Never Forget Me

by Marguerite Kaye

As war blazes across Europe, three couples find a love that is powerful enough to overcome all the odds…

A KISS GOODBYE

1914: As war looms, genteel Flora yearns to be more than just an observer. She finds a revolutionary kindred spirit in soldier Geraint—but will their fragile love be crushed before it can start to bloom?

DEAREST SYLVIE

1916: Soldier Robbie cannot forget his one hedonistic night in Paris with beautiful waitress Sylvie. But as Europe burns, can these two star-crossed lovers ever be reunited?

FOREVER WITH ME

1918: Nurse Sheila is horrified to discover her new boss is the French surgeon she woke beside after Armistice Day! Fighting for their love will be the bravest thing she's ever had to do….

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, World War I, Historical Fiction, Scotland, War

237 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Marguerite Kaye is a prolific historical romance author hailing from Argyll’s West Coast. She is a voracious consumer of books, Scotland’s world-class larder, and the occasional cocktail.

Find out more on her website at www.margueritekaye.com

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Reviews

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, Marguerite Kaye! Wonderful, moving, beautiful, sensual, romantic, poignant and real.

This was a complete departure for me as I rarely read books of this period, and any I have were many years ago, so I really did start them (3 stories in one book) with a completely open mind and very little knowledge of the time. I have watched documentaries and been interested, as of course this was a terrible time for our ancestors, but have never truly considered the effect these dreadful times must have had, not only on the participants, but also on their loved ones. Ms. Kaye has shown in her usual insightful way, how this has changed us all, life could never be the same for anyone again. Class barriers crumbled, 'the old ways', stuck in the dark ages, gone for ever, and for the good of all. Out of something so bad, emerged the society and opportunities we all....especially women....take for granted now.

The three stories are all linked to one Scottish family and their ancestral home. The Laird and his wife have 3 children, Robbie, Flora and Alex. Each of these 3 siblings go off to WWI in one way or another. Glen Massan, which has been the ancestral home of the Lairds and their offspring in this beautiful, remote part of Scotland for centuries, will never be the same.

The first story is Flora's, the middle sibling. Corporal Geraint Cassell, working class, ex Welsh miner and son of a miner, arrives to change Glen Massan forever, the castle has been requisitioned by the army for the war effort. Geraint is prickly and arrogant, proud of his socialist views but he is also a man with a secret. He has no respect for the upper classes and shows it, although he admires the tall, elegant, feisty redhead. Flora, it has been decided, will work with the Corporal to dismantle her home, lock away its treasures and ready it for its new purpose. Despite this onerous task, Flora is pragmatic and determines to work with the disturbingly attractive Geraint, to do the job allotted to her in as professional a manner as possible. The difference in their stations is a barrier between them from the beginning, two people from opposite sides of the fence, but the attraction between them is undeniable. Soon, thrown together by the job they must do, that attraction leaps over the fence and the outcome is sizzling. It is Geraint who makes Flora see that she is worth so much more than the expectations of her class and station, waiting around for the 'right' husband. It is here we first see Ms. Kaye's trademark strong woman, fighting for her right to do what she wants in life, and not allow people around her to dictate what she should do with her life, enabling her to free herself from the restrictions of class and traditions.

The second story is Robbie's, eldest son and heir, we join his story when war has been raging for two years. Laughing, fun loving Robbie Carmichael did his pariotic duty and enlisted before he was conscripted, he is, by the time we join his story, completely disillusioned by the futility and senselessness of war. Recovering from a near life threatening head injury, he is in Paris and shortly due back at the front. He is a shell of the handsome, carefree man he once was, empty of emotion, seeking solitude and small comfort in the bottom of a glass in a nightclub. He is uninterested in the hostesses glancing his way, that is until his eyes catch sight of the unmistakably French woman standing staring with eyes that do not see, beautiful, empty Sylvie, forced to work as a waitress for her very existence, two tortured souls who hate the war for different reasons. Robbie is drawn to this beautiful, sad woman and she to him. They dance, both needing the human comfort of touch and the attraction between them catches fire, they end up, uncharacteristically for them both, back at Sylvie's sparse lodgings, making passionate desperate love. Afterwards, both are embarrassed by their unbridled and needy passion they say au revoir. Robbie is due back at the front the next day, before he leaves he finds he cannot go without returning to Silvie to apologise for his behaviour. Again passion ignites, and the sensual passionate scene that follows ends with them both agreeing that they do not regret the encounters. There follows a 'courtship' by correspondence, although neither sees it as such to begin with. Robbie writes, Sylvie replies. I found this quite beautiful and original, in between his letters to Sylvie, Robbie is also writing to his younger brother who has also joined up and is serving elsewhere, and also poignant and moving letters to the families of some of his men killed in action.

The final part of the book takes us to the end of the war, and to Sheila Fraser's story. Before the war she had been a maid at Glen Massan, though also a friend of Flora's from their childhood days. Sheila is determined to be her own woman and also to play her part, She therefore joins up at the start of the war and serves as a VAD at various field hospitals throughout most of the war. An early romantic and unsatisfactory encounter with a military Doctor has left her sensitive and careful for her reputation. She works hard, sponging up as much nursing knowledge as she can, gaining respect for her endeavours and does not allow another man to get close to her. Until the Armistice celebrations....defences finally lowered, happy, dancing, beautiful, vibrant.... she is watched by a tall, attractive man wearing a French Officer's uniform. He is a silent, lonely man with baggage of his own. Drawn by the excitement of the night and by the sheer vibrancy of the beautiful girl, he lets down his own defences and asks her to dance. Immediate attraction between them erupts, they end up celebrating in the age old way and their previous abstinence and physical attraction makes for a passionate, sensual encounter. Sheila flees, appalled by what she has allowed herself to be drawn into. She returns to Glen Massan where plans are underway for the castle to be used as a hospital for soldiers injured in the war. Flora wants Sheila to work with the eminent surgeon who is arriving to take control of the venture as Sheila's previous knowledge of military nursing will be invaluable in the setting up of the hospital. Dr Luc Durand arrives, to the astonishment of both he and Sheila, he is the exciting man she has never forgotten, she the beautiful, vibrant woman he has never experienced the like of.

The story has come full circle, the privileged lives of the occupants of Glen Massan have changed forever, the war has wrought changes never imagined. I have deliberately only mentioned Alex Carmichael, the youngest sibling in passing, but his story does have a big effect on the occupants of Glen Massan and will become apparent to the reader. Again Marguerite Kaye has created a wonderful book for us to enjoy. Her painstaking research and intuitive insight into human nature, is apparent in these beautiful moving stories. As usual Ms. Kaye's wonderful descriptive passages are in evidence. I could smell and feel the desperate forced laughter, smoky and wine soaked atmosphere in the opening chapter of the nightclub in Robbie and Sylvie's story, she invites us into her imagination, we can experience the ravages of war, we feel it through her charismatic characters and their suffering. The stories are written in an unbiased manner, showing that there are no winners and losers, everyone on all sides, civilians included, suffered in this dreadful waste of life, every person killed, had someone who cared and suffered for their loss. But she has also shown the great changes which began and continue now as a result. Bravo Ms.Kaye, loved, loved, loved it. You never disappoint. 5 stars.

I was fortunate enough to be sent an advance e copy of this book in return for an honest review....How fortunate was I?

[Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say thank you to my dear friend, Wendy Loveridge, for recommending not only this book but also talented author Marguerite Kaye. I now look forward to reading more of her books.

The book contains three emotive and evocative love stories, each set against the backdrop of World War 1. The link to all them is the Carmichael family…Lord and Lady Carmichael, daughter Flora, sons Robbie and Alex …and their ancestral home, Glen Massan in Argyle, Scotland. The war will have far-reaching effects on everyone at Glen Massan.

A Kiss Goodbye – 1914

Like many other ancestral homes, Glen Massan has been requisitioned for army use and Corporal Geraint Cassell has arrived to supervise the requisitioning. A former Welsh miner and socialist, he has a deep-seated dislike of the rich and privileged. Despite the spark of attraction that flares when he meets Flora, he regards her as nothing more than “an empty-headed social butterfly”. However, as they work together overseeing the handover, Geraint realises that Flora is not at all what he expected. He finds her quick-witted and practical with a real talent for organisation. Flora is confused by Geraint’s initial animosity but, the more she gets to know him, the more she realises how much they are alike despite their social differences. He makes her take a good look at her life and gives her the self-confidence to take control of her own life and not conform to the expectations of her family. Even as they fall in love, will Geraint’s shameful secret and his personal fears destroy any chance of happiness they might have?

Dearest Sylvie – 1916

Robbie Carmichael, the eldest son and heir, has seen action in France for the past two years. However, he receives a serious head injury and is hospitalised. Battle hardened, scarred and totally disillusioned by the war, he is just a shell of a man, shunning any form of human contact. During his period of convalescence in Paris, he is drinking in a nightclub, trying to numb the constant nagging headache when his attention is drawn to a beautiful woman at the bar. Robbie is surprised to find himself aroused by the sight of her. Fixed by the intensity of his gaze, Sylvie Renaud is drawn to the stranger at the bar. The war has deprived Sylvie of everything… her family, her home, her job… leaving a deep-rooted sorrow and anger in her soul. One dance leads to a night of uninhibited passion leaving them both embarrassed the following morning. Robbie returns to the front but cannot forget Sylvie and pours out his feelings in letters…you made me want things that I cannot have, feel things I am afraid to feel, think things I can’t bear to think about…hoping she feels the same. Falling in love is inevitable but are they willing to take the biggest risk of all?

Forever With Me – 1918

Sheila Fraser, Flora’s friend and a former maid at Glen Massan, has been working as a volunteer field nurse in France since the beginning of the war. She fell in love with one of the doctors only to find she was just another notch on his bedpost. Her reputation compromised, she had learned a hard lesson and dedicates herself to restoring her reputation and achieving a level of nursing worthy of any fully-trained nurse. She’s determined never to don a maid’s uniform again. The Armistice Day celebrations are in full swing in Boulogne and Sheila is sharing all the excitement of the day when she sees a French officer watching her intently. Before she can say no, Luc Durand has swept her into his arms. For four years, Luc has devoted his life to his work but Sheila’s zest for life draws him like a magnet. Soon they are kissing and making love with total abandon. Next morning, shocked by her wild behaviour, Sheila flees. Returning to Glen Massan, she finds the house being converted into a hospital dedicated to treating ex-servicemen. Despite her wartime nursing experience, she is not a qualified nurse and all her job applications have been rejected. Flora has persuaded the hospital trustees to fund a nursing position for Sheila but the new chief surgeon, whose arrival is imminent, has to approve her appointment. Sheila is shocked to discover that the chief surgeon is Luc. Real passion still smoulders between them but is Sheila brave enough to follow her heart and can Luc put the past behind him and embrace the future?

Each of the stories is beautifully written and, through her characters, Ms Kaye explores the effects of the war on both soldiers and civilians and on the very fabric of society. Lord and Lady Carmichael exemplify the privileged class whose way of life would disappear forever while Geraint represents the voice of socialism.

For me, Dearest Sylvie , because it is set in 1916, captures all the horror, disillusionment and tragedy of the war. Ms Kaye does this in subtle but effective ways such as Robbie’s thoughts when he sees Sylvie…

She would smell of summer, of flowers, of that delightful sweet spiciness that was so peculiarly female. She would not smell of mud and despair.

or in the moving letters Robbie has to write to the next of kin of his fallen comrades. These encapsulate the real human tragedy of war.

Sheila symbolises the determination of women to break free of the traditional roles imposed on them.

The love scenes have a raw intensity which seems so realistic given the circumstances. I’m sure there were many lonely and disillusioned people who sought a moment’s forgetfulness of the horror of war in someone’s arms…to feel that they were still alive.

Some Memorable Moments

A Kiss Goodbye

“I have never met a socialist before. Are they all as outspoken as you?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never met a laird’s daughter before. Are they all as feisty as you?”
“Oh, I should think so. Centuries of trampling over serfs and turning crofters out of their homes into the winter snows leave their mark, you know.”

Dearest Sylvie

She liked the soft burr of his accent, which made her think of misty Scottish glens and rugged Highland scenery. She liked the combination of auburn hair and grey-blue eyes, the latent strength she could feel in that lean, hard body. She liked the hint of sensuality in his unsmiling mouth. For once, she saw not the soldier but the man. A vulnerable man who gazed out at the world from behind his attractive carapace like a hermit crab living in an abandoned shell.

Forever With Me

From wild elation, his spirits plummeted. Luc swore under his breath. Etiquette! Sacre bleu, he had just made love to a complete stranger, and he was worrying about etiquette. What was he thinking? How could he have allowed himself to become so carried away? He should have stayed at the hospital. He should not have danced with her. He should not have kissed her. He certainly should not have brought her back here.

With its sensual love stories, memorable characters, real sense of time and place, and eloquent writing, I can highly recommend NEVER FORGET ME.

REVIEW RATING: 5/5 STARS

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Никога не ме забравяй” е книжно романтично английско минисериалче от три отделни, но свързани истории, с атмосферата като от абатството Даунтън.

В първата история едно старо шотландско имение е реквизирано през 1914 г. от армията за тренировъчен център и за някои разузнавателни анализи. Лейди Флора Кармайкъл се опитва да спести на баща си неудобството да гледа как разпердушинват дома му, и поема ежедневните задачи да превърнат замъка във военно поделение заедно с един от подофицерите. Уелсец, бивш миньор, че и социалист, той я кара да прогледне за доста неща. Макар и приятна, това е най-слабата и скучна история.

Във втората част, през 1916 г., капитан Роби Кармайкъл получава кратък отпуск след раняване да отдъхне в Париж. Случайна среща в бар - естествено, с красива французойка на име Силви - го връща в релсите, от които войната го е изхвърлила с трясък. Както и нея. Но той трябва да се върне на фронта…и да остане жив. Това беше най-хубавият, драматичен и смислен разказ.

В третата история някогашната камериерка - сега фронтова медицинска сестра - Шийла се оказва празнуваща края на войната в Булон през 1918 г. с напълно непознат. За да открие година по-късно, че това е новият шеф на болницата в стария шотландски замък, в която работи. Също доста сполучливо и забавно описано.

Много приятен сборник с неочаквано високо качество за “Арлекин”. Може би защото романтичните жителки на Острова пишат доста по-задълбочено от посестримите си отвъд океана.

3,5⭐️

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been mulling over this review for days trying to figure out how to express what I want to say about this trilogy.

The first story, about Scottish aristocrat Flora Carmichael and former Welsh miner and now soldier Corporal Geraint Cassell is the first hint as to how this set of stories is going to show the way WWI changed Britain and to some extent Europe, forever.

A Kiss Goodbye

Flora is a classic Edwardian daughter of the house, marking time until her marriage to a 'suitable' person of her own kind. The intrusion of Geraint into her world is part of a greater upheaval, as the army takes over her ancestral home as a training centre for troops at the beginning of WWI.

This was a period when many in England thought the Allies would quickly trounce the Kaiser's army and we would all be home for Christmas. There is an innocence about this romance, even as the first casualties are trickling home. Flora is learning new skills and valuing herself as she has never done before. Geraint is more concerned about his own secrets and how they will effect his performance once he goes to the Front than the reality of death and injury.

The relationship of Flora and Geraint is a well balanced one. They both are products of their past and it is together that they learn that they don't have to take that past into their future.

Dearest Sylvie

I love that the name of the story gives an indication of how this relationship develops. So many relationship in times of war have to be sustained through the medium of letters, written on paper and through an unreliable post system in WWI to the modern email. For French Sylvie, her life disrupted by war, getting by day to day is all that matters.

For Robbie Carmichael, it is much the same, recovering from a head injury and about to go back to the Front. We are halfway through the war and it seems as if it will never end. Friends and family are dead and there is a numbness, a hard shell that is assumed to protect shattered and bludgeoned emotions.

A brief interlude is all they allow themselves because they have no real expectation of tomorrow, yet somehow with letters, the tomorrows are clawed back and hope is rekindled in the midst of some of the worst carnage of the war.

Forever With Me

Sheila Fraser was a servant at the Carmichael home before the war but spent most of it as a VAD including considerable experience in hospitals on the continent. This is where she met and had a night with a stranger on the last night of the war.

Now reality has hit when she is looking for work post-war. Despite her extensive experience, she is not able to get nursing work because she isn't fully trained. Her old friend Flora has a solution. With the end of the war, the Carmichael family have lost a son and with him any desire to restore the family home to it's former state. Instead, it will be a hospital for soldiers recovering from their injuries. This is where Sheila can help.

The arrival of Doctor Luc Durand to take over the hospital is a reminder of Sheila's indiscretion she could well do without. She doesn't need the small community where she grew up talking about her. But the work she can do at Luc's side is work she is ideally suited for and maybe she's suited for even more.

The atmosphere in this last story is hard to place. We have passed through innocence, disillusionment and now perhaps we have a cautious hope. But it is a hope tempered by the unknown for no-one is quite sure what the future holds. So much has changed, so many are lost and gone forever. The old way of life cannot be recaptured. But we get a feeling that with love and courage and a willingness to work together, a future can be built, not just for our couples for society through politics with Geraint and Flora, business and philanthropy with Robbie and Sylvie and the Medical world with Luc and Sheila.

This is a clever and well balanced set of stories, giving us a big picture look at the Great War through a microcosm of individuals and their experiences. The different moods at each stage are captured beautifully and the greater themes of change and loss and rebuilding are handled very well.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rating is only for the first story in the anthology. I struggled to get invested in the characters, though I think Ms. Kaye did a terrific job of setting atmosphere and tone. I’m not sure I’ll read the others yet.

[Charlotte Mcfall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Forget Me by Marguerite Kaye is a novel of three intertwining stories set during the Great War. Our first story starts in Scotland, where our heroine Flora has had her home requisitioned by the army. Geraint our hero turns up with the Army invading Flora’s home.

Flora has a big decision to make become a nurse of a VAD. Geraint needs to lay his past ghost behind him before he can move on with his future.

Dearest Sylvie a story from France during 1916, Sylvie and Robbie meet in a bar unexpectedly giving in to their sexual attraction. Needing to separate the letters they send each other move the story forward and to their own hea.

Forever with me brings us to the end of the war in 1918. We meet Sheila a former servant of Flora’s she now has opportunities that she never thought she would have before the war. Surgeon Luc is trying to rebuild his life after the death of his wife in the war. We travel back to Scotland and in turn come full circle from where we started.

This book touches on the horrors and sorrow of the Great War, it is by no means didactic. A must for all Marguerite Kaye fans and a step away from the norm.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Never Forget Me” - Marguerite Kaye

Novella One: “A Kiss Goodbye”

Argyll Scotland, October 1914

Glen Massan House sits in a promontory overlooking Loch Massan. It has been lived in by generations of Carmichaels. The current Lord Andrew and Lady Elizabeth Carmichael live in their huge home with their daughter, Flora, age 23. Their older son, Robbie, age 25, runs a wine import business and their younger son, Alex, age 17, is at school. The family fears that soon Robbie will be signing up to fight the war and Alex has already let it be known that he wants to sign up too as soon as he is of age.

The Carmichael family has just learned that their home has been commandeered by the Army and the family will have to move to their Lodge which is significantly smaller than Massan House. The home is to be used for special training for the Army.

Corporal Geraint Cassell was raised in a Welsh Mining village. When he arrives at Massan House with his Army buddies, he cannot help but be appalled that people still live in such extravagant homes.

It is soon decided that Flora will oversee the Army people moving into their home. Her organizational skills are well-honed and the family agrees that she will be perfect for the job. Flora has been torn as to whether to sign up and volunteer with the VADs. However, she feels that coordinating the Army move into her home should keep her busy for now.

When Flora first meets with Geraint to discuss the transition, sparks fly because they are both outspoken people. Although they clash, they are also attracted to one another at the same time. As their meetings increase, so does their attraction. Knowing that her mother does not approve of her friendship with Geraint, she cannot help but want to be with him more. Geraint realizes that he is just a man from a mining family and she is a lady. As he wants to be with her, he must break it off. He has also found that he is being sent to France to fight. How can he leave her? Can she let him go? Can their love for one another last?

I enjoyed this novella and found it to be so sweet.


Novella Two: "Dearest Sylvie”

Paris - 28 October 1916

Captain Robbie Carmichael of the Argyllshire Battalion, Argyll and Southern Highlanders is convalescing in Paris after a severe shrapnel wound that nearly took his life. While sitting in a bar one evening, beautiful Frenchwoman and waitress, Sylvia Renaud, brought some wine to him. She seems so pleasant that Robbie invites her to sit with him and enjoy a glass of wine. As with many other soldiers at that time, Robbie was suffering from the effects of the war. Many are lonely, disillusioned, and simply want to experience human touch and warmth.

They chatted for quite some time enjoying their wine and when it came time to leave the bar, they were both quite tipsy. At Sylvie’s invitation, they head to her place and make love. Shocked at their shared passion, they are both somewhat embarrassed as they say goodbye the next morning figuring they will never see each other again. However, their attraction is so great that they do get together again before Robbie is sent back to the front. They have both been damaged by the war and find themselves clinging to one another for comfort.

Sylvie and Robbie begin to write letters to each other sharing their past history, their feelings of how the war has affected them, and how they hope to see one another again. The letters are very touching and from them, we learn a lot about these two people.

Will Robbie remain safe from harm? Is there a chance to them to be together after the war?

This novella is very touching and beautifully expresses the pain that so many people experienced during the war.


Novella Three - “Forever with Me”

Base Hospital, Boulogne-sur-Mer France 11 November 1918, Armistice Day

Sheila Fraser, a Highland lass from the town of Glen Massan, is watching the happy people dancing in the streets as they celebrate the Allied victory. A blonde VAD nurse who used to be a maid for the Carmichael family, Sheila is looking forward to going home and seeing her mother again.

Luc Durand, a Frenchman, saw the lovely Sheila and asked her join him and dance in the streets too. Uncertain at first, Sheila decides to relax and enjoy the festivities. Before long their happiness leads to them kissing and an intimate encounter.


Glen Massan, Argyll Scotland - March 1919

Back in her hometown, Sheila finds that the Glen Massan House has been donated by the Carmichael family and is now named the Alex Carmichael Trust Hospital. Alex was the younger son of the Carmichael family who died from his battle injuries just one month from the end of the war. As it happens, Sheila was with him at the end and was happy to be there to comfort him.

Although Sheila is not a formally schooled nurse, she has had years of hands-on experience during the war. Her hope is to get a position at the Carmichael Hospital. With her earlier experience as a maid with the family, she is quite familiar with the home. Her friend and the daughter of the Carmichael family, Flora Carmichael Cassell, has been helping her to apply for the job. If she doesn’t get the job, the only alternatives she has are to be a maid or a companion. When the new head of the hospital arrives, she will have to interview with him in hopes of getting a job as a nurse.

Lord Carmichael is not coping well with the loss of his son, Alex, which means that Lady Carmichael has to watch over him carefully to be sure he eats and such.

Robbie Carmichael and his wife, Sylvie, spend their time in London and France rebuilding his wine business.

Geraint Cassell was wounded severely in the war but is improving and is expected to be released from the hospital soon so he and his wife, Flora, can get on with their lives.

When Flora and Sheila welcome the new head of the hospital, Sheila is surprised to find that he is none other than surgeon and Doctor Luc Durand. At first, they act as though they have never met before. Tasked with showing him around the Carmichael House now renovated into a spacious hospital, she presents her case to him for the job. After listening to her, he agrees that she can do the job and hires her with another job to also coordinate many other features of the hospital.

Will Sheila and Luc be able to put their past indiscretion behind them and be able to work together professionally? Will their latent attraction to one another spark anew?

This novella knitted the three stories together beautifully, thus ending a beautiful saga. I have always loved Marguerite Kaye’s ability to write a book that so perfectly expresses the emotions of her characters. I hope readers will enjoy this terrific novel as much as I did. I highly recommend it.

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story set in the First World War. It's not an era I tend to visit often in terms of fiction, because it still resonates so strongly.

However, I like Marguerite Kaye's commitment to historical authenticity and decided to try this one as I had enjoyed so many of her other historical romances. I am glad I did because she managed to reference the sheer horrors of WW1 and yet focus on the three romances.

I liked the way she told the story of the war through the eyes of 3 different but connected couples. I loved the way she didn't ignore the class struggle of the time or make all her protagonists aristocrats. Geraint, the former miner really came to life and I could see him as a young, idealistic Labour MP, supported by the fabulous Flora - playing his part in national politics trying to get a better deal for people. I thought Marguerite's acknowledgement of the very real class divide was really sensitively done and totally accurate.

Robbie and Sylvie's story was my favourite. Again, MK gave insight into the realities of life at war without battering anyone over the head with it. The focus on Sylvie and Robbie was just fabulous. I loved this story.

I liked the third story about Luc and Sheila but it was the least satisfying of the 3 and I can't quite put my finger on why? I suspect it's because Sheila kept retreating and backing away from Luc and I couldn't quite figure out why. No matter - I throughly enjoyed the book - my only criticism is that I wanted an epilogue showing how all 3 couples were getting on 10 or so years later. So reduced to 4.5 stars.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review. My version has the UK cover with the heroine wearing a gorgeous red coat - in my head it's the characters Sheila and Luc!

I always knew that this book would be an emotive read by its very subject it has to be. Marguerite Kaye has managed to do this and to show us the horrors of war without it being a history lesson or over dwelling on the horrors - oh they are there and they are done well - but these three stories are romances after all.

The three interlinked stories are: A Kiss Goodbye from 1914 which begins 'our' war in 1914 with Flora a young lady from the great house who meets the hero Geraint when he arrives with the army after her family's home is requisitioned. I was very happy to see the hero's surname and you'll have to ask me if you want to know why! I enjoyed all of the stories, but this one is my least favourite I think. Perhaps as I was almost anticipating how awful the war would get before the stories concluded and although I liked Flora and Geraint I felt I connected more the the later couples and their struggles. Flora in this story has to find her own place in this terrible new world as a nurse or VAD and Geraint has to come to terms with his past and decide upon his future - if they have one. This story is all set in Scotland.

The second part is Dearest Sylvie, and picks up with the hero Robbie, Flora's brother as he serves in France and meets his heroine Sylvie in 1916 at the peak of a series of now infamous battles across Europe. Sylvie is working in a bar to support herself but is by no means selling herself if you know what I mean. Her actions when meeting a tired and wounded Robbie are therefore more unexpected. After connecting at the bar they subsequently begin a sexual relationship that neither expected or really knows what to do with. Is there more between them or was it a mistake to act upon their attraction in the middle of a war? This story connects us to the hero and heroine by their letters a common practice at the time which is cleverly used to move the story forward as they see and miss each other over a period of time. This story is set in France and the will they/won't they is very strong as the war rages on. Sylvie has a very tragic past due to the suffering that regions of France had in wartime and Robbie cannot know whether he will even survive the war. I really liked this couple, but my favourite were part of the final story of the three.

Forever With Me takes us full circle to 1918 and after briefly showing us the celebrations of the end of war in Europe via France while Sheila, friend and former servant of Flora and Robbie and Glen Massan House who left early on to become a VAD and has now experienced a taste of freedom that servants let alone women could never have dreamed of meets an attractive man when celebrating the end of the war. This of course turns out to be surgeon Luc who is not only her hero but is destined to run the new hospital at Glen Massan for badly injured soldiers and we are returned to Scotland and not a little awkward. Along with freedom Sheila has had her fingers burned and Luc has lost his wife to the war and is wary of opening his heart too. Should they and could they be together? The war is no longer keeping people apart, but society. Women's freedom has again become curtailed and even should they want to a relationship between co-workers surely cannot be sanctioned...

I would give the final story 5 stars for the last few pages alone, which are extremely emotionally charged and 4 for the others as all are well and sensitively written and well researched. Don't be put off by the subject, these are great stories and all of us, even now can still feel the emotional after effects of this terrible war to end all wars. All of the stories contain at least some sensual scenes. Marguerite Kaye takes a tough period in our history and does a great job with it - as she also did with her Titanic set story, which these remind me of a little. You may want to try that story next if you enjoyed these ones.

[Harlequin Books]

"To celebrate the centennial of the start of WW I, Marguerite Kaye has written three linked novellas sweeping from Scotland to France and home again. Each novella is a passionate love story in its own right; each a testament that love can survive everything — even war. All the settings and dialogue are authentic, the action immediate and the characters memorable. Historical readers will enjoy this charming anthology" (RT Book Reviews). 4 stars

Such an interesting journey through WW1! I really enjoyed how each novella developed and added to the next one. The idea of splitting these stories up to show the differences between beginning, middle and end of the war was inspired. I loved getting the glimpse of each time. The novellas did not seem rushed at all and their individual stories felt complete. I believe my favorite was the middle. What about you? ~ Kim

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me deja sentimientos encontrados este libro... me gusto la idea pero encontre que a las historias les falto mas porque se centraron mucho en un aspecto de las relaciones y podrían haber sigo más extensas... Pero bueno.

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review: 3.0 Stars

Disclaimer: I received this audiobook free of charge for an honest and unbiased review.

Never Forget Me is an omnibus. The three stories in this omnibus are A KISS GOODBYE, DEAREST SYLVIE and FOREVER WITH ME. All of these stories are based around the World War I era all the stories are connected through one of the main characters.

Marguerite Kaye has a nice writing style. All three stories were nicely written and easy to follow. I love how each story was connected in an easy to follow but unobtrusive way. My only issue is each story felt a little rushed. Each story was great. Yet I personally think the stories would have been made even better if Marguerite Kaye had give more information from time to time. Then they might not have felt so rushed. Still having said that they were well written and easy to read. 

The narrator for Never Forget Me is Charlotte Hill. Charlotte Hill did a good job on this audiobook. I like how each character has a distinctive and interesting accent. Charlotte Hill makes each character unique.  Now having said that I still need to note that I didn't feel like Charlotte Hill gripped my attention. I had to force my self to listen to this audiobook. Charlotte Hill is a good narrator but doesn't seem to catch my attention and for audiobooks catching the attention of the listener is an necessity.

Recorded Books was the production house for this audiobook. I usually like the audiobooks Recorded Books produces. I can't really say that for this book. Now before I get stabbed let me explain. I think Recorded Books did a great job on the production of this audiobook. The tempo was just great and just right for listening. So I don't really have a problem with the production but in the selection. 

Now for the big question. Would I recommend this audiobook. Yes I recommend this audiobook. It's a good book I just wish there was more to the stories. Which is the main reason why the 3.0 stars. 

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marguerite Kaye has long established herself as a writer of great scope and talent, but she has truly outdone herself with her latest release, Never Forget Me, a collection of three novellas set during the Great War.

Never Forget Me opens in 1914 with A Kiss Goodbye, an enthralling tale of hope, healing, second chances and redemption.

Flora Carmichael’s sheltered life at Glen Massan House in Argyll, Scotland, is about to be turned on its head by the arrival of the military. The house that has been in the family for generations has been requisitioned by the army, who want to turn Glen Massan House into a hospital for convalescent soldiers. Although her prim and proper mother is having hysterics at the thought of her house being taken over by common soldiers, Flora begins to realise that the time has come for her to shake off the claustrophobic shackles that have bound her to a life of indolence and tedium and do her bit for the war effort. Helping out at the hospital seems like the most sensible solution – even if it means working in close proximity with the infuriating Corporal Geraint Cassell…

Geraint has endured plenty of tragedy and hardship in his life. Having escaped the dangers of the pit for a life in the military, the Welsh soldier is adamant that he will never go down a mine ever again. He is determined to make something of himself and to become his own man and the last thing he needs in his life is to have someone like Flora – who had grown up in the lap of luxury and who never had to struggle for anything in her life – getting in his way. But his initial disdain quickly gives way to admiration and respect when he realises that there is more to Flora than meets the eye.

Despite coming from completely different worlds, Flora and Geraint soon find themselves giving into temptation and embarking on a passionate affair. But with their lives in constant danger, does their burgeoning love have any hope of surviving in a world riven with uncertainty?

The second story in this collection, Dearest Sylvie, is a poignant story of courage, the ties that bind and love lost and found that is sure to bring a tear to even the most jaded of eyes!

When the war had irrevocably shattered Sylvie’s life and left her alone and vulnerable, she had no other choice but to leave life in her small French village behind and head for Paris. Having found a job as a waitress in a French nightclub, Sylvie spends her nights serving drinks to soldiers with pain and misery etched on their faces, before going back to a tiny apartment in the city where her dreams are haunted by a past she is desperate to forget. The war had taught Sylvie to harden her heart and never let anyone close to her ever again. However, her resolve to keep the world at bay crumbles after a chance encounter with dashing Scottish soldier, Robbie Carmichael.

Robbie had managed to make a life for himself in London away from Glen Massan House and had built up a successful wine import business. When the war had compelled him to do his duty, Robbie had joined up and witnessed unbearable agony and suffering in the trenches. All he wants to do during his leave is forget for a couple of hours about the wretchedness of war and when he spots Sylvie in a nightclub, Robbie finds himself drawn to this mysterious French woman.

A night of passion soon ensues, but with this tragic conflict showing no signs of abating, will Sylvie and Robbie ever manage to find their way back to one another ever again?

This outstanding collection of wartime stories concludes with Forever with Me, a stirring, affecting and emotional love story that exquisitely plumbs the depths of the human heart.

In 1918, the war is finally over and Sheila finds herself having to pack her VAD uniform and head back to Glen Massan House. Although her old job as a maid is still available, Sheila is adamant that she wants more from life than to be a servant. Having gleaned so much medical knowledge from her time as a VAD, Sheila is determined to put her training to good use, but unfortunately her lack of formal qualifications is a severe stumbling block that is hindering her chances of getting a job as a nurse. When Sheila hears from her good friend Flora that Glen Massan House will be turned into a full-time hospital, she is determined that nothing will stand in her way of securing a job on its wards. However, it looks like her plans of working at the new hospital are dashed when she discovers that French surgeon Luc will be the man in charge of the whole operation…

On Armistice Day, Luc and Sheila had spent a night of passion together and then gone their separate ways, thinking that they would never see each other ever again. Nobody is more shocked than they are when they realise that they will be working closely together in Scotland. Both are determined not to let their professional judgement be hampered by their unresolved feelings for one another, but that soon proves easier said than done…

Are Luc and Sheila ready to fight for their love? Or will they let this second chance at happiness slip through their fingers?

In Never Forget Me, Marguerite Kaye brilliantly evokes the uncertainty, the pathos, the fear and the agony of a world at war and writes with finesse, panache and authority about a society poised on the precipice of great social and cultural change. The three love stories that make up this first-class collection splendidly capture the yearning, longing and urgency of falling in love during a time where happiness is transient and everlasting love a privilege available to the lucky few.

Marguerite Kaye's exceptional storytelling prowess elevates her writing above that of others writing in the field and Never Forget Me is no exception. As always, the historical details are finely wrought and meticulously researched, the emotional conflicts sensitively handled and beautifully rendered and the love stories so powerfully written that despite the dangers, horrors and turmoil faced by the characters, Never Forget Me still manages to be hopeful and uplifting, without detracting for a second from the tragedy of war.

Powerful, stirring and wholly mesmerising, if you only read one historical romance this year, then you’d better make sure it’s Never Forget Me by Marguerite Kaye!

This review was originally published on Cataromance.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the WWI. Compare to the Wars in Regency Era, it was much closer to us and somehow it feel much more relatable in a way. As photography had become much more widly used at the time, the war was able to be dutifully recorded in a much more vivid and memorable level. A picture says a thousand words. And the story behind each picture certainly stretched even further.

The stories circled around the Carmichaels, a Scottish genteel family throughout the War. Flora, the only girl in the family, volunteered to oversee the handover of her family ancestral house to the Army Corp. In the weeks followed, she strike an unlikely friendship with the soldier Geraint. While their personality and family background were quite different, both of them found the similarity about their self doubt, as well as the fears they faced. The attraction between them soon blossomed. When the handover was complete, they realised they fell in love. With the war looming ahead, they faced a tough decision to mantain the love they just discovered or drop it.

This was the period when the reality of the war has not quite sick in to the majority of those behind. Most of them still firmely believed the whole thing would be finished withing a few months. While enjoying the romance and self discoveries of Flora and Geriant, we can see the shadow of war looming behind, slowly taking grip of what everyone once knew.

My favourite part of this story was when Geraint realised he loved Flora and faced the choices of giving it up entirely or at least giving it a try. I like how contrast they were, the progressing thought inside his head and distance the train pulling him away from her, one station at a time. It almost made me clenched the book and growled at the page, if it would make him think faster. Of course all was well at then end. But it was the joy of reading, yes?

Fast forward two years after the first story and in Paris, the French Capital, we next saw Robbie, the older brother of Flora and heir of the Carmicaels. Convalescence because of his near fatal injuries, he had spent sometime away from the front line to recover. No longer the happy and cheerful chap we all had a glimpse of at Flora's wedding, he was disillusioned from the war and somewhat depressed, avoiding any form of social contact possible. Alone in the nightclub two days before he returned to the front, he met Silvie, a lowly paid waitress who used to be a teacher. She also seen her fair share of the war. The two of them, by some miracle, started to talk, and it progressed into a passionate night together. When he returned to the front, he began the courtship by writing her letters. And though somewhat unorthodox at the beginning, they fell in love.

Of the three stories in this book, I personally found this one touched me the most. Because there were people I knew fall in love this way during the World War II. It was not uncommon during the war time. And for this reason alone I found myself drown to Silvie more, holding my breath as she went on her daily life while waiting for the letter. The scene when he managed to arrange some days off and she went to the station to meet him was pure adorable.

Lastly, we met Sheila, dear friend of Flora who was once a maid in Glen Massan. By now the War had officially ended and she was facing a problem of seeking a job in the nursing field, something she had been serving as during the War. She had worked hard to reach where she was now, both physically and emotionally, and had no intention to return to what she was before the War. When she returned to the castle, she found the Carmichael was being used as a hospital for ex-servicemen and the new doctor, a well known surgent, was arriving. Flora assisted her to try her luck there, and she was preparing to do just that when the new doctor arrived. Much to her shock, she realised the doctor Luc Durand was the same man who she spent a sensual night with at the Armistic. The chemistry they had shared that night was unmistakable and both of them could still feel it between them. Yet the past experience she had with another doctor had made her hesitate to carry it forward.

As this is the final story of the three, I must confess while keeping my attention engaged on the relationship between Sheila and Luc, I could not help but notice the few minor arcs happened throughout the three stories about the Carmichaels. Such as how the little village coped after the war, the youngest Carmichael (no spoiler here), the fate of the castles, and what happened to the characters in the previous two stories. Most of them are happy ones. Though as we all know, nothing will be the same after the War. I also like how Sheila faced the reality side of things as the War ends. The situation she was in must occurred more often throughout the world than we think. Not everyone would hire a person based on their work experience alone. Somehow it is still true to these days. I am glad everything turned out well for Sheila at the and how she decided not to let her past experience in love tainted the true one right before her.

This is the second book penned by Marguerite Kaye with WWI background. Her ability to capture my somewhat short attention and vivid imagination is still outstanding. I found myself unable to put my phone down (as I had spent most of my time reading this one as ebook version on my trusty smartphone this time) until the last page as always, following the roller coaster ride at each and every turn of the page. She had done another splendid job once again. I'd recommend anyone and everyone to read it. Five stars.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

As war blazes across the fields and trenches of France, men and women alike must decide how they will contribute to the Allied cause. In Scotland, one aristocratic family is forced to donate their Highland castle as a training facility for the army. In London, the older son shutters his wines importing business and joins the army, while his younger brother tries to leave school early to join up and one of the family maids becomes a VAD and leaves for Edinburgh to train. The stories of all these people are intertwined as they experience the war first hand and try to survive. This book is divided into three sections - one the story of Lady Flora and Geraint, one of her brother Robbie and Sylvie, and one of the former maid, Sheila and Dr. Luc Durand. With war as the backdrop, each of these people, and indeed the society to which they must return, is profoundly changed. I enjoyed the format of this story and was particularly interested in the historical notes at the end of the boom. Never let it be said that romance writers don't do their research!

[Andrew Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story

Recommended to me, it's one of those books that starts off quite slowly but then reels you in. It's three love stories in one. I really enjoyed the characters which were well drawn against the backdrop of war.
Glenn Massan was described in such a way that you wanted to be there, the authors love of Scotland shines through the pages.
Starting with Flora and her journey, moving to her brother Robbie finding love in Paris and then Floras friend, Sheila, finding love at the end of her journey, back in Scotland. A book to warm you on a cold day.

[Marifernuchiz Ordaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I'm going to get bashed on several different levels, but the first story seemed to me a bit of a rip-off from Sybil Crawley and Tom Branson's story in Downton Abbey.

I don't know but that is just how it felt to me.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming soon...

[Dottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three unforgettable, connected stories with a WWI setting all in one book! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

The three stories in this book revolve around the Scottish ancestral home known as Glen Massan and its residents. The laird and his wife have three children, Robbie, Flora and Alex, who are all in France, doing their part in WWI as their lives change in unexpected ways.

A KISS GOODBYE

It is 1914 and the middle sibling, Flora, yearns to be useful, to her aristocratic mother’s dismay. As her home is invaded by the army that has requisitioned her home for the war effort, she meets Corporal Geraint Cassell. He is the son of a Welsh miner and makes no secret of his disdain for the upper classes, despite his attraction to the feisty redhead. However, it has been decided that she will help him prepare the house for its new purpose. Despite the differences in their stations, their attraction to each other draws them closer. But Geraint has a secret that he feels will keep them apart, even as he gives Flora the strength to make her own decisions. Will his secret and the class barrier keep them from finding their own happy-ever-after together?

DEAREST SYLVIE

It is 1916 and the war has already been underway for two years. Robbie Carmichael, the oldest son as well as the heir, is in the French capital, convalescing after nearly being killed by a head wound. In two days, he will return to the front lines, only now he is sporting a scar from his injury. Disillusioned with the war, scarred and filled with pain, Robbie shuns any unnecessary human contact. As he sits in a nightclub drinking, he shows no interest in the people around him, not even the hostesses…until he sees one who seems as empty as he feels. Sylvie has lost much in this war and although a teacher by profession, she is now earning her living as a waitress and barely eking out a living. The evening evolves into an intimate interlude and afterwards, both are embarrassed by their unbridled passion. Although they have only known each other for a day, when Robbie returns to the front, they begin a courtship by correspondence and find themselves falling in love. But will Robbie survive the horrors of war so these two lovers can find happiness together, or will Sylvie face heartbreak once more?

FOREVER WITH ME

It is 1918 and the war is drawing to a close. Sheila Fraser, who is a good friend of Flora’s, had been a maid at Glen Massan prior to the war and is serving as a nurse in a hospital in France. When first arriving, she thought she had found love, only to have her reputation besmirched by the callous doctor she had fallen for. But she has learned her lesson and in the past two years, she has overcome the snide remarks and whispers. Her reputation is now spotless and she hopes to use what she has learned, with no plans to ever go back to being a maid. During the Armistice celebrations, she sees a silent, attractive man in a French uniform, Luc, watching her. As they share a dance, the sparks fly, ending in a sensual encounter. Aghast at her actions, she runs. Discovering that a job in the nursing field is now nearly impossible to find, Sylvia returns to Glen Massan, where the castle is being prepared to be used as a hospital dedicated to treating ex-servicemen. As they await the arrival of the new doctor, a well-known surgeon, Flora assists Sheila with finding a position there, as long as the new doctor agrees. However, Sheila is shocked when Dr. Luc Durand, the same man with whom she spent the night of the Armistice, arrives to take control of this new endeavor. Is this destiny, or will she have to fight for their happiness?

Three poignant tales make up bestselling author Marguerite Kaye’s latest book, NEVER FORGET ME. This book is completely different from the time periods I normally read about, but I absolutely loved it. Ms. Kaye brings the war and the era to vivid life right before your eyes, with all the sadness and devastation endured during this time. She brings a spark of light into a dark period with love, life, laughter and sensuality, without straying from the reality of the situation. I am a huge fan of Ms. Kaye’s work. She never disappoints and this book is no exception.

War, loss, grief, scorching sensuality, charismatic characters, WWI, healing, tender romance and love combine in this emotion-packed tale that is sure to a keeper for many readers. Although I did not make much mention of the third sibling, Alex, he plays an important part in these stories, as readers will soon learn. This is one book that readers will not soon forget and I highly recommend it!

Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was between 3-4 stars for me, but because I am not fan of wartime novels, its 3. Yes it is not my thing unfortunately, but since these wartime novels are gifted to me, I just struggle through them, so 1st part of this book went so slow, I thought I will never finish..1 star. When I got to 2nd part, it went quick, I actually loved "Dearest Sylvie" ! 5 stars for that. Such a lovely, nostalgic, sad, yet beautiful story through letters, loved it. "Forever with me" was good.
I am not sure if I will ever feel like rereading this book, but for now I am not ready to give it away either, not just yet..

[Caitlyn Callery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, it was wonderful to read a book that was so meticulously researched and historically accurate without being dry and without the facts getting in the way of the story. It’s not an easy feat but Marguerite Kaye is a past master at it.

There are three stories in this book; three different couples at different times and different stages of the war. Inevitably, there will be a favourite one and a not-so-favourite one amongst them. Although it means I look at them out of chronological order, I’d like to mention the favourite first.

That is, far and away, the middle story. “Dearest Sylvie” is set in 1916 and the jaded hopelessness of that time, the despair and cynicism that has set in is very much in evidence. But then, so is that desperate seizing of the moment, that feeling of “enjoy ourselves today for tomorrow may not come.” The waiting, the reluctance to tempt fate by making plans, the thwarting of hopes, I felt it all.

Having a lot of the story told in letters was inspired. Some of the letters reduced me to tears – especially poignant were the ones written to bereaved relatives. Absolutely wonderful writing, among the best I've read all year. I sincerely hope there is an award that this story can be entered in for, because it deserves it.

I would have liked to know whether some of the peripheral characters made it – Henri and Captain Hartigan came to mind. But other than that, this story was flawless.

My least favourite of the three was “A Kiss Goodbye”, set in 1914. Unlike “Dearest Sylvie”, this one isn’t really a wartime story so much as a story set in a time of war. There is a difference. In this story, the war is Hitchcock’s McGuffin, the excuse for the action to take place, the means for characters to meet who might otherwise not have done so. But that’s not why I didn’t like it. I actually disliked – wholeheartedly – the two main characters.

Socialist Geraint is the worst kind of snob. He is intolerant, judgemental and bigoted. Which is a shame because, in the end, the main obstacle to him declaring his love for her has absolutely nothing to do with class prejudice, and would have been an obstacle even if she had been the daughter of a South Wales miner. For me, therefore, the chip on Geraint’s shoulder added nothing to the story.

Flora was worse. Despite what Geraint believed, the landed gentry are rarely the idle rich. If they were, they would not hold on to successful estates for long. The work they do may not be as back-breakingly physical as that done by Geraint’s family, but their jobs are, nonetheless, demanding. And while a boy from the valleys could be forgiven for not knowing this, Flora should have been fully aware of it. Yet she rolls over and agrees with Geraint almost immediately, deciding that her life and the lives of her parents are empty, meaningless and useless. I have no problem with her wanting to do something different, but to denigrate everything her parents have done – at least she and Geraint weren’t spoiling another couple.

Thank goodness for Sheila and Luc in “Forever with me”. Set in 1918, once again the world events provide the backdrop rather than being integral to the story. But these two are likable, helping each other to heal, helping each other come to terms with a world changed beyond recognition.

I was hoping to see more of Matron. I kept expecting her to pop up and make things difficult for Sheila in an echo of what had happened to her before the story began. But even without her, it was satisfying to see the two overcome their difficulties.

I give five stars for “Dearest Sylvie”, four and a half for “Forever with me” and two for “A kiss Goodbye”. Which translates as four out of five overall.

[Alaine Batty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I was glad to read a book where it had elements of the war in the story line but that wasn't all the book was about... I was also nicely surprised by the fact that it was 3 books in 1... Which I wasn't expecting.

The first story is A Kiss Goodbye, this book is set in Scotland and is set in 1914. Here we meet Flora and Geraint. Although he isn't fond of the upper class he is attracted to Flora. They meet because the Army has requisitioned Floras family home, Flora decides to stay on to help them sort through the house as the army need their house for training and medical purposes. While doing this their attraction to each other grows and grows, and slowly Flora opens up to Geraint about wanting to be a nurse or a VAD - much to her mothers dismay. Geraint tells her she can do what ever she wants to do. Geraint has a troubled past that could put a horrible end to his relationship with Flora, he needs to come to terms with his past so that his relationship can flourish with Flora...

In the second story 'Dearest Sylvie' this book is set in France and is set in 1916. Here we meet up with Robbie and Sylvie. Robbie is in the front lines most of the time when he is at the battlefield and doesn't want to get close to anyone because he knows the likelihood of him dying in the war is high and wants to spare anyone the pain of losing him. Sylvie is working in a bar as a waitress when she meets Robbie, something draws them together and they can't deny the sexual attraction the burns between them, when Robbie walks her home to two embark on a sexual relationship that surprises them both with how much they are attracted to each other... When it's time for Robbie to go back to the battlefield they write to each other, (I have to say for me it was hard to keep up with this bit, as there's a lot of letters and it's not always clear who is writing to who until the end so I had to go back a few pages and re-read) it is a good way of progressing the story line and after I managed to work out who was writing to who I really enjoyed reading their letters and hoping against hope that Robbie would realise that it's okay to have someone to come back to after the war...

This review of the last books contains SPOILERS

The third and last story 'Forever With Me' is set back in Scotland in Glen Massan House, the time is 1918. And we meet Sheila and Luc, Sheila is trying to become a nurse after being a VAD in the war yet no-where is willing to take her on as she has no formal qualifications, when she comes to Glen Massan House the housing is being turned in to a hospital for injured soldiers, and the new surgeon is Luc who Sheila had met previously when celebrating the end of the war and she had slept with him due to being caught up in the moment...
Sheila has been burnt before in the work profession and is determined to put the attraction to Luc behind her so she is taken seriously. Luc is trying to put his past behind him after losing his wife in the war which he blames himself for... As Sheila and Luc work together they find it hard to keep things on business level... Can they over come their pasts and work on making a bright future together after the war...

I really like these books, I have never read a book set in war times, but I really liked the stories - it was brilliant to have bits of the war in without the war taking over the story lines...

I really would advise anyone thinking of buying the books to do so... Amazing books

[Trudy Miner · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the beginning of The Great War, The War to End All Wars or WWI, and change is coming to Glen Massan House in Scotland in a big way. In a series of three stories, author Marguerite Kaye tells the stories of members of the family from Glen Massan House in Argyll, Scotland as they deal with this life-changing war and how the way of life they knew will be gone forever.

In "A Kiss Goodbye," the Glen Massan House has been requisitioned by the army for training and hospital purposes. Corporal Geraint Cassell, formerly of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and now assigned to the Army Service Corps has been sent to ready the house for the army. When he meets Flora Carmichael, daughter of the laird, an instant attraction flares but both know it can never lead to anything. As time goes on, it becomes harder and harder to ignore each other but the war has blurred class distinctions. Will Flora go against her parents' wishes and marry for love?

In "Dearest Sylvie," Robbie Carmichael wanders into a Paris nightclub late one night in Oct. 1916 in the hopes of getting drunk to drown out the pain in his head from his wound. What he finds instead is a lone woman, clearly not one of the hostesses, at the end of the bar when he ordered another bottle of wine; she was beautiful, aloof and lost-looking and she brought him his wine. Speaking perfect English, Sylvie Renaud invited Robbie to dance so he wouldn't drink himself to death and they ended up going to his room for the night. Then they corresponded by letter snatching a few days here and there in Paris throughout the rest of the war. Will Robbie live long enough to have a HEA with Sylvie?

The third story entitled, "Forever With Me," opens on 11th November, Armistice Day, Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France and everyone has gone a bit crazy with the news the war is over! Sheila Fraser, VAD, is dancing with French, British, American soldiers and doctors and orderlies celebrating when a handsome French officer steps up and sweeps her into his arms and then away to his room for a one-night stand. Thinking she'd never see Luc again, Sheila returns to Glen Massan House seeking employment after the war. The home is now being turned into a military hospital in memory of Alex Carmichael who was killed during the war and a respected surgeon was coming to head it up. Of course it was Luc Durand and each stood in the doorway in shock at seeing each other again. Now they must find a way of working together professionally when they really want to be together.

All three stories emphasis the enormous change in society that WWI brought. It was especially hard on the aristocracy to handle as class lines disappear and new ways of doing things are formed. It is especially poignant that this book should be released at the centenary of the beginning of WWI as there are so many programs on TV about it; it makes easier for the reader to step into the period and feel what is happening. I was asked to give an honest review of this book and I've tried to do this; I would only add that I wish each story lasted longer. I was touched by each one.

[Elizajane40 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really lovely.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is difficult for lovers in these sort of romances. What should be a relatively easy affair meets all kinds of complications but then we get to what makes life good for lovers in these sort of romances – they always have a happy ending.

These three stories are set during, and immediately after, the First World War. There's been an avalanche of books as (for a reason I still find it difficult to accept) some parts of Europe celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the START of the conflict.

But these stories don't get into the muck and grime of the war itself, the war being more of an anchor point on to which all the characters are fixed for a time but their romance develops outside of the field of conflict.

Class barriers are not just broken they are blown to smithereens as it they were in the trenches of the Western Front. That seems to be a general idea of such romances set during the second decade of the 20th century and written in the second decade of the 21st.

Whether that is a true representation of the time is another matter. Yes, when the troops came back they didn't want to stay down on the farm after they had seen Paree but the ruling class, weakened though they were in some senses, still fought back to maintain their control of things. Remember, there wasn't even an attempt at Revolution in Britain, however much many other parts of Europe were seething with unrest.

So the class barriers that are broken in the stories of this small volume are more fanciful and wishful thinking than any reflection of reality.

But then, what am I saying. Those for whom these stories are written and published don't concern themselves with reality. What they want is escapism.

Although the couples might have doubts at times about the realisation of their true love at least in the 21st century they can have a bit off sex before they know whether this is going to be a life long relationship or not. Perhaps that makes the lives of those written about in the past a bit better than they were in the time when Barbara Cartland was putting them through hell.

For the genre Kaye writes well and even if not my usual choice of stories they are easy to read and 'credible' within the confines of the subject.

[Dannielle Potts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Love How The Author Chose Short Stories, All Linked By The Same Family. What A Lovely Way To Stay In Touch With The Characters And Learn New Things That Were Happening, Through Each Of The Stories. I Preferred The First Two Stories Over The Third Which Reflects My Rating.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Forget Me by Marguerite Kaye
As WWI enters the lives of those in Glen Massan, The Charmichael family home, love also enters. Can it survive in such conditions? Three stories of people on different sides, different opinions, and those who are just empty and waiting for the war to take their life. The author has weaved together these romances within the walls of the war to keep them romantic and yet the reader glimpses the realities of the war. The sexual encounters are often a desperation to know they are still alive. I really enjoyed these stories. If you tear up easily then make sure and keep a box of tissues nearby.

A Kiss Goodbye 1914
Corporal Geraint Cassell had no sympathy for the rich folks whose home they were about to take over as a training station. That is until he got to know Flora Carmichael. She was nothing of the spoiled rich girl he had assumed. But they would always be on opposites from each other. Her wealth and his plain roots. Or could love even overcome those things?

Dearest Sylvie 1916
Captain Robbie Carmichael, Flora’s eldest brother, has lost himself in the war. He became numb and uncaring, an empty shell. One night when recovering in Paris after being shot, he meets Sylvie Renaud. Less than twenty-four hours later and these two empty shells of people begin to live again. Will the war keep them apart permanently or is there hope?

Forever With Me 1918
Sheila Fraser has learned much about nursing in the years she has volunteered as a VAD. Now that the war is over people once again see her as the maid she was pre-war. When her previous employers dedicate their castle to their son’s memory, she has a chance to use what she had learned. What she didn’t expect was that the new surgeon who would be running the hospital is Luc Durand. A man she never expected to see again after Armistice Day.
**Sexual content
**Received through author for an honest review
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...

[Liam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

For the beginning of the first story in this book, I was definitely interested. I liked the characters well enough but my interest in them was completely lost after around forty pages. I found their story quite predictable which made it slightly boring. The reveal of the reason behind Geraint's odd behaviour was drawn-out and underwhelming.

I enjoyed the second story more and consider it the best of the three. A lot of it was in letter format which I liked and it made for a quick read. I feel as though the setting of Paris was a lot more exciting than Glen Massan as we got to do a bit of exploring and the city added a nice dynamic. The atmosphere was captured well. Still, I didn't find anything too special about it and I've already forgotten the name of Sylvie's love interest. At this point I was also finding some of the language used very repetitive.

The last story-line just didn't interest me at all and I was completely bored by it. Skimming the second half was the only way I could get through it. The second time the characters met was far-fetched and I just didn't believe it at all.

Throughout the book, I did think that sometimes lust overpowered the love aspect. It's definitely extremely raunchy, which doesn't bother me, but the romance and character development felt sacrificed for the sake of it. Gender stereotyping seemed to be something the author was trying to go against but the women were constantly referred to as "soft" and the men as "hard" which I found cliche and a little ridiculous.

I gave each of the stories a separate rating so here they are: A Kiss Goodbye - 2 stars, Dearest Sylvie - 3 stars and Forever With Me - 1 star, giving an average of 2.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admire the author for writing this trio of romances as the researching and writing around the Great War must have been extremely challenging. Her story is emotional and bittersweet as the characters face the dread trenches, see all they have known turned upside down or work with an endless line of wounded men.

How hard was it for the people at the time to get on with their lives? How did they fall in love and preserve relationships when the continent was on the move and turmoil affected everyone? And how did accepted roles change, whether class roles or gender ones, as necessity forced alteration?

Through the lives of three sets of young people we explore the trials of the 1914 - 18 period. A grand family home in Scotland is the linking factor as a son goes to war, a daughter learns to be useful for once and a maid finds that her horizons have expanded. Each story is complete in itself but there are references to the others. The settings are all away from the actual field of conflict to show how ordinary people from a French dancer to a Scots housemaid lived, loved and won the war. Anyone interested in the changing roles of women through the period, or in strongly-written historical adult romance, will enjoy this book.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning read, and as we remember the centenary of WW1 this year, absolutely spot on. Marguerite has written a trio of gems, with each one as thought provoking as the next. She captures the mood of the country in total clarity, and the uncertainty of a country thrust into conflict and change. This is the first WW1 book I have actually read and I am now hoping that M&B will have more of these books published. I particularly enjoyed the way the author touches on sensitive subjects with compassion and captures the desperation of lovers who may only be together for a short time before their lives are cut short with the intense heat and emotional turmoil that is to be expected. I very much recommend this as it is exceptionally well written and most definitely not a run of the mill M&B romance. One of Marguerite's corkers.

Note I haven't written any plot lines or touched on any of the characters, if I had, this would become an essay. Each reader finds something unique in an author's writing.

I was exceptionally lucky to be given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.