Just Once by Karen Kingsbury

     If I had to pick one word to describe Karen Kingsbury's latest novel, it would be Riveting. Just Once is a story within a story. A fictitious romance set in WW2. 

    Longtime readers of Kingsbury books will recognize Irvel and her Grandaughter Audra Anne from a previous book written in 2004(Remember). Back then, Irvel had been an Alzheimer's patient at Sunset Hill Seniors Home and Ashley Baxter was her nurse. 

    Irvel had been a side character in that story, but here, finally, her story finds its voice.

    Just Once takes us into the story that Audra Anne discovered while remodelling their home that had been owned by her grandparents. After watching their story, as it had been recorded on video cassettes, Audra knew their story was worth telling so she wrote it and had it published. 

    So when we switch from the current day with Audra, to Hank and Irvel's story, it's her reading the book she wrote and that tripped me up a little.

    But then I got sucked right into Irvel and Hank's story. It is 100% evident that Kingsbury did her research before she wrote this. The historical accuracy and detail make the characters come to life. You start to feel like you're right there with Irvel when she realizes that she loves both Hank and Sam. Hank was her childhood friend and Sam was his brother that took a chance and asked her out to dinner because Hank wouldn't.

    Then when Japan attacks Pearl Harbour the brothers go off to enlist. The book becomes even harder to put down when soon after Sam leaves for the Army, Irvel gets recruited by the OSS to be a spy. She became a "nurse" who would help deliver secret messages and break codes right under the nose of the Japanese. 

    Until Audra discovers those videotapes, only Hank had known she'd been a spy during the Second World War.

    This book does not come without a message of hope! Irvel repeatedly recites Joshua 1:9 to herself while she is afraid. In this way, Karen points her readers to God and to His word. If you can get your hands on this book, it's a great clean, enjoyable read!

Until Next time,

Margaret 📖