Until We Can Forgive

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.