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Divided we Fall: A story of friendship and family
Christmas 1939 was a Christmas like no other.
With war declared just a few months ago, any thoughts of celebration are overshadowed with worries about loved ones who have gone off to fight. And it is not just those who are fighting who are a cause for concern.
When Philip discovers his best friend, Ronnie, is missing he knows that it is up to him to track him down. Winter has arrived with a vengeance and the heavy snowfall makes the search difficult, even worse when there is the blackout to cope with.
This story explores the conflicting realities of a war that asked so much from so many.This range of novellas explores life during World War Two for many of the characters in Isabella Muir’s popular Sussex Crime series.
Look out for the other novellas in the Sussex Crime series - More than Ashes, Waiting for Sunshine,The Harvest, Choices, and Never Enough - to discover the stories behind the Sussex Crime characters in these heart-warming tales.
With war declared just a few months ago, any thoughts of celebration are overshadowed with worries about loved ones who have gone off to fight. And it is not just those who are fighting who are a cause for concern.
When Philip discovers his best friend, Ronnie, is missing he knows that it is up to him to track him down. Winter has arrived with a vengeance and the heavy snowfall makes the search difficult, even worse when there is the blackout to cope with.
This story explores the conflicting realities of a war that asked so much from so many.This range of novellas explores life during World War Two for many of the characters in Isabella Muir’s popular Sussex Crime series.
Look out for the other novellas in the Sussex Crime series - More than Ashes, Waiting for Sunshine,The Harvest, Choices, and Never Enough - to discover the stories behind the Sussex Crime characters in these heart-warming tales.
62 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2018
13 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Isabella Muir
75 books21 followersIsabella is never happier than when she is immersing herself in the sights, sounds and experiences of family life from the Second World War years through to the 1960s. Researching all aspects of life back then formed the perfect launch pad for her works of fiction. Isabella rediscovered her love of writing fiction during two happy years working on and completing her MA in Professional Writing and since then she has gone on to publish six novels, three novellas and two short story collections.
Her love of Italy shines through all her work and, as she is half-Italian, she has enjoyed bringing all her crime novels to an Italian audience with Italian translations, which are very well received.
Her latest novel, After the Storm, is the second novel in a new series of Sussex Crimes, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi who is escaping from tragedy in Rome, only to arrive in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to come face-to-face with it once more.
Her first Sussex Crime Mystery series features young librarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. Set in the late 1960s, in the fictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, we meet Janie, who looks after the mobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories – in particular Hercule Poirot. Janie uses all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to help solve crimes and mysteries. As well as three novels, there are three novellas in the series, which explore some of the back story to the Tamarisk Bay characters.
Isabella’s standalone novel, The Forgotten Children, deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia – again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy was still in force.
Find out more about Isabella and her books by visiting her website at: www.isabellamuir.com
Her love of Italy shines through all her work and, as she is half-Italian, she has enjoyed bringing all her crime novels to an Italian audience with Italian translations, which are very well received.
Her latest novel, After the Storm, is the second novel in a new series of Sussex Crimes, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi who is escaping from tragedy in Rome, only to arrive in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to come face-to-face with it once more.
Her first Sussex Crime Mystery series features young librarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. Set in the late 1960s, in the fictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, we meet Janie, who looks after the mobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories – in particular Hercule Poirot. Janie uses all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to help solve crimes and mysteries. As well as three novels, there are three novellas in the series, which explore some of the back story to the Tamarisk Bay characters.
Isabella’s standalone novel, The Forgotten Children, deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia – again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy was still in force.
Find out more about Isabella and her books by visiting her website at: www.isabellamuir.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 2, 2020
I over looked I guess in not writing a review for this specular story! Shame on me because you will really enjoy this family-friendly felt story of two families and a friendship between two good friends at the beginning of war in England, 1935,I believe the year is. Isabella Muir is a excellent story teller and she doesn't disappoint you in her book,Divide We Fall .. It's not only about the war but it's Christmas time. Ronnie,comes up missing and his friend Phillip is out trying to find him. It's like a hour or so before crew few and it's cold and lights all around have to be out for the blackout.. No matter where he looks,he can't be found. Not at work,not at any of their hangouts,the good friend Phillip is can't go home until he is found. Then Phillip mets with a accident,it's cold,damp,dark and Phillip needs help and no one even knows where he is! As Ronnie's mom sits and worries, now so does Phillip's mom, both boys are missing! Follow Phillip's adventures in finding his best friend and Christmas is about miracles,well,now both families need one. The characters in this story they become real to you really fast and you will be on the edge of your seat on what's going to happen,will both families !owe both boys? Will one be found,the other not? Out of no where ,help has come in the form of a old man and his dog. Can they really help?? Not telling you,you need to read. It is a short story but speaks volumes! I hope you enjoy as much as I did and if you have not read any of her stories,you are missing out on so very much! Merry Christmas!!
December 17, 2020
Phillip is 14, Ronald is 18. They have been best friends for years. It is the beginning of World War II. There are nighttime blackouts, food shortages, and bombs dropping just 50 kilometers away. When Ronald receives his notice that it is his turn to go to war, he runs off so his mother and sister may not be ridiculed for his behavior. Ronald does not believe in killing, not even Germans. When Ronald receives his notice that it is his turn to go to war, he runs off so his mother and sister may not be ridiculed for his behavior. Ronald does not believe in killing, not even Germans. After some mishaps, Phillip finds Ronald in the Church in the center of town. This is a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of friendship and figuring out what the right thing to do in wartime is. Highly recommended.
July 30, 2023
I don't do book reviews
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way.
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way.
November 28, 2020
War kills. Simple and plain and young men historically are required to fight for their country. Isabella provides insight into one young man’s pre World War II dilemma. As difficult as it to relate to living in small English towns during 1939, I found myself drenched in the snow and ice while searching for a friend before Christmas. Concerned with how the town would ostracize a family and other ramifications that the young man would face if he did not report to the draft. This was a well written realistic story.
October 4, 2019
I enjoyed this book and really enjoyed the friendship you see straight away between the characters. With this book you get a real insight into the different feelings the characters are experiencing, and how this affects the families and people around them at what must have been a truly horrendous time. The way it is written really does make you sit up and think of how hard it must have been for everyone living through the war.
February 15, 2021
A very well told short story about the friendship between two teens at the beginning of Word War II, one of them with serious qualms about joining the war effort. I felt this CO issue was handled in an impartial way and tactfully.
August 14, 2023
This was an interesting short story. When WWII is starting and people are being called into service, a boy's older friend goes missing so he starts searching for him. I won't give any other information because it is better to read it for yourself. Highly recommended.
June 19, 2020
excellent short story
March 8, 2021
A beautiful and heartbreaking story at the same time. 1939, War time, isn’t easy for anyone. David’s friend is missing and it’s up to him he feels to find out what happened. Loved it.
July 29, 2023
The power of family
Those very short story brought tears to my eyes, song to my lips, and renewed love for family and friends.
Those very short story brought tears to my eyes, song to my lips, and renewed love for family and friends.
July 31, 2023
A very good short story about friendship and family set at Christmas in the beginning of WW II. It shows how principle drives our motivation Looking forward to more books by this author
November 25, 2023
December 1939. 18 year old Ronnie Barnard has gone missing, but why. His friend Philip goes looking for him.
An interesting short story.
An interesting short story.
April 28, 2024
This short story was just okay. Nothing really happened and the ending didn’t really provide the answers on what happened.
July 21, 2020
This is the first book I have read by"Isabella Muir" and I will be looking for more of her books to read. In this story you have Christmas in the middle of the war ,the characters in this story are so strong and believable where these people could be your next door neighbor. Never went through a Christmas during a war as this one was and you have so very believable emotions. Friendship, family, hurting,worrying,love and faith are just some of the emotions that jump out at you as you place yourself into the lives of these people. Very well written and it's hard to write a story where like I said it makes you feel like you are there and that's how I felt.. Grab some tissues I needed them!! A very much read even if it's not Christmas!! Every day should be Christmas!! This is the first book of a three book series!
June 8, 2020
This was a fabulous short story, capturing exactly the excitement of Christmas, and how it must have been at the start of the Second World War. Family is at the heart of the story, with two families whose children are friends. Growing up has its own difficulties without them being exacerbated by being called up to fight for your country.
When one boy decides he doesn’t want to fight, or become a murderer in his words, he runs away from home. He doesn’t seem to understand that this isn’t the answer as there are penalties for not answering the call to arms. His best friend goes to search for him and his search is made more difficult by the onset of snow. He falls and hurts his ankle which stops him from searching more widely. He makes a new friend who ensures he is safe as he returns home to his family.
The book ends at Midnight Mass at Church. The families are back together, but they understand that this is only a temporary reprieve. Both families have no option but to look forward. A lovely short story.
When one boy decides he doesn’t want to fight, or become a murderer in his words, he runs away from home. He doesn’t seem to understand that this isn’t the answer as there are penalties for not answering the call to arms. His best friend goes to search for him and his search is made more difficult by the onset of snow. He falls and hurts his ankle which stops him from searching more widely. He makes a new friend who ensures he is safe as he returns home to his family.
The book ends at Midnight Mass at Church. The families are back together, but they understand that this is only a temporary reprieve. Both families have no option but to look forward. A lovely short story.
June 29, 2020
A great short story, love this authors books.
November 21, 2021
Beautiful, thought provoking Christmas story ❣️
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews