Cara Langston

"She couldn't speculate on what the future held for their relationship. All she knew for certain was that her plans for them had taken a drastic turn."

A tragic but sweet love story set during World War II. Charlotte Donahue and Nick Adler are in love, both are finishing college soon and the next logical step is to get engaged. Nick proposes to Charlotte, and she feels like all of her dreams have come true; however their engagement is on the eve of the attack on Pearl Harbor. When Nick inevitably enlists in the Army, Charlotte is in a constant state of worry and needs something to do to keep her mind off things. She finds a volunteer position as a nursing assistant and is accepted at the Army Medical Center. There, she not only fills her time, but make a connection with an injured soldier with wounds that are more than skin deep.

This is a story that focuses on those left behind during the war and the obstacles they must face. While Charlotte may not have to see the brutalities of war, her life is still thrown into an upheaval. I enjoyed reading about a women's perspective through the war, especially since Charlotte's character is stronger and chooses to do more than sit and feel sorry for herself. Though the plot line in Battle Hymns was not unexpected, the way it was told is moving and written in a way I could easily empathize with. More than anything, this novel is about love and survival; Charlotte's wave of emotions carried me through love, heartbreak, grief, recovery and love again in a natural way.

A beautiful debut novel for Cara Langston, I'll want to read more!… (mais)