Can forbidden love blossom amid the constraints of war?A sweet World War II romance from USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna HatfieldThe moment the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, life shifted for Miko Nishimura. Desperate to reach the Portland Assembly Center for Japanese Americans, she’s kicked off the bus miles from town. Every tick of the clock pushes her closer to becoming a fugitive in the … town. Every tick of the clock pushes her closer to becoming a fugitive in the land of her birth. Exhausted, she stumbles to her grandparents’ abandoned farm only to find a dying soldier sprawled across the step. Unable to leave him, she forsakes all else to keep him alive.
After crashing his plane in the Battle of the Atlantic, the doctors condemn Captain Rock Laroux to die. Determined to meet his maker beneath a blue sky at his family home, he sneaks out of the hospital. Weary and half out of his mind, he makes it as far as a produce stand he remembers from his youth. Rather than surrender to death, Rock fights a battle of the heart as he falls in love with the beautiful Japanese woman who saves his life.
A poignant, sweet romance, Garden of Her Heart proves love can bloom in unlikely places even under the most challenging circumstances.
Winner of the RT Review Source Award, and a RONE Finalist.
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This story is about the Japanese internment during WWII. The first character, Rock, we meet when he’s in the hospital recovering from a plan crash during his military days. He’s in bad shape and it looks like he would die. He leaves the hospital, intent on going home to his farm.
Meet character number two; Miko, she is Japanese American, on her way home from a friend’s place so she can go with her family to the internment camp.
Rock doesn’t have enough money for bus fare all the way home and gets off close to Miko’s farm. Miko has a bus ticket all the way home, but because someone figured out she was of Japanese descent, the bus driver kicked her out 20 miles from her home.
Both Rock and Miko make their way to Miko’s farm.
It’s very interesting, what transpired after they both made it to the farm. You’ll be held captive by the book, because you’ll want to know what happens next in Miko and Rock’s world. Great story!
From the first sentence, I was drawn into the story and Miko’s plight. Ms. Hatfield doesn’t shy away from the reality of the ridicule the Japanese Americans faced during World War II while still keeping the story hopeful. Her vivid descriptions of the people, places, and situations in the book will take you back in time to a bygone era and make you feel like you’re there. Every scene, every moment is filled with the poignant emotions of the time. You can tell that Ms. Hatfield did her research down to the minutest detail, and it shows in the way the story pulls you into the very essence and atmosphere of the time.
The love story of the book is one of the most touching ones I’ve read. Each scene, each step, each stage of their friendship turned love story captured my attention and my heart. I felt deeply the heartrending, bittersweet moments that passed between Rock and Miko as they struggled to figure out what to do about her situation and about her family’s farm. I loved watching their relationship change and grow, made strong even in the challenges and adversities they faced together. The gentle moments of their slowly building love are so moving and perfect, though Miko is resistant to letting herself give in to her feelings out of fear for what Rock would face for choosing to be with her. Rock’s caring restraint as he holds himself in check to prove his love for Miko is real and steadfast and as he patiently waits for Miko to come to him when she’s ready is precious. Their romance is heart meltingly tender and unforgettable. All of Shanna Hatfield’s romances have sweet, tender moments, but to me, Garden of Her heart is the tenderest of her sweet romances and I felt it to my core.
The supporting characters of the novel are more than worth a mention. Each of them truly brings a needed element to the story in his or her own way. Learning about and getting to know Miko’s family accentuates the richness of her ancestry and heritage. Checking in with them throughout the book allows for us to get a glimpse into the conditions and struggles they faced while also showing us their courage and strength. The family on the neighboring land adds their own element of help and charm to the story in so many different ways. I can’t wait for you to meet the delightfully precocious character of Petey. His engaging personality and vibrant chatter are, in my opinion, an essential part of giving the novel some moments of humor and extra warmth. Pastor Clark is indispensable as a stand in father/uncle type figure for both Miko and Rock. Even the villain of the story plays his role perfectly in adding some surprising twists and turns to the story and efficiently creeping me out.
Garden of Her Heart will evoke in you an array of emotions—from anxiousness, to anger, to frustration, to heartache, to joy, to hope and so many more. The characters latched onto my heart and did not let go. There was just something about them and about their story that held me captive and I didn’t want the story to end. It was a wonderfully satisfying ending while still giving the feeling that it was really just the beginning of a lasting and epic love story. I would not object at all to catching up with this family of characters in an epilogue or novella. It is well worth the read.
Ms. Hatfield dedicates Garden of Her Heart “to those who face adversity with courage, strength, and hope” and that is a perfect summation of the characters in this story. Her preface as well as her note at the end are sincere and heartfelt additions to the story. I highly recommend making sure you read them both.
Take a chance on this great book and let it invite you in as a front row guest to the unfolding of the beginning of an enduring love story.
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This is one of my favorite books, by my favorite author! I loved all of the books on WW11. Can’t wait for her next book in this series!! Hurry Shanna!! I love you and all of your books. These books take place in an area of Oregon near where I grew up!!
Thank you very much!!
Reminds us of the steps taken by our government in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. Japanese Americans were interned only because they had Japanese heritage. A sad time in the United States!
Absolutely loved this book. While this is a fictional book based during the time just following the attack on Pearl Harbor the author reached deep and put true facts in this book. I was able to dive in and learn new things. Of course I’m a huge Shanna Hatfield fan so you can’t go wrong. The characters are great and it was hard to out down. I wanted to soak up every page. This is a clean read, and I highly recommend this book.