Book Beat – Every Tear a Memory by Myra Johnson
Joanna Trapp lives for adventure. During World War I she served as a “Hello Girl” switchboard operator in France. When a telegram arrives after the war announcing the death of Joanna’s mother, she reluctantly goes home to Hot Springs, Arkansas to care for her troubled teenage sister, Lily. However, quiet home life makes her restless. Only her job as a hotel switchboard operator gives her any sense of purpose.
During the war, Thomas Ballard had to stay home with health issues, while his brother and friends fought and sacrificed for their country. However, a life of security has always appealed to him, and his work as a manager of one of Hot Springs’s finest hotels fulfills him.
When Thomas and Joanna meet, their mutual attraction battles with their inherent differences. Can a woman of adventure find happiness with a man of stability? Will they challenge each other – or infuriate each other?
Every Tear a Memory by Myra Johnson explores the time immediately after the First World War, when servicemen – and servicewomen – readjusted to their lives at home. The honest look at the effects of grief and mental illness elevate this story beyond a simple romance. But the romance also satisfies on a deep level, as Thomas and Joanna’s relationship brings about mutual growth as well as tender kisses. A lovely story I highly recommend.
