"Grounded Hearts" by Jeanne M. Dickson

A brave midwife. A wounded pilot. A risky secret.

In the midst of World War II, Ireland has declared herself neutral. Troops found on Irish soil must be reported and interned, no matter which side they are fighting for. When midwife Nan O’Neil finds a wounded young Canadian pilot at her door, she knows she’s taking a huge risk by letting him in. Not only is she a widow living alone, but if caught harboring a combatant, she’ll face imprisonment.

Still, something compels Nan to take in “flyboy” Dutch Whitney, an RAF pilot whose bomber has just crashed over County Clare. While she tends to his wounds and gives him a secret place of refuge, the two begin to form a mutual affection-and an unbreakable bond.

But Nan has another secret, one that has racked her with guilt since her husband’s death and made her question ever loving again. As Nan and Dutch plan his escape, can he help restore her faith?

Dickson’s written a most unique story in Grounded Hearts! The setting is colorful, and if I didn’t know it was based on real stories and situations, I’d think it total fiction! I enjoyed the way that Dickson brings the setting to life. Her cast of characters is most colorful, and while Nan’s situation is dire, it is almost comical the way that the worst always, always seems to happen to her – until she finds her final resolution.

The ending was not unpredictable, but it did come about in a most unexpected way. The journey to this ending was a fun one, and I didn’t want to put the story down. I found myself turning page after page with increasing speed, needing to find out if Nan was able to stay out of trouble. I liked this aspect of the story much more than expected.

Despite the unusual situations in which Nan finds herself, there is much depth to this story. With internment on the line, Roman Catholic rules, and marital grief, sadness abounds. Dickson writes deep spiritual lessons into this story with each twist and turn of the plot.

If you like WWII historical fiction, Dickson’s an author to watch.

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About the author:

Jeanne M. Dickson was born into an Irish American family, the only girl surrounded by four brothers. She credits her mother, her aunts, and her grandmother with her love of storytelling. Perfecting her craft, she attends many writer’s conferences and over the years, she has won and finaled in numerous RWA romance writing awards including the Daphne du Maurier Award, the Maggie Award, The Molly, The Tara, and she was the overall contest winner of Launching A Star. Today she lives in Coastal San Diego with her fabulous husband, her two wonderful girls, and a dozen disobedient rose bushes.

Find out more about Jeanne M. at http://www.jeannemdickson.com.