The Photograph

On the advice of a friend I read this book. I was very glad I did. The story takes place during WWII when Maddie and her sister-in-law Ruth move to Miami to be closer to Ruth's husband before he departs for war. Although they intend to be in Miami for just a short period of time, a tragedy happens and they continue to live there until after the war. The author is very gifted at developing people who you genuinely grow to love. Ruth and Maddie are finely drawn characters, as are Tully, Jack, Davey, the Silers, and even Maddie's mother. Ellis also does a great job at telling a good story. This one has it all: heartbreak, loss, fear, motherhood, love, friendship and family. She also does a very credible job of making us feel that we are present during WWII and we can understand the hardships, uncertainties and deprivations that the main characters are going through. I also found it interesting how close Maddie and Ruth became and how loyal they were to each other. Whatever your reading interests are, I am sure you will be charmed by this sweet and unassuming book.

December 7, 1941. The day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, and the day Maddy Marshall turned seventeen. Maddy had lived a relatively quiet small town life in Radley, Pennsylvania, until now. Suddenly her fiancé has announced that he has joined the Navy and is leaving. Her brother Davey had joined the Marines previously and is getting ready for Paris Island. So all within one week Maddy is left with her mother, Davey's wife (Ruth), and heartache ... until that fateful letter arrives and Maddy's life changes forever. Miami brings a whole new world to Maddy and Ruth. It also changes their lives. As these two sisters of the heart find themselves in trials they never dreamed of, their bong grows stronger. But will one fateful night, down at the pier, and the photograph be too much for the sisters as they wait for their men to come home? ***** Romance, intrigue, and heartfelt bonds set the stage for this wonderful saga that brought me into the world of these two women. Author Virginia Ellis has a way of bringing a time long gone to life again. I definitely loved this book. If you are looking for a good heartfelt book to help pass the winter away, then pick this one! ***** Reviewed by K. Blair

I really enjoyed this book! I finished it quickly (2 days). It dealt with some pretty heavy subjects such as war and rape, but I thought that Ellis kept it very "readable". It wasn't depressing like a lot of books written about those subjects can be. I read her previous book The Wedding Dress and enjoyed that as well. The way Ellis writes makes you believe that you are really in the era that she is writing about. This takes place during World War II, and although I wasn't alive at the time, I certainly could envision the world at that time through her writings. She really draws you in with the characters, and you feel as if you really know them and have a vested interest in what happens to them. I thought that this was well written and definately worth reading.

Once again Virginia Ellis captures the tone of a past era. This time she takes us to the 1940s and WWII. Who would have thought an author with the ability to bring the late 1800s alive could do the same for an era many of our parents lived through? But she does it with grace and style and a compelling characters. This is a story once again about woman who band together in crisis. It's a theme obviously close to Ms. Ellis' heart, one she understands and portrays beautifully.If you loved The Wedding Dress, than you'll love The Photograph. And if you've read neither, treat yourself. BOth are books you'll read more than once.

I absolutely loved "The Wedding Dress" and was very excited when I learned of Ms. Ellis' new book "The Photograph". Even with it being much lengthier than her first, I had it read in only a few short days! Like her first book, the writing is so captivating that I couldn't stop reading. Every free moment was spent with Maddy, Ruth and their unfolding deception amid their heart-felt dreams. When I was not reading, I was thinking of them, knowing them so well that they seemed good friends of mine. Ms. Ellis is a talented writer who keeps me wanting more. I am anxious for her next book! The only complaint (if you can call it that) that I have about The Photograph is that the ending seemed too accelerated. After spending so much time with the characters, it seemed as though it got wrapped up too quick in the end... it's really a compliment, I guess, that I would have rather spent another chapter or two with them! A true feel good story that will capture your heart.