Review: War Bride  by  Brenda.Sinclair
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 29, 2013
I dearly loved this story.  When I began reading I sensed something familiar about the story.  I love stories about that era when I was growing up.  Even though I realized I had read this before I decided to finish it as I was enjoying every page.  My heart was full reading of Sally and her Robert's wartime romance which was told by her daughter, Wanda, to her granddaughter, Samantha who came to the grandmother she loved for advise on her troubled marriage. Samantha was a young bride with a new baby was troubled thinking her husband was losing his love in her marriage.  To comfort her, she told the story of when she, an English war bride, left the family she loved to follow her husband, when the war ended, to his home in Alberta, Canada to Calgsry where his family had a ranch. She knew no one, was newly pregnant sailing across the Atlantic on a ship, to Canada, then took a train over the mountains to Calgary.  Her trip was difficult.  She suffered seasickness, morning sickness, unable to eat, was already homesick for her family but was excited to see her husband again after being separated until the proper papers were arranged.  When she arrived in Calgary, her husband wasn't there to greet her, rather her husband's mother and father came to get her.  Terribly disappointed her husband didn't come, his mother came and took her hand and sat her down and revealed to her that her husband was dead, that he had a fatal accident on the farm while driving the tractor that turned over on top of him killing him.  Sally didn't know what to do.  She was alone with little money, nowhere to go, no job and felt her husband's family was not responsible to take care of her.  Robert's dear mother and father assured her that she would come home with them that they were looking forward to meeting her and that she was family and belonged with Robert's family?  She cried with relief and sadness for losing the husband she loved.  Sally was impressed with the large prosperous ranch and felt warmly welcomed and well taken care of by her mother-in-law, who ran her baths, saw she was taken care of, tucked hern in Robert.'s bedroom which pleased her feeling closer to Robert.In no time, she found herself doing helpful chores around the house.  Her new mother-in-law had a job teaching so Sally took charge of meals and other helpful chores.  Robert had a brother, Jimmy, who was a little younger than Robert, but Robert had told Sally all about his brother and how close they were, that his brother stayed home to run the ranch with his elderly father. Jimmy watched after Sally closely making sure she took good care of herself for her sake and for the baby.  Jimmy was proud that he would be an uncle as he loved his brother and the baby made it seem his brother was close to them.  In the meantime, after Samantha had a good visit with her grandmother Wanda her husband, Gary, came by to see his wife and baby and told them how much he loved them that he was sorry he worked so much his wife felt neglected.Sally noticed how kind Jimmy was to her and began having feelings for Jimmy, who was so much like his big brother, Robert.  There was nothing he wouldn't do for her to help her lift and carry things. One day when he felt Sally was in a sad mood, he asked her why and she told him how she felt she was a burden on his family and now that the baby was nearer to being born, Sally didn't know what she'd do with the expense of the hospital and getting what she needed to get ready for the baby.  He put his arms around her and told her she had nothing to worry about, that he would make sure she would have everything she needed, that he would take care of her, that he really wanted to marry her and be a father to her baby ... that he loved her from the moment he saw her, that he felt he knew her much longer as Robert had talked continually about Sally to him and he was envious of Robert having such a lovely wife.  Now that his brother was gone, Jimmyto make sure the woman Robert loved so much would always be taken care of.  The family was supportive of Jimmy and Sally's romance,  They were  to be married soon, before the baby was born.  Everything was turning out for Sally's welfare.  Sally was happy and loved Jimmy dearly.  I loved this story.  I laughed and I cried in different places but when Jimmy told Sally he wanted to take care of her and the baby, my heart sang, as I felt I had gone through so much with Sally, we were close friends.  It was a sweet story, a lovely story, about kindness and thoughtfulness and giving.  I know anyone would enjoy this beautiful love story.Carole. Beighey