She goes to her grandmother’s to meet her mother who is in the middle of a deal with a publisher to complete Scarlett Stanton’s last remaining manuscript, a true account of a romance from World War Two that was left unfinished. The publisher’s want Noah Harrison to complete it and who should turn up but the man at the bookstore, revealing himself to be Harrison himself. As Georgia reacts with cold fury, can Noah convince her to allow him to finish the story and will Georgia find a way to love again after previous betrayals.
The second storyline taking place in the 1940s is Scarlett’s account of her time in the war, she was in the WAAF along with her sister, Constance. Both women signed up against their father’s wishes, who is an elite Lord and wants his title to be passed down to the next generation, arranging a marriage between Scarlett and Henry Wadsworth, a son of a wealthy man who longs for a title to climb the social ladder. However a chance meeting Scarlett has with an American pilot, Jameson, begins an epic love story. However as the war escalates, will Scarlett and Jameson survive the war and what secrets may be uncovered that have been left so for decades.
I felt the book was an ok but not amazing read. Of the two narratives, I felt the 1940s narrative was better. In the modern day I felt that Georgia and Noah were not really characters but caricatures and their story reminded me of Hallmark movies, a very typical, woman leaves her husband to go back to the small town she grew up where she meets someone who initially is an enemy but they become lovers. She even opens a studio which appears to save the town. It has been done many times before and I don’t think this part will particularly surprise readers, even if it is your first romance book.
The 1940’s storyline was much more interesting as Scarlett and Constance seek a way to assert themselves with their overbearing parents and the romance between Scarlett and Jameson felt more real – the two have conflicts but also clearly are deeply in love with each other and you do feel like you want to root for them throughout, although it is slightly let down by the modern day era telling us that Jameson died as we know how things ultimately turn out, although a last minute twist Yarros throws in I admit I did enjoy, even if it is potentially predictable.
I would also say some of the language used in the 1940s sections is a little strange, the sections are written from Scarlett’s perspective but there is diction used, especially in the sex scenes such as kisses being “hot” and Jameson’s body being described using words like “hard muscle” which I don’t think an upper class 1940s Englishwoman would use. I also do feel though I enjoyed the book whilst I was reading it probably won’t be one that lives in the memory.
Overall I think if you would like a holiday romance read then this could perhaps be an enjoyable choice but I wouldn’t expect to leave with any deeper or profound feelings by the time the book closes.
