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In Another Time
10 Hours and 48 Minutes
“A glowing story of friendship, growth, and a steadfast first love, as teenage Maisie negotiates the forests of the heart and of World War II Scotland with equal determination.� —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity
A romantic historical YA novel featuring strong female characters from the acclaimed author of Wait for Me.
It’s 1942, and as the war rages in Europe, Maisie McCall is in the Scottish Highlands swinging an axe for the Women’s Timber Corps. Maisie relishes her newfound independence working alongside other lumberjacks—including the mysterious John Lindsay.
As Maisie and John work side by side felling trees together, Maisie can’t help but feel that their friendship has the spark of something more to it. And yet every time she gets close to him, John pulls away. It’s not until Maisie rescues John from a terrible logging accident that he begins to open up to her about the truth of his past, and the pain he’s been hiding.
Suddenly, everything is more complicated than Maisie expected. And as she helps John untangle his shattered history, she must decide if she’s willing to risk her heart to help heal his. But in a world devastated by war, love might be the only thing left that can begin to heal what’s broken.
“A glowing story of friendship, growth, and a steadfast first love, as teenage Maisie negotiates the forests of the heart and of World War II Scotland with equal determination.� —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity
A romantic historical YA novel featuring strong female characters from the acclaimed author of Wait for Me.
It’s 1942, and as the war rages in Europe, Maisie McCall is in the Scottish Highlands swinging an axe for the Women’s Timber Corps. Maisie relishes her newfound independence working alongside other lumberjacks—including the mysterious John Lindsay.
As Maisie and John work side by side felling trees together, Maisie can’t help but feel that their friendship has the spark of something more to it. And yet every time she gets close to him, John pulls away. It’s not until Maisie rescues John from a terrible logging accident that he begins to open up to her about the truth of his past, and the pain he’s been hiding.
Suddenly, everything is more complicated than Maisie expected. And as she helps John untangle his shattered history, she must decide if she’s willing to risk her heart to help heal his. But in a world devastated by war, love might be the only thing left that can begin to heal what’s broken.
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First published August 28, 2018
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About the author
Caroline Leech
6books245followersCaroline Leech is a Scottish writer who has lived in Houston TX since 2007. She writes novels for teenagers, and her debut novel, WAIT FOR ME, was published by Harper Collins/Harper Teen in early 2017. Set in Scotland towards the end of World War Two, the book won the 2014 Joan Lowery Nixon Award at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in Houston, as well as the YA categories of both the Romance Writers of America Emily and Lone Star competitions. Caroline's second novel, IN ANOTHER TIME, also set in Scotland during World War Two, was published in August 2018.
Caroline’s career in public relations with performing arts companies in the United Kingdom culminated with her editing a glossy photographic book, WELSH NATIONAL OPERA � THE FIRST SIXTY YEARS. As well as being an active member of SCBWI, she also serves on the advisory board of Inprint, Houston’s leading literary non-profit organization. Caroline is married with three teenage children.
Caroline’s career in public relations with performing arts companies in the United Kingdom culminated with her editing a glossy photographic book, WELSH NATIONAL OPERA � THE FIRST SIXTY YEARS. As well as being an active member of SCBWI, she also serves on the advisory board of Inprint, Houston’s leading literary non-profit organization. Caroline is married with three teenage children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
October 6, 2023
This is a YA historical fiction book about the lumber-Jill’s of WWII. 🤓 It was a bit slower paced than I would like, but was still a good read. 👍
August 16, 2018
RATING: 4/5
ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
I haven’t read a lot of historical fiction- which is weird because I love history- but lately I’ve been motivated to explore the genre more.
”O my love is like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June
O my love is like the melody that’s sweetly played in tune
So fair art thou, my bonnie lass, so deep in love am I
and I will love thee still, my dear, till a� the seas gang dry.�
I loved the poetry bits that were included❤️
I don’t have any complains with this. I liked the storyline, characters, plot, setting, romance, basically every element of this story.
Maisie is a great main character. She’s independent and her strength is not only physical, but emotional. I’ve had a hard time finding YA protagonists my age who are not whinny or annoying. Reading about Maisie was like a breath of fresh air. Then there’s also John, who is super sweet and charming (and Maisie’s love interest, but you probably already guessed that lol). The side characters were likable as well. They contributed to the story and were present most of the time.
The plot was interesting. It was empowering in a very subtle, not obvious way, which I loved. The story had a nice pacing, it didn’t go too fast or too slow. I never felt myself losing interest, just the opposite.
Even though I rarely read the Acknowledgements part of books (I’m lazy guys) with this one, I did. The author there explains how she did her research and what parts of the book are more real than others. I found it really fascinating.
Definitely recommend this! I’m sure it’s not the best historical fiction out there but I, personally, really liked it.
ARC provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
I haven’t read a lot of historical fiction- which is weird because I love history- but lately I’ve been motivated to explore the genre more.
”O my love is like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June
O my love is like the melody that’s sweetly played in tune
So fair art thou, my bonnie lass, so deep in love am I
and I will love thee still, my dear, till a� the seas gang dry.�
I loved the poetry bits that were included❤️
I don’t have any complains with this. I liked the storyline, characters, plot, setting, romance, basically every element of this story.
Maisie is a great main character. She’s independent and her strength is not only physical, but emotional. I’ve had a hard time finding YA protagonists my age who are not whinny or annoying. Reading about Maisie was like a breath of fresh air. Then there’s also John, who is super sweet and charming (and Maisie’s love interest, but you probably already guessed that lol). The side characters were likable as well. They contributed to the story and were present most of the time.
The plot was interesting. It was empowering in a very subtle, not obvious way, which I loved. The story had a nice pacing, it didn’t go too fast or too slow. I never felt myself losing interest, just the opposite.
Even though I rarely read the Acknowledgements part of books (I’m lazy guys) with this one, I did. The author there explains how she did her research and what parts of the book are more real than others. I found it really fascinating.
Definitely recommend this! I’m sure it’s not the best historical fiction out there but I, personally, really liked it.
July 25, 2020
2.5 ⭐️
I have mixed feelings about In Another Time. I really appreciate what the author was trying to do by creating a historical fiction novel about World War II that was from a unique perspective and about a facet of the war that is very rarely discussed in the context of history. It was definitely interesting getting to learn more about lumberjacks and limberjills and their efforts to support their countries in the war. This was a part of history that I had no idea about before but I wish there were more tidbits of the actual history included. There were definitely a lot of references to the jobs of lumberjacks/lumberjills but it wasn’t always in reference back to the context of the period of time.
The pacing of the plot was good and I liked that there were multiple layers of the story going on at once; from the romance to the war efforts to the family drama.
I really enjoyed the side characters like Dot, Nancy and Phyllis but I just couldn’t connect with the main characters, Maisie and John. They didn’t come across as very dynamic to me and I didn’t find any emotional pull to either of them.
I liked the idea of this book, I just didn’t fully enjoy the execution.
I have mixed feelings about In Another Time. I really appreciate what the author was trying to do by creating a historical fiction novel about World War II that was from a unique perspective and about a facet of the war that is very rarely discussed in the context of history. It was definitely interesting getting to learn more about lumberjacks and limberjills and their efforts to support their countries in the war. This was a part of history that I had no idea about before but I wish there were more tidbits of the actual history included. There were definitely a lot of references to the jobs of lumberjacks/lumberjills but it wasn’t always in reference back to the context of the period of time.
The pacing of the plot was good and I liked that there were multiple layers of the story going on at once; from the romance to the war efforts to the family drama.
I really enjoyed the side characters like Dot, Nancy and Phyllis but I just couldn’t connect with the main characters, Maisie and John. They didn’t come across as very dynamic to me and I didn’t find any emotional pull to either of them.
I liked the idea of this book, I just didn’t fully enjoy the execution.
February 17, 2022
I am officially done with my 2020 reading goal. Woohoo!!
February 7, 2018
I enjoyed the setting and main character: Maisie, a 17 year old Scottish girl who joins the Women's Timber Corps to help the war effort and gain independence. I found myself skimming pretty heavily through the love story, although the idea was interesting. She falls for a lumberjack with PTSD, and I thought his PTSD was thoughtfully depicted.
I think I would have enjoyed this more as an adult novel.
I think I would have enjoyed this more as an adult novel.
September 29, 2018
This book was so good! I don't read a lot of books set in a war. But this book was so good! I'm a little sad I finished this book. I loved meeting all the lumberjills and they were some bad ass women!
September 24, 2018
I wanted to give this one 4 stars, but there was a lot more romance than history in this historical fiction novel, and though it was nice and innocent (YA), it was still a little much for me. I don't mind a bit of romance, or even more if it is necessary to the plot, but I would have liked more of the history side. I had never heard of the lumberjills! It was amazing to read about how strong and capable they were, especially at this time in history. I would have liked a little more of the story to be centered on that, though of course plenty of it took place on the lumberyard, etc. Still, the romance was cute, and the characters were a little more complicated than YA sometimes is, so this is probably still a 3.5 star book, if GR would let you pick half stars :) I definitely appreciated the historical notes at the end! I always love reading about what was real in the story, since I feel like I'm learning a bit of history as I go (and I want to know what to believe!).
December 25, 2018
Have you ever spent an entire book wishing that it was told from a side character's perspective instead of the main character's? Because I just did that with this book.
I don't have anything against Maisie at all, although her romance with John became tedious (more on that later). But the story I WANTED to read here was Dot's story.
But, instead, we were stuck with Maisie and John's story. Okay, I could work with it. Except I never felt an overwhelming connection to either of those characters. I think a lot of it had to do with the writer's style; there was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing, and I felt like some of the chapters could have been shortened a great deal or edited out completely with little loss ().
I never really bought the relationship between John and Maisie. John criticizes Maisie for going into caretaking mode on him more than a few times, and I really saw that.
The historical setting tends to take a backseat to the romance. I enjoy romance, but as I commented above under the spoiler, I wasn't really on the "John and Maisie" train.
The book would have been infinitely better if it had featured Dot instead .
I don't have anything against Maisie at all, although her romance with John became tedious (more on that later). But the story I WANTED to read here was Dot's story.
But, instead, we were stuck with Maisie and John's story. Okay, I could work with it. Except I never felt an overwhelming connection to either of those characters. I think a lot of it had to do with the writer's style; there was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing, and I felt like some of the chapters could have been shortened a great deal or edited out completely with little loss ().
I never really bought the relationship between John and Maisie. John criticizes Maisie for going into caretaking mode on him more than a few times, and I really saw that.
The historical setting tends to take a backseat to the romance. I enjoy romance, but as I commented above under the spoiler, I wasn't really on the "John and Maisie" train.
The book would have been infinitely better if it had featured Dot instead .
May 24, 2018
Leech has penned another coming-of-age novel set in Scotland during WWII, and Maisie McCall is as delightful and spunky a heroine as Lorna Anderson in Leech’s debut novel, Wait for Me. Maisy makes a bid for independence and a chance to pitch in for the war effort by enlisting in the Women’s Timber Service at the age of seventeen. The rigor and challenges of the brutal physical labor suits Maisy, as does the opportunity to form new friendships with the other Lumberjills and perhaps a romance with a handsome Canadian Lumberjack.
As with her first novel, Leech’s rich sensory details will transport her readers to the evergreen forests of the Scottish Highlands and to the charming nostalgia of the British homefront during WWII. The Lumberjills worked under less-than-ideal circumstances. Their housing was spartan and under-heated, and the women worked in locales isolated from larger communities that might have offered them social diversions in their off-hours. They were dedicated, hard workers, and their contributions to the war effort have gone unsung for too long. The strong camaraderie among the Lumberjills shines in Leech’s capable hands.
Maisie’s romance with the dashing John Lindsay will captivate and charm readers of all ages. John, holding secrets and crushing guilt close, presents a challenge to Maisie’s patience and her growing bonds with him. Maisie stays true to her hard-won self-assurance and convictions, despite the challenges this course presents to her budding relationship with John. With each revelation of another layer of his war-time experiences and the effects on his mental and physical well-being, John grows into the man worthy of Maisie’s love.
As with her first novel, Leech’s rich sensory details will transport her readers to the evergreen forests of the Scottish Highlands and to the charming nostalgia of the British homefront during WWII. The Lumberjills worked under less-than-ideal circumstances. Their housing was spartan and under-heated, and the women worked in locales isolated from larger communities that might have offered them social diversions in their off-hours. They were dedicated, hard workers, and their contributions to the war effort have gone unsung for too long. The strong camaraderie among the Lumberjills shines in Leech’s capable hands.
Maisie’s romance with the dashing John Lindsay will captivate and charm readers of all ages. John, holding secrets and crushing guilt close, presents a challenge to Maisie’s patience and her growing bonds with him. Maisie stays true to her hard-won self-assurance and convictions, despite the challenges this course presents to her budding relationship with John. With each revelation of another layer of his war-time experiences and the effects on his mental and physical well-being, John grows into the man worthy of Maisie’s love.
March 21, 2018
One of the reasons I read historical fiction is to learn more about people and places that may have been forgotten about. I had no idea about the Women's Timber Corps so I was quite fascinated to learn about them in In Another Time. I enjoyed the story as a whole but I didn't feel as emotionally connected to the romance in this one. Both Maisie and John were solid characters but I just wanted to feel their chemistry more. In Caroline's first book, I was so invested in their story that I was moved to tears. However this one felt a bit more superficial to me. The female friendships was probably the strongest part of the book for me. I appreciate that I was given the opportunity to read this one early.
October 10, 2018
I enjoyed this book! I probably wouldn't have bought this on my own so I'm grateful I step out of my comfort zone with book subscription boxes! This was in The Once Upon A Book Club YA selection and has 4 gifts you unwrap as you read the story. Makes the reading experience extra fun!
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August 28, 2018In Another Time is the second book that I’ve read by the awesome Caroline Leech, and I have to tell you that I enjoyed this book SO much! I read Caroline’s first book, Wait for Me, last year and really enjoyed the story, so I absolutely couldn’t wait to dive into this new book. I just knew that I would love it, and I DID!!
Like her previous book, In Another Time is set during World War II, but this book was all about the Women’s Timber Corps, which was an organization created during the war and recruited women to replace forestry workers who had been sent off to serve in the war. These women could do everything from cutting down trees, to sawing and hauling logs, to working in the sawmills, and I have to admit, I was absolutely fascinated with their story! The fictional tale that Caroline created around this real organization was completely captivating, and the story has stuck with me long after I turned the last page. I even had to do a little extra research about the WTC, and I found so many fascinating stories and photographs online to check out. It’s so interesting!
And, while the story is interesting, I was completely charmed by all the characters as well! I love Maisie and all the women that were in the WTC with her. I flew through the pages as she told their story of training for the WTC, and then moving on to being a full time worker. I can’t even imagine myself doing any of the things she did in this story, but I couldn’t get enough of reading about it through Maisie’s point of view. I also really enjoyed the slow-building romance between Maisie and a fellow lumberjack John Lindsay, and boy does he have quite the story to tell as well.
I also want to add that I also really loved the setting for this book. I have not read nearly enough books that I are set in the Scottish Highlands, and the descriptions were so well written, I could picture everything perfectly in my mind. It’s definitely a place I would love to visit on day, and I would especially love to visit the Women’s Timber Corps memorial as well.
Overall; Caroline Leech definitely has another hit on her hands with In Another Time! I enjoyed this book just as much as I did her previous book, Wait For Me, and I hope she will continue writing this stories in the future, as I definitely need more! If you’re looking for a good historical novel, do check out In Another Time, and also Wait for Me as well! I hope you enjoy them both.
Happy Reading!
Like her previous book, In Another Time is set during World War II, but this book was all about the Women’s Timber Corps, which was an organization created during the war and recruited women to replace forestry workers who had been sent off to serve in the war. These women could do everything from cutting down trees, to sawing and hauling logs, to working in the sawmills, and I have to admit, I was absolutely fascinated with their story! The fictional tale that Caroline created around this real organization was completely captivating, and the story has stuck with me long after I turned the last page. I even had to do a little extra research about the WTC, and I found so many fascinating stories and photographs online to check out. It’s so interesting!
And, while the story is interesting, I was completely charmed by all the characters as well! I love Maisie and all the women that were in the WTC with her. I flew through the pages as she told their story of training for the WTC, and then moving on to being a full time worker. I can’t even imagine myself doing any of the things she did in this story, but I couldn’t get enough of reading about it through Maisie’s point of view. I also really enjoyed the slow-building romance between Maisie and a fellow lumberjack John Lindsay, and boy does he have quite the story to tell as well.
I also want to add that I also really loved the setting for this book. I have not read nearly enough books that I are set in the Scottish Highlands, and the descriptions were so well written, I could picture everything perfectly in my mind. It’s definitely a place I would love to visit on day, and I would especially love to visit the Women’s Timber Corps memorial as well.
Overall; Caroline Leech definitely has another hit on her hands with In Another Time! I enjoyed this book just as much as I did her previous book, Wait For Me, and I hope she will continue writing this stories in the future, as I definitely need more! If you’re looking for a good historical novel, do check out In Another Time, and also Wait for Me as well! I hope you enjoy them both.
Happy Reading!
August 23, 2018
I had no idea of the history of the Women's Timber Corps and their efforts to supply Britain with desperately needed lumber for the World War Two effort. I suspect many other readers don't either, and author Leech does a terrific job describing the huge, painful, exhausting physical toll of cutting timber for the women who took it on as their duty, and sometimes, escape from their ordinary lives. Seventeen-year-old Margaret "Maisie" McCall is one such woman, escaping her fractious home life in Glasgow for the great forests in rural Scotland. Leech provides a virtual treatise on the methodologies, dangers, and addictions of the foresting lifestyle. The best of the story lies in the friendships and support the women find in each other as they struggle to evolve into working women who can proudly call themselves "lumberjills." Yes, there are a great many characters milling about the various camps, and they sport names such as Dot, Nancy, Rose, Susan, and even a bad 'un named Violet. But their triumphs and setbacks make for some compelling reading until the inevitable posse of men shows up.
A love affair with the Canadian lumberjack, John, who alternately frowns, limps and recites poetry, takes over the story and frankly, is not as compelling as Maisie's previous forays into independence. Her maturation no longer comes from her experiences working and living with a diverse group of women, but instead from responding to John's behaviors and treatment of her. The physical chemistry between them feels authentic, the shared delight in poetry is a nice touch, and the portrayal of his PTSD feels true. But I found myself agreeing with Maisie's much-maligned mother who urges her daughter to put young love aside and focus on the chances the War has brought young women to break out of the traditional wife/motherhood path. Will Maisie listen? Well, at least she gets the chance to rescue the hero a few times, make some lifelong friendships, and forge new relationships with her mother and sister before she decides her fate. A conventionally happy ending awaits, though the emotional satisfaction from the brief mention that some of the women build their own utopia on their old timber camp's site brought a real feeling of satisfying conclusion for this reader. Leech can certainly pick a good idea, do the research and write well enough to create a pleasant read; if she takes chances with her next book and has the characters follow a less traditional path, she could produce a good one.
A love affair with the Canadian lumberjack, John, who alternately frowns, limps and recites poetry, takes over the story and frankly, is not as compelling as Maisie's previous forays into independence. Her maturation no longer comes from her experiences working and living with a diverse group of women, but instead from responding to John's behaviors and treatment of her. The physical chemistry between them feels authentic, the shared delight in poetry is a nice touch, and the portrayal of his PTSD feels true. But I found myself agreeing with Maisie's much-maligned mother who urges her daughter to put young love aside and focus on the chances the War has brought young women to break out of the traditional wife/motherhood path. Will Maisie listen? Well, at least she gets the chance to rescue the hero a few times, make some lifelong friendships, and forge new relationships with her mother and sister before she decides her fate. A conventionally happy ending awaits, though the emotional satisfaction from the brief mention that some of the women build their own utopia on their old timber camp's site brought a real feeling of satisfying conclusion for this reader. Leech can certainly pick a good idea, do the research and write well enough to create a pleasant read; if she takes chances with her next book and has the characters follow a less traditional path, she could produce a good one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2021
After reading Caroline Leech’s WWII book Wait For Me I knew I had to read In Another Time and it didn’t disappoint. I’m always inspired by the stories of the many women during WWII who contributed t the war effort. The Women’s Timber Corpse was a group I wasn’t to familiar with, so getting a leak into this fictional story inspired by real women was enjoyable. The story was a little slow to begin with, but once I got hooked I couldn’t put it down. There were so many great takeaways about strength and tenacity, empowerment to help your country and also the struggles of overcoming injury and loss during the war.
January 24, 2019
When I saw Elizabeth Wein's complimentary blurb on the cover of this WWII historical novel, I knew I would love it. And, of course, I did. Yet another little known women's wartime contribution--"lumberjills"--women who worked in the Scottish Highlands for the Women's Timber Corps when lumber wasn't available from the European continent because of the Nazi occupation. An authentic historical romance that addresses the emotional and physical repercussions of war.
January 17, 2019
In Another Time is not alike any other historical fictions I’ve read. The novel proves to have a somewhat unique plotline. The story is filled with both heartwarming and many heartbreaking experiences, leaving me wanting more. The story follows the life of a Scottish girl, Maisie McCall. She wishes to run away from her heartless parents to start a new life as a Lumberjill, but in reality Maisie is only running away from her problematic past. Maisie later abandons her younger sister, believing it is the only possibility to escape the past. This genuinely upsets me how she can willingly abandon her sister without seeking other possibilities.
The relationship between John Lindsay and Maisie was quite complicated. I feel like the author left their relationship unfinished. Throughout the novel many views and goals of their relationship were shown, but not reached deeply enough. Their love for eachother was quite confusing sometimes. They never actually shown any signs of their love, or even acknowledge their love until the very last few pages. Maisie never wanted to confront John about their problems and always ran away, which taken away the depth of their relationship. The ending lost all of its importance and left me asking various questions about why they married.
The novel was an enticing and enjoyable read from beginning to finish, but I hope for a sequel to clear misunderstanding about the plot ending. The use of poetry was outstanding! I absolutely loved it! The poetry melted into the storyline and added important depth. Overall, the book was an outstanding read and was enjoyable until the very finish. I would definitely recommend this novel.
The relationship between John Lindsay and Maisie was quite complicated. I feel like the author left their relationship unfinished. Throughout the novel many views and goals of their relationship were shown, but not reached deeply enough. Their love for eachother was quite confusing sometimes. They never actually shown any signs of their love, or even acknowledge their love until the very last few pages. Maisie never wanted to confront John about their problems and always ran away, which taken away the depth of their relationship. The ending lost all of its importance and left me asking various questions about why they married.
The novel was an enticing and enjoyable read from beginning to finish, but I hope for a sequel to clear misunderstanding about the plot ending. The use of poetry was outstanding! I absolutely loved it! The poetry melted into the storyline and added important depth. Overall, the book was an outstanding read and was enjoyable until the very finish. I would definitely recommend this novel.
November 12, 2021
2.5 Stars
what i liked
The empowerment of women during the war, i mean what they can do as a lumberjill.
PSTD reference speically during the war.
Anything about the past and war always calls my name.
what you dislike
Romance felt a little to much, or maybe not enough.
Felt like the mean girl was trying to hard then simply disappeared... i can't even remember her name.
The lack of the family issue.
who is your favorite character?
Dot & Maisie
how did the book make you feel?
I felt that this book was okay, in my own words it needed to have more of the lumberjills i mean the harder work, the long journey's, other things about it... i would have loved to learn more about it speically back then during a war. Instead we had little of that, little of family issues, lots of on and off romance with the main characters and gosh that kinda got annoying.
what i liked
The empowerment of women during the war, i mean what they can do as a lumberjill.
PSTD reference speically during the war.
Anything about the past and war always calls my name.
what you dislike
Romance felt a little to much, or maybe not enough.
Felt like the mean girl was trying to hard then simply disappeared... i can't even remember her name.
The lack of the family issue.
who is your favorite character?
Dot & Maisie
how did the book make you feel?
I felt that this book was okay, in my own words it needed to have more of the lumberjills i mean the harder work, the long journey's, other things about it... i would have loved to learn more about it speically back then during a war. Instead we had little of that, little of family issues, lots of on and off romance with the main characters and gosh that kinda got annoying.
February 27, 2018
I don't typically read historical fiction, especially in YA (unless there is magic involved :) so when I picked this book up I don't really know what I was expecting. If anything I wished that the Women's Timber Corp. was talked about more, I just had so many questions about that organization in general that as soon as I finished it I went online and looked some stuff up...really fascinating!
Maisie was a good character; struggling to find herself and her self worth after leaving a home that wasn't very supportive. Her romance with John was believable and I was happy to see how it ended.
Thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC!
Maisie was a good character; struggling to find herself and her self worth after leaving a home that wasn't very supportive. Her romance with John was believable and I was happy to see how it ended.
Thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC!
September 26, 2018
This was sweet story. A WWII story that is set at wartime but actually includes very little war (although it addresses PTSD, war injury, and women’s war effort participation). It also sheds light on a war time effort that isn’t widely known about. All of this is pretty high praise from me, a reader who hates WWII HistFic fairly unilaterally... but I was into this one for the romance. 😉
November 15, 2021
I was initially excited to read this, given I adored Leech's other novel Wait for Me. However, this book fell flat for me. And it was surprisingly frustrating.
While I understand this is a journey of self discovery, it's a tale of human relationships and an exploration of PTSD in a soldier who lost one of his legs in Dunkirk, then was sent to be a lumberjack where he meets the main character, a lumberjill. The first love story, while sweet in the beginning, quickly soured and frustrated me as a reader. While I may be feeling insensitivity for the main male character, he played the 'you pity me' card far too often, and he used the 'I never should've told you about my missing leg because you'll feel you have to take care of me' also, which was inherently frustrating. The way this book displays this relationship became a bit toxic in my opinion: the way they treated one another throughout the book, the way they talked to one another, it was super irritating and it made them even more unlikeable than they already were, in my eyes personally.
I am not trying to downplay how serious PTSD is for soldiers who ultimately lost limbs. I understand it's a highly sensitive issue and has consequences, what I disliked about it was how the main character basically tried to say you can't love me now because you know I'm weak without a leg and I can take care of myself, all the while berating her for acting of her own free will in certain situations when it didn't relate to his injury.
The most interesting thing about this novel was learning about the Women's Timber Corps, that was about it in all honesty. Their sacrifice went generally unrecognized for the war effort, and I feel like lumberjills should be properly acknowledged for the role they played in history.
Otherwise, eh, you may or may not like this book, may or may not see it the same way I did, but it's for someone out there I'm sure. Just wasn't me.
While I understand this is a journey of self discovery, it's a tale of human relationships and an exploration of PTSD in a soldier who lost one of his legs in Dunkirk, then was sent to be a lumberjack where he meets the main character, a lumberjill. The first love story, while sweet in the beginning, quickly soured and frustrated me as a reader. While I may be feeling insensitivity for the main male character, he played the 'you pity me' card far too often, and he used the 'I never should've told you about my missing leg because you'll feel you have to take care of me' also, which was inherently frustrating. The way this book displays this relationship became a bit toxic in my opinion: the way they treated one another throughout the book, the way they talked to one another, it was super irritating and it made them even more unlikeable than they already were, in my eyes personally.
I am not trying to downplay how serious PTSD is for soldiers who ultimately lost limbs. I understand it's a highly sensitive issue and has consequences, what I disliked about it was how the main character basically tried to say you can't love me now because you know I'm weak without a leg and I can take care of myself, all the while berating her for acting of her own free will in certain situations when it didn't relate to his injury.
The most interesting thing about this novel was learning about the Women's Timber Corps, that was about it in all honesty. Their sacrifice went generally unrecognized for the war effort, and I feel like lumberjills should be properly acknowledged for the role they played in history.
Otherwise, eh, you may or may not like this book, may or may not see it the same way I did, but it's for someone out there I'm sure. Just wasn't me.
September 29, 2018
Overall: 3.5/5 Stars
Characters: 3/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 3/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 3/5
Review in a Nutshell: In Another Time is a cute, light read, but isn't perfect.
|||| ||
- Premise -
In Another Time follows Masie during World War II as she serves as a lumberjill in the Scottish highlands. When she meets lumberjack John Lindsay, they forge a great friendship, but his secrets keep it from becoming more. When he learns to open up, Masie must decide if they can work through his past and be together.
- Setting -
I loved the setting of this book. Caroline Leech writes WWII Scotland beautifully. You feel as if you're there in the trees with the lumberjills.
- Writing -
The writing in this book is okay, really just average. It's very accessible and easy to jump into, something that isn't seen in a lot of historical novels. However, nothing about it really stands out and feel a little awkward at times.
- Plot-
The pacing in this book was fast, the pages flying by due to the easy to read writing style. The plot itself was interesting, I loved the insight into the life of lumberjills and how they lived during WWII. It was something I knew nothing about before jumping into this book. I also loved how this book included PTSD and disabilities, but there were a couple of times where I wasn't a fan of how it was handled.
- Characters -
The characters in this book were all very well developed and rounded. There was even a hint of an LGBT relationship between two side characters that made me so excited (I just wish it was mentioned or explained a little more because, or I would take an entire book just on the two of them). Masie was an interesting protagonist, and I liked her perspective. John, however, wasn't my favorite character. He just fell flat for me, and I didn't like some of the aspects of his and Masie's relationship, mostly how he treated her sometimes and how she would respond to it. While she was an independent and great character most of the time, the way she would let John treat her bothered me. My biggest issue was that she would either just give in to his behavior and let it go, or stand her ground only to give in later. Despite his reasons, I would have felt better if some of Masie's independence carried through into that relationship.
- Conclusion -
Pros- Quick, good protagonist, great historical setting
Cons- The main relationship was meh
Overall- 3.5/5 stars.
If you're looking for a lighthearted historical novel, In Another Time is a good choice to pass the time, although I personally would recommend Caroline Leech's Wait For Me instead.
Characters: 3/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 3/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 3/5
Review in a Nutshell: In Another Time is a cute, light read, but isn't perfect.
|||| ||
- Premise -
In Another Time follows Masie during World War II as she serves as a lumberjill in the Scottish highlands. When she meets lumberjack John Lindsay, they forge a great friendship, but his secrets keep it from becoming more. When he learns to open up, Masie must decide if they can work through his past and be together.
- Setting -
I loved the setting of this book. Caroline Leech writes WWII Scotland beautifully. You feel as if you're there in the trees with the lumberjills.
- Writing -
The writing in this book is okay, really just average. It's very accessible and easy to jump into, something that isn't seen in a lot of historical novels. However, nothing about it really stands out and feel a little awkward at times.
- Plot-
The pacing in this book was fast, the pages flying by due to the easy to read writing style. The plot itself was interesting, I loved the insight into the life of lumberjills and how they lived during WWII. It was something I knew nothing about before jumping into this book. I also loved how this book included PTSD and disabilities, but there were a couple of times where I wasn't a fan of how it was handled.
- Characters -
The characters in this book were all very well developed and rounded. There was even a hint of an LGBT relationship between two side characters that made me so excited (I just wish it was mentioned or explained a little more because, or I would take an entire book just on the two of them). Masie was an interesting protagonist, and I liked her perspective. John, however, wasn't my favorite character. He just fell flat for me, and I didn't like some of the aspects of his and Masie's relationship, mostly how he treated her sometimes and how she would respond to it. While she was an independent and great character most of the time, the way she would let John treat her bothered me. My biggest issue was that she would either just give in to his behavior and let it go, or stand her ground only to give in later. Despite his reasons, I would have felt better if some of Masie's independence carried through into that relationship.
- Conclusion -
Pros- Quick, good protagonist, great historical setting
Cons- The main relationship was meh
Overall- 3.5/5 stars.
If you're looking for a lighthearted historical novel, In Another Time is a good choice to pass the time, although I personally would recommend Caroline Leech's Wait For Me instead.
August 30, 2018
"Love is worth the fight."
That line from this book's blurb adequately summarizes Maisie and John's story, and I absolutely adore both of them and this whole book.
In Another Timehas everythingWait for Mehad - sweet, first romance, well-researched historical foundations, creative authorial fill-ins - but what puts this one ahead of its predecessor is its balance.
In Another Timewasn't just about Maisie and John's fight to be together, it was also about Maisie and her lumberjill friends, and Maisie standing up for herself and what she wants. It's a well-rounded, coming-of-age, and I certainly loved reading every bit of Maisie's journey. I couldn't put this book down because I just need to know what happens next for her.
I enjoyed reading both books, Wait for MeandIn Another Time,but I just enjoyed reading the latter more.I definitely, definitely recommend it to anyone who love historical romance.
This review is also posted on my blog as part of a mini-review with Caroline Leech's first book Wait for Me. Digital galley of this book was provided to me by the publisher via Edelweiss for an honest review.
That line from this book's blurb adequately summarizes Maisie and John's story, and I absolutely adore both of them and this whole book.
In Another Timehas everythingWait for Mehad - sweet, first romance, well-researched historical foundations, creative authorial fill-ins - but what puts this one ahead of its predecessor is its balance.
In Another Timewasn't just about Maisie and John's fight to be together, it was also about Maisie and her lumberjill friends, and Maisie standing up for herself and what she wants. It's a well-rounded, coming-of-age, and I certainly loved reading every bit of Maisie's journey. I couldn't put this book down because I just need to know what happens next for her.
I enjoyed reading both books, Wait for MeandIn Another Time,but I just enjoyed reading the latter more.I definitely, definitely recommend it to anyone who love historical romance.
This review is also posted on my blog as part of a mini-review with Caroline Leech's first book Wait for Me. Digital galley of this book was provided to me by the publisher via Edelweiss for an honest review.
May 12, 2019
This solid historical fiction selection tells the story of the Women's Timber Corps, a group that was formed in Scotland during World War II. As with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and other initiatives that women undertook during the war, the WTC members were trained as lumberjills and deployed to areas where they were needed. Main character and narrator Maisie initially enrolled because the WTC was the only service branch that would take her before she turned eighteen, allowing her independence from her unhappy home.
Maisie and her friends attend a dance, and meet some Canadians lumberjacks that are also stationed there. She is drawn to a dark and handsome stranger; though there is a spark of something between them, he disappears when he unsuccessfully tries to dance with Maisie. Although they are definitely drawn to one another, Maisie and John seem to be at counter purposes. Maisie makes a surprising discovery about John, and realizes that he has more secrets that he is keeping.
The end of the book tells of the history of the WTC, and the long overdue recognition they received in 2012. The strong female characters would be interested to readers looking to see females in nontraditional roles.
Maisie and her friends attend a dance, and meet some Canadians lumberjacks that are also stationed there. She is drawn to a dark and handsome stranger; though there is a spark of something between them, he disappears when he unsuccessfully tries to dance with Maisie. Although they are definitely drawn to one another, Maisie and John seem to be at counter purposes. Maisie makes a surprising discovery about John, and realizes that he has more secrets that he is keeping.
The end of the book tells of the history of the WTC, and the long overdue recognition they received in 2012. The strong female characters would be interested to readers looking to see females in nontraditional roles.
February 7, 2020
I love learning about small facets of WWII and this novel explores the Women's Timber Corps in Scotland in 1942. Maisie McCall wants to do her part and she defies her parents to become a lumberjill. What's great about this novel is that Maisie grows into herself, gets physically strong, and makes lasting friendships. Being a lumberjill made Maisie very capable and independent. War has a way of making everything so poignant and important. When Maisie meets John, the Canadian lumberjack, she's instantly intrigued, but she faces head on the realities of loving someone with PTSD. It's not an easy romance, but nothing is easy during a war. I really appreciated learning a little about the home front in Scotland.
September 28, 2018
I received this book as part of my Once Upon a Book Club box. The story was interesting and something I have definitely never read about before. However, I was disappointed that this was a love story because I think it would have been much more interesting if it was not. The story and the Lumberjills alone were way more interesting and engaging than the romance and I think it took away from my enjoyment of this book. Especially because I really didn't understand why the main characters liked each other. I could barely stand John even before all of the things we learn about him and I think Maisie's story could have been something incredible if they had just remained a cute flirtation instead of a romance.
October 12, 2018
It was okay...
I really wanted to like it more, but the pacing was off! Like really off, and the romance aspect, although very cute, was kind of all over the place.
I really liked the fact that it's in Scotland which was really different for most WWII books! I also like that it didn't have to do with the frontlines. But the only thing is I didn't like that it was mainly focused on the dance aspect. The whole thing about the lumberjills sounds so amazing and could have been developed and dug more into but they chose not to. So it was just okay.
I really wanted to like it more, but the pacing was off! Like really off, and the romance aspect, although very cute, was kind of all over the place.
I really liked the fact that it's in Scotland which was really different for most WWII books! I also like that it didn't have to do with the frontlines. But the only thing is I didn't like that it was mainly focused on the dance aspect. The whole thing about the lumberjills sounds so amazing and could have been developed and dug more into but they chose not to. So it was just okay.
October 26, 2018
I really love the settings (and covers!) of Leech's books—I hadn't heard of WWII 'lumberjills', so I was eager to learn a bit more. And...I still love the setting, but errrrrrgh I wish there'd been a little less romance and a little more, you know, tree-felling. I'm not sure how much I really did learn: what does Maisie's day-to-day life as a lumberjill really look like? When does she wake up, what does she eat in the morning, how tired is she, what are the rules and regulations like? There's a not-quite lesbian relationship (it's clear that it's meant to be a 1940s version of queerness, but someone could opt to read it as a close platonic friendship, so I'm not sure it counts...but also not sure how much awareness someone in Maisie's position would have of The Lesbians) that I'd love to know a bit more about; there's also an Evil Bitch Who Is Evil, which interests me not at all. So: setting is kind of there; romance takes over everything; I was left wanting a bit more.
July 20, 2018
Caroline Leech is a master of historical fiction! I loved Wait for Me and her sophomore novel does not disappoint. Leech once against transports readers to a time and place off the beaten path: The highlands of Scotland during WW2. Maisie's strength, both physical and internal, is the highlight of the story for me. At seventeen, Maisie enlists in the Women's Timber Corp to help in the war effort while also breaking from her family’s expectations. Amongst the lumberjills and lumberjacks, she finds kindred spirits and meets the mysterious John Lindsay who suffers from PTSD. In Another Time is a gorgeously written story of first love, friendship, and tenacity of the human spirit.
December 24, 2019
This started really strong and I was really starting to like John, but I found Maisie a little insufferable and all of their conversations were so painfully repetitive. The only actually THING that happened apart from dialogue in the book was given away in the book jacket blurb, and that was like almost 200 pages in ... so.
April 29, 2019
3.5 stars- I must say I was hoping for way more lumberjill story line instead of the love story. I loved the setting and reading about the friendships formed in the Women’s Timber Corp. I wanted much more of that over the focus on John and Maisie’s love story.
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