Forbidden Love Blossoms in a German POW Camp - an Editorial Review of "My Mother's Friend"

Book Blurb:

The year is 1944…

Seventeen-year-old Phee Swensson, a gifted pianist who lives in Algona, Iowa, is stressing about her senior year of high school while caring for her family after her mother’s death. When her pastor father takes her to visit the nearby prisoner of war camp, the last thing she expects to find is friendship with a German POW who shares her passion for music.

After she is recruited as the accompanist for the POW choir, Phee begins to spend more time with her new friend who she initially considers “the enemy.” But their friendship strengthens, and inevitably, they fall in love, a forbidden love. But Phee is a pastor’s daughter, and her conflicting feelings torment her. Can she set aside her conditioned beliefs and follow her heart? And if she does, what will be the result?

Their love deepens, but as the moment draws near for the POWs to leave Camp Algona after the war ends, Phee has a life-altering decision to make.

Read now for a moving historical fiction story set in small-town America during World War II. Young readers and adults alike will fall for this first-love story featuring age-gap angst, thrilling suspenseful nights, and impossible life decisions. My Mother’s Friend contains both a past storyline and a more contemporary one to tell its timeless story.

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/mymothersfriend

Author Bio:

As a kid growing up in Iowa, Sally hated history. “Bor-ring!” was her typical reaction to anything related to the subject. But then, she grew up, married a great guy who loved history, and they moved to Virginia where history oozes from every crack and crevice. It didn’t take her long to join the likes of Ken Follett on the history bandwagon (a fitting metaphor since she was a music major in college). World War II became her main interest, and over the past forty years, Sally and her husband Joe have visited many of the prominent European sites.

After a thirty-year career in academic libraries, Sally retired in 2017 and soon after began writing her debut novel. Her homes (in Virginia, Iowa, Texas, California, and Oklahoma) have always been blessed with one or more rescue dogs. Truth is, she’s nuts about dogs, and she wanted you to know that. She also hopes you enjoy My Mother’s Friend. If you do, be sure to leave a review. You can visit her web site here: www.sallyjamesonbond.com

Editorial Review:

My Mother’s Friend is truly a work of art and is sure to become a treasured classic for generations to come. It is written in such a way that the reader can clearly imagine what World War II was like from the perspective of the American populace. Light humor and accounts of wonderful experiences mix with more serious undertones to create a fascinating and thought-provoking reading experience. The story’s characters are delightfully and skillfully developed, showing first-hand the way of life in the 1940s.

There is Frank Swensson, the pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church; Phyllis (Phee) Swensson; Phee’s younger brothers, the twins Gustav and Tristan, and the youngest Swensson, Mollie (Sweet Pea.) The family is remarkably close, and it’s delightful to see how the family grows throughout the book. The story begins with Phee’s daughter, (Mollie,) a reporter in Berlin with an appointment for an interview with Maestro Ebinger. On her way, Mollie reads and re-reads her mother’s diaries to learn about the mysterious Maestro.

The story then follows Phee Swensson as she is given a tour of an American POW camp housing German prisoners of war, and unexpectedly falls in love with a German pianist. At first, she denies her feelings, as constant reminders over the radio tell her the Germans are the enemy. But soon, she hears that the pianist, Sergeant (Horst) Ebinger is forming a choir for the POWs but he is without another pianist. And, hearing of Phee’s alleged musical talent, an American Corporal named Roy Phillips extends an invitation to Phee herself! As Phee has been playing the piano since she was seven years old, she’s more than capable. We hear that her mother had insisted Phee learn to play the piano from a very young age, and, over time, Phee had come to enjoy it. And then she learns that practice for recitals will be with Sergeant Horst (which wouldn’t really be a problem if it wasn’t for those piercing blue eyes and perfect manners!)

“She expected him to be angry about the turn his life had taken. It would be helpful if he wasn’t angry because Phee was quite sure she couldn’t be friends with an angry Nazi. She was pleased she could communicate with “the enemy” and thought the experience was probably worthwhile. But should that communication continue? She wasn’t sure.”

And, inevitably, the two become steadily closer through their mutual love of music and similar life experiences. Horst tells Phee stories of Germany, and of his time with the Nazi army. Phee tells Horst stories of her now-deceased mother, and the two frequently end up simply talking during the allotted practice time for their numerous recitals. And Horst’s feelings about the war come as a relief to Phee.

“You must know, we want this to end. My comrades, we want it for many months,” he tells her one afternoon.

And while the war looms in the background of the story, happy moments do occur. On New Year’s Eve, Horst and Phee kiss for the first time, setting off a rough-and-tumble, yet graceful relationship. To accompany the sometimes melancholy reflection on the war and an almost Romeo and Juliet-style romance, there is a dash of daring. Phee always visits her mother’s grave on Mother’s Day, but this year she wants Horst to be there. Unfortunately, POWs are not exactly allowed to simply leave the camp. So Phee devises a plan to smuggle Horst out under some blankets in her father’s car. The operation goes smoothly, and Horst is happy to meet Phee’s mother. That is, until the trip back when Corporal Roy hitches a ride with Phee and undoubtedly notices the blankets in the backseat. Later, Phee convinces Roy not to tell anyone, but that isn’t the last time Phee and Horst risk it all to be together.

The age recommendation for this book is 12-18, but I personally believe the age group should be 16 and up simply for the more intimate descriptions. Phee eventually sneaks Horst to her room where they promptly dive into ‘adult things.’ As previously stated, the book has a tendency to become monotonous, but such were the times during World War II. Phee’s best friend Christa visits often, though she disapproves of “that damn Nazi!” Eventually, Phee and Christa drift apart following heartbreaking news about Christa’s brother (who was enlisted in the United States Army.) Every night, Phee writes in her diary (affectionately named Daisy) about the events of her day. Her entries often feature Horst and her favorite guards. When Horst receives devastating news about his brother, fighting for the Nazis, Phee arranges to meet Horst in a nearby church (with guards nearby, of course.)

“—Dear Daisy—” [she writes that night,] “It was kind of an interesting day, not as bad as I’d feared. Horst and Roy and Cpl. Bickford got to church right on time for our meeting at 2. I gave them a tour (including the belfry), then Horst and I sat in the sanctuary and talked while Roy and Cpl. Bickford were guarding the Doors.”

The story picks up speed halfway through, developing into a fast-paced love story featuring forbidden love, a disapproving best friend, slowly resolving conflict knitted closely with news about the war, and enough secrecy to earn this book glowing reviews for plot and character development alone. And in the end, the story comes around in an impressive plot circle, back to Mollie in Berlin, and with Horst Ebinger, now a famous and talented Maestro.

In all, the plot development is quite satisfying to experience and serves as a reminder that happy endings don’t always happen the way we pictured. And that’s okay. My Mother’s Friend skillfully delivers well-made and thought-provoking points such as a rather prominent one regarding love, and how no matter what the situation is, love is the one thing that can forever endure. No matter how grave the circumstances, whether it be a war, prejudice, conflict, or misunderstanding, love can and will overcome any obstacle set before it. At 374 pages long, it’s a somewhat daunting book. “My Mother's Friend” by Sally Jameson is an incredible reading experience for young adults.

*****

“My Mother's Friend” by Sally Jameson Bond receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence

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