The Lines Between Us by: Amy Lynn Green

 

I really couldn't wait to see where Green would take us with her newest novel The Lines Between Us  and readers familiar to Green's former novel will see multiple elements that are helping form her trademark style.

Green takes readers back to the era of WWII, but as in her last novel, she focuses on the efforts of those who were stateside for the duration. Once again, I was excited to delve into a part of history I don't really dive into often with the focus this time on the WAC (Women's Auxilary Corps) and the CO's (Conscientious Objectors).

Dorie is definitely a plucky heroine (and I think she'd appreciate the term plucky). I felt she was a strong lead with her curiosity and tenaciousness, both necessary qualities for the plot. I'll admit there were times she was a little more abrasive or manipulative than I expected but it was still well written and believable.

Gordon was my favourite of the two lead characters which, it's not often the male lead draws me in more than the female counterpart. I appreciated his wrestling with truth and conviction both from his working out the practicality of his faith and convictions in the present as well as the reconciliation of how those beliefs diverged in his past. Green writes Gordon's story with both the historical detail I'm coming to expect from her as well as the engaging authenticity of her characters.

One element that I've found unique to Green's writing that I was delighted to reencounter was her usage of letters to drive her plot forward. While they played a larger role in Things We Didn't Say,  I loved the creativity of having key plot points driven forward through military missives, heartfelt letters home, and log books full of the ramblings of long nights. It just adds such an interesting element and dimension to the story and I love to see Green continuing this.

The plot itself, again, I love how Green takes lesser known stories from a well covered era and gives them a moment to shine. While it's more common to cover the European lines I was fascinated to read of the roles the CO's filled at home, the work of the WAC, and of the Triple Nickles, all groups that contributed in their own way to the war effort while facing down prejudices for different reasons. Green really does an amazing job weaving these three groups together with the park rangers of Oregon against a back drop of mystery and belief that keeps you searching for the truth on multiple levels until the end.

4 out of 5 stars. 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."