Rachel's War
Barbara Colley
Reviewed by Sabrina Williams
Misfortune follows Rachel Thompson like a plague. Born into poverty,
resigned to the demands of an overbearing father, Rachel's future seems
indisputably bleak. She sees her way out in the marriage proposal of
her lifelong sweetheart, Tim. Her father explodes in a fury and throws
her out of her home when Rachel tells him she and Tim have eloped.
Homeless, Rachel is left in the care of a resentful mother-in-law while
Tim is drafted into World War II. When the war draws to a close, Tim
and Rachel set out to start a life for themselves far away from the
constraints of their families. Tragedy leaves Rachel widowed in an
unfamiliar town.
As if on cue, an acquaintance appears in the diner where she
waitresses. Jonathan Williams offers Rachel a job as his son J.J.'s
nanny. When Rachel discovers she is pregnant with Tim's child, Jonathan
makes a proposal that will benefit both Rachel and himself. Faced with
the alternative of a life of uncertainty, Rachel accepts Jonathan's
suggestion, along with the explosive secret that will haunt her for
years to come. So begins the legacy of three generations of
strong-willed and resilient women.
Rachel's War by Barbara Colley spans the lives of three women and three
wars. While husbands battle overseas, Rachel, her daughter Liz, and her
grandaughter Crystal wage their own private wars on the homefront.
Concretely, their battles include in-laws, alcoholism, death and
illness. Abstractly, they battle insecurity, authority, guilt and
remorse. In short, the characters are relatably human and open to the
interpretations the reader's own experience provides. A helpful
strategy Colley incorporated into the novel is the use of letters as a
sort of journal. As the couples write back and forth during their
absences, the reader is offered an intimate view of the thoughts and
emotions of each person that mere dialog does not afford.
Barbara Colley's novels typically take place in her hometown of New
Orleans, and Rachel's War is no exception. Though the characters change
locales frequently, Rachel begins her life in rural Louisiana and her
family members find themselves drawn to the state for various reasons.
She writes a cozy mystery series that carries a bit of romance, as
Rachel's War eludes to its own mysteries. Her work encompasses multiple
genres and appeals to a wide range of readers.
I admit I am not a fan of romance novels, and I only gave this one a
try because I enjoyed Colley's Charlotte LaRue mysteries. However,
Rachel's War is anything but a cheesy Fabio-adorned mass market release
and has made me rethink my opinion of Harlequin and the like. Colley
writes true literature that has a backbone and a message for the reader.