Great finish to this family saga. Edmund and Amy Derwent are slowly getting used to family life in their new house in Cambridge , recovering from traumas of war. For Amy this involves one nasty character Wilfred Fairlawn who rear his ugly head again, causing more mayhem for the family, will he go unpunished or will justice be served? When Maxim Duclos is introduced he at first appears to be a pleasant young man, or is hiding war secrets! When disaster strikes at the Beeches it pull the family together.
There is much going on in this book and various relationships to keep you entertained.

Favourite character was Vicky and least, most definitely Wilfred.
I really enjoyed the historical element to this book, especially the French/German part.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

Lovely story and with a fresh take. I would recommend this book, it’s a good winter read. Something you read by the fire with a blanket over you sort of thing!

The cover art is nice too, well done designer. Well chosen.

Thank you for the chance to read this book.

I am sorry to read of the passing of Rosemary Goodacre and my thoughts and condolences are with all who knew and loved her.

I had not read the previous books in the series and though it was obvious the characters had previous history it was possible to follow the story. However I found the book very hard going and did not particularly enjoy it.
The author had spells when the same word appeared often and sometimes there would be a sentence with a comment that seemed out of place. One incident recounted Queen Alexandra unveiling a statue of Edith Cavell - and that she was the wife of Edward VII - this is not the only example - but seemed to stall the flow of the story.
I try not to not finish a book but was tempted in this case.

However the characters did keep one's interest and I did want to find out what happened - even though some of the narrative was obvious. I had not known that Strasbourg popped from France to Germany and back again and that this could be an issue for the inhabitants - so some of the book I did find interesting.
I like books about WW1 and the nurses and field hospitals and probably would have read the previous books in the series had I known about them. But I don't feel I want nor need to read them now.

If historical fiction from WW1 interests you then give this book a try - after all we are all different - what a boring World it would be otherwise.

Thank you again to the publishers for the chance to read this novel

Outstanding. I couldn't put the book down. I started reading just a few days after it was announced Rosemary had sadly passed away. I have loved all the books in the series and will be sad to not get to know them further. The book moves quite quickly through the years and ends at the start of the 1920's. As with all of Rosemary's books there is happiness, sadness and parts that leave it hard to stop reading. I especially enjoyed Amy & Edmond's trip back to visit Bertie's grave. Rest in Peace Rosemary, your books will have brought pleasure to so many people. You will be sadly missed.

Until We Can Forgive by Rosemary Goodacre is a light-hearted account of the several years after World War I. This particular story takes place in England amongst upper middle class young adults who are marrying and have babies. There is a particular hatred here for anything German after the losses suffered in the war. These people are all very proper, not written to have any depth, not appearing to feel deeply, although I am sure they do. The characters in this book are all pretty superficial. Amy is married to Edmond who damaged his lungs during the war. He has returned to England to take up his studies at university. Amy is at home with their daughter, Beth. They had been married when both of them were at war, she as a nurse. Edmond is not fully recovered, so Amy worries. The other characters in this book are friends and family, all living their lives.

Maybe this is the English stiff upper lip. It was ad oddly distant telling of a very emotional time. The story takes place over several years and is pretty much a slice of life novel Weddings, babies, miscarriages, a trip to Europe to visit the grave of Amy's brother who died there, et al. Everything seems to turn out for this people. It is kind of a surreal feeling to read this book, which has no depth. The characterizations are shallow, with very little time spent delving into them. This is the third book in the series, so obviously someone loves it. It is a peek into the lives of returning soldiers as well as those left behind.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Until We Can Forgive by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #untilwecanforgive

I have been a fan of Rosemary's work ever since I was lucky enough to be offered the chance to review her debut novel 'Until We Meet Again' when it was released in October 2019. That was the first book in 'The Derwent Chronicles' trilogy. The third instalment is called 'Until We Can Forgive' and it was released in October 2020. It's another cracking and compelling read, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.

I was drawn into 'Until We Can Forgive' from the moment I clapped eyes on the cover and as soon as I saw Rosemary's name, I just knew that I would have to read it as soon as I could. I had thoroughly enjoyed the previous books in the series and I had to know how the story concluded and how that impacted on some of the characters. I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my copy of the book and settled down for a right good read. I found that I just couldn't put the book down for very long at all. I was so wrapped up in the story that I couldn't bear to be parted from the book for any length of time, so the book literally travelled everywhere with me. I began reading the book on a dark and wet morning and I finished reading the book mid afternoon of the same day, which is pretty good going for me.

'Until We Can Forgive' is superbly written but then I thought that to be true of Rosemary's previous books too. She had a way of grabbing your attention at the start and then drawing you into the story. Rosemary clearly did a lot of research into the First World War and this shines through in her books. As well as being a book geek, I am a history nerd with a particular focus on the First and Second World Wars so I already knew a fair bit about them. Rosemary used such vivid and realistic descriptions that she gave me a real sense of what it must have been like to live through the First World War. I never knew my grandparents and great grandparents so reading books such as Rosemary's gives me a greater appreciation of what they had to go through. I really felt as though I was part of the story and I kept feeling as though I wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to sort certain characters out and to give them what for. I know this is a fictional book but I find that if I enjoy a book as much as I enjoyed reading 'Until We Can Forgive', then I tend to 'live' the story as if it were real.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Until We Can Forgive'. It's a fitting end to what is a fantastic trilogy. I will certainly be recommending this trilogy to other readers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.



(PS) The eagle eyed among you may have noticed that I have referred to Rosemary in the past tense. Sadly Rosemary passed away suddenly and unexpectedly following a recent short illness. I was never lucky enough to be able to meet Rosemary in person but we were in touch on social media. Rosemary was a lovely lady and my heart goes out to her family and friends at this sad time. x

I have read many books set in the First World War and very much enjoyed the first two books in this engaging trilogy, but this third instalment is a little different. What was life like once the war was over? Young men returning injured, many not returning at all, a shortage of men of marriageable age, women finding new skills and freedom and going out to work for the first time, and suspicions about all things German. A nicely presented snapshot of a period of great change, but also a chance for readers to find out what happened to Amy, Edmond and all the other characters from the earlier books. An enjoyable and hopeful end to their story, although sadly there can be no more after the very sudden and unexpected death of the author. RIP Rosemary.

I am excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Rosemary Goodacre's final installment in the Derwent Chronicles Trilogy UNTIL WE CAN FORGIVE.

After reading the first two books in quick succession I was excited to discover the final part of the trilogy UNTIL WE CAN FORGIVE so soon after and couldn't wait to find out how things played out for the young Derwent couple. Rosemary loved my reviews for the first two but sadly she passed away just two weeks ago and did not live to see her last book published. I was deeply saddened to hear of Rosemary's passing as her books are just so easy to read and immerse yourself into the era. She will be missed by many in the literary community as well as her fans.

1919: Picking up from where the previous book "Until the War is Over" left off, the story begins with Amy and Edmond finally able to settle into their new home in Cambridge with baby Beth whilst Edmond studies at the university nearby. After being wounded during the war, Edmond has taken a long time recovering and even then he still tires easily, what with having part of his lung removed as a result of his injuries. As Amy was a VAD nurse during the war, her abilities have always been needed at one time or another caring, more recently nursing Edmond's mother during the Spanish flu. But now that her mother-in-law has recovered, Amy is finally able to join Edmond in Cambridge having been separated for many months after first her surgery to repair her broken ankle and then caring for Ma.

Amy's friend Florence has now married her cousin James and Lavinia and Charles are also about to enjoy a lavish wedding at her home in Alderbank. Edmond's sister Beatrice is still seeing her American beau, Caleb, much to her mother's chagrin as he is but a Warrant Officer and not someone of a higher rank and class which is far more desired for a lady such as Beatrice was raised to be. Edmond's cousin Vicky,who had been a frequent visitor to The Beeches over the years, as the daughter of Ma's brother, is now a young woman and pursuing a career as a nurse...training in nearby Wealden.

Although the war has been over for a year, James was still with the army as a medical orderly and awaiting his discharge papers, whilst Caleb was sent to the Rhineland to oversee the occupation and the peace treaty with Germany. Despite the end of hostilities, tensions are still rife regarding Germans and the horrors they inflicted on Britain and her Allies. Whilst some thought it was time to put the tensions behind them, to forgive and move on, many refused to entertain such notions.

When young Maxim Dulcos arrives with Edmond's older brother Peter from Europe as his guest, Vicky notices the young Frenchman immediately. The two begin a tentative courtship stealing moments between their respective jobs. As a chef, Maxim desires to live and work in England so the local vicar finds him lodgings with Miss Miller who lives next door to Amy's parents and work in the local inn as a chef.

But when there are whispers about Maxim's true identity going around in Larchbury village, questions arise as to what he may be hiding. And Vicky then finds herself faced with an impossible choice - to follow her heart or risk her family disapproval?

Following on from the previous book, UNTIL WE CAN FORGIVE takes place between 1919 and 1921 as the country moves into a new decade with new ideas and a far different world than before. Rosemary has done a wonderful job of continuing the story of Amy and Edmond and their respective families as if I had come straight from the previous book without taking a breath. Whilst the struggles and worries are real, there is a real sense of moving on without complaint.

As with both the previous two books "Until We Meet Again" and "Until the War is Over" , UNTIL WE CAN FORGIVE is a fitting ending to the trilogy bringing closure to each of the stories as well as giving hope and promise for the future. It was refreshing to see Beatrice, particularly, morph into a much more likeable character than the spoilt ornament she was at the beginning. Her character was the most surprising and refreshing to see her grow from the world for which she was brought up in to the one she now inhabits. Seeing the attitudes of people change over the course of the trilogy has been exhilarating as we see how friendships and relationships overcome their differences.

Although UNTIL WE CAN FORGIVE is the third and final installment of this wonderful trilogy, it can easily be read as a standalone as previous important incidents that had taken place in the previous two books are referred to in enough detail so as to not confuse the reader. However, I do recommend reading them all from the beginning as it is such a wonderful journey back in time and a delightful and engaging read.

My only regret is that there will be no more, since Rosemary's passing just two weeks ago. But while the world has lost an engaging storyteller, at least her stories will live on in her memory.

Perfect for fans of wartime fiction, particularly World War One.

I would like to thank #RosemaryGoodacre, #NetGalley, #RachelsRandomResources and #HeraBooks for an ARC of #UntilWeCanForgive in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book because I like books about the war and what happens afterwards. It was well written, the characters were interesting and there was a good storyline. I do recommend that you read this book if you like war adventures.

At the end of WWI there are different feelings among the English people about what has happened in the Great War and what should happen to Germany. Until We Can Forgive by Rosemary Goodacre explores those feelings through the eyes of Edmund and Amy, their friends and family. Edmund returns from the war with lingering health issues from a lung injury. Amy was a nurse who served in France and is now determined to help make a good life for she and Edmund and their daughter Beth. There is a struggle with fading class distinction, prejudice of foreigners (especially Germans), and women moving into the workplace.

This is a very British novel. It will be released October 28. I was allowed to read it on #netgalley.