Hearts Divided (5-B Poppy Lane / The Apple Orchard / Liberty Hall)

Only read the first story in this collection "5-B Popply Lane" as I'm currently reading the Cedar Cove series. It was a heart-warming story of a "war-bride" from World War II and one from today. In typical Debbie Macomber fashion, you feel a connection with the characters and their situation from the beginning of the story.

I chose this because of the Debbie Macomber story. All three stories were good. I enjoyed each auther's writing and how the stories were linked together.

Three connecting stories of Grandmothers and their single Granddaughters all of whom are single. N.W. US is the setting and all three girls are/or becom involved with service/veternans. The Grandmothers married Servicemen also during WWII, the girls are mostly anti military and so come to their Grandmothers for advice not realizing that their Grandmothers are biased due to their own successful marriages to wonderful Veternans who are now deceased.

Hearts Divided consists of three short stories along the same theme: grandmothers who were soldier brides; granddaughters involved with soldiers. The grandmothers are friends from long ago, and the stories weave into one another.5B Poppy Lane by Debbie Macomber is a Cedar Cove short story that occurs between 50 Harbor Street and 6 Rainier Drive, although it is not necessary to have read the Cedar Cove books to enjoy this romance. Ruth Shelton is studying in Seattle and has been corresponding with a marine, Sergeant Paul Gordon stationed in Afghanistan, although she is against war. Ruth’s grandmother, Helen Shelton, lives in Cedar Cove, at 5B Poppy Lane, and was married to a soldier, Lieutenant Sam Shelton. When Paul and Ruth meet for show more the first time, they are very much attracted to each other, but Ruth’s stance against the military and Paul’s dedication to his military career presents them with a dilemma regards their ongoing relationship. When Helen meets Paul, she is reminded of her first husband, Jean-Claude, a resistance fighter in Paris during the war. She decides to tell of her wartime experiences, something she has kept to herself for over sixty years. Helen and Sam’s relationship is echoed in Ruth and Paul’s. A sweet romance. Liberty Hall is the 16th romance story by Lois Faye Dyer. Professor Chloe Abbott is an English lecturer at the University of Washington. Attending a PR event about the donation of equipment for disabled returned servicemen with her grandmother, Winifred Abbott, Chloe meets Jake Morrissey, ex-Marine corps sergeant, now a demolitions expert. They are instantly attracted, and eventually begin seeing each other. Meanwhile, Chloe has the feeling she is being followed, a feeling Jake insists on treating seriously. When a document written in code drops through her mail slot, she enlists Winifred’s help: Winifred worked as a code-breaker with her soldier husband, Richard, during the war. This is a romance with a bit of mystery and action added. A charming romance.The Apple Orchard is the 24th romance story by Katherine Stone. Elizabeth Winslow is engaged to Matthew Blaine and looking forward to her wedding, although perhaps not as much as the mothers who are doing to planning. Just one thing is bothering her: her beloved grandmother, Clara McKenzie, seems convinced that Matthew is not the right man for her. When this proves, painfully, to be true, Elizabeth retreats to Clara’s Oregon farm in the town of Sarah’s Orchard, for the comfort only a grandmother can give. Although someone else is also standing by to give comfort: ex-Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Lawton, having saved Elizabeth once before, when she was too young to remember it, is only too eager to save her again. I thought the back-story for Nick was beautiful: a delightful romance. show less

Three endearing short stories of grandmothers and their unique relationship with their grand daughters. As you read this you are reminded that your own grandmother was young and in love once as well. Each story contains a bit of suspense, each a seperate short story yet all three connected.

Great book! I picked it up as I was reading the Cedar Cove series, but really enjoyed the others. Was my first Lois Faye Dyer book, and I would have to say, out of the three stories I enjoyed it the most. Great read!

great linking of stories and characters