I have only read one other book by Diane Chamberlain (The Silent Sister which also got 4 stars) but I was excited to read this one based on the premise. I will be honest, at about 30% of the way in I wanted to quit reading this book because it was so sad! Tess DeMello, is engaged to the love of her life, but gets drunk with a friend and has a one night stand that results in pregnancy. Now the fact that it's 1944 seriously complicates ALL of this. She's supposed to be a virgin, a good Catholic girl! There's no way she can get married to her fiance, so instead she runs off and ultimately marries the man she slept with who lives in small town North Carolina, very different from her upbringing in Philadelphia. By setting the story in NC at this time there was some wonderful atmospheric things happening and great plot points as a result, such as Tess wanting to work as a nurse when that wasn't "necessary" for a well-married woman of that time, the idea of keeping women feminine if they had to work, lots of great matters involving race, morality, the war and polio.

Once I made it past the beginning of Tess' marriage the story started the fly by and I couldn't put it down when I had 150 pages left. I wish the characters of Ruth and Lucy had a been a bit more developed but I appreciated how Chamberlain tried to give them more depth through Tess' POV. That's just nit-picking though. I thought this was a good story, and could see it being a hit with book clubs. I also like <spoiler> a neat ending as well as a happy one so this wins for that too.</spoiler> Recommended for those who want an engaging read!

This book sucked me in and I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and the details of the time period. I highly recommend this book, and have already recommended it to several people!

This book was granted to me as an advance read by Net Galley and St. Martin's Press. I'll admit I love Diane Chamberlain, but this was even better than anticipated. I'll admit at the beginning, I was angry at Tess, the main character, but then I loved the way she took matters into her own hands at a time it was difficult for a woman to do that. There were many surprises, and I loved the resolution. I highly recommend this title.

I started a neighborhood book club a little over two years ago, not sure it would work out. The first book we read was Diane Chamberlain’s Necessary Lies, and it was a great choice: it was set in a small Southern town fifty or so years ago, it included social issues (mental illness, forced sterilizations, the “appropriate” role of women in marriage) and it was filled with characters who stayed with the reader long after the last page was read. It also had the added EEEK! factor that occurs when you find out a novel is based on reality: in this case, forced sterilizations and racism. It made for some good discussions! So, with all that, I was happy to receive a copy of Ms. Chamberlain’s new book The Stolen Marriage, from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This new book is also set primarily in a small town in the South, 50+ years ago. The protagonist, Tess DeMello, ends her engagement to a man she loves dearly, quickly marries a stranger, and moves to Hickory, North Carolina. Hickory is a small town struggling with racial tension and the hardships imposed by World War II. Tess finds out her new husband, an extremely successful furniture manufacturer, is quite mysterious: he often stays out all night, hides money, and is totally uninterested in any physical contact with his new wife. Although her new husband tries to give her everything she might want, Tess feels trapped and desperately wants out of the unhappy situation: “I hadn’t been happy in so long, I doubted a new house was going to fix what was wrong with me.”

The people of Hickory love and respect her husband, and see her as an outsider. When Tess is blamed for the death of a prominent citizen in an accident, she is treated with scorn and derision. She begins to feel like she is being followed, and becomes more and more unhappy. The town is a classic racist town, and even the “nice people” have stereotypical views of the times, reflected in Tess’s feeling that “…it was crazy that any state in the country allowed colored and white to get married in the first place. It only created problems for everyone.”

When a sudden polio epidemic strikes the town, the townspeople band together and build a polio hospital in just a few days (!). Tess begins to work at the hospital, finding a rewarding sense of identity in caring for the young victims. But the whole mess with her husband and his horrific mother and sister continues to make her life as a married woman completely NOT what she had dreamed of. It has suspense, drama, and a surprise ending that I loved.

This will be a good choice for book clubs, with the issues of women’s rights and roles in their marriages, interracial marriage, medical ethics (as an epidemic breaks out among people of all races and religions), honesty and trust. It is an easy read, but has a lot of depth. I read it a week ago, and keep thinking about the town, the people, the situation…so it’s an easy five stars for me…and a good future choice for our book club, still going strong.

BTW, the true story of a town that built a hospital from the ground up in just a few days in order to deal with the polio epidemic is awesome!

Diane Chamberlain does it to me every time. She writes stories that are so amazingly compelling that I find myself rushing through them while at the same time savoring the brilliance of the story. Her latest is even better than that.

Tess has everything she’s ever wanted. She’s surrounded by family and friends, close to graduating from nursing school, and engaged to the love of her life. Then one mistake, one night, changes everything. A drunken encounter with a strange man leaves her pregnant. Suddenly her entire life is in upheaval. Having a child out of wedlock in 1944 is out of the question. So she does the only thing she knows to do. She leaves the life she knows behind without much of an explanation to anyone.

When she settles in North Carolina with the father of her child, things definitely don’t go as expected. She’s seen as an outsider by almost everyone in the small town. Her new mother-in-law doesn’t care for her, and neither does her sister-in-law Lucy. Although Henry’s kind to her and she wants for nothing, he doesn’t really act like a husband. And then there’s the accident. Lucy’s dead, and everybody blames Tess.

But as her outsider status grows, so does her suspicion that something’s going on with Henry. Not only is he increasingly distant, he’s gone for long periods of time during the night. Oh and there’s that stash of hidden money she comes across…

I loved this book. That’s not really surprising because I love this author. But this one’s a bit different. The historical fiction element was wonderfully written and made for one heck of a story. This story will likely go down as one of my favorites from Diane Chamberlain.

I LOVED this! I felt so awful for Tess throughout the novel and I am so glad she got a happy ending! I thought I had figured out where the story was going once the polio hospital opened in Hickory but there were still some good surprises at the end! Definitely recommend!

Another really good read from Diane Chamberlain. I really like that some parts of the book are based on factual events/laws.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. It harks back to a very different time and set of values. Great characters with a sad story alleviated by hope and new beginnings at the end of the book.

Fantastic! Such an interesting book on living in the mid 1940's. Great read!

Tess DeMello finds her whole world turned upside down after one fateful night. She leaves her family and fiancée in Baltimore for Hickory, North Carolina, a small town where racial tensions are high. She marries Henry Kraft and soon realizes she is trapped in a loveless marriage. Things begin to change however when a polio epidemic hits and the town rallies together.
This book had it all for me. Great characters, small southern town and a bit of a mystery. I loved this book and I read it in two days.

5+++++ STARS!!!!!

This is the second time I've rated one of Diane Chamberlain's books
'more' than 5 stars!!!

I thought "Necessary Lies", was phenomenal!! I STILL DO!!!
Yet, "The Stolen Marriage" is absolutely my TOP FAVORITE. Diane Chamberlain
got everything right!!! This is fiction - and historical fiction - and storytelling --- at its BEST!!!
A DARN GOOD READ!!! Curl up and get comfy, because once you start reading--you'll get transported to another life - another time - with other people who will feel like your friends.

"The Stolen Marriage", stole my heart --- connected my brain ---and my entire being is doing the happy dance!! Other than I'm sad the book ended. :(
I'm grateful when a book is as fulfilling as this one is. Sincerely grateful!!! :)

The story begins in 1943. Tess DeMello and Vincent Russo grew up living next door to each other in Little Italy, Baltimore, Maryland. Vincent has recently become a new medical doctor and Tess is finishing up nursing school. After graduation she will need to take the licensing exam yet, and then she will be a certified nurse. -- a few challenges about 'taking' the exam felt like nails on a chalkboard to me for awhile. I wanted to hit 'somebody' in the noggin.

Tess and Vincent love each other - their families love each other - they are engaged and making wedding plans. Since they have been young teens, it has been their dream to work together in the medical field: doctor and nurse. As for those dreams.... well...READ THE BOOK....

Vincent- is a new doctor without an official job yet- so he takes an opportunity to go to Chicago for a couple of weeks to volunteer with the polio epidemic. Great experience- right? Plus, he had a cousin who had polio years ago - so feels a draw to help with the epidemic. He needs to leave Tess for two weeks. He'll be back plenty in time to continue with wedding plans. Two weeks stretches into three weeks. Three weeks into four weeks, and longer. Tess misses him, and feels a little angry.

Tess's best girlfriend is Gina Farinola. Her boyfriend, Mac, is overseas with the army. The war is going on throughout Europe. So, Gina says to Tess, "lets go to Washington for the weekend". ( enough of being bummed out girls - missing their guys -Gina talked Tess into having some fun).
One weekend-ONE NIGHT - in Washington-- changes the course-direction of life for Tess and Vincent and an entire community of people in Hickory, North Carolina forever!!!
Keep reading, you won't be able to stop anyway. We are in trusted hands with Diane's storytelling.

Diane Chamberlain created wondrous characters!!!!!
.....Tess DeMello, an Italian girl, has distinctive qualities... not only physically with exotic thick black hair, and exotic big brown eyes...but her values, life priorities, and moral integrity sets her apart from others.
.....When Tess marries Hank Kraft of "Kraft Fine Furniture", a pillar of the community in Hickory, North Carolina.... it's clear plenty of girls wanted to get their hands on him.
.....Hank is a mysterious man. A little chauvinistic - controlling - protective -clearly giving but distant ( removed) -- he's one heck of a puzzling guy!

To show just 'how' distant Hank is with Tess....
......This is Hank, ( or Henry), and Tess's wedding night ( the blue station negligee that Gina bought her was useless)......haha:
Hank says: "I like to read in bed, do you?"
"Yes, I said. I've read in bed since I was old enough to turn the pages".
"Do you have a book with you?", he asked
"I nodded".
"Why don't you get it?"
"I hesitated. This was hardly what I expected on my wedding night, but I got out of bed and walked barefoot over to my suitcase. I reached for my Agatha Christie novel I'd been attempting to read over the last nerve-racking days. I returned to bed, propped my pillow behind me, and two of us read for the next 20 or 30 minutes. Or at least Henry read. I stared at the Pages but couldn't concentrate. I wanted to get this night over with."
"Ready for lights out?" Henry finally asked.
"Yes," I said, setting my book on the night table and switching off the lamp.
"Good night", he said".
Perfect wedding night? Ha!

Chamberlain has a wonderful ability to understand her characters deeply ---( soon we will catch up with her). She captures the nuances beautifully, so that even the minor characters are memorable and distinctive. Plus, her writing is natural, insightful, and affecting...with a little mystery...(secrets included).

We 'feel', we wonder, we examine, and empathize with the characters. We get an authentic experience of the living conditions of the times in the mid 40's --the religious issues - racial issues - the expected roles of men and women--
laws of the days, ignorant thinking, and the tribulations inflicted by the war.

I learned a few things about the polio epidemic - and treatments - that I didn't know until reading this book. For example...I had never heard of the "Sister Kenny Method". It was a fascinating way of treatment of infantile paralysis. Patients would be wrapped in wool --very time-consuming-- and then exercise them several times a day.
You could feel how exhausting it was for the nurses....and we longed to reach out to the children ourselves.

I LOVE THIS STORY!!!!!! It took me on a journey so thoroughly engrossing----the that there were times I wished all my friends were reading with me. It's so natural to want to share something that you really love.
Great great great!!!!!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Thank You Netgalley, St. Martins Publishing, and Diane chamberlain! soooooooooooo wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of this novel. Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors!

This novel, set in 1944, is about secrets and choices, and living with the consequences of both. Admittedly, I was very angry with the main character for much of the story and had to keep reminding myself it was 1944. Issues like sexism, racism, bigotry, classism, while still alive today, were different then.

As with all of Chamberlain's stories, I was drawn in by the characters and enjoyed joining them on their journey. I especially loved Tess' connection to Reverend Sam. I thought that element was perfectly woven into the story!

I haven't read a Diane Chamberlian book in ages as I have read almost all her books. They are all brilliant and this one was no different.

Tess Demello breaks her engagement with her childhood sweetheart and marries Henry Kraft from Hickory. Their marriage is a strange one. He is not a bad person but is not the perfect husband. A polio epidemic strikes their town and everyone is kept busy with this. Things quickly start happening after this...

Diane Chamberlain is a talented writer. Her characters are always so believable and you actually end up feeling really sad when the book is finished because you feel like you are saying goodbye to good friends. This book was no different. I simply loved it and it kept me totally engrossed. I always end up learning a lot when I read her books as she touches on topics that are sensitive but yet very interesting.

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this novel. The first half was very good. Tess finds herself in a very difficult situation. I really sympathized with her, especially considering the time period. The second half of the novel had to many convenient coincidences. Unfortunately the ending seemed to far fetched to me. 4 stars for the first half, and 3 stars for the second half.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC.

As usual Diane Chamberlain didn't disappoint! Fantastic twists turns and heartstrings pulled. Ideal to sit and lose yourself in this book.

I loved this book, full of history and what life was like in the 40's. The author developed each character in a way that you felt you personally knew each one. A great account of what did and could happen to young children who got polio, along with a story of lost live, a loveless marriage, and how others where treated during the 40's for making choices. Every page wraps you in even more, this is a book I could not put down. This book is highly recommend, I will read this book over and over it was that good.

This ARC was provided to me by NetGalley for an honest review (thanks!)

I was not too sure where this book was going but i could not put it down. This was a beautifully written book. It had everything in it. I didn't know that i would like a genre like this one.

The complicated relationship between Tess and Henry was very frustrating. I could not understand why he was making it so complicated or didn't care but it all made sense.

Beautiful book!

Diane Chamberlain can do no wrong, her books are SO GOOD. The Stolen Marriage won’t be out until October but I promise its worth waiting for so pre-order or add to your Goodreads stack! I started this last night not knowing what it was about, I saw her name and a new book and knew that I had to read it immediately. I then read way past my bedtime.

Synopsis:

In 1944, twenty-three-year-old Tess DeMello abruptly ends her engagement to the love of her life when she marries a mysterious stranger and moves to Hickory, North Carolina, a small town struggling with racial tension and the hardships imposed by World War II. Tess’s new husband, Henry Kraft, is a secretive man who often stays out all night, hides money from his new wife, and shows no interest in making love. Tess quickly realizes she’s trapped in a strange and loveless marriage with no way out.

The people of Hickory love and respect Henry and see Tess as an outsider, treating her with suspicion and disdain, especially after one of the town’s prominent citizens dies in a terrible accident and Tess is blamed. Tess suspects people are talking about her, plotting behind her back, and following her as she walks around town. What does everyone know about Henry that she does not? Feeling alone and adrift, Tess turns to the one person who seems to understand her, a local medium who gives her hope but seems to know more than he’s letting on.

When a sudden polio epidemic strikes the town, the townspeople band together to build a polio hospital. Tess, who has a nursing degree, bucks Henry’s wishes and begins to work at the hospital, finding meaning in nursing the young victims. Yet at home, Henry’s actions grow more alarming by the day. As Tess works to save the lives of her patients, can she untangle her husband’s mysterious behavior and save her own life?

Im so anxious to finish reading The Stolen Marriage this afternoon!

June 20, 2017 by cayocosta72
The Stolen Marriage by Diane Chamberlain. Published by St. Martins

Tess, a nurse has fallen in love with Vincent, a doctor. But a weekend girl’s getaway with Tess’s best friend, changes the course of Tessa’s life. She finds herself married to Henry Kraft, a cold and secretive man who seems to have no interest in Tess at all. At the end of World War II, there are lingering financial and racial tensions in the small North Carolina town where the couple settles down. And while the locals love Henry and dismiss Tess, she is the one who steps up when a polio epidemic sweeps the little community. Diane Chamberlain is an exquisite storyteller and she brings a period of history most of us know little about. Oh, the things we take for granted in our modern lives….