Wait for Me by Caroline Leech #BookReview

Title: Wait for Me
Author: Caroline Leech
Published: January 31st 2017 by HarperTeen
Buy: Amazon : B&N : Goodreads

The perfect blend of sweet romance and historical flavor, Wait for Me, from debut author Caroline Leech, brings a fresh new voice to a much-loved genre.

It’s 1945, and Lorna Anderson’s life on her father’s farm in Scotland consists of endless chores and rationing, knitting Red Cross scarves, and praying for an Allied victory. So when Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, is assigned as the new farmhand, Lorna is appalled. How can she possibly work alongside the enemy when her own brothers are risking their lives for their country?

But as Lorna reluctantly spends time with Paul, she feels herself changing. The more she learns about him—from his time in the war to his life back home in Germany—the more she sees the boy behind the soldier. Soon Lorna is battling her own warring heart. Loving Paul could mean losing her family and the life she’s always known. With tensions rising all around them, Lorna must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice before the end of the war determines their fate.
Wait for Me is a story about a small Scottish town that is experiencing the effects of World War II. The story takes place right before the wars official end.

There were so many different things I liked. I really enjoyed Lorna’s father. He is a strong and gruff man on the outside but extremely kind hearted. He reminded me of my dad and so I think that strengthened my bond to him. I like how he is quiet strength for Lorna.

I really liked the trials and tribulations of Lorna and Iris’s friendship. When you are young and you meet that first love of your life, sometimes you get lost in it. I was so mad at Iris at times but that is just what happens to friends. You always find your way back to each other.

I did enjoy the romance of Lorna and the POW Paul. It developed naturally and I thought the author note about these kind of relationships added to it. I like the idea of two people finding one another in the worst of circumstances but still forming a bond. I also liked that Paul is scarred. That sounds strange but I get tired of the flawless people in stories. Especially stories about war, this is what happens. People are injured and broken and have to find their way out of that.

Although Lorna’s brothers are not in the story for a long period of time. I liked how they both have different war experiences and how it affects them. Also Mrs. Murray is great character too to have, showing a mother’s grief at having your son be off at war. I would imagine it’s difficult to never know if you are going to lose someone. The emotions that run high with John Jo I thought showed that well.

I enjoyed the pacing of the book, there was a point that I was concerned I was about to hit a lull but it picked right back up.