Wait for Me by Caroline Leech

"It’s 1945, and Lorna Anderson’s life on her father’s farm in Scotland consists of endless chores and rationing, knitting Red Cross scarves, and praying for an Allied victory. So when Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, is assigned as the new farmhand, Lorna is appalled. How can she possibly work alongside the enemy when her own brothers are risking their lives for their country?

But as Lorna reluctantly spends time with Paul, she feels herself changing. The more she learns about him—from his time in the war to his life back home in Germany—the more she sees the boy behind the soldier. Soon Lorna is battling her own warring heart. Loving Paul could mean losing her family and the life she’s always known. With tensions rising all around them, Lorna must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice before the end of the war determines their fate.” (Goodreads.com)

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “not another Prisoner of War story set in World War II!” Here me out. It’s a trope you won't regret reading. If you’re looking for a romantic read that makes your heartbeat a little faster, makes your stomach twinge at each quarrel, and has an interesting historical fiction context, then this is the read for you. Leech touches upon the struggles that Prisoners of War, or POWs, had to face during the war. Such as being seen as a “thing” rather than a human being trying to make it through the war. She also shows how relationships change between friends and family. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

I recommend this book if you like historical fiction set in WWII, first love/forbidden romance, strong female characters.

Meghan McCabe

Children’s and Youth Services Librarian

Available at the Langley Adams Library