January 1, 2022
In Di Maio's (The Memory of Us) latest historical romance, it is 1943 and Margaret Beck has answered the call to support the home front like many women during World War II. She works sewing stars onto flags, but dreams of being a mechanic at Brooklyn's Navy Yard. She and her two best friends form a club to knit socks to send to the soldiers fighting overseas. After slipping a letter into the first pair of socks she knits, Margaret begins a correspondence with one of the boys at the front. Thomas Powell is off fighting at the front with his best friend William. One day, William receives a pair of socks with the letter from Margaret, and the two write to each other. Unbeknownst to Margaret, Tom takes over writing the letters after William is killed in battle. The two form a strong connection, and Tom wants to tell Margaret the truth, but can he tell her before a dangerous mission? VERDICT Di Maio's historical romance is packed with drama, friendship, and a "love conquers all" story. Readers looking for a break from the typical World War II romance are sure to find it here.--Anna Kallemeyn
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January 12, 2022
Margaret Beck, along with her best friends Gladys and Dottie, are working hard in the Navy Yard while the men are fighting at the front during WWII. To pass time and stay in touch, the women start a knitting club to send socks to Margaret's brother John and his unit across the pond. As a favor to her brother, Margaret starts corresponding with his fellow soldier and friend William. They form a close friendship through their letters. What Margaret doesn't know is that their friend Tom has started writing William's letters while William is injured. Over time, their letters grow more personal as they share feelings about the war, their families, and life in general. Margaret starts to wonder if it's possible to fall in love with someone you've never met--and she doesn't know that the letters are really from Tom. Di Maio's latest (after The First Emma, 2020) is a quick historical read that examines loss, war-torn families, friendship, and love.
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