Mabel of the Anzacs

A Friendship for the Ages

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Pub Date 31 Jul 2018 | Archive Date 09 Aug 2018

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Description

Two women - one a fiery teenager, the other a cantankerous octogenarian - find their mutual antipathy blossoms into an unlikely friendship in this heart-felt multi-generational story about finding a kindred spirit where you least expect it.

Zoe Lambros meets Mabel Andrews, a mercurial, cantankerous World War I Australian nurse. Zoe's introduction to the fiery octogenarian is an explosive mix of sound and fury. Neither woman wants to give ground and they are determined to be proven right. For Zoe, actions speak louder than words and she sets out to uncover the enigma that is Mabel Andrews. Mabel discovers a kindred spirit that leads to an unlikely friendship. Together the two women forge a close bond that will change their lives forever.

It's a friendship for the ages..

Mabel of the Anzacs is available for purchase in both print and ebook formats.

Two women - one a fiery teenager, the other a cantankerous octogenarian - find their mutual antipathy blossoms into an unlikely friendship in this heart-felt multi-generational story about finding a...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9780994476593
PRICE

Average rating from 5 members


Featured Reviews

This book was funny at times, sad at others, but always held my interest thanks to the author's great writing, characters that I felt invested in, a plot that I enjoyed, and the setting of being during World War I. Highly recommend this!

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I was lucky enough to have been given the opportunity by NetGalley to read Mabel of the Anzacs by Mary D. Brooks in exchange for an honest review. As the story began, I didn't think it was going to keep my interest but was I wrong. It did take a while for the story to develop but once it did it had my attention and I found it hard to put down. Mary D. Brooks portrayed the characters of Zoe, Eva and Mabel as believable and very human.

Mabel of the Anzacs began shortly after the end of World War II in Australia. Zoe and Eva, sole-mates and totally in love with each other, were sharing a flat. Zoe, not quite 19 years old, was impulsive and always talking too much. Whereas Eva, was shy, practical and always in control of the situation at hand. They totally complimented one another. Their love for each other was beautiful and pure. Mabel Andrews, one the other hand was an older woman who lived on the ground floor of the apartment complex where Zoe and Eva lived. Zoe and Mrs. Andrews were constantly butting heads. Mabel Andrews' prized possession was her flower garden including her prize worthy azalea bushes. One day Zoe accidentally ran them over when her bike crashed into them. Mabel Andrews had it out for Zoe. She decided that she did not like the girl and even called her a snot. As many times as Zoe apologized to Mrs. Andrews for what she had done to her garden, Mrs. Andrews could not let her anger and dislike for Zoe go. Then a few days later, Zoe received a written invitation from Mabel Andrews to come to tea. The result would be life changing for both Zoe and Mabel Andrews.

Mary D. Brooks' s book, Mabel of the Anzacs explored the difficult and often unrecognized valor and bravery of nurses during World War I along with unconditional love and friendship. As Zoe and Mabel got to know one another and revealed deep, hidden and painful secrets, they developed a new understanding, love and friendship toward each other. To Mabel, Zoe was an annoying, childish snot who wasted her time reading romance novels and drawing before she got to know her. To Zoe, Mabel was a crotchety eighty year old woman who did not like her and was extremely mean and uncaring before she got to know her. As their secrets were shared they discovered what they saw on the outside was well camouflaged by what truly existed within them and in their hearts.

Although I own other books by Mary D. Brooks, I have to admit, almost ashamedly, that Mabel of the Anzacs was the first of her books that I have read. However, I can't wait to read some of her other books now. I really enjoyed reading Mabel of the Anzacs and highly recommend it.

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It was nice to see our favorite characters, Eva and Zoe from the Intertwined Souls series, as well as minor characters and to catch up with Eva and Zoe after their immigration to Australia three years after the war. I love reading historical fiction, and this one really interested me because a lot of the historical facts in this story involved nursing during WW 1. Mary D did a great job integrating fictional characters and their story into a fascinating period in history. This was personal for me because my mother was a nurse and my aunt was a nurse in WW 2, achieving the rank of lieutenant. My aunt probably did many things in her service as Mabel did as a nurse in WW 1.

I am giving this book four stars instead of five, not because of the content of this story but during the first half of the novel, I found several grammatical errors that took me out of the reading zone I was in. The story itself though is worth overlooking the errors.
If you are a historical fiction fan, especially of WW 1, you will enjoy this book. If you have read the other books with Zoe and Eva, you will love this book. This is considered a standalone book but I urge you to read not only this one but also the other books in the Intertwined Souls series.

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