About the book: As WWII ration cards and battle scars become commonplace across America, war widow Evelyn’s heart is under fire. It seems even love is rationed out. When she finds a message from her late husband tucked inside a music box—written out of love, long-lost but never forgotten—his words have the power to change her life: Don't die with me.
Emboldened by Jim’s parting words, Evelyn finds the courage to live again. But seeing the music box every day and being reminded of Jim is too painful, so Evelyn gives the music box away to a woman who has fallen on hard times. Thus begins the decades-long journey of the music box, mending broken hearts, reuniting lost loves, and giving people the courage to heal themselves along the way. This romance crosses battlefields and time as the music box touches the lives of two soldiers, a broken father, a crippled child, a struggling farmer, and a woman once called the soldier's bride.
My review: I was way excited to get to beta read this book by one of my favorite authors. This book amazed me from the very beginning. I was pulled into the story of Evelyn, her love Jim and a special music box.
I loved Evelyn. She's a young bride. Just trying to survive her husband's involvement in WWII. She's just found out she's pregnant and was going to let Jim know, but then she gets the news that Jim has died. Evelyn is devastated, just as any of us would be. That's when the music box that Jim gave her right before he left becomes her lifeline. She listens to it over and over and eventually she finds the message that Jim left her underneath the lining. "Don't die with me." Eventually, for their child Evelyn is able to move on just enough to trade the music box for a cradle. But she keeps the song with her, singing it to their baby and writing her own words. I loved this part of the story. Such a beautiful thought and almost a way to always have Jim with both her and her baby.
The story of the music box touched me too. I loved the way that it was traded from person to person. Meaning a great deal to each and healing each in whatever way is needed.
I loved the story line too! There are many twists, turns and surprises that take us from the newlywed Jim and Evelyn to the very end of their story. Make sure you grab this great book! I loved every minute of reading it!
I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Labels: Clean Romance, Rachelle J Christensen
