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Christmastime #6
Christmastime 1945
In the final book of The Christmastime Series , the war is over. After years of grueling combat, heavy losses, and heartbreak, the first Christmas after the war promises to be a memorable one. Millions of servicemen are hoping to make it home in time for Christmas. Lillian Drooms anxiously awaits the return of Charles, fearing a final disaster. Izzy has opened a line of communication to Red, but what her future holds remains a mystery. On Kate’s farm, her eldest son has made it home––but will her other two sons return from the Pacific? Ursula lives in dread of Friedrich’s impending departure and wonders if she’ll ever see him again. And unexpectedly, Jessica gives her heart to a returning soldier, only to be rejected by him. Can this first Christmas after the war be a happy one?
310 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2019
37 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Linda Mahkovec
17 books157 followersLinda Mahkovec is the author of The Christmastime Series, love stories set predominantly in New York City during the World War II years. She also has two collections of short stories, The Dreams of Youth and Seven Tales of Love, and a contemporary novel set in Seattle, The Garden House. Her latest novels are And So We Dream, a coming-of-age story set in 1970, and The Notebooks of Honora Gorman, the life of a writer living in New York City.
Used to write as Agnes Irene
Themes of love, family, home, and making the most out of life dominate her stories, and though they may be set against the backdrop of war, or deal with the disappointments in life, the overarching feel is uplifting and hopeful.
One thread that runs through much of her work is that of the female artist–whether she is a painter, a writer, an actor, or simply someone who lives creatively and seeks out a life of beauty and meaning.
Another thread in Mahkovec’s work is the celebration of the seasons: the thrill of the first flowers of spring, barefoot summer nights, the nostalgic beauty of fall, and delight in the first snowfall.
Mahkovec was born and raised in a small town in Illinois. She then spent several years in the San Francisco Bay area and Seattle, and for the past thirty years has lived in New York City. She has a PhD in English, specializing in Victorian literature.
To find out more, please visit her at lindamahkovec.com.
Used to write as Agnes Irene
Themes of love, family, home, and making the most out of life dominate her stories, and though they may be set against the backdrop of war, or deal with the disappointments in life, the overarching feel is uplifting and hopeful.
One thread that runs through much of her work is that of the female artist–whether she is a painter, a writer, an actor, or simply someone who lives creatively and seeks out a life of beauty and meaning.
Another thread in Mahkovec’s work is the celebration of the seasons: the thrill of the first flowers of spring, barefoot summer nights, the nostalgic beauty of fall, and delight in the first snowfall.
Mahkovec was born and raised in a small town in Illinois. She then spent several years in the San Francisco Bay area and Seattle, and for the past thirty years has lived in New York City. She has a PhD in English, specializing in Victorian literature.
To find out more, please visit her at lindamahkovec.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 8, 2019
In 2018, I read eleven Christmas books in the last couple months of the year. This November and December I find myself with more commitments in both my reading and my life. I am going to be lucky to get to maybe four or five Christmas reads, which saddens me as I LOVE my end-of-the-year Christmas books. The one book I wanted to read for sure was this one. Last year I was totally engrossed in books 1-6 of this wonderful series. This is book #7 and the final installment.
The stories take place during the buildup of WWII, the actual war, and the aftermath of the war. There is focus on two related families, both on the home front; one family is living in New York City and the other on a farm in Illinois. We experience so much of these families’ lives and live and die with them as they go through love, dread, fear, heartache, and joy. We also watch them all experience personal growth, always a gratifying thing to see in these kind of sagas (or “mini-sagas” as I would call this series). Not only does this novel provide a satisfying and gratifying end to the series but it also possesses a great epilogue set in 1948.
This is not a book to grab at random. I highly suggest—I actually demand—that everyone read this series in order or else everything will be muddled. They are quick reads and just perfect for the winter season. Pour yourself a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, settle into your favorite chair, preferably with a cat on your lap and let yourself drift away into seven years of the lives of these wonderful characters. Heartfelt and touching—I strongly recommend the entire series.
Thanks, Linda Mahkovec. I will really miss your people.
The stories take place during the buildup of WWII, the actual war, and the aftermath of the war. There is focus on two related families, both on the home front; one family is living in New York City and the other on a farm in Illinois. We experience so much of these families’ lives and live and die with them as they go through love, dread, fear, heartache, and joy. We also watch them all experience personal growth, always a gratifying thing to see in these kind of sagas (or “mini-sagas” as I would call this series). Not only does this novel provide a satisfying and gratifying end to the series but it also possesses a great epilogue set in 1948.
This is not a book to grab at random. I highly suggest—I actually demand—that everyone read this series in order or else everything will be muddled. They are quick reads and just perfect for the winter season. Pour yourself a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, settle into your favorite chair, preferably with a cat on your lap and let yourself drift away into seven years of the lives of these wonderful characters. Heartfelt and touching—I strongly recommend the entire series.
Thanks, Linda Mahkovec. I will really miss your people.
December 23, 2019
Christmastime 1945 is the culmination of Linda Mahkovec’s seven-book series featuring New Yorkers Lillian Drooms and her two sons, Tommy and Gabriel. Lilly and the boys have high hopes that husband and father Charles will be home from the war, maybe even by Christmas, when he will meet his new daughter, baby Charlotte, for the first time.
We also get to spend considerable time with Charles’ sister, Kate, and her family on their farm. Kate’s son,Eugene, is just home from the war, and now he’s facing some challenges at home that he didn’t expect. His sisters have grown into responsible young women, and their lives have changed in ways he had not anticipated. They’ve found love, or hope to, and so has he. Will it blossom, or will it fade away?
Lilly’s young sons have matured in the past year. Tommy has a job and gets great satisfaction from his volunteer work with injured veterans. Gabe has a job, too, but he wants it kept secret. I really loved Gabe. He’s so full of joy and curiosity and seems to have a can-do attitude about everything. I chuckled over his hush-hush antics that were driving his mother crazy!
Izzy, who plays a prominent role in previous books, appears more sparsely in this story since she and Lilly no longer work together, but they meet occasionally to catch up. She rues the fact that Red is no longer in her life and wishes things were different. Despite her own loneliness, she rejoices in her friend’s successes and happiness.
Some of the men in this book have limited roles. Charles and Red make emerge briefly now and then to give us a hint of potential good things to come. Meanwhile, back on the farm...Friedrich’s days working in America as a POW are limited, and Ursula cannot bear to think of being separated from her husband, nor of her little son Frankie growing up without his father. Jessica finds herself pining for a young man who has recently returned home from the war, but is receiving mixed messages from him. And what of the girls’ two brothers who have yet to come home?
This finale is less about the mothers and more about their offspring, who are maturing and developing lives of their own. It is also a tale of the times, a nation and a world in a state of flux. Compared to our fast-paced, hyper-electronic, digital world of the 21st Century, it seems almost naive at times, despite the fact that America and its allies had just fought a war against an evil opponent. Yet, as we see with Kate’s sons and the townsfolk, prejudice and hatred exist everywhere. Perhaps it’s the absence of television and social media, but there seemed to be more joy and more simplicity, especially for the children. It made for a very enjoyable Christmas read.
The author ties things up very neatly, especially in the epilogue. It might be too neat and tidy, and it wraps up very quickly, but I’ll forgive her because it’s quite obviously the end of the series...unless, Ms Mahkovec, you want to continue with Tom and Gabe all grown up and Friedrich and Ursula with their children in the 1960s or sometime in the future...Just a thought...
5 stars
December 9, 2019
Great books for Christmas
Over the past 2 Christmas seasons I have read all 7 books. What a great treat for Christmas readers. You want the characters to be happy and you find joy in their joy. I would read 1940 and then read 1939 and then start with 1941 etc.
Over the past 2 Christmas seasons I have read all 7 books. What a great treat for Christmas readers. You want the characters to be happy and you find joy in their joy. I would read 1940 and then read 1939 and then start with 1941 etc.
October 18, 2019
Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "Christmastime 1945" "A Love Story" by Linda Mahkovec
WOW! Linda Mahkovec, Author of "Christmastime 1945" has written a memorable, mesmerizing, enthralling, riveting, and captivating novel that is so heartfelt and thought-provoking. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Romance. There is suspense and some mystery. This is the finale and last book in "The Christmastime Series" and the author goes the extra mile to make all the pieces of the story fit like a completed puzzle. Most of the questions that you want to be answered are, and the surviving characters and some new additions have their stories wrapped just like a Christmas present. The colorful and dramatic cast of characters each has their own sets of problems, hopes, and dreams.
The timeline for this novel is 1945 and goes to the past and a few years into the future when it pertains to the characters or events. The stories take place in New York where Lillian Drooms lives with her family and waits for her husband Charles to come home, and on Kate's farm, where she waits for her other two sons to come home. Other mentioned places are England, and where the war has taken place. The Prisoners of War from Germany are still coming to work on Kate's farm, which has one family member thrilled, and another angry.
I love the way Linda Mahkovec vividly describes the character's interactions, the seasonal landscape, the country and city differences. This is a novel of family, wartime, and Christmas. I appreciate that the author describes the importance of family, friends, neighbors, forgiveness, second chances, love and hope.
The author discusses the difficulty of getting soldiers home for Christmas after the war, and the worries that faced the families. The adjustments of the men and women when the war is over was extremely difficult. Some of the men left as boys and return injured and traumatized. Women who were working are losing their jobs to the men who are coming home. Yet, some people will not see their loved ones again. Others are getting married, and hopefully, there will be new families.
I would highly recommend "Christmastime 1945" to readers who enjoy a thought-provoking novel, and for those who have read the other stories. This can be read alone, but I enjoyed reading all of the books in the Christmastime series. I truly am sad to bid adieu to these wonderful characters, and I hope that Linda Mahkovec will consider writing more about them. Of course, there are some Kleenex moments!!
WOW! Linda Mahkovec, Author of "Christmastime 1945" has written a memorable, mesmerizing, enthralling, riveting, and captivating novel that is so heartfelt and thought-provoking. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Romance. There is suspense and some mystery. This is the finale and last book in "The Christmastime Series" and the author goes the extra mile to make all the pieces of the story fit like a completed puzzle. Most of the questions that you want to be answered are, and the surviving characters and some new additions have their stories wrapped just like a Christmas present. The colorful and dramatic cast of characters each has their own sets of problems, hopes, and dreams.
The timeline for this novel is 1945 and goes to the past and a few years into the future when it pertains to the characters or events. The stories take place in New York where Lillian Drooms lives with her family and waits for her husband Charles to come home, and on Kate's farm, where she waits for her other two sons to come home. Other mentioned places are England, and where the war has taken place. The Prisoners of War from Germany are still coming to work on Kate's farm, which has one family member thrilled, and another angry.
I love the way Linda Mahkovec vividly describes the character's interactions, the seasonal landscape, the country and city differences. This is a novel of family, wartime, and Christmas. I appreciate that the author describes the importance of family, friends, neighbors, forgiveness, second chances, love and hope.
The author discusses the difficulty of getting soldiers home for Christmas after the war, and the worries that faced the families. The adjustments of the men and women when the war is over was extremely difficult. Some of the men left as boys and return injured and traumatized. Women who were working are losing their jobs to the men who are coming home. Yet, some people will not see their loved ones again. Others are getting married, and hopefully, there will be new families.
I would highly recommend "Christmastime 1945" to readers who enjoy a thought-provoking novel, and for those who have read the other stories. This can be read alone, but I enjoyed reading all of the books in the Christmastime series. I truly am sad to bid adieu to these wonderful characters, and I hope that Linda Mahkovec will consider writing more about them. Of course, there are some Kleenex moments!!
December 27, 2021
I just love this series. The writing is beautifully detailed with everyday things that are so accurate to the times. They bring back so many memories to me of my early childhood.
My only wish is that the series didn't end.
My only wish is that the series didn't end.
December 28, 2022
A very satisfying ending to a great family Christmastime saga. Filled with warmth, hope, and love, this series is the perfect one to cozy up to in those days between Christmas and New Years.
April 10, 2023
Excellent book. Perfect ending to a great series. I hate to put it down. I would recommend this book to all my family and friends Covers after the war. Made you realize all of the destruction in all the lives that were tore apart.
December 16, 2022
I have loved this series so much and am so sad this is the last one! I could keep reading about these families for years as I became so invested in the characters and their lives.
This last book made me want to both laugh and cry—exactly what a good book should do.
This last book made me want to both laugh and cry—exactly what a good book should do.
December 14, 2019
I loved this series and I'm sad to see it end..This last book was excellent and towards the end I had tears in my eyes..I got to know the characters so well and will miss them..The author captured life in the 1940's perfectly with wonderful characters, interesting plot lines and a warm and nostalgic look at Christmas from the time period..Linda, thank you for the delightful treasure of this fabulous series..I hope you give us another series soon..
January 1, 2020
It may be the ending of a series of books for a lot of you - but it was the beginning for me to read this compelling story. So much hardship and sadness during the war. And it doesn’t end when the war is over. Soldiers have horrific memories that sometimes never go away. I stayed hopeful that there would be a silver lining around the unknown. I wasn’t disappointed. This was my Christmas read - which was a meaningful one for me. I recommend it.
January 23, 2022
The best series I have read in years
I loved everything about this series and it ended like it should have .Thank you Linda Mankind for being the writer you are
I loved everything about this series and it ended like it should have .Thank you Linda Mankind for being the writer you are
January 30, 2021
Happy endings! New beginnings!
Well I finished up the Droom family saga and even though the drama and suspense during the time of waiting built mightily the reading of the story was immensely gratifying. I did worry at times for the next chapter and what !ight befall the two sets of families as they worked together towards hoped for normalcy after the end of the war. Bringing people back home and reuniting the households was well developed by Ms Mahkovec. She tied all the stories up and together with a bright red string. Nicely done! Sorry to see the end, but I can imagine their future and will think fondly of this series as I remember parts and pieces. Highly recommend the complete series of seven. The author did a lot of research and interviewing to get the correct feel and experience of the war as seen through the eyes and hearts of what to me seemed like a real family.
Well I finished up the Droom family saga and even though the drama and suspense during the time of waiting built mightily the reading of the story was immensely gratifying. I did worry at times for the next chapter and what !ight befall the two sets of families as they worked together towards hoped for normalcy after the end of the war. Bringing people back home and reuniting the households was well developed by Ms Mahkovec. She tied all the stories up and together with a bright red string. Nicely done! Sorry to see the end, but I can imagine their future and will think fondly of this series as I remember parts and pieces. Highly recommend the complete series of seven. The author did a lot of research and interviewing to get the correct feel and experience of the war as seen through the eyes and hearts of what to me seemed like a real family.
January 26, 2021
In the last year I read this series over 4 months and tried so hard to hold off because I loved each so very much. This was my favorite book of all of them which is hard to say because they were fantastic but I cried when it was over! I’m definitely putting this series as a REREAD for me. I don’t do that for many books or series even but this series is in my top all time favorite ever! Loved this so much!
February 9, 2022
I loved this complete series....everything was so down to earth. The only problem I had was the 1945 book which had so many typos and missed letters that it was at times difficult to read. All in all it was a wonderful series and I read them all within 5-6 days.
February 4, 2022
I devoured 1944, ran straight to 1945 without changing "want to read" to "reading". Now it's "read". Just an outstanding series. 👏
January 8, 2023
The book in the series ends with WWII. This series of books was a true find in the Christmas book market. The idea of setting all the books during the war years was an inspiration. It allowed for all the characters to grow, and in rewarding ways. The theme of families struggling to adapt to the trials of war and yet put on the best Christmas possible make all these books warm and engaging. These transport the reader to those hard years and are full of so many details of how life was lived and how the Christmas season affects the people who lived through them. They are slim books but are full of detail and the struggles of the times. This series deserves to belong with the other great Christmas classics and hopefully will gain a large readership. They are full of family values and Victorian sentiment while never losing their core concept - that Christmas is too important to let a World War ruin it.
January 12, 2023
loved This Series
The Christmastime Series. Wow! Do yourself a favor and read all of these wonderful books! I’m gonna miss these folks!
The Christmastime Series. Wow! Do yourself a favor and read all of these wonderful books! I’m gonna miss these folks!
December 28, 2022
Great Series
I loved the character development and the stories of the home front during WWII. A delightful series to read before and during the Christmas holidays. I wish it didn't have to end!
I loved the character development and the stories of the home front during WWII. A delightful series to read before and during the Christmas holidays. I wish it didn't have to end!
April 6, 2020
Say it isn’t so. It just can’t be over. No more Lillian. Charles. Tommy. Gabriel. Baby Charlotte. They’ve been my imaginary companions at Christmastime for awhile now. I can just see them in their brownstone in World War II New York City. And when the story switches to the Farm in Illinois. There were those relatives – Kate and her sons and daughters. Kate’s GI son, the brave, patriotic, pugnacious Eugene, back from the war with a giant Nazi-hating chip on his shoulder. Her heartbreakingly lovely daughter, Ursula. And Friedrich, the German POW, their heartbreakingly handsome, farm-worker who was assigned to their farm. Which was a powder keg triangle that had exploded in the earlier series. And I knew was about to explode again. I just didn’t know how. Or when. I kept imagining what Movie Stars would play them. But it would absolutely have to be the stars from that time.
What would the end of the war bring for Lillian and Charles? Ursula and Friedrich? And Izzy, Lillian’s spitfire sidekick? I knew what I was hoping for them, but as I turned pages faster and faster, I feared that what I was hoping for would never happen. And that’s all I’m gonna say.
Ms. Mahkovec has done it again, written a real page turner with dramatic endings for each of her characters.
Just read the whole series. At Christmastime!
What would the end of the war bring for Lillian and Charles? Ursula and Friedrich? And Izzy, Lillian’s spitfire sidekick? I knew what I was hoping for them, but as I turned pages faster and faster, I feared that what I was hoping for would never happen. And that’s all I’m gonna say.
Ms. Mahkovec has done it again, written a real page turner with dramatic endings for each of her characters.
Just read the whole series. At Christmastime!
December 7, 2019
Christmastime 1945 is the perfect conclusion to the Christmastime series—a 7-book series that spans the years 1939-1945. The books are lovely and nostalgic, and with the background of the war, they are also poignant and bittersweet.
In this last book, we are reunited with Lillian and her children in NYC, waiting for word that her husband Charles will be coming home soon. We are also back at the farm with Kate and her family, where their lives are undergoing many changes with the end of the war.
My heart was overflowing with emotions while reading this book, feeling the joy mixed with anxiousness as the soldiers find their way home to the women who love them. I felt their happiness, their sorrow, and their fears—hence, the tears.
Although you could read this book as a stand-alone, I encourage you to read this series from the beginning, to get to know Lillian, Charles, Kate, Ursula, Friedrich, and watch love bloom—and it’s great fun to meet the two boys, Tommy and Gabriel, and to grow up with them.
I’m sorry to see this series end, but look forward to more books by the author in the future!
In this last book, we are reunited with Lillian and her children in NYC, waiting for word that her husband Charles will be coming home soon. We are also back at the farm with Kate and her family, where their lives are undergoing many changes with the end of the war.
My heart was overflowing with emotions while reading this book, feeling the joy mixed with anxiousness as the soldiers find their way home to the women who love them. I felt their happiness, their sorrow, and their fears—hence, the tears.
Although you could read this book as a stand-alone, I encourage you to read this series from the beginning, to get to know Lillian, Charles, Kate, Ursula, Friedrich, and watch love bloom—and it’s great fun to meet the two boys, Tommy and Gabriel, and to grow up with them.
I’m sorry to see this series end, but look forward to more books by the author in the future!
November 19, 2019
It was so great to once again revisit some of the great characters in the Christmastime series as this story opens the war is ending and families back home in the states eagerly await word of their loved ones return As this is happening - in Illinois the young married couple Ursula & Friedrich Know they have a separation ahead as he is facing a return to Germany as a prisoner of war and an uncertain future In New York Tommy & Gabriel excitedly are preparing Christmas surprises and await the return of their Dad who has yet to meet his newborn daughter I’ve come to love all these and more of the characters in these books and I’m hoping that one day in the future we have another glimpse in to their lives After the war This is a great series to immerse yourselves in during the holidays
November 3, 2019
Sorry to say goodbye
About this time every year I change my reading to only Christmas books. I also love historical fiction especially the World War 2 era. This completes the last book in the series. I totally enjoyed each book but I just say this last book was my favorite and gave closure to all the characters and story lines. I highly recommend this series! I rarely write reviews but I wanted to share this easy and enjoyable book.
About this time every year I change my reading to only Christmas books. I also love historical fiction especially the World War 2 era. This completes the last book in the series. I totally enjoyed each book but I just say this last book was my favorite and gave closure to all the characters and story lines. I highly recommend this series! I rarely write reviews but I wanted to share this easy and enjoyable book.
December 30, 2019
This series has been a pleasure to read. Filled with strong characters, wonderful storylines of hope and resilience, families that stand together through thick and thin, friendships made and the power of love. I'm sad to see it end. This last book wrapped everything up and I'm so glad that things ended well, for most of the characters. They deserved happiness, after so many years of heartbreak, struggle and strife.
February 3, 2020
This was really an excellent series with interesting plot lines and sympathetic characters. I found the stories involving the German POWs particularly interesting, especially as I did not know that many were detained in the US. Thank you, Linda Mahovec, for adding a 1948 epilogue. I really appreciate closure and not having to make up my own ending! I believe I will re-read the whole series for a Christmas season a few years down the road.
August 7, 2022
WW2 life in the USA during hard times, separated from loved ones
A look of a variety of war hardships as seen through families in cities and country. Love is the underlying theme holding communities and families together. A must read, all the books. A look at jobs, the draft, rationing, German POWs, farm life, city jobs, patroitism, national spirit.
A look of a variety of war hardships as seen through families in cities and country. Love is the underlying theme holding communities and families together. A must read, all the books. A look at jobs, the draft, rationing, German POWs, farm life, city jobs, patroitism, national spirit.
May 16, 2023
Simply wonderful!
I absolutely loved the collection of Christmastime Books. WWII from the side of an American family. Nothing horrific or graphic, but love, tragedy, happiness, overcoming odds and a wonderful ending. If you love WWII stories and basically happy endings, this series is for you. I would highly recommend these books.
I absolutely loved the collection of Christmastime Books. WWII from the side of an American family. Nothing horrific or graphic, but love, tragedy, happiness, overcoming odds and a wonderful ending. If you love WWII stories and basically happy endings, this series is for you. I would highly recommend these books.
December 30, 2019
I have loved this series. We look at the family after the war on there first Christmas.
January 27, 2020
I loved every one of her books, about this family, from 1939 on. I hate to let this family go! 🥰
December 29, 2025
Questions
The continuing story of Lillian, her sons, Charles, and extended family. Because there was little communication, families didn't know if their loved ones had survived the war and would be home for Christmas. People were in limbo until they had news or their family member called or came home. With so many service men and women coming home, ships, planes, trains and other ways were jammed. So much confusion and sadness at this time, for the ones that didn't make it home.
I have learned a lot in this series, even though it is fiction. It has a lot of truth in it.
The continuing story of Lillian, her sons, Charles, and extended family. Because there was little communication, families didn't know if their loved ones had survived the war and would be home for Christmas. People were in limbo until they had news or their family member called or came home. With so many service men and women coming home, ships, planes, trains and other ways were jammed. So much confusion and sadness at this time, for the ones that didn't make it home.
I have learned a lot in this series, even though it is fiction. It has a lot of truth in it.
January 2, 2021
This was a very satisfying conclusion yo this series. I was happy to see an epilogue to tie up loose ends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews