Deliverance

by Jennie Marsland

The sequel to Shattered.Autumn 1917Carl O’Neill is on the run from the Army and himself. Returned from Europe on recuperative leave, he’d rather die than go back to the trenches. He assumes a dead man’s name and leaves his home and family behind him, only to be dumped off the train in the small prairie town of Mackenzie, Saskatchewan. Seriously ill and stranded, Carl has no choice but to confront the demons that drive him – and his growing feelings for the former Red Cross nurse who saves his life.Naomi Franklin is no stranger to secrets and personal demons. Struggling with the trauma of rape and her experiences in a front-line field hospital, Naomi can’t bear to close the eyes of another young man whose life has ended far too soon. She’ll nurse the stranger who lands on her father’s doorstep and then send him on his way. But looking into Carl’s blue eyes makes her feel like a woman again, while the all-too-familiar shadows behind them touch her heart. When both their lives come crashing down around them, can Carl and Naomi overcome secrets and lies to find each other again?

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2013

About the author

I'm a teacher, an amateur musician and, for over thirty years, a writer. I fell in love with words at a very early age and the affair has been life-long. I write historical romance, drawing on my love of the Westerns I grew up with and on stories of life in rural Nova Scotia in earlier times, passed down by my parents and grandparents. When I'm not writing, I garden, play guitar, spend time with my DH and cater to the whims of our two spoiled Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deliverance is Jennie Marsland's follow up to Shattered. Deliverance follows Carl O'Neil, sister of Alice, who was the heroine of Shattered. Carl makes a not so terribly likable appearance in Shattered, so I was keen to see how Marsland is able to turn him into a hero, but she definitely succeeds.

Carl has fought his battles in France and on the homefront, but his greatest battles seem to be with himself. He leaves the war a broken man in more ways than one, and finds himself alone and at the mercy of strangers. The heroine, Naomi Franklin, has a quiet, calm strength that is the perfect antidote to Carl's fiery troubles - she anchors him in a way nothing or no one else can. The book focuses on the healing power of love, not just between the hero and heroine, but that of friends, neighbours, and family. The book is set on the Saskatchewan prairie and in war-time Halifax and both settings are handled with affection and care by the author.

Jennie Marsland is fabulous when it comes to writing everyday heros and heroines in historical settings. Her characters are farmers and soldiers, nurses and housewives - ordinary people living in often harsh times and conditions. Her stories are gentle, and real. Definitely worth a read.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naomi Franklin has a secret. And we don't know what it's completely about until the RCMP are involved.

Luckily, for her, Ben MacNeil aka Carl from the previous book "Shattered" is there to help. He doesn't have anything of value in his current state (arrested for drunken disorderly conduct on a train) but he values her.

These two are burned out by their experiences in the war. Despite their injuries they reach out to each other. Together, they find forgiveness and redemption of sins.

Carl isn't just a drunk soldier with a tortured past - with Naomi's help he's now in recovery and has something of value in his life. A first for this quick tempered character but something I'm relieved to see.

Two broken birds of war find peace with each other and a love that heals wounds.

I enjoyed the writing style immensely and felt like I was a part of their healing process. Great to see Carl again!

[Donna Alward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely sequel to Jennie's book SHATTERED... this story is that of Carl O'Neill, a secondary character from Shattered who is back from the front with significant issues. But you know, all he really needs is the love of a good woman, and he turns out to be a wonderful hero. Naomi has her own wounds that need healing, but she's strong and compassionate. They really earned their happy ending, and it was great being able to visit with the characters from the previous book in the end. A wonderful, tender read I couldn't put down.

[ROMANTIC HISTORICAL REVIEW BLOG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early 20th Century (Canada 1917)

Historical Romance

Heat Level 2

Rating: 5stars/ Top Pick

REVIEW BY VIKKI

http://romantichistoricallovers.wordp...