I enjoyed reading The Brunswick, a sweet World War 2 romance set in Georgia, USA and Vienna, Austria. The Brunswick, with the railway to Atlanta across the road, was a thriving hotel prior to the Depression. Cora has converted The Brunswick into a general store to repay family debts. Her mother abandoned their family years ago and her father is a war hero who’s struggling with mental health issues.
Thomas is a medical student from Chicago. When a family secret is revealed, he’s forced to follow his father and brothers to Georgia. Thomas needs a job and Cora needs help at the general store. A charming friends-to-more romance develops as they work together at The Brunswick.
The political situation in Europe impacts their lives in unexpected ways. A Jewish couple enlist their help to bring refugee children to USA. The subplot involving ten-year-old Charlotte from Vienna is heartbreaking and bittersweet. The consequences for Jewish residents impacted by government policies in Austria and Germany are not sugar coated.
The small town in Georgia is like a character and the side characters all play important roles in the story. The wartime setting includes danger, political intrigue, and an international mystery. Many of the characters struggle with grief and loss. The story explores trust issues and the importance of love and hope.
I recommend The Brunswick to historical romance readers who like small town friends-to-more wartime romances with family drama, foster care,…
