The truth is never easy

 

The Last Night in London by Karen White

Paperback, 480 pages Expected publication: May 5th 2021 by Simon & Schuster AU

London, 1939, for best friends Eva Harlow and Precious Dubose the world is seemingly their oyster. Working as fashion models at the House of Luschtak allows them to mingle with the British elite. Eva finds herself swept into a whirlwind romance with the charming Graham St John, it is everything she has ever wanted. Yet the happiness they find is tinged with the threat of war and the forces of intrigue.

London, 2019, Madison Warner, freelance journalist is engaged by long tine friend Arabella to write an article on the life and vintage clothing collection of 99 year old Precious Dubose. As Maddie interviews Precious she tries to unravel the story of Eva of Graham who both seem too have disappeared during the war and also the secrets that Precious is reluctant is let go. For Maddie coming back to London brings complications in trying to shield her feelings from the irresistible Colin Eliot.

Karen White has created an intriguing story that works seamlessly crosses between two different time periods. The period before WW2 is well crafted as White has captured the hope and the fear of leading into the declaration and captures the horrors of the German bombing spree. The central character in the WW2 period is Eva Harlow, a woman who is desperate to be more than her humble beginnings. It would be easy for Eva to become a gold digger but that is never allowed to happen and you remain entranced by her journey.

In the present, Maddie is the central character but Precious is a strong contender. In the present, Precious is a survivor and carries the guilt of that. As Maddie unravels the truth, she also has to face her own past. The death of her mother, the fear of returning home to Georgia and not wanting to give herself over to love. Maddie lifts off the page and as the narrator in her time, it is easy to become part of her world. She is not a perfect person and grows by letting her shields down. There is a wonderful group of support characters and all of them are well rounded and distinct.

This is a book that works on many levels as the WW2 period is about friendship, love and betrayal, while in the present it is about accepting who you are and not being afraid to live.

For more on Karen White head over to her website

I was provided an advanced copy through NetGalley for an honest review.