Whisper Goodbye

Till We Meet Again #2

by Myra Johnson

Crippled both physically and emotionally by his war injuries, First Lt. Gilbert Ballard struggles to find himself again in civilian life. After breaking his engagement to Annemarie Kendall, he has found solace in the arms of Mary McClarney, a spunky Irish immigrant nurse he met at the Army and Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Yet Mary’s love for Gilbert goes unreturned.


If it’s not Gilbert’s insane jealousy over his former fiancée’s new marriage, it’s his addiction to pain killers and gambling that thwarts Gil’s own happiness. Worse, Gilbert’s mother, Evelyn, continually reminds him of what he lost when he pushed Annemarie away. Under Evelyn’s critical eye, Mary fights to believe in her worth, wondering if she will ever be enough.


As Mary longs for the day when Gilbert will finally let go of the past and learn to love her as she loves him, she realizes that the only way to open Gilbert’s heart is to whisper her goodbyes . . . and pray God will bring them back together.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Romance, Historical Romance, Christian Historical Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Native Texan Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. Myra is a three-time Maggie Awards finalist, two-time finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards, winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction, and winner in the Inspirational category of the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards.

After living five years in Oklahoma, then eight years in the beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband are thrilled to be back in the Lone Star State enjoying wildflowers, Tex-Mex, and real Texas barbecue! The Johnsons share their home with a very pampered rescue dog and a cat with attitude.

Follow Myra on BookBub, https://www.bookbub.com/profile/myra-..., for deals and new releases.

Awards of note: When the Clouds Roll By, Till We Meet Again, Book 1 (Abingdon Press 2013), won the historical fiction category of the 2014 Christian Retailing's Best Award. Autumn Rains (Heartsong Presents 2009), won the 2005 RWA Golden Heart for Best Inspirational Romance Manuscript.

Myra’s writing career was launched in 1985 when she sold her first short story while taking a course through the Institute of Children’s Literature. Myra later joined the ICL staff as a magazine writing instructor, teaching hundreds of students the fundamentals of story and article structure, plotting, character development, and market analysis. She now writes full-time and is active in her church as well as local and national writers groups.

Myra and her husband have been married for 50+ years. The Johnsons have two married daughters, seven grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

Reviews

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars

After returning home from the war ,Gilbert Ballard is still trying to adjust to his life as well as what he perceives he has become: a crippled man. His relationship with Annemarie is over, and he has made peace with the fact.
But he finds himself longing for Irish immigrant nurse Mary McCarney. But Mary is part of the working class and Gilbert's mother would never approve of someone so outside of their social circle. Mary herself doesn't believe she's worthy of Gilbert's affections, but that doesn't stop her heart from being set on him and a possible future.
Whisper Goodbye is the second book in the "Till We Meet Again" series,and it picks up with Gilbert trying to move beyond his war injuries and his strong feelings for Mary, and both of them fight inner battles as they find their way to each other. I have to say I enjoyed book two a little better than book one. Stronger characterization this time, with emotions and longing between the two main characters which gave the story a more realistic and tangible feel.
For those who prefer a "clean" romance you will find it in Gilbert and Mary's story, yet it is not completely tepid.
The ending in this one also didn't leave me hanging like book one and wrapped up nicely. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feeling of this second book of the Till We Meet Again Series.

On the positive side, it was wonderful to see Gilbert began to make positive changes for himself and others. Readers were exposed to what it was like to be an American with German heritage living in the United States during WWI.

What I struggled with was the back and forth or on again/off again relationship between Mary and Gilbert. I also had a difficult time in the relationship that developed between two of the secondary characters.

I liked Whisper Goodbye and look forward to what I think will be Thomas' story in book three.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Till We Meet Again series continues the story of a group of nurses and airmen who were involved in World War I. Set in Hot Springs Arkansas, Mary McClarney is a spunky Irish nurse who is serving at the Army and Navy Hospital in Hot Springs. Gilbert Ballard who is both physically and emotionally crippled by his war injuries struggles to find himself again in civilian life. Mary was the nurse that brought him back from the brink of death in Book 1. Now Gilbert is home again in Hot Springs.

With pasts that haunted both Mary and Gilbert, they found that they spent more time hurting one another then building a relationship. Mary was often judgmental of Gilbert and sounded more like a mother than a girlfriend. It bothered me that she acted that way and then turned around a short time later and shared passionate kisses with him. Gilbert never seemed to know if she was blowing hot or cold. I did appreciate that as they grew deeper in their faith, each of them began to deal with the things in their past that caused them to react as they did. Some wonderful minor characters rounded out a full cast with many of them carrying over from Book 1.

This book focuses on forgiveness, understanding what role the pasts plays in the present, and second chances. Definitely recommend this series for those who like historical fiction.

FAVORITE QUOTE: "I think you're much more concerned about keeping up appearances than with displaying genuine human kindness."

[Angie Arndt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Times were harder – and simpler – after the Great War. But returning soldiers were haunted by nightmares and memories that left them as wounded emotionally as the worst of their physical injuries. This is the era that Myra Johnson tackles in her ‘Til We Meet Again series.

The latest in the series, Whisper Goodbye, follows two familiar characters from her first installment, When the Clouds Roll By, the despicable Gilbert Ballard and his faithful, but somewhat naïve nurse, Mary McClarney. Separated by class and faith, can these two overcome their differences and the harsh reality of his injuries to find love? This love story is just what the doctor ordered, especially since Mary is a nurse and Gilbert, her patient. Johnson rounds out each of these characters into a full-fledged hero and heroine with her themes of hope, forgiveness and redemption.

If you love a heart-warming historical romance, you’ll love Whisper Goodbye. Many thanks to the publisher for a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

[Carla Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the first book in this series – When Clouds Roll By ¬– I was very curious about how Myra Johnson would redeem Gilbert Ballard, the WWI amputee who succumbed to drug addiction, alcohol, and self-destructive behavior. I shouldn’t have been concerned as through lots of twists and turns, Myra skillfully weaves a story of patience, hope, and redemption. The setting of Hot Springs Arkansas circa the beginning of Prohibition gave the historical realism that I look for in period pieces. Although romance is not the genre I normally pick up, I was happy to see that Myra took each of her characters through a period of personal growth and realization that made the romantic scenes more poignant. Lovely story. Highly recommended for lovers of historical romance.

I received the book from the publisher for my honest review.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crippled both physically and emotionally by his war injuries, First Lt. Gilbert Ballard struggles to find himself again in civilian life. After breaking his engagement to Annemarie Kendall, he has found solace in the arms of Mary McClarney, a spunky Irish immigrant nurse he met at the Army and Navy Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Yet Mary's love for Gilbert goes unreturned. If it's not Gilbert's insane jealousy over his former fiancée's new marriage, it's his addiction to pain killers and gambling that thwarts Gil's own happiness. Worse, Gilbert's mother, Evelyn, continually reminds him of what he lost when he pushed Annemarie away. Under Evelyn's critical eye, Mary fights to believe in her worth, wondering if she will ever be enough.As Mary longs for the day when Gilbert will finally let go of the past and learn to love her as she loves him, she realizes that the only way to open Gilbert's heart is to whisper her goodbyes . . . and pray God will bring them back together.Hot Springs,AR,was incorporated on January 10, 1851.Hot Springs eventually became a national gambling mecca, and also known for horse racing, speakeasies and gangsters,led by Owney Madden and his Hotel Arkansas casino.Hotels advertised the availability of prostitutes, and off-track booking was available for virtually any horse race in North America.After the Civil War, the idea of establishing an Army-Navy hospital in Hot Springs was advocated by A.S. Garnett, a former Navy surgeon with a local practice, and John A. Logan, a retired Union general turned politician who was a former patient of Garnett's. In 1884, Logan persuaded Congress to allocate $100,000 for the purpose. Erected under the supervision of Captain J.W. Jacobs, the 100-bed hospital was built of wood and brick in the "pavilion style" that required patients and clinicians to traverse long distances.After WWI,Congress granted $1.5 million to build a new facility. Built under Captain Edward George, it could hold 500 patients and contained such cutting-edge as an X-ray wing and temperature-controlled morgue. The operating rooms and equipment was thought to be the finest in the country.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gilbert still feeling sorry for himself, and having pushed Annemarie away. The opening has him watching from a distance the marriage.with Samuel. Then wanting a comforting touch from his former nurse Mary. This was too much from both of them playing with the emotions and unable to decided.
He was also addicted to pain medicine, and she felt unworthy.
Liked the first book better. The characters were in both.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can get very involved in this book. Second on in the series Surviving longterm after war weighs on the heart and spirit daily. Give it a try!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Lt. Gilbert Ballard returned to Hot Springs, Arkansas, from The Great War to find his life a shambles. He lost a leg and partial use of an arm, formed an addiction to pain killers and alcohol, and drove his fiancée into another man's arms. While he struggles to put his life in order, Mary McClarney, a nurse at the Army and Navy Hospital in Hot Springs yearns for him to see her as his one true love.

Whisper Goodbye is the second book in Myra Johnson's series Till We Meet Again. While each book can be enjoyed without reading the other, to get the full impact of Gilbert's situation, I'd suggest reading the previous book first.

As in the last story, Gilbert is a needy mess. Fortunately, he knows he's a mess and doesn't want to remain that way forever, but like most of us in less-than-desirable circumstances, it takes a special focus to snap us out of our pity parties long enough to heal. Gilbert finds that focus through the purchase of a rundown farm. It gives him purpose and self-respect.

Mary loves Gilbert. She's waited for him to come to his senses and put the past behind him, but she loses hope after a heartbreaking discovery at the hospital. Mary has her own trouble with the past and it tends to skew her reaction to Gilbert's addictions and keeps her from seeing some of those small victories he experiences.

As in the previous book, the writing shines and the story is compelling. However, in the beginning, the only thing that keeps Gilbert from being an unlikable hero is his regret and the reader's hope he'll eventually see what a good thing he has in Mary. Ms. Johnson does a good job of showing his character growth through temptations and small victories. Once he begins to heal, both physically, emotionally, and spiritually, he becomes the type of man the reader can cheer for, so stick with him.

There's a twist at the end that keeps this story from having the typical, fairy-tale ending, but it's well worth the read. I'm looking forward to Book Three in the series, Every Tear a Memory.



Disclosure of Material Connection: This book came to me free from the publisher, Abingdon Press, with the hope that I would mention it on this blog. There was no requirement for me to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Dora Hiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharing my review~
After being introduced to both Gilbert and Mary in When the Clouds Roll By, the first book in Myra Johnson's Till We Meet Again series, I couldn't wait to get my greedy hands on the second book, Whisper Goodbye. Wounded war veteran First Lt. Gilbert Ballard was a character I couldn't forget after finishing When the Clouds Roll By. He'd treated his former fiancee and best friend dreadfully, but it was so hard to be upset with him. He was a casualty of war, broken and bitter, floundering without purpose, minus a leg, and nursing a morphine addiction for constant pain. See what I mean?

"If he could drive far enough, fast enough, he might outpace the unrelenting emptiness that had haunted him since the war." ~Gilbert

Without the morphine, sweet Mary's soothing touch was the only way to relieve the blinding phantom pain cursing his missing leg, but Mary soon tires of Gilbert's obsession with his ex-fiancee and refuses to be second choice. Toss in Gilbert's mother, Mrs. Ballard, who reinforces Mary's sense of unworthiness, and you have one unhappy heroine. When it seems like Mary and Gilbert will never find their happy place, Gilbert finally acknowledges that he can't mend his broken spirit on his own and determines to win Mary's affections with a job and hard work, but even that came at a cost. I appreciate how each of the characters had to find their own way, to their faith and to each other.

With a sweet secondary romance to savor, characters you can't help but cheer for, and nuggets of historical tidbits tucked inside, Whisper Goodbye is sure to please historical and contemporary readers alike. Another 5-star worthy book by Myra Johnson!

I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series, Every Tear A Memory, starring Gilbert's brother, Thomas. If you missed my review of When the Clouds Roll By, you can read it here, but trust me when I say you'll definitely want to read these books in order. :)

Disclaimer: Sending a big thanks to Myra Johnson and Abingdon Press for sending me an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion. This review is my opinion, and I received no compensation.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The wounds of war are not just physical. In many instances, the deeper wounds are mental and emotional, and such is the case with Gilbert Ballard. His addictions and self-destructive behavior have made him an angry man and he struggles to live again, free from the mess he has made of his life. His girlfriend, Mary McClarney, struggles with her own wounds from the past, and to make matters worse, she feels hidden in the shadow of his old flame. An army nurse, we learn a little bit about the profession at the time and watch her grow professionally, even as her relationship with Gilbert continues to deteriorate.

This is the second book in the “Till We Meet Again” series, and I did feel like I was missing vast portions of the story by not having read that first book. The author gives us a good bit of the backstory of our hero, but I still was frustrated at times with many characters, not having that background to understand their motivations and the shared history among the different players.

There is a strong spiritual theme in this novel; God is actively involved in the lives of these characters, and we observe Gilbert’s return to the faith in an agonizingly realistic fashion. Forgiveness and redemption, even when it may be undeserved, is beautifully portrayed and we better understand God’s love for us through the failings and triumphs of the various people who inhabit these pages.

In many ways, this was a difficult read. The writing was excellent, but the subject matter was heavy and uninterrupted by lighter moments that might have given it balance. Even the romance was painful at points and it is never a forgone conclusion that there will be a happy ending. Nothing seems to come easy for any of the characters, whether healing, love, or even a purpose in life.

I would recommend this book, after reading the first one in the series, to anyone interested in the post-WWI era who does not mind an entirely serious read.

I received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gilbert Ballard lost his beau, Annemarie Kendall, because of his attitude when he returned home from the trenches of World War I France, and now he seems to be driving away another woman he loves, nurse Mary McClarney. For her part, Mary loves Gilbert but can’t trust him to not retreat into his vices—drugs, alcohol and gambling—in times of stress.

Whisper Goodbye is the sequel to When the Clouds Go By, the story of Annemarie and Army chaplain Samuel Vickeray. While the two can each be read as stand-alone
novels, there are mentions of certain incidents from the first book in Whisper Goodbye, so it would be better not to read them out of order.

I enjoyed Whisper Goodbye as it continued to show Gilbert’s personal and spiritual growth, but without being preachy (if anything, I would have liked a little more emphasis on that, particularly as Mary and her mother were plainly Catholic, while Gilbert and the other characters weren’t).

The plot was good, and I especially liked the way it brought a natural conclusion to the central romance while introducing more minor characters, perhaps to set them up for the sequel. The characters were strong, in that they each had distinct personalities, and each had their own issues to overcome.

Overall, Whisper Goodbye is a solid historical romance, set in a time period I enjoy reading about, and with some deeper themes to get me thinking.

Thanks to Abingdon and NetGalley for providing a free book for review.

[Jayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy via the Goodreads First Reads program.

This is the second in a series, and I did not read the first book. It was fine as a stand alone, but I do feel that I must have missed a lot of the beginning relationship between Mary and Gilbert. As the novel opens, they are already having relationship problems, and the author alludes to quite a few important moments that were not in this book.

I requested this copy due to the time period it was set in. I am not typically a huge fan of Christian Fiction, as I like to read as a form of escapism, and I find Christian Fiction makes it harder for me to reach my preferred level of escape. However, the time period trumped the Christian Fiction, so I gave it a try. It was not overwhelming, but it was definitely too religious for my taste. I will not be reading the rest of the series due to this.

As for the story, I liked it. I loved the time period and the soldiers returning to the war, nurses falling for them plot line. I did not like how long it took for the novel to reach its conclusion. I felt like it was the exact same problem over and over and over and over again. It was a bit frustrating. It was this that kept it from 4 stars for me.

Overall, a sweet read. I did enjoy it. Fans of Christian Fiction will most likely adore it.

[Marian Baay · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading “When the Clouds Roll By”, the first book in this series, I have become to truly enjoy Myra Johnson’s writing style—she has an amazing way with words and knows how to beautifully describe emotions, thoughts and feelings. “Whisper Goodbye” is another story full of drama and emotion that swept me away into the world of Gilbert and Mary—two young people who are meant for each other but it seems impossible to get together as both are dealing with wounds from the past. A elegantly written tale that made me laugh and cry but also sigh in satisfaction as I read about the romance that is so delightfully present in this book. This will be a satisfying read for lovers of romantic and historical fiction. Highly recommended!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Returning from WWII, crippled and addicted to pain killers and alcohol, Gilbert ends his engagement to AnneMarie and starts depending on his nurse, Mary. He hits rock bottom and finally turns to God to help him. He and Mary go through some hard times and he finally does beat his addiction. This book is definitely a Christian romance but the religion doesn't overwhelm the story of love and redemption. Didn't read the first book but will pick it up soon. A nice story and hope there will be more.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful love story that captured my attention from the beginning to the end. It describes the emotions of war, and the toll it takes with addictions to ease the pain of emotional scars. Sometimes we take for granted that which we already have that heals us in the first place. This is a must read and I highly recommend it to all.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

With dealing with a husband who is recovering from addiction, this book touched me. I feel like I have treated him like Mary treated Gilbert. Sweet love story. Being as I have started with book two in this series I feel like I missed a few things though. I really need to go back and get book one. Thanks so much for this Goodreads giveaway.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whisper Goodbye by Myra Johnson was a very good read. I didn't get to read the first book before I read this one and I think, as with all series,that would have been best. But I still really love this book and now I can't wait to read the others in the series.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story line, and was rooting for the couple throughout the book! I had no idea until after reading that there is more in this series, but will definitely be checking them out now.

[Sally Jhon]

i think reading this book might be so intersting

[Mary Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I lived in Hot Springs Arkansas for years. Could picture all the places mentioned here.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of 3
*Great! Love Myra Johnson!