Evasions

Melanie M. Jeschke
Harvest House Publishers (2006)
ISBN 9780736916783
Reviewed by Rebecka Vigus for Reader Views (12/06)

Ms. Jeschke writes a wonderful book that spans two generations.  “Evasions’ tells of first love, of love lost, war, love, separation, misunderstanding, fear and deprivation.  Through all of this, love of God prevails.  With his love all things can be faced.

In the first part of the book Stuart asks for Natalie’s hand in marriage.  When her father suggests that the young man consult Natalie, he hesitates and goes to pave the way with his own father.  That is how Eric and Annie begin to tell the story of their love to their children.

Eric’s first love was Laurene.  She was a beautiful Scottish lass who was stations above Eric in the social class.  Her father agreed that they could be engaged, but not marry until Laurene had finished college.  He then decided on the brink of World War II to send his daughter to the United States to keep her safe.  As it turned out, that was not the wise thing to do as the ship she was sailing on was hit with a torpedo launched from a German ship.  Eric, devastated by this turn of events, turns from his religious studies and enlists in the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Annie is an impetuous young lady from Virginia who is in London visiting her brother Jeff, a student at Oxford University.  Annie does not get on the ship for America and is not lost at sea.  With the impending war, she finishes her nursing and begins work at St. Bart’s in London.  Jeff visits frequently.  On an evening out, Eric approaches Annie with a theater ticket.  Jeff pretends to be her boyfriend to scare Eric into behaving.

Jeff, Annie, and Eric become fast friends.  As Eric is stationed nearby he comes to visit Annie often.  He even proposes to her and they take their vows in a small church near his base.  Although they are not truly married they spend the night together.

Jeff, meantime, makes arrangements for Annie to stay with C.S. Lewis and his family in Oxford should the time come when she must evacuate from London.  When this time comes Annie sends a letter to Eric.

Eric has been moved to another base as his was bombed.  He does not get the letter and gets frantic as to Annie’s safety.  When he goes to look for her, he is told she moved out and that one of the girls was killed.  This only makes Eric more frantic as he doesn’t know which girl has been killed.

Annie has decided that Eric has chosen to forget her.  She confides in Mr. Lewis that she is not truly married. 

Mr. Lewis is engaged to speak to the troops about religion.  While he is there, Eric seeks him out in the hopes that he may know where Annie is.  A surprised Lewis asks if Eric can get time off and takes him to Annie, where the two lovers reunite. 

The book returns to the present in Scotland where the family has gone to celebrate Eric’s fiftieth birthday.  All are present but Stuart.  Natalie is unhappy and goes to the hillside to think and pray.  This is where Stuart finds her.

I will not tell you how the book ends or all the details of Eric and Annie’s relationship.  Ms. Jeschke tells a marvelous tale that leaves the reader wanting more.  I do hope she will continue with this series known as the Oxford Chronicles.  It gave much insight into what life was like in London during the war and also much insight into C.S. Lewis and his cronies.  The book is well written and transitions easily from present to past and back. 

This book is well on a par with John Jake’s series “War and Remembrance.”  ‘Evasions’ is a book to last for the ages.

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