Cathy Gohlke: Until We Found Home

By Kelly Bridgewater

For American Claire Steward, joining the French Resistance sounded as romantic as the storylines she hopes will one day grace the novels she wants to write. But when she finds herself stranded on English shores, with five French Jewish children she smuggled across the channel before Nazis stormed Paris, reality feels more akin to fear.

With nowhere to go, Claire throws herself on the mercy of an estranged aunt, begging to Lady Miranda Langford to take the children into her magnificent estate. Heavily weighted with grief of her own, Miranda reluctantly agrees . . . if Claire will stay to help. Though desperate to return to France and the man she loves, Claire has few options. But her tumultuous--spent in the refuge of novels with fictional friends--has ill-prepared her for the daily dramas of raising children, or for the way David Campbell, a fellow American boarder, challenges her notions of love. Nor could she foresee how the tentacles of war will invade their quiet haven, threatening all who have come to call Bluebell Wood home, the people who have become her family.

Set in England's lush and storied Lake District in the early days of World War II, and featuring cameos from the beloved literary icons Beatrix Potter and C. S. Lewis, Until We Found Home is an unforgettable portrait of life on the British home front, challenging us to remember that bravery and family come in many forms.

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My Thoughts:

Until We Found Home by Cathy Gohlke is a heart-wrenching novel set during World War II in the lake district in England. With a fast moving plot and a little suspense toward the end, I became wrapped in the novel and couldn't wait to send time with the characters. Gohlke's favorite book of mine is Secrets She Kept. I'm still suggesting this book to people when they want to read a book about forgiveness. With Until We Found Home, I was familiar with Gohlke's style of writing, so I knew I would be in for a treat.

The writing is clear and concise. I had no problem seeing the Lake District and the massive home belonging to Lady Miranda. I really enjoyed the secret garden in the backyard. Gohlke draws the connection to the story of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, which I loved as a child. I enjoyed The Little Princess by Burnett too. Some of my favorite childhood stories. So the connection was not lost on me when Gohlke brought moments of nostalgia as I read the book.

The characters were complete and unique. Claire changes a lot in this book. When I met her in the beginning, she wanted to help the war effort, but she was more focused on the man she loved and being with. Helping was something he wanted, and it made her feel better if she could help him. But Golke had something better planned for her. She had to sacrifice a lot to keep the children safe. Claire's journey to transformation was enjoyable to watch. Lady Miranda also changed through the whole story. In the beginning, she is consumed by grief and has allowed it to keep her locked in her massive estate with no encounter with anyone else. She also changes by the end of the novel.

The plot shows refugees who made it to England. Most stories I encounter during World War II show the characters trying to escape Hitler's rule, but they usually stay in the lower part of Europe. Most don't show the problems after they escape to England. This was a different perspective, and I enjoyed the story. It moved pretty quickly and captured my World War II loving mind. Being a huge C. S. Lewis fan and have written two research papers on him in graduate school, I really enjoyed seeing the characters interact with Lewis through letters and his books. He means a lot to me and was a nice touch to the story.

In conclusion, Until We Find Home by Cathy Gohlke is a wonderful World War II novel. Gohlke created a story with the power of transformation and showing how important it is to enjoy every moment with your loved ones and to treasure the moments God has gifted you with. I greatly treasure this book, and it will go on my keeper shelf alongside her other wonderful writings. Highly recommend to fans of Sarah Sundin, Kate Breslin, Kristy Cambron, and other World War II writers.

I received a complimentary copy of Until We Find Home by Cathy Gohlke from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars