After the Fall

I have been patiently waiting for the last fifteen years for my house to need repainting.  I am finally getting to paint it (when it cools down), the colors I want.  When we first moved in, my parents did not want a blue house (and I did).  Since my father was doing the majority of the painting, I let them have the green.  Now I get my blue!  I am painting the house my favorite colors:  blue, red, and cream (not a fan of white).  We already of cream soffits and a red door (a little darker than I like), so I just need to add the blue.  I am not talking light blue either.  I would like navy.  We shall have to see how it looks (they balked at having a red house).  What do you think?  Can a house be red?  What about navy? At least I did not ask for stripes (like a flag).  I have seen it done though (it is unique).

After the Fall by Lisa Bingham is a historical novel that starts in early December of 1941 in the Philippines.  Major Rosemary Dodd is in charge of the nurses at Fort Stotsenberg.  She has been in the Pacific for twelve years and is celebrating another birthday.  Her parents keep wanting to know when she will come home. At first they wanted her to marry and settle down, but now that she has hit 40 they want her to take care of them.  Rosemary is attracted to Riley Patrick Gilhouley.  He is assigned to the press corp and is known as the person who can get things.  They two get together one evening and the next day their world will never be the same again.

Glory Bee O’Halloran is a strip tease artist.  She has come to do a performance for the troops at Fort Stotsenberg before taking a hiatus (she is pregnant).  John Macklin picks her up after the performance to stay at the sugar cane plantation he manages.  Glory Bee is awakened by John the next day.  Time to pack and move up into the owner’s hunting lodge in the mountains. 

This book portrays the struggles of soldiers and civilians during the beginning of World War II in the Philippines.  To me the best part of the book was the lovely ending.  It was so sweet.  I am glad that the author did not go into the horrors that the nurses suffered in Bataan and Corregidor (I am a history buff).  I give After the Fall 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it, but did not love it).  I think this books main focus was romance.  The instant attraction between two people.  It is nicely written, great historical details, and lively characters. 

I received a complimentary copy of After the Fall from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  The review and opinions expressed are my own.

I am currently reading A Basket Brigade Christmas (three stories by three different authors).  I hope everyone has a great Saturday! Enjoy and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader