"In the last 3, 421 years of recorded history, only 268 have seen no war." - Will Durant, 1968.
A story of war, love, loss and the scars they leave behind, Next to Love, follows the lives of three young women and their men during the years of World War II and its aftermath, beginning with the men going off to war and ending a generation later, after the man have finally returned to a nation changed beyond recognition.
Beautifully crafted, moving, and unforgettable, Next to Love by Ellen Feldman, depicts the power of love and friendship, and illuminates a transformational moment in American history.
I received the book, Next to Love by Ellen Feldman,compliments of TLC Book Tours for my honest review and got so much more than I expected. I didn't realize just how different each person related their experience to war. From the men who saw it as a sense of duty and honor, so leaving for them even though it was difficult was an adventure of sorts, a way to protect the lives of the families and friends they left behind.
While for the women, they tried so many times to put up the brave face of a woman who supported her man. They wanted the last remaining memories of their time together with their loved ones to be positive and filled with love. So many times, they held back their fears, afraid to voice their concerns that the moment they left, might be the last time they saw them.
Told through the lives of Babe Huggins, Grace Gooding, and Millie Swallow, we see how each of them deals with the men they love as they head out to war. This is a personal struggle for each of them and along the way, they will be forever changed by the circumstances that the war will impose on them all.
This book rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars and does contain some profanity that may offend some readers but overall, I truly believe this is a true story of how many women and men dealt with the war, and the aftermath that follows when some return home and others do not. For more information about the book, the author and where to purchase a copy, please click on the link below:
Thanks the the generous folks at TLC Book Tours and Ellen Feldman, they are offering a giveaway copy of this book to one lucky reader of this blog. Here are your guidelines:
1. You must be a follower of this blog, Reviews From The Heart.
2. You must be a resident of the US or have a US shipping address.
3. I must have a way to contact you if you are the lucky winner, so please make sure to include your email address along with your comment. You can use the words (at) or (dot) instead of the symbols.
4. Leave a comment telling me why you'd love to win a copy. The giveaway will end on June 16th and I will notify the winner by email at that time.
