England, 1940. When Rose sees a parachute crash into the woods behind her house she rushes to help. Finding an injured young soldier, Rose’s first instinct is to care for him. As she pushes the hair back from his handsome face, Rose feels an instant connection. But when he speaks, her blood turns to ice.
His name is Walter, he’s German and he’s an involuntary spy. He wants to turn himself in, even if it means he’ll be executed. As the pair share stories of their hopes and dreams after the war is over and their feelings begin to deepen, Rose knows she has to do whatever she can to save Walter’s life. Hiding him in an abandoned cottage in the woods, Rose prays he will be safe.
But after hearing the Germans are planning a deadly attack, Walter disappears and Rose fears the worst. Has he been discovered by the British, or has he been taken by the Germans and shot for desertion? With her heart in pieces Rose must decide – if she really loves Walter, how much will she sacrifice to save his life?
1990. When Emma unexpectedly inherits a cottage in the middle of a forest from her Great Aunt Rose, she wonders how anyone could live in such isolation. Searching the house for clues about the aunt she never knew, she’s shocked to discover old bones carefully wrapped in cloth, hidden in the cellar. As Emma begins to unravel the connection to Rose, will everything she has ever known about her family change forever?
About The Author
Born in Lincolnshire, England, Julie Hartley is a writer, storyteller, creative writing teacher and writing retreat host currently based in Toronto, Canada. She has an MFA in Creative Writing and she is the author of a middle grade novel, The Finding Place, published by Red Deer Press; a poetry collection, Deboning a Dragon, published by Mansfield Press, and a book on how to teach Shakespeare, published by Theatrefolk. Julie teaches creative writing to children, teens and adults in schools and universities, and at her own studio in Toronto. She is the instructor for annual creative writing retreats in Costa Rica, Mexico and England. Her next book - a historical novel set on the south coast of England in 1940, is forthcoming with Bookouture in September 2024.
My Review
A dual time read, a young married woman and her aunt, two different countries, but similar in looks, and we are there to read their story.
From finding an enemy soldier in England, to deciding to leave Toronto and go to England and leave behind your life there. We get a deep look into Rose's life, from her ideal childhood to life with a stepfather, and her ideal place, Silverwood Vale.
Emma has never met and they never knew what happened to her Aunt Rose, but somehow she has inherited from her. We travel with Emma as she leaves and goes to England, and we see how her life changes.
Yes, I page turned for answers, at times with holding our breath from fear, and following how things turned out.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bookoutour, and was not required to give a positive review.
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