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All We Thought We Knew
She was so sure she knew her family’s story . . . Now she wonders if she was wrong about all of it.
1969. When Mattie Taylor’s twin brother was killed in Vietnam, she lost her best friend and the only person who really understood her. Now, news that her mother is dying sends Mattie back home, despite blaming her father for Mark’s death. Mama’s last wish is that Mattie would read some old letters stored in a locked trunk, from people Mattie doesn’t even know. Mama insists they hold the answers Mattie is looking for.
1942. Ava Delaney is picking up the pieces of her life following her husband’s death at Pearl Harbor. Living with her mother-in-law on a secluded farm in Tennessee is far different than the life Ava imagined when she married only a few short months ago. Desperate to get out of the house, Ava seeks work at a nearby military base, where she soon discovers the American government is housing Germans who they have classified as enemy aliens. As Ava works to process legal documents for the military, she crosses paths with Gunther Schneider, a German who is helping care for wounded soldiers. Ava questions why a man as gentle and kind as Gunther should be forced to live in the internment camp, and as they become friends, her sense of the injustice grows . . . as do her feelings for him. Faced with the possibility of losing Gunther, Ava must choose whether loving someone deemed the enemy is a risk worth taking, even if it means being ostracized by all those around her.
In the midst of pain and loss two women must come face-to-face with their own assumptions about what they thought they knew about themselves and others. What they discover will lead to a far greater appreciation of their own legacies and the love of those dearest to them.
Includes discussion guide for book groupsStandalone Southern, historical family drama about enduring hope amid personal tragedyClean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner or Lisa WingateDual timeline set during the Vietnam War and WWII.
1969. When Mattie Taylor’s twin brother was killed in Vietnam, she lost her best friend and the only person who really understood her. Now, news that her mother is dying sends Mattie back home, despite blaming her father for Mark’s death. Mama’s last wish is that Mattie would read some old letters stored in a locked trunk, from people Mattie doesn’t even know. Mama insists they hold the answers Mattie is looking for.
1942. Ava Delaney is picking up the pieces of her life following her husband’s death at Pearl Harbor. Living with her mother-in-law on a secluded farm in Tennessee is far different than the life Ava imagined when she married only a few short months ago. Desperate to get out of the house, Ava seeks work at a nearby military base, where she soon discovers the American government is housing Germans who they have classified as enemy aliens. As Ava works to process legal documents for the military, she crosses paths with Gunther Schneider, a German who is helping care for wounded soldiers. Ava questions why a man as gentle and kind as Gunther should be forced to live in the internment camp, and as they become friends, her sense of the injustice grows . . . as do her feelings for him. Faced with the possibility of losing Gunther, Ava must choose whether loving someone deemed the enemy is a risk worth taking, even if it means being ostracized by all those around her.
In the midst of pain and loss two women must come face-to-face with their own assumptions about what they thought they knew about themselves and others. What they discover will lead to a far greater appreciation of their own legacies and the love of those dearest to them.
Includes discussion guide for book groupsStandalone Southern, historical family drama about enduring hope amid personal tragedyClean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner or Lisa WingateDual timeline set during the Vietnam War and WWII.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2024
230 people are currently reading
6593 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Shocklee
11 books1,306 followersMichelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including ALL WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, the 2025 Christy Award Book of the Year; APPALACHIAN SONG, a 2024 Christy Award Finalist; COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award in Fiction; and UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Award & Selah Award finalist.
As a woman of mixed heritage--her father's family is Hispanic and her mother's roots go back to Germany--she has always celebrated diversity and feels it's important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction.
With both her sons grown and happily married, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee.
Click the "Influences" link in Michelle's profile to read more about why the theme of forgiveness is important, even in fiction.
As a woman of mixed heritage--her father's family is Hispanic and her mother's roots go back to Germany--she has always celebrated diversity and feels it's important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction.
With both her sons grown and happily married, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee.
Click the "Influences" link in Michelle's profile to read more about why the theme of forgiveness is important, even in fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 462 reviews
August 19, 2024
1942. Ava Delaney after a quick courtship marries Richard and before he’s sent to Hawaii and she’s upset when he’s killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Ava is now stuck living with her grumpy mother-in-law on farm in Tennessee and a very different life she and her husband planned together. Finances are tight, Ava applies for a job at Camp Forest, a nearby military base that’s being used to hold men who were living in America and are now classed as enemy aliens. Here, Ava meets Gunther Schneider, he was once studying to be a doctor, Ava can’t understand why he’s been treated this way, his skills are being wasted and most people don’t think like she does.
The dual timeline story is told from the two main character points of view Ava and Mattie, both are caught up in a war and twenty seven years apart.
1969. Mattie Taylor is furious when her twin brother Mark is killed in Vietnam, she’s lost her womb mate and best friend and leaves the families horse farm straight after his memorial service. Mattie's been gone a year and she receives a message her mother sick and asking her to come home. Mattie isn’t sure what sort of reception she’s going to get when she arrives from her father, she blamed him and Mark’s best friend for not telling him it was a terrible idea to join the Marines. Her mother’s dying wish is for Mattie to read some old letters stored in a trunk, from people Mattie doesn’t even know and she insists they hold the answers her daughter is searching for. Mattie’s finds a way to help those who have been injured in the war, discovers why her father has always been distant and wonders if they can repair their relationship.
I received a copy of All We Thought We Knew from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Michelle Shocklee's well written narrative focuses on the two women having to face their own thoughts, feelings, fears and how they deal with a war, family, the loss of a loved one and illness, anger, regret, secrets and memories and keep their faith.
I’m sure all people question why God doesn't stop wars from starting and why does it keep happening, I certainly have and Ms Shocklee explores this and more in her latest Historical Christian Fiction novel All We Thought We Knew, and I think fans of Melanie Dobson would enjoy this book just as much as I did and five stars from me.
The dual timeline story is told from the two main character points of view Ava and Mattie, both are caught up in a war and twenty seven years apart.
1969. Mattie Taylor is furious when her twin brother Mark is killed in Vietnam, she’s lost her womb mate and best friend and leaves the families horse farm straight after his memorial service. Mattie's been gone a year and she receives a message her mother sick and asking her to come home. Mattie isn’t sure what sort of reception she’s going to get when she arrives from her father, she blamed him and Mark’s best friend for not telling him it was a terrible idea to join the Marines. Her mother’s dying wish is for Mattie to read some old letters stored in a trunk, from people Mattie doesn’t even know and she insists they hold the answers her daughter is searching for. Mattie’s finds a way to help those who have been injured in the war, discovers why her father has always been distant and wonders if they can repair their relationship.
I received a copy of All We Thought We Knew from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Michelle Shocklee's well written narrative focuses on the two women having to face their own thoughts, feelings, fears and how they deal with a war, family, the loss of a loved one and illness, anger, regret, secrets and memories and keep their faith.
I’m sure all people question why God doesn't stop wars from starting and why does it keep happening, I certainly have and Ms Shocklee explores this and more in her latest Historical Christian Fiction novel All We Thought We Knew, and I think fans of Melanie Dobson would enjoy this book just as much as I did and five stars from me.
November 6, 2024
This dual-timeline story is set during WWII and the Vietnam War, where it explores the perspectives of three different individuals: Mattie, Ava, and Gunther. Michelle’s writing style, creativity, and storytelling captivate you as she weaves a beautiful and powerful story with relatable characters, emotional depth, and prominent themes centered around Jesus. This story touches on harder topics, including war and the mistreatment of Germans and Jews, family dynamics, loss, and grief, while intertwined with healing and hope.
I finished this book within a few days because I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t read a story with 3 POVs in a while, and I thought Michelle did a wonderful job. I was invested in all three storylines and was eager to know how they would connect by the end. I loved the inclusion of horse therapy; it was one of my favorite parts of the story. I also really enjoyed the bit of mystery and twists the author included and the sweet, slow-burn romance✨
This was my 2nd book by Michelle Shocklee, and she is easily becoming a new favorite author of mine. I will definitely be reading more books by her, and I highly recommend checking this book out!✨
Content Discretions: No spice or language; war trauma; death of a loved one; cancer; mention of drugs/addiction; mention of suicide; physical injuries (amputation); grief; internment camps, impact of PTSD
I finished this book within a few days because I couldn’t put it down. I haven’t read a story with 3 POVs in a while, and I thought Michelle did a wonderful job. I was invested in all three storylines and was eager to know how they would connect by the end. I loved the inclusion of horse therapy; it was one of my favorite parts of the story. I also really enjoyed the bit of mystery and twists the author included and the sweet, slow-burn romance✨
This was my 2nd book by Michelle Shocklee, and she is easily becoming a new favorite author of mine. I will definitely be reading more books by her, and I highly recommend checking this book out!✨
Content Discretions: No spice or language; war trauma; death of a loved one; cancer; mention of drugs/addiction; mention of suicide; physical injuries (amputation); grief; internment camps, impact of PTSD
November 13, 2024
All We Thought We Knew was easily in my top 10 reads of 2024. This book is Shocklee's strongest writing and most engaging book yet, and I can't say enough good things about it.
Both timelines were very engaging, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to continue with each characters' story as the book progressed. There were definitely some heavier topics in the book, like losing a loved one from cancer, but while it was heavy it was perfectly balanced with grief and hope. The emotions all of the characters felt at the injustice of loss and suffering wrongly was so palpable both on the page and in my heart.
If you're looking for a book you won't soon forget, read this one.
Both timelines were very engaging, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to continue with each characters' story as the book progressed. There were definitely some heavier topics in the book, like losing a loved one from cancer, but while it was heavy it was perfectly balanced with grief and hope. The emotions all of the characters felt at the injustice of loss and suffering wrongly was so palpable both on the page and in my heart.
If you're looking for a book you won't soon forget, read this one.
December 11, 2024
1942 and 1969 Tennessee
A page turner that blends threads set during the Vietnam War and WWII.
Mattie is devastated when her twin Mark doesn't return from Vietnam. She reacts by turning to free living with a like minded group in California. Meanwhile, her mother has now lost not only her son, but her daughter as well. When Mattie returns home after receiving notice that her mother is critically ill, she has to face the reality that her brother is gone. She also learns there is much more about her parents past than she knew about.
A page turner that blends threads set during the Vietnam War and WWII.
Mattie is devastated when her twin Mark doesn't return from Vietnam. She reacts by turning to free living with a like minded group in California. Meanwhile, her mother has now lost not only her son, but her daughter as well. When Mattie returns home after receiving notice that her mother is critically ill, she has to face the reality that her brother is gone. She also learns there is much more about her parents past than she knew about.
September 23, 2024
“God doesn’t mind us asking questions when hard things happen, but when we start telling him who should live and who should die … well, that simply isn’t something we should ever do.”
Martha Ann ‘Mattie’ Taylor, Gunther Schneider, Nash McCallum, and Ava Delaney held up a mirror to some of my responses and reactions in the past and gave me an opportunity to pivot and make changes for the future. I think the line that had the deepest impact was the reminder to see others for who they are, not where they came from.
I also appreciated the author highlighting:
✔️the damage of resentment and selfishness
✔️how to navigate the loss of someone we don’t truly know
✔️the far-reaching effects of our choices and the damage consequences play
I loved a front-row seat to Mattie’s growth and marveled at the power of God in working with her disbelief and orchestrating Nash to come into her life and help her trust and continue grieving. We’ve all commented in anger that we’ll never do something again. We’ve all stormed away from people and places. Perhaps we even doubt God’s existence. The author shows us how God’s grace works and how faith takes root and changes all our ‘nevers’.
I appreciated a chance to Google Camp Forrest and copy the following quotes into my journal:
“Hope for today. Hope for tomorrow.”
“…didn’t want darkness and despair to win.”
Tullahoma, Tennessee is home to more than one miracle in this book. You need to read this fantastic historical fiction with a light/sweet romance to find out! You’ll be reminded about “all you thought [you] knew” and realize the danger of presumptions
Martha Ann ‘Mattie’ Taylor, Gunther Schneider, Nash McCallum, and Ava Delaney held up a mirror to some of my responses and reactions in the past and gave me an opportunity to pivot and make changes for the future. I think the line that had the deepest impact was the reminder to see others for who they are, not where they came from.
I also appreciated the author highlighting:
✔️the damage of resentment and selfishness
✔️how to navigate the loss of someone we don’t truly know
✔️the far-reaching effects of our choices and the damage consequences play
I loved a front-row seat to Mattie’s growth and marveled at the power of God in working with her disbelief and orchestrating Nash to come into her life and help her trust and continue grieving. We’ve all commented in anger that we’ll never do something again. We’ve all stormed away from people and places. Perhaps we even doubt God’s existence. The author shows us how God’s grace works and how faith takes root and changes all our ‘nevers’.
I appreciated a chance to Google Camp Forrest and copy the following quotes into my journal:
“Hope for today. Hope for tomorrow.”
“…didn’t want darkness and despair to win.”
Tullahoma, Tennessee is home to more than one miracle in this book. You need to read this fantastic historical fiction with a light/sweet romance to find out! You’ll be reminded about “all you thought [you] knew” and realize the danger of presumptions
November 25, 2024
All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee was a very captivating historical fiction with undertones of Christian faith mixed in. This was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Michelle Shocklee and I was quite impressed with her masterful storytelling abilities. All We Thought We Knew was written in a dual timeline. It portrayed the climate of feelings, acceptance and everyday life during the Second World War and the Vietnam War which were exemplified in sharp contrast. All We Thought We Knew was told from the POV of three main characters, two that lived during World War II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor and one that came of age during the controversial Vietnam War. The setting for All We Thought We Knew was a horse farm in the heart of Tennessee.
Ava met Richard Delaney at a USO dance in Nashville. It was love at first sight for Richard and after their brief three week courtship Richard asked Ava to marry him. Richard was in the Navy and he was to be stationed in Hawaii. Ava and Richard were married and the plan was for Ava to join him in Hawaii as soon as he was able to secure housing for them. Unfortunately, Richard did not live long enough for him to welcome Ava in Hawaii. Richard was a victim of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He died before he and Ava were able to start their lives together. Ava found herself a widow living on her mother-in-law’s horse farm in Tullahoma, Tennessee. As hard as Ava tried, it was extremely difficult to like her mother-in-law, Gertrude. She was bitter about her son’s death and Gertrude proved to be a cold and demanding force towards Ava. Finances were tight so Ava felt compelled to help Gertrude with the horse farm despite the way Gertrude treated Ava and the guilt she instilled upon her. Then one morning, Ava noticed an advertisement in the local newspaper for employment opportunities for civilians at Camp Forrest, a military base. Ava had been a secretary In Nashville before she married Richard. She decided to apply for a position and to her surprise and delight she was assigned to work with the head doctor of the base’s hospital. Ava’s life was about to change dramatically.
Gunther Schneider was a young medical student enrolled at Columbia’s school of medicine in the early years of World War II. He had immigrated from Germany in 1937 specifically for the purpose of attending medical school in the United States. Gunther was a very conscientious and hard working man. He was showing promise of a very bright future in medicine when his whole life changed in an instant. One evening, Gunther was studying in his small apartment when he heard insistent knocking on his apartment door. The Japanese had just attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States had declared war on both Japan and Germany. Anyone of German descent was being questioned and detained. German descendants were now considered enemy aliens. Gunther Schneider found himself detained on Ellis Island until he was relocated to Camp Forrest in Tennessee. Ava’s and Gunther’s paths crossed at Camp Forrest. How would a chance meeting become the stimulus that guided the relationship Ava and Gunther developed? Would Ava be able to help Gunther improve his situation at Camp Forrest?
Martha Ann or Mattie Taylor, as almost everyone called her, grew up on Delaney Horse Farm in Tullahoma, Tennessee with her twin brother, Mark. Ava was their mother. Mattie and Mark were as close as any twins could be. Their graduation from high school coincided with the beginnings of the draft for the Vietnam war. Mark’s best friend, Nash McCallum had decided to join the Marines. Nash had a troubled home life and spent more time at his best friend Mark’s house than at his own. He was scheduled to begin his training right after graduation and then be sent to fight in Vietnam. To Mattie’s complete shock, her twin told her and her parents that he had also enlisted in the Marines. Mattie was so opposed to the war. She could not understand why her twin had enlisted in such a senseless war. Mark had such a promising future ahead of him. He had been accepted to a prestigious university and had a long time girlfriend whom he was very much in love with. Why would he enlist? Why didn’t her parents talk him out of it? Had Nash convinced him to enlist with him? Mattie was angry at her twin for doing this. Then the unthinkable happened. Mark was killed in action. Mattie left Tennessee right after the funeral they held for brother. It was too painful to remain there. Mattie disappeared for a little over a year. She held a strong grudge against her father for allowing Mark to go to Vietnam in the first place but when her father sent her a message that her mother was dying and that she should come home that was exactly what Mattie did. Ava, Mattie’s mother, had cancer and it was so advanced that there was very little that could be done for her other than keep her as comfortable as possible. Ava had wanted Mattie to come home. There were things that Mattie had know about before her mother passed. Ava made sure that Mattie got to read the letters in her chest that she had kept safely hidden away all these years. What would the letters reveal? What secrets had her mother kept from her? What would Mattie discover about her mother?
All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee was well written and so hard to put down. It touched upon the existence of internment camps, the treatment of Germans who were living in the United States, family, grief, loss, disabled veterans, horse therapy, death of loved ones, family dynamics and a touch of romance. I connected with the main characters and enjoyed the dual time line. Growing up in the 1960’s and 1970’s, I related to the controversy surrounding the war in Vietnam. I felt Mattie’s pain and anger over loosing her brother. It was endearing how Mattie finally found peace through her pursuit of horse therapy for wounded and disabled war veterans. I also enjoyed the slowly growing romance that developed between Mattie and Nash. All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee was one of the better historical fiction novels I have read this year and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Tyndale Fiction for allowing me to read All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Ava met Richard Delaney at a USO dance in Nashville. It was love at first sight for Richard and after their brief three week courtship Richard asked Ava to marry him. Richard was in the Navy and he was to be stationed in Hawaii. Ava and Richard were married and the plan was for Ava to join him in Hawaii as soon as he was able to secure housing for them. Unfortunately, Richard did not live long enough for him to welcome Ava in Hawaii. Richard was a victim of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He died before he and Ava were able to start their lives together. Ava found herself a widow living on her mother-in-law’s horse farm in Tullahoma, Tennessee. As hard as Ava tried, it was extremely difficult to like her mother-in-law, Gertrude. She was bitter about her son’s death and Gertrude proved to be a cold and demanding force towards Ava. Finances were tight so Ava felt compelled to help Gertrude with the horse farm despite the way Gertrude treated Ava and the guilt she instilled upon her. Then one morning, Ava noticed an advertisement in the local newspaper for employment opportunities for civilians at Camp Forrest, a military base. Ava had been a secretary In Nashville before she married Richard. She decided to apply for a position and to her surprise and delight she was assigned to work with the head doctor of the base’s hospital. Ava’s life was about to change dramatically.
Gunther Schneider was a young medical student enrolled at Columbia’s school of medicine in the early years of World War II. He had immigrated from Germany in 1937 specifically for the purpose of attending medical school in the United States. Gunther was a very conscientious and hard working man. He was showing promise of a very bright future in medicine when his whole life changed in an instant. One evening, Gunther was studying in his small apartment when he heard insistent knocking on his apartment door. The Japanese had just attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States had declared war on both Japan and Germany. Anyone of German descent was being questioned and detained. German descendants were now considered enemy aliens. Gunther Schneider found himself detained on Ellis Island until he was relocated to Camp Forrest in Tennessee. Ava’s and Gunther’s paths crossed at Camp Forrest. How would a chance meeting become the stimulus that guided the relationship Ava and Gunther developed? Would Ava be able to help Gunther improve his situation at Camp Forrest?
Martha Ann or Mattie Taylor, as almost everyone called her, grew up on Delaney Horse Farm in Tullahoma, Tennessee with her twin brother, Mark. Ava was their mother. Mattie and Mark were as close as any twins could be. Their graduation from high school coincided with the beginnings of the draft for the Vietnam war. Mark’s best friend, Nash McCallum had decided to join the Marines. Nash had a troubled home life and spent more time at his best friend Mark’s house than at his own. He was scheduled to begin his training right after graduation and then be sent to fight in Vietnam. To Mattie’s complete shock, her twin told her and her parents that he had also enlisted in the Marines. Mattie was so opposed to the war. She could not understand why her twin had enlisted in such a senseless war. Mark had such a promising future ahead of him. He had been accepted to a prestigious university and had a long time girlfriend whom he was very much in love with. Why would he enlist? Why didn’t her parents talk him out of it? Had Nash convinced him to enlist with him? Mattie was angry at her twin for doing this. Then the unthinkable happened. Mark was killed in action. Mattie left Tennessee right after the funeral they held for brother. It was too painful to remain there. Mattie disappeared for a little over a year. She held a strong grudge against her father for allowing Mark to go to Vietnam in the first place but when her father sent her a message that her mother was dying and that she should come home that was exactly what Mattie did. Ava, Mattie’s mother, had cancer and it was so advanced that there was very little that could be done for her other than keep her as comfortable as possible. Ava had wanted Mattie to come home. There were things that Mattie had know about before her mother passed. Ava made sure that Mattie got to read the letters in her chest that she had kept safely hidden away all these years. What would the letters reveal? What secrets had her mother kept from her? What would Mattie discover about her mother?
All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee was well written and so hard to put down. It touched upon the existence of internment camps, the treatment of Germans who were living in the United States, family, grief, loss, disabled veterans, horse therapy, death of loved ones, family dynamics and a touch of romance. I connected with the main characters and enjoyed the dual time line. Growing up in the 1960’s and 1970’s, I related to the controversy surrounding the war in Vietnam. I felt Mattie’s pain and anger over loosing her brother. It was endearing how Mattie finally found peace through her pursuit of horse therapy for wounded and disabled war veterans. I also enjoyed the slowly growing romance that developed between Mattie and Nash. All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee was one of the better historical fiction novels I have read this year and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Tyndale Fiction for allowing me to read All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
October 7, 2024
I can say that if the authors other books are this good she will become a new favorite. This is a binge worthy book with oceans of depth. There are lots of hard topics regarding death, dying, and grief that follows. Discussions of war and the mistreatment of Germans who had nothing to do with Hitler as well as mistreatment of the Jews. There are difficult family dynamics and sweet romance. We follow three POV’s and it was interesting following Mattie who is an outspoken liberal who goes through a faith journey. Her mother Ava’s story, and Gunther who is a German studying to be a Dr. in America. At 30 pages left I swore we would need at least another fifty to have the story come together and the secrets revealed but a little twist at the end cinched up the story. What great story telling!
October 31, 2024
"𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘐 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘱𝘵 . . . "
Ever dive into a book thinking you know what to expect, only to be totally caught off guard? That’s 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙒𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙒𝙚 𝙆𝙣𝙚𝙬. This dual-timeline story unfolds between WWII and the Vietnam War, delivering a powerful, faith-filled narrative on family secrets, love, and the things that break—and ultimately heal—us. Trust me, you’ll want tissues nearby. 💧📖
In the whirlwind of pain, loss, and buried family secrets, two women are thrown face-first into everything they thought they knew about themselves—and each other. What begins as a reluctant trip down memory lane quickly turns into a journey of self-discovery and family drama, leaving them with a whole new appreciation for the love (and, yes, the chaos) that only family can bring.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲:
⏳ Dual Timelines: WWII and Vietnam—two eras, two women, one unforgettable journey.
🏇 Small-Town Charm: Tennessee horse farms and personal redemption provide a heartfelt setting.
❤️ Slow-Burn Romance: A tender German-American love story that’s equal parts longing and risk.
💔 Complex Characters: Ava and Mattie’s journeys are emotional rollercoasters, with deeply satisfying growth.
Themes of grief, love, and self-discovery weave through two timelines, making this a story that stays with you long after the last page.
A must-read for anyone who loves history, romance, and powerful narratives of resilience. Perfect for fans of Susan Meissner or Lisa Wingate
⚠️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁/𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:
No explicit scenes or profane language. Sensitive themes include war trauma, physical injuries (amputation), internment camps, and the impact of PTSD, grief, and parental loss.
⭐ 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 stars for its emotional depth, faith-based themes, and moving storytelling. Slight room for development: The ending wrapped up a bit quickly, which left a few lingering questions. And, a touch more character development in the Vietnam timeline would’ve secured that fifth star!
Ever dive into a book thinking you know what to expect, only to be totally caught off guard? That’s 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙒𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙒𝙚 𝙆𝙣𝙚𝙬. This dual-timeline story unfolds between WWII and the Vietnam War, delivering a powerful, faith-filled narrative on family secrets, love, and the things that break—and ultimately heal—us. Trust me, you’ll want tissues nearby. 💧📖
In the whirlwind of pain, loss, and buried family secrets, two women are thrown face-first into everything they thought they knew about themselves—and each other. What begins as a reluctant trip down memory lane quickly turns into a journey of self-discovery and family drama, leaving them with a whole new appreciation for the love (and, yes, the chaos) that only family can bring.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲:
⏳ Dual Timelines: WWII and Vietnam—two eras, two women, one unforgettable journey.
🏇 Small-Town Charm: Tennessee horse farms and personal redemption provide a heartfelt setting.
❤️ Slow-Burn Romance: A tender German-American love story that’s equal parts longing and risk.
💔 Complex Characters: Ava and Mattie’s journeys are emotional rollercoasters, with deeply satisfying growth.
Themes of grief, love, and self-discovery weave through two timelines, making this a story that stays with you long after the last page.
A must-read for anyone who loves history, romance, and powerful narratives of resilience. Perfect for fans of Susan Meissner or Lisa Wingate
⚠️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁/𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:
No explicit scenes or profane language. Sensitive themes include war trauma, physical injuries (amputation), internment camps, and the impact of PTSD, grief, and parental loss.
⭐ 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 stars for its emotional depth, faith-based themes, and moving storytelling. Slight room for development: The ending wrapped up a bit quickly, which left a few lingering questions. And, a touch more character development in the Vietnam timeline would’ve secured that fifth star!
September 30, 2024
All We Thought We Knew follows the perspectives of three individuals, two during WWII and one during Vietnam war, all on the American homefront. Each brought a unique viewpoint on the wars: a tragic widow, a detained German alien, and “hippie” young woman. I really appreciated the way Michelle used these stories to bring to light some uncommon challenges of both the war eras, but also how the difficulties faced have the opportunity to teach us - for those who are willing to listen.
The writing was honest and vulnerable. The characters showed authentic struggle and growth. And the whole book was very honoring and respectful of our military and serviceman.
I also celebrate this book for being a work of true Christian fiction. Found in its pages is a rich and clear proclamation of the gospel and Jesus’ sacrifice, the characters share faith’s with each other (both their beliefs and questions, and there are multiple Bible passages discussed. She explores the theme of evil, both in wars overseas and in our own human hearts; the age-old question of why bad things happen, especially to people who love and serve God.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Though the market for WWII Historical fiction may be saturated, I don’t actually think it is overdone. They may be fiction, but these books convey stories that akin to the experiences of real people in the past. Stories and people we must hear from and learn from. So, I encourage you to pick up this book and allow it to make you think (and appreciate the sacrifices of so many who have gone before!).
🤐 no language
😍 one or two sweet kisses
⛔️Drug use mentioned, suicide attempt referenced, loss of parent, cancer
Thank you to Tyndale House publishers for the complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
The writing was honest and vulnerable. The characters showed authentic struggle and growth. And the whole book was very honoring and respectful of our military and serviceman.
I also celebrate this book for being a work of true Christian fiction. Found in its pages is a rich and clear proclamation of the gospel and Jesus’ sacrifice, the characters share faith’s with each other (both their beliefs and questions, and there are multiple Bible passages discussed. She explores the theme of evil, both in wars overseas and in our own human hearts; the age-old question of why bad things happen, especially to people who love and serve God.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Though the market for WWII Historical fiction may be saturated, I don’t actually think it is overdone. They may be fiction, but these books convey stories that akin to the experiences of real people in the past. Stories and people we must hear from and learn from. So, I encourage you to pick up this book and allow it to make you think (and appreciate the sacrifices of so many who have gone before!).
🤐 no language
😍 one or two sweet kisses
⛔️Drug use mentioned, suicide attempt referenced, loss of parent, cancer
Thank you to Tyndale House publishers for the complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
July 18, 2025
This was EXCELLENT. It was a bit heavy and dealt with war, grief, and burdens, but was a great read. I have a hard time with dual time lines because I often find myself wanting to stay in one over the other, but I enjoyed both timelines in this one equally as much. It had a good bit of faith based content, and I also found some of the history of the Germans in America being detained during time of war very interesting. I also live on a military base so I really enjoyed the scenes about the base and Avas experiences on the base.
I'm still not sure why I feel bothered by how unaffectionate and distant Gunther was. Near the end, it mentioned how he lived in such shame and fear of being German for so many years, it really stole his life, essentially never really recovering from his time as a detainee in the war. That really grieved and bothered me. It didn't make me like the book less, it just bothered me. Still a great read.
I'm still not sure why I feel bothered by how unaffectionate and distant Gunther was. Near the end, it mentioned how he lived in such shame and fear of being German for so many years, it really stole his life, essentially never really recovering from his time as a detainee in the war. That really grieved and bothered me. It didn't make me like the book less, it just bothered me. Still a great read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2024
Thank you to Michelle Shockley, NetGalley, and Tyndale for this #gifted book!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Title: All We Thought We Knew
Author: Michelle Shocklee
Genre: Historical Fiction
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: “We were on different roads, with different circumstances holding us prisoner, but fear, no matter what it looked like, would eventually destroy us if something didn’t change.” Still reeling from her brother’s death in the Vietnam War, Mattie Taylor returns home to a mother who is dying and a father with whom she has a very rocky relationship. On top of that, her brother’s best friend Nash who is also a war veteran now works for her father. And Mattie blames all of them for her brother’s death. 27 years earlier in 1942, Ava Delaney is facing widowhood as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor. But when a new job at the military base brings her face to face with a German detainee, Ava’s feelings of grief begin to turn to hope and maybe something more. As Ava and Mattie seek to discover healing in their personal lives, both are drawn into life-altering secrets: some that Ava isn’t sure she should keep and others that Mattie isn’t sure she wants to uncover.
Analysis: Michelle Shocklee is a new-to-me author, but this definitely won’t be my last read! I actually grabbed this book on a whim from NetGalley, and I’m so glad that I did! I loved the dual timeline points of view. This book provided a unique look at America in WW2 and some of the camps that were set up stateside. It touches on sensitive issues of prejudice in times of war. The other timeline is during the Vietnam War. I loved that this book provides a Christian perspective on what it may have been like for the young people in America during this time. This book didn’t wrap up with a pretty bow, and I actually loved the book for that. There were a lot of real questions from the main characters, but there was healing and looking to Christ for the answers. This was a book I didn’t know I would love so much, and I think if you read it you will too!
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Title: All We Thought We Knew
Author: Michelle Shocklee
Genre: Historical Fiction
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: “We were on different roads, with different circumstances holding us prisoner, but fear, no matter what it looked like, would eventually destroy us if something didn’t change.” Still reeling from her brother’s death in the Vietnam War, Mattie Taylor returns home to a mother who is dying and a father with whom she has a very rocky relationship. On top of that, her brother’s best friend Nash who is also a war veteran now works for her father. And Mattie blames all of them for her brother’s death. 27 years earlier in 1942, Ava Delaney is facing widowhood as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor. But when a new job at the military base brings her face to face with a German detainee, Ava’s feelings of grief begin to turn to hope and maybe something more. As Ava and Mattie seek to discover healing in their personal lives, both are drawn into life-altering secrets: some that Ava isn’t sure she should keep and others that Mattie isn’t sure she wants to uncover.
Analysis: Michelle Shocklee is a new-to-me author, but this definitely won’t be my last read! I actually grabbed this book on a whim from NetGalley, and I’m so glad that I did! I loved the dual timeline points of view. This book provided a unique look at America in WW2 and some of the camps that were set up stateside. It touches on sensitive issues of prejudice in times of war. The other timeline is during the Vietnam War. I loved that this book provides a Christian perspective on what it may have been like for the young people in America during this time. This book didn’t wrap up with a pretty bow, and I actually loved the book for that. There were a lot of real questions from the main characters, but there was healing and looking to Christ for the answers. This was a book I didn’t know I would love so much, and I think if you read it you will too!
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 4, 2025
This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster full of grief, hardship, joy, and new beginnings. This dual timeline story is full of complex family relationships, diverse perspectives on Vietnam, and sweet romance that you will root for the whole way through.
P.S. Gunther is one of my favorite heroes. He’s such a sweetheart. <3
P.S. Gunther is one of my favorite heroes. He’s such a sweetheart. <3
October 5, 2024
This book held so many memories for me.
Like the author, my father was a WWII veteran and like her, I wish I had asked more questions and gleaned more details when he talked about his experiences. I was very proud of him.
Unlike the author, I remember the Vietnam era well. My husband was in the Navy at that time.
This story brought me to tears many times. It was so authentically written. I connected with Ava more than Mattie. Mattie was very opinionated and to my mind would not consider other views. But she did portray the attitudes of the generation of my teens and early twenties.
I liked the steadiness of Kurt and Nash. They overcame the overwhelming conditions of war. The faith element permeated the story. The characters lived out their beliefs naturally. The theme of family and reconciliation was deftly written.
This is a must read for those wanting a glimpse of the home front during WWII and the connection of that generation to the Vietnam era.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*
Like the author, my father was a WWII veteran and like her, I wish I had asked more questions and gleaned more details when he talked about his experiences. I was very proud of him.
Unlike the author, I remember the Vietnam era well. My husband was in the Navy at that time.
This story brought me to tears many times. It was so authentically written. I connected with Ava more than Mattie. Mattie was very opinionated and to my mind would not consider other views. But she did portray the attitudes of the generation of my teens and early twenties.
I liked the steadiness of Kurt and Nash. They overcame the overwhelming conditions of war. The faith element permeated the story. The characters lived out their beliefs naturally. The theme of family and reconciliation was deftly written.
This is a must read for those wanting a glimpse of the home front during WWII and the connection of that generation to the Vietnam era.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale via NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*
February 16, 2025
This is the 4th book I have read from this author, who I have enjoyed in the past. This one was not her greatest work IMO. I found the storyline to be unbelievable at points and I didn’t get into the characters that much. It had a *yawn* factor for me.
I do like that she writes dual timelines and I learn something about the past from her books. But I would say to pick up a different one!
I do like that she writes dual timelines and I learn something about the past from her books. But I would say to pick up a different one!
April 1, 2025
“There are things you need to know. To understand. Our family… it isn’t what you’ve always believed.”
This book is a dual time period historical fiction that explores war-related challenges in both WWII and the Vietnam War.
I have some mixed feelings about this one. Overall I enjoyed reading it and it gave me some things to think about. However, after I finished it and was reflecting on the story I realized I felt a little underwhelmed. What I read was good, but I think I wanted a little bit more.
Also the ending wasn’t as dramatic as I was hoping for.
I have not really read anything set during (or about) the Vietnam War (The Women is on my TBR), so I really liked exploring that. It reminded me of the show This Is Us and the experiences for the brothers while they were in Vietnam and how it affected each of them differently. This story kinda taps into the controversy about America entering that war, but also about the soldiers coming home to an angry populace— a welcome that looked a little different than the soldiers in WWII.
I liked how Shocklee juxtaposes WWII and the Vietnam War. I think because I’m so far removed from both that I forget that so many people who were alive for the Vietnam War still remembered and held trauma from WWII and that had to have influenced how they viewed the Vietnam War.
Mattie Taylor is the main character in the 1969 time period and I must say she is not super likeable. After news that her mother is dying of cancer she returns home to the horse farm in Tennessee. She had abruptly left the year prior after her twin brother died in Vietnam, angry at her parents for letting him enlist. She spent the year living the hippie, free love and drugs lifestyle in California, trying to mask the pain of her loss.
Now that she’s home her anger has not subsided but has now been leveled up as she accuses her father of not caring about her mother’s health. Mattie is determined that there is more to be done to save her mother from the cancer.
There is also the character of Nash, (who was probably my favorite and I would have loved to have more of his story in it) who has become a farmhand for Mattie’s dad in her absence. He went to Vietnam with Mattie’s twin and his best friend, Mark. Nash lives with his own survivor’s guilt and an amputated arm to remind him of what he lost in the war. Part of the character development in this book is Mattie’s attitude towards Nash, which at first is the familiar anger we have come to associate with her.
In all of this, it’s evident from the start that Mattie needs to get off her high horse. Pun intended.
The other time period (1942) revolves around the character Ava Delaney (of Delaney Horse Farms) who has just lost her husband (of a few weeks) in the attack at Pearl Harbor. With nowhere to go she lives with her bitter mother-in-law on the horse farm in Tennessee. She ends up getting a job at the military base, Camp Forrest (historically accurate and interesting to read more about), where she comes into contact with internees— civilians detained just because they were of German, Japanese, or Italian descent.
She develops a relationship with one particular German internee— Gunther— as she helps him improve his English.
The title of this book is what draws these two time periods together— All We Thought We Knew.
Both Ava and Mattie think they know something about the war or about the prisoners or about the soldiers or for Mattie- about their family, but as the story progresses they realize they may have gotten some things wrong. Perhaps not all Germans detained are like Hitler. Perhaps the soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War should still be heralded as heroic even if America’s involvement was a mistake. Perhaps wars are still necessary even if they aren’t good.
This leads me to probably the main reason I felt underwhelmed by this book. There is a lot of build up to this family secret that Mattie’s mom wants her to know. The WWII timeline holds the clues.
But once the big reveal is made, instead of the splash of a boulder hitting the water, it is like the blip of a pebble. The payoff from the build up was disproportionate.
I would have liked to see some more drama as the timelines converge.
The Problem of Evil
Another aspect of this story is Mattie’s struggle with the goodness of God and the evil in the world.
“I can’t believe in a God who would fill your body with a vile disease and then sit back and do nothing to help. I won’t believe in a God who let my brother die a horrific death, fighting a horrific war that should have never happened.”
“I couldn’t blindly believe, I needed logical answers.”
Shocklee uses Mattie’s character to touch on this very common objection to Christianity— If God exists, how do we explain the evil in the world? If God exists either he isn’t good because he doesn’t stop the evil or he can’t because he isn’t powerful enough.
To her credit, Shocklee does point to the cross where we see evidence that whatever happens to us that we can’t explain, we can see Jesus’ sacrifice for us, his entering into a broken world to experience suffering and death, and know that it’s not because he doesn’t love us.
If I had been writing the book I think I would have spent more time answering Mattie’s questions, but Shocklee chose to be more subtle and to allow the reader to do more work as they work through their own struggles. I’m sure there are readers who were already flinching at the ‘God stuff’ in the book and would not have liked any further apologetics, but I say- if you’re going to go there, go all in.
So I’ll offer a few things that were not in the book as a way of defense:
In his book Why Believe? Neil Shenvi mentions C.S. Lewis’s quote as he reflects on his experience as an atheist: “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.”
The argument of evil is actually evidence FOR the existence of God. If there is no objective good or evil then how can you argue that evil exists without God? If there is objective good or evil, then where does it come from? Furthermore, knowing my own propensity to be selfish and choose things that only benefit myself, the fact that the world is not completely destroyed by human evilness, that there is any good in the world at all is evidence that God exists, restraining evil however much he sees fit and transforming hearts to desire what is good when before there was only selfishness.
Another important point is that if we think a good God would never allow evil, we are operating out of an assumption that God’s ultimate goal for his people is their happiness. But that is not true. His goal for us is knowledge of him that leads to true and eternal life.
Shenvi says, “If God is less interested in our physical comfort and more interested in producing in us a certain kind of character, then it makes much more sense that we face trials, hardships, and suffering that can produce in us forbearance, bravery, mercy, and compassion.”
Of course there are certain evils that don’t seem to fit into this explanation and so logically we come to place where we have to acknowledge— there is a difference between saying ‘I see no good reason for this evil’ and saying ‘There are no good reasons for this evil.’ Is it possible that if an all-knowing and all-powerful God could stop evil, it’s also possible God is doing it for reasons we don’t understand?
Lastly, we know that God’s ultimate goal is to bring glory to himself. Humans exist to that end. When we find joy in him, it brings glory to him, but we also bring glory to him when we see the fullness of his character— his mercy AND his justice.
“Evil can remain evil and yet can permit two great goods that would otherwise be impossible: the display of God’s mercy to sinners and the display of God’s judgment on sin.”
Much has been written on this and if you’re struggling with this seeming dichotomy of evil and a good God, I would highly encourage you to explore more because there is peace and comfort and truth to be had.
Here is a podcast, an article, this video and ones like it, and this list of relevant articles to start.
Recommendation
If you enjoy historical fiction books, I think you’ll mostly enjoy this one. In my mind the historical fiction genre is not about explosive secrets and big reveals as much as the thriller genre so what let me down could very well have been wrong expectations and you may not be super miffed about it.
Overall, it reads fairly fast and the setting of the story was interesting to read about.
Based on my reviews of most of the historical fiction I’ve read this year, I think I’m still exploring what it takes to be a five star historical fiction read for me and I’d hate to skew your interest in this book just because I want my history to be more surprising.
I also do appreciate that Shocklee included the very real human struggle we have with evil in the world and I think the Vietnam War setting along with the cancer diagnosis was a good ‘storm’ to introduce it and I hope readers contemplate and explore how we can answer that.
So yes, I would loosely recommend this book but it’s not going to knock your socks off.
**Received a copy via Tyndale in exchange for an honest review**
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
This book is a dual time period historical fiction that explores war-related challenges in both WWII and the Vietnam War.
I have some mixed feelings about this one. Overall I enjoyed reading it and it gave me some things to think about. However, after I finished it and was reflecting on the story I realized I felt a little underwhelmed. What I read was good, but I think I wanted a little bit more.
Also the ending wasn’t as dramatic as I was hoping for.
I have not really read anything set during (or about) the Vietnam War (The Women is on my TBR), so I really liked exploring that. It reminded me of the show This Is Us and the experiences for the brothers while they were in Vietnam and how it affected each of them differently. This story kinda taps into the controversy about America entering that war, but also about the soldiers coming home to an angry populace— a welcome that looked a little different than the soldiers in WWII.
I liked how Shocklee juxtaposes WWII and the Vietnam War. I think because I’m so far removed from both that I forget that so many people who were alive for the Vietnam War still remembered and held trauma from WWII and that had to have influenced how they viewed the Vietnam War.
Mattie Taylor is the main character in the 1969 time period and I must say she is not super likeable. After news that her mother is dying of cancer she returns home to the horse farm in Tennessee. She had abruptly left the year prior after her twin brother died in Vietnam, angry at her parents for letting him enlist. She spent the year living the hippie, free love and drugs lifestyle in California, trying to mask the pain of her loss.
Now that she’s home her anger has not subsided but has now been leveled up as she accuses her father of not caring about her mother’s health. Mattie is determined that there is more to be done to save her mother from the cancer.
There is also the character of Nash, (who was probably my favorite and I would have loved to have more of his story in it) who has become a farmhand for Mattie’s dad in her absence. He went to Vietnam with Mattie’s twin and his best friend, Mark. Nash lives with his own survivor’s guilt and an amputated arm to remind him of what he lost in the war. Part of the character development in this book is Mattie’s attitude towards Nash, which at first is the familiar anger we have come to associate with her.
In all of this, it’s evident from the start that Mattie needs to get off her high horse. Pun intended.
The other time period (1942) revolves around the character Ava Delaney (of Delaney Horse Farms) who has just lost her husband (of a few weeks) in the attack at Pearl Harbor. With nowhere to go she lives with her bitter mother-in-law on the horse farm in Tennessee. She ends up getting a job at the military base, Camp Forrest (historically accurate and interesting to read more about), where she comes into contact with internees— civilians detained just because they were of German, Japanese, or Italian descent.
She develops a relationship with one particular German internee— Gunther— as she helps him improve his English.
The title of this book is what draws these two time periods together— All We Thought We Knew.
Both Ava and Mattie think they know something about the war or about the prisoners or about the soldiers or for Mattie- about their family, but as the story progresses they realize they may have gotten some things wrong. Perhaps not all Germans detained are like Hitler. Perhaps the soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War should still be heralded as heroic even if America’s involvement was a mistake. Perhaps wars are still necessary even if they aren’t good.
This leads me to probably the main reason I felt underwhelmed by this book. There is a lot of build up to this family secret that Mattie’s mom wants her to know. The WWII timeline holds the clues.
But once the big reveal is made, instead of the splash of a boulder hitting the water, it is like the blip of a pebble. The payoff from the build up was disproportionate.
I would have liked to see some more drama as the timelines converge.
The Problem of Evil
Another aspect of this story is Mattie’s struggle with the goodness of God and the evil in the world.
“I can’t believe in a God who would fill your body with a vile disease and then sit back and do nothing to help. I won’t believe in a God who let my brother die a horrific death, fighting a horrific war that should have never happened.”
“I couldn’t blindly believe, I needed logical answers.”
Shocklee uses Mattie’s character to touch on this very common objection to Christianity— If God exists, how do we explain the evil in the world? If God exists either he isn’t good because he doesn’t stop the evil or he can’t because he isn’t powerful enough.
To her credit, Shocklee does point to the cross where we see evidence that whatever happens to us that we can’t explain, we can see Jesus’ sacrifice for us, his entering into a broken world to experience suffering and death, and know that it’s not because he doesn’t love us.
If I had been writing the book I think I would have spent more time answering Mattie’s questions, but Shocklee chose to be more subtle and to allow the reader to do more work as they work through their own struggles. I’m sure there are readers who were already flinching at the ‘God stuff’ in the book and would not have liked any further apologetics, but I say- if you’re going to go there, go all in.
So I’ll offer a few things that were not in the book as a way of defense:
In his book Why Believe? Neil Shenvi mentions C.S. Lewis’s quote as he reflects on his experience as an atheist: “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.”
The argument of evil is actually evidence FOR the existence of God. If there is no objective good or evil then how can you argue that evil exists without God? If there is objective good or evil, then where does it come from? Furthermore, knowing my own propensity to be selfish and choose things that only benefit myself, the fact that the world is not completely destroyed by human evilness, that there is any good in the world at all is evidence that God exists, restraining evil however much he sees fit and transforming hearts to desire what is good when before there was only selfishness.
Another important point is that if we think a good God would never allow evil, we are operating out of an assumption that God’s ultimate goal for his people is their happiness. But that is not true. His goal for us is knowledge of him that leads to true and eternal life.
Shenvi says, “If God is less interested in our physical comfort and more interested in producing in us a certain kind of character, then it makes much more sense that we face trials, hardships, and suffering that can produce in us forbearance, bravery, mercy, and compassion.”
Of course there are certain evils that don’t seem to fit into this explanation and so logically we come to place where we have to acknowledge— there is a difference between saying ‘I see no good reason for this evil’ and saying ‘There are no good reasons for this evil.’ Is it possible that if an all-knowing and all-powerful God could stop evil, it’s also possible God is doing it for reasons we don’t understand?
Lastly, we know that God’s ultimate goal is to bring glory to himself. Humans exist to that end. When we find joy in him, it brings glory to him, but we also bring glory to him when we see the fullness of his character— his mercy AND his justice.
“Evil can remain evil and yet can permit two great goods that would otherwise be impossible: the display of God’s mercy to sinners and the display of God’s judgment on sin.”
Much has been written on this and if you’re struggling with this seeming dichotomy of evil and a good God, I would highly encourage you to explore more because there is peace and comfort and truth to be had.
Here is a podcast, an article, this video and ones like it, and this list of relevant articles to start.
Recommendation
If you enjoy historical fiction books, I think you’ll mostly enjoy this one. In my mind the historical fiction genre is not about explosive secrets and big reveals as much as the thriller genre so what let me down could very well have been wrong expectations and you may not be super miffed about it.
Overall, it reads fairly fast and the setting of the story was interesting to read about.
Based on my reviews of most of the historical fiction I’ve read this year, I think I’m still exploring what it takes to be a five star historical fiction read for me and I’d hate to skew your interest in this book just because I want my history to be more surprising.
I also do appreciate that Shocklee included the very real human struggle we have with evil in the world and I think the Vietnam War setting along with the cancer diagnosis was a good ‘storm’ to introduce it and I hope readers contemplate and explore how we can answer that.
So yes, I would loosely recommend this book but it’s not going to knock your socks off.
**Received a copy via Tyndale in exchange for an honest review**
Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph
August 30, 2024
Have your tissues ready. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion
June 14, 2024
I received this book on NetGalley after I saw it at the TLA conference in San Antonio,Tx. If you enjoy reading historical fiction then this is the book for you. Especially if you like reading about World War 2. This books shows how three lives are intersected. 2 of the people we learn about, Ava and Gunther, experience the horrors of World War 2. Gunther is studying to be a doctor in the states when he gets detained in an internment camp just for being German. It is there, at one of the military stations, that he meets Ava. She isn’t like the other Americans and they form a bond. This book goes between their story and the story of Mattie. Mattie is opposed to the Vietnam war and when she lost her brother to the war she withdrew from her family until she finds out that her mom is sick. She comes home to make amends and spend time with her mom only to find out there’s a huge family secret. A secret she learns by reading letters her mother had kept. This is a powerful story of forgiveness and how tragedy can bring healing to a family. The author has done her research and the story is heartfelt. Keep a box of tissues near you! I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys WW2 fiction.
November 29, 2024
This was rounded up from 2.5 stars. I liked the storyline, but did not realize the author specialized in Christian novels. I was somewhat turned off by this aspect of the novel.
February 12, 2025
Nice story, nothing spectacular. The main character kind of irritated me.
May 24, 2025
This book was so good! The main characters were great, and I was hooked from the beginning to the end! I loved the dual time setting of World War Two and Vietnam. I would read this again and definitely recommend!
July 17, 2025
what a whirlwind of emotions.
Read
December 12, 2024I liked this book more than I thought I would. I like when story lines tie together!
November 21, 2024
This was 3.5 for me. It was a sweet read and I love how Jesus changes everything. He’s the only one that can change the heart.
November 22, 2025
5 stars
Completed: Feb. 26/25
Format: Audible audiobook
Narrator: Caroline Hewitt (PHENOMENAL!)
Challenge Prompt: CNL's #40 of 50 - "set during WW2" -- the earlier timeline is during WW2.
Book #24 of 2025: This is my second book by Shocklee and I loved it as much as the other, Appalachian Song. The same narrator is used for both and she is a top favourite of mine now.
There are two timelines in this story. We begin the novel with a 1942 timeline during WW2 and the other begins in 1969. Both timelines are equally fascinating. Ava, in the earlier timeline, is my favourite character. I just respect all she overcame, all she accomplished, and what she did with her life. Gunther is also just a joy to read about. He is a man of honor and integrity despite enduring many awful things done to him.
Even though Mattie (1969) comes across quite abrasive, I respect the growth arc that she has. Underneath her strong opinions is someone who deeply grieves her twin, Mark, greatly and wants the love and respect of her distant father.
I really appreciate all the personal insights into these periods of history, things we maybe haven't heard as much about in the history books. There were some pretty ugly truths of man hurting man. War is ugly and it can result in hurt, shame, and pain for generations.
Both women go through a journey to discover that they don't always know the correct or full truth about a matter. Or perhaps their assumptions and expectations weren't correct to begin with. I knew where the story was going with the mystery aspect but that didn't bother me at all. It's such a poignant aspect of the story.
I strongly recommend this author and I would encourage choosing the audiobook if you're an audiobook lover. I was immersed into both timelines right off the cuff and I enjoyed every moment of this novel.
Completed: Feb. 26/25
Format: Audible audiobook
Narrator: Caroline Hewitt (PHENOMENAL!)
Challenge Prompt: CNL's #40 of 50 - "set during WW2" -- the earlier timeline is during WW2.
Book #24 of 2025: This is my second book by Shocklee and I loved it as much as the other, Appalachian Song. The same narrator is used for both and she is a top favourite of mine now.
There are two timelines in this story. We begin the novel with a 1942 timeline during WW2 and the other begins in 1969. Both timelines are equally fascinating. Ava, in the earlier timeline, is my favourite character. I just respect all she overcame, all she accomplished, and what she did with her life. Gunther is also just a joy to read about. He is a man of honor and integrity despite enduring many awful things done to him.
Even though Mattie (1969) comes across quite abrasive, I respect the growth arc that she has. Underneath her strong opinions is someone who deeply grieves her twin, Mark, greatly and wants the love and respect of her distant father.
I really appreciate all the personal insights into these periods of history, things we maybe haven't heard as much about in the history books. There were some pretty ugly truths of man hurting man. War is ugly and it can result in hurt, shame, and pain for generations.
Both women go through a journey to discover that they don't always know the correct or full truth about a matter. Or perhaps their assumptions and expectations weren't correct to begin with. I knew where the story was going with the mystery aspect but that didn't bother me at all. It's such a poignant aspect of the story.
I strongly recommend this author and I would encourage choosing the audiobook if you're an audiobook lover. I was immersed into both timelines right off the cuff and I enjoyed every moment of this novel.
May 18, 2025
The story was ok, nothing too deep.... it was an easy read but felt it lacked substances. Some topics could have been developed more but everything was just kinda grazed over.
September 9, 2024
"We were on different roads, with different circumstances holding us prisoner, but fear, no matter what it looked like, would eventually destroy us if something didn't change."
What a powerful, poignant, and impactful novel about fear, grief, faith and repercussions of war. Michelle Shocklee is a master of words, weaving a captivating story of a family that experiences WWII in 1942 and Vietnam War in 1969. The two timelines fuse together seamlessly and, though there are multiple narrators, the voices blend perfectly to bring forth a tale that will grip your heart and soul.
In 1942, Ava had the first person voice while Gunther had the third person voice. Ava was immensely likeable with her tender and beautiful heart, voice of reason and justice, and hard-working attitude. Gunther was a memorable hero - kind, long-suffering, and ever so faithful. I had not known the treatment the first generation German immigrants without US citizenship endured at internment camps during WWII and learned a lot through Gunther.
In 1969, Mattie narrated in first person. She came across as a spoiled, selfish, stubborn, angry, and arrogant young woman for the first half of the book. Her anger understandably stemmed from her blinding and overwhelming grief of losing her twin and slowly losing her mom, but her judgmental ways did not endear her to me until she discovered a worthy cause and a purpose for her life. Though Nash did not have a voice in 1969, his steadfast and loyal heart was quite lovely to befriend and his steadying influence on Mattie was lovely as well. And the secrets! The family secrets will definitely bowl you over.
Fans of historical fiction must pick up this newest offering by Michelle Shocklee. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
What a powerful, poignant, and impactful novel about fear, grief, faith and repercussions of war. Michelle Shocklee is a master of words, weaving a captivating story of a family that experiences WWII in 1942 and Vietnam War in 1969. The two timelines fuse together seamlessly and, though there are multiple narrators, the voices blend perfectly to bring forth a tale that will grip your heart and soul.
In 1942, Ava had the first person voice while Gunther had the third person voice. Ava was immensely likeable with her tender and beautiful heart, voice of reason and justice, and hard-working attitude. Gunther was a memorable hero - kind, long-suffering, and ever so faithful. I had not known the treatment the first generation German immigrants without US citizenship endured at internment camps during WWII and learned a lot through Gunther.
In 1969, Mattie narrated in first person. She came across as a spoiled, selfish, stubborn, angry, and arrogant young woman for the first half of the book. Her anger understandably stemmed from her blinding and overwhelming grief of losing her twin and slowly losing her mom, but her judgmental ways did not endear her to me until she discovered a worthy cause and a purpose for her life. Though Nash did not have a voice in 1969, his steadfast and loyal heart was quite lovely to befriend and his steadying influence on Mattie was lovely as well. And the secrets! The family secrets will definitely bowl you over.
Fans of historical fiction must pick up this newest offering by Michelle Shocklee. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers via Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
November 5, 2025
Once again Michelle Shocklee delivers an engaging dual timeline novel with deep topics and themes.
I loved the two timelines. Obviously WW2 is covered a lot in fiction, but I really liked reading about a time that isn’t written about as often: Vietnam. It was especially interesting to read in that timeline from the perspective of someone who was anti-war.
There is so much character development in Mattie’s storyline. In the beginning I didn’t really like her, but by the end I was rooting for her and loved seeing her true character shine through. I loved seeing her care for her mom in illness, find friendship with Nash, discover her purpose with horses, and find reconciliation with her father.
In Ava and Gunther’s timeline, I enjoyed seeing the inner workings of an establishment like Camp Forrest. I loved seeing their friendship grow. I want to read more about the imprisonment of civilian Germans in the US. How sad for those who were innocent. Not to mention the prejudice they faced after the war.
A few things:
Why wasn’t Gunther affectionate towards his wife and kids? He seems so sweet and nice in the WW2 timeline.
I didn’t see the point of Ivy Lee as a character. I kept expecting something explosive to happen with her character. She seemed pointless.
I also didn’t see the need for the other romance option for Ava. It was clear it wasn’t going to happen, and just took up page space.
I definitely recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction. Looking forward to reading Michelle’s newest release soon
I loved the two timelines. Obviously WW2 is covered a lot in fiction, but I really liked reading about a time that isn’t written about as often: Vietnam. It was especially interesting to read in that timeline from the perspective of someone who was anti-war.
There is so much character development in Mattie’s storyline. In the beginning I didn’t really like her, but by the end I was rooting for her and loved seeing her true character shine through. I loved seeing her care for her mom in illness, find friendship with Nash, discover her purpose with horses, and find reconciliation with her father.
In Ava and Gunther’s timeline, I enjoyed seeing the inner workings of an establishment like Camp Forrest. I loved seeing their friendship grow. I want to read more about the imprisonment of civilian Germans in the US. How sad for those who were innocent. Not to mention the prejudice they faced after the war.
A few things:
Why wasn’t Gunther affectionate towards his wife and kids? He seems so sweet and nice in the WW2 timeline.
I didn’t see the point of Ivy Lee as a character. I kept expecting something explosive to happen with her character. She seemed pointless.
I also didn’t see the need for the other romance option for Ava. It was clear it wasn’t going to happen, and just took up page space.
I definitely recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction. Looking forward to reading Michelle’s newest release soon
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2025
This was a very bitter sweet book.
I have read a lot of Christian novels, but faith wise, this one might take the the cake. Because in a lot of Christian books, I find that the faith troubles aren't that relatable or come off, I don't know, cringey? Cliche?
But this book was different.
It asked hard questions in hard times. I really like that and I kind of related to a certain aspect of it.
I really liked this book. The twist of timelines between Vietnam and WWII was really interesting. I think my only problem with it that at the end some of it felt rushed. Otherwise, I would defiantly recommend.
I have read a lot of Christian novels, but faith wise, this one might take the the cake. Because in a lot of Christian books, I find that the faith troubles aren't that relatable or come off, I don't know, cringey? Cliche?
But this book was different.
It asked hard questions in hard times. I really like that and I kind of related to a certain aspect of it.
I really liked this book. The twist of timelines between Vietnam and WWII was really interesting. I think my only problem with it that at the end some of it felt rushed. Otherwise, I would defiantly recommend.
September 13, 2025
Gripping tale!
The audio version of this is just beautiful!
Full review to come
The audio version of this is just beautiful!
Full review to come
November 27, 2024
3.5 stars.
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