farklı karakterleri anlatan kitap gitgide değişime uğradı. 3 kız arkadaşın sıradan hayatları bir anda farklı yönlere gitmeye başladı ve savaş döneminde vermek zorunda kaldıkları kararlarla hayatları değişti.
Üç karakter arasında, Liz en sevdiğim oldu. Alışkanlıkla aşkı ayırmaya çal��şmasını, hem korkmasını hem cesur olmasını çok sevdim. Morgan’la birbirlerine yazdıkları mektuplar, çok samimi ve içtendi, kendilerine bile itiraf edemedikleriyle doluydu. İkisinin de sadece yazdığı mektuplardan tanıdığı birisinin hayatını, önemli bir şekilde etkilemesi çok güzel anlatılmıştı. Yaşadıkları aşk, masal gibi görünse de benim için inandırıcılığını kaybetmedi.
Betty’i ilk başta çok sevemedim ama sonrasında yaşadıkları, yaptığı görev ve insanlara yaklaşım şekli değiştikçe olgunlaştığını hissettim. Keşke son yaşadığı olay da belirsiz kalmasaydı, tatmin eden bir açıklama okusaydım. Julia en çok üzüldüğüm karakter oldu. Sevdiği adamla kariyeri arasında seçim yapmak zorunda kaldı. Yaptığı seçimden hiç pişman olmasa da yaşadıkları üzücüydü. Onun son durumu da havada kaldı, sadece içinde bulunduğu durumdan kurtulmak için kendine bir umut buldu.
Liz, Morgan, Betty ve Julia’nın savaş nedeniyle değişen hayatları çok etkileyiciydi. Olayların bir kısmının gerçek olduğu, II. Dünya Savaşı’nın farklı cephelerinin, hayatları farklı etkileyişinin hikayesiydi aynı zamanda. Savaş herkesin hayatını ummadığı şekilde değiştirdi, hepsinde farklı etkiler, yaralar bıraktı. Kimi için daha iyi kapılar açarken, kimi içinse kendilerini bulmalarını sağladı.
Arkadaşlık, aşk, ilişkiler ve savaş üzerine sıcak, naif, kimi yerlerde etkileyici bir kitaptı. Yazarın büyükbabası ve büyükannesinin, savaş zamanındaki, gerçek hikayesinden esinlendiğini öğrenmek, kitabı gözümde daha özel yaptı.
📚Dalton’ın yüzüne bir parıltı yayıldı. Kulağına, “Seni seviyorum Lizzy,” diye fısıldadı.
Liz gözlerini kapattı. Dalton’ın elini iyice sıkarak, “Ben de,” dedi.
Bu doğruydu. Mantıklı olan buydu. Kısa süren bir dansın göz yanıltıcı büyüsüne, kalbini pır pır ettirmesine ve de hissettirdiği ürpertiye ihtiyacı yoktu. Sadece, onu önemseyen birinin sadakatine ve sevgisine ihtiyacı vardı. Diğer tüm düşüncelerinin bir hayal olarak kalması en iyisiydi. Bundan hiç şüphesi yoktu.
📚”Ne annen ne de Charlie senin pervasız bir rol modeli olmanı isterdi. Sadece, olduğun gözü pek adam olarak kalman yeterli. Büyükbabam olsaydı, anlayışla şöyle derdi: “Cesaret, kahraman olmaya çalışanların değil; korkularına rağmen, içlerinde devam etme gücünü bulanların bir özelliğidir.”
📚”Tuhaf, değil mi? Her gün insanlar ölüyor ve dünya hiçbir şey yokmuş gibi dönmeye devam ediyor, fakat sevdiğin bir insan söz konusu olduğunda herkesin durup kendine gelmesini istiyorsun. Herkesin ağlamasını, mumlar yakmasını ve sana yalnız olmadığını söylemesini istiyorsun. Ve işte burada, bazı günler nefes almak için bir sebep arıyorum.”
📚Nihayet, kayıp verenler için bir iyileşme dönemi başladı. Dört bir yandaki eski askerler, üzerlerindeki üniformaların rengi ne olursa olsun, yaralarını sarıp, evlerine döndü. Dünyanın dört bir yanında darmadağın olmuş aileler, kaybettikleri genç bir erkek neslinin yasını tutuyordu. Bu yas cesaretleriyle çocukluktan çıkıp, erkek olmuş, asla saçlarının ağardığını göremeyecek ya da zafer alayının ihtişamlı yürüyüşünün tadını çıkaramayacak askerler ve sevgililerini gelinlikler içinde göremeyecek tüm denizciler içindi.
March 30, 2011
Although this isn’t a true epistolary novel (one that is written as a series of documents, usually letters), the plot is driven in an epistolary sense as the narrative is built around a series of letters. Most of the correspondence takes place between Liz, a female college student and Morgan, a young soldier she meets briefly at a USO dance in Chicago during WW II. They form an instant mutual attraction, but through a series of misunderstandings, she ends up writing to him under the guise of her roommate Betty.
The love interests (or lack thereof) for Liz, Betty and 3rd roommate Julia, are all covered as the story unfolds, and one thing I like about the book is that the characters do not all find fulfillment through a man, but by learning to find value in their own independence. I was drawn into the story, but at times found McMorris’ prose to be too dramatic, i.e.: “sleep shrouded her in its arms” (p.242) and “His hands stroked her back sculpting her into the masterpiece she’d become in his arms.” (p.282). However, it was fun to see some colloquial phrases and words that I haven’t heard for ages like conniption fit and skeedaddle, sprinkled throughout the narrative.
This is a good read with an interesting plot line, just not a great one.
The love interests (or lack thereof) for Liz, Betty and 3rd roommate Julia, are all covered as the story unfolds, and one thing I like about the book is that the characters do not all find fulfillment through a man, but by learning to find value in their own independence. I was drawn into the story, but at times found McMorris’ prose to be too dramatic, i.e.: “sleep shrouded her in its arms” (p.242) and “His hands stroked her back sculpting her into the masterpiece she’d become in his arms.” (p.282). However, it was fun to see some colloquial phrases and words that I haven’t heard for ages like conniption fit and skeedaddle, sprinkled throughout the narrative.
This is a good read with an interesting plot line, just not a great one.
April 14, 2017
What a sweet, sweet story.
I enjoyed this immensely, and if I hadn't read Bridge of Scarlet Leaves before this, I probably would have given it 5 stars. However, I gave it 4, because while I loved it, I know that McMorris can write even better, and base her stories in more reality.
The story focuses on three young women, Betty, Liz, and Julia, who are best friends going to college. Betty wants to be a singer for the USO, Liz is engaged to Dalton, an up and coming politician, and Julia wants to make a name for herself in the fashion industry, but constantly chooses her fiance, Christian, over her dreams. One night, at a dance, Liz meets Morgan, who's being shipped to Europe with his brother, Charlie. Liz and Morgan have an instant connection, but when she goes to the bathroom and comes back to see Betty dancing with Morgan, she figures that she's imagined everything, and leaves. Betty is beautiful and knows it, and persuades Morgan to take a picture of her, promising that she'll write to him. Instead, she forgets about him and decides to sign up for the WAC, and asks Liz to write in her place to Morgan. Through the letters, Liz and Morgan fall in love, except, Morgan thinks it's Betty. When the war ends, all four of these characters have to deal with the changes that it's brought, and how to live their lives in accordance.
This story is campy at times, and touching in others. I found Betty's story to be the most interesting, but I think that's because she, out of all the girls, goes through the biggest change in life and character. Perhaps my favorite thing about the book was that it truly felt like it was set in the 1940s. That's something I'll always give McMorris credit for. She knows how to use language to that advantage. There were certain wordings and descriptions throughout the book where you could exactly picture the era, and it was, all in all, fun. I hate when you read a contemporary book that's set in a past era, but characters speak like people do now. McMorris never does that, and it's refreshing.
The book is humorous, too, which I also loved. There were many times I laughed out loud while reading conversations between the army boys. I also liked the fact that McMorris even threw it in, because a lot of the conversations they had were about women and sex. In today's day and age, we like to think of that generation as "pure" and respectful, but, in all actuality, they did talk about sex, and swore all the time, and the military did in fact hand out a bunch of condoms, a detail McMorris throws in, because they knew that the men would want to enjoy themselves, but were terrified of all the STDs that the soldiers could get.
What's also clear is that she puts in an extensive amount of time doing research about WWII and the time period. It feels real, and certain things, like battles and guns and ammo she writes about, are all factual. I also like that it's not just centered on one theater of the war, either. You have some characters in America, some in France, some in Germany, some in what was then Dutch New Guinea, so you also get a wide view of the war, instead of the story just being told from one focused spot. There have been countless times where I read a book set in WWII where certain things like that would be wrong, but McMorris makes sure to get all the details correct.
Though the writing isn't perfect, and the story wraps up almost too nicely, I still am a huge fan of McMorris, and would recommend her.
Also, McMorris gave a nod to Captain America, which gets a bonus point from me. He's my fave.
I enjoyed this immensely, and if I hadn't read Bridge of Scarlet Leaves before this, I probably would have given it 5 stars. However, I gave it 4, because while I loved it, I know that McMorris can write even better, and base her stories in more reality.
The story focuses on three young women, Betty, Liz, and Julia, who are best friends going to college. Betty wants to be a singer for the USO, Liz is engaged to Dalton, an up and coming politician, and Julia wants to make a name for herself in the fashion industry, but constantly chooses her fiance, Christian, over her dreams. One night, at a dance, Liz meets Morgan, who's being shipped to Europe with his brother, Charlie. Liz and Morgan have an instant connection, but when she goes to the bathroom and comes back to see Betty dancing with Morgan, she figures that she's imagined everything, and leaves. Betty is beautiful and knows it, and persuades Morgan to take a picture of her, promising that she'll write to him. Instead, she forgets about him and decides to sign up for the WAC, and asks Liz to write in her place to Morgan. Through the letters, Liz and Morgan fall in love, except, Morgan thinks it's Betty. When the war ends, all four of these characters have to deal with the changes that it's brought, and how to live their lives in accordance.
This story is campy at times, and touching in others. I found Betty's story to be the most interesting, but I think that's because she, out of all the girls, goes through the biggest change in life and character. Perhaps my favorite thing about the book was that it truly felt like it was set in the 1940s. That's something I'll always give McMorris credit for. She knows how to use language to that advantage. There were certain wordings and descriptions throughout the book where you could exactly picture the era, and it was, all in all, fun. I hate when you read a contemporary book that's set in a past era, but characters speak like people do now. McMorris never does that, and it's refreshing.
The book is humorous, too, which I also loved. There were many times I laughed out loud while reading conversations between the army boys. I also liked the fact that McMorris even threw it in, because a lot of the conversations they had were about women and sex. In today's day and age, we like to think of that generation as "pure" and respectful, but, in all actuality, they did talk about sex, and swore all the time, and the military did in fact hand out a bunch of condoms, a detail McMorris throws in, because they knew that the men would want to enjoy themselves, but were terrified of all the STDs that the soldiers could get.
What's also clear is that she puts in an extensive amount of time doing research about WWII and the time period. It feels real, and certain things, like battles and guns and ammo she writes about, are all factual. I also like that it's not just centered on one theater of the war, either. You have some characters in America, some in France, some in Germany, some in what was then Dutch New Guinea, so you also get a wide view of the war, instead of the story just being told from one focused spot. There have been countless times where I read a book set in WWII where certain things like that would be wrong, but McMorris makes sure to get all the details correct.
Though the writing isn't perfect, and the story wraps up almost too nicely, I still am a huge fan of McMorris, and would recommend her.
Also, McMorris gave a nod to Captain America, which gets a bonus point from me. He's my fave.
March 23, 2019
Review also found at https://kristineandterri.blogspot.com...
This book has been sitting on my to be read shelf for a really long time. As I have been focusing on reading ARCs for a long time, I thought it was about time to try to get through some of the unread books that have been "dusting up my shelves".
This is not a new book, in fact it is eight years old. As a result I figure most people who are going to read it, probably already have unless like me, have read all other works by McMorris and are working through the rest of her library. Everything to be said has already been said so instead of a literal review, I am going to tell a story about how I discovered Kristina McMorris.
My sister and I share a love of books, hence the reason for the blog. About once a month or so, she would come pick me up and off we would head to spend an afternoon at Chapters. Armed with our caramel latte's in hand, we would spend hours browsing through the aisles, randomly picking up books to see what prizes we would be leaving the store with. No worries in the world, no time limits, just us, our lattes, and thousands of books to choose from. No researching websites, Goodreads or any other web platform to help us choose. If my pile of books got too big, she would take some and vice versa. No cares in the world, just the feeling of peace and pure relaxation knowing we were in our happy place. We would linger until we felt we had accumulated enough books to last us a while until we did it all over again.
On one of these trips, our first of many, I stumbled across Bridge of Scarlet Leaves. I had never heard of it nor of McMorris. I had just randomly picked it up from the shelf, thought it sounded interesting and took a gamble. And so begins my love affair with the work of Kristina McMorris
Why tell this story you ask? It is because this book made me feel much like those outings did. The writing of McMorris is my happy place. I know that whenever I pick up one of her books that I am guaranteed to be 100% satisfied with the experience. I don't need to read what the story is about before diving in because I can count on her to deliver a consistent and satisfying read. That and the fact that she is linked to some of my favorite memories.
To be honest, I loved this story and I am a little mad at myself for leaving it on my shelf so long. So no, I am not going to discuss the plot. I say if you are fan of historical fiction, Kristina McMorris, well written books or just books in general, just pick this up and read it. you won't be disappointed.
This book has been sitting on my to be read shelf for a really long time. As I have been focusing on reading ARCs for a long time, I thought it was about time to try to get through some of the unread books that have been "dusting up my shelves".
This is not a new book, in fact it is eight years old. As a result I figure most people who are going to read it, probably already have unless like me, have read all other works by McMorris and are working through the rest of her library. Everything to be said has already been said so instead of a literal review, I am going to tell a story about how I discovered Kristina McMorris.
My sister and I share a love of books, hence the reason for the blog. About once a month or so, she would come pick me up and off we would head to spend an afternoon at Chapters. Armed with our caramel latte's in hand, we would spend hours browsing through the aisles, randomly picking up books to see what prizes we would be leaving the store with. No worries in the world, no time limits, just us, our lattes, and thousands of books to choose from. No researching websites, Goodreads or any other web platform to help us choose. If my pile of books got too big, she would take some and vice versa. No cares in the world, just the feeling of peace and pure relaxation knowing we were in our happy place. We would linger until we felt we had accumulated enough books to last us a while until we did it all over again.
On one of these trips, our first of many, I stumbled across Bridge of Scarlet Leaves. I had never heard of it nor of McMorris. I had just randomly picked it up from the shelf, thought it sounded interesting and took a gamble. And so begins my love affair with the work of Kristina McMorris
Why tell this story you ask? It is because this book made me feel much like those outings did. The writing of McMorris is my happy place. I know that whenever I pick up one of her books that I am guaranteed to be 100% satisfied with the experience. I don't need to read what the story is about before diving in because I can count on her to deliver a consistent and satisfying read. That and the fact that she is linked to some of my favorite memories.
To be honest, I loved this story and I am a little mad at myself for leaving it on my shelf so long. So no, I am not going to discuss the plot. I say if you are fan of historical fiction, Kristina McMorris, well written books or just books in general, just pick this up and read it. you won't be disappointed.
April 10, 2012
Letters from Home's premise of three female roommates and their relationships to each other, the War and the men in their lives was great. I wanted to like this book and there were moments in it that I really enjoyed and made me keep reading. However, I found the characters to be flat. Maybe it was that the author tried to do too much with too many characters so I wasn't captivated by any of them. I found Liz to be somewhat boring an predictable. I think the stories surrounding Julia and Betty were far more interesting. I also didn't like the fact that so much was left unresolved like she got tired and the end of the book and slapped a happily ever after on it...well, sort of. I was mostly disappointed by this book.
December 15, 2018
A very touching historical fiction. I loved all the characters and thought the storyline was riveting, finding myself unable to put it down for the last 100 pages or so. Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction/historical romance.
*5 Stars
*5 Stars
August 25, 2024
A wonderful book. I loved how the letters were inlaid with the plot so as to be vital.
Very strong characters that were very relatable.
I recommend.
Very strong characters that were very relatable.
I recommend.
April 11, 2016
Kristina McMorris has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I savor every word. I loved that this story was loosely based on her grandparents, and that it took place during one of my favorite times in history, WWII; when my grandparents were young, too. I highly recommend this book for fans of well-told fiction.
February 11, 2011
The book takes place during World War II.It is the story of three women who have been friends since childhood.The story is through letters and each of the three womens' points of view. It takes you from the trenches of war,to a field hospital in Dutch New Guinea to high society Chicago.
February 17, 2011
I got swept away by the what ifs of this book. What if you met and lost your true love on the same day? What if you really weren't the person you'd been pretending to be? What if you wanted to change but no one else wanted you to change? And of course the World War II era just added to the romance.
August 3, 2022
I have had this book on my shelf forever so decided to get it read. This was the author’s first novel. While I liked a couple others of hers more, this wasn’t bad. The story mainly surrounds Betty asking Liz to write one letter for her as a courtesy to a serviceman (Morgan) they both met at a USC Club in 1944 the night before he left for Europe to serve his country. While Liz was attracted to him, she thought he was more attracted to Betty. In the meantime, Betty herself enlists and is sent to New Guinea. Liz writes the letter, gets a response and so the correspondence continues with Morgan thinking it is Betty. Liz and Morgan fall in love through their letters. When his duty is over, Liz knows he will have to learn the truth. I figured the ending might be a bit cheesy but I feel McMorris did a good job with how it all came together.
February 24, 2011
My Synopsis:
Liz Stephens is at a crossroad in her life. She has been in a relationship with her childhood friend, Dalton Harris. For the most part, Liz is content in this relationship. During a chance meeting at a USO dance, Liz meets Morgan McClain an enlisted soldier who will be shipped off to war the next morning. In that brief moment in time, Liz feels such a strong connection with Morgan that will shake her up and make her question her relationship and all that she knows. A misunderstanding leads her to believe that Morgan's affection lies elsewhere.
Morgan and his brother Charlie are shipping off to war the next morning. Morgan has been looking out for Charlie his whole life. Charlie wanted to enlist and go off to war. Morgan also enlists and finds a way for them to be in the same unit so he could keep an eye out for his younger brother. On their last night before they are shipped off, Morgan meets and feels a huge connection with Liz. Before he could get her last name and find out more about her, Liz departs to clean up after a drunk soldier spills a drink down the side of her dress. Morgan loses sight of her while helping a damsel in distress.
Betty Cordell is trying to find her way in this world. She is beautiful and has the curves in all the right places. She's not as book smart as her roommates, but she's a fighter. Betty is singing at this dance and has captivated many of the soldiers there that night. She is rescued by Morgan when a drunk soldier doesn't take no for an answer. Betty is searching for Mr. Right and thinks she might have found it in Morgan.
Julia Renard has a decision to make. She's been offered a prestigious internship at Vogue. She would love to jump at this chance but she loves her fiance Christian more. Julia decides her time would be better spent at home as a wife when Christian returns from the war. Julia is confident in her decision and continues to plan her wedding. An encounter with Christian's older brother Ian will leave her questioning her path.
Each friend will take her own path leading her on a journey that will change her life.
My Thoughts:
Where to start? Let me start by telling you how I discovered this book. I was stalking the Rhapsody Book Club site and saw this book in their coming soon section. I saw the cover and fell in love with it. Yes, it doesn't have any eye candy (my normally visually appealing senses can appreciate non eye candy covers every once in awhile it happens..lol) but the combination of the letters and flower evoked an emotion in me. What emotion I couldn't tell you, but I knew I needed to find out more about this book. I read the synopsis and was sold. I checked out Kristina's website and totally fell in love. It's like stepping back into days gone by. I found out Kristina was a new author and this was a debut book. Stalked Kristina and told her I wanted to pimp her book and get her on my blog. I took a chance with an author I've never read before and a genre (Women's Fiction) that I'm picky about and rarely read, but something in my gut told me that I was going to like this book. Let me tell you, that I love it when my gut is right! :)
Kristina has written a captivating novel that will take you on a journey from the home front of America during WWII to the middle of the battlefields fought across the seas! With her poetic writing and descriptive words you will feel as if you've stepped right into the 1940's during an era that was dominated by an ugly war! Kristina wonderfully wove three different stories into one book seamlessly. The journey that each lady, Elizabeth, Betty, and Julia takes was written in a way that I was equally interested and eager to find out their fates.
The letters that are exchanged between Liz and Morgan, two people who spent just a moment together one night, conveyed their journey beautifully from strangers to soul mates. Julia's decision to give up her dreams to be a wonderful wife to her fiance fighting in the war will leave you heartbroken. Betty's road to discovering her place in the world and meeting the one man she think could be the one in the Pacific will keep you turning the pages. The moments with Morgan, his baby bro Charlie and their fellow soldiers will provide laughter, tears, hope and the realities of war.
This book worked in every way for me. The characters were all developed and layered nicely to give me the reader a sense of who they are at the beginning and who they become by the end of the book. Not one moment while reading this book did I feel bored. I was engrossed from the beginning until the final pages. My only complaint which really isn't a complaint is the fact that I wanted more after the last page. I didn't want the book to end. I did not want to leave these characters behind.
So if you can't tell...I loved this book. No sexing and I still loved it! :) I would highly recommend this book. If you love stories during the 1940's with three romances with different outcomes, beautiful letters, friendship, war and laughter, this is the book for you.
Liz Stephens is at a crossroad in her life. She has been in a relationship with her childhood friend, Dalton Harris. For the most part, Liz is content in this relationship. During a chance meeting at a USO dance, Liz meets Morgan McClain an enlisted soldier who will be shipped off to war the next morning. In that brief moment in time, Liz feels such a strong connection with Morgan that will shake her up and make her question her relationship and all that she knows. A misunderstanding leads her to believe that Morgan's affection lies elsewhere.
Morgan and his brother Charlie are shipping off to war the next morning. Morgan has been looking out for Charlie his whole life. Charlie wanted to enlist and go off to war. Morgan also enlists and finds a way for them to be in the same unit so he could keep an eye out for his younger brother. On their last night before they are shipped off, Morgan meets and feels a huge connection with Liz. Before he could get her last name and find out more about her, Liz departs to clean up after a drunk soldier spills a drink down the side of her dress. Morgan loses sight of her while helping a damsel in distress.
Betty Cordell is trying to find her way in this world. She is beautiful and has the curves in all the right places. She's not as book smart as her roommates, but she's a fighter. Betty is singing at this dance and has captivated many of the soldiers there that night. She is rescued by Morgan when a drunk soldier doesn't take no for an answer. Betty is searching for Mr. Right and thinks she might have found it in Morgan.
Julia Renard has a decision to make. She's been offered a prestigious internship at Vogue. She would love to jump at this chance but she loves her fiance Christian more. Julia decides her time would be better spent at home as a wife when Christian returns from the war. Julia is confident in her decision and continues to plan her wedding. An encounter with Christian's older brother Ian will leave her questioning her path.
Each friend will take her own path leading her on a journey that will change her life.
My Thoughts:
Where to start? Let me start by telling you how I discovered this book. I was stalking the Rhapsody Book Club site and saw this book in their coming soon section. I saw the cover and fell in love with it. Yes, it doesn't have any eye candy (my normally visually appealing senses can appreciate non eye candy covers every once in awhile it happens..lol) but the combination of the letters and flower evoked an emotion in me. What emotion I couldn't tell you, but I knew I needed to find out more about this book. I read the synopsis and was sold. I checked out Kristina's website and totally fell in love. It's like stepping back into days gone by. I found out Kristina was a new author and this was a debut book. Stalked Kristina and told her I wanted to pimp her book and get her on my blog. I took a chance with an author I've never read before and a genre (Women's Fiction) that I'm picky about and rarely read, but something in my gut told me that I was going to like this book. Let me tell you, that I love it when my gut is right! :)
Kristina has written a captivating novel that will take you on a journey from the home front of America during WWII to the middle of the battlefields fought across the seas! With her poetic writing and descriptive words you will feel as if you've stepped right into the 1940's during an era that was dominated by an ugly war! Kristina wonderfully wove three different stories into one book seamlessly. The journey that each lady, Elizabeth, Betty, and Julia takes was written in a way that I was equally interested and eager to find out their fates.
The letters that are exchanged between Liz and Morgan, two people who spent just a moment together one night, conveyed their journey beautifully from strangers to soul mates. Julia's decision to give up her dreams to be a wonderful wife to her fiance fighting in the war will leave you heartbroken. Betty's road to discovering her place in the world and meeting the one man she think could be the one in the Pacific will keep you turning the pages. The moments with Morgan, his baby bro Charlie and their fellow soldiers will provide laughter, tears, hope and the realities of war.
This book worked in every way for me. The characters were all developed and layered nicely to give me the reader a sense of who they are at the beginning and who they become by the end of the book. Not one moment while reading this book did I feel bored. I was engrossed from the beginning until the final pages. My only complaint which really isn't a complaint is the fact that I wanted more after the last page. I didn't want the book to end. I did not want to leave these characters behind.
So if you can't tell...I loved this book. No sexing and I still loved it! :) I would highly recommend this book. If you love stories during the 1940's with three romances with different outcomes, beautiful letters, friendship, war and laughter, this is the book for you.
February 22, 2011
I enjoyed Kristina McMorris's book very much. Here is my review:
Set during World War II, from Chicago to the battles waging in Europe, from a USO club to a military field hospital, Kristina McMorris has created a moving story in LETTERS FROM HOME. This narrative was inspired by the true love story of her own grandparents’ romance and how their correspondence during the war resulted in their eventual loving union. Revolving around three female characters, LETTERS FROM HOME will grab you from the first page and not let you go until you have finished by looking at the wonderful “war time” recipes McMorris has included in the back of the book.
Liz Stephens, Betty Cordell, and Julia Renard were roommates in Chicago back in 1944. Each with a different goal in mind, the story follows these women as their lives entwine and they strive to reach those goals. Along the way, they find that no matter what they planned, life happens and some of their journeys end in a much different place than originally intended. Liz starts out fully expecting to marry Dalton Harris, a friend since they were children who is now a young, local politician. Betty is set on marrying a man of means, unlike her mother, while Julia’s dream is heading in the right direction now with a chance to intern for a very famous fashion design team. However, Julia is also engaged to Christian Downing, who is already overseas and while she waits for his return, knowing decisions will need to be made, his brother Ian returns from war, a changed man. Julia feels sorry for him but before she realizes it, those feelings begin to change to something more intense.
Enter the rest of the male characters with Morgan McClain, who with his brother Charlie, is enjoying a last hurrah at the Chicago USO Club before shipping out. Although Morgan would have been quite happy to continue his life at home, he thought it best he sign up to watch over his brother Charlie as he had done for most of his life given that Charlie could be rather impetuous. When Morgan and Liz meet at the USO, there is immediate chemistry, but when Morgan, always the good guy, goes to help Betty, Liz leaves thinking she had probably imagined it. What could she be thinking anyway when she is destined to be with Dalton?
One thing leads to another and Betty begins to write to Morgan overseas but feels she is inadequate in her writing skills and asks Liz for help. With Betty’s persuasive personality, Liz agrees and soon Morgan and Liz are writing meaningful, deep letters with Morgan picturing Betty while it is Liz he is really falling for. Betty makes a sudden patriotic, but possibly dangerous decision to join the Woman’s Army Corp and in doing so, finds a real romance of her own.
As LETTERS FROM HOME goes on, switching from battle fields to the home front, from the men to the women, McMorris writes with a personal touch that really keeps the reader “in the moment” and waiting to see which direction each character will go next. When the war ends, each of the women now has to come to terms with decisions they have made. What will happen when the men come home? Will Julia follow her dream or continue along the path she has started on? Will Liz be married safely to her childhood friend or take a chance on someone she thinks she has feelings for as a result of those letters? What will become of Betty and who will she finally wind up with, if any? And what IF all the men don’t come home? The ending stayed with me as it is one that left me thinking about each character and the choices they made for quite a while. Was I surprised, you might ask? I will say this, war can change people and sometimes we have to ask if we really knew that person to begin with. The fact that Kristina McMorris has written with such depth and emotion, reflected in her characters, the ending, and the story overall. I think you will only know what I mean by reading LETTERS FROM HOME by Kristina McMorris and make your own judgment.
Set during World War II, from Chicago to the battles waging in Europe, from a USO club to a military field hospital, Kristina McMorris has created a moving story in LETTERS FROM HOME. This narrative was inspired by the true love story of her own grandparents’ romance and how their correspondence during the war resulted in their eventual loving union. Revolving around three female characters, LETTERS FROM HOME will grab you from the first page and not let you go until you have finished by looking at the wonderful “war time” recipes McMorris has included in the back of the book.
Liz Stephens, Betty Cordell, and Julia Renard were roommates in Chicago back in 1944. Each with a different goal in mind, the story follows these women as their lives entwine and they strive to reach those goals. Along the way, they find that no matter what they planned, life happens and some of their journeys end in a much different place than originally intended. Liz starts out fully expecting to marry Dalton Harris, a friend since they were children who is now a young, local politician. Betty is set on marrying a man of means, unlike her mother, while Julia’s dream is heading in the right direction now with a chance to intern for a very famous fashion design team. However, Julia is also engaged to Christian Downing, who is already overseas and while she waits for his return, knowing decisions will need to be made, his brother Ian returns from war, a changed man. Julia feels sorry for him but before she realizes it, those feelings begin to change to something more intense.
Enter the rest of the male characters with Morgan McClain, who with his brother Charlie, is enjoying a last hurrah at the Chicago USO Club before shipping out. Although Morgan would have been quite happy to continue his life at home, he thought it best he sign up to watch over his brother Charlie as he had done for most of his life given that Charlie could be rather impetuous. When Morgan and Liz meet at the USO, there is immediate chemistry, but when Morgan, always the good guy, goes to help Betty, Liz leaves thinking she had probably imagined it. What could she be thinking anyway when she is destined to be with Dalton?
One thing leads to another and Betty begins to write to Morgan overseas but feels she is inadequate in her writing skills and asks Liz for help. With Betty’s persuasive personality, Liz agrees and soon Morgan and Liz are writing meaningful, deep letters with Morgan picturing Betty while it is Liz he is really falling for. Betty makes a sudden patriotic, but possibly dangerous decision to join the Woman’s Army Corp and in doing so, finds a real romance of her own.
As LETTERS FROM HOME goes on, switching from battle fields to the home front, from the men to the women, McMorris writes with a personal touch that really keeps the reader “in the moment” and waiting to see which direction each character will go next. When the war ends, each of the women now has to come to terms with decisions they have made. What will happen when the men come home? Will Julia follow her dream or continue along the path she has started on? Will Liz be married safely to her childhood friend or take a chance on someone she thinks she has feelings for as a result of those letters? What will become of Betty and who will she finally wind up with, if any? And what IF all the men don’t come home? The ending stayed with me as it is one that left me thinking about each character and the choices they made for quite a while. Was I surprised, you might ask? I will say this, war can change people and sometimes we have to ask if we really knew that person to begin with. The fact that Kristina McMorris has written with such depth and emotion, reflected in her characters, the ending, and the story overall. I think you will only know what I mean by reading LETTERS FROM HOME by Kristina McMorris and make your own judgment.
July 16, 2013
Liz Stephens has little interest in attending a USO club dance with her friends Betty and Julia. She doesn't need a flirtation with a lonely serviceman when she's set to marry her childhood sweetheart. Yet something happens the moment Liz glimpses Morgan McClain. They share only a brief exchange--cut short by the soldier's evident interest in Betty--but Liz can't forget him. Betty asks Liz to pen a letter to Morgan for her and then she leaves to join the WAC and forgets all about him. Liz continues the letters -- "Betty" (Liz) and Morgan learn more about each other and begin to have strong feelings for each other. Liz feels guilty about not telling Morgan who she really is, but she doesn't want to lose him. We hear about the tragedies and brutality of the war from Morgan's letters and just when Liz is ready to come clean with her identity, Morgan suffers a devastating loss and Liz loses her nerve. What will happen when Morgan finds out the truth? What will Betty have to say about it? Read this book and find out.
This is actually a story of three women and what life was like in the 1940’s. Women weren't expected to have careers and there was huge pressure to fit with the social norm. These three women all find ways to overcome that pressure and have their own rebellion in pursuing what is important to them despite what other people may think.
I found the story of Liz and Morgan to be the most interesting--probably because of the letters. I think handwritten letters have something special to them and the ability to reread and feel those same emotions over and over is part of it. I wish we did more letter writing now, instead of all the email and texting that are here today and then gone. I keep telling my husband I want just one love letter written by him that I can save and cherish. I guess I'm a hopeless romantic.
I really enjoyed this WWII story about honor, happiness, heartbreak, deception, love, and hope.
This is actually a story of three women and what life was like in the 1940’s. Women weren't expected to have careers and there was huge pressure to fit with the social norm. These three women all find ways to overcome that pressure and have their own rebellion in pursuing what is important to them despite what other people may think.
I found the story of Liz and Morgan to be the most interesting--probably because of the letters. I think handwritten letters have something special to them and the ability to reread and feel those same emotions over and over is part of it. I wish we did more letter writing now, instead of all the email and texting that are here today and then gone. I keep telling my husband I want just one love letter written by him that I can save and cherish. I guess I'm a hopeless romantic.
I really enjoyed this WWII story about honor, happiness, heartbreak, deception, love, and hope.
July 1, 2021
I am a sucker for wartime romance novels and based on the synopsis, I felt this would be right up my alley. I went into this novel expecting lavishly written love letters to/from the warfront but was terribly disappointed. While there are some letters exchanges, majority of the book covers the lives of 3 women: Liz, Betty and Julia and their experiences during WWII. From the synopsis, I expected this novel to be primarily about Liz but there were equal parts Betty and Julia. Through love, friendship and loss, the novel discusses the impact war has on these women's lives and future. I found Betty and Julia's storylines to be more interesting than the main character, Liz. Liz came off rather drab to me. I really enjoyed the details which were given in regards to the lives of Betty and Julia. I also enjoyed the male prospective brought by Morgan and his brother, Charlie. I could tell the author did research about WWII to cover locations and battles. McMorris touched on the Battle of the Bulge and PTSD. This was a quick and easy read but I'll be honest, I am glad I did not pay for the book. Thank goodness for libraries! This book gives me YA vibes. Like other reviewers from Goodreads, I was incredibly disappointed by the ending of this book. I felt as though Kristina McMorris was tired of writing this book and just wanted the story to end. A happy ending was smacked on for Liz but Betty and Julia's stories just end without the readers knowing where their lives were going. What happened with Ian? Did Julia ever see him again? Did they interact at Christian's funeral? Did Ian even attend the funeral? What happened with Leslie? Why did Betty suddenly decide to visit her mom/family? Betty complained often of her upbringing and wanting to be different so why would she go back? Even just to visit. Whatever the reason may be, what made me rate this read 3 stars was because of the ending.
March 24, 2011
This story is inspired by the author's own grandparents. It takes place primarily in 1944-45 in Illinois, Dutch New Guinea and France. Brothers Morgan and Charlie McClain who are in Chicago, before shipping out to France, go to a club and there they meet Liz, Betty and Julia. Each chapter is told in a different characters voice and we learn more about each of them. A lot of this story is told in letter format between "Betty" and Morgan. Betty had originally asked Liz to pen a letter to Morgan and then she left to join the WAC's and never paid any more attention to it. Liz on the other hand continues the letters and thus "Betty" (Liz) and Morgan learn more about each other and come to have feelings for each other. We also see how awful and devastating the war is from Morgan. Liz is torn about telling Morgan who she really is but does not want to lose Morgans . Betty joins the WAC's and spends her time serving in Dutch New Guinea working as a nurse. Julia is another roommate engaged to Christian who has her own issues to deal with. Will Morgan find out who "Betty" really is?? Will Julia marry the love of her life? And Betty, what will her future hold? You have to read the book to find out!!
I found this book to be very emotional, in a time when letters are pretty much the only way to communicate and during a war that left its toll on everyone concerned. I found my self cheering for them in some parts of the story and also in tears in others. Any war is devastating for those involved and the author portrayed the characters in this story as real people with real emotions who were able to see what life they wanted after the war was over and deal with what the war did to their lives..
I found this book to be very emotional, in a time when letters are pretty much the only way to communicate and during a war that left its toll on everyone concerned. I found my self cheering for them in some parts of the story and also in tears in others. Any war is devastating for those involved and the author portrayed the characters in this story as real people with real emotions who were able to see what life they wanted after the war was over and deal with what the war did to their lives..
January 20, 2022
3 stars for this WWII historical fiction story. It is 1944, and roommates Liz, Betty, and Julia attend a USO dance. Betty provides the singing entertainment, and Liz meets a dashing serviceman, Morgan. At the end of the evening Betty is the one who captures the eye of Morgan. Once he ships off again, Betty convinced Liz to write a letter to him, but signed “Betty”. And so begins a trail of letters with Liz posing as Betty. While these letters are a central part of the story, we also become involved in the lives of Betty and Julia. I did not feel that they were strong characters, and Julia’s story seemed to be missing parts and did not feel complete.
The end was rather predictable, so there were not any shocks or surprises.
The end was rather predictable, so there were not any shocks or surprises.
November 21, 2010
What I loved about this book was that it was more than a love story. It was a friendship story between women trying to be strong in an era that tried to strip them of not only that strength but their identity. Beautifully written, I felt like I was reliving the past as it really might have been.
July 17, 2018
I read Ms. McMorris' second novel "Bridge of Scarlet Leaves" first, and just finished "Letters from Home." I loved both novels, and now that I've seen that both are excellent, I would be happy to read anything by this author. The characters are believable and genuine, and the author pulls you right into the story. I'm definitely a fan!
July 21, 2023
I thought a lot about what I was going to say on this review. Up front this book had a bit of language and several scenes that I wish could’ve been done away with. Nothing awful, but not something to just ignore in my review. Granted, it’s a World War Two book and it was all very “realistic,” but I just don’t like reading that stuff. But, even so, I’d say this is one of the best books I’ve read these past couple of weeks. The plot was unique, very engaging, and a lot nerve wracking. I could not figure out what the author was going to do! It wasn’t a very happy book which actually made it more meaningful. Yes, there were several character deaths. They were necessary for the plot, (I hate random character killings) but they were so heartbreaking. I was a pretty sad by the end. What did I expect, right? War story… Speaking of, Kristina McMorris, the author, gives you so many perspectives of what it could’ve been like for someone in WWII. The main characters are roommates, Julia, Betty, and Liz. Ones a nurse (sort of) for the army, another is a clothes designer with a fiancé in the Navy, and Liz is a college student who is to become an English professor. The story switches back to each of them as well as a soldier named Morgan who is on the front lines. I thought that would be difficult, to switch so many times, but it wasn’t. She did a great job of keeping you just as interested in ones person’s life as in the others. This book was extremely well written, attention grabbing, and a little heartbreaking. Let’s just say this, in a war not everyone makes it home. The celebration at the end will always be bittersweet, because war exacts a price that is not easy to pay. I liked this book a lot and recommend it even though it was an emotional roller coaster of a story.
August 5, 2021
I wanted so desperately to love this book. I did.. after I read over 200 pages. The book follows the lives of 4 characters. All four lives go in drastically different directions. By the end I wasn't sure how she would wrap it up. Two of the stories were absolutely superfluous. They had to bearing on the main plot. In all actuality, I'd have loved for this to have been two books. One that follows Julia and Betty including their adventure to Kansas, as well as the love story of Morgan and Liz. This book was wonderfully written and details the hardship of war. This book did not satisfy in a "love story" element. As someone who enjoys reading about happy endings, this book felt like it had cliff hangers. This book should have had an epilogue. Some way to give the book a proper ending. Don't put the book down when you feel like it's not going anywhere. Find the part you relate the most, whether it be Julia, Betty, Liz, or Morgan. Happy reading.
August 24, 2021
I've read several of Kristina McMorris' books and find her to be a compelling writer who creates characters that are believable and likable. I enjoyed this historical novel of WW II told from four different points of view, but also including letters written between several of the characters. In this age of impersonal electronic modes of communications, the nostalgia of this simpler time when a hand-written letter could express so much emotion and be so treasured was very special. You had to feel for the anxiety felt by those awaiting word from their loved ones, whether they were on the battle field facing unspeakable horrors or at home worrying about the soldiers' safety.
February 24, 2020
This is a terrific debut novel. It takes place in 1944/45 and is set in part in France as well as the US. While it could be described as a love story, it is a story of friendship, loyalty and family during the time of war. I read this book because I loved her more recent release, Sold on a Monday. In both cases, I was not disappointed. This author develops characters that are real and they bring out your emotions.
December 23, 2022
3***Stars
A charming WW2 epistolary (in part) love story. The lives of three roommates change course dramatically over the course of the war, as do their love lives. I was particularly fond of Betty’s story. She does hard things in the jungles of New Guinea and learns so much about herself in the process. This is a book that demonstrates true feminine strength and that’s refreshing. Sweet and lovely.
A charming WW2 epistolary (in part) love story. The lives of three roommates change course dramatically over the course of the war, as do their love lives. I was particularly fond of Betty’s story. She does hard things in the jungles of New Guinea and learns so much about herself in the process. This is a book that demonstrates true feminine strength and that’s refreshing. Sweet and lovely.
April 10, 2020
This is a book I read over the course of three days. As I reached the end, I continued reading until 2AM. I couldn’t stop. I was completely engaged in the characters and I felt like they were all a part of my life, as silly as that may sound!
If you enjoy WWII novels that reflect the courage and strength of the human spirit during a time of incredible hardship, you’ll love this book.
If you enjoy WWII novels that reflect the courage and strength of the human spirit during a time of incredible hardship, you’ll love this book.
October 24, 2017
4.5 stars
July 6, 2019
Debut novel! ❤️
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