*sighs*
I loved this book! Just a gorgeous book, wistful, romantic and heartbreaking. Set in rural Iowa during WWI, Olivia "Livy" Campbell has the opportunity to teach at a school far from her family farm. She soon learns that her students are German-American, a complicated situation at a time when speaking a foreign language was illegal, making it a difficult time for a German-American community. Life is further complicated when she learns that the handsome young man who let her know of the job turns out to be a German-American farmer.

You can read my full review at http://www.mommaontherocks.com/4659/im-reading-wednesday-summer-reads-part-1 ( )

I think my favorite detail of this novel is the historical richness of it. The author explores a very dark time in our nation's history, the home front of WWI, where prejudice and the abuse of civil liberties was the norm, not the aberration. I found it especially interesting because I can think of several examples of my local history here in Montana that echo this book's atmosphere. This book even resonated with my own family history (paternal grandmother's ancestors changed the spelling of their Germanic last name Eszwein to the more Anglicized Esswine due to WWI prejudice is my suspicion). And then to set our two protagonists within this world, both from different sides of the "conflict"? Just perfect...

And let me tell you, those two protagonists were dang interesting to get to know. I adored both of them. We got to see them grow as individuals in a very poisonous setting and atmosphere. I liked how the author made them very three-dimensional and just human. Neither were the perfect paragon of justice and virtue; both had instances where prejudice peeked through in their life outlook and how they dealt with the challenges of late-WWI American life. Yet, the overcame those faults to create a lovely romance and a relationship that I felt was all the stronger for the obstacles they had to face.

I really enjoyed the romantic element to this book as well. The author has created two individuals from different ends of the home front conflict, and she has brought them together into a romance that is sweet yet strong. I liked how drawn both Friedrick and Livy are to each other; the reader can definitely tell that they have romantic feelings for each other and not just a very strong friendship. Their stolen moments and overcoming of obstacles made me smile all the more when their happy ending occurred.

This definitely a wonderful example of great writing. The author balances a rich historical setting with three-dimensional characters and a sweet romance to create a novel one can sink their teeth into. This novel is highly recommended to anyone looking for WWI novels set on the American home front. You'll enjoy the read and be inspired to think as well.

Note: Book received for free through GoodReads FirstReads program in exchange for honest review. ( )

I received an electronic copy of this book to review from the publisher through NetGalley, but in no way does that have an impact on my views and opinion.

Hope At Dawn is one of those books where you wish you could travel back in time, even if the time period is during the midst of World War II. I loved this book so much!! I don't truly know how explain it to all of you in a way that will inspire you to pick it up when you have the chance. There wasn't any action throughout the novel, but it portrayed a romance between two people that literally made me wish I was in the girl's place.

Friedrick Wagner has been definitely added to my list of fictional characters I would date. He's protective, gentle, and chivalrous. He doesn't overdue it, but he just encompasses the whole picture of a gentleman. It's a miracle in itself if a guy holds a door open for a woman now. I know it's just not the men, but it's always nice to see an act of chivalry every once in awhile to remind us that we shouldn't stereotype every guy that we see as a rude, arrogant human.

I felt like I really connected with Livy throughout the novel, because of her love for teaching. Some of my favorite scenes to read were the ones that she was teaching her class. It's one of my hopes that time travel becomes a thing, because I would travel back in time so I could teach in a wooden schoolhouse. I have no idea why that setting has been intriguing to me throughout the years. I guess it has a sort of charm to it. Who knows. Of course, I am not a teacher yet. I still have to earn my degree, but I know the day will come when I will have a turn at teaching.

The author made the struggles of German Americans during World War II prominent as the plot progressed. She wrote about the language laws that were created that forbade them from speaking German. She also briefly included how family businesses were vandalized, and had to close due to lack of business. These particular scenes opened my eyes. Why were these American citizens being treated like trash? What did they do to deserve this? Escaped Germany for a better life? They are humans. What really matters is what is the inside, not the faults of their ancestry. Sounds a bit cliche, but it's true.

I found no faults while I was reading the novel. It went along at a nice steady pace, which I felt matched what the author was trying to portray about the time period and the struggles endured. I highly recommend this book to all of you. This book isn't some romance where two main characters fall in love over night. This romantic relationship is about a romance that I think we all secretly long to experience.
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Exceptional. Highly recommended. ( )

I have read quite a few books about World War II...

So I was VERY INTRIGUED to read about World War I.

So many things I didn't know or understand...very eye opening!

A TENDER story of love and hope admist a backdrop of fear and despair.

Livy has two brothers "fighting the Great War overseas."

She wants a chance to help and she also needs to get away from Robert and be on her own.

When a "handsome stranger" tells her of a teaching job she jumps at the opportunity.

"But the war casts a long shadow over the German-American town that Livy now calls home—and the darkness will test everything she thought she knew about family and love . . ."

Friedrick is caught in the middle...

He was born in America, but his parents are from Germany.

How can he stay loyal to both HIS COUNTRY and HIS HERITAGE in this time of war?

When he meets Livy he is struck by her beauty and loves the fact that she accepts him as he is.

"As tragedy—and dark secrets from the past—threaten their future, Friedrick and Livy have one chance to stand up for what's right . . . and one chance to fight for their love."

AN AMAZING STORY!
TOLD BY AN AMAZING WRITER!
SO. SO. SO. GOOD!
A MUST-READ! ( )