Until the War is Over

Such a wonderful book I love family sagas based in wartime. We can see even after the war how Amy is looked at by her in laws as not good enough for their son. It just shows how the rich and the poor really are

Set during the first world war, the author gives a real sense of what life was like back then. Through Amy and Edmond, we see the day to day life of dealing with the threat of being under attack whilst trying to get on with every day life. Not easy with Edmond not fully recovered from a war injury and Amy with her first dealings of motherhood.

Whilst part of a saga, I haven’t actually had the pleasure of reading the previous novel. It didn’t matter to much as there is enough background given so I knew what I needed to without feeling lost or as if I had missed something.

The author has lots going on with the war itself, as well as home life and Amy and Edmund trying to do their bit in the war effort. This obviously sees the characters under a certain amount of strain and if that isn’t enough, tragedy is never far away with a war going on.

Until The War Is Over is a gentle read that captivated my mind. Who doesn’t enjoy a good family saga and seeing other peoples problems, rather than their own? Amy and Edmund are a lovely couple who has you routing for them and am interested to see what the author has in store for them next.

Summer 1918: Amy and Edmond Derwent had been on the frontline of battle. Edmond had been an officer while Amy was a VAD in France. They are both settling into life back home and now have a baby girl. They are living with Edmond's wealthy family and because Amy comes from a more modest family and the Derwents have never really accepted her. Edmond recieved an injury whilst serving in Ypres but feels guilty as his friends are sent into battle. But Lachbury has it's own problems. The Spanish influenza is rife in England and tragedy strikes close to home. Will Edmond and Amy's love stay strong while everything else is crumbling around them.

I didn't realise this was the second book in this saga when I requested the book. In the end it didn't make that much difference as there was a lot of background information to get you up to speed. There is a lot going on in this book between the war and the Spanish influenza. This is one of those Books you could read all day and never tire of. I liked the young couple, Edmond and Amy. I felt right sorry for her at times. I'm going to have to read the previous book now. This is a well written story.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Hera Books and the author Rosemary Goodacre for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliantly done in the style of Ken Follet. Vivid emotional scenes, and the hopeless loss of lives in WW1. I feel this novel is one you need to pick up and read.

No one I believe in WW1 believed that the war was just for good vs evil, it was more than that. Men of other sides died in a war that ultimately showed the true devastation of war. However, the preclusion to WW1’s terrible nature goes back through two epic wars in history. The American Civil War was the setting stage for what would happen in WW1. Imagine if you’re a Confederate/Union soldier walking through the fields of battle as shrapnel, canister, and gunfire shoots at you. The muskets themselves had a powerful rate of fire and accuracy as compared to the Napoleonic Wars. Walking in lines and columns was tough. Though, during the latter end of the war, Sherman did the March across the sea, burning and devastating the South. Railways were used often, and this would later spell out the tactics used in WW1. I’m imagining Edmond, or any officer walking through cannon fire knowing that you march and march until you can get there. And then, you fight. It is a harrowing experience. It is no wonder that Edmond suffered PSTD, and this has been prevalent throughout history.

The mothers in WW1 lost brave sons fighting for this cause. It is a terrible experience. I also liked the depiction of the British Army and how basically they were in difficult conditions. There wasn’t much you could do. Moving on, I do feel Amy was quite a good character, though sometimes I did feel that she was following the events more, than being actively involved. For example, the rift between the Derwent Family and Amy. I did not get enough scene development to show the rift between them eventually calmed down. I would have liked to have seen the Derwent family coming to terms with the fact that WW1 was changing the shape of society. Mr. Dervant certainly showed this. Edmond’s sister and mother, not so much.

I would have liked to have seen Amy as a VAD nurse being more shocked and horrified at the camps of wounded men. Because then I think where Rosemary could have built another emotional sequence was showing Amy’s fragility. Sure, she signed up to be a nurse and be closer to her husband. But she would also have seen the countless men out that had a wife or a girlfriend. Edmond could have been any one of them. This is foreshadowed later in the novel when Edmond says to Amy to be prepared for the worst.

There was that Colonel who successfully put her in prison because of her involvement in the Suffragette movement. I do feel that his assault on her, which Amy survived, should have been more of a karma payback to that dastardly colonel. The Colonel may have been well connected in the army, but I would have liked to see how karma would essentially bite him.

There are many great characters, many great moments, and many emotional moments that would make you cry. I see WW1 as a conflict that need not be started. Everyone in WW1 was imagining a short war. How wrong they were.

My rating is a solid 4/5.

I read, reviewed and loved Rosemary's debut novel called 'Until We Meet Again' and so when I heard that Rosemary was due to release a second book called 'Until The War Is Over', I just knew that I had to read it as soon as I could. Blimey, I thought that 'Until We Meet Again' was good but for me 'Until The War Is Over' is even better. I absolutely ADORED reading 'Until the War Is Over' but more about that in a bit.
I loved the characters of Amy and Edmond. This book sees them as a married couple with a young baby. Both Amy and Edmond have suffered physically, mentally and emotionally during their experiences of the First World War. This book sees them try to pick up the pieces and carry on as it were. If only life was that straightforward though. Amy and Edmond hit bumps in the road, which threaten their happiness. What happens? Well you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I picked up 'Until The War Is Over' at the right time. I had just done some more family tree research with a particular focus on the First World War. Then I picked up 'Until The War Is Over' to read all about life at the end of the First World War. As soon as I picked the book up, that was it. I just couldn't put this book down. I totally immersed myself in the story to the extent that I was able to shut out all other distractions and focus solely on the story. The pages turned over increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what fate had in store for Amy and Edmond. I liked both characters and I was keeping everything crossed that things would work out for them. I soon reached the end of the book, which I was disappointed about. I don't mean that I was disappointed with the way in which the story ended, but I was enjoying the storylines, the characters and the author's writing style so much that I just wish the book had been longer.
'Until The War Is Over' is superbly written but then I thought that to be true of 'Until We Meet Again'. Rosemary has a way of creating characters that seem more like friends than characters in a book. I hope that makes sense. The author drew me into this story from the synopsis alone and it didn't take long for the book to develop a hold over me. Rosemary has one of those writing styles that makes you feel as though you are a character in the book yourself. I literally felt as though I had been transported back in time to the period of the First World War. I was gripped by this story throughout and on the edge of my seat the closer I got to the end of the story.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Until The War Is Over' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will most definitely be reading more of Rosemary's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Until the War is Over is the second book in this series by Rosemary Goodacre. It can be read as a standalone book but I think to fully appreciate the characters and all that they have been through previously, it is a good idea to read the first book before this one. In that book, we are introduced to Amy and Edmond and how their romance started and still flourished despite the war. This book continues their story...

Edmond has been sent home, wounded and with no chance of returning to the army because of his injuries. He and Amy live with his family which isn't ideal but they plan on getting their own small place when they are able.

As well as their lives we continue sharing the trials, tribulations and, of course, the good moments of friends and family of Amy and Edmond's. Each one of them will make you run the gamut of emotions because they are so believable. Life during the war was not easy, and the loss or threat of constant loss really took its toll on people. Despite that, they managed to carry on to the best of their abilities.

There weren't as many scenes from the war front in this book compared to the first, but that didn't make it any less emotional. In fact, during this story, the war finally comes to an end and I got quite teary-eyed reading how people celebrated it. Each of the characters in this story has been through so much, and now that the war has ended they have to try to carry on with their lives very much changed from when the fighting started. More of those experiences will be coming in book 3 of this series and I am very much looking forward to reading them. I feel as if I know Amy and Edmond, Lavinia and Charles, Florence and James and their respective families. I feel as if they are my friends and I will be sad when this series finishes and I don't get to spend time with them any more!

Despite being set during the hard, sad times of the war this book still has plenty of moments that will make you smile. Don't think that this will be a depressing read because it has the perfect balance of good and bad moments. I really do recommend that you read it.

Me: Mum, guess what? *waves e-reader in her face*

The Mommy: *shrugs* Not a clue – just tell me!

Me: I’ve got the follow-up to Until We Meet Again *happy dances*.

TM: You’re gonna need tissues again!

Me: *waves hand* Don’t be daft! I’ll be fine...

Silly, silly Laura *shakes head*. Famous last words, eh? I did indeed need those pesky tissues. Rosemary! You got me good again! *shakes fist*

*snorts*

(I know I need help. Just roll with it!)

I was excited to continue Amy and Edmond’s story (as I hope you can tell!). I knew their journey would never be plain sailing. But whatever obstacles they face they’ll do it together.

One of the things I love most about these books is the way Edmond empowers Amy to be all she can be. War changes everything and life will be forever altered. Women are no longer content to return to the moulds expected of them before the onset of war. With Edmond’s encouragement Amy can do anything she sets her mind to. Watch out! Trailblazer coming through!

Loss (see tissues comment above) was unavoidable during this time. Added to which, the Spanish flu pandemic hit. The author vividly brought the struggles of the time to life for me. I am fascinated by history and the decisions made by generations past. When you become emotionally invested in characters you feel events more keenly and it makes me want to learn more about how The Great War affected my own family.

Oopsies! I’m going off on a tangent again *palms face*.

Please note I’m still worried about certain characters and have my fingers and toes crossed that all will be okay. I must confess there is also a certain character who had me ranting at my e-reader – I just don’t understand her, lol.

Thank heavens there is another book to come. I’m ready!

Brilliant. Thoroughly enjoyed the second book in the series. Would have perhaps liked a bit more detail from the front and the nursing and war scenes as in the second half of the book they seemed to dwindle. Strong characters and a good storyline meant I was eager to pick up and read whenever I had five spare minutes. Look forward to reading the next in the series.

I was very excited when I discovered Until the War is Over was due to be published.  It's no secret that I am a fan of historical fiction set during either of the World Wars, and I was lucky enough to read and review Until We Meet Again previously which I loved.  When I'm reading characters, I am always happy to discover sequels because it means we get to learn a little more about them, and what happens to them.  Until the War is Over was no exception.

As we had discovered in Until We Meet Again, Amy and Edmond had had a difficult start to married life, with both of them recovering from injuries sustained in France towards the end.  With Edmonds injury forcing him out of the war, and the arrival of baby Beth both of them find themselves back at Larchbury whilst the war continues to wage both at home and abroad.

I really enjoyed reading about both Amy and Edmond.  They are both determined characters, and despite the adversity they each face they battle on.  Tragedy continues to hit them, with the loss of friends and further injuries and illnesses sustained by loved ones.  Amy finds her VAD training is essential being back at home with the onset of Spanish Flu, the silent killer that is spreading through towns and villages.  With so many things keeping them apart, Amy and Edmond continue to fight to be together.

This is such a lovely novel.  Whilst it could be read as a standalone, I would advise reading Until We Meet Again to give you more understanding about the characters and how they got to where they are.  It really highlights the events towards the end of World War I, showing how people were suffering both at home and at the Front.  The feelings of both loss but also hope resinate throughout the novel.  I am more than happy to recommend this novel to you all!

If you love Downton Abbey, this WWI romance is for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own