I thought this was a very heartwarming and heartbreaking book. Once I got started it was hard to put down. I loved the characters and plot of the story. I loved how this was a story about an older couple who made a video about their love story when Irvel is starting to loose her memory. It is set in 1941 mostly in the United States and Europe during WWII. Irvel and Sam have known each other since they were children and they liked each other, but life kept getting in the way. She starts dating Sam's brother Hank and then WWII happens and everything changes. I love how Irvel is a smart young woman who is a spy during the war because she is good with math and can help with codes. Sam is also fighting in Europe but has no idea what Irvel is doing. I just love this love story and how it played out. It was a great inspirational novel.

I enjoyed reading this romance book!
It was sweet and fun but also a tear jerker. Loved the historical elements, definitely will recommend to friends and family!
Great reading material,

This is my second Karen's Kingsbury read and I have loved them both. I love how she sticks to her beliefs and portrays them but doesn't overdo it.

The story was well written and easy to follow. I could easily picture every single scene. I read this book prior to reading The Baxter's, I cannot wait to devour those books.

I loved everything about this book. Hank and Irvel's love story remind me so much of my grandparents and the love they had for each other.

This book is a must read if you like history/war and love stories, don't skip this one!

I enjoyed this short read. It felt like a departure from the author's previous work, but it was still lighthearted, chaste, and inspiring. This one can stand alone from other Baxter books, but it's fun to know the connection to Irvel and Hank. This is not a book that will stay with me or that I'll reread, but it it was an enjoyable quick read.

This book wasn't for me. It was a good story and well written, but I wasn't vibing with it. I think people who like historical fiction and historical fiction will enjoy it.

I’m usually not a WWII-era reader, but the tie-in to the Baxter series kept me engaged and curious to see how it turned out. It’s a sweet story and interesting to learn about the women who helped in WWII.
I received an advanced reader copy by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a harder read for me of Karen’s book but well worth the read. Only because I am not as much of a historical reader than some.
It was great to read Irvels and Hanks story. She was such an important part of Ashley Baxter story.

Wow! What a compelling book. I couldn't put this one down. I was hooked right away and the writing was clearly very well researched. I fell in love with the characters as well. I will have to check out other books by this author.

Karen Kingsbury writes such touching stories that I almost always shed a tear or two and Just Once was no different! Just Once tells the story of a secret part of World War II that we seldom hear about even eighty years later. Two brothers are in love with the same woman and all three end up serving their country during the war! Not only will you be touched by this enduring love story but you will have a greater appreciation for what people went through during that era. I highly recommend Just Once to others. I received a complimentary e-book through Net Galley. This is my honest opinion.

“But it was another reminder to hold tight to today. The gift of this one sunrise and sunset. God alone knows what the future holds for any of us, but He has called us to appreciate this life, and to thank Him daily for it. While we still can.”—Karen Kingsbury, Just Once.

Just Once begins when Irvel Holland Myers receives an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Knowing she has just six months before the disease ravages her brain so badly that she forgets everything, her husband records her memories, including those of her time serving as a code breaker, a secret she has kept from her entire family.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, the narrative weaves together romance, faith, and the sacrifices made during wartime. The story takes us back to Irvel’s childhood, when Hank Myers, her neighbor, promises to marry her someday. Instead, she ends up with Hank’s brother, Sam. When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Sam immediately enlists, leaving Irvel and Hank dancing around their growing attraction.

Then a devastating telegram arrives, and Hank enlists the next day. Before long, the Office of Strategic Services recruits math whiz Irvel and begins posing as a nurse on a Navy ship while working as a code breaker. All three must rely on their faith to survive and make it back home.

The Alzheimer’s storyline hit close to home for me, having seen my dad wrestle with that cruel disease, but Kingsbury weaves it into the fabric of the plot with grace. Just Once is a poignant love story that tugs at the heartstrings and reminds us of the power of love, faith, and the sacrifices made for freedom. The author’s own beliefs shine through in her writing.

I love this statement from the author’s note:

“One thing I took away from Irvel’s fictitious story was an even more real appreciation of the freedoms we have living in the United States. At least in my family, we are still a people who believe in that freedom, and the truth that to live free is a God-given gift.”

I’m giving Just Once 4.5 stars (rounded up to five) and am looking forward to exploring more of Karen’s work in the future.

** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a comp of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Entrancing.. This is a remarkable love story set against the backdrop of WWII, and filled with hope and survival. The plot is emotional and heart wrenching at times.
Many thanks to Atria and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What an amazing twist on the WW2 love/war drama. She is dating one brother and in love with the other, then she gets drafter to a secret top security spy network! I'm not a huge fan of WW2 drama but this book was done right and it was a 5 star read for me. Loved it!!
I just reviewed Just Once by Karen Kingsbury. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

A heartfelt tale of young, enduring love through the terrors of war.

Hank and Irvel have loved each other since they were children, but their timing was never quite right for a relationship and Irvel ends up dating Hank's brother, Sam. Then the war comes, and Irvel is recruited by the OSS because of her remarkable math skills, and the brothers are drawn into the war as well.

A compelling story of love and timing amidst an earth shattering war. Engaging tale with well developed characters, Irvel is a strong and committed young woman. I liked that she was willing to take on the job with the OSS despite the risks.

Overall, it was a well written and well paced read with likable characters. I liked how Hank was always looking out for Irvel, and his courage in the face of danger. A quick read, satisfying and full of heart.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Just once
By Karen Kingsbury
❤️❤️❤️3.5
Christian romance historical fiction
2023-96
Released 11/14/2023
📖📖📖📖 Summary. 1941 Indiana and Irvel Holland is dealing with the fact that she’s in love with her childhood best friend, Frank, but dating his older brother, Sam. That secret seems silly when Pearl Harbor is bombed and Sam enlists. With Sam gone, Hank and Irvel can no longer pretend they are not in love with one another. Soon however Irvel, a math genius, is recruited to be a secret code breaker for the army and is shipped off to the Pacific. Posing as a nurse, she’s a spy. Hank enlists and before long, all are in the Pacific.
📚📚📚📚Review. Historical Christian fiction may not be my genre, at this moment. I like each genre but this week the combination wasn’t where my mind was. Kingsbury is a fantastic writer and it was a very easy read. I would have preferred more of a focus on the Irvel’s spy action as that didn’t get much ink. This may have been rated much higher had I been in a different mood. This is for you however if your genre. I would like to pass this along to someone who is in the mood for this genre. Please comment with your fave historical fiction on Instagram and tag a friend and I’ll randomly pick a winner to send this book.
📖📖📖📖📖JJ’s last words. Probably not my genre.
Thank you for the ARC @simonandschuster and the S&S Book Club. #honestreview #tagandcommenttowin

"She fell asleep believing God had a plan in all this. Even now."

What a story!!

It's been a long time since I picked up one of Karen's books, so when I seen the cover this one up for review on Netgalley, I knew I had to read it!

Irvel's back story didn’t disappoint- it was so wonderfully written, and yet heartbreaking in a couple parts due to the war that was going on then.

Her friendship with brothers Hank and Sam was so sweet to read about. They just had the best of times together.

I really liked reading about this time period too. The 40's was an interesting era, filled with both good and bad changes and events. The fashions were awesome, and so was the music!! (Such as the book's theme song, "Moonlight Serenade" by Glenn Miller.)

There were however a few things I didn't care for, and some things that could be triggers for some people and wouldn't be good for young readers either.

Things I didn't care for:

A female that's engaged is talking to her fiancee and said:
“I wanted to share my whole heart and soul with you. Before we share our bodies.”
While what she's referring to and about is natural and normal, I felt this was put too bluntly.

A guy is dating a girl and he brings her home to his parent's house to stay over the Thanksgiving break. While they were each in separate ends of the house and the guy meant well, this was a bad decision on both their parts and was compromising to their characters and reputations.

Language: minimal- dangit and heck used 1× each.

Triggers: bloodshed and loss of body parts during the battles of World War 2.

While the majority of the story was great, if the negative content listed above was not included it would have been a 5 star read for sure.

Thank you to the publisher Atria Books for the complimentary e-book I received to review through Netgalley. A positive review was not required of me and the thoughts above are my own.

This book was amazing, I love Karen Kingsbury's books and this one was no exception. I always relate to the characters and feel their emotional struggles. I don't usually like reading about war, so almost didn't read it, but knew I'd love it because it was a Karen Kingsbury book. So glad I ready it. Highly recommend.

Karen Kingsbury sure knows how to tug at the heartstrings and make you reach for the tissues!

This is a historical fiction novel that is very character driven, but gives a lot of information about WWII as well. It centers around two brothers and the girl they both love. All three go off to serve their country and only two of the three survive.

Historical fiction is not typically my genre of choice. But I am glad that I picked this one up!

In Just Once, Karen Kingsbury has written a novel set in 1941. Irvel Holland is the main character of this book. She is dating a man named, Sam. She secretly was falling in love with his younger brother, Hank. They would walk to school together daily. They had a school level crush developing again. Hank had just ended his serious relationship with Maggie. She was still with Sam but she admitted to not feeling strong in love feelings. She had fallen more in love with Hank and couldn’t tell Sam. She couldn’t make a decision cause Pearl Harbor and the bombings had just begun. She was afraid they would be drafted into war. Hitler was determined to kill the Jews. Sam was drafted into the war. The chemistry and love build between Hank and Irvel while Sam is serving the country. Government official eventually approach her at her school and they are seeking a mathematician to help with breaking the enemy’s codes in the war. She was instructed that she would tell no one at all. She would have to use a cover story that she was going to be a Navy nurse. In the end, she has Alzheimer’s and it wouldn’t be long before she couldn’t even recall her past love. She would forget her spy days in working for the Office of Strategic Services. She realized that her mind was slowly dying and it was getting harder and harder to remember.



I would recommend how touching this story was about World War II and Pearl Harbor to any readers who enjoys a heart touching story. It is mixed with romance, childhood lovers, secret lovers, and the big question which love will she choose. I also liked how it touched on an important area, Alzheimer disease and how she related and described it in terms where readers could understand even more about it. Karen is such an amazing storyteller that she can enclosed multiple themes in the book from Alzheimer to women serving their countries. She also has helpful questions at the end of the book.



"I received this book free from Atria Books for my honest review.”

🌟Book Review🌟

4.5 Rounded up

Read if you like:

Sweet romance stories
Christian values
Faith elements
World War II
Love triangles
Easy to read
Heartfelt story

I love Karen Kingsbury. She's one of my favorite Christian authors. This is a very sweet love story about Hank and Irvel.

Irvel has been diagnosed with Alzhimer's disease and she and Hank are making a video to document their love before she completely forgets. The story follows them through mishaps, struggles, and their roles in World War II.

I enjoyed this story. It was easy to read with a sweet romance. At one point, Irvel has to battle her fear and she does it by memorizing scripture. I found that part very inspirational and helpful. The only thing I'd have liked more of is details about the war and Irvel's role in it. But overall, I thought it was a very sweet romance and reminded me of The Notebook.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is Kingsbury’s first historical fiction novel and I think her fans will love it. She has never written a novel during this period in history and she took great care to get the details accurate. Beyond the story of WWII, there is a sweet romance between kids who have grown up together their whole lives.

It’s the summer of 1940, Irvel Holland and brothers Hank and Sam Myers are living their best lives. Hank and Irvel are best friends but there has always been a feeling of something more, especially after a particular incident while walking along the river. But, neither one has acted on their feelings and they both grow up and head off to college. Irvel ends up dating Sam and then WWII begins.

Kingsbury is known for her heartfelt novels and this one will touch your heart. If you like chaste romance stories, historical fiction, or family stories then this one will be for you. Irvel, Hank, and Sam deal with a lot of struggles and roadblocks during their young lives. War isn’t kind to their families and Kingsbury paints an accurate scene of war both on the battlefield and at home.

"…maybe some far-off day they would laugh fondly at this time in their lives. When the lives of love and friendship blurred and none of them could grasp the seriousness of what the future held."

Even though Ivrel is with Sam, you know that Hank is her one true love, but both are too stubborn to admit it. Then WWII tears them apart and you wonder if they will ever be able to be a couple. Kingsbury weaves a realistic story of war, first love, loss, and a secret that once finally shared will be a fun reveal to the character.

Karen Kingsbury’s stories, if you didn’t already know, have a Christian background. The characters rely on God and the Bible and trust in Him to reveal the answer to their prayers.

"God was the answer…why hadn’t she thought of that before? She felt her body relax more with every passing breath. She was His…and He alone could give her peace."

I was reading this story as I was staying overnight with my dad during his illness. This passage calmed me so much that I read it over and over again during that week. Sometimes characters and the readers all need a little reminder of God’s ever presence in our lives.