1969– Set on the shores of the Albemarle Sound, April Harrington has fond memories of summers at her family home, Bliss. After her fairytale wedding disintegrates, it becomes her refuge—the one place where she can attempt to pull the unraveling threads of her life back together. Unbeknownst to April, the stately house has been neglected in recent years. The once-sturdy roof is leaking in a few dozen places, and the wharf is rotting. Nothing is the same as she remembers. Nothing except for Hale, a Viet Nam pilot who is haunted by a dreadful secret, and who is also her brother’s best friend, a brother killed in the conflict that is tearing the country apart.

In Hale’s presence, April finds familiarity and solace. They share grief for a lost loved one, and from the comfort of Hale’s arms, passion blooms. Yet, April’s future is unresolved. Her wealthy, arrogant almost-bridegroom wants her back and the ghosts of Viet Nam are whispering to Hale. Can they find new love in an old treasured home, the kind of affection and trust that lasts forever?
Home Again by Kathleen Shoop

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First of all, if you are looking for a quick romance, this is certainly one to read. The opening of the book is quite clever, and I believe the end will have you begging for more. Although I appreciated that the book was short, I think I would have liked to have read an expanded version. Some of the nuances and the historical aspects of the period escaped me. This is the Vietnam War time period, and it deals with several different topics–war, wealth, death, and more. I enjoyed the novella for what it was, and it may be the very thing you need for a light read some time during Christmastime.

I was disappointed that such a short book included some profanity. It was not necessary, but it was thankfully relatively minor. The intimate scenes were never described in great detail, but the ending seemed a little rushed.

The thing that most impressed me was that the author drew on actual family memories from this time period, and perhaps that is what made the discussions of wartime seem more realistic.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

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About the Author

A Language Arts Coach with a Ph.D. in Reading Education, Kathleen lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Kathleen has also written Love and Other Subjects, award winning After the Fog and her debut novel, The Last Letter, garnered multiple awards in 2011.  The author’s stories have also appeared in several of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

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I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

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