Letters From Home

Apr 04, 2011 Tatiana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historial-fiction, women-s-fiction

In our age of email, text messaging, and high-tech cell phones that condense entire lives into tiny gadgets formerly reserved for spies, Kristina McMorris’ debut novel, Letters From Home, is a welcome dose of nostalgia, a love letter in itself for a simpler time, when patience truly was a virtue and a hand-scrawled note was treasured above all else.

The novel chronicles the radically diverse wartime adventures of four individuals: roommates Liz Stephens, Betty Cordell, and Julia Renard, and Priv...more In our age of email, text messaging, and high-tech cell phones that condense entire lives into tiny gadgets formerly reserved for spies, Kristina McMorris’ debut novel, Letters From Home, is a welcome dose of nostalgia, a love letter in itself for a simpler time, when patience truly was a virtue and a hand-scrawled note was treasured above all else.

The novel chronicles the radically diverse wartime adventures of four individuals: roommates Liz Stephens, Betty Cordell, and Julia Renard, and Private Morgan McClain. WWII, encapsulated by the romance of spontaneity, the rise of female independence, and the tragedy of loss, serves as backdrop to misunderstandings of the heart suffered by each character as they wade through the high waters of doubt and pain to the shores of self-discovery. For some, strength and healing awaits them; for others, unlikely yet fervent love formed out of deception. At its core, Letters From Home expounds on the belief that love is a blind endeavor, a leap of faith, because looks can deceive as much as signatures, but genuine feelings are hopeless to disguise.

While I am a sucker for all things WWII, I was surprised at this novel’s grace. A slight historical inaccuracy toward the middle derailed my interests momentarily, and I called all but one aspect of the underrated Julia’s narrative. But those minuscule hiccups I could easily overlook because the story as a whole, with its old-fashion charm and quaint dialogue, was absorbing and lovingly crafted (the plot was partly based on the author’s grandparents’ correspondence of courtship during the war).

Throughout, a lyric to an Arcade Fire song repeatedly came to me: It may seem strange / how we used to wait / for letters to arrive / But what’s stranger still / is how something so small / can keep you alive. Judging how our society hangs on the approval of the digital universe and derives self-esteem from Facebook updates, it’s evident that we’ve come far only in technology. It doesn’t matter if it’s 1944 or 2011; we’re still relying on human connection, in some form or another, to keep us going.
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Mar 23, 2011 Kathleen Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

This story is inspired by the author's own grandparents. It takes place primarily in 1944-45 in Illinois, Dutch New Guinea and France. Brothers Morgan and Charlie McClain who are in Chicago, before shipping out to France, go to a club and there they meet Liz, Betty and Julia. Each chapter is told in a different characters voice and we learn more about each of them. A lot of this story is told in letter format between "Betty" and Morgan. Betty had originally asked Liz to pen a letter to Morgan an...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Gaile rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bought, emery-s-2012-challenge-gaile-kenne, wwii, historical-romance, rhfl-2012-challenge

I found this one to be rather slow paced at first. The author shifted POV at the beginning of each chapter. The shifting from character to character made it difficult for me to remember details about each one as it was easy to get them mixed up. Finally I got on track and began to read with enjoyment. The second half was better than the first half.
The story begins in 1944 when a young soldier is about to depart for war. Betty gives him permission to write her but then she asks Liz to write in he...more

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Feb 27, 2011 Carla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway.

An absolutely delightful book! Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down- anxious to find out how the characters' lives were going to unfold. I thought the author's attention to detail regarding the time period was excellent, and enjoyed the change of perspective each new chapter brought. I would definitely recommend this book.

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Jul 30, 2012 Big Book Little Book rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Helen for bigbooklittlebook.com

I picked this up on one of those supermarket two for £xx deals. I really wanted the other book and took this as I can’t resist a book bargain and ironically I enjoyed this more than the one I had really wanted in the first place.

I have always had a bit of a fascination with WWII and part of that is the way it affected people at home. I’ve read plenty of novels that are based in those times and touch on many issues, but I have never read one that was set in America...more Helen for bigbooklittlebook.com

I picked this up on one of those supermarket two for £xx deals. I really wanted the other book and took this as I can’t resist a book bargain and ironically I enjoyed this more than the one I had really wanted in the first place.

I have always had a bit of a fascination with WWII and part of that is the way it affected people at home. I’ve read plenty of novels that are based in those times and touch on many issues, but I have never read one that was set in America during the war. It is a little different from the UK as I am sure you will appreciate!

Having read this story though, the things that stand out for me were the similarities between the lives of people here and there. People are people wherever they are! There are the obvious differences, less rationing, more men at home and the women are less directly involved as there are men there to do ‘men’s’ jobs. But the women in this tale are living lives dominated by the war and dominated by the men who are at home and away fighting. In some ways it feels that they have even less freedom than British women at this time, some of whom were experiencing things they never would have had the opportunity to do before. However there is that over-riding popular view that women belong at home and their job is to support their man and have the children! Even though this is a clever love story reading this from a 21st century perspective the women seem quite trapped, and some of them don’t even feel or seem to notice it. It is not that they are unhappy; their expectations are just so different.

There are three girls at the heart of this novel. Liz meets a GI (Morgan) and falls head over heels, despite her being attached to someone else, and despite the fact that her friend Betty likes him too. As Betty agrees to write to Morgan and then doesn’t follow through Liz takes up the job with far-reaching consequences. Betty is a bit of a good time girl. She really wants to be a singer but through the turn of events ends up being a nurse in the jungle; this is not a situation that pleases Betty! Finally there is Julia who is excelling in her clothes design course but passes up the opportunity to work for Vogue magazine so she can support her Fiancée Dalton in his ambitions, and not disappoint their two families.

Through these three women’s lives we get a clear picture of what it was like in 1940’s America. Feminism hasn’t arrived yet and there is huge pressure to fit with the social norm. These three women all find ways to overcome that pressure and have their own rebellion in pursuing what is important to them despite what other people may think.

There is insight into the frontline war as well with Morgan’s letters giving us a realistic illustration of the terror and hardships suffered by soldiers, along with the guilt, loneliness and the battle to remain true to yourself in a wartime situation.

Verdict: Even though I have dwelt on the elements of this book that interested me in this review it is primarily a love story. There is happiness and heartbreak, unrequited love, misunderstandings, friendship, families and warmth. It did take me a few pages to really get into it but once I did I couldn’t put it down.(less)

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May 18, 2012 Charline Ratcliff rated it 5 of 5 stars

I recently came across the title “Letters From Home” by Kristina McMorris. I hopped over to Amazon's website to complete my “research” which basically consists of reading any jacket or editorial comments in order to make sure that the book itself will interest me. To be honest, the story-line didn’t completely draw me in but, I liked the fact that this is McMorris’ first novel and that the idea for “Letters From Home” blossomed because of stories about her grandparents World War II courtship. Th...more I recently came across the title “Letters From Home” by Kristina McMorris. I hopped over to Amazon's website to complete my “research” which basically consists of reading any jacket or editorial comments in order to make sure that the book itself will interest me. To be honest, the story-line didn’t completely draw me in but, I liked the fact that this is McMorris’ first novel and that the idea for “Letters From Home” blossomed because of stories about her grandparents World War II courtship. That small aside made me recollect stories from my own grandparents and was the clincher that made me request this book.

The premise for “Letters From Home” is this: three roommates living in Chicago discover that they cannot control love’s destiny regardless of how hard they try. Betty Cordell hopes to avoid the mistakes her mother made by marrying into an affluent family. She has decided that she can force herself to be happy…or at least she can attempt to fake it. Julia Renard, a young woman with an amazing talent for fashion design, throws away a coveted fashion internship so that she can be there when her fiancé finally returns from the war. She has decided that his wants, needs, and desires are more important than her own. Mm Hmm… And finally, Liz Stephens begins to question her well-laid out plans for her future as she exchanges letters with a soldier who thinks that she is actually her roommate Betty. Oh what a tangled web we weave…

Overall, I found “Letters From Home” to be a fun read although, because of the era it was set in it, at times, it was also sobering. The book itself was well-written; McMorris writes with a strong style and even though this story is based sixty years in the past I found I was still able to relate to the characters. “Letters From Home” made me smile, it made me laugh and one passage even made me cry which is a difficult thing for a book to do.

My only complaint is that the ending felt somewhat anticlimactic. There were three women in this story and each of their lives was closely followed. However, when the book’s end arrived, it seemed that there was only one “complete” ending. Maybe that was the author’s intent. Maybe she has plans to write additional books which will focus solely on the supporting characters that we met in “Letters From Home.” I certainly hope so…

All in all a great read.(less)

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Mar 24, 2012 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

A chance meeting at a USO dance the night before Morgan McClain is to ship out to war, leaves Liz Stephens questioning the life path she has so ardently traversed. Having only shared a magical glance and a few hours of conversation, Liz feels a connection with Morgan she has never felt before. As she begins to wonder if this unplanned fork in her life's path is worth traveling, misunderstandings and a series of circumstances answer for her. Together with her roommates Betty and Julia, Liz begins...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Anita Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautiful tribute to World War II soldiers and sailors and the loves of their lives. Liz, Betty and Julia have been best friends since high school and are roommates in Evanston, Illinois. One night, the three young women attend a USO dance where Betty sings and meet a couple of servicemen who are shipping out to the front lines the next day. Liz and Morgan share a dance and they both are clearly smitten with each other. Their dance is cut short when another soldier spills a drink all o...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Alyce (At Home With Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Letters From Home is the story of three girlfriends, their boyfriends, and how the war drastically changes all of their lives. The main characters of the book are Liz and Morgan (a soldier), who are writing letters back and forth to each other. The special twist to the story is that Morgan thinks he is writing to Betty. The story bounces back and forth between the girls at home and Morgan at the front lines. Betty and Julia’s stories are told as subplots, and each of their stories leaves you wan...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Amy Lignor rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have always been a huge fan of WWII stories. Not the war, itself, mind you (I’m not into the whole prison camp/Hitler horror stories), but I do truly love the romances between soldiers and the girls’ back home. This one, however, was truly surprising. The story was new, fresh, and full of twists and turns that I was not expecting.

We begin with Liz Stephens, riding in a Cadillac beside her boyfriend, Dalton Harris. She couldn’t be more upset with him if she possibly tried. Dalton is a good man,...more I have always been a huge fan of WWII stories. Not the war, itself, mind you (I’m not into the whole prison camp/Hitler horror stories), but I do truly love the romances between soldiers and the girls’ back home. This one, however, was truly surprising. The story was new, fresh, and full of twists and turns that I was not expecting.

We begin with Liz Stephens, riding in a Cadillac beside her boyfriend, Dalton Harris. She couldn’t be more upset with him if she possibly tried. Dalton is a good man, but spends most of his time working on his father’s political campaign; he rarely remembers when Liz asks him to accompany her to various events, and this is one night where she really wanted his company. As always, Dalton kisses her on the head, apologizes, and Liz rushes out of the car, determined to get away from him before she ends up slapping him across the face.

When she arrives at the USO dance that her roommate is making her singing debut at, she finds herself surrounded by the brave soldiers dressed in their clean, crisp uniforms. Betty Cordell, a slightly dumb blonde who wants nothing more than to sing in a USO band is up on stage; while Liz’s other roommate, Julia Renard – a girl who’s truly in love, has a talent for fashion design, and spends most of her time missing her beloved fiancée who is overseas – is sitting at a table. As Julia and Liz sit and listen to Betty belt out a gorgeous tune from the stage, two young men appear by their side.

Charlie and Morgan McClain are brothers. Like most siblings, they are completely different from each other. Charlie is the "fun" guy with the incredible sense of humor who makes women swoon; while his older brother Morgan is incredibly handsome and extremely shy – especially around Liz who he spotted from across the crowded dance floor and, literally, fell in love with on site. Although Liz is already angry about her boyfriend and snaps at the young soldiers, she also discovers – after a very short conversation – that Morgan McClain is the most genuine and attractive man she’s ever met.
Because of a miscommunication of sorts, Liz sees Morgan in Betty’s arms during the dance and she can feel her heart break; she actually has no idea why that is, considering they’ve only just met. But she rushes from the USO dance, never to see Morgan again. Through an even stranger circumstance, Liz becomes a pen-pal to the handsome man, writing him letters overseas – their words bringing them closer and closer.

In the midst of Liz and Morgan having the most amazing relationship through the written word, the author also adds amazingly interesting storylines that deal with Betty and her overwhelming urge to serve overseas; Julia’s exciting offer of a life working at Vogue in NYC; and, Morgan and his "unit" who have to go through horrific battles and extreme emotional upheaval in order to get home to the women and families they truly love. There’s not one story "thread" that’s even remotely boring – every single page of this is a must read.

This is a debut novel, and a fantastic one at that. This new author was inspired to write this heartfelt tale after reading her grandma and Papa’s love letters. I can’t think of a more beautiful way to get inspiration. My grandparents had the most amazing romance I’ve ever witnessed. Perhaps that generation knew how to truly find loyalty, love, friendship, and happiness in another person – as well as reciprocate those hard-to-find emotions. This is the type of love story that will have you praying for this author to hurry up and write another one!
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Jul 12, 2011 Erika Robuck rated it 5 of 5 stars

The book opens at a crowded USO dance. Liz is the literary, thoughtful girlfriend of a rising politician. Betty is a beautiful singer and waitress. Julia has a talent for design and is engaged to be married to a soldier. When Liz meets soldier Morgan McClain she feels an instant connection to him but dismisses it in light of her relationship and the fact that Morgan is about to report for duty.

When Betty needs rescuing from a group of overeager men at the dance, Morgan intervenes and dances with...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Girls Gone Reading rated it 3 of 5 stars

WWII has never interested me in the way that it has other people. I didn’t care about Brokaw’s Greatest Generation. I don’t have a grandparent that fought in WWII.

As I have said before, other wars and periods fascinate me more. (Anyone want to read about the American Revolution?!?!) But the best thing about Letters from Home is not the time period.

McMorris uses her historical setting well. Readers can picture the USO dances, the jungle army tents, the painted on pantyhose. But the setting never...more

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Apr 09, 2011 Vaughn Roycroft rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ever Know a WWII Vet? Do you have any relations, living or deceased, who served in World War II? If you think not, are you sure? After all, over 16 million Americans served in uniform during the war. That’s not to mention the millions who worked to arm, equip, transport, or otherwise support them. And this at a time when the population was less than half today’s; about 139 million. Chances are you are recently descended from someone greatly affected by this monumental conflict.

Have you ever wond...more Ever Know a WWII Vet? Do you have any relations, living or deceased, who served in World War II? If you think not, are you sure? After all, over 16 million Americans served in uniform during the war. That’s not to mention the millions who worked to arm, equip, transport, or otherwise support them. And this at a time when the population was less than half today’s; about 139 million. Chances are you are recently descended from someone greatly affected by this monumental conflict.

Have you ever wondered about them, how living scenes we can only imagine when seeing them in the movies really felt? Well, Kristina McMorris, upon discovering a treasure trove of letters between her grandparents, did. And the rest of us are blessed by her curiosity, and the resultant labor of love she crafted in Letters From Home.

The book opens with a simple enough hook: a chance meeting before a soldier ships off to war, a couple feels a spark in one another’s presence, in touching; the simple pangs of love at first sight. Through a simple misunderstanding they are separated before exploring their feelings, or even exchanging surnames, let alone contact information. McMorris’s simplicity is deceptively entangling, for both the couple, Liz and Morgan, and for the reader. Fate intervenes, and Liz is offered a chance to continue her connection with Morgan (Mac), off fighting in Europe, via letters from home. The hitch, thereby the novel’s true hook: to do so, Liz must assume another woman’s identity to keep Mac’s letters coming—and that woman is her friend and roommate.

Do you ever think society is worse off for the disappearance of letter-writing? I’m not talking emails or tweets—I refer to the composing of one’s thoughts and emotions in writing, in ink, specifically to connect with another. If so, you have a second reason to read this book. The language McMorris uses in Liz’s and Mac’s letters is so powerful, so beautifully written, I found myself longing for the next one, just as do Liz and Mac in the story.

The novel is multi-layered, introducing a whole series of era-specific issues via the secondary characters and plots. Issues like women’s changing roles, both in the armed services and on the home front, the shame of battle fatigue, and the dehumanizing and tragic impact of war and death on the psyche of its survivors. McMorris skillfully renders battle scenes, both gripping and heartrending. I consider myself well-read on the war and the era, and found her attention to detail impeccable. The dialog rings true and period-correct, but still relatable to a modern audience.

The final weaving of the various far-flung characters and story elements is masterful. I confess myself the son of a WWII combat vet, which may have some bearing on my feelings. But I found Letters From Home to be a sweeping, romantic, and powerfully moving page-turner. A must read for anyone who ever knew or wondered about a relative who survived or died as a result of one the world’s most arduous trials. They don’t call them The Greatest Generation for nothing.
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Mar 16, 2011 Cindy Hudson rated it 4 of 5 stars

In today’s world of instant communication, it’s hard to imagine a time when letters received and sent were the main ways people kept in touch. During wartime those letters were particularly important, keeping the thread of connection between soldiers fighting and those back home worried for their safety.

In Letters From Home, author Kristina McMorris has captured both the beauty and frustration that comes from mailed letters. The beauty is having something you can hold in your hands and read over...more In today’s world of instant communication, it’s hard to imagine a time when letters received and sent were the main ways people kept in touch. During wartime those letters were particularly important, keeping the thread of connection between soldiers fighting and those back home worried for their safety.

In Letters From Home, author Kristina McMorris has captured both the beauty and frustration that comes from mailed letters. The beauty is having something you can hold in your hands and read over and over again. It also seems like people were more apt to take time expressing their thoughts and their feelings when writing by hand than when sending an email, and certainly more than texting. The frustration came from waiting possibly long periods of time between correspondences. In wartime, the worlds of both the sender and the receiver could have changed significantly in that lag time.

The story centers around three female friends in Chicago who are roommates. Each of the girls has a different personality and a different approach to personal relationships. Julia is committed to staying true to her fiancé who is fighting in Europe. Betty is beautiful and a real attraction to men, but she searches for something that will give her real meaning. And Liz is engaged but she can’t help but remember the young man, Morgan, whom she met the night before he left to fight in Europe.

It is the letters between Liz and Morgan, who thinks he’s writing to Betty, that carry the heart of Letters from Home. It’s a thoughtful novel that will give mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 15 and up a lot to talk about. Some of the issues include: How do you know when you truly love someone? How do you show your true personality to someone who expects you to act a different way than you’d like? Is it ever okay to pretend to be someone else if you think it will help the person you’re pretending for? What are the differences in gender roles between women in the 1940s and women of today? I highly recommend it.
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Mar 15, 2011 Brenda Casto rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and when I read that "Letters From Home"was inspired by the love letters of the authors grandparents I was totally hooked.

Set during WWII, the story revolves around three young ladies Liz, Betty and Julia,who have been best friends since they were thrown together as lab partners in freshman science.The three of them live in Elizabeth (Liz) Stephens grandparents home. Each have their own aspirations in life, Liz plans on marrying her childhood friend Dalton,...more I am a huge fan of historical fiction and when I read that "Letters From Home"was inspired by the love letters of the authors grandparents I was totally hooked.

Set during WWII, the story revolves around three young ladies Liz, Betty and Julia,who have been best friends since they were thrown together as lab partners in freshman science.The three of them live in Elizabeth (Liz) Stephens grandparents home. Each have their own aspirations in life, Liz plans on marrying her childhood friend Dalton, and also becoming a literature professor. Julia is engaged to Christian, who is serving overseas, but she also is great with fashion, and has just been offered a chance at an impressive internship with Vogue. Betty works as a waitress and also sings at the USO, she decides that her life needs a change and makes a quick decision to join the Women's Army Corps.

Morgan McClain and his brother Charlie are getting ready to ship out and are spending their last night at the USO in Chicago. Charlie is anxious to get into battle, he would have enlisted early but his brother Morgan convinced him to wait until he was eighteen, and because Morgan has always looked out for his brother, he signed up as well.When Morgan and Liz meet at the USO they feel drawn to each other, but when Liz goes to the bathroom and comes back Morgan is dancing with Betty, making Liz think that she only imagined the spark she felt. Betty starts corresponding with Morgan but soon convinces Liz to write the letters for her, as the letters fly back and forth Morgan thinks he is falling for Betty, never realizing it is actually Liz he is corresponding with.

The author weaves together the stories of the characters perfectly, pulling you into their lives so completely that I really couldn't put the book down.There are some light humorous moments but also some heart wrenching ones as well. Because the author starts each chapter with the date and location she easily transistions the story between the States and the battlefield.

As we get the back stories of the characters, I found myself especially drawn to Liz, who felt abandoned by her father, and I really kept hoping that Julia wouldn't give up her chance with Vogue. I was so totally surprised when Betty joined the WAC. I kept wondering what Morgan would do when he found out the truth about who he was actually corresponding with. But most of all I found myself holding my breath, hoping that the men would make it back home alive.

If your looking for a well written story that will transport you back to a simpler time, where the characters stick in your heart and mind long after you have read the last page then you definitely want to read this book!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Feb 24, 2011 Ing rated it 5 of 5 stars

My Synopsis:
Liz Stephens is at a crossroad in her life. She has been in a relationship with her childhood friend, Dalton Harris. For the most part, Liz is content in this relationship. During a chance meeting at a USO dance, Liz meets Morgan McClain an enlisted soldier who will be shipped off to war the next morning. In that brief moment in time, Liz feels such a strong connection with Morgan that will shake her up and make her question her relationship and all that she knows. A misunderstandin...more My Synopsis:
Liz Stephens is at a crossroad in her life. She has been in a relationship with her childhood friend, Dalton Harris. For the most part, Liz is content in this relationship. During a chance meeting at a USO dance, Liz meets Morgan McClain an enlisted soldier who will be shipped off to war the next morning. In that brief moment in time, Liz feels such a strong connection with Morgan that will shake her up and make her question her relationship and all that she knows. A misunderstanding leads her to believe that Morgan's affection lies elsewhere.

Morgan and his brother Charlie are shipping off to war the next morning. Morgan has been looking out for Charlie his whole life. Charlie wanted to enlist and go off to war. Morgan also enlists and finds a way for them to be in the same unit so he could keep an eye out for his younger brother. On their last night before they are shipped off, Morgan meets and feels a huge connection with Liz. Before he could get her last name and find out more about her, Liz departs to clean up after a drunk soldier spills a drink down the side of her dress. Morgan loses sight of her while helping a damsel in distress.

Betty Cordell is trying to find her way in this world. She is beautiful and has the curves in all the right places. She's not as book smart as her roommates, but she's a fighter. Betty is singing at this dance and has captivated many of the soldiers there that night. She is rescued by Morgan when a drunk soldier doesn't take no for an answer. Betty is searching for Mr. Right and thinks she might have found it in Morgan.

Julia Renard has a decision to make. She's been offered a prestigious internship at Vogue. She would love to jump at this chance but she loves her fiance Christian more. Julia decides her time would be better spent at home as a wife when Christian returns from the war. Julia is confident in her decision and continues to plan her wedding. An encounter with Christian's older brother Ian will leave her questioning her path.

Each friend will take her own path leading her on a journey that will change her life.

My Thoughts:
Where to start? Let me start by telling you how I discovered this book. I was stalking the Rhapsody Book Club site and saw this book in their coming soon section. I saw the cover and fell in love with it. Yes, it doesn't have any eye candy (my normally visually appealing senses can appreciate non eye candy covers every once in awhile it happens..lol) but the combination of the letters and flower evoked an emotion in me. What emotion I couldn't tell you, but I knew I needed to find out more about this book. I read the synopsis and was sold. I checked out Kristina's website and totally fell in love. It's like stepping back into days gone by. I found out Kristina was a new author and this was a debut book. Stalked Kristina and told her I wanted to pimp her book and get her on my blog. I took a chance with an author I've never read before and a genre (Women's Fiction) that I'm picky about and rarely read, but something in my gut told me that I was going to like this book. Let me tell you, that I love it when my gut is right! :)

Kristina has written a captivating novel that will take you on a journey from the home front of America during WWII to the middle of the battlefields fought across the seas! With her poetic writing and descriptive words you will feel as if you've stepped right into the 1940's during an era that was dominated by an ugly war! Kristina wonderfully wove three different stories into one book seamlessly. The journey that each lady, Elizabeth, Betty, and Julia takes was written in a way that I was equally interested and eager to find out their fates.

The letters that are exchanged between Liz and Morgan, two people who spent just a moment together one night, conveyed their journey beautifully from strangers to soul mates. Julia's decision to give up her dreams to be a wonderful wife to her fiance fighting in the war will leave you heartbroken. Betty's road to discovering her place in the world and meeting the one man she think could be the one in the Pacific will keep you turning the pages. The moments with Morgan, his baby bro Charlie and their fellow soldiers will provide laughter, tears, hope and the realities of war.

This book worked in every way for me. The characters were all developed and layered nicely to give me the reader a sense of who they are at the beginning and who they become by the end of the book. Not one moment while reading this book did I feel bored. I was engrossed from the beginning until the final pages. My only complaint which really isn't a complaint is the fact that I wanted more after the last page. I didn't want the book to end. I did not want to leave these characters behind.

So if you can't tell...I loved this book. No sexing and I still loved it! :) I would highly recommend this book. If you love stories during the 1940's with three romances with different outcomes, beautiful letters, friendship, war and laughter, this is the book for you.
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Feb 21, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Kristina McMorris's book very much. Here is my review:

Set during World War II, from Chicago to the battles waging in Europe, from a USO club to a military field hospital, Kristina McMorris has created a moving story in LETTERS FROM HOME. This narrative was inspired by the true love story of her own grandparents’ romance and how their correspondence during the war resulted in their eventual loving union. Revolving around three female characters, LETTERS FROM HOME will grab you from the...more I enjoyed Kristina McMorris's book very much. Here is my review:

Set during World War II, from Chicago to the battles waging in Europe, from a USO club to a military field hospital, Kristina McMorris has created a moving story in LETTERS FROM HOME. This narrative was inspired by the true love story of her own grandparents’ romance and how their correspondence during the war resulted in their eventual loving union. Revolving around three female characters, LETTERS FROM HOME will grab you from the first page and not let you go until you have finished by looking at the wonderful “war time” recipes McMorris has included in the back of the book.

Liz Stephens, Betty Cordell, and Julia Renard were roommates in Chicago back in 1944. Each with a different goal in mind, the story follows these women as their lives entwine and they strive to reach those goals. Along the way, they find that no matter what they planned, life happens and some of their journeys end in a much different place than originally intended. Liz starts out fully expecting to marry Dalton Harris, a friend since they were children who is now a young, local politician. Betty is set on marrying a man of means, unlike her mother, while Julia’s dream is heading in the right direction now with a chance to intern for a very famous fashion design team. However, Julia is also engaged to Christian Downing, who is already overseas and while she waits for his return, knowing decisions will need to be made, his brother Ian returns from war, a changed man. Julia feels sorry for him but before she realizes it, those feelings begin to change to something more intense.

Enter the rest of the male characters with Morgan McClain, who with his brother Charlie, is enjoying a last hurrah at the Chicago USO Club before shipping out. Although Morgan would have been quite happy to continue his life at home, he thought it best he sign up to watch over his brother Charlie as he had done for most of his life given that Charlie could be rather impetuous. When Morgan and Liz meet at the USO, there is immediate chemistry, but when Morgan, always the good guy, goes to help Betty, Liz leaves thinking she had probably imagined it. What could she be thinking anyway when she is destined to be with Dalton?

One thing leads to another and Betty begins to write to Morgan overseas but feels she is inadequate in her writing skills and asks Liz for help. With Betty’s persuasive personality, Liz agrees and soon Morgan and Liz are writing meaningful, deep letters with Morgan picturing Betty while it is Liz he is really falling for. Betty makes a sudden patriotic, but possibly dangerous decision to join the Woman’s Army Corp and in doing so, finds a real romance of her own.

As LETTERS FROM HOME goes on, switching from battle fields to the home front, from the men to the women, McMorris writes with a personal touch that really keeps the reader “in the moment” and waiting to see which direction each character will go next. When the war ends, each of the women now has to come to terms with decisions they have made. What will happen when the men come home? Will Julia follow her dream or continue along the path she has started on? Will Liz be married safely to her childhood friend or take a chance on someone she thinks she has feelings for as a result of those letters? What will become of Betty and who will she finally wind up with, if any? And what IF all the men don’t come home? The ending stayed with me as it is one that left me thinking about each character and the choices they made for quite a while. Was I surprised, you might ask? I will say this, war can change people and sometimes we have to ask if we really knew that person to begin with. The fact that Kristina McMorris has written with such depth and emotion, reflected in her characters, the ending, and the story overall. I think you will only know what I mean by reading LETTERS FROM HOME by Kristina McMorris and make your own judgment.

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Apr 28, 2011 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love that this story is inspired by the author's grandparents. It takes place primarily in 1944-45 in Illinois, Dutch New Guinea and France. Two brothers, Morgan and Charlie McClain are in Chicago the night before they ship out to France,and end up at a club and there they meet Liz, Betty and Julia. Betty asked Liz to pen a letter to Morgan, since she had his information, and right after that she left to join the WAC's. What was supposed to be one letter turns into many, as Morgan, or Mac, wri...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a joy to read!

Wonderfully delightful book! Gripping story right from the start! The tears were flowing in many parts. Kristina McMorris's style of writing is so graceful and so powerful and is such a pleasure to read. I had not read an historical fiction novel in quite a while and I had forgotten how enjoyable they can be!

The main story revolves around letters that are exchanged between soldier Morgan McClain and Betty, a beautiful USO singer. The main twist is that he is actually not writ...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Victoria George rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 15, 2012 Lina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Liz, Betty, and Julia are childhood friends who share a house and volunteer for the local USO during the Second World War. Their's in the simplest relationship in the book.

Liz, a college student who wants a career after graduation, unusual for a woman during that time period, has a longtime steady boyfriend whom she seems bound to marry, but their relationship is rocky. Her mother left when Liz was young and she hasn't heard from her since then, and since growing up her father seems distant. On...more Liz, Betty, and Julia are childhood friends who share a house and volunteer for the local USO during the Second World War. Their's in the simplest relationship in the book.

Liz, a college student who wants a career after graduation, unusual for a woman during that time period, has a longtime steady boyfriend whom she seems bound to marry, but their relationship is rocky. Her mother left when Liz was young and she hasn't heard from her since then, and since growing up her father seems distant. One night at a USO dance she meets Morgan, a soldier about to ship out and she immediately feels a connection with him, but then she returns from the rest room to find him dancing with Betty. When Betty asks Liz to help her write to Morgan, Liz feels she has lost any chance she may have had with the soldier.

Betty, a waitress who has had her share of hard knocks, has no steady beaux, but gets lots of attention from the opposite sex, most of whom are wrong for her. She allows a good looking military recruiter to entice her into enlisting and before she knows what is happening finds herself in the muddy, soupy jungle of New Guinea. Lost in her own misery, she forgets about Morgan and the promise she extracted from Liz, who feels that it's not right to just ignore the letter that arrives from Morgan, addressed to Betty.

Julia is a fashion design student who is content to graduate and then settle down with her fiance, Christian, currently serving with the Navy in the Pacific. Christian's brother, Ian, a soldier who was sent home suffering from battle fatigue (now known as post-traumatic stress disorder) reveals to Julia that he has alwasy been jealous of Christian's easy success with his every endeavor and that he is in love with her. Add to this stress an offer of a much sought-after internship in the fashion field that would mean moving to New York.

Confused yet? There is also Liz's boyfriend Dalton, Morgan's brother Charlie and the other members of their Army unit, Christian's parents, and residents of the nursing home where Liz and Julia work part time. A lot of characters and plot lines to keep straight, but the one that will keep you interested is that of the letters exchanged between Liz and Morgan, even though he thinks they are from Betty and Liz is too afraid to tell him the truth for fear he won't be interested in hearing from her instead of Betty.

All in all, a good but not great read. It took a little while to get into this book.(less)

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Jul 13, 2012 Melissa Snider rated it 5 of 5 stars

Let me start this off by saying I read this book front to back in 2 days. It was that good. I found myself staying up until 2 am both nights because I just needed to know how the story unfolded. I tried to read it about a year ago, got a few pages in, and put it down. This time I was fresh off reading "Next to Love" by Ellen Feldman and wanted another historical fiction (romance) set during WWII. Truth is, I will pick up any book concerned with our Greatest Generation...

What I particularly loved...more Let me start this off by saying I read this book front to back in 2 days. It was that good. I found myself staying up until 2 am both nights because I just needed to know how the story unfolded. I tried to read it about a year ago, got a few pages in, and put it down. This time I was fresh off reading "Next to Love" by Ellen Feldman and wanted another historical fiction (romance) set during WWII. Truth is, I will pick up any book concerned with our Greatest Generation...

What I particularly loved about this novel, aside from the obvious (storyline... military love story, etc) was that the story is told from different perspectives. Each chapter is told from one of the 4 main character's POV. Books like this I can become more engaged in - they give me a better sense of the story and the character's lives/thoughts/feelings.

That said, I felt a deep sense of connection with the characters. I don't know why this is, but I felt like the main character Liz could have been one of my friends. Maybe because I myself am an Army wife, maybe because I know what it feels like to long for the one you love. This may be silly but they all became a part of my life for a few days. They felt real. Then the book ended, and I felt a sense of loss! Not many books have that affect on me. I found myself crying on 3 separate occasions while reading this book. Not many books have that affect either.

The story-line isn't groundbreaking by any means. It's another story of a "doomed love affair" really. This one was different for me however. I couldn't help myself from rooting for Morgan and Liz from the first chapter. Morgan was just so dang lovable, how could you not root for his happiness!?

I think the reason I felt the connection I did with this book is because I actually fell in love with my husband long distance via phone (thanks again, Army!), Skype and email. I'm not comparing situations, as that is apples and oranges. However, this book truly made me cherish the fact that I have several means of communication during his deployments! I could not imagine going months without contact, and constantly worrying my mail might be returned with "DECEASED" stamped on the back.

All in all, if you like historical fiction, this book is for you. If you like the WWII era, this book is for you. If you like a good love story, this book is for you.(less)

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Mar 09, 2011 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-review

I absolutely fell in love with this debut! Kristina McMorris has definitely got what it takes to hook her readers from the start and keep them hooked long into the night, until they reach that very last page. Her style is absolutely stunning as she writes of love and war, and even mixes it with some laughter here and there.

The characters she created are life like and complex. They all became my favorite and they all became my family for the duration of reading this novel. Each set of characters...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Adriana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Despite the 3 star rating, I really, really liked this story. But I'm not giving it a higher rating because I felt it could have been so much better. There were essentially four central characters in Letters from Home. Liz, Julia, and Betty, three housemates, and Morgan, the GI they all meet the night before he ships out to Europe. Ms. McAllister gave all three equal time, but I felt the story would have worked better if she had focused on Morgan and the girl he exchanged correspondence with, th...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Hallie Sawyer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Hallie by: Erika Robuck

LETTERS FROM HOME, published in March 2011 by Kensington Books, is set in 1944 Chicago. The story begins with three roommates, Liz, Betty, and Julia, as women on the cusp of their adult lives. Julia is waiting for her fiancé to return from the war, Liz is getting ready to marry her childhood sweetheart, and Betty has her sights set on joining the USO as a singer. However, things in life don't always happen according to plan.

Liz agrees to pen a letter for Betty to a young serviceman, Morgan McCla...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Ruth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great WWII fiction. I loved the hero and heroine and their journey to each other from their initial meeting at a USO dance before he's shipped out to Europe to their getting acquainted with each other through letters with the added complication that he thinks he's writing to someone else. He has to overcome his disappointment that the girl who begins writing to him is not the one he felt such a connection to in those minutes together at the USO dance. But the woman who writes to him is so unders...more

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May 12, 2011 AvonBooks added it · review of another edition

In Chicago, Illinois, two people are about to lock eyes across a crowded dance floor. The following moment will spark the love story of a lifetime…

The year is 1944 and America has just entered the war. Young men and women are being drafted in to fight with their allies on Europe’s distant shores. Throughout America, sweethearts are saying their last goodbyes.

Liz Stephens is already betrothed to budding US politician Dalton Harris, but when she meets GI Morgan McClain, she feels an instant and in...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Mandolin rated it 4 of 5 stars

This beautiful book recounts the struggles of three young Chicago roommates facing the tumult of a world turned upside down by World War II. Betty Cordell, knowing her beautiful exterior hides what she thinks of as a disgraceful past, leaves her dreams of singing for the USO to enlist in WAC and find purpose on the front. Julia Renard, aching for the fiance that left her for a Navy ship, abandons her hopes of becoming a fashion designer to dedicate herself to a future as a wife and mother. Liz S...more This beautiful book recounts the struggles of three young Chicago roommates facing the tumult of a world turned upside down by World War II. Betty Cordell, knowing her beautiful exterior hides what she thinks of as a disgraceful past, leaves her dreams of singing for the USO to enlist in WAC and find purpose on the front. Julia Renard, aching for the fiance that left her for a Navy ship, abandons her hopes of becoming a fashion designer to dedicate herself to a future as a wife and mother. Liz Stephens faces the rejection of her mother, the coldness of her father and her growing distance from her fiance while finding comfort and solace in the letters she writes for Betty to a soldier at the front. On the other side of the world, that soldier, Morgan McClain, faces the gruesome reality of battle and the fact that he may not always be able to protect his younger brother. In its contrasting scenes from the home and battle fronts, Letters from Home reminds us that, despite the large issues at stake in the world around us, the "smaller" problems of love, faith, loyalty and family are still just as important...or even more so, for the war makes life seem even more valuable and precious and makes them question their goals in life. In the end, they all discover that life does not always go according to plan but, when you follow your heart, you'll find yourself in a place that may be even better than any dream you had. As Morgan states, "The evening sky can sure be calming with its mix of bright colors. In the midst of battle, sometimes that sunset is the only proof we've got that there really is a God. Who else could make something so beautiful? When I was a kid, my mom once told me that God was an artist and how on occasion He'd throw a bucketful of paint across the sky for us all to see. I asked her why the pain disappeared by morning, and she told me that if the sky was always like that we might take it for granted. I suppose she was right. Maybe that's what war is all about - so we can appreciate times of peace."(less)

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Mar 29, 2011 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, 20th-century, war, romance, epistolary, midwest-us

Although this isn’t a true epistolary novel (one that is written as a series of documents, usually letters), the plot is driven in an epistolary sense as the narrative is built around a series of letters. Most of the correspondence takes place between Liz, a female college student and Morgan, a young soldier she meets briefly at a USO dance in Chicago during WW II. They form an instant mutual attraction, but through a series of misunderstandings, she ends up writing to him under the guise of her...more

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Mar 03, 2011 BecksBookPicks rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderfully written book that will take you for a ride through the early 1940's. You go back to a simpler time where women were just starting to get comfortable with who they were. Women still needed husbands and approval from their family. Dating was very simple in this time. Little kisses were generally stolen and left a blush between the two. This made the story very sweet and a nice change. Kristina really weaves several stories all into one book. There is heartbreak and love all...more

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