For The Love of Laura Beth is a sweet story of a romance during the Korean war time period. The historical details are great to read about. The characters are sympathetic and complex.It's well written thoughtful story. I recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction romance. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This novella broke my heart … and then put it back together. The period detail of the late 1940s/early 1950s is just enough, but not too much, to put me in a different time and place. Joey’s dad had enlisted in WWII so Joey has no illusions about being a hero or covering himself in glory. His thoughts of going to war are grimmer, much more realistic and probably those that most men secretly grapple with.

Laura Beth is the strong one. From helping Joey’s family cope with the death of his mother to standing up for what she knows is the right thing for her, she’s a rock. So to see her begin to crumble under the weight of what happens is almost as shocking to the reader as it is to her family. Yet, her reasons, emotions and fears are those that mothers facing terrible losses must also fight with and overcome.

As her father-in-law tells her, his wife completed him and Laura Beth and Joey complete each other. Their love is sweet, layered and deep. The epilogue shows that they’ll make it and I’ve no doubt had it been set 50 years after the main story, I’d still believe these two are deeply in love. This one made me cry but ultimately also made me smile. A