Gail Kittleson – Winds of Change

World War II stole her only son, and sickness took her husband. Her daughters and grandchildren live far away. Little is left for Dottie Kyle beyond cooking and cleaning at the local boarding house and a small town life that allows her to slip into a predictable routine.

Loneliness is Dottie’s constant companion.

Then along came Al Jensen.

About the Author: When Gail’s not steeped in World War II historical research, writing, or editing, you’ll find her reading for fun, gardening, or enjoying her grandchildren in Northern Iowa. She delights in interacting with readers who fall in love with her characters.

Women of the Heartland, Gail’s World War II series, highlights women of The Greatest Generation: These heroines make do with what life hands them and face great odds with integrity. No easy outs or pat answers for their struggles – it’s the thick of World war II. The same can be said of Dottie in In This Together, Gail’s first historical novel and of the women in her memoir, Catching Up With Daylight.

Gail Kittleson taught college expository writing and ESL before writing women’s historical fiction. From northern Iowa, she facilitates writing workshops and women’s retreats, and enjoys the Arizona Ponderosa forest in winter.

My thoughts: Gold Star mother Dottie Kyle has not only lost a son in the Second World War, she was widowed when her husband, a veteran of the first war, died. She takes a job that fills her time but the work and personalities are also wearing. There are changes afoot for several characters, especially for the cautious Dottie. A charming story of second chances, with captivating details that take readers back to the 1940s.

Here is Gail’s website.