Just before their B-17 bomber crashes in German-occupied Austria, two of the three remaining crewmen manage to parachute out of the aircraft. Captain Charlie Banks and Corporal Samuel Aldridge find shelter in a barn, where they are discovered by a beautiful young Austrian woman. Despite the danger to herself and her family, Marianne Leichtner decides to help the two Americans. Her courage and character soon win Charlie’s heart.
When the Nazis come to investigate the plane crash, Charlie and Sam must escape through enemy territory. Just steps from freedom, they are captured by Italian fascists. Survival takes on a new meaning for the airmen, and Charlie begins to questions everything, including his faith. Only the hope of seeing Marianne again keeps him going over the long months in prison. But if he survives, will she still care for him? And will Charlie learn to trust in the Lord’s promises?
Melanie Mason is an author, designer, and
ight attendant all rolled into one. She graduated from utah State university
with a degree in communications. She has told stories all her life and her
passion in sharing the plots that spin through her head. She hopes to be on an
airplane one day and see someone reading one of her books. Melanie lives in
Portland, oregon—with her two dachshund Chihuahua dogs—where the beauty of the
Paci c Northwest feeds her imagination, and the rainy winter evenings encourage
her to curl up with hot chocolate and a good book.
Melanie’s rst book, The Line That Divides (2014),
is a historical romance set against the stunning backdrop of World War II Austria. Her second book, The Ring of Remaliha (2015), is a romantic
suspense novel about an archaeologist who must solve the puzzle of an ancient egyptian ring.
For more information, please visit
the author’s website, www.MelanieMasonAuthor.com.
Connect with the Author here:
4 Out of 5 Stars
Melanie Mason was the author that first peeked my interest enough that I decided to start doing reviews (see that review here) So when I was given the option to read and review another book by her I jumped at the chance.
This book was very enjoyable to read and it moves quite quickly, to the point I almost felt like I was reading a short story. I enjoyed the plot line and the romance is sweet. The are references to the airmen's religion which if you do not belong to their religion might be a bit confusing, but not detrimental to the story line in any way. This book is very clean, so there isn't any strong language and the romance goes as far as a simple kiss. There is one scene where the main girls is attacked by a Nazi intent on raping her, she is saved in time, and the scene is not graphically written at all. As it is a war story there are also elements of killing, and torture, again they are quite mild and almost everything is left to the imagination.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good historical romance, or anyone looking to broaden their genre base and wants a good clean book to start with.
Snippet:
The yoke
shook like an earthquake, and Charlie struggled to keep the bomber steady.
“Just a little farther, Baby. Just get us across the border. Please.”
“Fuel’s at
ten percent!” Corporal Hinks shouted past the deafening roar of the
quadruple-engine aircraft. “We just lost engine three.”
“We’re almost
there!” Charlie called as the plane convulsed and groaned beneath his hands.
From the
copilot seat, Lieutenant Anderson said, “This doesn’t look good, Captain.”
“Are we
across?”
“If we
aren’t, we are close enough to foot it,” answered Technician Jenson, the
navigator.
The plane
shuddered again. They had taken too much damage to do more than stumble to the
border. Hopefully no enemy aircraft were nearby to mark their location.
After another
loud rumble from the bomber, reality settled on Charlie’s shoulders. He checked
the instruments. “Sam, is it safe enough to send a distress call?”
“I wouldn’t chance it, Captain,” replied
Corporal Aldridge. “We don’t want to send them right to us.”
“All right,
men,” Charlie said. “You know the plan. Meet in Trento if you can. Head south
if you can’t.”
“Yes, sir.”
The cries of the remaining six crew members sounded through the damaged
aircraft.
regardless if
Charlie could land the plane or not— and it was unlikely—they had to get out.
“Bail out!”
The call rang
through the plane, followed by the noise of the men moving to their evacuation
points.
Seconds
later, Hinks yelled, “Jenson’s out.”
“I’m gone,”
Anderson shouted just before he jumped.
“Go, Hinks,”
Charlie ordered.
“I’ll see you
in Italy, Captain.” Hinks clipped on his chute and followed the others.“You ready, Sam?”
“Sure as
shootin’, Captain.” Sam’s Texas drawl came over the interphone.
Charlie’s
face dripped with sweat despite the frigid temperatures at twenty thousand
feet. “What about Peter?”
“I thought he
jumped already,” Sam replied.
Panic surged
through Charlie. The hit they took over Germany had blown a hole the size of
Vermont in the back of the aircraft. Was his brother hurt? unconscious? Dead?
Charlie pressed the interphone switch. “Peter, can you hear me? Peter?”
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