Greater Love Hath No Man

A Fire Sparkling by Julianne MacLean is a marvelous dual timeline story of love and courage in times of war. It is a novel that will both thrill and horrify as the reader journeys through lives that loved and lost and that lost and found. It is a book that made me cry as the love reached out beyond the pages and into my heart.

The greatest love of all is a sacrificial love. Within the story there are many instances of sacrificial love but one will pale all others into oblivion.

The action alternates between 2011 and the World War II years. It is set in London, continental Europe and present day America. The story is told from several points of view. The reader is in for a real treat as we see love in action.

Life deals us blows, leaving us feeling guilty and with regrets. We must deal with our past if our future is to be rosy.

Twins share a deep bond with parallel lives even if they are apart.

Family is important. A mother’s love is fierce with a desire to protect at all costs.

The reader enters the world of the home front in war torn London and also that of the resistance movement in occupied Europe. It is a time of courage, bravery, loyalty and sacrifice. Sacrifices were made so we can live in freedom today.

I was really thrilled to recognize some of the settings such as Churchill’s cabinet war rooms, having visited them myself. The London landscape was familiar to me and therefore it was easy to picture the action.

I loved A Fire Sparkling. I ‘lived’ through the action. Julianne MacLean perfectly captured the atmosphere and painted the scenes with her words. I adore all her books and cannot wait to read more, more, more.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own

JULIA WILSON