Genre

Historical Fiction/ Romance / Young Adult

Audience

Highschool & Up

Author’s Worldview

Catholic

Year Published

2017

Themes

War, family, romance, friendship, WWI, true love, nurses, hospital workers, Divine Providence

 

Reviewed by

M.S. Ocampo

Julia Murphy, originally from Philadelphia, is a young woman who volunteers to help take care of injured soldiers in France. In December of 1918, she purchases a silver pocket watch and has it engraved for her “beloved,” even though she has no idea who her beloved is. She has high expectations of what she wants her husband to be and expects to fall in love at first sight with her soul mate.

Initially, Julia finds the idea of volunteering as a medical aide in the army barracks exciting, pondering the romantic idea of taking care of soldiers in need and possibly falling in love with one of them. A sheltered young woman, the reality of ward hits Julia hard. As soon as she gets to the field hospital, she has to treat hundreds of injured soldiers right away.

Major Peter Winslow is an intelligence officer of the 38th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He joined up as part of an allied group between the Canadians, Australians, and British. Most of his work entails translating French and German messages and relaying that information to Allied forces. He also has the grim job of interrogating prisoners of war. Winslow deeply misses his family, especially his brother, John, who was killed in the line of duty. He starts out the novel questioning why God did not answer his prayers for his brother’s safety. By the end of the book, he learns about his brother’s heroic sacrifice and sees God’s providential hand, using Julia’s love to protect him in dire circumstances.

When Julia and Peter meet for the first time, it’s anything but love at first sight. When Major Winslow finds Julia tending to an enemy soldier, he treats her harshly. Their relationship starts to change when Peter gets two pairs of socks that Julia knitted, the socks she intended for her beloved. Although she is very irritated that Peter got her socks instead of a soldier she assumed would be more in need of them, he compliments her on her knitting skills. Major Winslow starts falling in love with Julia, but it takes her a lot longer for her to return his feelings.

The camaraderie Julia has with her fellow volunteer nurses Charlotte and Ann is more told than shown, but they all genuinely care for Julia. Ann and Charlotte take care of Julia while she’s sick with influenza.

War stories are often written with a very sanitized tone, especially when there’s a love story, but Julia’s Gifts doesn’t hold back on how harsh, chaotic, and traumatizing wartime actually is. There’s mention of lice, people affected by mustard gas, various injuries, and influenza. This contrast is best shown when Julia gets a letter from her family, which mentions how her younger brothers were more than eager to enlist as soon as they got old enough, and Julia laments how little they really know.

I recommend this book for fans of wartime stories, especially World War I. The romance is appealing for those who like slow-burn relationships and hate-to-love stories. The author’s Catholic faith is shown as part of Julia’s own faith and Divine providence is a major theme as Major Winslow navigates through the chaotic war.

 

Join Here for FREE to Never Miss a Deal

Find new favorites & Support Catholic Authors

The Wind That Shakes The Corn: Memoirs of a Scots Irish Woman by Kaye Park Hinckley

Sold into slavery on her wedding night, an 18th-century Irishwoman struggles to free herself from her thirst for vengeance.

Elfling by Corinna Turner

Serapia Ravena is on a mission to find and keep her father, but he has transgressed a boundary that no creature has the right to cross. Only the mercy of God can resolve this tension.

Feel-Good Books For Pandemic Summer

Book Therapy to chase the blues away

The Divided Kingdom by Allison Ramirez

What sinister secrets hide behind the walls of the Island of Mirror?

Shadow in the Dark by Antony Barone Kolenc

An immersive mystery and an amateur sleuth set in the walls of a 12th century English monastery

The Table by Dennis Lambert

A table built by the grandfather of Jesus Christ survives the darkest moment in history to bring peace to a widowed musician

Saint Michael: Above the 38th Parallel by Shanti Guy

The true story of St. Michael, the original punch-communism-in-the-face superhero

The Lost Vessel by Mark Adderley

McCracken joins a treasure hunt for Captain Nemo’s lost ship in this exciting adventure that adds another chapter to Jules Verne’s greatest creation.

Anyone But Him by Theresa Linden

What if you woke up one day and didn’t recognize the person you were sleeping next to?

Roland West Loner by Theresa Linden

When his evil brothers lock Roland up in a dungeon he finds a locked box hiding a mysterious treasure.

The Mission of Joan Of Arc by Philip Kosloski, Alexandre Nascimento, and Jesse Hansen

Voyage Comics’ dynamic interpretation of the Life of Joan of Arc is based on the play written by St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

Summer at West Castle By Theresa Linden

Is God really leading Caitlyn to bad boy Jarret?

Battle for his Soul by Theresa Linden

Bereft of a mother & betrayed by his twin, Jarret fights for a place to call home, unaware a supernatural war threatening to damn him to hell itself.

Gifts Visible and Invisible

If you are looking for a cozy read to get into the Christmas cheer, this collection has it all.

A Fisher of Women: The Tale of the Forgotten Healer of Galilee by Catherine Magia

Before she and husband were Saints, Peter and his wife struggled just to heal themselves

The Book of Jotham by Arthur Powers

Experience Christ through the eyes of Jotham, his disabled disciple.

Outlaws of Ravenhurst, by Sr. M. Imelda Wallace, S.L.

The 10-year-old heir of a noble Scottish family must choose between his inheritance and his Catholic faith.

Treason by Dena Hunt

When the Queen Elizabeth’s agents are sent to investigate a small town, Protestant & Catholic alike must work together to avert tragedy.

Playing by Heart by Carmela Martino

In this historical drama, Emilia longs for a love as beautiful as her sonata, but the ambitions of her father put her and her sister in great danger. Winner of our 2018 Best of the Year Awards.

McCracken and the Lost Lady by Mark Adderley

McCracken gives us the grounded swashbuckling Catholic hero that our inner child has always wanted.