Wonderfully Written Wartime Compilation! 'Something Borrowed' - by Rachel Scott McDaniel, Allison Pittman & Susie Finkbeiner

 

About the book:

In this brand-new novella collection, three renowned Christian historical fiction authors trace generations of wartime romances through a special wedding dress with love sewn into its seams.

"A Heart in Disguise" by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Clara Westlake loves her job as a seamstress in the US "Camouflage Corps," sewing suits for snipers and contributing to the war effort. But when she overhears a threat against her beloved New York City, the Great War comes too close to home--except no one believes her forewarning. She must recruit Marcus Reeves, a childhood friend searching for his purpose after suffering a devastating war injury. As they search for answers together, they may also uncover a love that lasts.

"A Letter to Eli" by Allison Pittman

Bette and Alice are lifelong friends, trying to make a good life for themselves in New York City while World War II rages. It's never far away from their thoughts--not with Alice's fiance serving at sea, in danger every minute. That's a worry Bette doesn't envy. Then a secret letter reunites her with her soldier ex-boyfriend, now wounded and back in the States. But can the innocent love these two had before the war be rekindled in the face of tragedy?

"A Daffodil in the Dress" by Susie Finkbeiner

Kate Becker and Ike Finch have worked together at his family's bookstore since Kate's husband died in the early days of the Vietnam War. She has her daughter, Eloise, to take care of and bills to pay, and this job was a godsend. A second love is not in the cards, especially not with the world still teetering on the edge of insanity. But when Ike brings little Eloise special flowers one spring day, Kate begins to look at him as more than an employer. Is falling in love again worth the risk?

My review:

This was a well-written trilogy of romances that had such sweet moments but were also balanced out with some serious ones as they dealt with three different wars and their effects on these women and their country.  Each story had such a sense of place and time and I found myself looking up some of the events and songs and details mentioned in each era to picture it better or understand it more.  I love learning while I read so it was fun to have those details to make the stories even richer.  The romances in all three stories were so sweet but there were other wonderful relationships that deserve a mention, such as two best friends and how they supported one another or a mother-daughter relationship where the mother's larger than life personality almost stole the show!  The other family members were also a lot of fun and really added to the story.  There was some intrigue in the first story as Clara and Marcus try to uncover clues to a threat Clara overhears.  There was also some fun banter in the stories and laugh-out-loud moments as well as some that brought tears to my eyes.  Different characters were on different faith journeys, some realizing they needed God's help and couldn't do it all on their own while others prayed for guidance and others received comfort in their grief and hope for tomorrow.  I liked the dress connection though I wished for more of an explanation of how each woman came to own the dress.  This was a very well done trilogy and I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from Kregel Publications.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.