Loretta Ellsworth

“I was a girl and he was a boy sharing a small respite from the war. A simple dance. A simple promise not to forget” (101).

The Stars Over Clear Lake is a star-crossed lovers, WWII story about a young Iowan farm girl and a young German POW, their connection to each other and to music and to a time and place that highlighted the best and worst of humanity. This is a story of memories and love and war, the past and regrets, the future and hope. This is a story that, among other things, seeks to answer: To what extent does your past define you?

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I didn't expect to like this book; I'm not normally in for romances, or period pieces. But I adored this. It was a surprise and a real treat. I now face a moral dilemma, because I want to keep this book forever but I also want to send it to my cousin, who grew up in northern Iowa and who would no doubt love this story even more than I did. It will be a great sacrifice, but I will have to share the love and send it on.

This story was wonderful. It takes you to northern Iowa, and if you don't know why you should love that place then you should read this book.… (mehr)

Lorraine Kindred has lost her husband of many years. The book switches back and forth from present day to the 1940’s when Lorraine met her husband as a young girl. The iconic Surf Ballroom figures into the story where Lorraine attended many dances. Lorraine’s son-in-law is very intrigued with the history of the Surf Ballroom. He has done some research and found that the original Surf Ballroom was destroyed by fire in 1947. It was later rebuilt. Knowing that Lorraine had attended dances about that time, he asks her about the fire. Lorraine remains evasive. This is great love story with an Iowa setting and a little bit of mystery.… (mehr)