Genevieve Graham is the queen of historical fiction. Set in the fall of 1939, this book follows the story of a sister (Grace) who stays behind in Canada while her brothers go off to war. I appreciate Graham's passion for Canadian history, and this is the perfect mix of history and romance. Highly recommend!

You might think based on my rating that I didn’t really enjoy this book. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I did enjoy this book, for a few reasons I’ll discuss. Unfortunately, I felt that the writing was weak at times…not fleshed out enough and descriptive enough to really make this book shine. It’s hard when a scene is so quick because we’re given the bare minimum of details. The characters also seemed to be a little inconsistent at times.

But what I did like? Well, I liked it a lot. I enjoyed the overall message of the book which can be boiled down to: hate is easy, empathy is not. It would be easy for Grace and her family to judge all Germans based on the ones who were corrupt, cruel, and discriminatory. Indeed, Grace does struggle with judging them all. But she grows and learns. Her parents and her brothers - and of course Rudi - help her realize that she’s wrong. That’s powerful.

I haven’t read a lot of books rooted in Canadian history, but I really enjoyed learning some things about my country. I’m sure I learned some of it in school as a kid but when it’s presented as a list of dates and facts it’s hard to retain (for me anyway).

Let’s be real, though. Not to do the heavy subject matter a disservice, but I was drawn to this book for the romance promised in the description. I did enjoy the romance greatly, though it could’ve been fleshed out better too. Rudi is flawed, but sweet with Grace and her family. I loved their interactions.

All of Grace’s brothers were compelling characters, with their own struggles and arcs. I enjoyed her dynamic with each of them.

Come From Away may suffer from weak writing, but if you can overlook that I think you’ll really enjoy the book.

I was approached by Genevieve Graham to be one of the bloggers based in the US market to review her newest release and first time available in the US market.

Come from Away by Genevieve Graham was a fantastic read. I love history but admit to having a pretty narrow view of it. Mostly through the lens of the US. For instance I had no idea German UBoats had made it to Canadian shores. In all WWII related things I’ve ever seen online this somehow never managed to show up.

Come from Away tackles a big subject: prejudice. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. No matter how much instinct tells you to, you just can’t put large groups of people under one label. Germany’s role in WWII was unmeasurably awful; therefore, Germans must be awful. German soldiers? Even worse. Turns out even though one man (or even a group of people) represent a country, in no way does that mean one man speaks the opinions of every single person he represents. That remains true to this day. It was ignorant of me to ever think otherwise.

Come from Away brought me out of a huge reading slump. I couldn’t put it down. It had history, a good romance, and the book’s pacing kept me wondering what would happen next. I really truly worried how things were going to turn out for Rudi and Grace. There was so much that should have kept them apart. I really enjoyed the family as well.

Once I closed Come From Away I needed to make sure I had the companion novel Tides of Honour (this one is Grace’s parents’ story). Thankfully I do! I’ve been looking into Graham’s backlist and I’m excited to see I have some options!

I received and ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the prequel of this book, Tides of Honour, which I really enjoyed so I was thrilled when I received an ARC of this. I really loved the Audrey and Danny in the first book and it was nice to see what happened in their lives since the explosion in Halifax. This book isn't about them though, it's about their family, mainly focusing on their daughter Grace and a German named Rudi. This book takes place in Nova Scotia during the second world war. Grace stays at home to help her parents while her brothers go to war. On the flip side, Rudi is in the German Nazi navy aboard a U-boat. Fate has them come together to meet at a dance one night and the rest is history.
I love the author's ability to tell a story beautifully while giving us a history lesson without even really realizing it. I really enjoyed it and I hope she continues writing about this family.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest opinion.

What a lovely read. I loved "Tides of Honour" and was thrilled to be the recipient of this book, I couldn't wait to read what Audrey and Danny had been up to. This book is about the daughter, Grace, and her story of finding an unexpected love; her brothers have all gone off to war and she is left at home wondering if she is doing enough, but she is invaluable to her parents. Grace is a wonderful, as is the rest of the cast of characters. When we meet Rudi, we see another side of the war and the story of the two is entrancing. I am from the province that this author's books take place and for me, I am always envisioning what they would have looked like at the time and place in her books. What a fantastic book. I cannot wait for more books by this author.

Grace Baker deals with the effects of WWII on her small Nova Scotian community, including having her 3 brothers fighting in the far world. Meeting with handsome Rudi brings a whole new set of problems, bringing both mystery and romance to her life.

Well-written and thoroughly enjoyable, this book is on my 2018 recommendation list.

Oh my gosh, I don't even have words to describe how much I loved this book! This is only my second Genevieve Graham story I've read and I just adore her writing; her characters are real, lovely, imperfect and yet charming, and her Canadian scenery is completely brought to life: you can envision the setting she's describing and almost picture yourself there, in the historical Canadian east. Her stories are beautiful and layered and can get your heart beating, but still bring tears to your eyes. Needless to say, I really, really love her writing, just from the bit I've sampled so far. 

Initially I had my worries because Graham had talked about bringing back the Bakers from her previous novel, Tides of Honour, and all I could think was, "Oh no, another 'series' - it's not going to be good!" However, right off the bat, even before the story starts, Graham writes about the German U-Boats that were stationed off of the shores and talks of what might happen if one of the members of these boats happened to come on shore. The story takes off from there and I fell in love with Grace instantly. She is the daughter of Audrey and Danny Baker, the main characters from the previous novel, so it really was a nice transition in this 'series.' We get updates of the Baker family, but while the parents we got to know in Tides of Honour are present, their story isn't THE story of this novel. I loved the reminders of events that happened in the previous book, and it was wonderful how Graham weaved them into this brand new story. 

This is also very much a story of war. The story takes place during WWII and at times it can be hard to stomach. It's a story of family, love, and loss. It's a story about the questions that are raised when it comes to who we can trust when it comes to love. It's a story that will make you laugh, will make you cry, and will get your heart pounding. I adored Rudi and his determination, his courage, and his selflessness. 

It's funny because I finished this story during my kids' afternoon quiet time, and then later, before dinner, I was doing something - I can't even remember - and couldn't help but think of how enjoyable my reading time would be that night, as I get back to the story of Rudi, Grace, and the Bakers. Then I had to remind myself that I had already finished the story. I needed more! I was not ready to let these characters go by the story's end and really hope we get to meet these characters again in the future. That's definitely the sign of a great book, when you can't stop thinking of the characters and you're not convinced that you're finished reading the story. 

I highly recommend Genevieve Graham's historical books. They have amazing and wonderful characters, and also weave stories of eastern Canada's history so well that you can't help but want to come back for more.

Near the end of 1939 in East Jeddore, Nova Scotia the three Baker brothers don uniforms and head off the fight against the Germans. Their sister, Grace is left behind to tend the local general store. At times, Grace feels as if she is not doing enough and she is constantly worried about her three brothers, Eugene, Harry and Norman. Then, the war comes close to her home as Grace finds out that German U-Boats are lurking in the waters around East Jeddore. Grace's frustration with the war and hatred for the Germans rise as she finds out further news about her brothers. As Christmas approaches Grace finds hope, with Eugene home for the holidays, the siblings attend a Christmas dance. At the dance, Grace is approached by a stranger; after one dance together Grace is enchanted. However, the stranger seems to be from far away and she doesn't even catch him name. Time passes, and the U-Boat that has been threatening Jeddore's shore has been found and bombed. After that, Grace's mystery man shows up at the general store for supplies. She finds out that his name is Rudi and he is trapping along the shore, but everything else about him remains a mystery. When the truth about Rudi comes to light, it will force Grace and her family to make difficult decisions in the light of the war.


Written with wonderful atmosphere and memorable characters, Come from Away blends history, the effects of war and romance into a story of hope and change. I was so happy to continue the story of Daniel and Audrey from Tides of Honour. This story of course focuses on their children, the three boys they rescued and their daughter, Grace and can be read as a standalone. It is very interesting and informative for me to read about Canada's role in World War II, as it is something often forgotten or glossed over in US education. I absolutely loved that one little know fact was the basis for Grace's love story and change of perception. At the end of 1942, several men from a U-Boat did indeed attend a dance along the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia. From this fact, Genevieve Graham creates Rudi. The writing bounces back and forth between Grace and Rudi's point of view. Through this style, I was not only anxious to find where their stories would intersect, but I gained perspective on a German Nazi soldier trained from his youth to carry out the job he was given as well as a young women whose life is changing around her due to a war far away. The most important message in the story is one that still has a lot of impact in the world today, compassion and fighting stereotypes. I enjoyed watching Grace grow and her relationship bloom. Overall, a well written historical romance that digs much deeper than love during war.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

After reading Sophia's review of Tides of Honour (@Delighted Reader), I determined that Genevieve Graham was an author I needed to read. There were several reasons for this: 1) Her story seemed well written and she crafted fully-realized characters, and 2) The setting is Canada (Nova Scotia, specifically) and Ms. Graham tells stories set during Canadian history that I'm unfamiliar with and curious about as well as writing about the Acadian people whom I'm also unfamiliar with and curious about. So when Ms. Graham contacted me asking if I'd be interested in Come from Away, I was giddy! And I was also not disappointed.


Come from Away is set in Nova Scotia with WWII as the backdrop. It revolves around the Baker family, their life in the small fishing town of East Jeddore, and how the war affects them. It delves into perceptions, feelings, and emotions experienced when loved ones are far away fighting and everything you read or hear about the enemy paints them *all* as monsters.


Grace has stayed home to tend to her family and her hometown via working at the general store. She struggles with this decision, uncertain if she's doing her part for the war effort. She'd really like for things to return to normal - where one of her biggest concerns would be her brothers teasing her over her impending spinsterhood. When the town holds a dance, Grace meets a young man who makes her heart race and as she later gets to know him, he challenges her preconceived notions and perceptions - makes her consider her own prejudices and those of he neighbors.


Rudi arrives in East Jeddore on a mission and stays by way of a twist of fate. He grew up very differently than Grace. He was raised to feel a nationalistic pride unlike most. But the things he's seen and experienced at home and during the war make him question what he was taught. Rudi is forced to make difficult decisions and must learn to deal with the perceptions about himself and his countrymen. He must figure out a way to prove that in his heart, he's a good man.


The ways in which Ms. Graham dealt with the ugliness of war and he feelings he war evoked - the pride of country and the hatred towards the enemy on both sides - was masterful. Especially in that she used those who'd seen war, those currently fighting, to impart logic and reason upon a subject that seemingly has none. Watching as Grace fought against her prejudices to embrace her feelings for Rudi, how she and her family had to deal with a community who would persecute their own over the biases created by war was gut-wrenching and heartwarming. Ms. Graham illustrated the triumph of humanity over war in this story. It's a beautiful, timely, and brilliantly rendered story. And one that made me a fan of Ms. Graham's storytelling abilities. I'll be reading more for certain.

Falling for the enemy is the haunting theme of this WWII Era Canadian Historical Romance. I've relished the way the author captures historical times and events while eliciting deeply emotional responses from me with each new book.

Come From Away is a standalone story, but it is closely-connected to Tides of Honour that tells the story of the previous generation of Bakers. I was ecstatic to see what came of Danny, Audrey, their three orphan boys and new baby. Grace was that baby and now it is her story and her brothers.

This was a poignant, complex, and gently paced enemies to lovers romance. I was captivated to be back amongst the Baker clan and the Nova Scotia setting. Getting both Rudi and Grace's perspectives and how they came together was probably the most beautiful part of the story. The author created a fascinating and engaging backstory for Rudi that showed a different facet of the war to juxtapose what Grace is used to hearing. Grace must come to see Rudi as human, get past the lies he told to survive, and come to some sort of peace that he is a proud, honorable enemy who fought and killed her own people.

Alongside Grace and Rudi's story, the reader is gifted the fantastic and well developed side character lines. A romance for one of her brothers, a loss and grief, and a brother who comes back wounded down to his soul from the horrors of war, and, of course to see a middle-aged Danny and Audrey with their grown children, their own abiding love, and their life all together through the dark days of war.

It was gently-paced, but the paces slipped by quickly as the story drew me in and kept me right there. It's coming to the point where I'm convinced I'll love pretty much anything this author publishes. Those who love authentic, but deeply emotional historical romances should definitely give this book a try.

I went into this book with high expectations - a historical fiction set in Canada during war time? That is basically one of my most favourite set ups. Come From Away did not disappoint.

I enjoy historical fiction because I enjoy learning about the past AND a good story. The was definitely some history here I had never been aware of before, which is always fun. It felt very well researched, and the spirit of the Canadian East Coast is well captured.

The characters were interesting, and I felt Rudi especially was very well done. His broken English was believable and not over done.

Being honest, this was pretty near a 5 star read for me for st least 75% of the book. The emotions Grace experiences feel real and I was always finding it hard to put the book down, wondering how things would turn out. The end, however, I found a bit weak. Linda kind of falls out of the picture for so long and then comes back in a huge way and it felt jarring. It didn't feel like I really knew her character and now she was having big emotional reactions that I objectively could appreciate but in the moment felt forced. There was also a bit of repetitiveness in Rudi's reactions to situations that started to get a bit stale, Grace's quick negative judgments also became a bit trite and not as compelling and at times Grace's family almost felt to perfect.

That all being said, it was a very enjoyable read and I am certainly interested in picking up other books by Genevieve Graham. The characters were likeable, and the POV characters well developed. The setting is well described without being heavy handed in the scenery. Overall an excellent escape into Canadian historical fiction.

I received a free advance e-copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I have since purchased a copy.

The very first thing I did after finishing this book was go online and order another book by this author. It was that good! I was initially drawn to the book by its cover and title as well as the fact that it was set in the time of WW2, an era that I am fascinated with.

I think that the title Come From Away first captured my attention because of the wonderful Broadway Musical "Come From Away" which is set in Gander Newfoundland and details the warm hospitality shown by the people of Gander to those whose airplanes were stranded there on 9/11. I had not realized that the term was also used in other Maritime provinces but was ultimately not surprized.

Some of the characters in this novel apparently feature in another book by this author which I have not read. While I would now be very interested in reading it, I didn't feel any lack for not having read it. The story is complete in and of itself.

The tale is set in Nova Scotia in 1942. The heroine, Grace Baker still lives with her parents and does most of the running of the local store which serves to supply her community in a way that is really essential. Three of her brothers have been in active service since 1939 and as part of a close family, she misses them immensely and worries about them all the time. She wonders if she is being selfish by staying at home and whether she should be signing up for something more important in terms of war work.. Her father lost a leg in the last war and although he hasn't talked about it much, she wonders if it would please him if she had signed up too. No sooner does he reassure her than a telegram is delivered informing them that her brother Norman was at Dieppe and did not survive.

The author has the ability to write in such a way that the words flow and they really made me feel as if I understood what the characters were thinking and feeling. The immensity of their loss affects everything and it is hard to pick up and keep going when war seems to be more and more a part of their world. Grace is filled with an incredible anger towards anyone or anything German and has trouble understanding why her parents don't share the deep anger that she is feeling.

The author was initially inspired by stories that she heard from locals in her Nova Scotia home about the time when German submariners came ashore and joined in at a local dance which was being held. She used this inspiration in her book when Grace attends a local dance and catches the eye of a tall handsome and silent young man who invites her to dance but then disappears. He alter reappears in her store claiming to be a fur-trapper of German extraction. The more she gets to know him, the more appealing he seems to her and the more important he is to her but eventually, after he saves a local boy from drowning when some ice breaks his secret gets out. Grace learns that he is one of the hated "Nazis" and even worse, he is staying at her home!

This book is very relevant to what is happening in the world today. Just like Grace, many people struggle to see past a stereotypical anger they feel towards those who are different and who "Come from away". Over time as Grace gets to know Rudi and understand who he really is and how he was raised and came to be a German soldier, she is able to see past her hatred and fall in love with him. Not all around her are willing to look past his nationality though which leads to some very tense moments.

This book captivated me to the point where I really couldn't put it down and read it in the space of 24 hours. There are so many important lessons to be learned from it. When some of Graces brothers return one gets to see and understand just what shell shock is and how the average soldiers who fight on opposite sides in wars are really not very different from each other.

I think this would be a wonderful book for a high school curriculum. It really exposes one to what life was like in a small Nova Scotian town during the war and how those who "come from away" can find a home there too. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who has even the least bit of interest in Canadian history.

Come From Away is connected to Tides of Honor but can be read as a standalone. It was my first book by Genevieve Graham and I look forward to reading more. In Come From Away the lives of The Baker children are the focus here and we meet our main character Grace Baker.
Come From Away is an interesting and engaging story of love and war seen from a different angle with some Canadian history here. The angle and setting were very refreshing and I really enjoyed seeing a different perspective to WWII set in Canada. I loved the feeling we got from the setting and it really set the tone for the story.

Genevieve Graham does a good job weaving romance, war and Canadian history here with more focus on the romance that at times did feel a little melodramatic. She creates strong, likable and interesting characters and I enjoyed the dynamics between them all. I recommend for historical fiction lovers who like some romance to their stories.

Published on April 24, 2018

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Genevieve Graham for a copy to read and review

I have never read a Genevieve Graham book before and when I was given the opportunity to read this one I was absolutely thrilled! I have always been quite partial to reading books with themes surrounding our Canadian history and with the setting and the different perspective of World War II that was written here was quite the welcome and refreshing read for me. I suspected that I was in for a treat while reading Come From Away and I most definitely was!

COME FROM AWAY by GENEVIEVE GRAHAM was an emotional, heart-warming and interesting Canadian Historical Romance novel that I found quite the fascinating read. The story captured the setting, time period, heartbreak and the difficulties surrounding the war perfectly and with the romance that develops we see a different side to the enemy.

GENEVIEVE GRAHAM delivers a well-paced and beautifully written story here with interesting, compelling, and believable characters that I found quite compassionate to read about. The story was told in alternating perspectives between Rudi and Grace and through Rudi’s story we really got a different understanding and look into the war. I really enjoyed the romance between our two main characters, Rudi and Grace.

In the end I thought this was a beautiful love story, vividly descriptive and really appreciated reading a part of our Canadian history! Would recommend!

Published on April 24, 2018

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Genevieve Graham for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Was attracted to this book as the setting was Nova Scotia, a province I am familiar with. I enjoyed the information on the the u boats and was surprised they were so close to the Nova Scotia coastline. The main character Grace inadvertently begins a friendly acquaintance with a stranger who happens to be a German. The story follows how he ended in this small community and the subsequent development of his relationship with this small town girl. At times the book drags with little happening. The story of war is always sad , however this story has a happy ending for most of the characters.

I love when new authors find me and think that I will like their books. I am always intrigued because with the internet it’s hard to get a feel for people sometimes so when an author asks me if I would like to review their book or they think it’s something I will like—it always makes me pause.

I can honestly say that I give every single book that comes across my desk for review, my full and complete consideration for this reason. Authors, publishers, friends on social media…..I read all the pitches. Now that doesn’t mean that I review them all, but if it truly is something I’m interested in reading and I have time then I’m usually in.

That’s how I stumbled on to Genevieve Graham. She found me and asked it I would review her book, TIDES OF HONOUR, back in 2015. I was blown away by the subject matter, characters, and the historical period as well as the added Canadian perspective in WWI.

I was thrilled when she asked if I would be interested in reading her latest novel, COME FROM AWAY, and I didn’t even hesitate….absolutely!

In the fall of 1939, Grace Baker’s three brothers, sharp and proud in their uniforms, board Canadian ships headed for a faraway war. Grace stays behind, tending to the homefront and the general store that helps keep her small Nova Scotian community running. The war, everyone says, will be over before it starts. But three years later, the fighting rages on and rumours swirl about “wolf packs” of German U-Boats lurking in the deep waters along the shores of East Jeddore, a stone’s throw from Grace’s window. As the harsh realities of war come closer to home, Grace buries herself in her work at the store.

Then, one day, a handsome stranger ventures into the store. He claims to be a trapper come from away, and as Grace gets to know him, she becomes enamoured by his gentle smile and thoughtful ways. But after a several weeks, she discovers that Rudi, her mysterious visitor, is not the lonely outsider he appears to be, but someone else entirely—someone not to be trusted. When a shocking truth about her family forces Grace to question everything she has so strongly believed, she realizes that she and Rudi have more in common than she had thought. And if Grace is to have a chance at love, she must not only choose a side, but take a stand.

Come from Away is a mesmerizing story of love, shifting allegiances, and second chances, set against the tumultuous years of the Second World War (summary from Goodreads).

This book is a little different than the first book that I read but her, as it’s set during WWII rather than WWI as the first one I read. However, her ability to write confidently in both periods is astonishing. She adds so much historical detail to her books. She captures the little nuances of the period and I think it brings a lot to the story. I said this about TIDES OF HONOUR and I think it still applies in this book….the uniqueness of having the story set in Canada was brilliant. There are so many war time romances set in England or France but not in Canada. I personally would not think Canada for a war romance and frankly I was curious how that would play out in the story but I was impressed and interested in that angle of the story. The same is still true in this book…..Canada isn’t quite to go to setting for war romances but once again she pulls it off.

If you love war time romances then this is the book for you. Not only is the historical detail amazing, but the romance it real, memorable, and sets itself apart. this isn’t Graham’s first rodeo when it comes to romances. She writes the MacDonnells series as well. Now I haven’t read any of the MacDonnell books but judging from the covers (terrible I know) I am going to venture that they are more of the bodice ripper variety. That’s not to discount their quality by any means. On the contrary, when I was reading this book, there was so much sensuality, chemistry, and emotion between Grace and Rudi that I started to wonder if she had more of a romance background. I didn’t know until now that she has written other historical romance novels but I think in this book that ability helped and strengthen the characters romantic plot and made it so much more thrilling.

To me this was more of a war romance/melodrama rather than just another run of the mill ‘historical romance’. It had a lot of layers to the story and the characters were more complex and interesting with a believable romance that will give readers the feels. I was incredibly impressed by this book, my only issue with it was the ending felt a smidge rushed but overall I was completely engrossed in the story and the historical period. I think Graham has really hit on a successful period and location that is all but absent from most bookshelves. I love that she takes her love of Canada and historical war fiction and capitalizes on it.

I will say that I got this book rather late, but I never for a second worried that I might not finish it by my target review date. I was captivated from the first page and couldn’t put it down. I read it in a matter of days and one afternoon I read more than half in one sitting!

I am sad that I didn’t get to read PROMISES TO KEEP yet, lightly different period but still yet another war time romance. I am curious to read this one as well because again, Canadian war romances just aren’t a thing but yet Graham makes them a thing!

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: Come From Away by Genevieve Graham

Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Expected publication: April 24th 2018 by Simon & Schuster
ASIN B075CR1VXP
Review copy provided by: Author/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 5 out of 5

Genre: Historical fiction, war romance

Memorable lines/quotes:

I am traveling, but I put my review on Amazon.com, from my phone will update when I get home. Can't cut snd paste or access link

I don't often read and review historical fiction books on here because I am very picky when it comes to the genre but I do love Genevieve Graham's historical fiction books.


Come from Away is a WWII Canadian historical fiction that got me hooked from the very beginning. The story is so well written that I didn't want to put the book down.

If you are looking for a good Canadian historical fiction I do very much recommend this book.

I give this 5 out of 5.

Sandy M’s review of Come From Away by Genevieve Graham
Historical Romance published by Simon & Schuster 24 Apr 18

I freely admit growing up history was not something I enjoyed. At all. Yes, I listened in school and I know the big moments of the world, but when it comes to those moments that shape citizens in other countries, I’m one of those ignorant folk. But with the bloom of my passion for genealogy about five or six years ago, I’ve now picked up the love of history. This is Genevieve Graham’s third book delving into catastrophic moments of Canadian history, giving me lessons to broaden my minuscule knowledge of her country, all amid the romance I love to read.


While this story is about our heroine, Grace Baker, we also get to catch up with Danny and Audrey Baker, her parents and the featured couple in Tides of Honour. They met during the first World War, and their story is just as emotional and moving as their daughter’s. They came away from that war together, a bit worse for wear, but in love and alive and happy, along with four children: Grace and her three orphaned brothers, Norman, Eugene, and Harry. Here we sprint ahead in time to WWII, and all three boys have gone off to assist Canada and other countries to fight one of the world’s worst dictators, Hitler. Grace works in a local store, a job she loves, but she wishes she could do more like her brothers.

Then one night at a dance she meets the mysterious Rudi. He asks her to dance and then disappears. Rudi is a German soldier aboard a U-boat that patrols the Canadian shoreline near Grace’s home. When disaster strikes the sub, Rudi is on his own to survive the winter alone in an abandoned cabin. He still remembers Grace and their dance, and he is happy to find her again when he ventures into town for food and other supplies. But he knows he has to be careful. He’s the enemy. I like the way Ms. Graham gives readers views from both sides of the war. Rudi is doing his job, following orders, but Grace has a difficult time with that from all she’s heard about Germany and the Nazis. It was a time of horrible prejudice and Grace, as well as others, has a hard time distancing her feelings when it comes to the war and what little she knows about the Third Reich.

This beautifully written enemies-to-lovers story takes on every nuance imaginable for the times and gently and lovingly resolves issues of the heart and mind. No one escapes the ravages of war, but their journey to the other side brings a peace and contentment they never thought possible. They are different in many ways, while still the same person they were before, all due to the love of family who have survived horrible tribulations. Not only does the reader learn of Canada’s complex history, they also receive a dose of that love to warm the heart, leaving them with understanding and acceptance.

Ms. Graham has definitely come into her own in writing these stories of her and her country’s heart. I now anxiously await my next lesson in Canadian history with every book she publishes.

Grade: A-

I loved it! WWII historical fiction is my favorite so this was right up my alley. Being an American, I have never read a book from the perspective of a Canadian. The Baker family, and Grace in paricular, had to learn an important lesson. Any act, when percived from different points of view, affects your opinion of someone's character. The characters in this book were very believable and I found myself really caring how their stories played out. This was an excellent story and I would recommend it to anyone else who loves historical fiction with a little bit of romance.