Come from Away

A Novel of the Second World War

By: Genevieve Graham

Narrated by: Michelle Ferguson

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of Tides of Honour and Promises to Keep comes a poignant novel about a young couple caught on opposite sides of the Second World War.

In the fall of 1939, Grace Baker’s three brothers, sharp and proud in their uniforms, board Canadian ships headed for a faraway war. Grace stays behind, tending to the homefront and the general store that helps keep her small Nova Scotian community running. The war, everyone says, will be over before it starts. But three years later, the fighting rages on and rumors swirl about “wolf packs” of German U-Boats lurking in the deep waters along the shores of East Jeddore, a stone’s throw from Grace’s window. As the harsh realities of war come closer to home, Grace buries herself in her work at the store.

Then, one day, a handsome stranger ventures into the store. He claims to be a trapper come from away, and as Grace gets to know him, she becomes enamored by his gentle smile and thoughtful ways. But after several weeks, she discovers that Rudi, her mysterious visitor, is not the lonely outsider he appears to be. He is someone else entirely - someone not to be trusted. When a shocking truth about her family forces Grace to question everything she has so strongly believed, she realizes that she and Rudi have more in common than she had thought. And if Grace is to have a chance at love, she must not only choose a side, but take a stand.

Come from Away is a mesmerizing story of love, shifting allegiances, and second chances, set against the tumultuous years of the Second World War.

©2018 Genevieve Graham (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Come From Away

The couple from the previous books have grown children in this one, and it is their story. Well Grace's story to be honest.



WWII, Grace's 3 brothers go to war and she is left at home wondering if she should do more. But she has her job and parents. So life goes on, until she meets a handsome stranger. I liked Grace, she was levelheaded, but she could also hold one big grudge.



Then there is Rudi, disillusioned by the war and Hitler, and Canada sure looks a lot greener than the hell that is war. I liked Rudi, he made no excuses. He had believed in what he believed until it got harder and harder as more policies were made.



This book is about them falling in love, but that is only a small part. It is about Rudi doing his best to get away and show that he is worth more. It is about the war taking a toll on people at home and those fighting. And again the dark side of war and how men suffer.



Final thoughts

Yes this one is tied together with the previous one, but this one is set 25 years later and is about their kids. So you can read in order, you can read out of order. It all works.



Narration

At first I was not sure, I felt like the voices blended together. But then they did not, so maybe it was just a 5 minuter bump in the road. Soon they all had distinct voices. I liked the light and darkness she managed to bring to Rudi's voice and the cheerfulness of what to call it in Grace's.



I liked her narration and I would listen to more.

Poignant Canadian WWII Love Story

In 1939, Grace Baker waves three brothers off to war from the Baker home in East Jeddore, Nova Scotia. She is the one left behind to keep the home fires burning with her parents while working her little fishing village's store. Then she meets a mysterious stranger who sparks her interest only... he's the enemy right?

This was a powerful follow up standalone story to Tides of Honour, the story of Grace's parents. It is Canadian Historical Wartime Romance told by a Canadian author.

Can a woman learn to see the man before her as a person and not a monster? Everyone has lost someone in the war and propaganda embellishes what is already hard truths so Grace and Rudi had amazingly high barriers to scale particularly when Rudi had to lie at first as a matter of survival. The story he eventually tells is sad. So many young men were fed to the Nazi war machine whether they wanted to be there or not. Rudi sees his being stranded on the Nova Scotia coast after his sub was destroyed and then having to survive with only the clothes on his back in the harsh winters and early spring as his chance to escape all that. He is very taken with Grace and she, with him until the truth starts to come out. It was a lot to overcome and I was glad the author didn't write an easy breezy acceptance of Rudi from Grace or her family because it would have rang false.

Beyond Grace and Rudi's story, there are the storylines of the whole Baker family as they adjust to a brother and son not coming home and another coming home ravaged by war and never to be the same. The family story was heartwarming and I loved seeing them all there for each other no matter what.

Michelle Ferguson was a new to me narrator. She had a lovely, gentle way of letting the story stand on its own merits. She gave the voices and telling in a way that allowed the soul of this story to shine. She had accents, genders, and tones that matched what was needed. I look forward to more of her work.

This story dug deep into my emotions and tears did come, but also joy and laughter. Historical romance lovers who want authentic historical backdrop, well-developed characters and storylines should reach for this one.

Not the story from the musical

While there were enough similarities to get me 75% through the book before discussing the books plot, at which point I was informed this book was not the namesake of the upcoming stage play we will see. This books performance was good, I found the story predicable.

Insight into a family and war.

Earlier in the year I enjoyed the audiobook Tides of Honour - a story about Danny and Audrey and WW1. When I started listening to this book Come From Away, I was delighted to find out that this one picks up the lives of their children and especially that of their daughter Grace. It's a complete stand alone, however, seeing how life has moved on pleased this reader!

Grace works in a local store in Nova Scotia, while her three brothers are away at war - world war 2. Her parents Danny and Audrey are there with her and also other various family members live by.  One evening at a local dance some strangers come by, and Grace is attracted to one man who dances with her - then they are gone. Now off Nova Scotia there are German u-boats, so could these men have come from there?Some weeks later this stranger wanders into Grace's store - Rudi is his name. Supposedly a trapper but is he? 

And so the story takes off. There is challenge and adventure, distrust and trust, and an evolving relationship with Rudi and the family and of course Grace.I loved the story of the family in Nova Scotia, and what happened to them as the war progressed.  Depicted was the toll that war places on ordinary men, the demands made on them, and that underneath so many of them  are men of honour and care.The story moves along at a good pace, the characters are ones that I could take into my heart and care about. The narrator was very good and brought this book alive.

Definitely worth the Listen

This is a story of WWII told from the perspective of the People who lived through this devastating time. It’s set in a Canadian Coastal town told by its citizens and the soldiers on both sides of the war. It’s about coming through a tragic time triumphant and intact together as one people. Excellent Listen.

a memorable character driven WWII story

World War II has hit the banks of Grace Baker’s small coastal town. Her three beloved brothers, have all entered the war against Germany. Grace has stayed behind to tend the local merchant shop she runs and assist her parents. A dance offers a reprieve from thoughts of the war and it is where Grace meets a handsome young man named Rudy.

The tale that unfolds is poignant, rich in history, emotions, and as relevant today as it would have been then. A character driven tale wrapped in history that makes you feel, think, and become fully vested.

Graham presents Grace and others with the impossible task of seeing past the ugliness of war. So often we paint with a wide brush when thinking of the enemy. However, it isn’t always easy to hate the enemy when presented with an individual.

The author showed us both sides of the war and the people caught up in duty, politics and customs. I found the information from Rudy’s perspective informative and a gentle reminder that everything isn’t always black and white.

Their situation felt authentic as did the character’s actions even as I struggled with Grace’s flip-flopping opinion regarding Rudy. It was interesting seeing different reactions from compassion to blinding hatred.

Graham’s stories lend themselves perfectly to audio. Michelle Ferguson narrates Come Far Away, offering unique voices and accents. I found she enhanced the story allowing me entry into the emotions of this small-town.

While the story is fictional, Graham weaved in Canadian history. It was as accurately as possible and clarifies any changes in an author’s note.

Interesting History

Enjoyed the story, but some of the characters didn't ring true. The history may have been a better choice.

Intriguing

Fascinating story. Well told and delightful performance by the reader. History and story meet in this book.

weak, terribly written

This author did not properly research shell shock. Don't write about something personal to thousands of people without doing the work Ms. Graham. The characters were inconsistent to the point of whiplash. the love story was so bad I wished for an unhappy ending. I have liked other works from this author, but it's apparent in this book it was stopped together. don't waste your time! life is too short for terrible stories like this one.