I got this book for free from EarlyReviewers. It was a sweet love story and I really enjoyed it. I loved the personal touch as relates to the author and it is great for what it is- a predictable love story, but enjoyable nonetheless.

I got this book for free from EarlyReviewers and it took me a while to get interested in it, but the story of the author's grandparents' wartime love was sweet in the end. If you enjoy period romances, this is definitely worth a read. Definitely predictable, but it's a romance - that's to be expected. I didn't realize the story was about the author's grandparents until the end. It might have seemed a bit easier to get interested in the book if I realized it was based on a true story initially. ( )

Today I finished another ARC book entitled Rosemary in Bloom by Khristy Reibel. On the cover is this:

What if war separated you from your true love? What if you married the wrong man? What if the power of love brought you together again?

This book is inspired by a true story. Setting is WW II. It is written with two principle players: Rosemary and Albert. and fluctuates from one person's view and life to the other one's view and life.

I am giving this 5 stars. I thought of my own dad while reading this. Albert could not talk about the war after returning home as it was just too painful. My dad never could talk about his WW II experiences either. In fact, it was after his death that my Mom and I found medals that he has been awarded. Neither one of us knew this at all.

Khristy in her own words said that she included the good , the bad and the ugly in this story and she did. I highly recommend it. ( )

This compelling book was written about WWII and the summer of 1942. American was in the throws of rationing, victory gardens, and sacrifice. Young men were enlisting and their mothers, sisters and loved ones were left behind to worry and try to pick up the slack. Everyone was working and trying to do their part. Many of our men did not return home. The ones that did were changed physically or mentally for life.

Rosemary was very afraid this would happen to her loved ones. She already felt abandoned by her father, who was in a tuberculosis sanitarian. Knowing that he did not chose this, did not help her feelings. Rosemary and her brother Junie (William Junior) were very close. Despite his being needed at home and Rosemary's objections, he felt compelled to enlist. She thought her heart would break from the fear and worry. When she meets Albert, it truly is lust at first sight. When she learns he has enlisted and will be leaving she refuses to marry him before he ships out.

They received word that Rosemary's brother had been injured and had lost his right leg. After many months went by no word was received about Albert. Rosemary knew in her heart he had been killed.

This was a very emotional story. Rosemary was a young girl who had to become an adult early on, due to the circumstances. It was hard for me personally to except a 16 year old drinking, smoking and thinking about marriage. I had to remind myself this was a different time and it was during the war. I thought the story was very well written and the characters were very believable.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Early Review LibraryThing. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. ( )

Early Reviewer Book. Sweet story of author’s grandparents; how they met and what happened to them before they married. Could use some editing to remove some mistakes. It was a nice and easy read. ( )