A nice romantic read with twists and turns you will see coming and others not. An easy read during the holidays fully recommend for some escapism

Thank you to HQ books and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the premise and characters in this book. The plot wasn’t centred fully on the war which I really appreciated. It took it away from the usual historical fictions based around World War II and made it stand out among other books. Gwen became irritating after a while, but towards the end of the book, I started to enjoy her character once again. Her naivety was very realistic which added to the depth of this plot.

One issue I did have with the overall book was the length. The plot felt dragged out for no reason which made it a slow read in the middle. If it had have been shorter and took out some unnecessary scenes, this rating would surely be higher.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for people wanting to explore the aftermath of World War II.

What a gripping story ! Jack meets Gwen when he goes to work on her father’s farm as he escapes his demons in the big city. Obstacles are put in his way, the wealthy Lairds son, neighbouring farmer and the war. As the story unfolds there are twists you will see coming, others not so much. Loved it. My first by this author, definitely not the last.

This book is beautifully written and the characters are slowly and sensitively developed as the story unfolds.

I haven't read a book by Anita Frank before, on of I future novels.

Many novels make use of the dual timeframe, but one is exceptionally good. One part of the story follows the life of Gwen starting in 1939, just prior to the outbreak of war. The other part of the story follows the life of Jack set mainly in 1945 as the war draws to a close.

The author has created a carefully researched historical fiction story which captures many of the facets of life in rural England on the Home Front.

I liked the way the author manages to explore a wide range of socioeconomic attitudes which existed at the time.

I won't go into detail about the storyline for fear of spoiling the plot. Suffice to say that this is one of those books which I didn't want to end.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for a copy in exchange for this review.

This is a dual time novel which begins in 1939 Tyneside, an area which Jack has had to leave quickly. His travels take him to Berkshire where he's happy to be taken on as a farm worker, marking time until he can join the army as it seems that war will break out soon. He's attracted to Gwen the farmer's daughter, but Gwen has bigger ideas. Time switches to 1945 with everyone waiting for husbands and sons to be demobbed, but Gwen is sure that Jack will not be coming back - after all he promised her that he wouldn't.

I didn't enjoy this one as much as other readers seem to have. I felt it was far too long and really should have been edited to about half the size, and more historical research was needed.

This beautiful story has just made it under the wire as I was compiling my Top 21 Books for 2021 and it truly deserves it’s place next to the others on the list. I was gripped by the story of Jack, who makes a very different promise to his new bride Gwen on the eve of WW2. Most soldiers are promising to see them again, to return, but Jack is quite clear. If he should survive the war, he won’t be back this way again. Gwen prays he keeps to his promise, but as they celebrate VE Day she does keep looking over her shoulder. What if he reneges on his promise? War has changed Jack and he is no longer the man who made that bargain. He wants to return and claim Gwen as his bride again, but little does he know that this could set in motion a chain of events that will leave he and Gwen fighting for what they love most.

We go back and forth in time throughout the book, but begins with Jack fleeing his home city on the night train, shielded by a friend who’s working on this nightly service down south from Newcastle. Jack is like many other young men in Newcastle, he’s a riveter in the shipyards and lives in a terrace house with his Mum and sister Jenny. One moment life is trundling along as normal, then the next a terrible twist of fate leads to a violent act of revenge. Stowing away on the night train, Jack plans to hop off somewhere far away where he can find work. So, as if from nowhere, he appears round the bend of a country lane to find a young woman who has fallen from her horse, but has her foot trapped in the stirrup. He hurries to help Gwen as her skittish horse takes off in the direction of the village. He takes her home to her family farm, where she helps her Dad with the dairy cattle and any other jobs that need doing. Lucky for Jack he’s arrived at a busy time on the farm, so while he stays for a home cooked meal to thank him for his service, Gwen’s dad Jim asked if he would like to stay and work. Jack accepts and as Gwen shows him his bed in the tack room, he thinks he may have fallen on his feet for the summer. What he doesn’t know is that Gwen is about to put him in a very difficult position. As he investigates a noise in the stack yard at night, he finds Gwen trying (and failing miserably) to quietly retrieve a ladder. She can’t pass her father’s door because the floor boards squeak. Reluctantly, he helps her climb up into her room, knowing that she must be meeting someone secretly and is surprised by how that bothers him.

I grew to like Jack, who is a young man of principles, only resorting to violence when someone he loves is hurt. He has an inbuilt moral compass, especially in his dealings with women and is very critical of anyone who doesn’t meet those standards of behaviour. He knows that in circumstances where young men lead women on and make false promises, it is the woman’s life and reputation that is ruined while the man just carries onto the next victim. He is a gentleman in his behaviour, even if he isn’t in position. I loved how he doesn’t have that family structure at home, but finds it with Jim and Gwen, and even housekeeper eventually. I didn’t always understand Gwen, although she is very young at the start of the novel and thanks to Jim’s overprotective nature, she’s quite naive. Something I did understand was her loyalty to the land and farm, it’s a way of life that’s in her blood and she isn’t afraid of hard work. She takes a very active part in the farm, from early morning milking, to driving tractors and locking the livestock up late at night. I thought the differences between gender and class were very pronounced in the novel. That the

The author creates a beautiful link between Gwen’s wholesomeness and the countryside - she’s miles away from the girls Jack has encountered in the city. She’s a young girl between places in society, she’s not in the lower classes but she’s not good enough for the landed gentry to consort with. At least not in public anyway. In the wartime sections of the book she’s well contrasted with land girl Norah, who has a cynical and knowing way about her. If they go the pub or an event, she soon disappears into a crowd of enthusiastic young men and seems completely at home flirting and telling stories that make them roar with laughter. Gwen is quieter, worried about how the farm will keep going with just her and Norah, wanting desperately to hold on to her father’s legacy. Besides, she knows the lies young men tell and the damage they can do. In those wartime sections, I felt the land and the countryside around it contrasted with the imagined battlefield far from here and the changes that farming had to come. Land was commandeered by the Ministry of Agriculture and fallow fields ploughed up for crops to feed the country. It was the beginning of the end for that quiet time when two ponies pulled the plough and two workers would weed the crop using a hoe. These passages of man working quietly within the countryside soon gives way to more modern farming methods which feel at odds with nature, rather than being harmonious. The author’s descriptions of animal and bird life are like a hymn to the old ways. I understood Jack’s need to return to this life, to feel at peace within it and allow the noise of battle, lodged in his head, to die down. However, I couldn’t see how he could stay either. I wondered constantly when the past would catch up with him and whether Gwen’s secrets could possibly remain hidden. This was a different slant on WW2, full of beautiful pastoral scenes and a relationship I was wishing would turn to love. A simply gorgeous read.

An interesting WW2 story of Jack and Gwen. A bit slow in places but but being in the two timelines of 1939 and 1945 worked well and it was different to most historical novels of the era that I have read. Plenty of storyline drip feed to keep your interest

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
This book is written along dual timelines, just before the start and at the end of WW2 but it uses the present tense at all times which I found very strange. It is full of minute detail, even down to the dead bluebottles on the windowsill where Jack will be sleeping. We are told that Jack has grazed and bloodied knuckles at the start of the book but by the time I had read 15% I was only just starting the second day after he left home without learning the reason for the altercation.
The story was too slow to maintain my interest and I did not read any further.

In The Return, the author gives us a story which is a little different to many others and, as such, kept me captivated as the story slowly unfurled.

The two main characters, Gwen and Jack, are complex and, their relationship even more so. The thing I particularly liked about this book is that the details are gradually drip fed throughout the novel at an appropriate pace. With every chapter I learned more of their back story which made reading this novel a joy.

Additionally, the surrounding cast of characters was thoroughly well drawn. Each played a significant part in this story, and the author carefully choreographed their parts around the stories of Gwen and Jack.

Ms Franks ability to portray characters and place are exceptional. The farm in which the story is based felt tangibly real and, therefore, it was easy to feel transported to another time and place.

At it's core it is historical fiction with a huge dollop of mystery, intrigue and romance. It tackles love in all it's forms and it made for an emotive and heart felt reading experience.

An enjoyable read but not really the type of book I’d usually go for. It was a little slow in parts, but the characters were relatable and the story flowed. Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC

An engaging story , an engrossing plot, a real insight into loss and love during World War Two. Beautifully written , an absolutely must read for lovers of the wartime romance genre. Highly recommended.

An easy enjoyable read. Likeable characters in Gwen and `Jack the main characters. A story line that is a bit predictable but nevertheless carefully developed.

I enjoyed this book very much in spite of the slow pace at times.
The characters and locations are well drawn and the mystery part of the story kept me interested and reading for longer than intended. The description of farm work had been well researched.
This is a story of second chances, romance and overcoming adversity.

This was an absorbing story with lots of twists and turns. Great cast of characters that brought the story to life and made it seem real. The period parts of it were very interesting. How farming has changes! Good build up to a great conclusion.

This is the first book I’ve read by Anita Frank and I’m looking forward to reading more in the future. Gwen and Jack take turns to share their stories, moving backwards and forwards between 1939 and 1945.

Jack has left his home city after tragic events led him to lose his temper. After saving Gwen from a spooked horse, he starts work on her family farm as the threat of war grows closer. Gwen has her own secrets and these come back to haunt her in 1945.

I enjoyed reading this historical fiction book, eager to find out what had happened in the past to Jack and how Gwen would cope after the War ended. The details about the farming during that era were fascinating – my grandpa worked at Kiveton Colliery but during the War he worked nights underground and on a local farm during the day. I found myself wondering which of the farming jobs he had done.

Happy to recommend this book.

Jack Ellison has a secret he is determined to keep hidden as he doesn't want to jeopardise his chances of employment at the Berkshire farm run by father and daughter, Jim and Gwen. Jack takes to farming really well and both Jim and Gwen come to rely on Jack's kind nature. However, from the outset we realise that Gwen is, herself, harbouring a secret and with the prospect of war looming, an agreement is made between Jack and Gwen which will have far reaching consequences.

The sheer backbreaking hardship of keeping the farm running with little or no help comes across as does Gwen's need to do what is best for herself. And whilst I felt an immediate rapport with Jack's character, he is difficult not to like, I struggled to like Gwen very much but understood the reasons why she comes across as heartless in places. I enjoyed how the story moved around in time, so that we get Jack's perspective in 1939, alongside that of Gwen in 1945 when the war is coming to an end.

The Return is a nicely written historical saga which has, at its heart, an emotional story of heartbreaking secrets and lost promises.

I love discovering new authors and Anita Frank is certainly a new author for me. People who know me well, know that not only am I a book geek but I am also a history nerd. Put the two together and what do you get? A very happy Ginger Book Geek. I read the synopsis for ‘The Return’ and it certainly sounded like my cup of tea. So without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for an interesting afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Return’ but more about that in a bit.
It didn’t take me long to get into ‘The Return’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first couple of chapters, I knew that this was one book that I would be unable to put down for any length of time and the story would stay fresh in my mind long after I had finished reading it. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would become so engrossed in the story that I would still be sat there reading over an hour and several chapters later. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen so I had to keep turning the pages to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered down the wrong path entirely. I was so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of the book. I found ‘The Return’ to be an interesting and emotional read, which gripped me from start to finish and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
‘The Return’ is extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be one hell of a story and then some. Anita has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. The story is written using two timelines- one timeline focusses on events leading up to the Second World War in 1939 with the other timeline focussing on events that happen on the 8th May 1945 and beyond. The chapters are written from the points of view of particular characters. The chapters interlink well and the story flows seamlessly as a result. Anita has clearly done a lot of research into the period about which she is writing and this shines through in her work and helps the story seem that bit more authentic.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Return’ and I would recommend it to other readers, but particularly to those who like historical fiction. I will certainly be reading more of Anita’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

The Return by Anita Frank
Jack Ellison's war is over, but the battle for his family has just begun.
When Jack left for the war, he made a parting pledge to his pregnant bride, Gwen, that he would never return. It was, after all, best for everyone that he didn't.
Now, as celebrations erupt for Victory in Europe, Gwen is terrified that Jack will renege on his promise, threatening the life she has built for herself and their son on the family farm.
But war has changed Jack, and he is coming home, determined to claim a place in Gwen's life – and her heart.
As events of the past come back to haunt them, Jack and Gwen find themselves facing their most significant battle – and it is a fight neither of them can afford to lose.
The Return was a pleasure to read, It was atmospheric, and the era's feel was undoubtedly achieved. The characters felt genuine and authentic, and it is a story that will stay with me for some time.
I want to thank NetGalley, HQ and author Anita Frank for a pre-publication copy to review.

I loved Anita Frank's first book and was so thrilled to be able to read her second especially as I enjoy a WW2 themed book. It wasn't quite what I was expecting following her first book but I enjoyed it nether the less. Set across two time periods, one at the beginning of the war, and the other post war, this oozed with description and atmosphere. A poignant and heartwarming read.

A superb story that will have you piecing the puzzle together from the start. As we meet Jack who stumbles across Gwen whilst trying to get away from his home town, you never anticipate the twists and turns this story will take as we jump between 1939 and 1945.

In 1945 we meet Gwen as she works to keep the family farm running as the end of the war approaches with the help of her land girl Nora whilst bringing up her little boy Tom.

As this story progresses we get to know how Gwen and Jack initially met and the events that occurred for both of them in 1939 in the lead up to war being announced.

A superb step back in time that kept me intrigued as I wanted to know how events had lead to the events that consequently took place.

Anita Frank has a wonderfully descriptive writing style, that makes her books thoroughly enjoyable.