Colin Ashby, a Royal Flying Corps pilot, hadn't planned
to return home after the Great War, but when his older
brother Christian died when his plane was shot down,
Colin's fate was sealed: Colin became the heir to the
baronetcy, which he never aspired to. In 1920, Britain is
far from thriving, the family estate is in dire need of
money, and Colin's father has plans that involve
acquiring some nearby land. Unfortunately, it's the same
land that American Nora Lewis just inherited from her
great-uncle. Nora's fiancé was killed during the war, and
although it pains her to leave her farm in Iowa, she
hopes that moving to England to become a sheep farmer
might help heal her broken heart. Things soon get thorny
for Colin when his friendship with Nora appears to be
leading towards more.
A HOPE REMEMBERED is the third and last book in the
Of Love and War series, and it can easily be read as
a standalone. I was involved in the story right from the
opening chapter, and I just let myself be swept away in
Ms. Henrie's world. Nora and Colin are engaging
characters who have gone through losses that altered
their destiny, and neither has recovered from their pain.
I couldn't wait to see what would happen when they met
and how things would develop, and Colin and Nora's first
meeting is one of the loveliest and most delightful
scenes I have ever read; their chemistry is palpable. I
love how their relationship progresses from there: they
enjoy each other's company, they become fast friends, and
together they rediscover their sense of fun, of being
alive, until they begin to realise that there might be
hope for a better future after all.
I consider historical accuracy paramount, and Ms. Henrie
excels in that regard, whether it concerns dialogues,
customs, settings, fashion, or everyday objects. A HOPE
REMEMBERED has it all: meticulous research; flawless,
nuanced, flowing prose, vivid descriptions, and witty
repartees between Nora and Colin; exactness of the
dialogues, impeccable pace, superb storytelling, and
great character development. I particularly enjoyed how
Ms. Henrie discreetly highlights the distinctions between
the American and English characters, how their speech and
manners differ, and the author never falters in doing so.
The secondary characters are just as fleshed out as the
leads whether it's Nora's friend Bess, Jack, and my
favourite Lyle; they are all memorable. And what fun it
is to experience vicariously the thrill of flying in
Colin's biplane!
I must also point out the fabulously interesting Author's
Note: it must be read as it gives precious and
fascinating information on Ms. Henrie's research on the
era. I have loved the Of Love and War series
from the very first book, I was highly anticipating A
HOPE REMEMBERED, and again Stacy Henrie does not
disappoint and gives readers yet another unforgettable
book.
Nora Lewis just wants an escape after losing her fiance in
the Great War. When she inherits property in England, she
boldly packs up and leaves America for a fresh start. But,
if not for her dashing new neighbor, Colin Ashby, she'd be
lost. Even as their friendship deepens, Nora knows a
British
aristocrat would never be free to love an American orphan,
no matter how much the war has changed the world ...
After his brother's death in the war and his own
experiences
as a pilot at the front, Colin returns home broken, only
to
discover his family's estate is also in ruin. The pressure
is now on him to save his home and the Ashbys' place in
society with a well-bred match to a wealthy heiress. Too
bad
he finds more of a kindred spirit in Nora, the beautiful
American next door. She, too, has faced the rigors of war
and survived. Now the ex-soldier will have one more battle
to fight--this time for love.
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