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readingrenbo's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
jaclynder's review
4.0
Saving the Rifleman is a historical romance novella set in Belgium during WWI. Maria Hunt is a British nurse in Belgium tending to German soldiers. When her and her mentor encounter British soldiers, they find a way to get them across the border to safety. When Maria finds British soldier, Lieutenant John Bennet, in a supply closet at the hospital, she goes above and beyond the call of duty to help him. Risking her own safety, Maria protects John when German soldiers search the hospital; however, Maria ends up having to flee with John in order to avoid her own capture. An injured John and Maria race across the countryside to the Netherlands so John can report to his superiors.
This novella was well written and rather romantic. I liked how the romance wasn’t over the top and it seemed to fit in the situation. I liked how the author took the time to describe the characters getting to know one another so that a romantic relationship made sense; too often novellas seem to bypass this important step.
I also really enjoyed the setting for the novella. I haven’t read too many romance stories set during a war or during this time period. I also liked how the author addressed the social divide between a nurse and a lieutenant. Maria was convinced that her poor background would prevent a real relationship between the two.
The fact that Maria was a nurse was another interesting aspect of the novella. The descriptions of what Maria was doing to care for soldiers seemed accurate (to someone that knows nothing about nursing). And I liked how these nurses participated in a very active way during the war effort by smuggling soldiers home.
Overall, I really enjoyed this short read. The characters and their romance was realistic and not over the top for the novella format. The historical setting was described in such a way that it was easy to picture the surroundings. I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction that are looking for a somewhat lighter read, due to the romance aspect of the novella.
*A review copy of this novella was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
This novella was well written and rather romantic. I liked how the romance wasn’t over the top and it seemed to fit in the situation. I liked how the author took the time to describe the characters getting to know one another so that a romantic relationship made sense; too often novellas seem to bypass this important step.
I also really enjoyed the setting for the novella. I haven’t read too many romance stories set during a war or during this time period. I also liked how the author addressed the social divide between a nurse and a lieutenant. Maria was convinced that her poor background would prevent a real relationship between the two.
The fact that Maria was a nurse was another interesting aspect of the novella. The descriptions of what Maria was doing to care for soldiers seemed accurate (to someone that knows nothing about nursing). And I liked how these nurses participated in a very active way during the war effort by smuggling soldiers home.
Overall, I really enjoyed this short read. The characters and their romance was realistic and not over the top for the novella format. The historical setting was described in such a way that it was easy to picture the surroundings. I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction that are looking for a somewhat lighter read, due to the romance aspect of the novella.
*A review copy of this novella was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
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