Happy New Year! Today I am bringing to you a wonderful historical romance that brings to life the world after WWII and coming of age in a time of change. This book will drag you back to a simpler time that ends up being not as simple as people remember. For my full review keep reading after the book blurb. Have a wonderful beginning to 2016!
Book Blurb:
World War II has ended and the soldiers are coming home. After years of following her crop worker father, motherless Claire Flanagan is also coming home. If she can keep her father in one place long enough, she plans to follow her dreams to Hollywood. Until she meets Benjamin.
Benjamin Russell has been working since he was fifteen to support his mother and siblings. What he most wants in life is to own a construction business and take care of the family his father abandoned. The last thing he expects is to fall for his younger sister’s best friend.
Life, however, throws cruel twists and turns into the path of romance. And when an unrequited love seeks revenge against Claire, and Benjamin learns his ex-girlfriend is pregnant, will lost dreams of a future together be the only thing they have left?
Review:
Claire has stars in her eyes. She knows she is talented and plans to be a movie star after high school. She’s even caught the eye of the most popular guy in school. It isn’t until she meets her best friend’s brother, Benjamin that turns her world upside down. Soon all she can think of is him. After meeting his little sister’s best friend, Claire, Benjamin must try to get the younger girl out of his mind. Claire and Benjamin, no matter how they fight it are drawn to each other and finally decide they want a future together. That is until horrible twists force the couple apart. Can love overcome revenge, pregnancy and distance or will their dreams crumble in the wind?
This was a wonderfully spun novel. It really had the feel of post WWII life. Claire and Benjamin’s love story though quick and with the feel of first love really has you rooting for them. Brenda Whiteside manages to paint a vision of life in that time as both fanciful and realistic. Though the novel was well written I did find it longer than it probably needed to be. It was a bit drawn out with some of the more detailed passages stalling the story instead of propelling it. Overall, this is a great example of a historical romance. I will definitely be giving Brenda Whiteside’s books another look.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and give an honest review.