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Mar 30, 2011

Nora rated it:

I was thrilled to receive a review copy of an author I really wanted to read. No Other is a book set in the 1950’s. It was a simpler, innocent time of life in rural America. It reminded me of the T.V. show the Walton’s where families were big, close and cared for one another. Life after the war didn’t spring back to the way it was before it all began. I enjoyed reading about Jakob, Rachel and Joe as they all tried to make sense and come up with a new normal to their lives.

Jakob dr More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 01, 2011

Joy rated it:

In general, I don't buy stories set around WWII. That time period never seems to connect with me. But when I saw No Other advertised at a price I couldn't resist, coupled with the fact that I've "met" the author online and found her as sweet as can be, I decided to give this one a chance.

I don't know what I was expecting. But I certainly wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. It was a *very* pleasant surprise. I knew in advance that No Other was considere More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 26, 2011

Courtney rated it:

When I heard about the third book of this series I decided to give the whole series a shot. I figured if I would at least try reading book one and see what happens. Once I started book one though I could not put it down!! Wow!!

No Other by Shawna Williams was amazing. This debut novel was heartwarming, genuine, and very lovable. I read this book in one day; once I met Jakob and Meri I fell in love with them and couldn’t stop reading about their lives. I sympathized with the charact More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Oct 09, 2011

BJ Robinson rated it:

No Other by Shawna K. Williams is an inspirational historical romance published by Desert Breeze in May of 2010. This is the first novel I've read by this author, but I can't wait to read the sequel In All Things. It takes place in the aftermath of WWII, and Jakob Wilheimer has returned from the war and found it necessary to reenter high school to earn the diploma he wasn't able to while serving his country. So, he's no ordinary high school boy, and the war has made a man out of him. He didn't c More...

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Jun 19, 2011

Diane rated it:

No Other by Shawna K. Williams has a rich cast of memorable characters. I instantly felt empathy for Jakob as he returned to high school where he had left three years earlier to take care of his younger siblings. Once his wronged parents are able to return from the internment camp, he can resume his education. One problem - his teacher is Meri Parker, a former schoolmate. The teacher-student relationship becomes complicated with Jakob falling in love with Meri.

As Jakob's love deepen More...

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Dec 16, 2010

Linda rated it:

Jakob Wilheimer lived under the humility and shame of his German parents being interned in a U.S. camp in Crystal City during the war. Filled with rage, bitterness, and embarrassment, he was unable to move on with his life. But he prayed to change and forgive. Though he had been in charge of some of his siblings during the war, this ended when his brother Joe and wife Molly and daughter returned. His opportunity to finish high school was now achievable.

Meredith Parker (Meri), Miss More...

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Dec 13, 2010

Jay rated it:

Really, really good characterization! Some great novels seem to get lost setting up the scene with paragraphs and paragraphs describing scenery, people, weather et cetera. Williams dives right into action with minimal description. Yet, one gets the scene and the emotion and is moved right along without getting bored. The characters in Williams' book sound like...wow!...real people!

"No Other" is a faith-based romance novel. I was directed to read this book even though I More...

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Nov 20, 2010

Sid rated it:

No Other, set in post World War II time, is the story of Jakob, the son of Americans of German ancestry who were detained in Port Delamar, a fictional town based on Baytown, just east of Houston, and Meri, the daughter of the mayor.

Meri had been brought up by a mother and father who were more interested in outer appearances than true beliefs. They joined the church only because it would look good and get the mayor more votes, not because they believed in God.

Jakob, on t More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 06, 2010

Tina Pinson rated it:

Censored Enemy Alien Mail, the words were stamped across the envelope Jakob held in his hand. It was a letter from his parents. Had there been no war, there wouldn't have been a need to write. But there was a war, a war with Germany and because of their Germanic Heritage, his parents were held in an internment camp. Because of their heritage the United States considered them enemies, and confiscated the family farm. The letter dredged up old feelings, old feelings that felt like they were born j More...

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Aug 05, 2010

Deborah rated it:

Once again, as I started reading "No Other" I wasn't sure what I was in for. From the very beginning I fell in love with the characters in this book. Shawna possessed great ability to make this story come alive. She took me to a place many of us are not familiar with - because we were too young, or we were not aware of what was going on right in America at that time. What and when was this? It was during WWII when many Americans of German decent were rounded up and put into interment c More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 15, 2010

Michelle rated it:

This debut novel by author Shawna Williams took my breath away. It sounds cliche, but I don't know how else to describe the emotions that moved through me as I read this book. My heart was engaged and fully invested in the outcome.

I read most of this book in one sitting. It's a perfect historical romance in that the tension kept building and it made me want them to work things out and find a way to be together. I fell in love with the characters and empathized with their situations. More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

May 07, 2010

Ruth rated it:

Meredith (Meri) Parker is the only child of two controlling parents who want her to marry Roger, but she's fallen in love with a simple, unassuming, and sweet man named Jakob. Jakob also happens to be her student, but he's twenty and finishing up his schooling.

If anyone found out she was dating her student, then it would make things difficult for her father's political aspirations because appearances are everything, and she must maintain meet those appearances, but will she have to More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 01, 2010

Kat rated it:

This is a romance novel that won my heart, even though I normally do not read romance. Shawna's mastery of characterization infused the story with such believability, and I fell in love with Jakob and Meri. No sappy scenes, no corny lines--this book is about story. Yes, it's a love story, but it is so much more.

Set in post WWII Texas, Jakob's German family faces discrimination while they try to rebuild their household. His parents have returned from an internment camp, and his brother More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jan 15, 2011

Molly rated it:

Alright. So, seriously. Shawna totally must have known that I would be a reader of this book at some point in time! Why do I say this, you ask? Simply because she used my oldest son's name (Jakob) and spelled EXACTLY the way I do (not many people spell it that way) AND her character Jakob's sister-in-law was none other than moi! Well, I can dream can't I? Spelled correctly too, my name is Jakob's sister-in-law's name. And not to mention, that at one point, Jakob's character had a dog named Max, More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 08, 2010

Stephanie rated it:

Williams pens an inspirational romance filled with love and faith in "No Other." Set in Texas, in 1949, just after World War II, twenty-year-old Jakob Wilheimer is putting his life together, but the effort tests his faith in ways he never imagined.

During World War II, Jakob's parents and young siblings were placed in an internment camp for being German. Jakob was very bitter about that. His parents were released, but Jakob's anger still simmers below the surface. Joe, his More...

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May 03, 2010

K. rated it:

Thanks to the wonderful story-telling expertise of Ms. Shawna Williams, I didn't get anything I'd planned done this weekend. She drew me into the story and made me love her characters so much that I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I didn't work on my current novel or clean my house. I spent every minute away from family engagements reading this book. If you like sweet romance, you'll love "No Other." I'm normally a suspense reader, but I absolutely loved this book. "No Ot More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 14, 2010

Lisa rated it:

Review of No Other
By Shawna K Williams

c. 2010
ISBN – 978-1-936000-53-1
A Desert Breeze eBook

Wow, forgot I was reading there for a moment when I happened to look away from the screen. Rats—time for the season ending episode of my second-favorite television show. With the recorder on the blink, I have to watch in real time, or I would have kept reading.

From the publisher:
In the aftermath of WWII all Jakob Wilheimer wants is to get over his More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 04, 2010

Tracy rated it:

No Other by Shawna K. Williams is a beautifully written romance set in post WWII America. Anti-German sentiment is prevalent, and one family in particular has had to endure much hardship because if it. Now that the war is over, twenty year old Jake must brave a regular classroom in order to finish his schooling. This would have been bad enough, but he wasn’t expecting to fall in love with his teacher! It’s a dilemma that will test his will power and his faith.

Jake and Meri’s romance More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 22, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

Refreshing! I am NOT a fan of "traditional" Christian Romance/Christian Fiction. Christians sin and Christians struggle with sin, otherwise we wouldn’t need Christ. "Traditional" Christian novels suggest that all Christians are perfect and that is simply not true. Shawna K. Williams is adventurous enough to explore the fact that Christians sin in her compelling tale about a couple who, quite simply, should not fall in love. I felt as if I became intimately involved with More...

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May 02, 2011

Danielle rated it:

Jakob Wilheimer wants to forgive those who've wronged him during the world war for being German. Losing their property and being sent to an internment camp tore apart his Texas family. His father is ill, and Jacob has supported them all while his older brother served the country and came back a hero. No one seems to understand what he's going through, until he goes back to school and finds a former schoolmate will be his teacher.
Meri Parker is the mayor's daughter and the belle of the town More...

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Aug 16, 2010

Carman rated it:

Oh. My. Gosh. I was amazed at how much I loved this book. There were things that could use some work. Grammar, phrasing, and little things like that. But, the writing was so good and the story was so powerful that all of those things melted away. This story evoked so much emotion from me that towards the end I was literally gasping, flinging my hands around, and on the edge of my seat because I did not know what would happen next. This is an author to watch, because she will definitely be going More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 25, 2011

Wendy rated it:

This novel and its characters drew me right in and begged me to keep reading. I was intrigued by the concept of German internment camps here during WWII, as I never knew they existed before hearing about this book. The author certainly did her homework in researching the details for this story. The characters were real and relatable, in that they don't come off as perfect people, but real, flawed humans dealing with life's trials and joys, just like you and me.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 17, 2011

Karen rated it:

I really enjoyed this heartwarming romance. The book was well written and kept my interest from the first word. Though the main characters seem like an unlikely couple at first, it was fun watching their romance unfold and as they faced some trials. I love that the characters made some mistakes along the way--true to real life.

If you are looking for a story that leaves you feeling good, I highly recommend this book.

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Feb 14, 2011

Erin rated it:

I downloaded this book to my kindle without realizing that it was Christian fiction. Imagine my surprise when our protagonist studies and quotes from the bible quite extensively. This did put me off a bit, but overall it was bit more romantically involved than I thought it would be. I enjoyed the story and felt attached to the main characters. If you're a CF minded person, this book would be great!

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Aug 15, 2010

Patsy rated it:

Really enjoyed this book. Can see where there could be a second book to expand on the characters.

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 28, 2010

Julesreffner rated it:

4 1/2 stars...loved this book. Review forthcoming.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 22, 2011

Toni added it

Heartwarming read.

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Feb 19, 2012

Charlotte marked it as to-read

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Feb 16, 2012

Allysa marked it as to-read

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Feb 13, 2012

Truly marked it as to-read

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