Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
A very bitter sweet read.
I knew going in this was not going to be a happy read, buy I did hope for a little more happy before the sad.
As usual Amy made me cry but this time only at the end and not thankfully a full blown sob, just the quiet tears of a happy as it gets ending lol.
I knew going in this was not going to be a happy read, buy I did hope for a little more happy before the sad.
Spoiler
Walter dying just as they were rescued was a shock and a disappointment. I wanted them to at least have a few years together instead of the few days they did haveAs usual Amy made me cry but this time only at the end and not thankfully a full blown sob, just the quiet tears of a happy as it gets ending lol.
A heart-wrenching historical story that comes with all the classic Amy Lane elements.
This book didn't quite connect with me though. I can't explain why. There's nothing in the book that rubbed me the wrong way. It just didn't rub me the right way.
This book didn't quite connect with me though. I can't explain why. There's nothing in the book that rubbed me the wrong way. It just didn't rub me the right way.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.5 stars. 2/3 of the way in, the tears started and are still falling. Amy Lane's ability to make everything feel real and present made this tale of war (WWII), love, terror, loss and perseverance hit hard. I have no idea if her Jewish MC was done well, but as a character he was very good, as were they all, another of the author's talents. That ending.
Now and then, it felt less grounded than I'm used to from this author, hence the slight deduction. I'm glad I finally had the wherewithal to read it. (This was attempt #3. Too empathetic, not a fan of war stories.)
Now and then, it felt less grounded than I'm used to from this author, hence the slight deduction. I'm glad I finally had the wherewithal to read it. (This was attempt #3. Too empathetic, not a fan of war stories.)
The first chapter had me itching to know what happened between Nate and Walter. For me the next 40% wasn't anything spectacular, maybe because I went in expecting a Titanic theme and I just wanted to get to where the iceberg hit. It was just the getting to know you but it didn't make me feel anything. Now the last half of the book had me all kinds of emotional, especially the last 20%. I had to keep pausing because things were getting bleary. I'm not a historical fan, but I would definitely recommend this for fans of romance or if you need a quick cry.
Dear Amy,
Would you like my heart on a platter?
With love,
Alex
Would you like my heart on a platter?
With love,
Alex
I have to be honest and say that it took me a little bit to get into this book. Mainly because I've been distracted by the business of life and haven't had the time to devote to it but by the time I was in the last few chapters I was ready to add it to my favorites shelf. This book is GOOD. Heartbreaking but GOOD. First of all, you've got Nate who's sort of lost for lack of a better term. He's gone off to war and left his parent's behind in bitterness to use his skill in photography for the war effort. While on a mission he apparently stumbles upon something important (which we don't find out until near the end of the book) but is then shot down. He crashes down somewhere in France and into the life of fellow military man Walter who is a MIA POW who escaped, had been surviving on his own in an abandoned house in the woods, and through weeks of nursing Nate back to some semblance of life became an important part of it. Fate brought them together and love is born from this. It was utter serendipity that the two of them would be brought together in such circumstances. There is some angst from Walter and Nate as Walter who is an enlisted soldier thinks that if they were anywhere but there that an officer like Nate would never notice him of have met him. He thinks that he's beneath Nate as he also came from a poor midwestern family. Nate eventually breaks through this stubborn exterior and they begin to love each other truly. Then circumstances as they always do come in the way of things and their cozy domestic life in the woods is cut short. I'm not going to spoil anymore than what I already have (sorry not sorry?) but I was hanging on with bated breath. I do have to say the climax was a little rushed but by the time it was ALL said and done I was sort of emotionally exhausted. There was a lot to go through and I'm happy the book ended how it did because we got some sort of closure.
Note: This ARC was provided by Riptide Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Bells of Times Square by Amy Lane is the story of two men who meet in the worst of circumstances but discover a love that they never thought they would be able to have for themselves. By the time I finished reading this book, I simply had to take a few minutes to fully absorb the impact of such a painfully beautiful love story and characters that left their indelible mark with their honesty and depth, something sorely lacking in other books.
The story begins with an old man preparing to be taken to Times Square to wait and listen for the ringing of the bells, something that he's been doing since New Year's of 1946. His grandson will be taking him there this year, the old man unable to go on his own, no thanks to the stroke he suffered. While there, the grandson introduces him to his boyfriend and the grandfather wishes he could tell his grandson how much he understands what he is feeling and going through.
The story then flashes back to several decades earlier. It is World War II and Lieutenant Nathan Meyer is a member of the air force, tasked with taking important photographs of assigned areas that are to be assessed as targets. When the plane he's on crashes, he is found to be the only survivor and rescued by Corporal Walter Phillips, a member of the army. They hole up in an abandoned house Walter has been living in since he escaped a train that was sending him and other captured soldiers to Germany.
Nate and Walter try to live within their means while trying to be wary of any members of the SS searching the area. During their time together, the two become increasingly closer and act on their attraction to one another. Soon enough, their feelings have grown into something neither has experienced before. Nate dreams of living a life with Walter after the war but Walter can't help but think that what they have will end once they're rescued or captured or are able to escape.
After relaying Nate and Walter's time together and everything that happened afterwards, Nate is once again aware that he is Times Square, still waiting for the bells to ring. There's a poignancy and ache that you can't help but feel at this point, especially after learning of everything the two men endured together and the sacrifices that were made in the process. For Nate to have kept his secret for so long makes you believe that it wasn't out of shame but out of wanting to keep that piece of his life, his Walter, just for himself.
I highly recommend The Bells of Times Square for anyone wanting to read about true love and how it endures even with the passage of time. It's a touching story, one that had me tearing up a couple of times, and with characters like Nate and Walter, you'll want them to have their happy ending, in whatever form it may come. The love these two shared never diminished and finding something like that is what countless people aspire for. I'm giving this book five well-deserved stars. ♥
Release Date: 15 December 2014
The Bells of Times Square by Amy Lane is the story of two men who meet in the worst of circumstances but discover a love that they never thought they would be able to have for themselves. By the time I finished reading this book, I simply had to take a few minutes to fully absorb the impact of such a painfully beautiful love story and characters that left their indelible mark with their honesty and depth, something sorely lacking in other books.
The story begins with an old man preparing to be taken to Times Square to wait and listen for the ringing of the bells, something that he's been doing since New Year's of 1946. His grandson will be taking him there this year, the old man unable to go on his own, no thanks to the stroke he suffered. While there, the grandson introduces him to his boyfriend and the grandfather wishes he could tell his grandson how much he understands what he is feeling and going through.
The story then flashes back to several decades earlier. It is World War II and Lieutenant Nathan Meyer is a member of the air force, tasked with taking important photographs of assigned areas that are to be assessed as targets. When the plane he's on crashes, he is found to be the only survivor and rescued by Corporal Walter Phillips, a member of the army. They hole up in an abandoned house Walter has been living in since he escaped a train that was sending him and other captured soldiers to Germany.
Nate and Walter try to live within their means while trying to be wary of any members of the SS searching the area. During their time together, the two become increasingly closer and act on their attraction to one another. Soon enough, their feelings have grown into something neither has experienced before. Nate dreams of living a life with Walter after the war but Walter can't help but think that what they have will end once they're rescued or captured or are able to escape.
After relaying Nate and Walter's time together and everything that happened afterwards, Nate is once again aware that he is Times Square, still waiting for the bells to ring. There's a poignancy and ache that you can't help but feel at this point, especially after learning of everything the two men endured together and the sacrifices that were made in the process. For Nate to have kept his secret for so long makes you believe that it wasn't out of shame but out of wanting to keep that piece of his life, his Walter, just for himself.
I highly recommend The Bells of Times Square for anyone wanting to read about true love and how it endures even with the passage of time. It's a touching story, one that had me tearing up a couple of times, and with characters like Nate and Walter, you'll want them to have their happy ending, in whatever form it may come. The love these two shared never diminished and finding something like that is what countless people aspire for. I'm giving this book five well-deserved stars. ♥
Release Date: 15 December 2014