There are some authors that just know how to cut right to the core and suck you right into the tale that they weave. Kristin Harmel is one of those authors. This is the second book that I have read by her and this one was an emotional read that is not one that I will likely forget any time soon. This new release is one to check out for a read that will suck you in and not let go.
When We Meet Again by Kristin Harmel
Publisher: Gallery Books (June 7, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-1476754161
Emily thinks she’s lost everything…until a mysterious painting leads her to what she wants most in the world. The new novel from the author of international bestsellers The Sweetness of Forgetting and The Life Intended shows why her books are hailed as “engaging” (People), “absorbing” (Kirkus Reviews) and “enthralling” (Fresh Fiction).
Emily Emerson is used to being alone; her dad ran out on the family when she was a just a kid, her mom died when she was seventeen, and her beloved grandmother has just passed away as well. But when she’s laid off from her reporting job, she finds herself completely at sea…until the day she receives a beautiful, haunting painting of a young woman standing at the edge of a sugarcane field under a violet sky. That woman is recognizable as her grandmother—and the painting arrived with no identification other than a handwritten note saying, “He always loved her.”
Emily is hungry for roots and family, so she begins to dig. And as she does, she uncovers a fascinating era in American history. Her trail leads her to the POW internment camps of Florida, where German prisoners worked for American farmers…and sometimes fell in love with American women. But how does this all connect to the painting? The answer to that question will take Emily on a road that leads from the sweltering Everglades to Munich, Germany and back to the Atlanta art scene before she’s done.
Along the way, she finds herself tempted to tear down her carefully tended walls at last; she’s seeing another side of her father, and a new angle on her painful family history. But she still has secrets, ones she’s been keeping locked inside for years. Will this journey bring her the strength to confront them at last?
Thoughts About When We Meet Again by Kristin Harmel
This is one story that hit a little close to home. My mom is German and lived through the war in Germany. So when I read that this book would include a family story along with some history in the WWII era, I knew I had to read it.
This book – This book. It hit me hard in all sorts of places. Parts of this story are so sad and gut wrenching. Emotional and unbelievable. But a story that offers hope too. The author tells us that it is never too late for family.
Kristin Harmel has the magic touch with amazing stories that you just can’t help but love. A craft master in creating stories so realistic you can imagine being right there too. This book made me sad and had me crying several times, so much that I didn’t even want to continue reading at one point. But I knew that there has to be a good part coming and I wasn’t wrong.
With a story rich in American and European history, this family saga is one that you will devour. But don’t forget the tissues…. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.