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Voyage of the Heart
From bestselling author Soraya Lane comes a story of friendship, love, and heartbreak at the end of World War II.
1945: Along with hundreds of other war brides, Betty, Madeline, Alice, and June set sail for New York to be with the men they love.
In the days they spend at sea, the four young women become firm friends and vow to stay in touch no matter what their new lives bring.
Life in a new country comes with many challenges, but Betty, Madeline, Alice, and June didn’t move half way across the world to give up without a fight. As their love is tested, the one thing they can count on is the friendship they forged while crossing the Atlantic.
Revised edition: Previously published as The War Bride Club, this edition of Voyage of the Heart includes editorial revisions.
1945: Along with hundreds of other war brides, Betty, Madeline, Alice, and June set sail for New York to be with the men they love.
In the days they spend at sea, the four young women become firm friends and vow to stay in touch no matter what their new lives bring.
Life in a new country comes with many challenges, but Betty, Madeline, Alice, and June didn’t move half way across the world to give up without a fight. As their love is tested, the one thing they can count on is the friendship they forged while crossing the Atlantic.
Revised edition: Previously published as The War Bride Club, this edition of Voyage of the Heart includes editorial revisions.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2014
1651 people are currently reading
3824 people want to read
About the author
Soraya M. Lane
124 books2,064 followersSoraya M. Lane is the Amazon Charts & Kindle #1 bestselling author of THE SECRET MIDWIFE and THE ITALIAN DAUGHTER.
Soraya is thrilled to be publishing four new novels in 2025. Soraya has two new historical WWII novels, THE PIANIST'S WIFE and THE SECRET LIBRARIAN, and they're both available now. Soraya has also published two more books in her Lost Daughters series. Book #6, THE SPANISH DAUGHTER, was published in March and book #7, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, was published in October.
As a child, Soraya dreamed of becoming an author. Fast forward more than a few years, and Soraya is now living her dream! Soraya describes being an author as "the best career in the world", and she hopes to be writing romance and women's fiction for many years to come.
Soraya loves spending her days thinking up characters for books, and her home is a constant source of inspiration. She lives with her own real life hero and two sons on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.
Add Soraya's latest novel, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, to your Goodreads shelf today!
For more information about Soraya, her books and her writing life, visit sorayalane.com or www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor, or follow her on Instagram @SorayaLaneAuthor. She would love to hear from you.
Soraya is thrilled to be publishing four new novels in 2025. Soraya has two new historical WWII novels, THE PIANIST'S WIFE and THE SECRET LIBRARIAN, and they're both available now. Soraya has also published two more books in her Lost Daughters series. Book #6, THE SPANISH DAUGHTER, was published in March and book #7, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, was published in October.
As a child, Soraya dreamed of becoming an author. Fast forward more than a few years, and Soraya is now living her dream! Soraya describes being an author as "the best career in the world", and she hopes to be writing romance and women's fiction for many years to come.
Soraya loves spending her days thinking up characters for books, and her home is a constant source of inspiration. She lives with her own real life hero and two sons on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.
Add Soraya's latest novel, THE HIDDEN DAUGHTER, to your Goodreads shelf today!
For more information about Soraya, her books and her writing life, visit sorayalane.com or www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor, or follow her on Instagram @SorayaLaneAuthor. She would love to hear from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
July 21, 2019
Seemed too forced. Riding with the top down in a convertible in February? Even in New York, that seems implausible.
March 14, 2013
Many woman today know the heartache of sending off your husband to war and him not returning, but very little of us actually stop to take the time and think how the woman are going to handle the life after death.
In today's day and age there are certain benefits that have been implemented to take care of these woman and children left behind, however this has not always been the case.
In this read the author delved into the lives of four British woman, each who married American soldiers during WW II, after the war ends they embark on a journey to join their husbands in the states, but they have no idea of the troubles and heartache that lies in wait for them.
The main characters of Madeleine, Alice, June and Betty were all extremely well written. The author delved deep into each one's frame of mind, dreams, heartaches and showed just how strong a woman needs to be and can be when circumstances call for it.
I cried so hard for poor Betty when tragedy strikes but I was also overwhelmed with joy when the author let it all turn around for her.
With Alice I was intrigued as at first I thought her young soldier is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is commonly associated with soldiers of today but in the days of
WW II it was unspoken off, a disorder that is manageable but something that will never fully go away, but the author did a fantastic job at blowing my theory out the window and offering up a complete different scenario of events.
And not wanting to give it all away here I will just say as for the other two woman , I was in shock and in awe at the events that lead to these two woman finally finding their own feet and happiness.
The backdrop settings were absolutely stunning. Through the words of the author I could hear the crowds cheering and waving the woman off to the unknown, I could see the sites of New York coming into view and I could hear the sounds of chickens and horses mucking about!
The dialogue was very emotional as the author really let her words touch me as reader, I could honestly feel the pain and sorrow these woman feel when they discover their lives on the other side is not all they had hoped for, or in some cases what they had been promised.
The read was in some instances predictable but just as what I predicted happens the author does a 180 degree turnaround of events and completely surprised me by letting it all change into something new and exciting.
I highly recommend this read, but a fair warning if you are not into the " I cry my eyes out " kind of read then this book is not for you.
If however you love a romance with good, heartfelt emotion and a offering of true life drama and a message of woman are stronger than they look, this is a definite read for you.
I know this read will go to the top of the charts, and it will remain with me as one of the most emotional and powerful reads of this year!
5/5 star review
"Woman who fight to find their happiness"
June 22, 2013
This book was presented to me in an email from an online company who recommends books according to your tastes. I had signed up for historical fiction and a few other genres, but NOT romance. So when this book was recommended, I wrongly assumed it fit one of those categories. I should have double checked on Amazon before ordering, I guess because it is a historical ROMANCE. I don't generally like romance. And, to be fair, I guess by the reviews a lot of people do like this book.
I was very excited to read it because the premise was promising. Plenty of room for drama and deeply developed characters. However, the characters were like paper dolls instead of real people. Perhaps the book was too short to fully develop four women, I don't know. These women were sad caracatures of females and it actually offended me more than a little. It reminded me of how men portrayed women in the 1950's on TV. Hello, Donna Reed! Even the woman who had an affair was portrayed so fakey I couldn't believe her at all. And June? How could a female author portray a woman as so extremely dense and shallow? I mean, come on. She is blindfolded and taken to her new house. When she sees it and is standing alone with her husband, who has loads of money, she has NO IDEA what was going on?
Throughout the book the women's main dialog was "(Insert husband's name)?" Simply his name. Over and over. Like they needed verification from "their man" for every thought that MIGHT occur in their feeble female brain. Additionally, all June thought or cared about was being with her husband. Shopping? No. OH, wait...maybe we can have lunch with my husband. Yes, okay, I"ll go.
The name thing was overused in the dialog in general. In real life people don't generally say the other person's name that they are talking to in almost every sentence. That reads like one of those old Ed McMann (I don't know how he spelled his name) Reader's Digest prize letters.
I got the feeling that this book was like a very thinly developed Harlequin Romance. Surprise! I looked later and found that the author did write for Harlequin. Now, I know there are a lot of women who do (or used to) read those. But, truly, in this day and age, don't they expect the women in those stories to be a little more intelligent, a little more their own person? We burned bras for this???
Oh, and if you are going to list a book as "historical" please know history. Pantyhose did not exist. Women from England did not speak like American women the minute they got off the ship.
I very, very seldom leave a one star review. I hate to do that. I kept reading, praying it would get better. I thought about not reviewing it. However, as a reader AND A WOMAN and I just couldn't stand by and not protest females being portrayed as so silly, shallow, and dense, especially by a female author! Even back in that time period, women DID have brains.
However, if you enjoy romances that are a quick read with no sex and the usual plot, this book fits that bill. If you like sitcoms from the 1950's you will like it even more. There are plenty of people who do, I guess, so this review should actually encourage them to give the book a read.
The cover is also beautiful.
I was very excited to read it because the premise was promising. Plenty of room for drama and deeply developed characters. However, the characters were like paper dolls instead of real people. Perhaps the book was too short to fully develop four women, I don't know. These women were sad caracatures of females and it actually offended me more than a little. It reminded me of how men portrayed women in the 1950's on TV. Hello, Donna Reed! Even the woman who had an affair was portrayed so fakey I couldn't believe her at all. And June? How could a female author portray a woman as so extremely dense and shallow? I mean, come on. She is blindfolded and taken to her new house. When she sees it and is standing alone with her husband, who has loads of money, she has NO IDEA what was going on?
Throughout the book the women's main dialog was "(Insert husband's name)?" Simply his name. Over and over. Like they needed verification from "their man" for every thought that MIGHT occur in their feeble female brain. Additionally, all June thought or cared about was being with her husband. Shopping? No. OH, wait...maybe we can have lunch with my husband. Yes, okay, I"ll go.
The name thing was overused in the dialog in general. In real life people don't generally say the other person's name that they are talking to in almost every sentence. That reads like one of those old Ed McMann (I don't know how he spelled his name) Reader's Digest prize letters.
I got the feeling that this book was like a very thinly developed Harlequin Romance. Surprise! I looked later and found that the author did write for Harlequin. Now, I know there are a lot of women who do (or used to) read those. But, truly, in this day and age, don't they expect the women in those stories to be a little more intelligent, a little more their own person? We burned bras for this???
Oh, and if you are going to list a book as "historical" please know history. Pantyhose did not exist. Women from England did not speak like American women the minute they got off the ship.
I very, very seldom leave a one star review. I hate to do that. I kept reading, praying it would get better. I thought about not reviewing it. However, as a reader AND A WOMAN and I just couldn't stand by and not protest females being portrayed as so silly, shallow, and dense, especially by a female author! Even back in that time period, women DID have brains.
However, if you enjoy romances that are a quick read with no sex and the usual plot, this book fits that bill. If you like sitcoms from the 1950's you will like it even more. There are plenty of people who do, I guess, so this review should actually encourage them to give the book a read.
The cover is also beautiful.
June 7, 2019
Wellll, I love it, but it's not really a for-me book. (I know that sounds weird. Let me explain.)
It's a secular novel, so there are a lot of references to sexual things (though there are no sex scenes) and some cussing (one or two of b*tch, d*mn, and several instances of taking God's names in vain). It's not awful, especially for a secular novel, but it's a bit more than I'm personally comfortable with.
However, it wasn't enough to make me quit reading. I just wouldn't recommend it to more conservative Christian readers.
That said, it's entertaining and super dramatic which is right up my alley. The only problem with the book itself (which was what knocked off that star - the first star is because it wasn't a "WOWWW!" book just a "good!!!" book) is that I felt like the ending was rather rushed and vague. End on Madeline's bitter rant ...? Okay then. :P
But that's just me.
Overall, not really recommended to Christian readers, but it was an okay way to spend an evening, and I did want to know more about war brides!
It's a secular novel, so there are a lot of references to sexual things (though there are no sex scenes) and some cussing (one or two of b*tch, d*mn, and several instances of taking God's names in vain). It's not awful, especially for a secular novel, but it's a bit more than I'm personally comfortable with.
However, it wasn't enough to make me quit reading. I just wouldn't recommend it to more conservative Christian readers.
That said, it's entertaining and super dramatic which is right up my alley. The only problem with the book itself (which was what knocked off that star - the first star is because it wasn't a "WOWWW!" book just a "good!!!" book) is that I felt like the ending was rather rushed and vague. End on Madeline's bitter rant ...? Okay then. :P
But that's just me.
Overall, not really recommended to Christian readers, but it was an okay way to spend an evening, and I did want to know more about war brides!
June 10, 2013
The back if the book tells you everything you need to know. There are no plot twists, no unexpected scenes. It reads like a reader's digest version- enjoyable, but without the depth and character development that would make you really care. Numerous grammatical and typographical errors don't help. I did enjoy the read, but can't recommend it to others unless you just have time to kill and want a quick, light, read that you won't have trouble putting down.
August 19, 2018
Historical fiction covers 1945 going forward.
Four UK women married 4 American military men. These
4 woman took a voyage to the states after WW2. Betty
was 8 months along, Maddy bossy, Alice a pretty nurse,
and Jane shy with a great figure.
Most of the women felt miserable living in the US, dis-
illusioned with the men they barely knew before marriage
and their new in-laws. Mostly gloomy & w/o love.
The author did not get period details right IE she thought
the Army the only US military service branch, a character
wore pantyhose (not invented yet) etc.
Four UK women married 4 American military men. These
4 woman took a voyage to the states after WW2. Betty
was 8 months along, Maddy bossy, Alice a pretty nurse,
and Jane shy with a great figure.
Most of the women felt miserable living in the US, dis-
illusioned with the men they barely knew before marriage
and their new in-laws. Mostly gloomy & w/o love.
The author did not get period details right IE she thought
the Army the only US military service branch, a character
wore pantyhose (not invented yet) etc.
December 19, 2014
This was a Goodreads win for me and I an so glad I received it ... I may not have read it otherwise, and I really liked it. This is a book of friendship, love and heartbreak at the end of World War II. It is about 4 girls who married American service men in 1945. All the girls set sail for New York to be with their men at the end of the war without knowing anything about America or the families they were joining. They struck up a lasting friendship with each other that would last a life time. They encountered numerous challenges which their friendship helped them overcome. It did end up fairly predictable, but I liked that ... friendship wins out over adversity. I thought this was a very good book.
March 24, 2013
I'm very interested in material relating to social relationships during World War II, however I rarely read such material. This book intertwines four women's stories: British women who married American soldiers and shipped off together to meet their men on American soil.
The stories are moderately developed and slightly predictable. However, I'm a sucker for these stories so these factors, along with the mostly unsophisticated prose, did not deter me from enjoying this novel and thinking about it for a few days afterward.
The stories are moderately developed and slightly predictable. However, I'm a sucker for these stories so these factors, along with the mostly unsophisticated prose, did not deter me from enjoying this novel and thinking about it for a few days afterward.
March 24, 2013
Found this on BookBub as a freebie. The summary sounded interesting so I downloaded it. I loved the story and the characters. I would have given it four or five stars but I felt there was a lot more that could have been written about the characters and each of their experiences. The ending seemed too rushed and I would have loved to have read more. Overall a great book!!
March 29, 2013
This was an entertaining story, but the ending was terribly predictable and a little too "happily ever after" to suit me.
I read the Amazon Digital Edition, and the constant typographical errors were extremely annoying and distracting. Seriously, is proofreading a thing of the past? Or do I expect too much?
I read the Amazon Digital Edition, and the constant typographical errors were extremely annoying and distracting. Seriously, is proofreading a thing of the past? Or do I expect too much?
January 10, 2022
Imagine leaving your home as you prepare to head to the US with hopes of a wonderful marriage. War brides Betty, Alice, Madeline, June and Alice set sail all for the name of love. They each come from different backgrounds and form friendships on their voyage. They each have challenges and some thrive, while others suffer. They promised to stay in touch. Are the promises from their husbands true? Were some led astray? Does their friendships strengthen? Does everyone make the voyage? I could imagine these women and the excitement, hesitation, and worries as they set sail to what they all hope will be a better life with their loves ones. This novel is set in 1945 and the end of WWII.
July 23, 2017
Very nice read
It wasn't until I started reading this that I realized I had read this some time ago already, but it's a great story so I just read it again lol.
The 4 women who met and married American Soldiers during WWII also meet each other on board ship crossing over to America to be with said husbands. This story is about friendship, love, loss, grief, even a little bit of adultery thrown in, you will definitely run the full gamut of emotions with this book.
I did enjoy it after all I read it twice lol. I would recommend it. Thanks for sharing your talent and heart Soraya M. Lane.
It wasn't until I started reading this that I realized I had read this some time ago already, but it's a great story so I just read it again lol.
The 4 women who met and married American Soldiers during WWII also meet each other on board ship crossing over to America to be with said husbands. This story is about friendship, love, loss, grief, even a little bit of adultery thrown in, you will definitely run the full gamut of emotions with this book.
I did enjoy it after all I read it twice lol. I would recommend it. Thanks for sharing your talent and heart Soraya M. Lane.
March 1, 2018
Love love love loved this book.
July 17, 2025
Initially fell head over heels for this book but like most classic war time romances was bored by the unjust ending.
Disappointed. Unfair. Characters deserved better. 4stars.
Disappointed. Unfair. Characters deserved better. 4stars.
February 21, 2021
Soraya M. Lane's Wives of War book was an incredible read for me. I was eager for something similar so I picked up Voyage of the Heart. While Wives of War captivated me by the end of the first chapter, Voyage of the Heart took me quite a bit longer to be intrigued enough to keep reading.
The story goes back and forth between four different girls' perspectives. Because of this I would occasionally get smaller details of their lives mixed up, but they were still different enough that they weren't hard to follow.
Even though it took me longer to get into the story I did enjoy it once I was into it. It was another book I was intrigued enough in the outcome that it kept me eagerly reading. It also is an interesting book in regards to each of the girls' having very different marital situations and as to whether a marriage is worth saving or if it's too damaging to continue.
The story goes back and forth between four different girls' perspectives. Because of this I would occasionally get smaller details of their lives mixed up, but they were still different enough that they weren't hard to follow.
Even though it took me longer to get into the story I did enjoy it once I was into it. It was another book I was intrigued enough in the outcome that it kept me eagerly reading. It also is an interesting book in regards to each of the girls' having very different marital situations and as to whether a marriage is worth saving or if it's too damaging to continue.
June 24, 2014
Wow! What an amazing book. One of the best books I have ever read. From the first page, this biik grabs hold of you and does not let go. A story about friendship, love, and finding the strength to stand up for yourself, this book not to be missed!! The four main characters; Betty, Alice, June, and Madeline are as different as they are alike and form a friendship that will last them a lifetime. In these women, female readers will readily identify and understand what they are going through. At times it was so intense that I had to stop reading because I couldn't take it!! A book that I would gladly read again!! When I was done reading The War Bride Club, I felt like I had just woken up from a dream! Only an amazing book like this one can do that to me! Loved it!
June 28, 2017
My Musings
Oh, my. I'm so glad I found this book. I could not stop reading. It is riveting and so moving. Although each War Bride had her trials, they rose above them . I also thoroughly enjoyed the narrator. She handled the transition from an American accent to a British with great expertise. I highly recommend this excellent book. Happy reading 📚!
Oh, my. I'm so glad I found this book. I could not stop reading. It is riveting and so moving. Although each War Bride had her trials, they rose above them . I also thoroughly enjoyed the narrator. She handled the transition from an American accent to a British with great expertise. I highly recommend this excellent book. Happy reading 📚!
August 2, 2017
Voyage of the Heart written by Soraya M Lane for me was a great read and an even better audio experience. It tells the story of four girls who first meet each other on a ship at the end of the Second World War, it is taking them to America to be with their American Husbands who they met when the men were posted to England prior to going to war.
Each girl has their own story to tell and each one is as different as chalk is to cheese and for me, the author put across each girl in a very readable way as they narrated their own story.
I loved this book as it is well written and one which was brimming with every emotion possible, and it showed how each girl was really heading to America in faith alone as they had spent very little time with their husband and in some cases only their wedding night. This is one book which showed not only the romantic stories which indeed did happen but it also showed the heartbreaking and sometimes cruel ways the girls who simply fell in love were treated by those who should have welcomed them to this new life in a country which had very little comparisons to the home they have only ever known which was in the girls case England.
Voyage of the Heart written by Soraya M Lane is a wonderful read and one which had me gripped by each of the girls, and I would also like to recommend the audio version which was narrated by Karen Peakes who give each character their own voice and really added to my enjoyment of this very good read.
Happy to recommend.
Each girl has their own story to tell and each one is as different as chalk is to cheese and for me, the author put across each girl in a very readable way as they narrated their own story.
I loved this book as it is well written and one which was brimming with every emotion possible, and it showed how each girl was really heading to America in faith alone as they had spent very little time with their husband and in some cases only their wedding night. This is one book which showed not only the romantic stories which indeed did happen but it also showed the heartbreaking and sometimes cruel ways the girls who simply fell in love were treated by those who should have welcomed them to this new life in a country which had very little comparisons to the home they have only ever known which was in the girls case England.
Voyage of the Heart written by Soraya M Lane is a wonderful read and one which had me gripped by each of the girls, and I would also like to recommend the audio version which was narrated by Karen Peakes who give each character their own voice and really added to my enjoyment of this very good read.
Happy to recommend.
December 23, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this story of hardship and friendship. I'm a strong believer that people need friends, especially women. Family is wonderful but girlfriends are so necessary for balanced emotional health.
July 22, 2019
Great book
I enjoyed this book! I love that era. The characters are very believable. Plot is very strong. You can get lost in the story. Only reason I have it 4 not 5 is because the ending wasn't as strong as the rest.
I enjoyed this book! I love that era. The characters are very believable. Plot is very strong. You can get lost in the story. Only reason I have it 4 not 5 is because the ending wasn't as strong as the rest.
March 7, 2022
A little dull and corny for me. The author did an excellent job of writing romantic tension between characters, though.
May 29, 2023
I really enjoy Soraya Lane's historical fiction novels. They usually revolve around women during the WWII years. This one focuses on 4 women immediately after WWII, who are war brides and are going to America to meeet up with their husbands.
May 15, 2023
Great book
I really love this book. I love the story and all the four women who fell in love with servicemen in England and took a boat to America to be with their husbands. Very sad on how one of them was treated. (you’ll have to read the book.) but I couldn’t put the book down. I stayed up till three in the morning reading the last few chapters. I recommend this book to everyone. It’s a great read.
I really love this book. I love the story and all the four women who fell in love with servicemen in England and took a boat to America to be with their husbands. Very sad on how one of them was treated. (you’ll have to read the book.) but I couldn’t put the book down. I stayed up till three in the morning reading the last few chapters. I recommend this book to everyone. It’s a great read.
May 1, 2024
A wonderful read about 4 British women who after the war come to the US to be united with American husbands. A wonderful story of friendship, heartache, joy, and love.
August 19, 2014
Der Krieg ist vorbei und Madeline, Alice, June und Betty machen sich auf in die Heimat ihrer Ehemänner nach Amerika. Die vier sind Kriegsbräute, brave englische Mädchen, die sich in die während des zweiten Weltkriegs stationierten GI’s verliebt haben. Sie lernen sich auf dem Schiff kennen und freunden sich an. Jede erwartungsfroh auf das Abenteuer das ihnen bevorsteht, aber auch voller Wehmut mit den Gedanken, bei ihren Angehörigen die daheim bleiben müssen. Angekommen in Amerika, verlieren sich die vier aus den Augen und jede muss sich ihrem Schicksal stellen, dass manchmal so anders ist, als sie es sich erträumt haben. Da sind plötzlich Familien, die die neue Frau nicht akzeptieren, Soldaten, die aus dem Krieg nie heimkehrten, von den Kämpfen gebrochene Männer und unerfüllte Kinderwünsche. Doch als es hart auf hart kommt, stehen die vier fest zusammen und strotzen den Widrigkeiten der neuen Welt.
Ein Buch das mir sehr gefallen hat. Den Mut den die junge Mädchen, die ihre Familie verlassen und sich in ein Land begeben, in Familien die ihnen völlig fremd sind, konnte ich nur bewundern. Jede der vier Mädels hat einen anderen Charakter, und doch harmonieren sie perfekt als Einheit miteinander. Insbesondere Betty hatte es mir angetan. Sie, die bereits während der beschwerlichen Reise ihr Kind gebärt und sich bei ihrer Ankunft dem Drama stellen muss, dass die Liebe ihres Lebens tot ist. Und doch muss sie ihr neues Leben mit ihrem kleinen Sohn meistern, denn sie hat keine Familie zu der sie zurückkehren kann. Von Alice war ich im Verlauf des Buches überrascht. Zuerst hielt ich sie für ein verwöhntes Püppchen, für ein bisschen Luxus zu allem bereit zu sein scheint. Doch hinter der Vampfassade steckt eine Kämpferin, die sich nicht zu schade ist hart zu arbeiten. Die Tatsache, dass nicht bei allen Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen herrschte und das mancher Traum von einem neuen Leben sich nicht erfüllte, machten die Story authentischer.
Das Happy End hätte ich nicht unbedingt gebraucht, aber es war zumindest ein kleines Sahnehäubchen oben drauf, so dass ich das Buch mit dem Gefühl schloss, gerade einer schönen Geschichte gelauscht zu haben, die ein bisschen von den Gefühlen der Auswanderbräute von damals transportieren konnte.
Ein Buch das mir sehr gefallen hat. Den Mut den die junge Mädchen, die ihre Familie verlassen und sich in ein Land begeben, in Familien die ihnen völlig fremd sind, konnte ich nur bewundern. Jede der vier Mädels hat einen anderen Charakter, und doch harmonieren sie perfekt als Einheit miteinander. Insbesondere Betty hatte es mir angetan. Sie, die bereits während der beschwerlichen Reise ihr Kind gebärt und sich bei ihrer Ankunft dem Drama stellen muss, dass die Liebe ihres Lebens tot ist. Und doch muss sie ihr neues Leben mit ihrem kleinen Sohn meistern, denn sie hat keine Familie zu der sie zurückkehren kann. Von Alice war ich im Verlauf des Buches überrascht. Zuerst hielt ich sie für ein verwöhntes Püppchen, für ein bisschen Luxus zu allem bereit zu sein scheint. Doch hinter der Vampfassade steckt eine Kämpferin, die sich nicht zu schade ist hart zu arbeiten. Die Tatsache, dass nicht bei allen Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen herrschte und das mancher Traum von einem neuen Leben sich nicht erfüllte, machten die Story authentischer.
Das Happy End hätte ich nicht unbedingt gebraucht, aber es war zumindest ein kleines Sahnehäubchen oben drauf, so dass ich das Buch mit dem Gefühl schloss, gerade einer schönen Geschichte gelauscht zu haben, die ein bisschen von den Gefühlen der Auswanderbräute von damals transportieren konnte.
June 16, 2014
This was our May book pick for the book club that I run. I never would have picked this up on my own, but I'm honestly glad I gave this a shot. I was newly introduced to the idea of a "war bride". I had no idea that so many women married servicemen, and then blindly came over here on ships just hoping for the best when they arrived in America. It's rather fascinating to me! Although The War Bride Club is fiction, it does have that vibrant spark of history behind it and I was intrigued.
I loved the first third of this book. Watching June, Alice, Betty and Madeline become fast friends on their voyage over was so much fun. They shared their stories, giggled over American sayings, and speculated as to what they would find when they arrived. Soraya Lane crafts four women who, although they all come from the same place, each have their own quirks and pitfalls. I felt attached to all of them, and wished them only the best. What a scary prospect to travel into the unknown, don't you think?
The latter half of the book follows these women through their lives, after they arrive. This was the part that started to lose me. I give kudos to Lane for managing to write such different outcomes for each woman, but some of them felt so forced. The ones I felt most attached to were the ones who had the most struggle, mainly because I feel like that's closer to real life. Then the ending came and, sorry to spoil but it's necessary, they all ended up with their own little slice of happily ever after. Was I disappointed? Slightly. I know we all wish for our own HEA, but is it reality that all of them would get just that? Probably not.
I also felt like the ending was really rushed in an effort to get to those happy endings. Which was unfortunate, because I really did like hearing about their relationships and lives. The fact remains that, while this was a good read, I really feel like it could have been a little bit better. I'd have happily read 100 more pages to feel more fulfilled. For now, I give this a solid three stars! Well worth a read if you're a historical fiction fan.
I loved the first third of this book. Watching June, Alice, Betty and Madeline become fast friends on their voyage over was so much fun. They shared their stories, giggled over American sayings, and speculated as to what they would find when they arrived. Soraya Lane crafts four women who, although they all come from the same place, each have their own quirks and pitfalls. I felt attached to all of them, and wished them only the best. What a scary prospect to travel into the unknown, don't you think?
The latter half of the book follows these women through their lives, after they arrive. This was the part that started to lose me. I give kudos to Lane for managing to write such different outcomes for each woman, but some of them felt so forced. The ones I felt most attached to were the ones who had the most struggle, mainly because I feel like that's closer to real life. Then the ending came and, sorry to spoil but it's necessary, they all ended up with their own little slice of happily ever after. Was I disappointed? Slightly. I know we all wish for our own HEA, but is it reality that all of them would get just that? Probably not.
I also felt like the ending was really rushed in an effort to get to those happy endings. Which was unfortunate, because I really did like hearing about their relationships and lives. The fact remains that, while this was a good read, I really feel like it could have been a little bit better. I'd have happily read 100 more pages to feel more fulfilled. For now, I give this a solid three stars! Well worth a read if you're a historical fiction fan.
September 7, 2025
Enjoyed this book and got to a point I couldn’t put it down. Historical fiction on a topic not often thought of.
February 24, 2015
Forward by the Author: "By the end of WWII, more than 100,000 British women had married American soldiers. These women were desperate to travel to America to be with their husbands and in 1945 the US Embassy in London was picketed by war brides demanding ships. On Dec. 29, 1945 the, the War Brides Act was passed by Congress and ships were sent to bring these women America". This is the story of 4 women who met on one of those ships on the voyage to America, the friendships that formed and loyalty that was never questioned or abandoned. Betty, who hid her advanced pregnancy in order to gain passage on the ship to be with her beloved Charlie, but met devastating tragedy when she arrived. Betty soon discovered when God closes one door, He does indeed open another. Margaret, the strong willed rock of the group who was dealt a cruel hand in America nobody would have imagined. Alice who nursed Ralph back to health in the hospital only to come face to face with PTSD once she finally got America; and Jane who found the love of her life never expecting the welcome she received from Edwards' family and the fairy-tale life she had no idea was waiting for her. If you like books by Karen White, Kate Morton, Maeve Binchy or Roasmund Pilcher you'll love this book. Emotion you can feel, imagery you get lost in, characters you love and wish they were real and splash of history to give the book a firm foundation.
April 20, 2013
Während des Zweiten Weltkrieges verliebten sich viele junge britische Frauen in amerikanische Soldaten. Mit dem War Bride Act durften die Ehefrauen in die USA immigrieren. Das erfährt man allerdings nicht aus dem Roman, der sich auf eine triviale Sicht auf dieses Stück Zeitgeschichte konzentriert. The War Bride Club erzählt die Geschichte vierer dieser Kriegsbräute. Betty, Madeline, Alice und June lernen sich auf dem Schiff, das sie nach Amerika zu ihren Ehemännern bringt, kennen und freunden sich miteinander an. Das Leben fern der Heimat ist für keine von ihnen so wie sie es sich erträumt hatte.
Die vier Frauen leben alle in New York, womit wahrscheinlich der Staat New York gemeint ist, denn einige leben ländlich und auf Farmen. Die Namen der Städte bleiben ungenannt. Die Landschaft wird nur rudimentär beschrieben, das könnte auch irgendwo anders sein, dafür wird beim Teppichmuster größte Detailverliebtheit an den Tag gelegt. Obwohl einige tragische Ereignisse geschehen, berührt das Schicksal der Protanisten seltsam wenig. Betty ist da eine Ausnahme, doch auf ihr ruht auch meistens der Fokus. Die Schiffsreise wird sehr ausführlich behandelt, ebenso wie die erste Zeit in Amerika. Dagegen wird gegen Ende hin alles sehr hektisch zum Abschluß gebracht. Trotz seiner unübersehbaren Schwächen habe ich diesen Roman gern gelesen.
Die vier Frauen leben alle in New York, womit wahrscheinlich der Staat New York gemeint ist, denn einige leben ländlich und auf Farmen. Die Namen der Städte bleiben ungenannt. Die Landschaft wird nur rudimentär beschrieben, das könnte auch irgendwo anders sein, dafür wird beim Teppichmuster größte Detailverliebtheit an den Tag gelegt. Obwohl einige tragische Ereignisse geschehen, berührt das Schicksal der Protanisten seltsam wenig. Betty ist da eine Ausnahme, doch auf ihr ruht auch meistens der Fokus. Die Schiffsreise wird sehr ausführlich behandelt, ebenso wie die erste Zeit in Amerika. Dagegen wird gegen Ende hin alles sehr hektisch zum Abschluß gebracht. Trotz seiner unübersehbaren Schwächen habe ich diesen Roman gern gelesen.
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