By the spring of 1945 many young men from Miller’s Creek, Wisconsin had enlisted in the Se TAKE ME HOME
Dorothy Garlock
Grand Central Publishing July 2014
By the spring of 1945 many young men from Miller’s Creek, Wisconsin had enlisted in the Second World War; some will never come home. Billy Tate, the banker’s son, has tried his best to enlist but he has a weak heart and has been rejected countless times. He found a doctor just recently that cleared him to enlist, and he joined the Navy and is scheduled to report for boot camp in less than a month. Billy and Olivia Marsten have been best friends since they were eight. During all these years Olivia never once suspected that Billy was in love with her and was not prepared when he proposed marriage; and, he hopes to have the wedding before he leaves for camp. Knowing it was a mistake Olivia said yes, and she was as miserable about her decision as Billy was ecstatic. Olivia loves Billy, but it’s like a best friend or brother.
Three dozen German prisoners of war are on a train bound for an internment camp in Minnesota when the locomotive has a horrible wreck. Peter Becker was handcuffed to Otto Speer, an angry, ugly, militant Nazi who managed to get them both off the train. They escaped and ran for days. Peter’s father, Thomas, was from Pennsylvania and fought in the First World War. After the war, Thomas stayed and eventually married a beautiful German woman. Thomas died before the family could return to America and Peter was forced to join the German army or his mother would be punished. Eventually Peter and Otto are able to get their handcuffs off, and Peter intends to turn himself in; Otto plans to terrorize the Amerikaners.
Peter meets Olivia as he is walking into Miller’s Creek to find a sheriff. He saves her from being hit by a speeding pickup and finds himself a hero. Peter speaks perfect English, so no one suspects that he is the enemy.
TAKE ME HOME is a sweet and poignant story of love, acceptance, and family. The characters are wonderfully developed, the romance is tender, and the storylines are interesting. The award winning Dorothy Garlock always tells her stories well. ...more