2014 Lyra Independent Fiction Contest Romance Category Winner!
In the tradition of The Notebook comes…Once in a While.
Victor Matthews is a down on his luck young man, frustrated with his life and his inability to find gainful employment.
Louise Hoskins is a young woman content in her life with her family and friends. Her biggest concern is her upcoming lead part in a play.
One rainy night, they meet…and both are forever changed.
Neither could foresee that the world as they know it is on the precipice of experiencing the now famous ’37 Flood, and that daily life is about to be transformed into a bone chilling waterlogged state of affairs. But as that harrowing experience fades and their lives return to normal, the two young lovers embark on an unforgettable courtship – that is, until a terrible argument and a tragic misunderstanding tear them apart. How will they survive the separation? And why does one special song have the power to instantly transport the sweethearts back into the realm of cherished memories? This is a clean Southern historical romance set during the Depression Era.
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Sexual Content - 2/5
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Violence - 1/5
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Language - 0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
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Summary
Once In A While, by Linda Ellen, is both historical fiction and a romance novel. As such, reading this book requires delving into the trials and triumphs of the 1930’s. The plot is realistic and honest. Louise is a high school student in a family in which she feels ignored. Vic is perpetually unemployed in the Great Depression, striving to gain a job and his identity as a man. The two fall in love during the worst flood in Louisville’s history, creating losses and sacrifices. Based on a family legend, this page-turner ebbs and flows with conflict that keeps the action pressing forward.
Couple the carefully crafted plot with memorable characters. The two main characters, Louise and Vic, are compelling. Louise learns that creating secrets is a dangerous business that exacts her dreams as payment. Vic fights to maintain his integrity when temptations in many forms threaten to overwhelm him. The utter transparency of these characters as they try to deal with their inborn flaws endears them to the reader. Best friends to the couple are individually defined so the reader gets to know them in a caring way. The families of the main characters include interesting members. The antagonist roils any reader’s blood with his injustice. All the characters are so well delineated that they can be visualized.
This is a romantic “boy-meets-girl, love forever” type novel. The attraction of Louise and Vic is strong, so their intensity only grows as the relationship presses into a physical tug of war. The emotions are as real as the consequences and heart ache resulting from the misunderstandings of Vic and Louise. Heart wrenching, but eventually satisfying, the romance is alternately gritty, sweet and realistic.
The part of the book that is intriguing is the attention to detail on every page. Set in the Great Depression during a memorable flood, the author has taken the care to be accurate in all aspects of the historic event and location. Her descriptions of the White Castle, rescue operations, fashions, food and the CCC brings authenticity to the story. Lind Ellen pulls the reader into a world that was unique, presenting both the despair and the hope experienced in those times of unemployment and hardship. Spiritual yearnings are alluded to, but not fully developed. For those readers who love history, this is a satisfying read.
The first in a series of three books which tell the story of Louise and Vic, Once In A While sets the pace for excellent historical fiction with a true life romantic undertone.
Reviewer: Cleo Lampos