When Memory Whispers by Johnnie Alexander is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line of a story I’ve loved since reading it when Johnnie and I were critique partners: “August 1997 ~ Winter Park, Florida Beneath the brim of her black felt hat, Annalee Gilbert stared at the newly engraved granite stone.”
But first the photo and verse. I usually walk around my block (which is a mile) and when I turned into my drive I looked up. I had to capture the sky. It was the first time the sun had shone after we received rain from the outer bands of Hurricane Helene. We were blessed to only get moderate rain, unlike those in North Carolina.
I proudly learned tonight that a local doctor offered to use his trailer to haul water to the emergency distribution center in Chattanooga. When he got to the church Tuesday morning, there were over 36,000 bottles of water waiting for him, donated by the community. I’m proud of you NE Mississippi!
Now for When Memory Whispers by Johnnie Alexander. Here’s the cover and back copy:
What will she risk to save the man she loves?
Marie Wyatt ran away from her farm girl past in search of fame and fortune and found herself in wartime London working as an Allied courier. Whether disguised as a middle-aged British housewife or playing a role on the London stage, she acts her part to its fullest. But when a routine mission turns deadly, a mysterious German agent becomes her unlikely savior.
Plunged into a dangerous game of deception, Marie relies on her acting talent to pass false information to the Nazis. Yet the line between duty and loyalty blurs when the German agent is imprisoned in a Florida POW camp with Axis soldiers who consider him a traitor. Marie embarks on a desperate mission to save him before he’s fatally injured.
In a postwar world still reeling from conflict, the couple’s lives are again threatened by a past enemy. Will they ever find the peace they crave? Or will the echoes of war destroy them?
My Take:
Oh, my goodness. This story grabbed me from the first chapter and didn’t let go until the end. Alexander’s lyrical writing takes you to war-torn England, and the heroic efforts of those fighting for freedom. Several characters from Alexander’s first book set in World War II, Where Treasure Hides, show up in When Memory Whispers.
Alexander weaves a story of love and danger in this time-slip novel, seamlessly moving from the 1940s to 1997. It’s a story that will pull your heartstrings as Marie connects with her granddaughter, Jenna, to tell her about her heritage. It’s a fantastic book!
Okay, Friday Readers, leave the first line of the book you’re reading or a comment about When Memory Whispers which is in KU or you can purchase it.
The winner of the September drawing for a book from my library is…Betti Mace.
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Comments 45
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Author
It’s an amazing story, Diana!
Hi, Diana! Hope you get a chance to read it ~ this is a “story of my heart”!
I’m hurrying over to KU as soon as I post this! Both When Memory Whispers and Where Treasure Hides sound like great books!
I’m currently reading Lisa Phillips’ Inferno, the last of her Benson First Responders series. Like you, she’s a fantastic author!
Have a blessed weekend!
Author
Thank you, L! I love Lisa’s books…so many books I want to read and so little time…
Thanks for hurrying to KU! (What a fun visual!) And, yeah, I think both those books are pretty great — not that I’m biased!!!
Talk about being grabbed, that photo certainly did that to me, Pat. Wow, does that verse ever grab, too!
I loved Johnnie’s “The Cryptographer’s Dilemma”. I’m going to add “When Memory Whispers” to my TBR.
“Was everyone watching her?” This is the first line of Dana Mentink’s “Fugitive Search”, the second book in the Security Hounds Investigations series. Imagine a family business that centers on a bunch of bloodhounds to do search and rescue, and some detective work, too.
Congrats, Betti!
Author
Johnnie Alexander is a fantastic writer, Tim, and you’ve discovered. I read everything she writes. 🙂 Dana’s book sounds like one I’d like. I read a LIS one night this week by Mary Alford and will be reviewing it in the coming weeks. And I thought you might like the photo and verse. 😉
Thanks for the shout-out of The Cryptographer’s Dilemma! So glad you loved it and truly hope you love When Memory Whispers just as much (if not more). The cover was designed by Sara and Mike Davison ~ I absolutely love it!
Oh, my! I just realized you were talking about Pat’s photo ~ not my novel cover! What can I say? It’s way past my bedtime and my eyes are bleary!!! LOL!!!!!
Wow! Look at those clouds all puffy and white. I see a double cross and lots of crashing waves. such a crisp, clean photo, Pat. Love it! I love that verse and chapter in Psalms. I had an English teacher in Bible college who made us memorize this chapter for a major exam. It sure came in handy in dangerous situations over the years.
The review of When Memory Whispers sounds wonderful. Can’t wait to read it. I love Johnnie’s WW ll books!
I’ve been going back and forth on which book to read. I have two beside me. But I think I’m going to go back and reread Jerusha Agen’s Guardians Unleashed Series. The final book of the series comes out in a few weeks, and I’m dying to know this powerful conclusion.
Congratulations, Betti!
Author
I thought you might see “things” in the clouds, Barbara! I’ll have to go back and look. 😉 I need to get caught up on Jerusha’s books, too!
Hi, Barbara!!! So glad to hear you’ve enjoyed my previous WWII stories. Even though it just got published, When Memory Whispers is the first WWII story I ever wrote. The research for it inspired my love for that era. Hope you’ll get the chance to read it!!
This book does sound interesting. As always I love your photos and scripture.
Author
Thanks, Judy! I think you’d enjoy When Mystery Whispers!
Hi, Judy!! I hope you get the chance to read it and absolutely love it!!!!
Time-slip stories are so fun, and I love lyrical prose. I think I’d enjoy When Memory Whispers. I’m reading New Star, a Biblical fiction story by Lana Christian. It’s about the three wise men. Akilah is an astronomer from the East. This is first line: Akilah pored over the last scroll in his stack. Again, nothing.
Author
Yes, Priscilla, time-slip novels are fun! I’m reading Meet Me At the Starlight by Rachel Hauck for our church bookclub and it is so good–it’s a time-slip. I’ll be reviewing it soon.
Hi, Priscilla!!! I love time-slip stories, too ~ and that seemed the very best way to tell this story. New Star sounds fascinating. Thanks for sharing the first line.
Perfect verse for a really cool photo, Pat! I will check out When Memory Whispers and the first book. They do sound good. That is wonderful that your local doctor reached out to storm victims.
I am reading Surviving the Storm by Heather Woodhaven. The first line:
Construction dust was going to be the death of her.
Gloria Anderson
Author
Thank you, Gloria! We ended up having over 40,000 bottles of water. Funny story. He posted he had a trailer and would take bottled water to Chattanooga, and when he pulled up to the church with his lawn mower trailer, his jaw dropped. lol Fortunately he had access to two big box trailers that he and another guy drove to Chattanooga.
Wonderful problem!
Author
Yes!! We have a crew going to Boone, NC next week.
Hi, Gloria!! Thanks for your interest in my stories. I truly appreciate it!!!
Hi Patricia, I love your photo and verse as always, and thanks for another book to add to my growing TBR list!
I’m currently reading Shadow of Doubt by Susan Sleeman, another author I was not familiar with, but is Christian Romantic Suspense. It opens with “ Her gun was out of reach when she needed it most. Brooklyn kept an eye on the security camera feed for her front door, the pounding of her heart sounding in her ears and overpowering her earbuds.”
Patricia, that’s wonderful about the local doctor taking water over to NC and crews going to Boone this week! It’s beyond words all the destruction in East Tn and Western NC. Some towns and communities are completely gone, but God has a way of bringing people together during tragedies. I just read a high school in Hendersonville had a church service there today with over 3,000 showing up! I don’t know about your area, but Fox Weather channel keeps showing videos and updates on it all.
Keep this area in your prayers please!!
Author
Hi Dottie! Susan Sleeman is a great author–I’ve read a lot of her books. And that’s awesome about the church service in Hendersonville!
Thank you for the beautiful photo and scripture. The book sounds like a very good read. I need to put the title in my wish list.
Author
I believe you will really enjoy it, Gail. Johnnie writes in several different genres and all of her books are good! Glad you enjoyed the photo and verse…just found my photo for next week…
Hi, Gail!!! Thanks for putting When Memory Whispers on your wish list. I hope you get the chance to read it.
I read When Memory Whispers and it was fabulous! I have Treasures and need to read it too.
Author
Wasn’t it wonderful, Paula! Definitely read Treasures–it finishes one of the stories in Memory…
Paula!!!! So glad to “run into” you here!!! Appreciate your encouragement and support so much!!!!
So very nice! It will be appreciated. We give to Samaritan’s Purse as they do so much. My brother-in-law is in Brevard, and he was finally able to get in touch with us.
Author
I’ll be giving to Samaritan’s Purse as well. I forgot to mention one of our members is in NC working with Samaritan’s Purse. I’m glad you heard from your brother-in-law!
Hi, Pat. Thanks so much for your tremendous review of When Memory Whispers. I appreciate all your input when I was first writing that novel all those years ago.
To everyone else here, the novel is dedicated to Pat and another one of my early critique partners, Renee Osborne. They were among the first to read the early drafts and provide needed feedback.
Pat, your photo is gorgeous. Miss you!!!!
Author
Thank you, Johnnie! I miss you too…and I miss those times in the early years. Who would’ve thought we’d get so busy!
Another great photo with wonderful Scripture.
I read and enjoyed The Cryptographer’s Dilemma and Where Treasure Hides. I hope to find the time to read When Memory Whispers.
I am reading Jackson’s Fall by Carole Brown. The book opens with:
Late 1800s
Three years ago
Jackson Barlowe
Jackson stood in the background of Hunter Carson and Rosita’s wedding. He didn’t want to be here, but he owed his loyalty to the young man.
Author
I think you will really enjoy When Memory Whispers, Edward! I like your first line…
sounds like another great book! Congrats Betti!
The premise of this book sounds intriguing!
Author
It’s very good, Sally Jo! I think you’d enjoy it…
Gorgeous photo, Pat.
I enjoy Johynnie Alexander’s novels. I just finished binge reading the Droseran Saga by Ronie Kendig.
Author
Hi Caryl. I’ll have to check out Ronie’s book!
This book sounds really good.
Author
It is, Megan!