Celebrate Lit / November 23, 2024

Francine’s Foibles

About the Book Francine’s Foibles

Book: Francine’s Foibles

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: September 12, 2023

She’s given up hope. He never had any. Will they find it together?

World War II is finally over, and America is extra grateful as the country approaches this year’s Thanksgiving. But for Francine life hasn’t changed. Despite working at Fort Meade processing the paperwork for the thousands of men who have returned home, she’s still lonely and very single.

Is she destined for spinsterhood?

Grateful that his parents anglicized the family surname after emigrating to the United States after the Great War, first-generation German-American Ray Fisher has done all he can to hide his heritage. He managed to make it through this second “war to end all wars,” but what American woman would want to marry into a German family?

Must he leave the country to find wedded bliss?

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My Thoughts on Francine’s Foibles

This is the perfect novel to read around Thanksgiving time! First, I love this author. She’s amazing and always does a wonderful job researching her time period and topic. This is yet another shining example of how much time and devotion she puts into her novels and her research.

I could chat about this author and her amazing books for a long time, so I should probably get to this specific book now. It is part of the Thanksgiving Books and Blessing Collections. It’s in the sixth collection. But it can be read as a stand-alone book. Francine has shown up in another book, Estelle’s Endeavors, however, she is only a secondary character. I of course do feel that you should read the one about Estelle first because as I’ve stated many times, who doesn’t want to read two instead of one book?!

The war is over! Our boys are home or on their way home. And Francine is helping with all the paperwork and legalities of it all. She’s done her bit for the war effort but isn’t done yet.

Ray is a soldier on his way home.

He’s also a German American who isn’t sure how he’s going to be treated once he is home. He vows to protect his parents at all costs. Except to do so he thinks that he can’t ever marry. Because what woman would look kindly on Germans?!

Ray and Francine have stories that will tug at your heart and make you want to speed read through and see how it all ends up. However, don’t speed read because you don’t want to miss anything!

This is wonderfully Christian and filled with faith. You’re going to get some sort of faith-based revelation through these words. Whether it be being convicted of some pride or unforgiveness(two themes from this novel) or something else, it will speak to you.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

About the Author of Francine’s Foibles

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.

More from Linda

Francine O’Malley is a secondary character in Estelle’s Endeavor, and I decided she deserved her own book. The idea for Francine’s Foibles sprang from the stories my mom told me about her time working at Fort Meade processing discharge paperwork for returning servicemen. Because my grandparents lived in a small town near the base, I’d driven past countless times, but it was fun to research what it was like during World War 2 and the years immediately following. The Laurel Historical Society was a wonderful resource with lots of information and photos from “back in the day.”

Initially opened in 1917 and called Camp Annapolis Junction, the base is located in Maryland about twenty miles southwest of Baltimore and twenty miles east of Laurel. The name quickly changed to Camp Meade but in 1928 was redesignated Fort Leonard Wood. According to www.home.army.mil, Pennsylvania congressmen were so angered at the removal of the name of their native son they held up appropriations until the army agreed to name the new permanent installation Fort George G. Meade, in honor of the Union general.

During World War 2, the base was used as a recruit training post and more than 3.5 million men past through its gates. A small portion of the facility was also used as a POW camp for Japanese, German, and Italian prisoners.

Mom was still single during her time at Fort Meade, and I loved imagining her as a wide-eyed young woman doing her part for the war effort and greeting handsome soldiers as they set foot back on American soil.

This one’s for you, Mom!

Linda Shenton Matchett