Diary in the Attic

Annie's Attic Mysteries #25

by DeAnna Julie Dodson

Annie Dawson's discovery of a diary in the attic of Gray Gables has set her on a mission. The diary reveals a poignant love story from World War II, a story cut short when young Peter Lambert goes off to the European Theater, leaving his young girlfriend, Lilly Pryce, with a promise. He will come back to her. But that promise is shattered when Peter's mother receives notice from the War Department that Peter is missing and presumed dead while on a mission behind enemy lines.

But Annie wants to know more. Did Lilly find love after the loss of Peter? Where is she now? How did her diary, love letters and photographs end up in Annie's grandmother's attic? And, most important of all, can love once lost become love found again?

Genres: Mystery, Christian Fiction, Cozy Mystery

223 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

DeAnna Julie Dodson has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with four spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her first books, In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered, are a trilogy of medieval romances and have just been redesigned and freshly edited for Kindle. She is also the author of the contemporary mystery, Letters in the Attic, and has recently signed on to write another Annie's Attic Mystery: The Key in the Attic, due out in 2012. Her newest books, yet to be released, are A Dinner of Herbs, a Civil War drama, and a 1930s English mystery, Rules of Murder. Civil as an Orange, her current work in progress, is the sequel to Rules of Murder. You can find out more about DeAnna and her books, including sample chapters, at her website: http://www.deannajuliedodson.com/

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was very sweet!

[Josephine Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young love and war. Easter is drawing near. Annie is looking for table linens for the Easter banquet. Her grandmother has so much table linens scattered all over, linens she has made, linens made by others. Annie goes to the attic and finds a box titled Lilly. Over the years, people have given Betsy articles to keep for them. There was an old rpm record, a stack of letters, a few photos, a little silver ring, and a red leather diary 1943 with a tiny key. Annie wonders who this person could be, and is the person still alive? She is determined to find out. Knowing Annie she will. Annie is a good hearted people person.

Back in 1943 a young couple, Peter Lambert, eighteen, German parents, spoke German fluently, girlfriend, Lillian Pryce, seventeen. The two are in love, want to marry, both only children. Peter must go to war, to Europe, Lilly stays home waiting for her love to return. He does not. Missing in action, possibly killed. His mother dies of grief.

Lilly mourns Peter, stays home, works, lives with her parents. Then her parents are killed in an accident. Jimmy Bergstrom, a neighbor who had grown up with Peter and Lilly, was in love with Lilly. He has asked her several times to marry him after Peter was reported missing. No, she says, but after her parents are killed, she changes her mind. She sells the house, goes to Europe to get married, has three children, and lives all over the world.

This is a sweet story of love and loss. Lilly's first great, great grandchild is born. She has had a full live, but has never forgot the handsome boy she had loved when she was young.

Carl Bergstrom tells Annie not to talk to his mother about those days. She gets depressed and cries, about having to think about the war.

Ian and Annie are becoming serious. Annie is still afraid to commit, she loves Wayne so much, but. Ian wants more commitment. Annie is tempted, she loves this man, he's a keeper.

Then comes Easter, the service, the Easter banquet, people arrive, much more than usual.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely story!

[Eugenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story of lost love

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. The story is mostly about Lilly (whose Diary Annie's finds in the attic)and Peter Lambert--the boy/soldier that promised to come home to Lilly after WWII.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rummaging around the attic in the house she inherited from her grandmother, Annie finds a box that belonged to someone named Lilly Pryce. It contains Lilly's diary from 1943, when she was 17. Naturally Annie reads a little of the diary, but she can't help wondering if Lilly might still be alive. Luckily she is, and lives not far away. Annie is thrilled to meet her and return her long-lost belongings, as well as hear her story about her boyfriend, Peter, who enlisted but never returned from the Second World War. This is an interesting and uplifting story, filled with messages of hope.

[Linda Klager · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book - #25 in this series is read. This book mentioned a love story from World War II. Of course, Annie needed find out what happened to a long lost love. Along the way Annie made new friends as she does in each book.

All of the friends in the Hook and Needle Club planned a wonderful Easter social and invited members of local assisted living residences.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of young love that was interrupted by World War II. Plans were made and not able to be kept on time or sadly, not at all. This story of lost and found love was touching. Another book that becomes the favorite in the series so far.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story about WW2 and two teenagers who were to be married after the war and because of circumstances lived their lives separately for 70 years and then found each other again.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable but sweet....much like a hallmark movie.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this one was a great one, Ian and Annie. You'll have to read it for sure.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one!!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story, sad, but beautiful. This is one of the better books of the series.

[J.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet mystery! It is a series book--think Nancy Drew--yet it has a freshness and originality one would not necessarily expect to find in this genre. The romance was wonderful--never believe that romance is only for the young!
A clean, gentle, quick read that is ideal for those who enjoy a character-driven mystery featuring middle-aged and older protagonists. Also contains a good bit of interesting WWII-era history.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great new series even if I did start at #25. Lol