Simone: ...Fathers, Daughters, Love and War

by Stephen J. Dennis

Frank Larson returned from his World War II battlefields and tried to leave its horror behind. He plunged into college and marriage, grew a business and raised a daughter, all the time repressing the wartime memories. But pressure from his daughter, a fellow veteran and his own conscience suddenly threatens the delicate balance between past and present. “You’ve got to go to our unit’s reunion in Belgium,” his friend implored. “Do it for yourself. Do it for the guys that didn’t come home.” Succumbing to the pressure, he agrees to go with one condition; daughter Anita, recovering from a messy divorce, must come along. Arriving in Belgium his reunion plans take an unexpected twist when he encounters a Belgian woman, Simone Chauveau. His stunned daughter soon learns that a young Simone hid and cared for a wounded Frank Larson when he was trapped behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge. What the daughter didn’t hear was that they had grown close during that time; two young people tossed together by the tides of war. Frank and Simone find they have led similar lives. Both had married, raised families, lost their spouses and were now living predicable uncomplicated lives. While drawn to each other both realize the futility of their rekindled feelings. This is a story of love and war, of fathers and daughters and of Frank and Simone. Both have faced the terrors of war, losing friends and loved ones in the process. Both have lived rich, full lives and now find life’s inertia pulling them to a comfort zone built around friends, family and familiar surroundings. This is the story of their efforts to balance the pull of their hearts against the resistance of their practical minds. It is a story that takes them from the streets of Bastogne and Seattle to the ski slopes of San Moritz as they refresh their fifty year old relationship and struggle to define a future.

284 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2011

Reviews

[Claudeen Lyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a debut of S.J. Dennis's. Give the story time to develop; it's worth the read. This memorable novel evolves around around members of an older generation who build walls around their emotions to protect themselves from the pain of loss. This moving love story embraces the struggle of commiting to a deeper relationship and overcoming obstacles to developing that relationship, with a thought provoking backdrop of memories of war experiences. A 60 year old love story comes back to life as a man who has protected his emotions for decades needs to let down his guard in order to make the most of his future. The novel highlights the losses that veterans must live with throughout their lives, and the losses we all face as we age and lose those we have loved.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the story idea and plot, there are not many out there that honor the vets of earlier wars nor highlight some of what they went through, unless the stories are strictly the fighting. They too went through horrendous experiences that changed them forever, and due in large part to the social structure of America at that time their reaction to it was different from the more current wars. I found some of the characters delightful and believable but was disappointed in one of the main characters, the daughter. I found her shallow and selfish and do not think that was the intention. Thanks for honoring the 'old' vets.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story at times felt very personal, almost as if the author was writing from experience. For the most part it was a fun novel to read, but I found it extremely predictable! For me it took quite a bit before the story started to take off. I enjoyed the premise very much, but for me (living in Seattle) that part felt the most made up. I did find the difference in acceptance interesting though. The European family felt much more open while the American side was well, American. I think when it comes to the characters the author was spot on with the internal dialogue! Overall a good quick read.