By the Stars by Lindsay B. Ferguson

 

When Cal finally gets a chance with Kate, the girl he's loved since grade school, their easy friendship quickly blossoms into a meaningful romance. Spirited and independent, Kate keeps a guarded heart due to a painful past, and Cal wants nothing more than to gain her trust. But World War II soon cuts their time far too short, and Cal prepares to part from her – possibly for good. After he's gone, what Kate does next changes everything.

In the suffocating jungles of the Philippines Cal encounters the chilling life of a soldier and deadly battles of war. With Kate's memory willing him on, Cal must put his trust in God to survive if he hopes to ever return to her. Inspired by a true story, By the Stars is a romance that stands the test of time and the most intense obstacles.

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Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genre's.  I love traveling back in time to places and events that helped shape our world.  This is a simple story of an ordinary man who accomplishes extraordinary things just because of his goodness.  This book is inspired by a true story and I loved reading the afterword by the author.  

We take a journey back through Cal's life starting with events from his eighth grade year in school.  Cal is a small town farm boy who works hard alongside his family.  He is quiet and a bit shy but he is also kind.  I would call him a gentle soul.  It was so easy to fall into the book and get swept away into Cal's life.  He lived through so many horrific things with WWII and yet still kept intact his gentle kindness.

This has, at it's heart, a love story that spans decades.  It was a great story and one I'm glad I read.

Content:  Some war violence, at times descriptive.  LDS fiction (some religious content and references to things specific to the LDS religion)