Can real life compare…
To the love in their letters?
When Emma first used a pseudonym to write to Captain George
Weston on the front line, it was because she felt responsible for his broken
engagement. Yet his letters became a light in the darkest hours, and she shared
more of her desires than she ever dared before, never imagining they'd actually
meet. Now that he's home for Christmas, she longs to see him, but that means
revealing who she really is…
I loved this sweet holiday story set immediately after
World War One. It was a nice change of scenery from the Regency and Victorian
historicals more frequently published. The author did a terrific job of setting
the scene, pulling me into a period I'm not as familiar with. I liked the
attention to detail, such as the mentions of the pandemic and its effects, and little
things, such as popular Christmas gifts of the time.
The story opens as George is about to arrive back in
Albany after eighteen months of serving in the war. He feels very fortunate to
have survived the war unscathed. He looks forward to finally meeting the woman
whose letters meant so much to him and his fellow soldiers. His mind conjures
up a young woman who could be the perfect wife for him, so imagine his dismay
when the lady who meets his train is old enough to be his grandmother! But
George is a kind and honorable man and treats Beverly Buttons with the utmost
respect and gentlemanliness. He invites her and her young friend to the welcome
home party his parents are giving him.
Unbeknownst to George, Beverly's friend Emma is the author
of the letters he received. Emma is a relative newcomer to Albany and cousin to
the woman George was engaged to at the start of the war. But Martha jilted
George and eloped with a man who had come to Albany looking for Emma. Emma felt
guilty about the broken engagement and started writing to George to make amends.
She used a fake name so he wouldn't connect her with Martha. She never expected
she would meet him.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between George
and Emma. Though told that Beverly was his correspondent, it is Emma that he is
drawn to. He makes his interest in her known, but as much as she would like to
return it, her guilt keeps her pushing him away. Though he tries to abide by
her wishes, Fate (and Beverly) keeps pushing them together. It doesn't take
long for the little things to start adding up and for George to suspect that
Emma was the one who wrote to him. I liked that they settled the truth early
and didn't drag it on, though Emma left out her connection to Martha. That left
them free to spend time together.
However, there is a fly in the ointment. Emma's Aunt Jill
(Martha's mother) is a mean-spirited woman who actively despises Emma and her
family. She constantly disparages Emma's father and denigrates their lifestyle.
After her parents' deaths, Emma moved to Albany to escape New York City's
poverty and start a new life. Jill continues her poor treatment of Emma, which
comes to a head when she discovers that George and Emma are spending time
together.
I loved George's immediate support and protectiveness of
Emma. His solution to the issue was unorthodox but effective. There were some
lovely scenes of them together. I especially enjoyed seeing George tell Emma
about his plans for the family company and her appreciation of his efforts to
help returning soldiers. The plans to help the city's children brought them
even closer together. But Aunt Jill has another nasty trick up her sleeve, and
this one nearly drives them apart. Thankfully, each realizes the depth of their
feelings for the other which gives them the strength to fight for what they
want. The scene in the train station was sweet and emotional. George's love and
support for Emma remain evident in his calm but forceful interactions with Jill
and Emma's boss. I loved the epilogue and catching up with them a few years
later.
My only quibble with the story is that Aunt Jill got off
far too easily for everything she did. I understood Emma's desire to put the
past behind them, but she and her sister deserved better. Jill should have had
to face some consequences for her actions.
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