Allison Whitmore

This is the story of Teddi and Clint. Their parents were involved in a scandalous incident that left both children orphaned, though their experiences were very different. Clint grew up in a orphan boys home, he comes to terms with the fact that his friends and the townsfolk treat him differently than before he was orphaned and he holds on to a hate for the Donovan family, until he meets Teddi and realizes she is as much victim as he is. Teddi’s family by contrast is quite wealthy. While her material needs are being met, she can’t help but feel an outcast in her own family. She is held hostage to family secrets that could eventually tear her life apart. The book follows the two characters from childhood, where they can’t help but be friends despite their differing circumstances and the disapproval of her family and the townsfolk. In their teens they fall in love as only teens can, but reality butts in and things don’t always work out they way one might hope. The culmination of the story takes place in the era of World War Two. Teddi and Clint are adults and must make their own choices, but the truth of what happened that awful night and a town full of secrets, ingrained social biases and prejudices, will work hard to tear apart their relationship once and for all.

This is a beautiful story with characters so fleshed out it is as if you aren’t reading at all, but living it. This is at the top a love story, but it is set against a background of such an intricate elements of life in this small town, that it provides an intense emotional narrative. The amount of detail is such that it will hook you from the first line and keep you turning pages until the final words. It is wonderfully evocative and beautifully written and not at all what I expected. This is a perfect book for book groups.

5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review… (mehr)

Set in the 1930s and 1940s, this story about forbidden love and family secrets was a lot of fun to read. I can tell it was from a small press, but, for a debut novel, the writing was really good. It reminded me of the times it was written for. The characters were very sweet and they went through a great deal to get where they were going. If you like love stories that aren't stereotypical and make you think, then you'll like this story. I think Whitmore has a lot of potential. I would like to see more of her work in the future.… (mehr)