Three Little Things by Patti Stockdale

Pulling Together

Three Little Things by Patti Stockdale is a marvellous heart-felt historical Christian novel based on the author’s maternal grandparent’s lives during World War I. Fact meets fiction in this story that is both sweet and powerful. It is sweet because of the love story and it is powerful because of the strength of characters.

The reader experiences WWI from the American perspective – on the home front, in a boot camp and in France. War touches all lives – those who go and those who remain behind.

Life is fragile, love is beautiful and loss is painful. “Those who grieve don’t carry around a calendar.” The novel deals not only with death in war but death in childhood gone by. It is “an ache [that] gnawed him daily.” Loss consumes us with survivor’s guilt. Why him and not me? What right do I have to be happy? We need to bring our guilt to God and learn to live again.

The reader sees life on the home front. There are war initiatives to provide finances, goods and encouragement to the troops. Letters are written to encourage those going to war. My personal favourite was the knitting of socks and putting a proverb inside them. Those left behind worked tirelessly for the troops.

We cannot stop life happening to us but we all have a choice as to how to respond. We can “either light a candle or curse the darkness.” With the help of God we can be the light in a dark world.

With wonderfully drawn characters in a small town setting, there is an atmosphere of community that pervades the novel, enveloping the reader. Needs are met as the community pulls together. There is an air of realism as not everyone you meet is nice and there are some friendship rivalries. There is also some racial tension as those of German origin or with German names are viewed with suspicion and distrust. The ugly side of prejudice rears its head at times but is squashed by those with good hearts and souls.

Three Little Things was a delightful read that warmed my heart and soul. It has left me feeling good about life.

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

JULIA WILSON

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour & Giveaway for Three Little Things by Patti Stockdale, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Three Little Things by Patti Stockdale

Title: Three Little Things
Author: Patti Stockdale
Publisher: Smitten Historical Romance
Release Date: February 4, 2020
Genre: Historical Romance

One forbidden love. Two broken hearts. Three Little Things.

Hattie Waltz should forget the troubled neighbor leaving for boot camp in 1917. He forgot about her ages ago. It had always been the Waltzes verses the Kregers, his family pitted against hers. When she hands him a farewell gift, a chemistry lesson unfolds. The good kind.

Arno Kreger can’t leave Iowa or his old man fast enough. He’s eager to prove his worth on the battlefield and stop blaming himself for his brother’s death. Before entering the train, he bumps into Hattie. He’s loved her forever, always from the sidelines, because nobody crosses Hattie’s pa.

One innocent letter soon morphs into many. Arno and Hattie share three little secrets in each letter and grow closer together. But he’s on his way to war across the ocean, and she’s still in her father’s house. Their newfound love will need to survive dangers on both fronts.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Patti Stockdale

Patti Stockdale loves hope, history, and a good happily ever after. She can’t remember numbers, so she married a statistician. Thanks to him, she’s lived all sorts of places and worked all sorts of jobs. While employed by an NFL team, she once answered the phone by the wrong team name. She doesn’t work there anymore. For 11 years, she directed the programming at a nonprofit senior center and hosted an annual talent show, rocking a Dolly Parton wig, Annie Oakley boots, and a sweet—although snug—Batman costume. She no longer works there either. These days, Patti writes books and occasionally educational assessments and magazine articles.

CONNECT WITH PATTI: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a prize package including a signed book with a bookmark, a pair of socks with a proverb tucked inside, a $10 Amazon gift card, and a vintage bookmark!

Three Little Things JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight February 3, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on February 10, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

7 thoughts on “Three Little Things by Patti Stockdale

  1. I love Historical fiction it’s Interesting to learn about history through fiction this one sounds amazing. I love the cover it’s beautiful. Thanks for the chance to read it

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