All We Thought We Knew
by Michelle Shocklee
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
In the midst of pain and loss two women must come face-to-face with their own assumptions about what they thought they knew about themselves and others. What they discover will lead to a far greater appreciation of their own legacies and the love of those dearest to them.
I read historical fiction and have read a lot but never one that was dual time line with the Vietnam war. The two time periods were very beautifully woven together into one heart achingly gorgeous whole. The characters were rich and complex and the both storylines filled with the unexpected. Both of these times in history were marked by so much pain and the story also deals with cancer, death and a deep struggle with faith in the most powerful and beautiful way. The beauty of Ava and Gunther’s story moved me to tears.
Includes discussion guide for book groups
Standalone Southern, historical family drama about enduring hope amid personal tragedy
Clean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner or Lisa Wingate
Dual timeline set during the Vietnam War and WWII.

This is a very touching story about war, family secrets and prejudice. It is a dual timeline story and I enjoyed both the VIetnam era and WW Two parts equally. I appreciated the research the author put into this. It was interesting to learn of how Germans in this country were treated during WW Two. I knew of Japanese encampments but not German ones. I have read all of Michelle Shocklee's books and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. I received an ARC copy of this book but the opinion expressed is my own.. I would highly recommend this book.

An extremely well done war world two era book. The history was rich and factual. The romance was sweet, I loved Ava and Gunther's story. I can't even imagine how bad this war was for everybody on all sides. I enjoyed the split timelines that still revolved around the same people past and present. Mattie's personality type irked me to the nines but that was the point, it was her way of crying out for help or showing she cared.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Loved the story and the characters! This was my second Michelle Shocklee book, but my favorite so far!

Having read two of Michelle Shocklee's previous novels, I was excited to get ahold of an advanced copy of her newest book. The storylines surrounding both WWll and Vietnam sounded especially intriguing. Unfortunately for me the book suffered from that disease that often overtakes dual timelines; the story in the past is more interesting and the more present story lacking. Also typical is the lack of fullness that could have been in the earlier story had all of the attention been given to it alone. I did find Ava and Gunther's story interesting, and again I would have liked for the book to focus solely on them with more detail. I didn't really enjoy the story that takes place in the Vietnam era for the simple reason that I did not like the main character, Mattie, at all. I feel that it is important to at least have some empathy for the main character, and even though I was sad for her, and she did come around to become less bitter later in the book, I did not connect with her part of the story at all. 3.5 stars for this book rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance!

1942. Ava Delaney after a quick courtship marries Richard and before he’s sent to Hawaii and she’s upset when he’s killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Ava is now stuck living with her grumpy mother-in-law on farm in Tennessee and a very different life she and her husband planned together. Finances are tight, Ava applies for a job at Camp Forest, a nearby military base that’s being used to hold men who were living in America and are now classed as enemy aliens. Here, Ava meets Gunther Schneider, he was once studying to be a doctor, Ava can’t understand why he’s been treated this way, his skills are being wasted and most people don’t think like she does.

The dual timeline story is told from the two main character points of view Ava and Mattie, both are caught up in a war and twenty seven years apart.

1969. Mattie Taylor is furious when her twin brother Mark is killed in Vietnam, she’s lost her womb mate and best friend and leaves the families horse farm straight after his memorial service. Mattie's been gone a year and she receives a message her mother sick and asking her to come home. Mattie isn’t sure what sort of reception she’s going to get when she arrives from her father, she blamed him and Mark’s best friend for not telling him it was a terrible idea to join the Marines. Her mother’s dying wish is for Mattie to read some old letters stored in a trunk, from people Mattie doesn’t even know and she insists they hold the answers her daughter is searching for. Mattie’s finds a way to help those who have been injured in the war, discovers why her father has always been distant and wonders if they can repair their relationship.

I received a copy of All We Thought We Knew from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Michelle Shocklee's well written narrative focuses on the two women having to face their own thoughts, feelings, fears and how they deal with a war, family, the loss of a loved one and illness, anger, regret, secrets and memories and keep their faith.

I’m sure all people question why God doesn't stop wars from starting and why does it keep happening, I certainly have and Ms Shocklee explores this and more in her latest Historical Christian Fiction novel All We Thought We Knew, and I think fans of Melanie Dobson would enjoy this book just as much as I did and five stars from me.

Michelle Shocklee has written a beautiful story! Her characters are well developed, I feel like I know Mattie, Ava, Gunther, and the rest of the characters. I learned things from the WWII era that I did not know. Ms Shocklee handled the dual timeline perfectly. As I read, I wanted to know how things would turn out in the book. Even her note at the end was interesting.

Thank you Ms Shocklee for your dedication to this book, for your patience in writing to be sure the book was ready, and for bringing us a beautiful story.

This is a 5 star read for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All We Thought We Knew
I thoroughly enjoyed this newest novel by Michelle Shockley. It has all the elements I enjoy in a story. There is a mystery thread running through the entire story. I appreciated the dual timelines in the history of the story. I like a story that presents a point of view unlike that I experienced in my life. The romance aspect was done with care not to become overly much, which is perfect for me. But it also caused me to shed a few tears.
My family that rarely discussed politics and I was a teenager through the Vietnam War years. So to see characters with bold ideals during that time was eye opening.
There was the inclusion of historical setting of the prisoner of war camps within the USA that included Germans and Italians living here at the time.
Michelle builds strong character development in all the depth of personality she includes. Her research brought insight to so many things
Grateful Net Galley allowed me to read and review an early copy of this exciting and satisfying story.
If you love historical settings, a mystery thread that just keeps developing and romance not based on appearance then this is for you.

‘All We Thought We Knew’ is a dual timeline novel set in the US featuring Mattie’s story in 1970 in the post-Vietnam war years, and her mother Ava’s story in WW11 America after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I requested the book from NetGalley because of my interest in the WWII part, and the internment of German (and Japanese) US residents in camps for the duration of the war. This of course happened in many Allied countries. It was clear from the description that a target reader might well be someone who enjoys Christian stories. I am not that reader but it was not an issue to skim over the Christian parts, mostly near the end of the book, and the underlying story was not much changed without these aspects. I found Ava’s 1940s story much more interesting and indeed more sensitively written than Mattie’s story in 1970. In fact, I think the novel would have been very much stronger if it were only Ava’s story and the Mattie story was deleted. Mattie was not very likeable, her story was predictable and she and the other characters in this storyline not well-developed; indeed rather cliched. It seemed almost as if the Mattie story and her anti- Vietnam war stance (not arguing with that stance per se!) and rather childish anger at her father and Nash for ‘making’ her brother go to Vietnam (and therefore being responsible for his death) was an add-on to bulk out the real story, that of Ava and Gunther. If instead Ava’s story had been much more developed, especially emotionally, and told in Ava and Gunther’s voices (which indeed were compelling here but needed much more depth) caught in a very difficult time and situation in US history, then that would have been, in my opinion as one reader, a much better novel. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

Mattie Delaney has not been home in a year. Reeling from the loss of her twin brother, Mark, in the Vietnam War, Mattie flees to California, where she gets caught up in an unhealthy lifestyle. When Mattie receives word that her mother is dying, Mattie reluctantly returns home to a strained relationship with her father. Injured in the war, the best friend of Mark, Nash, is now helping on the Delaney horse farm. As Mattie cares for her dying mother, she learns of a family secret involving her parentage. Together, Nash and Mattie put together the pieces of the puzzle, with the help of some old letters and a German Bible. Will Mattie learn the truth before her mother passes? Will the secret heal or damage fractured family relationships? Follow the clues along with Mattie and Nash in this uplifting story of pain, loss, and hope. set in the days of two different wars.

I love WWII historical fiction and have read a lot but never one that was dual time line with the Vietnam war. The two time periods were very beautifully woven together into one heart achingly gorgeous whole. The characters were rich and complex and the both storylines filled with the unexpected. Both of these times in history were marked by so much pain and the story also deals with cancer, death and a deep struggle with faith in the most powerful and beautiful way. The beauty of Ava and Gunther’s story moved me to tears. I really could not have enjoyed this book more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale Publishing for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

All We Thought We Knew captured my attention with the multiple viewpoints and historical fiction aspects. Michelle Shocklee is a new to me author and she did not disappoint.

The story is told in three viewpoints from Ava has just lost her new husband in the attack on Pearl Harbour and takes a new job at Camp Forrest a nearby military base, Gunther who is an internee at the miliary base - a medical student detained for his nationality and Mattie who has lost her twin brother in the Vietnam War.

The viewpoints and storyline weave well together with elements of mystery which are slowly unravelled.

The author deals with themes of family, loss, war, cancer and grief sensitively and the thread of faith through the story is also nice to read.

I will be looking out for more ofntrhbauthor's books in the future.

Thanks to Tyndale House and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book to read for a honest review. I absolutely loved this book! I devoured it. This was one I could not put down.

“God doesn’t mind us asking questions when hard things happen, but when we start telling him who should live and who should die … well, that simply isn’t something we should ever do.”

Martha Ann ‘Mattie’ Taylor, Gunther Schneider, Nash McCallum, and Ava Delaney held up a mirror to some of my responses and reactions in the past and gave me an opportunity to pivot and make changes for the future. I think the line that had the deepest impact was the reminder to see others for who they are, not where they came from.

I also appreciated the author highlighting:
✔️the damage of resentment and selfishness
✔️how to navigate the loss of someone we don’t truly know
✔️the far-reaching effects of our choices and the damage consequences play

I loved a front-row seat to Mattie’s growth and marveled at the power of God in working with her disbelief and orchestrating Nash to come into her life and help her trust and continue grieving. We’ve all commented in anger that we’ll never do something again. We’ve all stormed away from people and places. Perhaps we even doubt God’s existence. The author shows us how God’s grace works and how faith takes root and changes all our ‘nevers’.

I appreciated a chance to Google Camp Forrest and copy the following quotes into my journal:
“Hope for today. Hope for tomorrow.”
“…didn’t want darkness and despair to win.”

Tullahoma, Tennessee is home to more than one miracle in this book. You must read this fantastic historical fiction with a light/sweet romance to find out! You’ll be reminded about “all you thought [you] knew” and realize the danger of presumptions

I was gifted this copy by Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Imagine when you think you know all, but actually you don't know anything. This is a story about a woman who was so sure she knew her family’s story . . . Now she wonders if she was wrong about all of it. Suspense, thriller, and beyond imagination.

Family, and war, that is the theme here, really from beginning to end, and sadly loss.

So much hurt and bitterness, and injustice. With so much out of our control, and yet, this story does span decades, and wars.

Interment camps, and death, fighting prejudice, and heartache, even when already being held.

Animals here hold the key to some healing, and love how the author gave us an injured war dog, and a gentle horse!

Ava Delaney, who is she? Well, she is the one that holds this story together, and she shares her journey with her daughter in a way that is hard and special.
Don't miss this story that spans from WWII to Vietnam, beautifully woven by Michelle Shocklee!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale House, and was not required to give a positive review.

If you are a fan of historical fiction like I am, then this new book by Michelle Shocklee, All We Thought We Knew is a book you will want to add to your to-be-read pile when it comes out this fall. This is an encouraging inspiring christian historical story about Prisoners of War, working at Camp Forrest in Tennessee, a horse farm that becomes a horse therapy center for war vets, relationships, cancer, death, redemption, and grace while focusing on a dual timeline set during the Vietnam War and WWII.

I learned so much about history while enjoying the relationships between the characters and seeing them grow in faith as I read this book. I usually don’t highlight a lot in fictional reading, but this one I had many. Here are a few of those:

I still love football, and maybe I’ll coach someday, but right now, I’m a solider. That doesn’t mean I can’t share the gospel with people though.
The disciples were regular guys- fishermen, mostly – and they went out and changed the world by spreading the Good News.
There isn’t anything wrong with safety, you know. People can still speak up for what’s right without putting themselves in danger. But sometimes, someone has to do the hard things and make sacrifices to make sure the people they care about are safe.
Mattie, there comes a time when we have to accept that life and death are not in our hands. We in the medical profession do our best, but we aren’t God.
I needed to know the entire story. No matter how much it might hurt or frighten me.
While war is never best, it is sometimes unavoidable. Our military personnel need our respect, our appreciation, and our prayers.

As.always I love this author's books.
I.waa very excited to see this one and jumped for joy at receiving this wonderful adventure.

This book had it all: slow burn romance, family dynamics, three perspectives converging, a bit of a mystery across different time periods, and two wars! The author has done thorough research, and to have this as well as beautifully developed characters was *chef's kiss*.
Keep the tissues handy. And while Shocklee is a Christian author and this falls under Christian Fiction, it wasn't overt - it was more what was kept out (language, explicit scenes) than what was added that made it so easy to read. Grateful for this ARC from Netgalley and Tyndale, I'll definitely be chasing down more from this author.

All We Thought We Knew follows the lives of Ava, who lost her husband in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Mattie, who lost her twin brother in Vietnam. Ava, desperate to escape the house while living with her embittered mother-in-law, takes a job at a nearby military base, and has a surprising encounter with a German doctor-in-training who has been detained due solely to his nationality. Mattie would like to stay away from her Tennessee home forever, but she is summoned back by her estranged father who tells Mattie that her mother has cancer and needs her. Both women search for answers, and for peace, in the midst of difficult circumstances. Though Mattie does not get exactly what she wants, she does find much more than she expected.

Not all novels can successfully weave together two lives and two time periods, but this one does so admirably. The characters are well developed and interact with one another in believable ways. The use of clean language is always appreciated.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.