The Korean War destroyed their wedding plans, but the battle at home may shatter their hearts… Laura Beth Walters fell in love with Joe McCall when she was six years old. Now she is counting the days until Joey graduates from college so they can marry and begin their life together. But the Korean War rips their neatly laid plans to shreds. Instead of a college fraternity, Joey joins a platoon. … Joey joins a platoon. Laura Beth trades a traditional wedding for a quick trip to the courthouse.
The couple endure the hardship of separation, but the true battle begins when Joey returns. Their marriage is soon tested beyond endurance. Joey deals with the aftermath of war, and a family tragedy sends Laura into a downward spiral. Determined to save the woman who has kept them anchored for so long, Joey will fight anyone or anything…for the love of Laura Beth.
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Laura Beth Walters and Joe McCall grew up together. In their teen years, they started dating. When Joe’s mum passed away, Laura Beth was there not only for Joe but for the McCall family. They both agree to wait to get married until after Joe finishes college. But the Korean War comes calling and Laura Beth didn’t want to wait any longer to get married. They married before he had to leave, opposing her father’s wishes. She’s no longer welcome in her parents’ home so she moves in with Joe’s dad and brothers. When Joe returns home, they figure their strife is over but it’s just the beginning. A family tragedy puts their marriage to the test. Can Joe’s love and support buoy Laura Beth’s grief or is it all too much?
Aubrey Wynne’s gift for heartwarming historical romance is well-known and one of the things I love most about her books. She takes a time period and brings it to life through emotional storytelling and life-like characters. I felt an instant connection to Laura Beth and her story is one many women faced in the 1950’s. Her reactions to ordinary events such as meeting the parents over Thanksgiving rang true. Seeing life as a newly married army wife through her eyes was eye-opening and heartbreaking all at once.
What made this so wonderful to read had to be the well-researched world building Wynne accomplished. Everything from hairstyles to clothing to fear of the unknown is spot-on and added immense depth to the story. I found myself understanding 1950’s America better for reading this romance.
If you’re looking for a sweet 1950’s romance that’ll sweep you away, pick up this book right now. It’s an excellent addition to the A Chicago Christmas series and one I highly recommend. Don’t worry, it’s a standalone.
Favorite Character/Quote: Laura Beth. I know she is based on the author’s mother-in-law, but she reminded me of my great-aunt. Her strength, especially in difficult circumstances endeared me to her. She has a lot to deal with in such a short time. There were times I just wanted to hug her and tell her it’ll be okay. A beautiful character based on what I can only assume is a wonderful woman.
My Rating: 5 stars
Sweet love story with poignant episodes. The time gaps did nothing to distract from the storytelling. I received this book from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review,
5Star
For The Love of Laura Beth: A Chicago Christmas Book 4 By Aubrey Wynne is the fourth Book in her A Chicago Christmas Series. This is an Amazingly written story about love and perseverance. This is the story about Joe and Laura Beth and their love for each other and their families. There is sacrifice and grace.This book had my emotions all over the place with moments that warmed my heart and had me feeling heartbroken as well. I highly recommend reading this book.I look forward to reading more from this Author.
The book is a good historical holiday romance read. The story has a good story line.The characters are good, believable, and they are well developed. The story is a heart felt read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3I5QZ4C6YFW8G/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8
I loved “For The Love Of Laura Beth” as it is a beautifully written historical, based on real people real places, fears of polio and cancer. It was an emotional read about real life, real fears and surviving the Korean War. Laura Beth Walters and Joe [Joey] McCall were meant to be together. Laura Beth was courageous, strong and compassionate for the McCall men when Mrs. McCall get very sick. Joey McCall was an ambitious and hard working young man who was drafted during the Korean War. Joey has loved Laura for a long time. Laura gives Joey the best Christmas present when she married him on Christmas. Laura’s dad was very upset that she did that. While Joey was serving in the Korean War Laura gave birth to a little girl. After Joey came home from the war they found out that their little girl was sick. Laura was pregnant with their second child. Laura and Joey’s love was tested due to everything that was going on. Laura gave birth to a boy and they named him after his daddy. Aubrey Wynne did an awesome job with this Historical book. Thank you Aubrey Wynne for a very beautifully written story!!
4 1/2 stars out of 5. Laura Beth and Joe made a wonderful couple. Began as friends meant to be life partners. Their lives had a lot of ups and downs, and the lows made me cry, the emotions were so well expressed. I recommend this story. As I listened to the audio version, I felt that Sara K Sheckells brought the characters to life and made the emotions more real for me.
I received a copy of this audio story as a gift, and this is my unsolicited review.
Laura Beth Walters had waited 10 years for that special first kiss that meant everything. She had known she was in love since the first grade, but her mom had told her boys were slower to figure that out. Joe McCall was that one she was waiting for, and they both knew it was love.
This is the story of Laura Beth and Joe, how love for each other, love for family, and deep devotion got them through the devastation that life can bring. The characters will touch the reader’s emotions as the story line takes you through their lives. This is one book you won’t want to miss. Can deep, enduring love truly get you through the pain that tries to smother you? Is Laura Beth the rock that Joe can depend on always? Grab your copy and share their story.
This book takes the reader back in time to the moment when Joey McCall knew for the first time, that he was looking at the love of his life. Laura knew she loved him when she was in the first grade. He didn’t catch on until he was a senior in high school and saw a guy from his class buying her a soda, and that’s when everything changed.
This is a wonderful, touching story about love and the challenges and situations that complicated lives. The reader is given a front-row seat into the lives of these two individuals and I am pretty sure you will fall in love with them. Be prepared for your heart to open wide. This is a beautiful, emotional story.
I received a copy of the book and am posting an honest review based on the book. It is a five star read.
She had loved him since she was six years old. It took him another ten years to figure things out…that, and seeing a male classmate buying her a soda, to wake him up. He was jealous…she was his! And so the story begins.
Welcome to a time when the US was rebuilding and returning vets were trying to put their lives back in place, earn a decent wage and build a life. It wasn’t easy but things were steady.
Just when everything looked promising, financial challenges caused a shift in Joey’s career path and family situations created complications.
This is a wonderful story that touched my heart and gave me an insight into a different place and time. It is a short read but filled with deep emotion and a heart wrenching story. I loved every minute and highly recommend it.
I received a reader copy from HG in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. This one is a winner.
This book should be a Hallmark Movie!
Wonderful story of one young couple in love during the Korean War. The war was before my time but it still feels so authentic. Laura Beth and Joey became my favorite book couple as the story unfolded. Learning in the the authors note at the end that they are based on a true story of the authors own family made the story that much more touching. Love, loss, heartbreak and heartwarming. The narrator did a really good job bringing the story to life and their feeling to the surface.
The love story of Joey and Laura Beth is fraught with all kinds of problems specific for their time. I thought it was portrayed realistically and sweetly. You just had to pull for Laura Beth and your heart went out to see them struggling. I enjoy this author and her thoughtful stories. Beautiful cover.
This is a wonderful story, beautifully written. Aubrey Wynne did it again! I love all about this story! Sara K. Sheckells did an amazing job with the narration. I really enjoyed my listening, and totally recommend this audiobook. I received this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily written this review.
They had so many plans and a wedding but war puts all their plans out. So instead of a wonderful wedding it is a quickie at the town hall before he leaves for war. What will happen to them when he gets back? See how they get on
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
For the Love of Laura Beth is the fourth book in Aubrey Wynne’s Chicago Christmas series. It is a great story that takes place in the shadows of Korean war. The writer has taken this era and meticulously brought into life – I can close my eyes and picture the people and places she is describing. You don’t have to read the other stories in the series as this is a standalone story taking place in Midwest (like the other Chicago Christmas stories).
For the Love of Laura Beth is the story of Laura Beth Walters and Joe McCall – they grew up together and Laura Beth fell in love with Joe when she was just 6 years old. It takes a while but Joe notices her and it seems as if they would get their happy future but … first Joe’s mother dies of cancer and then … Korean war comes calling and Laura Beth decides to go against her father’s wishes and marries Joes before he leaves for the war.
The writer gives us such a clear picture of what women’s place was in the 1950ies, what was expected of them and what the consequences might be if they chose different … it also gives us a deeply touching story of a love between a woman and a man and what it takes to overcome family tragedies …
If you yearn for an emotional read about love that can endure anything, then pick up For the Love of Laura Beth!
For The Love of Laura Beth A Chicago Christmas #4 by Aubrey Wynne
Four Stars
What a high emotional impact this story had on me. I couldn’t help but cry. The author really knew how to make you feel the words on every page. Laura Beth is a very strong character and I felt like I was walking in her shoes. The amount of faith she had was amazing. She held onto her beliefs and didn’t let fear stop her. Joe was amazing as well. He stood by Laura Beth even when he was exhausted and doing all the work. The amount of love they had for each other was something we all hope for. This story will have you kissing your kids and thanking the Lord for everyday.
For the Love of Laura Beth (A Chicago Christmas Book 4) by Aubrey Wynne was a sweet quick read, about the growing pains of marriage and learning how to dig down deep, to find that strength needed, to overcome every hardship that was tossed their way.
Not my first read by this author so I knew going in, that I was in for a well crafted read. I was not disappointed. A fast pace tale of love, hardship and family, I was taken on a sweet journey that not only pulled at those dreaded heartstrings, it ignited feelings of hope and faith.
I liked the way this story was structured, like I was reading a combined journal from both Joey and Laura Beth. It reads chronologically, telling us their beginning, their ups, downs, their loses and how they, as a couple, overcame both their demons. As this story moves fast, I don’t want to give anything away. But I will tell you that, time and care went into this read, especially for the era it was set in.
Overall this book is worth your time and energy, it will take you back in time, back when things appeared simple, but as we all know, things are never what they seemed. Life always has other plans. So please take my super high recommendation and my stamp of approval that you will fall for Laura and Joey.
Happy Reading
E.A. Walsh
For the Love of Laura Beth by Aubrey Wynne is the fourth book in the Chicago Christmas series. This is the story of Laura and Joe. They fell in love as children and had their lives all mapped out until Joe is sent to Korea during the Korean War. When he returns life does not fall back into the norm. Joe is dealing with the aftermath of having been deployed into a war zone and Laura is dealing with her own problems. Will the strength of their love overcome all of their challenges?
This is a well-done and sweet story. The characters are well written and the story was interesting. The story was sad but uplifting as well. I liked the realistic, non fairy tale aspects of the story. Life is a struggle and we have to figure out what is important to us. I will be looking for more from this author in the future.
Wow – This is a quick and powerful read. I’m not going to say anything about the story because I don’t want to give any spoilers.
This story is fantastically told right from the beginning. It hooked me from the first word. I went in blind, so did not know that this was a complete story in 150 pages. There is a depth and weight to this story that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. While it is set in a different time frame that now, it could hold true to today.
This is a story about the perils of war and life in general. The sweet heartbreaking reality of war and the sweet heartbreaking reality of life. For the Love of Laura Beth is a story about effects of war on the young men and their families in the 1950’s, which is still pretty relevant to today. It’s also about family. Important then. Important now. This is a heartbreaking story about love and loss; hope and survival. This story is too real.
“You’re not the first and won’t be the last to feel forsaken.”
This story involves a twist that wasn’t expected, turning this story from a general heartbreak to an ugly cry heartbreak. But the power of love is there to pull us through.
“I was so afraid of the pain, but I’ll miss all the joy.”
This story was a slow Sunday afternoon type of read and that’s why the twist hits so hard. Great, simple caring characters.
I recommend a tissue box while reading this great story.