Stormi's Review: The Memory of Us by Camille Di Maio
KINDLE UNLIMITED
PUBLISHER: Lake Union Publishing
RELEASED: May 31, 2016
GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION
LENGTH: 400 pages
FORMAT: EBOOK, PAPERBACK, AUDIBLE
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Julianne Westcott was living the kind of life that other Protestant girls in prewar Liverpool could only dream about: old money, silk ball gowns, and prominent young men lining up to escort her. But when she learns of a blind-and-deaf brother, institutionalized since birth, the illusion of her perfect life and family shatters around her. While visiting her brother in secret, Julianne meets and befriends Kyle McCarthy, an Irish Catholic groundskeeper studying to become a priest. Caught between her family’s expectations, Kyle’s devotion to the church, and the intense new feelings that the forbidden courtship has awakened in her, Julianne must make a choice: uphold the life she’s always known or follow the difficult path toward love. But as war ripples through the world and the Blitz decimates England, a tragic accident forces Julianne to leave everything behind and forge a new life built on lies she’s told to protect the ones she loves. Now, after twenty years of hiding from her past, the truth finds her—will she be brave enough to face it?
FIVE BOUNDLESS STARS
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Julianne is a young woman with the whole world before her when hidden family secrets, in the form of an unknown sibling, shatter her vision of her perfect life. War is on the brink when she meets Kyle, a young man that is trying to become a priest. This means their relationship can never become more. It's up to Julianne to decide on what path to follow for her future. There is always the easy way, but sometimes the harder path is what is most desired by the heart. The path they follow is burdened with love, heartache, and war. No matter what, their lives will never be the same.
This is my first book by Camille Di Maio, and I am so glad I came across such an excellent author. This book was exceptionally written. Julianne is a beautiful character with a heart of gold. Her brother who is hidden away in a home is an excellent character in this story, and he is what brings Julianne and Kyle together, so for that alone, I loved his innocent soul. The romance that these two share is beautiful and real. The hardships these two choose to face to be together are amazing. This book was a right mix of hardships and happy times, secrets and regrets, romance and lost love and at the brink, a war that will change the lives of all.
I loved this story. It has history, romance, and drama. It is written in a way that keeps you enthralled and full of emotions. I felt mad, sad, and happy while reading this story. A book that invokes such feelings is a great one in my opinion. Overall, I was pleased and so glad that I came across this author. I can't wait to read more from her.