Bluebird

Last year I picked up a book, Letters Across the Sea, by Genevieve Graham for the first time and quickly fell in love with her writing and meticulous research. Therefore, I wasn’t surprised when I fell in love with Bluebird from the very first pages. It is a masterfully told story that will pull you into the age of Prohibition and rumrunners.

Synopsis: 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.

What appealed to you the most in this story?

EVERYTHING!! I was completely hook by the spirt, history, action, adventure, romance, and suspense as Graham wove this story together between a past and present timeline. Her atmospheric writing pulls you into the story in almost a cinematic way, and I felt like I was right there in the field hospital of WWI and then whisked away into the world of rumrunners and Adele’s quest to find her place as an independent woman in the 20s. I truly felt that I had been transported to a whole new level of historical fiction, and that an all-new bar had been set for future historical fiction reads.

How was the research?

Hands down amazing! I’m completely speechless and humbled by all the research and heart Graham put into her writing. Meticulous does not even begin to cover it. I was so enthralled with the action-packed moments and new settings.

I could not get over the depth, research, and heart put into this story. Genevieve Graham vividly brings the little-known chapters of Canadian history while showcasing the effects of WWI and Prohibition. I especially appreciated her attention to soldiers dealing with PTSD post war and how neglected they were.

How was the pacing?

Fast and engaging - a book I did not want to put down.

Do you recommend this book?

Yes!! I will forever remember and recommend this immersive read to everyone. This is a touchingly woven story with moving characters that also shows us the power of love, family, history, what our spirits can endure, and how far we can go. Get this book now!

I can say without a doubt that Genevieve Graham has become one of my favorite historical fiction writers, and I cannot wait to pick up her next publication!

Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.