A RENDEZVOUS TO REMEMBER by Geri Krotow

A while back I made a plea for Romance novels with Enduring Romance in them. With the divorce rate so high, I'm not easily impressed with Girl-Meets-Boy-Has-Hot-Nookie-Lives-Happily-Ever-After books. I've been living Happily Ever After in Real Life and I know there's so much more to it than that. The process of Living Happily Ever After is much more interesting to me. Where most Romance novels leave off is only the beginning for me. It's probably a personal thing. I was never into the dating scene when I was single either. It made no logical sense to me. Why should I go out with a bunch of guys to find Mr. Right when I could easily sit back and analyze their suitablity from a safe distance? I was much more interested in the marriage part.
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Geri Krotow answered my pleas by sending A RENDEZVOUS TO REMEMBER. This is a double-layered story, so my first piece of advice is to make sure you of significant stretches of time to read it. If you're a parent, I know how difficult it is to find at least thirty minutes to read. Do your best. The challenge is to not lose your way while reading this double-layered story, because you'll be missing out on something truly wonderful if you do.
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Melinda's marriage is over. Oh, sure, she loved her husband, but after learning they couldn't have children they didn't bother fighting. They tried to find other things to do and started doing those things apart. After a while, they both chose career paths without each other's counsel or support. She took a job with a senator in Washington D.C. and he signed up for another tour of duty in the War on Terror, Afghanistan branch. At least couples who scream at each other get their problems out in the open where they can be dealt with!
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With a divorce on the burner and her grandmother's death a fresh wound in her heart, Melinda visits her grandfather who reveals some diaries Grammy wanted her to have. She knew her grandparents had immigrated from Europe, but she had no idea what they'd done during World War II. A lot of survivors didn't like to talk about it afterwards. But, Grammy wanted Melinda to know, even if she couldn't bear to tell her in person.
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Through the diaries, Grammy begins to tell the story of how her family was struggling to survive with so little food after the Nazis took over their country. To help feed them, Grammy had married a man she didn't love who turned out to be an abusive monster. Grammy put up with him for her family's sake and to carry on with her super-secret life as a member of the Resistance. She gathered information and channeled it to the Allies. She soon learns her creepy-monster-husband is collaborating with the Nazis and has just routed out a bunch of Jewish children in hiding. Sickened by his evil, she still cannot bring herself to murder him in cold blood, war or no war. Then, one night a British Royal Air Force pilot bails out over her farm and she discovers her creepy-monster-husband about to shoot him. She must stop her creepy-monster-husband from killing the defenseless pilot. At this point, my gut was shouting highly imaginative ways of dispatching Creepy-Monster-Husband. Unfortunately, revenge isn't exactly a heroic thing to do. Revenge only breeds more violence. He's about to pull the trigger on his gun to murder the pilot and she has to stop him in the fastest way possible. She shoots him in the head instead of the other place I suggested. The pilot asks if she loved her husband to which she replies, "I hated him." The war and her creepy-monster-husband had nearly robbed all hope from her heart.
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In the following weeks, Grammy nurses Grandpa Jack back to health. Of course, he goes by the name of Mack and Grammy's real name is Esme. They talk, they laugh, they share tea so weak it's water, because there's a war going on and everybody is hungry. And, of course, the day comes when Mac must leave. He's there to undermine the Nazis and the faster they're gone the faster everyone will be happy again. In all the time together, their attraction builds and builds, but they don't touch until his kiss upon leaving. You know how it's tradition for a guy to send flowers to the girl he loves? Well, Grandpa Jack, a.k.a. 'Mac,' sends a baby. Well, you all know what a Baby Fanatic I am! The baby girl is a war orphan, of course, and she does have a flower's name, Lille ('Lily' in English.)

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The local Nazi occupiers are suspicious of Esme, because of her activities and her late husband's untimely demise. The vultures circle and Esme's mother worries for her and the baby. Meanwhile, Esme worries about Jack. Of course, we know they'll be united and live happily ever after. But, in the 21st century, will Melinda whose estranged husband wants her back? If anything can soften Melinda's heart, it's got to be Grammy's story of Everlasting Love.

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Speaking of Everlasting Love, this is a Harlequin line which specializes in love stories which last a lifetime. I've heard it was going under, but I hope not. In any case, they do have a backlist. Pop over to http://eharlequin.com/ to find more Everlasting Love books. For more Geri Krotow books, pop over to her site http://www.gerikrotow.com/ This story is set during war, so there is some violence. The Heat Level is Sensual and very natural, not a single Standard Issue Sex Scene in the whole dang novel.