Joanna Trapp found adventure serving in France as a “Hello Girl” for the Army Signal Corps, but she still mourns her doughboy sweetheart killed in battle. Returning to Hot Springs, Arkansas, she takes a job as a switchboard operator at the Arlington Hotel and quickly discovers that after her experiences overseas, civilian life proves dull. Thomas Ballard still regrets he was medically ineligible to serve in the war and feels inferior to those who did, especially his war-hero brother, Gilbert. When Thomas finds himself attracted to Joanna, he strives to match her adventurous spirit, when all he really wants is to settle down, raise a family, and earn respect as a successful businessman. As romance blossoms, can two such different people learn to accept not only their own but each other’s God-created individuality . . . or will love change them both?
Johnson crafts a beautiful love story about opening oneself up to love again and stepping out on faith in the face of an uncertain future. —RT Reviews (4 1/2 stars)
What readers are saying:
From a love lost … to a love found, Every Tear a Memory is a powerful love story that will steal your sleep and nurture your soul, sweeping the reader from the tears of a turbulent war into tears of joy. ~~Julie Lessman, award-winning author of the Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart of San Francisco series
Every Tear a Memory by Myra Johnson explores the time immediately after the First World War, when servicemen–and servicewomen–readjusted to their lives at home. The honest look at the effects of grief and mental illness elevate this story beyond a simple romance. But the romance also satisfies on a deep level, as Thomas and Joanna’s relationship brings about mutual growth as well as tender kisses. A lovely story I highly recommend. ~~Sarah Sundin, award-winning author of On Distant Shores and In Perfect Time
Johnson crafts a beautiful love story about opening oneself up to love again and stepping out on faith in the face of an uncertain future. The title itself is so meaningful and encapsulates the essence of the story so well. With an adventurous and plucky heroine and a hero who’s about to have his quiet world turned upside down, the romance is endearing and truly heart-tugging. Johnson does her historical background homework and it shows. This emotionally driven story will keep readers entertained until the final page. ~~ 4.5-star review by Susannah Balch, RT Book Reviews
One of the things I most like about Myra Johnson’s books is the research. Her books always make me feel as though I’m in the time and place she’s writing about, yet I never get the feeling I’m being told, “Look how much research I’ve done!” (which I have with some other authors, especially when writing about foreign locations). The scenes in France all came across naturally, with a restrained horror that made me see the battlefields in a new way—not as peaceful green fields, but as blood-soaked battle locations. ~~Iola Goulton, Australasian Christian Writers blog