The nightmare of World War I, a brief interlude in Paris, losing friends and family, winding up in a nursing home with a failing body and a million memories: Patrick Delaney is the central character in this story of a man's life told in three time periods. The narrative moves smoothly from the end of Delaney's life back through his war experience in the trenches in France forward through a short time in Paris in the late 1920s where he meets the beautiful girlfriend of his dead army buddy, Daniel. Julia and Patrick find love, which becomes more intense and romantic by the complications of Patrick's wife and child.

I was enjoying this book to begin with, especially the parts from the MC's standpoint as an old man. But then I ran into two big problems: one, the narrative tripped through time every few paragraphs and it became jarring and disjointed. Second, and the biggest problem of all, the MC was married to someone else during his affair with Julia. Some things I can put up with, but adultery is not one of them, even in a book. ( )

Sentimental and boring. Ridiculous contrived coincidences. Motives are all "because the author wanted to write this scene." ( )

This is the best historical romance novel I’ve read. The story is narrated by Patrick Delaney, a veteran of WWI who lives in a nursing home; he's in his eighties and slowly dying of stomach cancer. He knows he’s old but doesn’t feel that way. Most of Patrick’s memories focus on a woman named Julia, the fiancé of his war buddy, Daniel. Part of the story is about the Great War, and how he came to lose his friend Daniel; the other part of the story is about Patrick finally meeting Julia at a war memorial service, and how he fell in love with her. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a bittersweet love story. ( )

I bought this book by accident and was reluctant to listen
to it. Once I got started, it was impossible not to finish it. This is a well written, poignant novel that gave me a new
view of old age and the things we seek in life. The story
is told through flashbacks by Patrick, a WWI veteran. He
becomes friends with Daniel, his squad leader, and tells
about their service in the army. The recounting sets the
stage for the next chapters, as Patrick looks for Daniel’s fiancée. Relationships are the true theme here, and I could see similarities between my own behavior and that of the characters. Ralph Waite reads this book with the right tone and pace. ( )