About the Book:
Publisher: Mindshadows, 2006
Category: Historical Fiction
Tour Dates: November, 2012
Available in: Print and Kindle, 551 pages
About the Author:
The author of five highly acclaimed historical novels, Gabriele loves to recreate an era in which she can immerse herself (and readers), by weaving compelling stories around meticulously researched facts. Her characters are best friends, whom others are now calling “cherished friends”.
Gabriele on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabrieleWills
My Opinion:
This book takes you to a world not seen by many people – a world of “cottages” on private islands and personal steamboats. It takes place in what can only be a glorious area of Canada just before the onset of WWI. We meet the very wealthy Wyndham family just as they meet a long lost relative. The book is populated with well defined characters of all stripes from the ahead of her time Victoria to the entitled sons of the family who don’t want this interloping new nephew Jack coming forth to claim any of the money they think is all theirs.
The Muskoka area is full of people both rich and not so rich and Ms. Wills can draw a reader in and make that reader feel as if she were in that brand new speedboat on the lake feeling the warmth of the day and the spray of the water. I love a book that causes you to just totally get lost in the story and this is that book. I would have read it in a couple of sessions if not for Hurricane Sandy and worry about my family. I just couldn’t concentrate and I didn’t want to lose any of this great story. (My family is in New Jersey – they are all OK.)
The book takes us through the beginnings of the war and training of certain characters in the RAF. The tales of the fighter pilots are harrowing and war is, as always hell. The Lusitania and her sinking play a very large role and that horrific attack is hard to read. The ending is a touch histrionic but it sets up the next book in what is going to be a trilogy. I will be looking forward to it most ardently and will keep this book on my shelf to re-read in advance of its arrival. Yes, this one is a keeper and you know how few I keep to re-read.
You can see the rest of the Tour Schedule
Other Books About WWI:
Elusive Dawn by Gabrielle Wills
UNDER THE SAME BLUE SKY BY PAMELA SCHOENEWALDT
THE CALIFORNIA WIFE BY KRISTIN HARNISCH
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