From the very beginning of this book… just, wow. I was intrigued from the back cover description alone, and honestly amazed that this storyline would be published as Christian fiction. Full disclosure – it’s not for the faint of heart. There’s some heavy stuff in this book – tastefully handled, but also very realistic.

I have always been a fan of time slip novels, but usually, they seem to have a larger spread between the years. This one was only a 6 year difference, but it gradually brought these two main characters together in a suspenseful way.

What I probably loved most about this story was Dave and Miyako’s faith in God. Granted, it was a LONG time coming and it didn’t come without some intense experiences. They both had to reach the very end of their rope before realizing that there was only One who could change their lives forever.

Suffice it to say that if you’re a fan of WWII fiction from a Christian perspective, you’ll love this book! I’m itching to read the next book from this new, yet talented, author. ( )

This is a historical fiction novel, the first in a series, taking place in the years 1942 and 1948-1949, mainly in Japan and China. It tells two stories: the story of the American fighter pilot Dave Delham and his crew, crash-landed behind enemy lines, and the story of young Japanese prostitute Matsuura Miyako, who swears to revenge her brother and honor the Matsuura name by killing Delham, whose bombs had destroyed her family.

The author captures well the harshness of reality and the human condition. Embracing both the grittiness of war and poverty, and the innately poetic eloquence of Japanese culture, this book is a must-read. However, be forewarned that despite it being a fairly clean Christian book, it contains mature material (including graphic violence and sexual inferences) not suitable for all readers. Five well-deserved stars. ( )

A debut novel? Really? The Plum Blooms in Winter by Linda Thompson is unbelievably a first effort. With a unique subject matter for CF, the bold voices of its characters, and complex plotting, this novel grabbed me from the first pages and refused to let me go. I read this book at a furious pace determined to find out what would happen to the characters. And I am glad I did. However, this one really deserves a slower go with time for reflection and perhaps some Google searches 😉 . It is also a great choice for book clubs — I really, really wanted to discuss this book! It gets the very rare very highly recommended rating!

The Plum Blooms in Winter is set during and after WWII in both Japan and China. It tells the story of the consequences of war from both sides of the conflict — an American airman held as a POW and a young Japanese woman striving just to survive. Much of the story is told from the perspective of bitter spirits seeking vengeance, that is until God shows up. Never preachy, it tells the story of a God who lovingly pursues to bring meaning and worth to people in spite of themselves. I loved the historical points that somehow I missed in long-ago history classes. The time and place are vividly portrayed by Thompson. The barbarism of the war and the extreme deprivation of a defeated nation are not glossed over, making the reader really feel what the characters feel. It was interesting to have empathy for both main characters. Main characters Matsuura Miyako and Lt. David Delham are deeply flawed and deeply wounded, and touched my heart in ways that are hard to express. I loved them both and hoped for their ultimate rescue and redemption. The novel was inspired by real events, but the author is quick to say that the story is pure fiction. From this, I found the perspective realistic and the message relevant.

I definitely would recommend this book to anyone, regardless of their preferred genre. But if you like WWII novels, The Plum Blooms in Winter should be in your library. It is a must-read! More books are planned in this series — cannot wait!

Very Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary cop. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )