Wait for Me

by Caroline Leech

Set on a Scottish farm in the spring of 1945, Wait for Me begins as Paul, a severely burned German prisoner-of-war, is sent to the farm to work. Lorna, the farmer’s teenage daughter, soon discovers that in wartime, your family and your allies might not actually be your friends, and your enemy might turn out to be the love of your life. Lorna’s friendship with Paul, and their developing love for each other, is challenged by Lorna’s own prejudices and by the intolerance of her soldier brother and her friends in the village. Ultimately, the events which bring peace to Europe will tear Lorna and Paul apart. What will Lorna have to give up in order to find Paul again?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult, Historical, World War II, Historical Romance, Fiction

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2017

About the author

Caroline Leech is a Scottish writer who has lived in Houston TX since 2007. She writes novels for teenagers, and her debut novel, WAIT FOR ME, was published by Harper Collins/Harper Teen in early 2017. Set in Scotland towards the end of World War Two, the book won the 2014 Joan Lowery Nixon Award at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in Houston, as well as the YA categories of both the Romance Writers of America Emily and Lone Star competitions. Caroline's second novel, IN ANOTHER TIME, also set in Scotland during World War Two, was published in August 2018.

Caroline’s career in public relations with performing arts companies in the United Kingdom culminated with her editing a glossy photographic book, WELSH NATIONAL OPERA – THE FIRST SIXTY YEARS. As well as being an active member of SCBWI, she also serves on the advisory board of Inprint, Houston’s leading literary non-profit organization. Caroline is married with three teenage children.

Reviews

[majo · Rating 5 out of 5]

- I´VE FOUND ANOTHER FAVORITE -

This book was incredibly beautiful and cute and romantic and stunning and ...*screams*

please read this book

Wait for me is the historical romance you didn't know you needed in your life.

BUT YOU NEED THIS BOOK IN YOUR LIFE.

Now.

What is it about?

Good question. *screams again*

It's about Lorna and Paul:
The year is 1945. She lives in a farm in Scotland. He's a former german soldier who's now a prisoner of war of the British forces and who's sent to work on Lorna's dad farm.
This is the story of Lorna and Paul falling in love.

*screams again*

I can't put into words how touching is this book. You have to read to find out. But it is one of the most beautiful love stories I have read in a while.

From now on I will be fangirling about some of the scenes that touched the most, this should be considered a medium-spoiler warning.

Reasons why Wait for Me deserves a place in my exclusive favorite-of-all-time book list.

-It's a forbidden romance.
-It is also a slow burn romance. Lorna hates Paul at first sight because he's german.
-He was in an explosion and that's why he has a scar on half of his face.
-Also his body.
-People see Paul and always comments about how ugly he is.
-Then he tells Lorna that he may be German but that doesn't mean he's a nazi.
-Lorna starts to speak more frequently to Paul and is the best thing ever
-Lorna does not mind Paul's scar.
-She even think Paul is a handsome guy.
-Then one day she sees him without a shirt and loses the ability to breathe.
-Then on a rainy day in which Lorna is totally wet, Paul gives her his sweater to keep her warm and then I died.
-They also dance together and it is so freaking perfect.
-He also hugs her one day because she is crying.
-He hugs her.
-Paul is the best man ever.
-And he tells Lorna that before he started to work on the farm, he had to sign a contract that forbiddens him to be friendly with the Scottish people.
-And then he said he broke that promise because now Paul is Lorna's friend.
-DID YOU HEAR ME DYING???
-And the first time they kiss is just the cutest moment in existence.
-The gift Paul gives Lorna for her 18th birthday.
-The end had me sobbing so hard.
-But then I stopped crying because the last two pages are not sad anymore.
-Is the best finale ever.
-Also in the author's note, Caroline Leech said that she received a letter from a girl that said that her dad meet her mom while he was a prisoner of war and worked in her mother's farm. They actually married each other and had a daughter.
-And she also wrote that she heard a lot of stories like that.
-Meaning Paul and Lorna's type of love story actually happened in real life.
-I'm dead, bye.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)

“Yes, he was quite nice really. For a German.”

This was a YA historical romance story, set during World War II.

Lorna was an interesting character, and she clearly worked hard on her father’s farm and made sacrifices.

The storyline in this was about a German prisoner of war (Paul) being sent to work on Lorna’s father’s farm, and Lorna slowly coming around to the idea after initially disliking it. We got a slow attraction forming between Lorna and Paul, but the pace was a bit too slow for me and there wasn’t a whole lot romance really, just a slow ‘I’m slowly getting to know you’ type of attraction instead. We did also get storylines involving Lorna’s brothers, her best friend, and the prejudice that Paul faced from the villagers, but the book didn’t hold my interest very well really.

The ending to this was pretty happy, and I was satisfied with the way things turned out.



6 out of 10

[Aoi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoning ship at 20%

How, just how, does a novel set in WWII with a German soldier straight up ignores the bloody Holocaust and all the lives lost, and turns into this generic love story?!! War is a brutal, complicated and dreadful thing for all sides involved - but this is a great disservice to all those who have fought and shed blood.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed on: 5171 Miles Book Blog.

You all know by now how I love World War II novels, especially historical romance. When I saw Wait for Me on Instagram a few months ago, I knew I had to give it a try. I had never before read a YA historical romance, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I mostly hoped it would not be a cheesy rendition of a love story.

Lorna Anderson is a young Scottish girl who helps with a variety of things on her father’s farm after her brothers leave for the war. When a previously injured German prisoner of war is assigned to work on their farm, Lorna is disgusted. How is she expected to work alongside the enemy her brothers are fighting? As Lorna reluctantly begins working with Paul, she comes to see him as a human instead of an enemy.

While this book did not have a lot of the grittiness of the WWII novels I’m used to, it still gave an accurate depiction of war affecting every aspect of people’s way of life. The food and clothing rations would be a challenge for our spoiled society of today, which allows readers to experience some of the difficulty of the unfamiliar situations. Caroline Leech’s strongest attribute in this story is showing readers the humanity in war. Just because someone was from Germany, even fighting for Germany, did not mean they believed in the cause they were fighting for. Sometimes the “enemy’s” actions are based solely upon survival. In Paul’s case, he was simply another man fighting for his life. When people abandon their humanity to be cruel to the other side, they show that hate is the true enemy in the war and world.

Wait for Me would be a great introduction to the genre of historical romance for young readers. It is a clean novel, an easy read, and allows readers to experience some of the conflicting feelings many would have felt during wartime without overwhelming with too much of the gore and evil of the era.

While the story was not quite as polished as I would hope for, it was still a solid and endearing novel worth reading. I would give this book 3.5 stars for the execution, leaning more towards 4 stars for the message the story conveyed. Overall, it was an enjoyable read (luckily, not cheesy at all) I would recommend to lovers of YA and historical fiction.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, romantic tale set in 1945 Scotland, Leech's well-researched historical YA novel explores a forbidden love affair between Lorna Anderson, a plucky 17-year-old farm girl, and Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war. Written in lyrical, fluid prose, Leech captures the time period in amazing detail, with sharp dialogue, clever characterization, and delicious, slow-burning romance. Highly and enthusiastically recommended.

[Grace {Rebel Mommy Book Blog} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review
I am a huge fan of World War II books so I was excited to see a new YA based one coming out.

Lorna lives on a farm in Scotland in 1945 with her father and a farm helper Nellie while her two brothers are fighting in the war. She goes to school and helps out with chores. When Paul, a German prisoner of war, is assigned to work at the family farm Lorna finds it hard to accept his presence. As time goes on and she learns more about Paul though she finds it hard to stay away. If she doesn't though she could lose so much.

I literally sat down with this book and finished it in a day. I was so engrossed in the story and the characters I couldn't put it down. I loved Lorna so much. She definitely had some spunk to her. Paul was a German soldier so it was hard to be sympathetic to him but I think the author did try and make it so he was more than that and explain some things on his end. Together they were very sweet and I liked their romance.

There were a lot of great secondary characters which included her father as well as Nellie and their housekeeper. They were such a great house full of people that were all s supportive of each other. Her best friend Iris was a harder nut to crack. I wasn't sure how I felt about her and their friendship. Somehow though that made me feel it be more real.

I do wish there was more explored with the Scotland setting. Also, as much as I loved it, I feel it could have all been explored a bit more f that makes sense. Still, I thought it was a great story to get lost in for a day. I would recommend if you like WWII stories with a strong romantic take.This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful yet at times heart wrenching book. I honestly just laid in bed holding this book to my chest crying when I finished it. This book was beautiful and had a very powerful message.

The message woven throughout this novel - at least what I personally thought it as - was forgiveness and not judging people based on their outward appearance or their nationality. This spoke volumes to me.

I am a descendant of a Dutch resistant worker. I had distant uncles who died in concentration camps. I have read countless books on WW2 and the Holocaust. I have heard story after story of Nazis and their oppression. Yet, as awful as the Nazis were I understand that there still were those good Germans out there. There were this German soldiers who were forced into the war without their approval. Not all were mini Hitler's like we all think German soldiers during WW2 to be.

Paul, the lovable, broke, cinnamon roll, Paul was a character whom I instantly fell in love with. He was a broken German soldier who was hurt badly and had some physical handicaps due to that but he didn't let that stop him. His character was still good and he did not allow what people say get to him. My heart broke for this poor man and I wanted to just hug him so badly many times throughout this book. Paul's character also wove his way into my heart because I have a heart for broken soldiers no matter what nationality they are. My heart always breaks for them. I always want to hug and pray for them. I always want to just reassure them that God loves them and has their backs.

Lorna, I also loved her character. Her emotions towards Paul were real and I felt like her development really was done well. I loved seeing her evolve into the person we saw at the end of the book. I love how she stood up to all the hypocrites in her town and how she stood up for Paul even when that meant looking bad towards others. She was amazing.

All the other characters, who I was suppose to like, were just as lovable and amazing as Paul and Lorna. I want another book about Iris though. I really want to know what happens with her. If I never get one I guess I'll be okay, but that would just be cool!

Again the storyline and messages was beautiful and it brought tears to my eyes. If y'all have not read this yet, I highly recommend doing so. However, there are a few content things like mild language and some mild sexual content - not between Paul and Lorna but a side character. If you want a more in-depth content warning. You can PM me and I'll be willing to tell you! :P

[Emily Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so winsome and charming. The historical grounding of place and time is so immersive and well-done, and while the tone is delightfully classic, the setting of a Scottish farm also makes it feel fresh. I loved how Leech allowed her characters to explore the full implications of becoming friends--and even falling in love--with someone on the other side of a war. She allows Lorna, Paul, and the people around them to struggle as they pick through the tangled roots of war and enemy, and explore where the line between belonging to one's country and being an individual is drawn.

For fans of slow burning romances that steadily gather heat, female friendships that can overcome the flaws of the people in them, and carefully researched historicals that can include all the ugliness of war and still shine bright with rays of hope and dignity.

[Amanda Searcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! I fell so in love with the characters that I wanted to keep reading forever to see what happens to them. The setting is incredibly vivid, and the author's note at the end shows how much time, attention, and love went into the details. Read this book if you want to be swept away.

[Gwen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delight to read. It was so cool reading from a different perspective during the war, and learning what it was like in a place like Scotland. That combined with a beautiful slow burn romance that will have you earning for more, it makes for a great read. <3

[sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bleckkkk. If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be corny. Don't pick this up if you're looking for a moving historical fiction about finding love amidst the horrors of World War 2. Pick it up if you want to read a cheeseball teenage romance with only occasional mentions of those minor inconveniences during the war.

I read World War 2 historical fiction because I like reading about strong people who had to do hard things to survive during one of the most horrifying times in modern history. This book only casually mentioned those horrible things as devices to keep the romance going. The Blitz is mentioned once and only because the German love interest is teaching the main character the German words for thunder and lightning (which is Blitzen). I think the word Nazi is used like once. I think that only one character from the main character's Scottish village is killed and he's a character that we never even meet. Food rationing is mentioned but they always seem to have plenty of good food to eat. It just felt like World War 2 was nothing more than a backdrop to the romance.

The main character is shallow, petty, and obnoxious. She and her "best friend" are constantly bickering about nothing (usually instigated by the main character ragging on the best friend's boyfriend). She makes snap judgements about everyone. And then she flip-flops about those judgements. When the German love interest gets to her farm, she alternates between thinking he's nothing more than a dirty German and thinking he's just a beautiful, misunderstood boy. I wanted to throttle her for the entire book.

The German himself isn't bad. Just kind of blah. The dialogue is a little stiff and I can't tell if its because the author was trying to make it actually sound like the 1940s. The end of the book was cheesy and blech. Everything was tied up in a nice little bow--with little to no fallout for the main character after A MAJOR WAR TAKING PLACE ON THE CONTINENT SHE LIVED ON. Moral of the story: this book is all fluff and no substance.

[Nhi Nguyễn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in a frenzy of wanting to read books about World War II, and upon knowing that “Wait For Me” would bring me both a World War II setting and a blossoming romance of two young adults (I'm a big fan of romance novels), I just couldn't pass it by.

To be honest, the first 2 or 3 chapters didn't hold much of my attention. But as I read on, the book started to grow on me. I became absolutely invested in both the story and the characters. The idea of falling in love with someone whom not only you but many other people around you consider your enemy is extremely fascinating, and I was glad that the author took this idea very seriously and turned it into something really touching, captivating, and inspiring.

I got the chance to witness Lorna's journey of getting over the prejudice she held against Paul Vogel - a German prisoner of war, a Nazi soldier (but he always insisted on NOT calling him Nazi, because he would refuse to fight for a government whose ideology he abhored if he could). She also had to deal with the prejudice of other people around her, especially her oldest brother's, against this German boy to finally embrace their love. I also adored the way the author described the pain, the fear, and the turbulent feelings of people from both sides of the war through the story of Paul and Lorna. War affects both sides in the same way, no matter if you are the one who started it or the one who has to fight back.

The ending, of course, was a happy one, and I absolutely loved it. But to me, there were still many things left unanswered, such as the fates of Paul's mother and sister in Dresden. Would Paul want to come back home and search for them, to see if they survived the bomb attack? From the Author's Note, I've known that there were many German prisoners of war who chose to stay in Great Britain after the war was over because they fell in love with British women and decided to build a family there and to not come back to Germany (whose East side later was occupied by the Soviet Union in the Cold War). Dresden is in East Germany, and I totally understand if Paul would like to stay in Scotland and build a family with Lorna. But still we didn't know the fate of his family.

And what about Lorna's plan to study nursing? What would happen if Lorna carried out her plan? How would her romantic relationship with Paul be if she decided to pursue higher education? And what about Lorna's two brothers? What would they react when they would soon have a German brother-in-law? There are still many other ideas to explore and more room for creativity in the story of Paul and Lorna, which could turn this book into a trilogy or a duology at least :D I hope the author will take all these things into consideration and make a series about this couple :))) That would be totally awesome.

P.S.: Reading this book makes me believe in my appetite for Young Adult romance novels again :D As long as you give me great storyline, great characters and a setting that I love, then I can never feel bored reading YA romance novels :))))

[nuin giliath · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Mild spoilers ahead*

*sigh* This was just lovely. I don't often read historical fiction, but Wait for Me was such an easy and engaging read. I found this story of forbidden love during a time of war to be quite compelling (if also occasionally predictable) and well worth my time. I would recommend it to anyone who even remotely enjoys this genre.

Paul, a German POW, is brought to the Anderson's farm to work and Lorna is immediately repulsed by this arrangement. Being a wounded prisoner in a foreign land meant that he had to rely on a silent "mask" to protect himself from the harsh criticisms that he regularly endured from the locals. I was so impressed how despite everything that he had been through Paul maintained such a gentle spirit. His interactions with Lorna were always so sweet even when she would act negatively toward him.

While at first, Lorna came across as rather judgmental, juvenile, and naive, I grew more fond of her character as she demonstrated a greater level of maturity - particularly in how she viewed and treated Paul. I admired her determination to help her father on the farm even at the cost of furthering her own education, her apparent closeness with her brothers before the war, and even her hesitation to approach Paul out of fear that she would betray her country. I enjoyed seeing the shift in her thinking as she got to know Paul and his background. Once her perception of him changed, she began to push back against the misconceptions of her family and friends - the same ones that she had once held herself. I loved seeing their relationship develop from hostility to friendship to romance.

One of the major themes dealt with prejudice based solely on someone's nationality or appearance. It was a fascinating contrast to have American soldiers who were regarded in high esteem yet ended up being terrible people while a German soldier who was automatically despised was both kind and thoughtful. I also appreciated the glimpses at life immediately post-surrender as well as how the war affected those involved even after they returned home. Neither of these aspects were major points in the story, however I liked that they were included.

The one area that I did not care for was the constant drama between Iris, William, and Lorna. The whole thing became tedious and Iris's flip-flopping was exhausting. Considering that it really didn't contribute anything to main story, I think this book would have been stronger without it.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book! Set in Scotland during the last months of WWII in Europe, the story of Lorna and her German love was refreshing; at times funny; at times so moving, I wanted to underline every sentence. Moments of fear and despair and anger are woven together with moments of pure delight and the deep feelings of first love. Wonderful.

[Katy Upperman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this historical debut so much. Main character Lorna is living on her father's Scotland farm in 1945, as WWII is winding down. When a German POW arrives to lend a hand with farm duties, Lorna is at once put-off. Her brothers are fighting for the Allies, and Lorna wants nothing to do with the enemy. But as she gets to know Paul, she discovers he's not at all like the evil Nazis she initially grouped him with; he's kind and smart and sensitive, and she begins to fall for him. But being with a German soldier means that Lorna may have to choose between love and allegiance, Paul and her family. Author Caroline Leech does an amazing job of capturing the essence of her setting and the spirit of her protagonist -- it's obvious she's got a deep well of knowledge when it comes to Scotland and its history -- and she writes a very convincing romance, full of sweetness and steam. Mark this one To-Read now, and look for it in stores at the end of January.

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Synopsis: In a town where there are probably more sheep than people, the most infuriating girl in all of Scotland falls in love with the German POW that is sent to help her family with their farm.

Biblio-Babble
* Lorna Ducking Anderson. She is 99.9999999% of the reason this book is getting the rating that it is. Lorna is quite possibly the most annoying, infuriating, headache inducing character I have ever come across this year (and we aren’t even at the half-way mark). Heaven to purgatoriid, I wouldn’t have minded if she had gotten stuck in a peat bog somewhere for a long period of time. If I had to hear her and her friend Iris bicker and constantly fight over boys and dresses and how Iris’s love interest is a pompous ass one more time, Imma tear my tie off. One could argue that they are simply acting like teenage girls, and that may indeed be true. Granted, I wasn’t a teenager who did this on a regular basis with my friends, but hey, we’re all different, right? But WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FUCKING WORLD WAR, MA’AM. This isn’t the time to be constantly talking about trivial items such as this! Aside from that, Lorna is also extremely selfish, spoilt, and prejudicial. The prejudicial part I could understand, at least to a certain degree. But she isn’t really even that prejudicial to Paul, the most likely culprit. Nah, she’s too busy judging the busybodies in her little village and her own best friend, all while practicing against the very things she’s judging people about. You can’t have it both ways, lady. Yeah, she changes, but right towards the very tippy end and only because of the power of true love and enough Hail Mary’s to have the Virgin herself come down from heaven to talk some sense into her.

* The forbidden romance with Lorna and Paul was kind of vanilla for me. If you’re going to hype up something as juicy and forbidden as this, make it a little bit exciting to read about. Paul was fine, I guess. I thought he was a bit bland and just your stereotypical love interest. Their love brought nothing new to the table for me, and while I do appreciate the fact that it was a slow burn and that they had to work to understand their differences, it just did nothing for me. They actually did work out their differences quite well, but it wasn’t enough to save the book. The other romances in this book are so ‘ugh’ inducing I won’t even bother mentioning them. Their romance is how I kind of felt about this entire book when I wasn’t so busy being annoyed at Lorna: snooze inducing. I know! A romance that’s snooze inducing! That isn’t even supposed to exist.

* This book took on a topic of conversation that I had noticed a little while ago, and it comes with a particular brand of book: WWII forbidden romances. Particularly when it comes to a main character from an Allied power falling in love with someone from the Axis powers. It seems to come up more when on the Western front (Germany, Italy, etc.), and I haven’t read enough stories from the Eastern front to see if the same complaints are made there. The argument being made is that authors should not write stories perpetuating stories with Nazis being made to be in a sympathetic light at all, considering the atrocities they made into being during the war. And that’s how authors who write such stories often portray Nazis as. Regular German citizens who are being forced to fight for a cause that many of them didn’t believe in. In American schools, we really didn’t delve into the psychology behind fighting for the enemy; we just got the facts. Needless to say, if you are totally opposed to this type of plotline and storyline, don’t read this book. However, I’m going to pose a question to you all about this genre: What is your opinion of writers who write romances about WWII and falling in love with the enemy? Should they be allowed? Does it dishonor the memory to the Allied soldiers in any way? And should all German soldiers fighting under Hitler be portrayed in an evil light?

* I couldn’t help when reading this book comparing it to another book published by the same publishing house dealing with very much the same subjects: Prisoner of Night and Fog. It involves a girl living in pre-WWII Germany whose family is very close with Adolph Hitler. When she meets a Jewish newspaper reporter and finds out what Hitler’s total agenda is, she must set aside all she knew about the people she’s been raised with and what really is right and wrong. Obviously, I won’t write a review about the book here, but Prisoner of Night and Fog was everything this book was not. The main character had to set aside her notions and prejudices of Jews, but she did so in a graceful and mature manner. The book never shies away from the sheer brutality of the time period and doesn’t try to sugar coat any of the actions this group of people made. And the budding, forbidden romance between her and the said Jewish reporter? One of the most heartbreaking and passionate romances I have read. I may or may not be low-key shading this book by basically begging you to read Prisoner, but I wouldn’t be mad if I am accused of that. Another book I recommend that deals with a German POW is The Cherry Harvest. It’s an adult novel, but I consider it far superior to this book.
**********************************
I hope Lorna Anderson is happy with herself, because she ruined her own bloody book. With one of the most infuriating main characters I have ever read about, a romance that was more vanilla than chocolate sachertort, and a glossing over of the war and its efforts to focus more on the frivolous thoughts of young teenage girls made this book a total bust for me. It offended my sensibilities and I want nothing more than to expunge it from my memory. Read the two mentioned books above instead for far more satisfying reading results.

[Nikolae Keaveney · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75
Wait For Me is the WWII fiction that never delivered what I was expecting. For so many ways, it led me down terribly. But other than that, it was still an enjoyable read.
I will first start by saying that while this book is set in WWII, in one of humanity's grimmest and most anxious times, it didn't feel like that AT ALL. In fact, it felt like a chick-lit fiction with people bustling about and giggling.
Atmosphere is one of the most, if not the most, important aspect of a book. It sets the tone and the base on how the story will progress. This book's atmosphere is all very wrong. I have read a fair share of WWII fiction before, and none of them had an aura like this one. It felt off and wrong.
Second, the characters are all so very annoying, ill-tempered, and selfish. The only character that I liked was Paul Vogel, our very own German Soldier. But even he had some aspects that I didn't enjoy. I hated the female friendships in this book. They were all so fake and based on conditions. Real friendships are not like those at all. Iris and Nellie, both of them are Lorna's best friends, yet they let her down all the time, for stupid boys!
Iris is incredibly stupid, self-centred, and selfish. Same as Nellie. Ugh, I just hate those fake friendships so much.
Lorna, our very own protagonist, has some serious issues she needs to sort out. She needs to learn that it is NOT OKAY to just blow your top over and scream at people whenever you are angry! You need to learn to think things through and not be so impulsive.
Paul, on the other hand, is a rip-off of Jem Carstairs. But nowhere as close as matching Jem's personality. Paul is quiet, polite, and soft. But unlike Jem, he is almost like a piece of dry bread. The loads of German Stereotypes that Leech dumped on him didn't do him any good either. Seriously, the amount of stereotypes that applied to Paul made me roll my eyes every time.
He is a hard worker, A WATCH MAKER, likes beer and sausages, tall and blonde, not emotional, cold and detached??
I'm sure that there are some Germans who are like that, but Leech made a huge mistake in dumping all the possible German Stereotypes on him. Fail.
In this book, almost 400 pages, nothing ever happens. I don't even know where the climax is. There is no tension and no stress anywhere. I couldn't bring myself to care about what is going to happen.
But despite all the flaws, I had a good time reading the book. Now, I know I always make the flaws seem more heavy than they actually are. So believe me when I say I did enjoy reading the book and did like it.

SPOILERS
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
I'm going to talk about the thing that I didn't like the most about this book--the ending. The ending is sweet, too sweet. I was HOPING that someone would die, but nobody did. The death of Gregor had no importance because we never met him. A novel about war with no death?! Sorry, but that was just not realistic.
The reason I don't like the ending is that it was no ending. Nothing was resolved. We didn't get to see what happens between Iris and William. Even though she promised that she would marry him....someday?? What? We need an actually confirmation. What is going to happen when John Jo comes back? Is he going to make up with Paul? Also, what is going to happen to Lorna and Paul? Is he going to go back to Germany, bringing Lorna with him? Or are they going to stay and make a living in Scotland? This book almost read like it had a sequel. Because the ending was just so unsatisfying that I want to tear all my hair out. I read through so many pages and still nothing is resolved?


I saw this on EPIC READS today and holy, I'm so excited my voice is squeaking.
Let me explain why this book suddenly became my most anticipated winter release.
WWII + Scottland + Soldier Romance + Survival
Can there be a more perfect combination??????

[Haley S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one very good book. I really enjoyed it. I mean, it was super-duper great! I haven’t read many books set in this time-period, but even though it was fictional, it still seemed like I was in the year 1945.
All the characters were very likeable…well, at least the ones that I was supposed to like. Don’t get me going on “one” of the characters. I could not stand him. I really, really hope there is a story on Iris coming up. Her story ended off on a “kinda” cliffhanger. I could last without a book about her, but I don’t want to.
I actually found this book while at my local library. There was a brochure in the teen section with a big list of romances…or something like that. I am not really sure what the brochure was about. (This was a little while ago, by the way.) But, I read the synopsis on this book and just knew that I had to read it. Just so you know, the brochure had only a few sentences about the book. If three “paragraphs” don’t intrigued, I don’t know what will.
The cover is sweet. The planes flying over the field adds a bit of mystery to the cover. 5 stars to you.
It feels like I have been on a “kick” of good reviews. Well, maybe only two or three. Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book to any one like me. Wait for Me deserves 5 bright stars. I enjoyed this sweet romance. The writing style reminded me of Kasie West. If you like Kasie West, you should read this book too. I will totally be watching out for more books by Caroline Leech!

Title: Wait for Me
Author: Caroline Leech
Author’s Website: https://www.carolineleech.com/
Reading Resolution: #46

This review is written in my own opinions and words.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kind of story and characters who stick with you long after you finish reading.

That was wonderful! A lush, romantic and completely engrossing story set in wartime Scotland. I went into this with no expectations and was instantly caught up in Lorna's story, the people who make up her family and small-town, and the German POW who quietly captures her heart.

*For those concerned about this being a Nazi romance, it's not.*

[Carah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet little historical romance set during WWII. I found aspects of this book a little slow at times and when I set it down I didn't feel that dire need to pick it back up. But when I did pick it up again, it was easy to read and I enjoyed my time. I love how it wrapped up, and I loved the character relationships in this story. Overall it's a great palette cleanser read.
More on my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMEA...

[Shannon Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Wait for Me is such a lovely novel with a lot of good life lessons and messages. Lorna is nearly eighteen, living with her father on a Scotland farm, her brothers off to war in WWII. She's trying to decide what her next steps in life should be, as she prepares to finish school. Of course her life is complicated, with her brothers at war, but when a German prisoner of war, Paul, is sent to work on their farm, things get really complicated. Paul has been severely injured in combat, but of course no one in the town even wants him around, let alone cares about his problems. They see him as, of course, the enemy.

But... things aren't what they seem. And people aren't always who you think they are. I know people are concerned about some of the issues in this book. I understand that. I will say, Paul is in no way a Nazi. He abhors them and is against everything they stand for. I think this is an important thing to note when considering this book. I don't want to say much more because it would be spoilery, but trust that he is definitely not.

Really, the best part is the character growth, and watching the way different people react throughout the novel. Sometimes, as you can imagine, it is quite powerful and emotional. It's one of those stories for all ages. And yes, there is a romance, and yes, it is lovely and slow burning and often complicated. I also enjoyed how there was a lot of exploration of female roles in the WWII era. A nice bonus, and very pertinent in Lorna's coming of age tale. Also, points for lots of family interactions and relationships! Oh, and my fave, some really awesome female side characters. 

My only negative is that the book often reads a bit younger than Lorna's nearly eighteen years. The writing is simple- not that it's a bad thing, but when combined with a third person POV (and therefore, fewer of Lorna's thoughts and feelings), it can feel a bit middle-grade, even though Lorna is clearly dealing with young adult issues.

Bottom Line: This book is sweet, and carries a whole lot of life lessons that apply to us in our current climate just as much as they did in 1945. Definitely glad to have read this one.

*Copy provided for review

[Nara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1945 just before the end of World War II, Wait For Me is a novel about Lorna and her attempts to navigate through various relationships while living on a Scottish farm with a German prisoner of war as a farmhand. Wait For Me was quite character focused, with the book mainly about the romance between Lorna and Paul as well as the relationship between Lorna and her best friend Iris.

I think the only major negative to the book was the fact that basically all the male characters were portrayed as predators or assholes (or both) apart from Paul and Lorna's father. I didn't feel like this was particularly realistic, although I suppose at the same time, there was also a relatively narrow pool of male characters to begin with.

Lorna and Paul's relationship was wonderfully developed. It was just the type of romance novel that I wanted to read at the time, considering I had just finished an incredibly mediocre portal fantasy and was just waiting for a nice historical or contemporary. The book overall was not without its drama, but it was also not so bogged down in the conflict of the plot that the pace was able to move forward at the perfect speed.

Wait For Me was a very sweet historical romance that I would definitely recommend to those looking for a lighter read.

Incredible
Ratings
Overall: 9/10
Plot: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 2/5

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 Words: War, family, friendship, love, community.

Content Warnings: Sexual assault.

It was actually really good and I really enjoyed it, but it was ruined for my by the Americanisms. It's set in Scotland and there are even colloquialisms used, especially in the dialogue, so seeing random Americanisms really pulled me out of the story and it was such a shame, especially as the author is British (although they live in America).

I did really like the slow-burn relationship in this book. I love a slow burn, and this one was done really well and I was quite invested by the end. As a romance it works well, the characters have great chemistry.

I love Land Girl stories and even though Nellie was a side character, she gets plenty of her story told. I liked the peeks at farm life, the struggle even with the extra help.

Wait For me tackles prejudice and violence, war and peace. It does so thoughtfully, exploring grief and regret and love and not always necessarily doing what people expect of you.

I liked how the community as a whole was explored. We got to see different aspects of life and different opinions, there were power struggles and poisonous relationships. I did think it was a shame how Iris's storyline was dealt with, I personally would have preferred her having stood up for herself more as when the book ended it's left her in a frankly awful position.

[Joanne O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully crafted story had everything that I love in a book- a vivid setting, well rounded characters and well crafted sub-plots and that certain undefinable something- a sense of longing and something bittersweet. It was so perfect in so many ways- the romance, the way it caputred divided loyalties and strains of a community that's been living under the shadow of war for such a long time. Not a false note in the book- just loved it.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good, such a heartwarming story set in a very important time in history. This was such a treat to read and it to be a YA.

[Skyler Brooks (Asher’s version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
I have no words! This book was one of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever read!

“People make silly mistakes during wartime, but together we can work them out”
“Until then, I will stay in the most beautiful place in the world”

Spoiler Free:

Romance:
6/10
Some slightly detailed kisses. One moment of forced romance. Overall super sweet romance story. However there is one side character who unmarried ends up pregnant.

Substance Abuse:
2/10
Talk of bringing alcohol to a dance where there are no alcoholic drinks. A good amount of just drinking as well.

Violence:
5/10
Some punches thrown and lots of talk of battles.

Gore:
3/10
Again talk of battles and blood.

Racism:
4/10
One of the characters has a large scar and is made fun of and treated super poorly for it. Also judgment against the Germans for just being German.

15/16+

Overall I definitely love with this book! I will say that there were some moments I didn’t love but the author did a great job of being honest about the sad truths of WWII

Possible Spoilers:

Characters:
Lorna:
The main character. Daughter of a farmer in Scotland. She’s 17-18 throughout the story. She is brave, kind, loyal, and generous.

Nellie:
A British farmhand on Lorna’s father’s farm. Known to be flirtatious, and does not always make the best decision. Age 20.

John Jo:
Lorna’s older brother, he is protective of his sister (sometimes overly so) he is away fighting in the war.

Sandy:
Lorna’s other older brother. Again protective of his sister but as much as John Jo.

Paul:
A young German prisoner who is sent to work for Lorna’s father.

Mrs: Mack:
The housekeeper at Lorna’s home.

Lorna’s Father:
A courageous farmer who cares for his daughter more than she knows.

Overall I definitely feel in love with this book!

SPOILERS!!!!


I mean what can I say? This book took my breath away! Ok yea there were some scenes I didn’t appreciate. E.g. Ed, the dance, Nellie getting pregnant, Charlie, John Jo attacking Paul etc. etc.

Yes the story had some interesting moments but the overall theme of the story 🤌🏻!

I fell in love with Paul the instant we saw him. And every time he’d speak my heart would race! I intend to be that girl; the one who will love him despite his scars or where he comes from.

Overall this story brought me so much joy!

[.]

Won this in a giveaway! :D
I hope my mom will let me read it!

[Lucie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

You know me, I'm a history nerd and I like learning about things in history I don't know too much about. I have recently been watching the BBC series Land Girls and it made me want to read about that time period in farms, which is why I picked up Wait for Me (I first wanted to read it because it was set in Scotland!).

Reading about World War II in Scotland was quite interesting in my opinion, because it was quite far from the front, but you could see how the conflict changed everyone's everyday lives. Caroline Leech included so many accurate historical details – and she talked about those she changed in her note at the end, so I felt like I knew everything! – in this novel, whether it was the Women's Army, the fates of prisoners of war, or even events that actually happen in Aberlady Bay at that time. Seeing how people adapted to these realities was quite interesting and I loved every minute of it.

This novel is about Lorna, a local farmer's daughter whose brothers are at the front, and Paul, a German prisoner of war, as well as their romance, as the title, the cover and the summary suggest. I adored the romance, I thought it was really well-written. As a matter of fact, I was reading next to my best friend and breathed really loudly because of one scene in particular and she noticed. Oops. My favourite type of romances are the enemies-to-lovers ones and it really fitted, considering both characters were on different sides of the war.

It's true that the romance was the center of this novel and it was beautifully done, because it allowed the author to pass on such important messages, such as: when you're at war, your enemy can suffer as much as you and is still human, that you don't always believe in your government and that a government and a country aren't the same thing, that even if you think you're on the good side, your side still hurts others, that our scars make us human and beautiful. I was really rooting for Lorna and Paul during the entire book, they made me feel so much and every time a well-known romance trope was used, it made me so happy because it was well done. Moreover, the author's note mentioned real-life people, local girls and prisoners of war falling in love and having families, which made me cry even more once I was done with this novel.

Our main character, Lorna, was quite interesting to follow, I could definitely relate to her and I understood her feelings perfectly. She went through such good character development in this novel and became so hopeful for her future, when she thought it was already all set. Reading about her developing feelings for Paul and how she dealt with them considering he was on the opposite side of the war was so well-done. However, she did read a bit younger than she was supposed to be at times, which was a bit weird considering she was supposed to have grown faster with the war.

On another hand, Wait for Me truly establishes that Paul is in no way a Nazi, he actually is against everything they stand for. I loved how this book showed how prejudiced we could be, how we could make assumptions about someone, yet they could be completely different from what you first thought. I adored Paul's character, he was such a nice guy who had no choice, but to fight for a government he didn't believe in, then became prisoner and had to suffer so much hate. Yet, he stayed kind through all of this and he definitely deserved the world.

However, I couldn't give it a full four stars, even though I really loved it, because of some remarks from the main character. There were some slut-shaming remarks, I know I shouldn't address it that much considering this novel was set in another time period and every sentence of that topic might have been pronounced by people of that time (and some of ours, unfortunately), but it did bother me a bit, especially considering what happened to one of the girls who was slut-shamed. I also didn't like that the main character would criticise her best friend for being all gooey-eyed on the first boy she fell in love with and thinking she would spend the rest of her life with him, when she did the exact same thing the grandchildren thoughts bothered me, as they had only known each other for a few months!. There also are some loose ends I would have liked to see resolved, the ending was a bit abrupt, I kinda wish there was a sequel to this one, or even a companion novel, so I could be satisfied.

Overall, I am so happy that I picked up this one and I cannot wait to read Caroline Leech's next novel, which will be released at the end of this month. It was a really sweet romance that talked about so many important topics that aroused during World War II and handled them in a good way. I actually wish I could see Lorna and Paul again, because I shall miss them greatly.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
A young Scottish girl is torn between loyalty to her country and brothers fighting in WWII, and to the family’s newly hired farmhand. Lorna has found Paul to be a good friend, but he is a German POW...
(Opening line)-“Lorna Anderson was ankle deep in muck and milk.”
This book was a wonderful read! Very few books about WWII give the reader a chance to find out things from the viewpoints of ordinary German citizens. Young men like Paul Vogel, who were conscripted to leave their jobs and dreams and enter the army of the Third Reich, or else...As he put the question to Lorna, “Do you think we like being here?”
The relationship between Lorna and Paul is very sweet and innocent. Yes, there is some teenage romance involved, but Paul also takes on the role of Lorna’s protector, since her two brothers are gone.
I think this book is an excellent example of the good that can come of viewing foreigners as individual people; not assuming that everyone from a country is evil just because their government is.
Memorable scenes/Quotes:
(Pg.34)-“I am a German,yes, but I am not a Nazi. There is a difference, and I hope one day you understand that.”-Paul
(Chap. 30)-The reaction of the church members when Paul enters with the Andersons

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a touching and very sweet story. usually the WWII books i pick are heartbreakingly sad, so it was quite a surpise to find one that wasnt as tragic (which is hard to do considering the time period). i also have never read one set in the UK, so that was a first.

i felt like this story focused on the hope of things to come after the war, rather than the war itself - which i found to be refreshing and such an encouraging message. if i could have changed anything, it would have been the focus on certain relationships. i didnt really see the point of taking so much time to explore lornas friendship with iris (and in turn william) when nothing ended up being resolved with them. i would have much rather read more about iris’ relationship with her brothers, seeing them return from the war, and even learn more about paul. i mean, some character depth/background was touched upon, but i definitely wanted more.

overall, really great read and i will more than likely pick up caroline leechs other books!

↠ 4 stars