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When Hearts Are Light Again

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As World War Two rages, problems arise in a factory making parts for military aircraft. Is sabotage afoot?

The Clifton Works is doing its bit for the war effort, but it seems treachery has crept into the plant — parts are mysteriously defective, and trucks are hijacked. Then, a strange woman eludes the guards to warn of sabotage. Is she telling the truth, or is she overwrought at the disappearance of her son?

Captain Gregory Hunt, nephew of the owner of the Works, is recalled from service to investigate. He is engaged to Lila Tenny, but it is to Gail Trevor — his uncle’s lovely and invaluable secretary — that he turns for help in solving the mystery.

187 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1943

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About the author

Emilie Loring

60 books130 followers
AKA Emilie Baker Loring
Emilie Baker was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1864 to George M. Baker and Emily Frances (Boles) Baker. Her father was a playwright and publisher and her mother was a homemaker. Loring married Victor J. Loring, who was a lawyer. She began writing in 1914, published her first novel in 1922 at the age of 56, and continued writing until her death after a long illness in 1951. She was a prolific American romance novelist of the 20th century, known for her "wholesome love" romances and independent, spirited heroines. Beyond romance, her books also explore a selection of topics including, but not limited to marriage, love, American patriotism, freedom, and optimism. She died in Wellesley, Massachusetts on March 13, 1951. At the time of her death, she had sold more than a million copies of her first thirty books.

After her death, her estate was managed by her sons, Selden M. and Robert M. Loring, who, based on a wealth of unfinished material they discovered, published twenty more books under her name until 1972. These books were ghost-written by Elinore Denniston. taken largely from wiki, made some corrections (dates didn't add up) per her biographer

Emilie Loring Wiki Page







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5 stars
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94 (33%)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Hannah.
2,824 reviews1,437 followers
May 21, 2020
A fast-paced story set in the early days of US involvement in WW2. Greg is a leader at an essential production plant and tasked with a government mandate to keep his plant up and running. But there's a saboteur on the loose...can they find him in time to save the plant? And of course his beautiful secretary will be key to helping save the day and defeat the enemy—if she can do so without losing her life in the attempt.
Profile Image for Courtney Lyman.
Author 24 books869 followers
October 21, 2016
I know Emilie Loring's books are formulaic, but I've always enjoyed them. This one was written during WWII and it's always interesting to me to see the point of view of someone who was actually living during that event.
958 reviews5 followers
December 23, 2022
Another adorable book

Sweet story, full of wartime courage. I love that it was defense works, and both Greg and Gail were doing the best job they could with the situation on deck. Saboteurs and spies and adventure and a darling love story to boot.
Profile Image for Madeline.
176 reviews
December 2, 2015
I thought this book was confusing and boring. Not Emilie Loring's best.
332 reviews
July 11, 2024
A classic romance with hints of danger

Gail works as a secretary for an important defence contractor during the war, whilst helping her brother look after his home and children in his wife’s absence as she ‘does her bit’ elsewhere. When her boss’s son returns from active duty to tackle sabotage Gail is drawn into the investigation.
A very polite, sensible romance that keeps the characters at arm’s length. The mystery keeps the pace although the reveal is not much of a surprise and it’s rounded off neatly.
390 reviews8 followers
June 22, 2024
When Hearts are Light Again

A lovely love story set in a war time setting. It's a guessing game as the story proceeds, who are the good guys and who the bad. It's fun and gripping as the plot unfurls.
Profile Image for LiterarySparrow.
129 reviews
April 17, 2024
One of my longtime favorite Loring novels. I love her wartime novels for their sense of immediacy and urgency, and Greg and Gail are two of my favorite Loring couples. I particularly enjoy this one for its glimpse of Loring's experience of the homefront during the war. No doubt it was very different from, say, my schoolteacher grandmother's experience in small-town Iowa, but it's still one particular person's experience and therefore interesting. Even though I know how the suspense portion of the plot comes out, I was still on the edge of my seat as I read it. I'm also a sucker for the marriage of convenience and "old friends discover they're a great match" tropes, which this plot delivers nicely. And, of course, there are always Loring's trademark lush descriptions and enthusiasm about fashion to enjoy.
Profile Image for Jeanne.
697 reviews40 followers
July 6, 2018
I started reading Emile Loring books when I picked up a paperback from a rack in a hotel lobby (for 50 cents) while on my sister's & my yearly vacation to visit my father. Hooked! I went on to purchase and read every Emilie Loring romance written and available in paperback, not knowing that she had died before I was even born. I loved these books, but read them when I was between about 12 and 18 years old. I was a young reader - do keep that in mind! :-)
Profile Image for Dawn.
518 reviews59 followers
July 25, 2024
A re-read, from a mid 1900’s author I read first as a young adult. She had such a way with words and characters.
Profile Image for Alice.
257 reviews3 followers
September 15, 2017
Charming story with some confusing vernacular that I assume was common in the 1940's.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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