I’d had to learn everything from pounds, shillings, and pence to the proper technique for securing a hat with a single long pin; I’d borne all of it under the bruising weight of an impossibly profound grief. And my brain was at last getting used to it all–to the foreignness, of course, but also the unexpected fact that it was so…ordinary. Strange, without all the modern machines and clothes and conveniences, and yet familiar. Bread tasted like bread. Rain fell as wetly as ever.
Julian was still Julian.
(from Overseas, page 19)
I’m not a big fan of romances, but after reading Mrs. Q’s review of Overseas, I knew I had to get my hands on this book, and I immediately put it on hold at the library. Beatriz William’s story of a timeless love and time travel set in Amiens, France, on the Western Front of World War I in 1916 and on Wall Street in 2008 hooked me from the first page, and thankfully I had no plans this past Sunday because I spent the entire day just eating up this book.
Overseas is narrated by 25-year-old investment banker Kate Wilson, who has worked hard to land a position in the Capital Markets department of Sterling Bates and sworn off men in the process. She keeps her cool in an atmosphere of butt-kissing and back-stabbing, but she’s caught off guard when Julian Laurence, the billionaire head of a hedge fund, shows an interest in her, then just as suddenly disappears from her life. Their paths cross a few months later, and there’s no denying that the attraction between them is still there.
Julian is very gentlemanly and old fashioned, a man who longs to take care of the woman he loves, but Kate is a modern, independent woman. When a scandal erupts at Sterling Bates, it pains Kate to have to seek shelter with Julian, who senses a danger that he can’t possibly explain to Kate. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect her and take care of her needs, even insisting that all of his money and possessions also are hers, but Kate finds it all a bit stifling.
At the same time that Williams takes readers through all the ups and downs of Julian and Kate’s relationship, she also transports them back to the Great War, telling the story of Captain Ashford, a famous war poet, and the woman who loves him so much she’ll do anything to prevent him from going back to the front. The way in which Williams merges the two stories kept me on the edge of my seat, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, she’d surprise me again.
Overseas is one of those books that requires readers to just go with the flow, to not think too much about the why and the how. Even when the professions of undying devotion got to be a bit too much, even when I felt that the secondary characters could have been better developed, I was still captivated by this story and had to know how it would all play out. Williams made me care about Kate and Julian and made me believe their story, no matter how unbelievable it really was. I honestly was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book; it definitely has its flaws, but it offered some mindless fun for a lazy afternoon.
Disclosure: I borrowed Overseas from the public library.
© 2012 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
Sounds like a good summer read for the beach…though summer is winding down….
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Well, consider it perfect for year-round light reading. 🙂
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I love books that wrap me up like that make me forget just how implausible they are. This sounds like a winner to me.
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I didn’t even mind that the romance got to be a little much at times. I’m not really a romance reader, but I bought this one completely.
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I need to read this book! It really sounds like something I would really get lost in!
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I hope you give it a try!
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It’s on my TBR list. Glad you enjoyed it!
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I think you’d like this one.
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This one is up next on my reading list. I love time travel so I can’t wait to read it, especially after your review and that of Mrs. Q. So glad you really enjoyed it. Look for my thoughts on it in the next week or so.
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I know I liked this one more than you did (that’s how behind I am in responding to comments). It was just the right book at the right time for me.
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I just finished this one and was glued to the pages as well.
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It really is that kind of book, and it says a lot that I could overlook the flaws and love it anyway.
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this one sounds like fun and a good escape — another for my TBR
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Definitely a good escapist read!
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I’m not a big fan of romances either but some are so well done that they are very good. This sounds like one of those books and since I’ve not heard of it before I’ll have to check it out further.
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I think you might like this one, so I’m hoping you give it a go. 🙂
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Wonderful review of Overseas–I’ve now got my eye on this book, too, to savor on a lazy afternoon!
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Thanks, Suko! It really was a great way to spend the day.
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I like going with the flow, and not thinking now and again
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I’ve needed a lot of those types of books lately!
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Sometimes it’s just the right time for a book we don’t expect to love. Glad you enjoyed this one so much, and I’m looking forward to reading it soon, too.
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I can’t wait to see what you think of it!
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This doesn’t sound like me either, but I trust your judgement!
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Oh, the pressure!
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I’m not a big romance reader, either, but like Kelly, I trust your judgment and may just pick it up – great review!
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It’s not the type of book I usually pick up, but there was just something about this one. I hope you enjoy it too!
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I love a good romance every once in a while and this one sounds wonderful! Thanks for the great review.
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I’ve been reading more romances than usual lately. I don’t get it, but I’m just going with the flow.
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This one is definitely for me.
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Hope you love it!
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I’m on a romance kick right now and also enjoy mindless because I have way too much weighing on my mind to follow a heavy book. Sounds good!
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Well, then this is the book for you!
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I’m so glad that you liked this one!
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Thanks for the recommendation. If it hadn’t been for your review, I might never have read it.
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I am so looking forward to this one!
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Yay! I can’t wait to see what you think of it.
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Thanks for the review. It is now linked on the WWI reviews page and the book added to the recommended reads list. Your review snippet will post on Aug. 31.
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Thanks, Serena!
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I am not too keen on romance books either, but this sounds good.
THANKS.
Stopping by from the Linky List on Carole’s Chatter.
Stop by my blog if you like to look around and also sign up for my mystery giveaway.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
http://silversolara.blogspot.com
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Thanks for stopping by!
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Hi there – I am in the middle of creating a pinboard for all the August Books You Loved entries. Unfortunately I can’t pin this because it says the image isn’t large enough. I f you would like to be included could you increase the size of the image and let me know by commenting on Carole’s Chatter. Cheers
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Glad that I was able to help with the pinning issue. The Pinterest blog buttons make it so easy!
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[…] 10. My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young 11. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway 12. Overseas by Beatriz […]
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