Almost Home

GIVEAWAY

LUESSE, VALERIE FRASER
ALMOST HOME

The things that tear us apart can also bring us together

With America's  entrance into World War II, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants -- and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse.

A struggling young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, and a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war are all hoping Dolly's house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own.

When tragedy strikes, Dolly's only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

My Review:

"All we can do is the best we can do, and all we can see is what's in front of us. So there's no point in looking back and judging ourselves based on things we know now but didn't know then." (p 54)

Wow -- this is one of my favourite reads of the year! Everyone needs a Dolly and Si in their lives! And I want to live in Blackberry Springs at their boarding house because 'little mama's' house has a personality all of its own! Loved the magical feel that brought to this heartwarming tale brimming full of love and loss and the hope of second chances.

I enjoyed the home front perspective of this World War II novel. I hadn't realized the impact the war had on different occupations and the migration that caused as workers moved to areas where munition plants had been established. Loved the diverse gathering that ends up at Dolly's house and the way their lives intertwine. It's told from multiple points of view, which I know isn't every reader's favourite but I had no trouble connecting with these characters and their stories. Such a true-to-life illustration of how unconditional love can heal the sharpest of wounds.

Friendships blossom and love ignites (or reignites as the case may be) -- three romances, in fact! And one of them comes in the form of journal entries from 1844. Lots of toe-curling and euphoric sighing from this avid romance fan! And the way all the pieces of their individual stories come together is sheer poetry.

The author's richly evocative writing style reveals the kind of depth and emotion that makes a reader feel like she's lived inside the pages of this book right alongside Dolly and her friends. There's even a bit of a mystery! Spellbinding from start to finish! Highly recommended.

"We don't get to see the whole map. We just have to cover our stretch o' the road best we can." (p 189)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Almost Home, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember 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 easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 22 2019. Offer open on International Readers. Good luck!