About the Book

Book: Francine’s Foibles

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: September 12, 2023

She’s given up hope. He never had any. Will they find it together?

World War II is finally over, and America is extra grateful as the country approaches this year’s Thanksgiving. But for Francine life hasn’t changed. Despite working at Fort Meade processing the paperwork for the thousands of men who have returned home, she’s still lonely and very single. Is she destined for spinsterhood?

Grateful that his parents anglicized the family surname after emigrating to the United States after the Great War, first-generation German-American Ray Fisher has done all he can to hide his heritage. He managed to make it through this second “war to end all wars,” but what American woman would want to marry into a German family? Must he leave the country to find wedded bliss?

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About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

More from Linda

Francine O’Malley is a secondary character in Estelle’s Endeavor, and I decided she deserved her own book. The idea for Francine’s Foibles sprang from the stories my mom told me about her time working at Fort Meade processing discharge paperwork for returning servicemen. Because my grandparents lived in a small town near the base, I’d driven past countless times, but it was fun to research what it was like during World War 2 and the years immediately following. The Laurel Historical Society was a wonderful resource with lots of information and photos from “back in the day.”

Initially opened in 1917 and called Camp Annapolis Junction, the base is located in Maryland about twenty miles southwest of Baltimore and twenty miles east of Laurel. The name quickly changed to Camp Meade but in 1928 was redesignated Fort Leonard Wood. According to www.home.army.mil, Pennsylvania congressmen were so angered at the removal of the name of their native son they held up appropriations until the army agreed to name the new permanent installation Fort George G. Meade, in honor of the Union general.

During World War 2, the base was used as a recruit training post and more than 3.5 million men past through its gates. A small portion of the facility was also used as a POW camp for Japanese, German, and Italian prisoners.

Mom was still single during her time at Fort Meade, and I loved imagining her as a wide-eyed young woman doing her part for the war effort and greeting handsome soldiers as they set foot back on American soil.

This one’s for you, Mom!

Linda Shenton Matchett

MY REVIEW

I have noticed that this time period has one thing that I have always been curious about. It seemed to be very important for young women to be married at a young age. If they were not, they were called a spinster and some looked at them in pity. There is also true for the 1800s as well. How times have changed. Today if you are not married at a certain age, no one looks at you differently. In some instances most wait till later in life to marry and have children. I find this to be very unique that the emphasis during some time periods were about women marrying young to be a status symbol for young women. Now let’s move on to the review.

I adored Francine and how dedicated she was in helping servicemen returning home. She wants to make their transition to be as easy as possible. She is good at her job but I think I would have been a little bored doing it everyday. Francine has this quality that makes others feel at ease even during difficult moments. She is not worried about being single but she does at times want a relationship like her friends have. When she meets Ray things begin to change in her life. Has she found that special someone?

Ray has returned home after being in the service to begin a new chapter in his life. I loved the encounter he had with Francine as he begins his transition. He seems to find comfort in her easy going attitude. One thing that they don’t share in common is faith. Ray is angry at God and can’t bring himself to feel anything but bitterness. As he and Francine start a friendship he realizes that faith is a huge part of her life. His harshness comes out at a moment where Francine ends up getting hurt. Can he repair the damage he has done?

The Fenneys are a sweet older couple that fills the pages with hope and faith. When Francine and Ray find themselves both helping the couple at their house, they both realize that time is short. As Ray explains to Francine, “ you can’t put things off. You might never get another chance.” It is time for them to express their true feelings. This part of the story fills my heart with joy. Being open with one another will hopefully open their hearts to forgiveness.

Francine starts to see that maybe she feels the same way as Ray, but moving forward can’t happen until “he gets right with the Lord.” Oh my do things turn bad when Ray once again lets his pride get the best of him. I see that what is really going on is he is running from God.

The story is a much needed reminder that we need to forgive others and not be bitter about things we have no control over. We also need to trust God with everything. Our main couple learn to let down the barrier’s they have put up to protect them but they also needed to let go of hurt. The ending is very sweet and I loved how the author shares faith in a beautiful story where two people find that God forgives and happiness can happen.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.