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The Sacrifices Made
The Chippendale Letter follows a Vietnam War widow as she embarks on a journey to find the intended recipient of an unmailed letter from 1944. What were some sources that informed this novels development?
Although I was never in Vietnam, I was in the USMC Reserves during that time, so the sacrifices made by those who served have always stayed with me. Those sacrifices obviously extend to those families who suffered the loss of a loved one. As for the story’s 1944 timeframe, I have been interested in that period of American History since I was a teenager. My previous novel, Fate’s Final Destiny, takes place during those years, and letters also played a role in that plot’s development. So, in a sense, I was the source for that part of the story.
What were some challenges you felt were important to developing Patti’s character in the story?
I needed to establish Patti’s fragile state so the reader could appreciate her overcoming the hardships she had to endure. Then, without giving away too many plot details at this time, I needed to make her journey and resulting emotional growth seem natural and not contrived.
What were some questions you kept asking yourself as you were writing your story?
Besides staying historically accurate, I needed to know if I kept the lives of the four main characters believable and authentic. I would also ask myself if their lives and life-changing decisions would resonate well with my readers. I disapprove of it when an author is too loose with what is factual to make the storyline conveniently result in the outcome.
What draws you to the historical romance genre and makes it perfect for you to write in?
The genre consists of two passions of mine. I have always been a history buff, and I have always loved a good love story, especially those with a feel-good ending. Writing historical romance novels allows me to combine the two by weaving the romance into a historical setting. Having lived in the latter part of the twentieth century, writing about those periods allows me to draw from my personal experiences and what I have learned from books.
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The Chippendale Letter
In The Chippendale Letter we follow a young widow whose husband passed away during the Vietnam War. Patti moved in with her family and took courses on furniture restoration to help fill her days. Her sister, Katie, found a lovely old wooden chest at a yard sale. But it is not just any wooden chest, it is a genuine Chippendale wooden chest. Little does Patti and her family know, this chest will send her on a mission of hope to reunite loved ones. Armed with a letter she finds in the back of the drawers and going off the two names mentioned, Pattie seeks out George Bauer and Charlotte DeLotte. What Patti doesn’t expect to find is a new love for herself.
This intimate and emotional romance novel was one of the sweetest and most heart-wrenching stories I have read in a very long time. I was not sure what to expect at first, as I thought the story would just be about a woman moving on with her life, but the book turned out to be so much more than that. Not only do readers get to find out about Patti’s life, but readers also get to find out about George and Charlotte; two equally compelling characters. A whirlwind of sentimental romance left me wanting to know what happens next.
The author methodically creates the characters within the story, so that by the end they feel like real people that readers will easily be able to understand, if not relate to. I enjoyed watching these characters develop and evolve and I think this will appeal to anyone looking for a well constructed character driven narrative.
The characters really stand out even within the riveting plot of this historical romance novel. I really enjoyed the plot twists as I think they played exceptionally well in the story and never felt contrived. I found it all to be excellent. But even with the fantastic plot twists I was left wanting more by the end, maybe due to how it ends or maybe due to my connection to the characters.
The Chippendale Letter is an absorbing love story that will appeal to readers looking for a touching historical romance novel that explores different periods in American history through a personal lens.
Pages: 444 | ASIN: B0B25PBPK2
LITERARY TITAN 