Until We Meet by Camille Di Maio

Margaret Beck is proud of her work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard sewing stars onto the Stars and Stripes, but she yearns to contribute to the war effort more meaningfully. She's angling for a promotion to the mechanic section, but she doesn't want to wait to make a difference. So with her two best friends, she decides to start a knitting club, where they will knit socks for the boys at the front. Thinking of the young men so far from the comforts of home, Margaret slips a note into her first pair of socks, offering a connection to an unknown soldier that will forever change her life.

For Thomas Powell serving his country was not only his duty but an honor, and he wore his Army uniform with pride. Yet being on the frontlines, witness to unspeakable tragedy and despair, has shaken him. The one shining light is Margaret’s letters—written to his best friend William. When William is killed, Tom doesn’t have the heart to write the warm, generous, and hopeful Margaret and tell her the news. Not about William’s death and not about the way he’s fallen in love with her—across an ocean, amidst the darkness of war, and through the letters she never intended for him.

Instead, he picks up his pen and responds to Margaret’s latest letter, signing it William. As the war intensifies, so does the affection between Tom and Margaret, and Tom knows he owes her the truth. But as he heads out for his most dangerous mission yet, Tom wonders—will he ever get the chance to tell her?

Kindle edition, 384 pages

Expected publishing date, March 1, 2022

by Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

3.5/5 stars

Camille Di Maio is not a new author for me, I enjoyed her book The First Emma for its historical lesson and interesting characters.  Until We Meet is another historical fiction but set during the war.

While the blurb talks about Margaret and Thomas, there is more to this story.  With 3 women working in New York during the war, it's a story of their friendship, uncertainty and of waiting. I loved how the correspondence started and what it yielded even though laced with heartache.

Overseas Thomas and 2 new friends bond over training and action. This part was a little slow for me, it wasn't until the last half of the book where things took off and then it got rather gritty.  

Again I enjoyed the authors writing style, the back and forth played out nicely.  The ending was nice though I will confess that I wasn't totally taken with a few aspects of it.  .

Until We Meet is unique story that I recommend for the historical fiction lovers and those that just like a good book to read.  

My thanks to Forever Books for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The Firs t Emma Camille Di Maio

Inspired by true events

1914 - Young bride Emma Koehler dreams of a happy marriage and a simple life with her husband, but her hopes are quickly dashed by Otto’s obsession with his business. Though they become one of the wealthiest couples in the country – a fortune made on beer, mining, and hospitality - Emma is lonely in their stone mansion, unable to have children and unable to keep his attentions at home. When a tragic accident changes everything, Otto presents a new betrayal – and Emma must choose between loyalty and independence in a world that demands convention.

1943 – Mabel Hartley flees Baltimore after the war leaves her broken and alone. She answers the advertisement of a dying woman in San Antonio, with an urgent plea to come write her memoirs. In Emma Koehler, Mabel discovers astounding resilience - a pioneer who weathered personal devastation and navigated her large brewery through the storm of Prohibition. Soon Mabel realizes that Texas holds more for her than this new friendship. Romance blooms even as she’s given up on love, and an unexpected phone call gives her hope that not all goodbyes are final.

The First Emma is a moving story of love, hope, and murder that captures one woman’s journey to make her mark on history and another’s desire to preserve it.

Kindle Edition, 326 pages

Published May 5, 2020

by Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing

3.5/5 stars

First off I loved the blurb, in no way does it give the story away with too many details (sometimes spoilers).

As the title implies there is more than one Emma. It may sound daunting with the possibility of confusion but it's not at all.  Told from the POV of the first Emma which begins in her 80's but then goes back in time, we get to hear her story.

For me The First Emma got off to a slow start, especially when Winnipeg was placed in Ontario not Manitoba (copy edit where are you?)  Not a good first impression for this proud Canadian.  Mabel joins the cast and these two women together made a great pair. The unveiling of secrets, desires and heartache come through and given this book is inspired from true events made it all the more interesting. 

I find lately that timing is everything when it comes to books I read.  I was graciously given a digital arc and planned on reviewing back before publication date, which was  May 5th, 2021 but at the time it wasn't a proper fit.  This time it was.  An unknown piece of history with a strong formidable woman.  The newspaper articles closing each chapter gave insight to what transpired in the courts.

This is my first time reading Camille Di Maio and I will be back for more.  I love the unknown pieces of history along with strong women ahead of their time.

Again my thanks to the publisher for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.