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The DeLuca Furlough Brides: Book 1: The Ones They Left Behind
New from USA TODAY bestselling author Alan Simon: the companion saga to The First Christmas of the War, Thanksgiving 1942, and The First Christmas After the War.
Seventy-five years ago, in the earliest days of World War II, hundreds of thousands of young American women hastily married their sweethearts before those young men went off to war. This is the story of two of those young women who became known as furlough brides.
Much to the dismay of her haughty mother, nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Buchanan marries her high school sweetheart, Carlo DeLuca, during Carlo's brief furlough following Marine Corps boot camp before he departs for infantry training...and then the bloody islands of the Pacific Theater.
One week later, Elizabeth's high school acquaintance Angela Antolini marries Carlo's older brother Tony while Tony is home on furlough following his U.S. Army basic training. As with Carlo - and their other two brothers - Tony will soon be off to war.
Elizabeth and Angela - the DeLuca furlough brides - form a bond that carries them through the World War II homefront years. Both young women find jobs as government agency secretaries to help them cope with one lonely day after another. Katherine Buchanan, Elizabeth's meddling mother, refuses to accept her daughter's marriage to someone that Katherine considers to be beneath her daughter. Elizabeth's black market-dealing brother and father present her with even more problems, even as she worries day after day about Carlo's well-being.
Come spend the war years with Elizabeth and Angela as they each struggle with the same monumental question:
How can a wartime marriage survive years apart from each other, amidst constant fear and many other trials?
Seventy-five years ago, in the earliest days of World War II, hundreds of thousands of young American women hastily married their sweethearts before those young men went off to war. This is the story of two of those young women who became known as furlough brides.
Much to the dismay of her haughty mother, nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Buchanan marries her high school sweetheart, Carlo DeLuca, during Carlo's brief furlough following Marine Corps boot camp before he departs for infantry training...and then the bloody islands of the Pacific Theater.
One week later, Elizabeth's high school acquaintance Angela Antolini marries Carlo's older brother Tony while Tony is home on furlough following his U.S. Army basic training. As with Carlo - and their other two brothers - Tony will soon be off to war.
Elizabeth and Angela - the DeLuca furlough brides - form a bond that carries them through the World War II homefront years. Both young women find jobs as government agency secretaries to help them cope with one lonely day after another. Katherine Buchanan, Elizabeth's meddling mother, refuses to accept her daughter's marriage to someone that Katherine considers to be beneath her daughter. Elizabeth's black market-dealing brother and father present her with even more problems, even as she worries day after day about Carlo's well-being.
Come spend the war years with Elizabeth and Angela as they each struggle with the same monumental question:
How can a wartime marriage survive years apart from each other, amidst constant fear and many other trials?
458 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2017
451 people are currently reading
648 people want to read
About the author
Alan Simon
10 books42 followersFrom USA TODAY bestselling author Alan Simon...just published: THE DELUCA FURLOUGH BRIDES - BOOK 1: THE ONES THEY LEFT BEHIND...a "spinoff" novel to THE FIRST CHRISTMAS OF THE WAR and its sequels.
Also available: the USA TODAY bestseller GETTYSBURG, 1913: THE COMPLETE NOVEL OF THE GREAT REUNION...a very unique story (originally written as a 3-part serialized novel) set against the backdrop of the real-life, all-but-forgotten "Great Reunion" of more than 50,000 aging Civil War veterans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. In the midst of this tale of the greatest post-war healing event the world has ever seen you'll also find a sweet, turn-of-last-century love story between a widowed nurse and a lonely Philadelphia physician.
Author of a memoir about growing up watching the great baseball player Roberto Clemente who lost his life on a mercy mission to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua more than 40 years ago on New Year's Eve. Enjoy:
Clemente: Memories of a Once-Young Fan - Four Birthdays, Three World Series, Two Holiday Steelers Games, and One Bar Mitzvah.
Also available: the USA TODAY bestseller GETTYSBURG, 1913: THE COMPLETE NOVEL OF THE GREAT REUNION...a very unique story (originally written as a 3-part serialized novel) set against the backdrop of the real-life, all-but-forgotten "Great Reunion" of more than 50,000 aging Civil War veterans to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. In the midst of this tale of the greatest post-war healing event the world has ever seen you'll also find a sweet, turn-of-last-century love story between a widowed nurse and a lonely Philadelphia physician.
Author of a memoir about growing up watching the great baseball player Roberto Clemente who lost his life on a mercy mission to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua more than 40 years ago on New Year's Eve. Enjoy:
Clemente: Memories of a Once-Young Fan - Four Birthdays, Three World Series, Two Holiday Steelers Games, and One Bar Mitzvah.
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May 16, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (5/16/2018)!💝
New from USA TODAY bestselling author Alan Simon: the companion saga to The First Christmas of the War, Thanksgiving 1942, and The First Christmas After the War.
Seventy-five years ago, in the earliest days of World War II, hundreds of thousands of young American women hastily married their sweethearts before those young men went off to war. This is the story of two of those young women who became known as furlough brides.
Much to the dismay of her haughty mother, nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Buchanan marries her high school sweetheart, Carlo DeLuca, during Carlo's brief furlough following Marine Corps boot camp before he departs for infantry training...and then the bloody islands of the Pacific Theater.
One week later, Elizabeth's high school acquaintance Angela Antolini marries Carlo's older brother Tony while Tony is home on furlough following his U.S. Army basic training. As with Carlo - and their other two brothers - Tony will soon be off to war.
Elizabeth and Angela - the DeLuca furlough brides - form a bond that carries them through the World War II homefront years. Both young women find jobs as government agency secretaries to help them cope with one lonely day after another. Katherine Buchanan, Elizabeth's meddling mother, refuses to accept her daughter's marriage to someone that Katherine considers to be beneath her daughter. Elizabeth's black market-dealing brother and father present her with even more problems, even as she worries day after day about Carlo's well-being.
Come spend the war years with Elizabeth and Angela as they each struggle with the same monumental question:
How can a wartime marriage survive years apart from each other, amidst constant fear and many other trials?
New from USA TODAY bestselling author Alan Simon: the companion saga to The First Christmas of the War, Thanksgiving 1942, and The First Christmas After the War.
Seventy-five years ago, in the earliest days of World War II, hundreds of thousands of young American women hastily married their sweethearts before those young men went off to war. This is the story of two of those young women who became known as furlough brides.
Much to the dismay of her haughty mother, nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Buchanan marries her high school sweetheart, Carlo DeLuca, during Carlo's brief furlough following Marine Corps boot camp before he departs for infantry training...and then the bloody islands of the Pacific Theater.
One week later, Elizabeth's high school acquaintance Angela Antolini marries Carlo's older brother Tony while Tony is home on furlough following his U.S. Army basic training. As with Carlo - and their other two brothers - Tony will soon be off to war.
Elizabeth and Angela - the DeLuca furlough brides - form a bond that carries them through the World War II homefront years. Both young women find jobs as government agency secretaries to help them cope with one lonely day after another. Katherine Buchanan, Elizabeth's meddling mother, refuses to accept her daughter's marriage to someone that Katherine considers to be beneath her daughter. Elizabeth's black market-dealing brother and father present her with even more problems, even as she worries day after day about Carlo's well-being.
Come spend the war years with Elizabeth and Angela as they each struggle with the same monumental question:
How can a wartime marriage survive years apart from each other, amidst constant fear and many other trials?
November 28, 2018
Furlough Brides
I felt especially attached to this book because of my own experience.
My boyfriend and I became engaged softly one week before got his craft papers for Vietnam. Several months before he had lost his exemption so we had an unspoken understanding that the draft was a reality. We decided not to marry before he left, I still had 2years of college left, ect. We had one month before he left but we did get to have Chrristmas together. Seeing him off to boot camp was hard but like the members of this family we got a couple of weekend together. Then he was sent for training in Louisiana for 8 weeks then one month home before Vietnam. At least he only had to be there for one year, not 4. I knew he would be home in July since he had left in July. but didn't know when. One night I was at home taking a shower about 9 when I heard my mom yelling "who is it?" . Knowing that my dad was out of town I hurried to rinse and dry off when I heard her say his name. I went flying down the stairs straight into his arms! we have been married for 48 years.
I felt especially attached to this book because of my own experience.
My boyfriend and I became engaged softly one week before got his craft papers for Vietnam. Several months before he had lost his exemption so we had an unspoken understanding that the draft was a reality. We decided not to marry before he left, I still had 2years of college left, ect. We had one month before he left but we did get to have Chrristmas together. Seeing him off to boot camp was hard but like the members of this family we got a couple of weekend together. Then he was sent for training in Louisiana for 8 weeks then one month home before Vietnam. At least he only had to be there for one year, not 4. I knew he would be home in July since he had left in July. but didn't know when. One night I was at home taking a shower about 9 when I heard my mom yelling "who is it?" . Knowing that my dad was out of town I hurried to rinse and dry off when I heard her say his name. I went flying down the stairs straight into his arms! we have been married for 48 years.
August 26, 2018
In the early months of WWII, thousands of women married their sweethearts before their men were shipped out. This is primarily the story of two of these women who were called “furlough brides”.
Despite her mother’s disapproval, Elizabeth, a Protestant upper-class young woman, married her high school sweetheart, Carlo DeLuca, an Italian Catholic. A week later, her high school acquaintance, Angela Antolini, married Carlo’s older brother, Tony.
Elizabeth came from a wealthy family of privilege. Elizabeth’s father paid $3000 so that his son William could get a 4-F designation and avoid military service. Elizabeth’s wealthy family looked down on people like the DeLuca’s who were blue collar. William and his father were out to make money and engaged in bootlegging to take advantage of the shortages of liquor and sugar. Initially, Elizabeth was pleased that William was arrested, given an A-I status, and sent to the army. Yet, William changed for the better and proved himself brave and heroic in the Pacific on the islands of Saipan and Tinian.
Angela was an Italian Catholic of the same class as the DeLucas and had an easier transition into the DeLuca household. She easily chose to live with her husband’s parents while he was fighting against the Axis powers. At times, Angela resented Elizabeth’s privilege and distrusted her. However, Angela and Elizabeth found themselves in similar circumstances. Elizabeth, fed up with her mother’s attempts to annul her marriage to Carlo and find a more suitable upper-class suitor, left her parent’s home and moved in with the DeLuca’s, as well. The two women, barely acquainted previously, bonded and became quite close.
The book describes their life at home, their relationships, and the hardships, emotions, and worries they experienced during WWII. The concern of the war was always there behind the other events in their lives. There were frequent war reports in newspapers and on the radio, as well as war movies at the movie theaters.
Alan Simon has obviously done some excellent historical research, and I appreciate the effort he has made to set the scene of the characters’ lives. However, I do believe he was off base at times. When his character, Gerald Coleman, fired a man in his factory for pressuring Elizabeth into having an affair with him. Simon writes, “The firing of Janusz Nowak last September had been a wake-up call to those workers still reluctant to work on an assembly line alongside women or who saw these female workers as little me than potential plaything…” The author does not comprehend how women were treated at that time. I grew up during the late 40s, 50s and early 60s, and this does not ring true to me. (This is not the only instance when Alan Simon misses what would have been appropriate for that era in history. The characters’ conversation is more modern than it would have been in the 1940s; e.g. “How is he doing?” That phrase is a contemporary colloquialism.)
Unfortunately, the author writes academically with a stiffness that detracts from the story. The phrasing of the sentences is often lifeless, and the stiff, formal letters Elizabeth writes to her husband, Carlo, are unrealistic and unimaginative, as are his letters to her. A good writer has an easy flow to the words and sentences. Just like a composer of music, a writer needs to have rhythm. Alan Simon does not know how to tell a good story, although he has the ingredients to do so.
Why does Simon need to persist in adding awkward qualifications for so many of the conversations between or among the characters? I felt like I was constantly stuck in mud and could not easily proceed into the story further. I was at a distance and could not enter the lives of the characters.
Happily, “The DeLuca Furlough Brides: Book 1” improved for a short stint halfway through the book. I was able to shorten the distance I felt from the characters to some extent. Unhappily, just when I was starting to enjoy reading his story, the author descended into clichés and quite boring writing about three quarters through his book. His descriptions of patriotic speeches (The War Bond Rally) and the feelings of the characters were dull, corny, and not worthy of the historical research he did for this book project. This is not good writing. If he could have just written a nonfiction account of events, he would have fared better.
I received this book free from BookBub and am giving the book three stars. There are some decent sections and some good historical information but the author’s writing is often weak.
The author is in the process of writing book 2, “The DeLuca War Brides—Book 2: The Ones They Brought Back”. Note that the war brides were foreign women who married soldiers overseas and came back with their husbands to America.
Despite her mother’s disapproval, Elizabeth, a Protestant upper-class young woman, married her high school sweetheart, Carlo DeLuca, an Italian Catholic. A week later, her high school acquaintance, Angela Antolini, married Carlo’s older brother, Tony.
Elizabeth came from a wealthy family of privilege. Elizabeth’s father paid $3000 so that his son William could get a 4-F designation and avoid military service. Elizabeth’s wealthy family looked down on people like the DeLuca’s who were blue collar. William and his father were out to make money and engaged in bootlegging to take advantage of the shortages of liquor and sugar. Initially, Elizabeth was pleased that William was arrested, given an A-I status, and sent to the army. Yet, William changed for the better and proved himself brave and heroic in the Pacific on the islands of Saipan and Tinian.
Angela was an Italian Catholic of the same class as the DeLucas and had an easier transition into the DeLuca household. She easily chose to live with her husband’s parents while he was fighting against the Axis powers. At times, Angela resented Elizabeth’s privilege and distrusted her. However, Angela and Elizabeth found themselves in similar circumstances. Elizabeth, fed up with her mother’s attempts to annul her marriage to Carlo and find a more suitable upper-class suitor, left her parent’s home and moved in with the DeLuca’s, as well. The two women, barely acquainted previously, bonded and became quite close.
The book describes their life at home, their relationships, and the hardships, emotions, and worries they experienced during WWII. The concern of the war was always there behind the other events in their lives. There were frequent war reports in newspapers and on the radio, as well as war movies at the movie theaters.
Alan Simon has obviously done some excellent historical research, and I appreciate the effort he has made to set the scene of the characters’ lives. However, I do believe he was off base at times. When his character, Gerald Coleman, fired a man in his factory for pressuring Elizabeth into having an affair with him. Simon writes, “The firing of Janusz Nowak last September had been a wake-up call to those workers still reluctant to work on an assembly line alongside women or who saw these female workers as little me than potential plaything…” The author does not comprehend how women were treated at that time. I grew up during the late 40s, 50s and early 60s, and this does not ring true to me. (This is not the only instance when Alan Simon misses what would have been appropriate for that era in history. The characters’ conversation is more modern than it would have been in the 1940s; e.g. “How is he doing?” That phrase is a contemporary colloquialism.)
Unfortunately, the author writes academically with a stiffness that detracts from the story. The phrasing of the sentences is often lifeless, and the stiff, formal letters Elizabeth writes to her husband, Carlo, are unrealistic and unimaginative, as are his letters to her. A good writer has an easy flow to the words and sentences. Just like a composer of music, a writer needs to have rhythm. Alan Simon does not know how to tell a good story, although he has the ingredients to do so.
Why does Simon need to persist in adding awkward qualifications for so many of the conversations between or among the characters? I felt like I was constantly stuck in mud and could not easily proceed into the story further. I was at a distance and could not enter the lives of the characters.
Happily, “The DeLuca Furlough Brides: Book 1” improved for a short stint halfway through the book. I was able to shorten the distance I felt from the characters to some extent. Unhappily, just when I was starting to enjoy reading his story, the author descended into clichés and quite boring writing about three quarters through his book. His descriptions of patriotic speeches (The War Bond Rally) and the feelings of the characters were dull, corny, and not worthy of the historical research he did for this book project. This is not good writing. If he could have just written a nonfiction account of events, he would have fared better.
I received this book free from BookBub and am giving the book three stars. There are some decent sections and some good historical information but the author’s writing is often weak.
The author is in the process of writing book 2, “The DeLuca War Brides—Book 2: The Ones They Brought Back”. Note that the war brides were foreign women who married soldiers overseas and came back with their husbands to America.
June 3, 2018
The book was the story of Elisabeth who at 18 married a Italian boy from the poor side of town. Her mother is very mad at her running off to get married. Elisabeth marries Carlo, they barely have time together before he is shipped out.
We also have Angela a Italian young woman who marries Tony, Carlo's brother. She and Elisabeth become very close as they both see their husband leave for war for years. Tony and Carlo sister Carmela marries another Tony, from another family. She is loud and brassy she has an affair with a man at her work that turns out badly.
Most of the story is centered around Elisabeth and her family, her love for Carlo, but being lonely and missing him, plus being so worried.
We read how the women left behind go to work, how they listen to the radio and read the paper for any war news. How sometimes they just can not take it anymore.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was easy to read.
We also have Angela a Italian young woman who marries Tony, Carlo's brother. She and Elisabeth become very close as they both see their husband leave for war for years. Tony and Carlo sister Carmela marries another Tony, from another family. She is loud and brassy she has an affair with a man at her work that turns out badly.
Most of the story is centered around Elisabeth and her family, her love for Carlo, but being lonely and missing him, plus being so worried.
We read how the women left behind go to work, how they listen to the radio and read the paper for any war news. How sometimes they just can not take it anymore.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was easy to read.
January 16, 2018
This book tells us not what the men and women who enlisted in WW2 went through, but rather what those who stayed at home endured, with the changes in economy and employment, as well as the never ending concerns for those that were serving.
Although not of this generation, I have heard the heart rendering stories from my parents of what their families endured in this time of war.
I, for one, believe we should see what war is, from the real life prospective, so that those that endured hardships and lose, did so that the following generations remember and hopefully not have to shoulder the burden of our forefathers trails and tribulations. However, it also may show some what was endured so they had freedom today.
Although not of this generation, I have heard the heart rendering stories from my parents of what their families endured in this time of war.
I, for one, believe we should see what war is, from the real life prospective, so that those that endured hardships and lose, did so that the following generations remember and hopefully not have to shoulder the burden of our forefathers trails and tribulations. However, it also may show some what was endured so they had freedom today.
January 17, 2018
Great read!!
The story is set in World War II. You are placed into the lives of Elizabeth, Angela and Carmela all three sisters in law, fresh out of high school and all three swiftly married before their sweethearts are sent of to fight in the war. Throughout the book you follow the three women through the fears that their new husbands may not return, injuries, affairs, miscarriages , deaths and general family fall outs.
The three women have a common bond not only because they are sisters in law, but because they understand what each others are going through with their respective husbands.
The story is set in World War II. You are placed into the lives of Elizabeth, Angela and Carmela all three sisters in law, fresh out of high school and all three swiftly married before their sweethearts are sent of to fight in the war. Throughout the book you follow the three women through the fears that their new husbands may not return, injuries, affairs, miscarriages , deaths and general family fall outs.
The three women have a common bond not only because they are sisters in law, but because they understand what each others are going through with their respective husbands.
May 28, 2018
Home front WWII historical fiction
Historical fiction is one of my favorite reads. This book started off slow, for me, but the characters grew into amazing in-depth people that struggled with the everyday harsh realities of war. Many people don't know how hard it was for Americans going through WWII unless you talked to someone in your family...Even then the picture is never quite complete. The author did a fantastic job of pulling real articles from the Pittsburgh paper and real life stories and wrapping them into his characters. It was a great read.
Historical fiction is one of my favorite reads. This book started off slow, for me, but the characters grew into amazing in-depth people that struggled with the everyday harsh realities of war. Many people don't know how hard it was for Americans going through WWII unless you talked to someone in your family...Even then the picture is never quite complete. The author did a fantastic job of pulling real articles from the Pittsburgh paper and real life stories and wrapping them into his characters. It was a great read.
June 4, 2018
Wow! What an AMAZING Book!
I can't wait for the next book in this series! I feel like I'm a part of the family now and I need to know how their lives pan out and what happens to all the brothers. Alan Simon, has a way of writing that makes you feel like they are letters from home. Telling the story as if you were sitting in the living room watching it unfold. You'll want to read this book and any other written by this amazing author!!
I can't wait for the next book in this series! I feel like I'm a part of the family now and I need to know how their lives pan out and what happens to all the brothers. Alan Simon, has a way of writing that makes you feel like they are letters from home. Telling the story as if you were sitting in the living room watching it unfold. You'll want to read this book and any other written by this amazing author!!
May 26, 2019
WW II brought to life
This is a story about the horrors of World War II from the home front. This book demonstrates the uncertainty for family and friends who were left at home to fight and survive the war any way they could. Their sacrifices were different from those of the men and women who were overseas, but they were equally challenging. This book gets to the heart of those challenges.
This is a story about the horrors of World War II from the home front. This book demonstrates the uncertainty for family and friends who were left at home to fight and survive the war any way they could. Their sacrifices were different from those of the men and women who were overseas, but they were equally challenging. This book gets to the heart of those challenges.
January 26, 2020
This was a heart warming story of love, fear and discrimination. The sorry of 3 sisters-in-law and their worries and dealing of every day fears as the men they married shortly after Pearl Harbor go of to fight. One of the main heroine is a WASP privilege girl who marries an Italian boy. Her mother things she is to good for him and tries to bully her daughter to leave him. Her mother is mean vindictive and at the gets her due reward.
May 24, 2018
A bit simple
This book was okay, but it was a bit simple. I did find my mind wandering several times and had to reread passages. A good editor could've cut down on unnecessary details and run-on sentences. The women were made out to be crying messes over every situation. You could tell a man wrote it. I'm not sure I'll read the sequel.
This book was okay, but it was a bit simple. I did find my mind wandering several times and had to reread passages. A good editor could've cut down on unnecessary details and run-on sentences. The women were made out to be crying messes over every situation. You could tell a man wrote it. I'm not sure I'll read the sequel.
May 26, 2018
Proud to be an American
As a child born during WWII, I really didn't hear a lot of details of what was going on with families of military personnel. By the time I was old enough to even know about the war, it wasn't really a topic of conversation, so this was very enlightening to me. I did enjoy reading this book.
As a child born during WWII, I really didn't hear a lot of details of what was going on with families of military personnel. By the time I was old enough to even know about the war, it wasn't really a topic of conversation, so this was very enlightening to me. I did enjoy reading this book.
June 10, 2018
Touching read of the ones left behind
This book have me an inside look at what it must have been like for my mother during the war, as she was left here while my father was in Europe . I had not thought much about how hard it was for the families not to know where their loved ones were, and if they were even alive. A good story line and great characters!
This book have me an inside look at what it must have been like for my mother during the war, as she was left here while my father was in Europe . I had not thought much about how hard it was for the families not to know where their loved ones were, and if they were even alive. A good story line and great characters!
July 4, 2018
An insight into how war brides felt knowing that their husbands were in mortal danger fighting the terrible wat. They had conflicting sentiments during their husbands' absence. It was a war tale as we followed the battles along with the brides. Sometimes it was a bit repetitious as each bride revealed her love story and how being married without a spouse present, affected them.
October 22, 2018
DeLuca Furlough Brides
Great story! Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Some of the other reviews said the history was incorrect, but I don't know enough about WW2 to affirm or deny their claims.
I highly recommend this book for the enjoyment of reading and not for research. ;)
Great story! Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Some of the other reviews said the history was incorrect, but I don't know enough about WW2 to affirm or deny their claims.
I highly recommend this book for the enjoyment of reading and not for research. ;)
January 17, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyable!
This war was my grandparents war but... I have heard so much about it over the years. Excellent story! Thank you for taking history and making it not only really but peraonal.
This war was my grandparents war but... I have heard so much about it over the years. Excellent story! Thank you for taking history and making it not only really but peraonal.
January 23, 2018
War Brides
I didn't find this book compelling as I thought I would, but interesting. All the feelings these women waiting for husbands to return are very easy to understand. A very hard era in American history.
I didn't find this book compelling as I thought I would, but interesting. All the feelings these women waiting for husbands to return are very easy to understand. A very hard era in American history.
January 23, 2018
Up close and personal look at wives of wwII soldiers
This story is engaging with characters the reader cares about. I would recommend reading book one in The series first even though each book can be read as a stand alone novel. I look forward to the next one.
This story is engaging with characters the reader cares about. I would recommend reading book one in The series first even though each book can be read as a stand alone novel. I look forward to the next one.
February 1, 2018
Great World War II book
This book follows a family that has for brothers fighting on both fronts of the war. Two of the guys are married and the story follows these two Furlough Brides.
This book follows a family that has for brothers fighting on both fronts of the war. Two of the guys are married and the story follows these two Furlough Brides.
February 8, 2018
Wonderful family saga
I love the way this Author is able to transport you right into these families. He writes with so much attention to detail as well, regarding the era in time in Pittsburgh. Look forward to MORE :)
I love the way this Author is able to transport you right into these families. He writes with so much attention to detail as well, regarding the era in time in Pittsburgh. Look forward to MORE :)
May 18, 2018
Great History AND Great Novel
I heartily recommend, both as a well-constructed, engrossing novel, and for the rich, factual accounts of actual WWII battles and people. Any fan of historical novels, AND any history buffs will certainly enjoy this book. Can't wait for the next!
I heartily recommend, both as a well-constructed, engrossing novel, and for the rich, factual accounts of actual WWII battles and people. Any fan of historical novels, AND any history buffs will certainly enjoy this book. Can't wait for the next!
May 27, 2018
Great take on the reality of the wives (and fiancés and girlfriends) on the home front during WWII. Downloaded as a freebie, but enticing enough that I’ll likely end up with the others by the author, as they are all at least peripherally connected.
June 2, 2018
This is a good book on WWII but with a twist. It tell how the women left behind had to endure the hardships and lose of their love one’s that went off to war. Of the types of employment they had, the stress and concerns they had for their men, and the changes in the economy caused by the war
June 5, 2018
WWII Waiting at Home
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it recalled a time when so many families had sons, brothers, and husbands overseas fighting in that war. I imagined my mother reading the daily paper, scanning for news. My father was gone for 2 1/2 years.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as it recalled a time when so many families had sons, brothers, and husbands overseas fighting in that war. I imagined my mother reading the daily paper, scanning for news. My father was gone for 2 1/2 years.
June 15, 2018
An okay read. Historical references to WWII interesting. References to the movies/songs playing at the time while okay seemed out of place in the storyline. Characters did not seem to develop enough for me to want to read any more in the series. Sorry about that
June 17, 2018
Annoying!
This book may have been based on many historical facts and that in a small way was interesting, however the characters were totally annoying. I stopped reading a good hundred or so pages before the end.
This book may have been based on many historical facts and that in a small way was interesting, however the characters were totally annoying. I stopped reading a good hundred or so pages before the end.
July 20, 2018
Heart wrenching!!!!
This was a wonderful story..... So many deaths of so many family members around the world to what purpose? War is truly an evil thing😈. Alan, you produced a beautiful story considering the topic.
This was a wonderful story..... So many deaths of so many family members around the world to what purpose? War is truly an evil thing😈. Alan, you produced a beautiful story considering the topic.
July 27, 2018
Entertaining historical fiction set in WWII Pittsburgh follows the stories of two young women who married in haste at the beginning of the war and spent the war years separated from their equally young soldier husbands.
August 19, 2018
This is a wonderful WWII story of women and men who married quickly as the husbands went off to war, some not to return for three years. It's told through the eyes of the brides, but also includes the husbands and relatives view. I liked it a lot and am waiting for Book 2!
May 9, 2019
Absolutely great
I loved this story and the characters were so real and wonderfully written. I was born in 1944 and my father was killed in the Pacific before I was born born, so this story really touch my heart.
I loved this story and the characters were so real and wonderfully written. I was born in 1944 and my father was killed in the Pacific before I was born born, so this story really touch my heart.
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