Tanner is a captain in the US Army, stationed at a radio post on an island in the middle of nowhere.
Nick is a coastwatcher, a man whose voice Tanner has only heard before over the radio waves.
They meet in the middle of war, when nothing is certain but this: Tanner and Nick are owed one perfect night.
Lisa Henry is one of the most talented writers I have read in that she can turn her hand from light-hearted fluff, to something other-worldy, to something deep and angst filled seamlessly. I cannot say how much I admire this talent.
When Lisa offered up five copies to commenters of this book for a read to review I have to admit I jumped straight in without even checking out the book she was offering. That is how much faith I have in this author's writing. I should have remembered her penchant for pulverising my heart though...
This book is beautiful and poignant especially with the 70th anniversary of VE day (here int he UK) coming up. We here so much about war, both current and past, we know the facts and the figures and the atrocities that occurred - yet sometimes it is the little stories that truly bring it home how much devastation war can cause.
This story is about one perfect night. One perfect night in the midst of the second world war - and it was beautiful, it was a moment out of forever that could not be taken away from either of them. I won't lie and tell you this story has an hea, because it doesn't, and that is not what it is about. It's about that moment of brightness in the darkness.
Though this story is short it packs a punch. It made me stop and think - it still makes me stop and think. What Nick and Tanner had in that moment, it was destined to never be more. Even if things didn't turn out how they did, at that time (I believe) homosexuality would not have been tolerated, so there was never going to be more than one perfect night. The night where two people from completely different worlds meet. Do I believe in soul mates? I think after reading this I do. Maybe a soul mate doesn't necessarily mean forever and ever, but instead just for now?
I don't know, but what I do know is that this is a story well worth reading. Lisa Henry will make you remember the little heartaches in the huge scheme of horror. She'll also make you remember the moments of perfection that seem all that much brighter because of the darkness surrounding them.
For more information check out Goodreads.
A copy of this book was given with a view to an honest review in return.
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