Carpe Diem
A Christmas Proposal by Rose Warner is a charming historical novel. It is the second book in the Teacher Evacuees series but can be read as a stand-alone.
Although there is ‘Christmas’ in the title, the book is actually set from Autumn 1940 to Spring 1941 in a fictional tale in Norfolk as we join three teachers and their pupils who were evacuated from London.
The leading character is in her 40’s. She is part of a generation of women who lost their husbands, sweethearts and brothers in the mud and mire of World War I battlefields. “Most of the men she [mother] would have considered suitable lay in the fields of Flanders their broken bodies turned to dust.” Though the class barriers were breaking down, there were still those of the older generation who tried to maintain their lofty upper-class positions as they throw out their orders.
A second world war brings to mind all that was lost in the First World War. Fears spring up. “Even if you tried to ignore them, fears didn’t lesson… facing life… head on.” Sometimes, in order to defeat our fears, we must face them. We must not let fear stop us from doing what is right.
Within the classroom we hear a child’s logic. “I don’t see the point in doing sums if we’re all going to be blown to bits.” You can’t argue with that!
Village gossips are not always kind. “The hurtful words continued to rankle.” Words do hurt.
A character faces a moral dilemma when faced with an injured German pilot. “She didn’t want revenge; she wanted this boy to live.” The German pilot was somebody’s son who was far from home. Not all Germans were Nazis. We always get the chance to choose to do what is good, even at a time of evil.
There is a wonderful community atmosphere with beautiful bonds between a teacher and a young orphan girl. The reader’s heart yearns to mother her.
As the war progresses, people must pull together. Everyone must do their bit.
In uncertain times, characters must seize the day (carpe diem) – for tomorrow is not guaranteed, and yesterday is gone.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Christmas Proposal. It was an entertaining read.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
A Christmas Proposal
She lost everything in the Great War – her brothers, her fiancé, her way of life. Will this new war bring back long-buried feelings?
Beatrice is settling into life in the countryside, along with Victoria and Nell, as a teacher evacuee. Her world is turned upside down again when she meets David, the new doctor at the military hospital, whose kindness and gentleness warm her frozen heart.
Her remaining defences crumble entirely when the family of one of her pupils is killed in an airstrike, and she can no longer deny her motherly affection for the child.
But is Beatrice willing to risk the loss and heartache that comes with love in wartime? When David volunteers for military service and history threatens to repeat itself, Beatrice must dig deep to find the courage to live the life she’s dreamed of…
A gripping, festive Second World War saga for fans of Daisy Styles, Katie Flynn and Elaine Everest.
Purchase Links
Universal Amazon, Apple & Kobo link: https://mybook.to/AChristmasProposal
Blackwell’s: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/search/?format=&keyword=Rose+Warner+A+Christmas+Proposal
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-christmas-proposal/rose-warner/9781835980286
Bookshop.org: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/christmas-with-the-teacher-evacuees-rose-warner/7731557?ean=9781835980286&next=t
Author Bio –
Rose Warner, who also publishes as Jen Gilroy, writes historical women’s /saga fiction and feel-good contemporary romance. She has been a finalist for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Joan Hessayon Award and Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® award.
Canadian-British and although now based in Canada, she lived in England for many years and has undertaken extensive research in the WW2 and post-war periods. As Jen Gilroy she writes sweet small-town romance for Harlequin Heartwarming (HarperCollins) and has also published with Grand Central Forever (Hachette) and others.
When not writing, she enjoys reading, ice cream, ballet and paddling her purple kayak.
Visit Rose / Jen online at https://www.jengilroy.com
Social Media Links –
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenGilroyAuthor/
X: https://www.x.com/JenGilroy1
