Monday, August 10, 2009

Review and Giveaway - Gifts of War by Mackenzie Ford



Gifts of War by Mackenzie Ford





rating: 4.0/5.0






From Amazon.com:
During the Christmas Truce of 1914, Hal Montgomery, a British soldier, is given a photo by a German soldier, Wilhelm Wetzlar, and they make a pact. Hal promises to find his enemy’s English girlfriend, Samantha, and let her know her fiancĂ© is alive and thinking of her. Several weeks later, Hal—now injured—is discharged from the army and goes to Stratford on Avon to fulfill his promise. But things take an unexpected turn when he meets the woman in the photo and falls in love with her himself. As their romance blossoms, Sam shares with Hal her most private confidence: Her newborn son is of German lineage, information that threatens her reputation and her job as a schoolteacher. Fearful that he will lose Sam, Hal holds tight to the secret—and the photograph—that brought them together.

The scene shifts to London, where Hal becomes involved with military intelligence and is introduced to Sam’s sisters and a different kind of secrecy. Against the broader landscape of England in wartime, Gifts of War captures the era and the fates of men and women caught in the sweep of history. A vivid tale of romance, adventure, and intrigue, the novel is a remarkable narrative that explores what made War World I so tragic, so revolutionary, and so exciting. It also announces a gifted new novelist.

I started reading this before my surgery and finished it up in the week after it. What's funny is even when I couldn't read in the hospital this book stayed on my mind. I don't read much historical fiction, but what little I have read I have enjoyed and it has made me want to delve into this genre even more.

As far as history is concerned I know very little except the highlights after 1900 - I blame this on my schooling and also on my lack of interest. Now I enjoy reading about historical time frames even in fiction because there is some hint of fact in the story and I learn something.

Gifts of War taught me a lot - it only goes into the battlefields of WWI in small doses, but it introduced me to the social impacts of WWI especially in London. As I followed Hal, Sam and Sam's son, I learned about the people during the war and how everyday life was affected. I learned about the spy-type efforts that went on and the anti-German sentiment that was rampant. It taught me that there is so much more to war than what I thought.

I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship building between Hal and Sam even though there is a secret between them. Watching these complex characters interact during the war was very interesting. It was hard to get away from the book for any period of time and it never seemed to drag. I enjoyed the aspects of Hal's job and the intrigue there, the people he met and Sam's family. It was all very interesting to watch play out in front of me.

I honestly cannot say enough about this book. It's rich in descriptions, characterization and plot that keeps it moving. I enjoyed it from the first page to the last and the twists and turns along the way.

If you enjoy good historical fiction - pick this one up. If this is a new genre to you - pick this one up - you won't regret it.

Binding: Hardcover
On-sale Date: July 7, 2009
Publisher: Nan A. Talese
Pages: 464

Also I would like to give away my copy which is an arc. I will open the contest today through August 29th. US and Canada residents only please. Please enter by:

  1. Commenting on my blog, make sure I have a way to contact you. (+1)
  2. Become a blog follower or let me know if you are already a follower (+1)
  3. Tell me the best historical fiction book that you have read or tell me why you haven't tried historical fiction (+1)
  4. Tweet about this review and giveaway, use @cfulcher in the tweet so I can find it (+1)
  5. Follow me on Twitter (or let me know if you are a current follower) (+1)
  6. Blog about this contest and let me know the link (sidebar or post is fine) (+1)
So there you go - 6 ways to get an entry into this contest. You can leave them in separate posts or one post, it doesn't matter, I will make sure you get your entries, just make sure to let me know what you do.

22 comments:

Esme said...

This looks fantastic

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

This one looks so good. Great review.

I follow in Google Reader.
I can't pick just one favorite historical read, although Galway Bay was terrific.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great book! I'd love to win a copy.

One of my favorite historical fictions is SARAH'S KEY - great book dealing with WWII.

I'm a follower.

My e-mail is pistilli2004(at)yahoo(dot)com

Linna said...

I would like to read this book. Please enter me. :D

linna.hsu(at)gmail(dot)com

+1 blog follower

Anonymous said...

I would absolutely love to win this book. Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

I just became a follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

My favourite historical novel is The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

This book sounds awesome.Please count me in.


cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Sue said...

Looks SO good. Thanks for sharing it.

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

Leslie said...

this is great! thanks for this giveaway! (+1)

Already was a follower (+1)

A Separate Peace by John Knowles(+1)

Already was a follower on twitter @thatchickreads (+1)

on sidebar at my main blog http://thatchickthatreads.blogspot.com (+1)

leslie-lv at hotmail dot com

Esme said...

I follow

favourite historical fiction-The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com

Alyce said...

I love historical fiction - especially about war times.

I'm now following your blog.

One of my favorite historical fiction books is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I love the whole series.

I'm now following you on twitter.

That should be four entries, right? :)

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

Ninja Fanpire said...

+1 Commenting
ninjafanpire@hotmail.com
+1 Blog follower
+1 I don't think I've read historical fiction because I don't really like history in general. I mean, I may have read one, but not that I remember.
+1 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/NinjaFanpire/status/3330071649
+1 Twitter follower
+1 Linked to contest in Blog post: http://ninjafanpire.blogspot.com/2009/08/contests_13.html

Rebecca N. said...

This sounds like a fantastic book! I would love to win this! Thanks for the chance.
imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Rebecca N. said...

I just started following your blog!
imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Rebecca N. said...

I'm not sure why I have not read much historical fiction but would love to begin.
imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Rebecca N. said...

I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/Sparkleglow/status/3356212223
imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Rebecca N. said...

I follow on twitter!
imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

Ally in WA said...

This looks interesting! Thanks for the solid review and chance to lay claim to your ARC copy.

rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

Ally in WA said...

Already a Follower (Ally/rubymoon)


rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

Ally in WA said...

I don't often pick up Historical Fiction to read--well, take that back--I get stuck in specific times in history such as the Jane Austen/Bronte's era so I don't venture into something new. So although I do read historical fiction and it isn't my first choice I tend to get tunnel vision which is probably not a good thing. So I have no read any historical fiction of the WWI era that I can recall.

rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

Marie (MUM) said...

This sounds really good and I'd love to win it. Count me in.

+1 comment
+1 follow
+1 my favorite historical fiction novel would have to be Dolley by Rita Mae Brown.

Marie
utah91960(at)yahoo(dot)com

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