Chicago, 1944. Liz Stephens has little interest in attending a USO club dance with her friends Betty and Julia. She doesn't need a flirtation with a lonely serviceman when she's set to marry her childhood sweetheart. Yet something happens the moment Liz glimpses Morgan McClain. They share only a brief exchange--cut short by the soldier's evident interest in Betty--but Liz can't forget him. Thus, when Betty asks her to ghostwrite a letter to Morgan, stationed overseas, Liz reluctantly agrees.
Thousands of miles away, Morgan struggles to adjust to the brutality of war. His letters from "Betty" are a comfort, their soul-baring correspondence a revelation to them both. While Liz is torn by her feelings for a man who doesn't know her true identity, Betty and Julia each become immersed in their own romantic entanglements. And as the war draws to a close, all three will face heart-wrenching choices, painful losses, and the bittersweet joy of new beginnings.
Beautifully rendered and deeply moving, Letters from Home is a story of hope and connection, of sacrifices made in love and war--and the chance encounters that change us forever.
Paperback, 364 pages
Published
February 22nd 2011
by Kensington Books
(first published January 1st 2011)
Terri's Thoughts
This book has been sitting on my to be read shelf for a really long time. As I have been focusing on reading ARCs for a long time, I thought it was about time to try to get through some of the unread books that have been "dusting up my shelves".
This is not a new book, in fact it is eight years old. As a result I figure most people who are going to read it, probably already have unless like me, have read all other works by McMorris and are working through the rest of her library. Everything to be said has already been said so instead of a literal review, I am going to tell a story about how I discovered Kristina McMorris.
My sister and I share a love of books, hence the reason for the blog. About once a month or so, she would come pick me up and off we would head to spend an afternoon at Chapters. Armed with our caramel latte's in hand, we would spend hours browsing through the aisles, randomly picking up books to see what prizes we would be leaving the store with. No worries in the world, no time limits, just us, our lattes, and thousands of books to choose from. No researching websites, Goodreads or any other web platform to help us choose. If my pile of books got too big, she would take some and vice versa. No cares in the world, just the feeling of peace and pure relaxation knowing we were in our happy place. We would linger until we felt we had accumulated enough books to last us a while until we did it all over again.
On one of these trips, our first of many, I stumbled across Bridge of Scarlet Leaves. I had never heard of it nor of McMorris. I had just randomly picked it up from the shelf, thought it sounded interesting and took a gamble. And so begins my love affair with the work of Kristina McMorris
Why tell this story you ask? It is because this book made me feel much like those outings did. The writing of McMorris is my happy place. I know that whenever I pick up one of her books that I am guaranteed to be 100% satisfied with the experience. I don't need to read what the story is about before diving in because I can count on her to deliver a consistent and satisfying read. That and the fact that she is linked to some of my favorite memories.
To be honest, I loved this story and I am a little mad at myself for leaving it on my shelf so long. So no, I am not going to discuss the plot. I say if you are fan of historical fiction, Kristina McMorris, well written books or just books in general, just pick this up and read it. you won't be disappointed.
About the Author
KRISTINA MCMORRIS is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her novels have garnered more than two dozen literary awards and nominations, including the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, RWA’s RITA® Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, her works of fiction have been published by Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Kensington Books. Her forthcoming novel, Sold on a Monday (Sourcebooks Landmark, 8-28-18), follows her widely praised The Edge of Lost, The Pieces We Keep, Bridge of Scarlet Leaves, and Letters from Home. Additionally, her novellas are featured in the anthologies A Winter Wonderland and Grand Central. Prior to her writing career, Kristina hosted weekly TV shows since age nine, including an Emmy® Award-winning program, and has been named one of Portland's "40 Under 40" by The Business Journal. She lives with her husband and two sons in the Pacific Northwest, where she is working on her next novel.
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