Monday, August 8, 2022

"Christmastime 1940" by Linda Mahkovec


It’s December of 1940. Lillian Hapsey, 34, is struggling to make a life for herself and her two sons after the death of her husband, a fireman who “shouldn’t have gone into that building.” She works as a telephone operator at a New York City publishing company, and she likes her job, if not the unwanted attentions of the owner. 

He apartment building in Brooklyn has been bought for a new development, and she’s moved her family to an apartment on Manhattan’s upper west side. Down the hall from her place is the apartment of Charles Drooms, a 45-year-old man who owns an accounting firm. Charles has never married; he’s never gotten over a family tragedy that happened in his childhood, a tragedy for which he feels responsible. The neighborhood children think of him as a crotchety old man. 

 

In fits and starts, and several misfires, Lillian and Charles are gradually brought together. Charles finds his heart thawing, while Lillian finds her own to be warming toward this strange, difficult man. That’s it’s Christmastime both aids and hinders their slowly growing relationship. 

 

Linda Mahkovec

And overhanging everything is the growing possible of the United States entering the war.

 

Christmastime 1940 is the second in the Christmastime series by author Linda Mahkovec. The series encompasses the World War II period, from 1939 to 1945. It’s a heartwarming story, with two lonely people slowly trusting each other and themselves.

 

In addition to the seven Christmastime novels, Mahkovec has also published two short story collections, Seven Tales of Love and The Dreams of Youth, and a novel, And So We Dream. She’s currently working on her next book, The Tower: A Small Town Tale of Dreams. A native Midwesterner, she holds a Ph.D. degree in Victorian literature and lives in New York City.

 

Related:

 

The Garden House by Linda Mahkovec.

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