This was a good book. It took me awhile to connect with Elizabeth as a character but in the end I had come around. Maybe regrets in life can be fixed and lost love is never truly always lost.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Unfortunately, this book was a major disappointment, and I struggled to finish it. The book seems to be an amateur work of fiction with lot of editing needed. For a start, the title and synopsis are misleading -Lost Love’s Return is the story of Elizabeth and Peter, who meet in England during World War I, shortly after he is wounded in battle and arrives at the hospital where she works as a nurse. The synopsis tells us this is going to be a story of love and yearning and a couple separated by fate. But <b>the romance only takes maybe 10% of the book</b> and to be honest, the relationship seems to develop fast and with no real depth. Ok I get it, it was the war and probably in such difficult times it is only natural to cling to whatever hope we have, but if you are going to write a historical novel about two lovers and their affection spanning almost 30 years, you need to give much more than a summer young love encounter.

Also, the story is mostly focused on Peter from the start -his memories as a child, his first love before going to war, and then his coming home, marrying a woman who tricked him and living a quite normal life in rural America. So once again, <b>was this not supposed to be the story of two people in love?</b> There are also lots of clichés in the story and a lot of nuanced reference to religion. Which is fine, I have no issue with that but if you add the poor execution, then this becomes a very disappointing read. For example, both women in Peter’s life, his true love and his wife, share a very similar name: Elizabeth Baker and Emma Bateman. Why? Also, Emma is kind of the scheming, deceiving woman, but 20 years later she is very observant of religion. I do not want to sound so mean -I read the author’s note saying this story had been revised twice- so one understands the hard work put into it. However, it is evident the lack of more professional editing in this work.

I was really hoping to find a sweeping love story from World War II, full of tension and passion, and unfortunately, the book did not deliver.

this was a beautifully done historical novel, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and really loved the story between Elizabeth and Peter.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Cute, sad story about missing love the first time around. Told mainly from Peter's perspective, it misses being spectacular by skimming the surface on many issues. Not telling Elizabeth's story more fully is also disappointing.

This story feels like hearing your grandpa love story back in his day. In my opinion the writing style describes Peter in many ways. The way Peter lack of expressing his emotion except his love for Elizabeth. Since it a story from a young man, all the details in his life were told base from his memory (if this ever make sense😂) you know how boys tend to not focus on little details in his life but when it come to their angels, they would pour all his sweat for her.

I almost dropped the story because of his choice but it not my place to be mad because it was a decade that is different from now thus the culture would be different as well. But i still wish for Peter to confess and express himself more than bottle up his emotion all alone. I wasn't mad anymore when Peter treat his son with love. But yeah at the end of the day I really like when Peter became more expressive with his feelings and I love when all the villagers support the divorce. We love supporting neighborhood 💓

A fascination with history, family, and relationships has stoked author Alfred Nicols’ imagination, culminating in an emotional tale of war, love, and second chances. “Long Love’s Return” is the debut novel for this federal-judge-turned writer.
“The purpose of the novel was to use the vehicle of fiction to highlight the choices we make in life and the consequences of our choices,” Nicols said in an email interview.
As a judge and lawyer, “I have had almost six decades to observe the results of bad choices,” he said. “All the characters (in this novel) were created from a composite of hundreds of people I’ve observed in life to give me a character with a choice to make in life and to point out the consequences of that character’s choice.”
Meet Peter Montgomery, a young man from a small Mississippi town, who feels obligated to join the Army during World War I. There are few opportunities other than working at his family’s mercantile and playing baseball. When he’s wounded in battle, he ends up in an English hospital filled with injured soldiers and short on skilled nurses.
It’s there that he comes to know, and love, Elizabeth Baker, a nurse who helps mend his wounds and heal a broken heart. So begins a tender love story full of hope and dreams of the future. Those dreams become a nightmare when Peter is unexpectedly sent back to the United States without saying goodbye to his soul mate.
Nicols weaves his extensive research of rural Mississippi, the Great Depression, and even World War II into a tale that’s much more than a romantic tale. Through Peter, we learn “obligation” can turn to misery and how caring for others can be emotionally and mentally painful and physically scarring. We feel for those lost in battle and those who were lost and lonely after the war ends.
“Writing this novel with my desired accuracy required extensive research into World War I and World War II, and I got caught up in it,” Nicols said about his aim for military accuracy. “I realized it was bad, but had no idea how bad, no appropriate appreciation of the sacrifices these generations had to make for the sake of what we enjoy today.”
Nicols uses protagonist Peter and a cast of characters to illustrate how when a person believes he’s making the right decision, it can be the wrong thing. Like a pebble thrown in a pond, the ripples are far-reaching. In this case, it’s a stone that’s nearly too heavy to carry. As decades pass and Peter struggles to do what’s right, Elizabeth is never far from his heart. If only he’d been able to tell her goodbye. If only his pledges of love had been able to reach her across the ocean. If only he could hold her once again. If only … if only.
In some ways, this is a typical love story – boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. In other ways, it’s so much more. Nicols’ descriptions of life in the trenches of war will have your heart pounding. You’ll pound your fists along with him as he deals with a loveless marriage, and you’ll cheer for him as he stands up for his son’s decisions and actions. And when the final pages are turned, you’ll have a smile on your face and a yearning for the next chapter in the Montgomery family story.

Thank you to Books Forward for the chance to read this!

This is an adorable story of falling in love, the romance is cute and if you're a hopeless romantic this book is for you. It shows the nitty-gritty side of war which is sad and devastating, I did cry at some parts because I can't imagine losing friends like that. The author did an amazing job of writing characters that you care about.

This is a great read and different from what I usually pick up but definitely recommend it!

This is a historical romance that takes place at the end of World War I. A love story between a wounded soldier and a nurse - and how life happens and where separation occurs. This story leaves you with a sense of yearning as you wait for the two to reunite. I enjoyed reading this and couldn’t put it down once I got started. I would have liked to see the dual POV continue after Peter left England - instead of just towards the end. This book is a cute read that just tugs at the heartstrings while also providing a bit of insight to life during that time period.

I received this as ARC shortly before release from Netgalley via the Books Forwards team. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this story. - originally posted this review on Goodreads

A sweet love story about second chances abd about doing good in life. Peter, a World War 1 serving officer from Glasper, Mississippi gets injured and is and sent to a military hospital near London. During his long stay he becomes close to a nurse, Elizabeth, and eventually they fall in love. They share many a beautiful moment but he has to leave for the USA almost overnight before he has a chance to tell her that he is going. He holds onto a dream that one day they will be reunited and dares to dream that Elizabeth too will feel the same.

Thirty years later his son, Casey, returns to the UK having signed up for WW2. Peter asks him to try and locate Elizabeth in London. Chances are slim but they are the only ones he has and Peter must take them.

This is a sweet story with good characters. The novel is divided into three sections: WW1, The Great Depression, WW2.

I would like to thank Netgalley for approving the read and making an e copy available.

An outstanding historical fiction novel! Great for those who love reading WWII novels! One of my favourites!

My favorite genre. I don't often read romance historical fiction. I'm glad I did this time. I loved the story between Peter and Elizabeth. It's a cute story, and you root for them the entire time. I was hoping for more "drama" surrounding the war. But regardless it's still a great story.

(ENG)
Happy pub day #lostlovesreturn by Alfred Nicols!
It's such a lovely historical romantic story, I coudn't put it down, I had to read late at night and early in the morning too. Thanks for this opportunity @netgalley & @booksforwardpr.
It made me laugh, cry and question a lot of "important" things in life. What do you need in addition to be happy? Money? A big house? Success in your work? Or is it love? This book showed me, that nothing really matters, if you can't be with your significant other. Even if you have to wait decades for that to happen.
#QOTD: do you believe in long distance relationships? do they work out?

(HUN)
Imádnivalóan aranyos történelmi romantikus a 20. századból. Nem tudtam letenni, késő estig olvastam, majd másnap reggel korán kezdtem és egész délelőttöt az ágyban töltve olvastam.
Megnevettetett, sírtam rajta, elgondolkoztatott azon mi a fontos az életben. Mi kell ahhoz, hogy boldogok legyünk? Pénz? Nagy ház? Siker a karrierben? Érnek ezek bármit is a lelkitársad jelenléte nélkül? Ez a könyv megmutatta, hogy a igaz szerelemre néha évtizedeket is megéri várni.

Peter leaves his small town of Glasper, Mississippi, to serve in World War I. He is wounded and sent to a military hospital near London. During his long stay he becomes close to a nurse, Elizabeth, and eventually they fall in love. He is shipped out before he has a chance to tell her that he is going and he holds onto a dream that one day they will be reunited.

This is a love story plain and simple. The characters are lovely. Mostly the story follows Peter who is a good man, trying to do the right thing but he was trapped in a loveless marriage. He never let go of his dream of seeing Elizabeth again.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Books Fluent for providing me a copy of this sweet love story.

Lost Love's Return is a story of falling in love, losing that love through circumstances beyond your control and then being given a second chance to recapture that love. A beautiful story spanning almost 30 years. You will fall in love with these characters right from the start. Loved it!

Travel through WW1, postwar Mississippi, and WW2 as we follow a soldier who has fallen in love with his British Nurse and the journey they take through the 27 years in between. This book is written very nicely in chronological order which I found to be easy to read and follow. We are taken to the battle fields where we meet Peter. Rich details of fighting in the trenches, and the bonds and friendships that he makes with other soldiers on the fields. Peter is deeply in love with Elizabeth his nurse, his once in a lifetime true love. He is suddenly sent home without being able to get word to Elizabeth to explain why. We follow his anguish as he spends the next 27 years dreaming of her, his heart aching for her and his desire to find her once again. Alfred Nichols does a fantastic job of describing life back in that era, describing the simple country life, the churches that run deep, family connections that stem from traditions and deep faith, and the complex decisions we make in our lives that lead to heartache, but ultimately peace. If you are looking for a true love story, set in the eras of WW1 and WW2 read this story and rekindle your hope in love and faith.
Thank you to Books Forward Friends for my review copy. All opinions are my own.

This book was amazing, I loved the characters and the love story. I was drawn to it. I like history so this book was perfect for me. Especially I loved how the book started, I can't explain why but I just did. Lost Love's Return was written very well. The book made me smile and it fits for everyone who loves historical romance and fiction.

First off, this is one of my first few historical romance, and I would say that I am pleasantly surprised. Although, I must admit, I initially found the story kind of long-winded, but still continued to read it. I guess this is more of a slowburn romance book which gets better the more you read it. But all things considered, it is a really good fiction and romance book especially if you are into themes like true love prevails all.

Alfred Nicols’ "Lost Love's Return," about a World War I interrupted romance, gets off to a strong start, with its main character, Peter Montgomery, fighting in the trenches on the Western Front, where he and his comrades are under constant assault from machine guns, artillery shelling and rats. "Just something else to stink," his sergeant responds to a question why they don't kill the rats as the soldiers endure a mud-soaked and crater-filled environment where death is always imminent, and indeed it's just a few pages into the novel when Peter’s best friend is killed and Peter himself suffers an inch-square hole to his leg.
The wound is severe enough that it looks as if amputation will be required, but an attending surgeon thinks that a procedure in England might save the leg, so Peter is sent off on an arduous several-stage trip that finally brings him under the care of a British nurse, Elizabeth, in Middlesex, where the novel's action continues to be strong, with the two falling in love and then being separated when Peter's evacuation to the States comes so quickly that there's no opportunity to notify Elizabeth.
A strong beginning, as I say, though the action slows a bit when Peter is back in the States, partly because there's not the inherent drama of the war to carry the novel as it marches through the Depression and along the way introduces Peter's parents and the mercantile shop they run back in Mississippi as well as a rough-hewn young woman in the shop, Emma, who has an eye for Peter and whom he ends up marrying after some possible trickery on her part about a pregnancy. She's a strong enough character, Emma, that the novel picks up considerably whenever she’s on scene; indeed, it even takes on something of the aspect of a domestic horror story, in which at one point Peter goes after her with a shotgun.
The story gains steam, too, when years later Peter dispatches the son he has had with Emma, Casey, to England to try to find Elizabeth, the mission made the more difficult for Peter not having gotten right the name of the hospital where Elizabeth had worked. There are also the usual sort of difficulties attendant upon such an undertaking, which got me to wondering if Nicols ever considered making the novel something of a detective story, maybe telling it from Casey's point of view as he slowly uncovers bits of his father's past. True, it would have changed the character of the novel, made it more of a quest than a romance, though with the story being told through Casey’s eyes, it might also have made for a less saccharine presentation of the romance, which, frankly, as it's depicted, threatens to veer the novel into romantic fiction territory. Still, all in all, a commendable effort, Nicols’ novel, especially for a particular audience.

Set in and after WWI, this story spans nearly three decades. War in the trenches is described at the beginning. Peter, an American soldier, is injured and taken to hospital. He falls in love with his nurse, Elizabeth. She realizes she has a special man in her care. After long rehabilitation, Peter is finally released and navigates a new life. He and Elizabeth are drawn to each other and they begin an intimate relationship.

This book is about love, loss and hope as seen through this relationship (and others). When Peter is sent without warning from England to America, he has no time to contact his beloved. They therefore have no contact and live their separate lives.

I really like the setting and history but do not like the graphic sexual focus as it seems to cheapen the relationship, making it feel more like lust than love.

My sincere thank you to Books Fluent and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this fascinating book.

4.5 out of 5, simply because I hoping for a bit more WWII action.

This is beautiful story of love and love lost and then found again. Set against the backdrop of WWI and WWII, Peter and Elizabeth at a military hospital in London where he is recovering from being shot on the battlefield and she is the nurse tending to him. The two fall in love but circumstances beyond their control abruptly tear them apart and before they know it, 27 years have passed and life took many unexpected turns. Then Peters son, who is stationed in England is able to reconnect the former lovers. This is true love story that spans the course of two wars. True love is hard to let go of and Peter fights to the end of the earth to get back to Elizabeth.

The twists and turns this story takes keeps you involved with the story. At times it was hard to emotionally connect with the characters but then at times it was easy. I was hoping that there’d be a little bit more WWII action but there didn’t need to be to make this story work. The story flows smoothly and makes for an easy weekend read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Alfred Nicols for the chance to read this a little early.