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Amy Lynn Green
Bethany House | August 31, 2021
Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Clean
Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, Gordon Hooper and his buddy Jack Armitage have done “work of national importance” in the West as conscientious objectors: volunteering as smokejumpers, parachuting into and fighting raging wildfires. But the number of winter blazes they’re called to in early 1945 seems suspiciously high, and when an accident leaves Jack badly injured, Gordon realizes the facts don’t add up.
A member of the Women’s Army Corps, Dorie Armitage has long been ashamed of her brother’s pacificism, but she's shocked by news of his accident. Determined to find out why he was harmed, she arrives at the national forest under the guise of conducting an army report...and finds herself forced to work with Gordon. He believes it’s wrong to lie; she’s willing to do whatever it takes so justice will be done.
As they search for clues, Gordon and Dorie must wrestle with their convictions about war and peace and decide what to do with the shocking secrets they discover.
A member of the Women’s Army Corps, Dorie Armitage has long been ashamed of her brother’s pacificism, but she's shocked by news of his accident. Determined to find out why he was harmed, she arrives at the national forest under the guise of conducting an army report...and finds herself forced to work with Gordon. He believes it’s wrong to lie; she’s willing to do whatever it takes so justice will be done.
As they search for clues, Gordon and Dorie must wrestle with their convictions about war and peace and decide what to do with the shocking secrets they discover.
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I was provided with a complimentary copy thanks to Bethany House, in exchange for my honest review.
WARNING: Possible Spoilers!
THE BASICS
This was quite a different kind of book compared to the usual Christian fiction, clean romance novels I typically read from this publisher. First of all, it's not really a romance---there was some initial attraction between our two main characters (whose perspectives we read in turn), but it is real & relatable in regards to relationships and how some simply don't work out.
Dorie seems quite the wild kinda rebel who loves challenges. And Gordon & Jack (her brother) were men who stood by their convictions, but also worked to understand others.
All told, this was a great, clean story, with an intriguing bit of historical mystery. I enjoyed it!
VIOLENCE
A man is badly burned to unconsciousness---not expected to survive. [SPOILER!] He later dies.
A man punches another two or three times in a temper. A bomb takes the life of a man; at least two other stories are told of men lost to fires. There's also a recollection of a woman murdering her abusive husband by turning on the car engine inside the garage while he was passed out drunk. A diary entry records two slaves being dragged out from their hiding spot & beaten nearly to death---it is assumed they were returned to their owners.
SPIRITUAL CONTENT
A young man applies for exemption from the draft to war, on his convictions of pacifism. He tries to explain his convictions in regards to the war & what he has read from the New Testament and Jesus' teachings. A man prays for a severely injured friend.
1 Corinthians is referenced; characters attend a church service where the majority of the congregation including pastor looks down on the CO men (what the group of pacifist men are called) for their beliefs. A young woman bows at the church altar & seemingly whispers a prayer. Gordon stays behind in a pew after the service is over.
Characters pray often over many different things.
LANGUAGE // ALCOHOL & DRUGS
None.
Don't recall any.
ROMANTIC CONTENT
As mentioned before, there was some form of attraction between Dorie & Gordon as they exchanged letters for a period of time. But once she learned of his (& her brother's beliefs) after the war broke out, she dropped the relationship, feeling strongly that a man should be willing to stand & fight for his country. (So she signed on for the Womens Army Corps.
No sensuality in any way, nor kissing or anything of the like. A young man rather likes his chief's daughter, but isn't exactly bold enough to make any kind of move yet...
CONCLUSION
All in all, this was a good, clean novel, filled with historical facts & mystery. I quite enjoyed it, although it wouldn't be one I would pick up to re-read often (if at all). And that's simply my opinion. :] The historical aspect was fascinating, as well as the facts about smoke-jumpers & all that they do/did during this particular era.
If you're looking for an easy read and enjoy historical fiction with a tad bit of mystery, I would certainly recommend this one!
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4 OUT OF 5 STARS
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
Ages: 16+
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To each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass, and a book of rules,
And each must make, ere life is flown,
A stumbling block or a stepping stone.
-Anonymous-