This is a beautifully written book about finding hope in the darkness of war. Three women from different places trying to find their way during World War I. As they face the horrors of war they find love and when it is threatened they find the strength to have hope. Tying the stories together is a beautiful Liberty of London scarf with the Emily Dickenson quote "Hope is the thing with feathers" embroidered into it. The characters and their stories were compelling and I did not want to stop reading until I knew the outcome. I highly recommend this book for readers that enjoy historical fiction about strong women.

The narrators did a good job of giving the characters a voice. I found myself immersed in the story.

THE LIBERTY SCARF by Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan is a work of historical fiction set on both sides of the Atlantic during WWI. This novel has three parts and they all share the connection of a beautiful Liberty scarf. Thoughts of Liberty fabrics and the main store's gorgeous building in London were some of the reasons I so liked this book. The heroines were strong women and self-reliant. In the first section, readers meet Iris who aspires to be a designer for Liberty, and Rex, a wounded soldier/architect. The second part is my favorite and features Geneviève Tremblay. Jenny, as she is called, is a telephone operator who faces prejudice in the States because of being a French Canadian. Ironically, it is her native language (and operator skills) which makes her especially valuable in the war effort in Europe where she meets Maxim, a vintner. The third part of the novel tells the story of Clara, a nurse, and Roman, a violinist. The three stories connect eventually in December 2018 and combine romance and history; as the publisher says, THE LIBERTY SCARF is "a testament to the resilience of women and the enduring power of hope and unity in the harshest of times." Emily Dickinson's "'Hope' is the thing with Feathers" is an oft-quoted reference and there is reflection about having faith and courage to find a new path. The authors' notes further explain their writing to celebrate unsung heroines like the telephone operators. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Ann Marie Gideon; Gary Furlong; Caroline Hewitt; and Saskia Maarleveld; I would definitely recommend. 4.5 stars

The Liberty Scarf: A Story of Three Women, and a Scarf That Binds Them Together was written by three talented authors, Aimie K. Runyan, J’nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan. It took place during World War I during 1917-1918. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated extremely well by Ann Marie Gideon, Gary Furlong, Caroline Hewitt and Saskia Maarleveld. It was about three very brave, ambitious and caring women, the men who came to mean everything to them and a scarf that connected all of them in a beautiful way. The Liberty Scarf took place in London, Lewiston, Maine, France and Belgium.

Iris Braxton was employed at Liberty Company in London as a painter. Her true aspiration was to be given the opportunity to be a pattern designer. Unfortunately, back in the early 1900’s only men were considered worthy of such positions. A female pattern designer was unheard of. Iris never lost hope or sight of her desire. One day her talents would be recognized. Therefore, Iris never ventured far without her sketch pad. She never knew when an idea would come to her. Then one day Iris made the acquaintance of Captain Conrad Jones. Their acquaintance began as a dare but soon materialized into a mutual attraction and respect for one another. Conrad supported and encouraged Iris’s ambitions. Their feelings for one another grew stronger as time passed.

Genevieve Tremblay was the daughter of French-Canadian immigrants. They had settled in Lewiston, Maine. Genevieve, her younger brother and her parents lived in a poorer neighborhood in Lewiston. She had a job as a telephone operator. Genevieve’s boyfriend Peter’s family were much more affluent and better connected than her own family. There were times when Genevieve wondered if Peter was embarrassed by her French-Canadian origins and where she lived. When Genevieve learned that the US Army Signal Corps was looking for telephone operators or “hello girls” that were fluent in French she felt that this was her opportunity to improve her status in Peter’s eyes. Once in France, Genevieve met Captain Maxime Auvray one day by chance. There was an instant connection between the two but Genevieve was quick to mention her relationship with Peter. She had no intention of betraying Peter’s trust. For now, Genevieve would settle for being friends with Maxime. Maxime’s family produced wine in France and that was Maxime’s passion.

The third brave, passionate and dedicated woman was named Clara Janssens. She lived in Belgium with her father. When Clara’s mother died, Clara assumed the role of taking care of her father. Clara had trained to be a nurse. Her father finally convinced Clara to go where she was needed. One night, Clara was attending a concert given by fellow soldier musicians to boost the morale of their fellow soldiers when there was an enemy attack and lots of casualties. Clara was at the sight of all the casualties and then at a converted palace that served as a hospital. It was there that Clara began caring for a patient named Roman Allaire. There was something about Roman Allaire that drew Clara to him and allowed Clara to speak candidly to him. She noticed his beautiful violin near his bed. When Roman finally gained consciousness, Clara learned that he was from Strausbourg, France. Roman shared his passion for his violin and music with Clara. It was evident that both Roman and Clara had developed feelings for each other.

A beautifully designed scarf connected these brave women and the men they fell in love with. I enjoyed how the women all discovered each other by the end by recognizing the scarf that had special meanings to each one of them. I think that Aimie K. Runyan, J’nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan wrote a very memorable book together about three very strong women. It was interesting how limited women were in their opportunities during this time period. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Liberty Scarf and highly recommend it.

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Liberty Scarf: A Story of Three Women, One War, and a Scarf That Bonds Them Together by Aimie K. Runyan, J’nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan.

I received the audiobook from NetGalley and excited to start listening to the Liberty Scarf. The description made it sound so interesting and something I’d gravitate towards. I really really wanted to like it more than I did. But… it was very slow going. I was expecting the stories to be intertwined and more depth throughout. Each story abruptly ended before starting on a completely different story. Typically these kind of books draw on my emotions but this was very surface level. I did like that it was WWI as it’s not as represented as WWII. The 3 women were each strong and inserted themselves to make a difference during an oppressive time. The scarf connects them.

The Liberty Scarf is a collection of 3 novellas based in WWI. Each story follows a different woman and her experience during the winter of 1918.

1- Iris live in London and works for the Liberty Scarf Co.
2- Genevieve is a French-Canadian immigrant in Maine that is going to France to serve as a bilingual phone operator at the front.
3- Clara is a war nurse from Belgium serving in France.

I really liked all 3 stories. At first, I didn't know it was 3 stories by 3 different authors, but the way the stories connect through a scarf was interesting. I was totally hooked on these stories and loved the writing. The book tells stories of love, romance, and finding hope during war. Really a beautifully written book with lovely characters. I listened to the audiobook, and it is very well done with wonderful narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook for review.

I have enjoyed historical fiction stories for as long as I can remember. This was a fun one to read! This had everything you could want in a story - compelling characters, different plots and a great storyline.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts!

After joining forces on their 2023 novel, The Castle Keepers, authors Aimie K. Runyan, J’nell Ciesielski, Rachel McMillan are back with another collaborative book, The Liberty Scarf. Mainly set during the final year of World War I, we follow three different women working within the war, finding love along the way, and united by a recurring theme of hope via a special scarf. Though I don’t read much war fiction these days, I enjoyed this book quite a lot!

The Liberty Scarf is set up like an anthology of three novellas. First there is Iris, a woman who works at Liberty in London and aspires to design her own scarf. She meets Rex, a wounded soldier, who helps in her career ambitions. Then there is Geneviève, a French Canadian woman living in Maine who joins the US Army Signal Corps to work as a bilingual operator. She comes from a working class background, is more or less engaged to the wealthy Peter, and is finding friendship with a French man, Maxime. And finally there is Clara, a Belgian woman working as a nurse in Brussels but who is drawn to life’s stories. She tends to a violinist named Roman, quickly developing a fleeting romance limited to his time in her hospital. But as war continues to tear through Europe, will these six characters find lasting happiness?

Tropes & Narrative Devices:
• Three novellas as one full-length novel
• Partially epistolary
• Recurring scarf and poem motifs
• Third-person POV (Iris; Rex; Geneviève; Clara; Roman)

What I Liked:

• Loosely interconnected stories. Though the stories feel rather distinct from one another, with possibly no overlapping characters (for a while!), they do having recurring themes that glue them together. Iris, Geneviève, and Clara are connected by a Liberty scarf that holds special value to each. And while all three women are contributing to the war effort in some way, they also each find love with a soldier. Each of their stories ends on a cliffhanger… until the epilogue!

• Letters! All three sections have correspondence as a central portion of the characters’ relationship arcs. When Rex is called back to the frontlines, he and Iris write letters about their respective career wins. Geneviève and Maxime become friends while in France, and grow their friendship via letters, even as Geneviève worries about her relationship with her would-be fiancé, Peter. Clara and Roman fall in love when she tends to him as a nurse, bonding over their shared affinity for the arts. But letters are the only thing keeping them together after being driven apart.

• “Hope is the thing with feathers.” While the scarf is a recurring motif that the characters wear and cherish, the Emily Dickinson quote that inspired it is also an important theme that comes up again and again. As hopeless as war can feel, these characters cling to this poem and this quote as a guiding light amidst a dark time.

Audiobook
The audio version of The Liberty Scarf is narrated by Ann Marie Gideon, Gary Furlong, Caroline Hewitt, and Saskia Maarleveld. Each has an inviting speaking style and cadence, allowing listeners to get comfortable yet keeping interest alive throughout. I enjoyed the different accents used to make each character—whether English or French or Belgian—feel more authentic and vibrant. With a European setting, I loved hearing the different languages and accents from the myriad countries involved in the war.

Final Thoughts
The Liberty Scarf is a novel of hope, strength, and love no matter how dark the times become. I loved the format of three interrelated stories sharing recurring motifs and a hint of character connection at the end. Even as wars rage on today, this book offers some hope and love despite it all.

This was such an enjoyable one! Three couples are connected during the Great War by a Liberty of London scarf. The story is set in the winter of 1917 and is divided into three parts. Each part features a couple's story, and then the three threads connect in the epilogue. I enjoyed this format instead of having to juggle three story lines at once. I love this trend of writing collaborations in historical fiction, especially when the writing is as seamless and as well done as in this book.

After finishing the book, I had to peruse Liberty scarves online, and it was easy to see why the authors took inspiration from these beautiful works of art.

Great historical fiction book. I love the passion & dedication presented by the characters. Will definitely recommend to friends.

The Liberty Scarf
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a Beautiful story for December & Christmas. The Authors collaboration together is perfect. I loved it! A beautiful Scarf connects three different woman in the Winter of 1917. It was really enjoyable. I loved hearing & learning about more history through the story. Truly a great treat. It made me look & feel my scarfs. LOL The Audio was great!!
Thank you NetGalley!

This was a lovely read. Great sense of atmosphere, well researched, and very well written. Even though each of the three stories felt like they ended abruptly it does wrap up nicely in the end. I must admit there was a certain amount of story change fatigue for me by the 3rd story because I am still living in the two previous worlds. The 3rd chance felt more like work to get through because I'm still thinking about the last two stories.

In The Liberty Scarf by Aimie Runyan, J’nell Ciesielski and Rachael McMillan, we are given an insight into the lives of three quite different but resolute women. There is Iris trying to get her talent seen and accepted. She is also attempting to decide her feelings for Rex. Clara is a nurse helping wounded men during World War I. Roman a young man drawn to music instead of his father’s profession. Genevieve was responsible for phone communications during the war. She is drawn to Maxime, whose world is so different from hers. All six of these people are drawn together by a horrific war and a beautiful scarf whose design is meant to inspire hope. A sweet novel.

War is hard and all three authors in the book bring this out. Beautifully crafted, we have three couples (I liked each one of them) who have hope, dreams and love to give. They lives are intertwined and we get to see how in the end. I was almost not going to read this book but decided to continue. What a mistake it would have been if I had not read it! Lovely, poignant and romantic.

#netgalley #TheLibertyScarf

The Liberty Scarf AUDIO by Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, Rachel McMillan is an enjoyable story taking place toward the end of World War I and is vignettes about three different couples, separated by war. The thread that binds their stories is an expensive art scarf, sold exclusively at Liberty department store in London. The first story is Iris who paints other people’s designs on the scarves. She longs to design them. She meets a man, Captain Rex Conrad, before he is shipped off. The next story is Genevieve, a telephone operator from Maine, although she she is French-Quebequois. Her beau is local, but from a different strata of society and key in the telephone business in Lewiston. They have an informal understanding. She meets a French officer called Maximillian and writes to him after he leaves. The third is a Belgian nurse who meets a violinist when he is under her care after being wounded. Only Genevieve is disappointed by her “fiance” and struggles to locate Max.

This is a wonderful listen, full of strong personalities and interesting stories. War is difficult at best, and keeping in contact nearly impossible. Genevieve has managed to retain her post in Europe, although moving to Strasbourg. She is worried about her family who need her income to survive. She is worried her former beau may cut her out of her job. One asks if any of these romances will continue to fruition. Well, remember this is a romance. It is full of drama, mostly because of the war. It encounters death and mutilation and as well as interesting situations and background on what serving the in war was like. It was excellent. I loved it. It proves love goes beyond physical limitations.

It was narrated by Ann Marie Gideon, Gary Furlong, Caroline Hewitt and Saskia Maarleveld who brought the story to life in an extraordinary way. They did the appropriate accents well, not too pronounced, but enough. It was so easy to get caught up in their renditions of this excellent book.

I was invited to listen to The Liberty Scarf by Harper Collins Focus. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarperCollinsFocus #AimieKRunyan #JnellCiesieliski #RachelMcMillan #AnnMarieGideon #GaryFurlong #CarolineHewitt #SaskiaMaarleveld #TheLibertyScarf

The Liberty Scarf, a collaborative work of three authors, presents an interesting perspective on life during WWI. I love Liberty fabrics and was intrigued by the character of Iris, who works for the company and yearns to design brightly-colored scarves as a sign of hope, during the dark days of the war. She and Genevieve were my favorite characters in this story of three couples who meet—and are separated—during the war. I found the stories a bit uneven, perhaps due to the collaborative writing, but the scarf that provides the main thread of the story is fascinating. I couldn’t wait for the moment when the three stories were tied together (pun intended) and it was very good, although it seemed brief and rushed. I really enjoyed this on audiobook, and I thank the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to share this honest review.

I greatly enjoyed 'The Liberty Scarf,' a historical fiction title set in WWI, specifically focused on 3 women and their efforts during the war. These women are tied together in the most creative way by a particular scarf. I found myself engaged in each of the women's stories to the point that I was always disappointed when the perspective shifted because I wanted to know what would happen next for each of them.

The authors did a nice job of highlighting women from different walks of life and exploring how the war experience impacted them .

I was lucky enough to review this book on audio. I found the narration added to the story.

Thank you to Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielsk, Rachel McMillan, and HaperCollins Focus for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of 'The Liberty Scarf.'

The Liberty Scarf is a beautifully written collection I absolutely loved! Through these three novellas, an elegantly designed Liberty scarf weaves its way into each story as three women survive the turbulent times of WWI. Letters, sweet romance, & hope find their way into each woman’s life whether she’s on the front lines or waiting anxiously back home.

London: Scarf maker Iris Braxton spends her days copying other people’s patterns into the scarves she creates. She dreams one day of seeing one of her designs produced on a Liberty scarf. When she meets the handsome, wounded Capt. Rex Conrad on temporary leave, he tries everything to get her to dance with him to win a bet. She finally agrees if he’ll show her designs to Mr. Liberty. Their fast friendship grows to more until the war calls again. I loved the delightful banter, Rex’s uncle’s estate, & the sweet romance as Rex tries to win Iris’ heart. I also enjoyed the symbolism of Iris’ design & the way this story set up the others.

Maine: Geneviève Tremblay, a French-Canadian immigrant, is a telephone operator living in Lewiston, Maine. She joins the war effort in the US Army Signal Corps to serve as a bi-lingual operator, mainly to impress her boyfriend’s family who looks down on her humble roots. When she meets a charming Frenchman in London, she questions her choices, especially when she agrees to correspond with him throughout the war. I loved the correspondence between Jennie & Maxime. Though Maxime’s a wealthy wine merchant, he admires Jennie for who she is & is so noble & gallant. He’s a perfect contrast to her arrogant boyfriend.

Belgium: Clara Janssens, a Flemish Nurse, & Roman Allaire, an Alsatian violinist, meet in a Brussels palace-turned-hospital. As Clara nurses him back to health, they form a strong bond. When friendship turns to love, their relationship is threatened by the war & an enemy within. I enjoyed the almost poetic way music was used & referenced throughout this story. I loved their first kiss & the way Clara approached it. Letters also play a huge role & I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

All three stories were so compelling. The writing was gorgeous & I enjoyed each couple equally. The way a scarf played a role in each story was cleverly woven in. I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook version. The narrators were fabulous & I loved the way each character was distinguished, making each novella unique. With each story, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next as each story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I loved the way they all came together in the end for a fantastic conclusion. The historical aspects & rich attention to detail made this collection unforgettable.

Highly recommend to historical fiction/romance fans! I received an advanced listener’s copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

This book was a fantastic historical fiction. Leaning on a scarf and its significance throughout different lives during WWI, it really was an interesting book to read.

This book introduces you to three women around the world, Iris (a scarf maker in London), Geneviève (a phone operator in Maine), and Clara (a nurse in Belgium). Not only do you see how the war affects them , you also watch them in what appears to be the beginning of fall in love and see how the Liberty scarf plays a significant role in their lives at the time.

It was a beautifully written story. I really enjoyed all three POVs and their individual stories. Though they were great all by themselves, I really appreciated their connections, especially seeing the scarf flow through the story. I appreciated seeing it from the beginning.

It was a great story! I appreciated their connections history, and really just the overall story. I thought it was a great book for fans of historical fiction!

So, if you’re looking for a WWI novel, or a book little different from the normal historical fiction novels, I’d recommend this one! Also, don’t hesitate to listen to the audiobook version - it added so much to the story!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from @jnellciesielski @rachkmc @bookishaimie @harpermusebooks @austenprose through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

A truly excellent novel set in WWI with three stories very lightly interwoven. Sometimes I have a hard time with books that switch to new characters once you’ve gotten into the groove with that story line. This one switches to a different woman’s story 1/3 and then 2/3 of the way through but it really works. I got immersed in each almost immediately, and the thread about the scarf was really moving. More than a gimmick or even narrative device, the scarf is the central way the book shows how art and color, representing hope and beauty, truly do touch people in their darkest moments - and each section shows how this is true in different ways, including the other thread of the violin.

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend it!

The Liberty Scarf is more than a piece of fabric–it’s a symbol of hope, resilience, and unity in the face of war, binding these three women together in an indelible bond.

These three women, Iris Braxton, Geneviève Tremblay, Clara Janssens are each unique in their own way. They are definitely strong willed and love with a great fierceness. I enjoyed each of their stories!

This novel did not flow as well as I expected. It tends to feel more like a collection of short stories instead of one novel. Each part starts over with different characters and it takes a bit to get into this section of the story. But the scarf is ever present and it definitely gives hope and ties all of them together with a bond that is unstoppable.

This is narrated by a wonderful tag team: Ann Marie Gideon; Gary Furlong; Caroline Hewitt; Saskia Maarleveld. Excellent…especially with the different dialects.

Need a good WWI tale with hope as it’s center…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest opinion.