Book Review: In Another Time

In Another Time

By: Caroline Leech

Published By: HarperTeen

Publication Date: August 28, 2018

Page Count: 384

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher via Edelweiss

Young Adult - Historical Fiction

Maisie hasn't had the easiest life at home with parents who control her every move. She can't wait to get out from under their thumb, so as WWII rages on, Maisie decides to lend her services to the war effort. Due to her age, her options are limited, but she takes a post with the Women's Timber Corps to train to become a lumberjill. While I have never heard of the Women's Timber Corps, I was excited to learn more about the group as it just makes sense that the woodcutting profession would have to change due to so many men fighting in the war.

Maisie finds friends and a purpose with the Timber Corps, but she also finds someone she may want to share her heart with in the form of John Lindsay, a Canadian with a connection to the famous WWI poet and doctor, John McCrae. As Maisie continues to try to unravel the secrets of John's past, she must decide if she is willing to take a leap for love or remain safe away from the demons brought on by war.

I have come to expect Leech to deliver compelling stories that give voice to the women of history. Her stories are well written and extensively researched. She is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors when I am in the mood for historical fiction. The WWII setting and the Scottish locales come to life as Leech weaves her story.

One Last Gripe: It took me awhile to warm up to John as Maisie's love interest.

Favorite Thing About The Book: The setting

First Sentence: Maisie's shoulders burned, her palms were torn, and her ax handle was smeared with blister pus and blood. 

Favorite Character: Maisie

Least Favorite Character: Maisie's Father

Summary:

Love is worth the fight 

 It’s 1942, and Maisie McCall is in the Scottish Highlands doing her bit for the war effort as a Women’s Timber Corps lumberjill. Maisie relishes her newfound independence and her growing friendships—especially with the enigmatic John Lindsay. 

 As Maisie and John work side-by-side felling trees, Maisie can’t help but feel like their friendship has the spark of something more to it. And yet every time she gets close to him, John pulls away. It’s not until Maisie rescues John from a terrible logging accident that he begins to open up to her about the truth of his past, and the pain he’s been hiding. 

 Suddenly everything is more complicated than Maisie expected. And as she helps John untangle his shattered history, she must decide if she’s willing to risk her heart to help heal his. But in a world devastated by war, love might be the only thing left that can begin to heal what’s broken.