Bluebird

A Novel

By: Genevieve Graham

Narrated by: Nikki Massoud, Jonathan Todd Ross, Aven Shore

A dazzling novel set during the Great War and postwar Prohibition about a young nurse, a soldier, and a family secret that binds them together for generations to come—from USA TODAY and repeat #1 bestselling author Genevieve Graham.

Present day

Cassie Simmons, a museum curator, is enthusiastic about solving mysteries from the past, and she has a personal interest in the history of the rumrunners who ferried illegal booze across the Detroit River during Prohibition. So when a cache of whisky labeled Bailey Brothers’ Best is unearthed during a local home renovation, Cassie hopes to find the answers she’s been searching for about the legendary family of bootleggers...

1918

Corporal Jeremiah Bailey of the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company is tasked with planting mines in the tunnels beneath enemy trenches. After Jerry is badly wounded in an explosion, he finds himself in a Belgium field hospital under the care of Adele Savard, one of Canada’s nursing sisters, nicknamed “Bluebirds” for their blue gowns and white caps. As Jerry recovers, he forms a strong connection with Adele, who is from a place near his hometown of Windsor, along the Detroit River. In the midst of war, she’s a welcome reminder of home, and when Jerry is sent back to the front, he can only hope that he’ll see his bluebird again.

By war’s end, both Jerry and Adele return home to Windsor, scarred by the horrors of what they endured overseas. When they cross paths one day, they have a chance to start over. But the city is in the grip of Prohibition, which brings exciting opportunities as well as new dangerous conflicts that threaten to destroy everything they have fought for.

Pulled from the pages of history, Bluebird is a compelling, luminous novel about the strength of the human spirit and the power of love to call us home.

Historical Romance that pays tribute to women’s’ war time service

Well performed. A joy to listen to. Beautiful story. A reminder for some and a tribute to women’s war time service during WWI.

Enjoyed learning about Candian proabition.

Liked all the characters and World War story. Very interesting characters. Loved Jerry and John's relationship.

Wasted storyline…

I expected this story to have a little more depth to it. The topics of WW1 🇨🇦nurses, temporary hospitals on the front line, battle fatigue/trauma, trench/tunnel warfare, rum running via the 🇨🇦border, alcoholism, intergenerational trauma, the effects of the war and prohibition AND the flu on small communities. The possible storylines are endless!! Rather than do any kind of deep dive into any of it, the story glazed over all of those topics and filled in the blanks with a constant gush of sappy romance drivel where the mere presence of “love” in all forms: family, brother/sisterly, friends or romantic. Magically makes all the difficult emotions, experiences and trauma just disappear into the ether!! Everytime I thought the story might get actually interesting… it just veered off into a gush fest of romance, love and an overall theme of “just look on the bright side!!” and everything will be okay!! There were great characters, but their storylines were left incomplete… very disappointing!!