“Your
heart beats and mine finds its rhythm.” (391)
Title: The One True Love of Alice-AnnAuthor: Eva Marie Everson
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Release Date: April 1, 2016
Release Date: April 1, 2016
Genre: Inspirational Historical Fiction
Living in rural Georgia in 1941, sixteen-year-old Alice-Ann has her heart set on her brother’s friend Mack; despite their five-year age gap, Alice-Ann knows she can make Mack see her for the woman she’ll become. But when they receive news of the attack on Pearl Harbor and Mack decides to enlist, Alice-Ann realizes she must declare her love before he leaves.
Though promising to write, Mack leaves without confirmation that her love is returned. But Alice-Ann is determined to wear the wedding dress her maiden aunt never had a chance to wear—having lost her fiancé in the Great War. As their correspondence continues over the next three years, Mack and Alice-Ann are drawn closer together. But then Mack’s letters cease altogether, leaving Alice-Ann to fear history repeating itself.
Dreading the war will leave her with a beautiful dress and no happily ever after, Alice-Ann fills her days with work and caring for her best friend’s war-torn brother, Carlton. As time passes and their friendship develops into something more, Alice-Ann wonders if she’ll ever be prepared to say good-bye to her one true love and embrace the future God has in store with a newfound love. Or will a sudden call from overseas change everything?
Though promising to write, Mack leaves without confirmation that her love is returned. But Alice-Ann is determined to wear the wedding dress her maiden aunt never had a chance to wear—having lost her fiancé in the Great War. As their correspondence continues over the next three years, Mack and Alice-Ann are drawn closer together. But then Mack’s letters cease altogether, leaving Alice-Ann to fear history repeating itself.
Dreading the war will leave her with a beautiful dress and no happily ever after, Alice-Ann fills her days with work and caring for her best friend’s war-torn brother, Carlton. As time passes and their friendship develops into something more, Alice-Ann wonders if she’ll ever be prepared to say good-bye to her one true love and embrace the future God has in store with a newfound love. Or will a sudden call from overseas change everything?
Love. First love. True love. What a thoughtful and beautiful story of finding true love during a time when devastation hits all around. The One True Love of Alice-Ann by Eva Marie Everson opens when America first enters World War II, and when Alice-Ann enters womanhood. There is something about reading this time period. It prompts different emotions, and with this story, the thoughts of love shines through.
Eva Marie Everson have crafted a story set in a small southern town, giving depth to each characters' adventures, as well as heartaches. The plot is smooth and well executed. The start of young misguided love to the final realization of true love was sweet and heartfelt. With earnest sincerity and language of love, The One True Love of Alice-Ann shares not only the romance, but also a message of pride and self-discovery. You won't be disappointed."If her heart grew any warmer, it could have baked a pound cake." (263)
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
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Eva Marie Everson is an award-winning, bestselling author of over 30 fiction and nonfiction titles, including Five Brides, The Road to Testament, the Cedar Key series, the Potluck Club series (with Linda Evans Shepherd), God Bless Us Every One, Reflections of God’s Holy Land (with Miriam Feinberg Vamosh), and others. She is the president of Word Weavers International, the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference, and a member of a number of writers’ organizations. Eva Marie and her husband make their home in central Florida, where they are owned by a small black doxie. 
1. What inspired you to write The One True Love of Alice-Ann?
This whole story started with the title. I was working on another project when the title The One True Love of Alice-Ann popped into my head. I thought, “That’s a cool title . . . ,” and I wrote it down. I went back to my project, but I kept looking over at the title. Then, as if inspiration just sprang up, I remembered a story our neighbors (both of whom have been deceased for a while) told my husband and me—their love story from World War II. I took that story, changed it slightly, wrote it down, ran it past my critique partner—she loved it—so I sent it to my editor at Tyndale . . . and then I got back to work!
2. How do you expect this story to resonate with your audience? What are you most excited for your readers to experience through reading this novel?
We have all had to make life choices. I heard a line in a movie (just this morning) that went like this: Every time you make a decision, you take a gamble. Maybe it’s the right choice. Maybe it’s not. How do you know? This is Alice-Ann’s dilemma. Does she have one true love . . . or two?
We’ve all been there. We’ve all made decisions and then wondered if we made the right one. Sometimes those choices follow us for years. Sometimes we know the answer right away.
I’m most excited for readers to experience life in the States during WWII. So often we read of what happened in Europe or in the Pacific, but we don’t usually read about how our citizens who stayed back home sacrificed for the greater good. I’m also excited for them to experience Alice-Ann’s love story and maturity as she grows from a starry-eyed 16-year-old to a grown woman.
3. What role does faith play in the story?
Alice-Ann has a major life decision to make, and she can only make it with God’s help. But also, I think faith was much more of a natural reality in the ’40s. People went to church. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night . . . They prayed for the troops. Actively. Sincerely. This was a different time in America (and one I wouldn’t mind seeing us go back to—as far as faith is concerned!).
4. What lessons or truths do you hope readers will take away from The One True
Love of Alice-Ann?
That when we take our distresses to God, he not only hears our cries, but he and he alone can wrap us up in his great big arms and show us the right path to take. He alone can ease our pain. You know, he loves us so much . . . he sent his Son to die for us. He won’t let us down now.
5. As an author, what did you particularly enjoy about crafting this story?
The entire thing! I love this story so much. I loved researching the era. I loved creating Alice-Ann and Carlton and their love story. I just loved it!
6. What is the best advice or encouragement you have received either personally or professionally?
Robert Benson said to me, “The only person who knows what God has whispered into your heart is you . . . but you won’t hear him if you don’t hush.”
7. What are you most proud of in your writing career?
So, so much . . . truly. But—and I don’t want this to sound cliché—I’ve got the awards and all that . . . but the truth is, when I get an e-mail or a letter and someone tells me that my work changed their life or helped them in some major way . . . really, that is more than enough.
8. What are some future projects you’re working on?
I just finished writing a biography on Eric Liddell with Rev. Eric Eichinger for Tyndale.
Amazing, amazing, amazing story!
I’m very active as the president of Word Weavers, as the director of Florida Christian
Writers Conference, and with my work with new writers. And somewhere in all that, I’ve
got another “based on a true story” popping around in my head.😁
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