Wait for Me

by Caroline Leech

Sarah McRae (Narrator)

Can their love survive a war?

A breathtaking WW2 romance for fans of CODE NAME VERITY and BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY.

It’s 1945, and Lorna Anderson’s life on her father’s farm in Scotland consists of endless chores, rationing and praying for an Allied victory. So when Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, is assigned as the new farmhand, Lorna is appalled. How can she possibly work alongside the enemy when her own brothers are risking their lives for the country?

But as Lorna reluctantly spends time with Paul, the more she sees the boy behind the soldier. Soon Lorna is battling her own warring heart. Loving Paul could mean losing her family and the life she’s always known. But with tensions rising all around them, Lorna must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice – before the end of the war determines their fate once and for all.

• ISBN13: 9780008218423
• Publish Date: 9 February 2017 (first published 31 January 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: HarperCollins
• Edition: Unabridged edition
• Format: Audiobook (WAV)
• Duration: 8 hours and 11 minutes
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[nightingalereads]

Meh. This book was well-written and contained some vivid imagery, but the story itself was so bland. If you're looking for a cute love story, with WWII as a very thin backdrop, then you might enjoy this book. It's not terrible. It just fell far short of my expectations.

[bookishzelda]

Wait for Me is a story about a small Scottish town that is experiencing the effects of World War II. The story takes place right before the war's official end.

There were so many different things I liked. I really enjoyed Lorna’s father. He is a strong and gruff man on the outside but extremely kind hearted. He reminded me of my dad and so I think that strengthened my bond to him. I like how he is quiet strength for Lorna.

I really liked the trials and tribulations of Lorna and Iris’s friendship. When you are young and you meet that first love of your life, sometimes you get lost in it. I was so mad at Iris at times but that is just what happens to friends. You always find your way back to each other.

I did enjoy the romance of Lorna and the POW Paul. It developed naturally and I thought the author note about these kind of relationships added to it. I like the idea of two people finding one another in the worst of circumstances but still forming a bond. I also liked that Paul is scarred. That sounds strange but I get tired of the flawless people in stories. Especially stories about war, this is what happens. People are injured and broken and have to find their way out of that.

Although Lorna’s brothers are not in the story for a long period of time. I liked how they both have different war experiences and how it affects them. Also Mrs. Murray is great character too to have, showing a mother’s grief at having your son be off at war. I would imagine it’s difficult to never know if you are going to lose someone. The emotions that run high with John Jo I thought showed that well.

I enjoyed the pacing of the book, there was a point that I was concerned I was about to hit a lull but it picked right back up.

[shannonmiz]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Wait for Me is such a lovely novel with a lot of good life lessons and messages. Lorna is nearly eighteen, living with her father on a Scotland farm, her brothers off to war in WWII. She's trying to decide what her next steps in life should be, as she prepares to finish school. Of course her life is complicated, with her brothers at war, but when a German prisoner of war, Paul, is sent to work on their farm, things get really complicated. Paul has been severely injured in combat, but of course no one in the town even wants him around, let alone cares about his problems. They see him as, of course, the enemy.

But... things aren't what they seem. And people aren't always who you think they are. I know people are concerned about some of the issues in this book. I understand that. I will say, Paul is in no way a Nazi. He abhors them and is against everything they stand for. I think this is an important thing to note when considering this book. I don't want to say much more because it would be spoilery, but trust that he is definitely not.

Really, the best part is the character growth, and watching the way different people react throughout the novel. Sometimes, as you can imagine, it is quite powerful and emotional. It's one of those stories for all ages. And yes, there is a romance, and yes, it is lovely and slow burning and often complicated. I also enjoyed how there was a lot of exploration of female roles in the WWII era. A nice bonus, and very pertinent in Lorna's coming of age tale. Also, points for lots of family interactions and relationships! Oh, and my fave, some really awesome female side characters. 

My only negative is that the book often reads a bit younger than Lorna's nearly eighteen years. The writing is simple- not that it's a bad thing, but when combined with a third person POV (and therefore, fewer of Lorna's thoughts and feelings), it can feel a bit middle-grade, even though Lorna is clearly dealing with young adult issues.

Bottom Line: This book is sweet, and carries a whole lot of life lessons that apply to us in our current climate just as much as they did in 1945. Definitely glad to have read this one.

*Copy provided for review