A few weeks before he enlisted in the military to fight for America in World War II, Aubrey DeLuca and Estelle Johnson had started dating. Estelle promised to wait for him and she impatiently waits his return. Aubrey comes home early from the war; he was injured and is blind in one eye. There is a part of him that wants to break it off with Estelle; he feels she deserves better and he does not feel like a whole man. Estelle must decide if she will commit to Aubrey and deal with his war injuries or walk away.
The tension between Aubrey and Estelle was well done. The novella captured the difficulties returning injured soldiers dealt with and the challenges their loved ones faced—both physically and psychologically. It did not sugar coat the experiences and challenges. Another interesting aspect of this novella was that Estelle worked at the local library; she loves books. But she also mentions several times that Aubrey likes to read as well. I thought it was great to see the hero and heroine have an interest they shared; it was not just about that they were physically attracted to one another, even though they are.
Overall, it was a great novella about overcoming pain and challenges; and realizing that God is in control and should be trusted. Since it was a novella, though, it was short and I thought there could be minor plot developments fleshed out more. This is a small issue, but I think it would have added more depth to the story.
About the Author:
Linda Shenton Matchett is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of the state and immerses herself with other authors’ writings.
Giveaway:
Linda is giving away a $50 Visa Gift Card and a signed copy of the book. Click the link below to enter:
https://promosimple.com/ps/28d32/estelle-s-endeavor-celebration-tour-giveaway
Next Novel to Review: Knowing You