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Love Me Tender
A heartrending tale of love and tragedy during The Birmingham Blitz. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Annie Groves.
For Kathy O’Malley, life has not been easy with her husband, Barry, out of work and with two children to feed. Then when war breaks out in 1939, many of the local men enlist, including Barry, leaving the women to cope as best they can.
The years that follow are full of hardship: rationing, nightly air raids and endless shifts working at the local munitions factory all take their toll on Kathy who longs to feel the strong arms of her husband around her once more.
When she meets Doug, a handsome American GI, she is drawn immediately drawn to him but determined to honour her marriage vows. But after she receives a telegram informing that her husband is missing, presumed dead, she makes a decision that will have consequences, not just for herself, but for the lives of all those she loves too…
- GenresHistorical Fiction
500 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 23, 2016
A cracker of a story
What I loved about this story is the insight to to ordinary person and what they endured during the war. Anne Bennett has written in way that takes you right there. I could feel the pain and loneliness the terror and the love. Stirred so many emotions and I could imagine what my parents went through and how it changed their lives for it did and in ways I cannot imagine. A hopeful ending. Looking forward to reading another Anne Bennett war story
What I loved about this story is the insight to to ordinary person and what they endured during the war. Anne Bennett has written in way that takes you right there. I could feel the pain and loneliness the terror and the love. Stirred so many emotions and I could imagine what my parents went through and how it changed their lives for it did and in ways I cannot imagine. A hopeful ending. Looking forward to reading another Anne Bennett war story
February 19, 2018
It was a pleasure to read this book and I enjoyed every word that was written on the pages.
I really enjoy books set in this era and this book was no exception. Storytelling at it's best. Recommended.
I really enjoy books set in this era and this book was no exception. Storytelling at it's best. Recommended.
March 20, 2020
3 out of 5 stars
This is a book set over World War Two and based around Kathy O’Malley. At the start of this book she has two children and a husband out of work which means times are tough. When war breaks out in 1939 everything changes. There are triggers for rape, abuse, miscarriage and grieve. To me this was well written but my only criticism is that it’s quite generic and nothing different from other books about this era. I loved kathys sister Maggie the most as she is the strong one. In my opinion it was mostly the sub characters that I loved the most and that could have been developed more. Don’t get me wrong this book hits the nail on the head about so many things that happened in the war and it was good just not great.
This is a book set over World War Two and based around Kathy O’Malley. At the start of this book she has two children and a husband out of work which means times are tough. When war breaks out in 1939 everything changes. There are triggers for rape, abuse, miscarriage and grieve. To me this was well written but my only criticism is that it’s quite generic and nothing different from other books about this era. I loved kathys sister Maggie the most as she is the strong one. In my opinion it was mostly the sub characters that I loved the most and that could have been developed more. Don’t get me wrong this book hits the nail on the head about so many things that happened in the war and it was good just not great.
August 27, 2017
A good read once you get into it, it does jump about a bit but towards the last few chapters I couldn't put it down. You really feel as though you know the characters and it's a great insight into life during the war and the everyday struggles.
August 8, 2020
Fantastic book I cannot rate this book enough it is a brilliant story of a family throughout WW2 it captivated and help my attention the entire time which meant very many late nights would recommend its worth every penny thank you Anne Bennet
June 25, 2017
A fantastic book, you really felt you was there
November 9, 2021
I really enjoyed this book
March 4, 2022
Family life
The story was really good, so true to.life for disbelieving through the second world war.
I like Anne Bennets books
The story was really good, so true to.life for disbelieving through the second world war.
I like Anne Bennets books
March 14, 2017
Brilliant
Another brilliant book by Anne Bennett. Its a story of love and how the war affected the family. The two older children being sent to safety in the country, away from the bombing and how it changed their life for five years.. A story that so easily been true. Very detailed about 2nd war world. Brilliant
Another brilliant book by Anne Bennett. Its a story of love and how the war affected the family. The two older children being sent to safety in the country, away from the bombing and how it changed their life for five years.. A story that so easily been true. Very detailed about 2nd war world. Brilliant
June 23, 2015
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway
I love History and a good historical fiction of any era is good for me! I especially enjoy WW2 era so I had a good feeling I'd enjoy this.
The story itself is well shaped and well written with some fantastic characters and themes of love, loss and war very well explored.
Kathy is a great character to read, she goes through seemingly endless hardships and is a realistic depiction of a woman in the North of England at this time. She is confused and wary but not afraid to go where her heart takes her.
The only issue I had with this book is that it's a little too predictable for my liking. I am aware that it's largely a romance novel and they follow a pattern but I do like to be surprised a little.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this!
I love History and a good historical fiction of any era is good for me! I especially enjoy WW2 era so I had a good feeling I'd enjoy this.
The story itself is well shaped and well written with some fantastic characters and themes of love, loss and war very well explored.
Kathy is a great character to read, she goes through seemingly endless hardships and is a realistic depiction of a woman in the North of England at this time. She is confused and wary but not afraid to go where her heart takes her.
The only issue I had with this book is that it's a little too predictable for my liking. I am aware that it's largely a romance novel and they follow a pattern but I do like to be surprised a little.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this!
July 7, 2016
I enjoyed this book. It's the story of Kathy O'Malley who is of Irish descent, and lives in Birmingham. She has a large family who all live near, and at the start of the story she had two children. It concentrates on the difficulties of living through the second world war while bringing up a family. It includes such topics as evacuation, rationing, air raids, working in a munitions factory and worrying about husbands serving their country. I felt the characters were very realistic, and the era was portrayed and researched well.
July 2, 2015
Family, hearTache, war..
Story revolves during war torn England, Ireland and how they survive with the strength and love that threatens they're bond.
I liked this book because it forces me to see the humanity that exists when war changes everyday survival for women and children who are left behind when husbands and lovers leave them behind.
Story revolves during war torn England, Ireland and how they survive with the strength and love that threatens they're bond.
I liked this book because it forces me to see the humanity that exists when war changes everyday survival for women and children who are left behind when husbands and lovers leave them behind.
November 3, 2015
Had to give this book up after 50 odd pages and normally I'd give it to at least 100 pages if I wasn't feeling it but I just was getting no enjoyment out of it and this is mainly down to the characters.
I couldn't connect with them or care and so much in depth detail on the war and we've only started so not my cup of tea.
Perhaps if I'd stuck it out it would have improved considerably.
I couldn't connect with them or care and so much in depth detail on the war and we've only started so not my cup of tea.
Perhaps if I'd stuck it out it would have improved considerably.
June 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this book and enjoy reading about the war time era in particular
So for me personally I would recommend this fantastic tale of love and loss
Thank you to goodreads
I rate this book 4 stars
So for me personally I would recommend this fantastic tale of love and loss
Thank you to goodreads
I rate this book 4 stars
January 3, 2016
This was a Goodreads Giveaway. I'd give it a solid 3.5 star rating. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I found some of it rather trite, but, that's just me. It was well written, and moving in the way it captures what war does to families, people and relationships.
June 11, 2015
a fabulous story and do remember reading this back in 1999 as well the heartfelt story of wartime and kathys struggle really enjoyed it and thank you goodreads as i won this book off you
June 1, 2016
Ok
This book was ok but not a book I would read again or tell someone else that it as great.
This book was ok but not a book I would read again or tell someone else that it as great.
September 10, 2015
another wonderful saga from Anne Bennet, set in Birmingham during WW2
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews