"Sangria Sunsets" by Edward R Hackemer is a novel of historical fiction that brings to life the love, mystery, adventure, tragedy, and triumph of a family torn apart by war, espionage, lust, and revolution.
Beginning in 1937 and ending in 1953, the Throckmorton family evolves through war and kinds of peace. Through the viewpoints of different family members, the story is unfurled. Simply breathtaking.
The writing, at some times poetic, and other times fascinatingly factual, is always eloquent.
This book truly offers something for everyone, from romance to adventure to history to biography. I am not usually a huge fan of romantic "intimate" scenes, but the author NAILS it. Erotic without being vile, sexy without being graphic, and romantic without being mushy. The historically accurate clothing and setting added to the anticipation of physical intimacy, in a classy, visual way.
I appreciated the glossary in the back of words, phrases , slang, and jargon that younger readers might not understand. The thoroughness of the historical facts in the addendum, and the listing of military warcraft, added another dimension to the depth of the story.
My paperback edition came with a CD of songs from the era, and they correlated with each segment of the book. This was a bonus in enjoyment! At the end of the book, the suggested songs are listed, and I recommend listening as you read along to get a multi-sensory experience for the settings and action.
This is book six of a series chronicling one family's history. I have not read any of the previous volumes, and I read this fluently as its own story. It is strong as a stand-alone book, but now I am intrigued and want to read the entire series.
This historical novel provides entertainment for readers of all genres.