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| GIVEAWAY |
MACKALL, DANDI DALEY
WITH LOVE WHEREVER YOUR ARE
Everyone knows that war romances never last...
Nurse Helen Eberhart approaches everything in life with pure determination. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Helen decides to enlist as an Army nurse. There, her grit is put to the test when she's assigned to care for the broken bodies of some of the most severely wounded soldiers, many no older than her own beloved brothers.
Frank Daley wasn't trying to be a hero. He'd only enlisted to finish medical school, confident that the war would be over before his deferment ran out. Instead Lt. Frank R. Daley, MD, is sent straight from his graduation to boot camp, the last stop before a battlefield hospital in Europe. And none of his training prepares him for the chance encounter with a spirited nurse who steals his heart.
After a whirlwind romance and wedding, Helen and Frank are sent to the front lines of Europe with only letters to connect them for months at a time. Surrounded by danger and desperately wounded patients, they soon find that only the war seems real -- and their marriage more and more like a distant dream.
My Review:
Imagine being entrusted with hundreds of your parents' love letters with the caveat that you can't read them until both mom and dad are gone. What a bittersweet moment that must have been when the author finally got to open that first letter. As she read of their wartime romance, creative juices started to flow and the result is the astounding fictional account of Frank and Helen love's story. And it is totally brilliant.
Be sure to read the author's note at the back of the book which includes the most spectacular pictures. There's one of Helen sitting on Frank's lap. She's smiling at the camera but he only has eyes for her. Besotted about sums him up -- in real life and the fictional one Mackall has created.
Just to be clear -- this isn't a biography -- from what I understand, the author used the letters and her parents' wartime service as inspiration. Only she knows fact from fiction but vivid first-hand details make this one outstanding novel. From the hospital scenes to the outrageous banter between nurse and patient to the infuriating actions of the army (I hope they've evolved since the 1940s!) an authentic period vibe rings true through the entire read.
I loved the format -- letters interspersed with actual scenes. Everything flowed together so well that I just couldn't put this book down. I wanted to savor every glorious moment of Frank and Helen's story. It was pretty much love at first sight for him. Not so much for her. Helen carries some wounds from childhood which makes her wary of love -- especially committing herself to marriage. But war sharpens emotions. There's conflict and tension, hope and despair, laughter and tears. In short -- the stuff real life is made of.
A magnificent, remarkable, glorious read!
I just discovered this awesome video: Take a look --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJL59-UsAyo
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
If you would like a chance to win a copy of With Love Wherever You Are, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTcom. If you add your email to your comment make sure to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easier for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday August 6 2017. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck.
This sounds intriguing! I remember my grandma keeping all the letters her and my grandpa wrote each other when he was stationed in Germany during WWII. I don't think I had a chance to read them, but wouldn't it be fascinating to learn about my grandparents through those? I would really love to read this book :-)
ReplyDeleteteamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
A real piece of family history! Hope those letters are still around, Trixi! Good luck.
DeleteWhat a story! I would love to read this one for sure! Thank you for the opportunity, Kav!mauback55 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteIt's incredible, Melanie. Good luck!
DeleteOh, I must read this book. I love books set during the WWII or any war for that matter. They always seem to stir my heart a little more. I also love books that have letters placed throughout. This one excites me and I would love to win a copy. Thank you for the chance Kav!
ReplyDeleteBe Blessed,
Cindy W.
countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com
The addition of those letters makes this story all the more enthralling. And the historical details are amazing. Especially since it's from the angle of the military hospitals. Good luck, Cindy.
DeleteWow, just wow! Between your review and the video you've certainly whet my appetite for this book! I love Love letters, and family history, such a great combination. I have some of my mother's letters her uncle wrote home to her from WW2 when she wan just a girl. Now I want to get them out and read them again. They're not love letters, but family history all the same. I'm moving With Love Wherever You Are to the top of my must read list. You always find the most interesting books to share, thanks for doing all the leg work :)
ReplyDeletetracey14567 at gmail dot com
I'm envious of anyone who has family letters in their closet! Such a wonderful glimpse into your family history. And some of the letters in this book are from siblings as well. But goodness, by the end of the war Frank and Helen had accumulated over 600 letters! Can you imagine. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. I think this is your kind of read, Tracey. Good luck.
DeleteI was noticing that she previously has written a number of books for young readers. What an interesting and rather unique idea, with the mix of their actual letters woven into "fiction". My parents married during the War, so I always heard many stories. Thanks! dixiedobie at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteI recognized her name from my days as a school librarian so I was excited to read this novel. With your parents having met during the war this will be particularly interesting for you, CC. Good luck.
DeleteSomething different to read - love it and the idea of this story. becci43atgmaildotcom
ReplyDeleteIt's exceptionally well done. Good luck, Becky.
DeleteThis is a new author to me, and I would love to win a copy of her book. Thanks for the chance! 😊 It sounds like a great story.
ReplyDeleteIt's an awesome story, VanG. Good luck.
DeleteThis would be a fun book for me to read. My Dad was in World War II and my Mom back home. Wonder what their letters were like - I never saw any of them.
ReplyDeleteThose letters make a fascinating link to Frank and Helen's love story. Good luck, rubynreba.
DeleteWow! I remember when I first saw this book during one of your upcoming release reader's choice week. I immediately put it on my TBR and have been meaning to get it ever since.
ReplyDeleteI watched the video! So inspiring and touching.
Thank you so much for featuring this book!
samanthabis23 at gmail dot com
Those Reader's Choice weeks are such good fodder for wish lists! Which reminds me...we should have an Autumnfest one soonish. My September, October, November lists are pretty sparse. Good luck, Samantha.
Deleteoh WOW what an awesome thing to be given. This must have been so wonderful and enlightening. It is on my to read list.
ReplyDeletequilting dash lady at Comcast dot net
I know -- a real slice of personal history. Good luck, Lori.
DeleteWould love to read. Have heard good reviews about this book.
ReplyDeletemindyhoungATmsnDOTcom
It's...indescribable! Lots of great reviews. And worth all of them. Good luck, Mindy.
DeleteYour review made this book sound like a must read so I have added it to my TBR list. Those letters would be a real treasure trove, even if I had to wait years to read them. Thank you, Kav!
ReplyDeleteDblaser(at)windstream(dot)net
Treasure trove is right! My ancestors left nothing behind. Zilch. Nada. So frustrating. Good luck, Diane.
DeleteI would love to read this. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteleliamae54(at)aol(dot)com
Yes you would! Good luck, Lucy.
DeleteSounds like a must read! Thank you for the giveaway and link to the video.
ReplyDeletemelodybissonnette AT gmail DOT com
You're welcome, Melody. Good luck.
DeleteWhat a wonderful story! Thanks for including the link for the video clip of the author telling about the book. This will certainly go on my "want to read" list.
ReplyDeletepmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
She does an amazing job of piquing your interest, doesn't she? Good luck, Pam.
DeleteSo special that she used her own parents' past as inspiration.
ReplyDeleteDianna (dedezoomsalot at yahoo dot com)
It truly is -- a real labor of love. Good luck, Dianna.
DeleteI Heard about this book. Sounds really great.
ReplyDeleteThanks iamabho (AT) gmail (DOT) com
It really, really is! Good luck, Linda.
DeleteI Bet Thanks Kav
DeleteThis sounds like a very lovely story, very touching. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeletewfnren at aol dot com
It's fantastic, Wendy. Good luck!
DeleteI've seen this around, may even have it on a wish list somewhere. Sounds really good!
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
Good luck, Kim.
DeleteNew author for me. cheetahthecat1986@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI think this might be her first or one of only a few books for adults. She's a prolific children's and YA author though. Good luck, Kim.
DeleteI am really looking forward to reading this book. It was the title that grabbed my attention. Thanks for the review and the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeletekmgervis(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
It's definitely a special addition to the World War II fiction out there. Good luck, Karen.
DeleteAwesome review, KAV! Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeletepsalm103and138 at gmail dot com
Thanks, Caryl. Good luck.
DeleteOh my this sure does sound like a wonderful book!! I'm not sure if my mom kept the letters from my parents correspondence or not. I hope to come across them while going through her belongings. My dad was in the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII and they were engaged, so I know there were some letters sent back and forth. It would be an awesome experience to find them and be able to read them! Thanks for your review and giveaway. d[dot]brookmyer[at]yahoo[dot]com
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope your mom kept those letters, Donna! That would be a real family treasure. Good luck.
DeleteI'm so happy to see your review for this. I'm a fan of epistolary stories. Although the letters are only a part of this story, I just know I'm going to love it. What a sweet back story to this book. Our kids have a hard time seeing their parents as young and in love. What a gift to share. It's making me a little emotional just thinking about it. tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love the term epistolary stories. :-) I've loved them too since I read Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster back in the olden days when I was a kid. :-) Good luck, Terrill.
DeleteOh my! I just stumbled upon your lovely review of my WW2 novel about my parents': WITH LOVE, WHEREVER YOU ARE. And all of these encouraging comments too! Thanks so much for connecting with Helen and Frank, aka Mom and Dad! Dandi Daley Mackall www.dandibooks.com
ReplyDelete