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Take Me Home
Miller's Creek, Wisconsin, 1945. As a war rages on, a new era of hope takes root . . . and one young woman faces a difficult choice for the chance at a love of a lifetime.
Olivia Marsten never imagined she'd be a war bride. But when her childhood best friend surprises her with a marriage proposal, she reluctantly accepts. She can't bear to send him off to serve in the Navy with a broken heart . . . even though her heart belongs to someone else.
Sparks fly the moment mysterious stranger Peter Becker lays eyes on Olivia. He never hesitated to pull her out of harm's way-risking his own life to save hers. Yet as kind as he is handsome, Peter harbors a dark secret. The son of an American soldier, he was forced to join the Reich's army to protect his German mother. Now an escaped POW, he's determined to spend every moment he can with beautiful Olivia before he must turn himself in.
But a dangerous enemy Peter knows all too well is on the loose, threatening the fragile future he and Olivia are building together. What happens when the truth of Peter's identity comes to light? And can their love withstand it?
Olivia Marsten never imagined she'd be a war bride. But when her childhood best friend surprises her with a marriage proposal, she reluctantly accepts. She can't bear to send him off to serve in the Navy with a broken heart . . . even though her heart belongs to someone else.
Sparks fly the moment mysterious stranger Peter Becker lays eyes on Olivia. He never hesitated to pull her out of harm's way-risking his own life to save hers. Yet as kind as he is handsome, Peter harbors a dark secret. The son of an American soldier, he was forced to join the Reich's army to protect his German mother. Now an escaped POW, he's determined to spend every moment he can with beautiful Olivia before he must turn himself in.
But a dangerous enemy Peter knows all too well is on the loose, threatening the fragile future he and Olivia are building together. What happens when the truth of Peter's identity comes to light? And can their love withstand it?
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
41 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Garlock
86 books382 followersDorothy Garlock was a best-selling American author of over 60 historical romance novels, most of them set in the American West. More than 20 million copies of her books are in print, in 18 languages. Her books have been on the New York Times best seller list seven times. She was named one of the 10 most popular writers of women's fiction four years in a row, from 1985-1988. In 1997, she was awarded the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. Garlock is also a member of the Romance Writers Hall of Fame.
Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.
Pen names include:
Johanna Phillips
Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Glenn
Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.
Pen names include:
Johanna Phillips
Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Glenn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
December 7, 2019
”When I say ‘I love you,’
My dearest, it is true.
Yet I must lie to have you,
So what am I to do?”
Synopsis: Billy: I’ve known we’ve been friends for a hella long time, and I’m about to be shipped of and have my brains potentially blasted off by Hitler’s minions, but… will you marry me?
Olivia, turning into an awkward turtle: Umm…. Yeah?!!
Olivia, One Millisecond After: I immediately regret this decision.
:German Adonis Peter Becker walks into town and bats his eyelashes, when he probably only had a particle of dust in his eye.
Olivia: Hell, I really, REALLY regret this decision.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Biblio-Babble
I Don’t Care, and It’s No Big Deal, But I Want More: You see the plot synopsis right above you there? That’s basically the entire plot. Olivia Marston half-heartedly accepts a marriage proposal from her childhood best friend Billy because she doesn’t want to break his heart before he gets shipped out into the Army. 200 pages worth of bemoaning that decision and keeping up with the charade of ‘Yeah, let’s get married even though I don’t feel for you that way” ensue. Awkward glances, stiff smiles, and held-back tears that, when finally released, will probably be enough to create a new Red Sea and someone is gonna have to call Moses back down to part it. But no matter. Small town societal expectations must prevail!!! Billy’s a banker’s son!! Every girl in her right mind should want to marry a banker! His mother has a cheese board!! And yet she just doesn’t love him that way. Honestly, the suffering she imparts on herself is of her own making; so it may be kind of hard for readers to even feel sorry for her.
Matchmaker, Matchmaker Find Me a Male:Peter Becker is what I would like to call a Danielle Steel male. Practically perfect in every way. Just a little too perfect. I mean, he’s tall, blonde, muscular and handsome. He has washboard abs so defined you could probably grate cheese on them. He speaks both German and English, and by some miracle, is able to speak English without a German accent (don’t even begin to ask me how that happens). He’s noble, he’s kind, he’s brave. He willingly runs into a burning barn and magically calms down the horses enough to get them out. He jumps in front a moving truck drivin by the town drunk to save a woman he barely even knows, giving himself two concussions in the same week. Good Lord, the dude is practically a walking Ken doll, for crying out loud. Le sigh, if only he weren’t the enemy. You see, Peter is the product of an American father and a German mother living in Germany, and due to a pesky technicality, he had to fight for German Reich instead of the American Army. While being transferred to an American POW camp, the train he is on turns over and catches fire, giving him an opportunity to escape alongside his extremely psychotic chain-mate (more on him later). Falling in love wasn’t part of the process, but he just can’t resist his little self when he sees Olivia Marston.
Don’t Make Me Call the Bear Jew: Speaking of said psychotic chain-mate, Otto is said chain-mate to Peter. And unfortunately, he’s the exact polar opposite of Peter. Aka, he’s the stereotypical psychotic Nazi that Hitler would be proud of. He wants nothing more than to strike fear into the heart of those who oppose the Nazi regime and spread the Hitler word as if it were the hospital. Cause why not, right? And how does he manage to do that? By becoming a serial arsonist and later coming up with the extremely bright idea to kill someone. This plotline was way to overdone and outlandish for me to even take it seriously enough to include it here, but it’s a part of the story, so what can you do? I know the author was trying to be serious, but it came off as more silly and contrived than anything else.
I Won’t Say I’m In Like, But I Kind of Am?: If I could describe this book, it would be a Hallmark movie in book form. Because Lord Almighty, if passages about falling in love at first sight and knowing that that person is the one for you and , ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve never seen anyone more gorgeous in my entire life even though I’m barely over the age of twenty” and descriptions of kisses so passionate and deep that you’ll either start to reexamine your own kissing experience of mentally gag, then this book would qualify. It’s unapologetically mushy and gushy and sentimental, and the author lays it on thick. And I think that’s why her books have been so popular over the years. They’re simple, plain, straightforward love stories that will provide a little fluff to a person’s life. She does capture that nostalgic of old-time love, and man, do they not make those type of love stories anymore. I’ll admit I’m a total sucker occasionally for a romance set during the 1940s and 1950s, simply because it seemed to be a much simpler time. So she gets that part, but jaded modern readers will probably turn their nose up at this.
*****************************
This being my very first Dorothy Garlock book, I can’t say if any of her other books are written like this. However, if they are, then I would compare Garlock to Danielle Steel, another extremely popular romance writer. They had very similar descriptions of characters and the writing style was generally very similar to hers. If you like Steel, you’ll like Garlock. If you don’t like Steel, you won’t like this one. And despite a pretty vanilla plot and characters who are better suited to a Hallmark special than real life, this book is one I would recommend if you want an ooey-gooey romance filled with grand declarations of love and small-town charm.
My dearest, it is true.
Yet I must lie to have you,
So what am I to do?”
Synopsis: Billy: I’ve known we’ve been friends for a hella long time, and I’m about to be shipped of and have my brains potentially blasted off by Hitler’s minions, but… will you marry me?
Olivia, turning into an awkward turtle: Umm…. Yeah?!!
Olivia, One Millisecond After: I immediately regret this decision.
:German Adonis Peter Becker walks into town and bats his eyelashes, when he probably only had a particle of dust in his eye.
Olivia: Hell, I really, REALLY regret this decision.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Biblio-Babble
I Don’t Care, and It’s No Big Deal, But I Want More: You see the plot synopsis right above you there? That’s basically the entire plot. Olivia Marston half-heartedly accepts a marriage proposal from her childhood best friend Billy because she doesn’t want to break his heart before he gets shipped out into the Army. 200 pages worth of bemoaning that decision and keeping up with the charade of ‘Yeah, let’s get married even though I don’t feel for you that way” ensue. Awkward glances, stiff smiles, and held-back tears that, when finally released, will probably be enough to create a new Red Sea and someone is gonna have to call Moses back down to part it. But no matter. Small town societal expectations must prevail!!! Billy’s a banker’s son!! Every girl in her right mind should want to marry a banker! His mother has a cheese board!! And yet she just doesn’t love him that way. Honestly, the suffering she imparts on herself is of her own making; so it may be kind of hard for readers to even feel sorry for her.
Matchmaker, Matchmaker Find Me a Male:Peter Becker is what I would like to call a Danielle Steel male. Practically perfect in every way. Just a little too perfect. I mean, he’s tall, blonde, muscular and handsome. He has washboard abs so defined you could probably grate cheese on them. He speaks both German and English, and by some miracle, is able to speak English without a German accent (don’t even begin to ask me how that happens). He’s noble, he’s kind, he’s brave. He willingly runs into a burning barn and magically calms down the horses enough to get them out. He jumps in front a moving truck drivin by the town drunk to save a woman he barely even knows, giving himself two concussions in the same week. Good Lord, the dude is practically a walking Ken doll, for crying out loud. Le sigh, if only he weren’t the enemy. You see, Peter is the product of an American father and a German mother living in Germany, and due to a pesky technicality, he had to fight for German Reich instead of the American Army. While being transferred to an American POW camp, the train he is on turns over and catches fire, giving him an opportunity to escape alongside his extremely psychotic chain-mate (more on him later). Falling in love wasn’t part of the process, but he just can’t resist his little self when he sees Olivia Marston.
Don’t Make Me Call the Bear Jew: Speaking of said psychotic chain-mate, Otto is said chain-mate to Peter. And unfortunately, he’s the exact polar opposite of Peter. Aka, he’s the stereotypical psychotic Nazi that Hitler would be proud of. He wants nothing more than to strike fear into the heart of those who oppose the Nazi regime and spread the Hitler word as if it were the hospital. Cause why not, right? And how does he manage to do that? By becoming a serial arsonist and later coming up with the extremely bright idea to kill someone. This plotline was way to overdone and outlandish for me to even take it seriously enough to include it here, but it’s a part of the story, so what can you do? I know the author was trying to be serious, but it came off as more silly and contrived than anything else.
I Won’t Say I’m In Like, But I Kind of Am?: If I could describe this book, it would be a Hallmark movie in book form. Because Lord Almighty, if passages about falling in love at first sight and knowing that that person is the one for you and , ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve never seen anyone more gorgeous in my entire life even though I’m barely over the age of twenty” and descriptions of kisses so passionate and deep that you’ll either start to reexamine your own kissing experience of mentally gag, then this book would qualify. It’s unapologetically mushy and gushy and sentimental, and the author lays it on thick. And I think that’s why her books have been so popular over the years. They’re simple, plain, straightforward love stories that will provide a little fluff to a person’s life. She does capture that nostalgic of old-time love, and man, do they not make those type of love stories anymore. I’ll admit I’m a total sucker occasionally for a romance set during the 1940s and 1950s, simply because it seemed to be a much simpler time. So she gets that part, but jaded modern readers will probably turn their nose up at this.
*****************************
This being my very first Dorothy Garlock book, I can’t say if any of her other books are written like this. However, if they are, then I would compare Garlock to Danielle Steel, another extremely popular romance writer. They had very similar descriptions of characters and the writing style was generally very similar to hers. If you like Steel, you’ll like Garlock. If you don’t like Steel, you won’t like this one. And despite a pretty vanilla plot and characters who are better suited to a Hallmark special than real life, this book is one I would recommend if you want an ooey-gooey romance filled with grand declarations of love and small-town charm.
July 18, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book, which takes place in Wisconsin in the mid 1940's. Olivia is a young lady who reluctantly accepts a marriage proposal from Billy (who is her best friend, but whom she does not love in a romantic way). Then less than a week later she unexpectedly meets Peter, a German prisoner of war who escapes from a train that is bringing him and other POW's to a prison camp across the country. Peter conceals his identity in order to have a chance with Olivia, who of course, falls "in love" with him instantly. There were some parts to the story that I did find annoying, like how quickly Peter and Olivia fall in love with each other (even though they know nothing about each other and just met). The whole story moves rather quickly, with Olivia getting engaged, meeting Peter, breaking her engagement with Billy, and having "relations" with Peter in a relatively short amount of time (like a two week period). I also did not like how everyone just accepts Peter, this stranger in their midst, and nobody ever really questions where he came from and what he is doing in their small remote town. And why does he not have a German accent..at all?! Why does nobody question the coincidence of unusual events happening in the town right after Peter arrives? I think some parts of the story were a bit unbelievable. So, while I did enjoy reading the book, I had to suspend my belief in reality for a bit while I read it.
October 6, 2019
Not a huge fan of this book. I found the writing a bit basic and there wasn't a great deal of description to add colour to the story. The plot itself was okay. I found the fact that their romance grew so quickly kind of unrealistic. I know it was supposed to be a "love at first sight" kind of situation but I found it unbelievable and without substance.
A relatively short novel that was easy to get through. Although it lacked something and doesn't leave me with any lasting impressions.
A relatively short novel that was easy to get through. Although it lacked something and doesn't leave me with any lasting impressions.
February 8, 2016
Disappointing.
Not only was I not particularly interested in the plot or invested in the characters or their lives, I found myself skipping paragraphs after 34%. I was curious as to how they'd resolve the "main issue," but... didn't really care. Which is a shame, since I'm pretty sure I've enjoyed other books by Dorothy Garlock. :\
Not only was I not particularly interested in the plot or invested in the characters or their lives, I found myself skipping paragraphs after 34%. I was curious as to how they'd resolve the "main issue," but... didn't really care. Which is a shame, since I'm pretty sure I've enjoyed other books by Dorothy Garlock. :\
May 26, 2017
First time reading this author. I was a little disappointed it started out so well then introduced a harlequin type girl who proceeds to fall into bed with a stranger soon after meeting. I just expected a cleaner story more sensible heroine. Will try another book maybe
October 21, 2021
I feel as if they rushed the ending. So many different “climaxes” happened within 45 pages it gave off the vibe of being rushed.
May 10, 2017
The story was a good one, however, I was worn out by Ms Garlock's repetitive narration. This book could have been half as long if she had only told the readers something once. It's a story of boy meets girl, girl is engaged to another boy who has been her friend since childhood, new boy is full of mystery, etc. Peter is a captured German prisoner of war who escapes during a train wreck on the way to the prison camp. He is chained to another prisoner, Otto, who is mean and brutal. They finally get the shackles off and Peter goes into the closest town for food. There he meets Olivia and saves her from being run over by a drunk driver, but he is injured. She takes him to her parents' home and nurses him. Her father is the sheriff. Fires start breaking out in the town and Peter believes the mean prisoner is behind them, but he's already lied about where he came from and what he's doing in the town, so he can't tell the sheriff about Otto. Peter becomes a hero by saving horses from one fire and the sheriff and his family from another. Meanwhile Olivia and Peter fall in love and, of course, jump into bed (after she breaks her engagement to Billy). After they make love Peter knows he has to tell the truth, but the fire at the sheriff's house happens to delay the truth telling. By the time the whole story comes out Peter is a hero and the sheriff manages to get him a light sentence so he can come back and marry Olivia.
July 14, 2019
Super sappy start. Love at first sight- Olivia is in a pickle. Her best friend from childhood has just proposed. Because he was about to enter WW11 she said yes even though she felt no romance for him because she feared he would be careless on the battlefield and die. Peter is a German prisoner of war who escapes during a train wreck with another vicious character. Peter speaks perfect English because his father was American and is on his way to turn himself in when he saves Olivia’s life and is injured. Will they fall in love? Will she escape her engagement to Billy? Will he tell the truth of his past to her? Will the crazed Otto cause trouble???
September 26, 2018
Before this novel, I had never heard of Dorothy Garlock. After this novel, I want to find any and every book she has ever written and BINGE. This story takes place in the 1940s, the time of WWII. Normally, I find older-set books hard to follow whether it be because of lack of relation to the times or the old, broken English many authors use. Garlock writes an incredible story of love and lust. A true page-turner that has you hoping and wondering all the way to the last word.
May 10, 2018
Always Great
I have read many authors, but Dorothy Garlock is one of my top favorites. All of her books are so different and unique. Do yourself a favor, and give this one a read. You won't be sorry.
I have read many authors, but Dorothy Garlock is one of my top favorites. All of her books are so different and unique. Do yourself a favor, and give this one a read. You won't be sorry.
March 28, 2025
This was very simply written but wasn’t cheesy or corny. It really felt like you were reading journals from each of these townspeople and soldiers in the voice of the time period, I think the author captured that really well. Glad it had a happy ending.
August 25, 2017
Book on Tape...I read it back and forth to the cabin...fine for that...kept me awake:)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2018
Set in the 1940s, this is the tale of a small town sheriff's daughter captivated by a stranger in town who turns out to not be what he claims to be.
July 29, 2019
Have read many books by this author, some multiple times, and enjoyed them. For some reason had major problems getting through this book. Probably me. Did finish it, but it was a chore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2022
Good book, center around war, family and love
December 5, 2022
A lifetime career in law and a sheriff didn't notice the damage cuffs inflicted on a stranger's wrists? Too many questions, not enough logic.
July 12, 2023
It was ok
July 23, 2023
good summer read. German prisoner of war in train wreck in US. Frees himself and wants to report to small town sheriff . Falls in love with the daughter and takes his time to tell the truth
September 10, 2023
The book started out real slow but, overall it did become interesting as you got to know the characters more. Overall it was a good read.
April 8, 2024
Too graphic for me so quit about chapter 8.
April 20, 2024
The plot is ok, but the writing is a bit too simplistic. It tries to be more sophisticated, but it fails. I’m actually not sure why I finished it. Skip this one.
October 9, 2024
3.5 stars. An eventful love story at the close of WW II with a setting in the US. Escaped German prisoners of War bring destruction to a small town but perhaps not both are responsible.
March 18, 2025
Stirrings of a great Garlock and worth the read, but lags kind of in the middle.
June 23, 2014
TAKE ME HOME
Dorothy Garlock
Grand Central Publishing
July 2014
By the spring of 1945 many young men from Miller’s Creek, Wisconsin had enlisted in the Second World War; some will never come home. Billy Tate, the banker’s son, has tried his best to enlist but he has a weak heart and has been rejected countless times. He found a doctor just recently that cleared him to enlist, and he joined the Navy and is scheduled to report for boot camp in less than a month. Billy and Olivia Marsten have been best friends since they were eight. During all these years Olivia never once suspected that Billy was in love with her and was not prepared when he proposed marriage; and, he hopes to have the wedding before he leaves for camp. Knowing it was a mistake Olivia said yes, and she was as miserable about her decision as Billy was ecstatic. Olivia loves Billy, but it’s like a best friend or brother.
Three dozen German prisoners of war are on a train bound for an internment camp in Minnesota when the locomotive has a horrible wreck. Peter Becker was handcuffed to Otto Speer, an angry, ugly, militant Nazi who managed to get them both off the train. They escaped and ran for days. Peter’s father, Thomas, was from Pennsylvania and fought in the First World War. After the war, Thomas stayed and eventually married a beautiful German woman. Thomas died before the family could return to America and Peter was forced to join the German army or his mother would be punished. Eventually Peter and Otto are able to get their handcuffs off, and Peter intends to turn himself in; Otto plans to terrorize the Amerikaners.
Peter meets Olivia as he is walking into Miller’s Creek to find a sheriff. He saves her from being hit by a speeding pickup and finds himself a hero. Peter speaks perfect English, so no one suspects that he is the enemy.
TAKE ME HOME is a sweet and poignant story of love, acceptance, and family. The characters are wonderfully developed, the romance is tender, and the storylines are interesting. The award winning Dorothy Garlock always tells her stories well.
February 14, 2015
This is a book about love. Love between a man and a woman, family love, neighborly love and love of a way of life.
Olivia is a young woman in small town Wisconsin during WWII. Her father is the town sheriff and her mother is the town nag. Olivia has a younger sister, Grace.
Her best friend, Billy, has been her best friend since they were very young. He is in love Olivia and always has been.
Peter is a man who is a stranger to the small town. He behaves in a heroic manner by saving Olivia’s life. Immediately he falls in love with Olivia and the feeling eventually becomes mutual.
Peter is welcomed into town by nearly everyone. But, he is definitely not welcomed by Billy nor by Olivia’s mother. And it turns out he is hiding a huge secret. He is a German Prisoner of War and he has escaped from a prison camp. His plan was to pass through this town but his plans are completely changed because of the love between he and Olivia.
We have an intense romance and there is also a mystery. A fellow prisoner escaped with Peter. He is a Nazi and he hates America and he has vowed to punish as many people as possible.
This is a well written plot. We see the love between friends and neighbors in this small town. We see the sacrifices made in Olivia’s family in order to avoid punishing verbal assaults by Olivia’s mother, Elizabeth.
The love between Peter and Olivia is very intense. Billy’s love for Olivia is bittersweet because the reader realizes that Olivia will never feel for him what he feels for her.
To me, the love triangle was a very sad plot twist. The characters are very well defined and each of the main characters is a person who draws us deeper into the story. There is a humanity which feels very real.
This is a well written book, just as one would expect from Ms Garlock.
I received this book from the publisher in the hope I would write a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Olivia is a young woman in small town Wisconsin during WWII. Her father is the town sheriff and her mother is the town nag. Olivia has a younger sister, Grace.
Her best friend, Billy, has been her best friend since they were very young. He is in love Olivia and always has been.
Peter is a man who is a stranger to the small town. He behaves in a heroic manner by saving Olivia’s life. Immediately he falls in love with Olivia and the feeling eventually becomes mutual.
Peter is welcomed into town by nearly everyone. But, he is definitely not welcomed by Billy nor by Olivia’s mother. And it turns out he is hiding a huge secret. He is a German Prisoner of War and he has escaped from a prison camp. His plan was to pass through this town but his plans are completely changed because of the love between he and Olivia.
We have an intense romance and there is also a mystery. A fellow prisoner escaped with Peter. He is a Nazi and he hates America and he has vowed to punish as many people as possible.
This is a well written plot. We see the love between friends and neighbors in this small town. We see the sacrifices made in Olivia’s family in order to avoid punishing verbal assaults by Olivia’s mother, Elizabeth.
The love between Peter and Olivia is very intense. Billy’s love for Olivia is bittersweet because the reader realizes that Olivia will never feel for him what he feels for her.
To me, the love triangle was a very sad plot twist. The characters are very well defined and each of the main characters is a person who draws us deeper into the story. There is a humanity which feels very real.
This is a well written book, just as one would expect from Ms Garlock.
I received this book from the publisher in the hope I would write a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 17, 2014
I received an advanced copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley.
Olivia Marsten is living in a small town in the Midwest when World War II breaks out. In order to help with the war effort, she takes a job at the local hardware store, maintains a victory garden, and heads up the recycling drives in her town. One day her best friend, Billy, who is about to go off to war himself, decides to propose marriage to her. Even though they have been friends their whole lives, she is not really sure that she has romantic feelings for him. In the midst of all this, a handsome stranger walks into town an actually saves Olivia’s life. As she gets closer to Peter she realizes that she is attracted to this new man in her life much more so than her best friend Billy. A good part of the story is taken up with Olivia trying to decide what to do about these two men in her life.
Peter also has a secret that, if revealed, could cost him the chance of being with Olivia. Peter was on a train headed to a POW camp for German soldiers. Peter was captured in the war in France and now he is a prisoner of the United States. But on the way to the POW camp, his train is derailed and he escapes with another prisoner. Peter’s father is actually an American so Peter sounds American and there is nothing about him that gives away his true identity.
This book started out very strong with the story of Peter and how, as a German soldier, ends up on an American train to a POW camp. But the second half of the story that is centered in Millers Creek becomes very stagnant. I was tired of reading about Olivia’s dilemma over the two men in her life. The romantic scene in the book between Olivia and Peter also seemed forced and juvenile. The ending to the story is also abrupt and there is an epilogue to tie up the loose ends of the story. TAKE ME HOME is a great idea for an historical novel, but the execution of it was definitely lacking.
Olivia Marsten is living in a small town in the Midwest when World War II breaks out. In order to help with the war effort, she takes a job at the local hardware store, maintains a victory garden, and heads up the recycling drives in her town. One day her best friend, Billy, who is about to go off to war himself, decides to propose marriage to her. Even though they have been friends their whole lives, she is not really sure that she has romantic feelings for him. In the midst of all this, a handsome stranger walks into town an actually saves Olivia’s life. As she gets closer to Peter she realizes that she is attracted to this new man in her life much more so than her best friend Billy. A good part of the story is taken up with Olivia trying to decide what to do about these two men in her life.
Peter also has a secret that, if revealed, could cost him the chance of being with Olivia. Peter was on a train headed to a POW camp for German soldiers. Peter was captured in the war in France and now he is a prisoner of the United States. But on the way to the POW camp, his train is derailed and he escapes with another prisoner. Peter’s father is actually an American so Peter sounds American and there is nothing about him that gives away his true identity.
This book started out very strong with the story of Peter and how, as a German soldier, ends up on an American train to a POW camp. But the second half of the story that is centered in Millers Creek becomes very stagnant. I was tired of reading about Olivia’s dilemma over the two men in her life. The romantic scene in the book between Olivia and Peter also seemed forced and juvenile. The ending to the story is also abrupt and there is an epilogue to tie up the loose ends of the story. TAKE ME HOME is a great idea for an historical novel, but the execution of it was definitely lacking.
May 18, 2023
Dorothy Garlock is one of my favorite author's, so of course I was excited to receive a copy free through Goodreads First Reads. This story is set in the 1940''s towards the end of WWII although this is not one of my favorite era's to read about I dove into it immediately because after all it is Dorothy Garlock and she does not disappoint. We meet Olivia Marsten doing all she can to help the war effort from her small home town of Miller's Creek, Wisconsin working in the hardware store and collecting whatever she could from her neighbors that could help with the war effort. Her best friend Billy Tate has enlisted and will be leaving for training in a few weeks so she is shocked when he proposes to her and tells her has had feelings for her since they were kids, but what is even more shocking is that she says yes but for all the wrong reasons. Enter Peter Becker an escaped German solider on his way to a an internment camp in Minnesota. Although Peter fights for the German army he is half American his father an American solider met and fell in love with a German girl and chose to stay. Peter hates Hitler and all he stands for but is afraid of what would happen to his mother if he runs so he enlists and fights for the German army to keep her safe. This is a case of love at first sight, boy gets injured and stays in the girl's family home, boy lies about his name and where he is from since his dad was American he is able to speak English fluently. As is in most of Garlock's books there is a villain which is a fellow escaped German solider who has a vendetta for all American's and eventually Peter who he sees as a traitor. This book was a little short I felt like I needed a little more character development and that Olivia and Peter fell into love way too fast and easily they really didn't spend that much time together. Overall it was a good book, a solid 3 stars it picked up in the second half.
July 20, 2014
2.5 Stars
This book had some great bare bones and intriguing story points. I enjoyed seeing the American home front in the closing days of WWII, seeing how the everyday man and woman dealt with most men being away at war and having to scrounge for everyday necessities. Once the story actually got rolling, I enjoyed some of the characters and felt like I could root for them in their endeavors. Some aspects of the romance were sweet and enjoyable; I especially enjoyed how connected Peter and Olivia felt to each other and how meant for each other they were.
However, I do have to say that I'm pretty ambivalent about this novel. I was bored for most of it and had to make myself keep reading in places. Many of the characters seemed flat. More than once, I felt like slapping the main character and tell her to actually make a decision damn it!. She seemed very passive for much of the book and is probably my least favorite character. There were also times I felt like the plot was contrived and things worked out just too well to keep the story flowing.
Overall, this is not a book I'd go back to. There were elements I enjoyed, some of the characters, some romantic elements, and the historical details. But the passive main character and contrived plot points left me cold and amazed I actually finished this book. Personally, I'd skip this one.
Note: Book received via GoodReads FirstReads program for free in exchange for an honest review.
This book had some great bare bones and intriguing story points. I enjoyed seeing the American home front in the closing days of WWII, seeing how the everyday man and woman dealt with most men being away at war and having to scrounge for everyday necessities. Once the story actually got rolling, I enjoyed some of the characters and felt like I could root for them in their endeavors. Some aspects of the romance were sweet and enjoyable; I especially enjoyed how connected Peter and Olivia felt to each other and how meant for each other they were.
However, I do have to say that I'm pretty ambivalent about this novel. I was bored for most of it and had to make myself keep reading in places. Many of the characters seemed flat. More than once, I felt like slapping the main character and tell her to actually make a decision damn it!. She seemed very passive for much of the book and is probably my least favorite character. There were also times I felt like the plot was contrived and things worked out just too well to keep the story flowing.
Overall, this is not a book I'd go back to. There were elements I enjoyed, some of the characters, some romantic elements, and the historical details. But the passive main character and contrived plot points left me cold and amazed I actually finished this book. Personally, I'd skip this one.
Note: Book received via GoodReads FirstReads program for free in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2014
This is another good novel by Dorothy Garlock. This novel takes place in Wisconsin near the end of World War II. Most of the men in the small town of Miller's Creek are gone to war and Oivia is working at the hardware store. Her best friend, Billy, is about to leave for basic training and proposes to her and she accepts - not because she loves him but because she doesn't want to hurt his feelings. Her mother is thrilled because he is from a rich family. Olivia is very conflicted over what she has done but sees no way out. Then a new mystery man shows up in town. He is an escaped German prisoner (who speaks perfect English because he had an American father) and Olivia falls in love with him without knowing his background. The novel is about the love triangle between Olivia and the two men. I didn't think that this was one of Dorothy Garlock's best books and I thought that it was very unbelievable at times. But its an entertaining book and I recommend it for a quick read.
June 27, 2015
This book is set in a small town in America during WWII.
Olivia reluctantly agrees to marry her best friend, Billy before he goes off to war. She loves him but isn't in love with him.
Meanwhile, when The train two German prisoners are on headed to interment crashes, Otto and Peter are handcuffed together and must go everywhere together. Peter wants to stay on the train; Otto wants to escape. Peter does what Otto says because he is vicious and mean. They find shelter in an abandoned cabin and Peter, who speaks English, goes to town for food, he tells Otto, but really to give himself up to the authorities. He walks to the town where Olivia's father is the sheriff and though worried about his German accent, when he sees Olivia on the street, asks her the way to the police station.
This is a love story, so you may guess how it ends, but there are twists and turns, some sad events, some violent.
Olivia reluctantly agrees to marry her best friend, Billy before he goes off to war. She loves him but isn't in love with him.
Meanwhile, when The train two German prisoners are on headed to interment crashes, Otto and Peter are handcuffed together and must go everywhere together. Peter wants to stay on the train; Otto wants to escape. Peter does what Otto says because he is vicious and mean. They find shelter in an abandoned cabin and Peter, who speaks English, goes to town for food, he tells Otto, but really to give himself up to the authorities. He walks to the town where Olivia's father is the sheriff and though worried about his German accent, when he sees Olivia on the street, asks her the way to the police station.
This is a love story, so you may guess how it ends, but there are twists and turns, some sad events, some violent.
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