Customer Reviews

Sentimental Journey

5 star:		(16)
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3 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

Once in a very great while there comes along a book so magnificent every word of praise seems trite - no word can give it justice. SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY is one such book. Jill Barnett, well known for her humorous, yet poignant, historical romances, completely redefines herself in this spectacular story of love and loss set during the early days of World War II.

Opening with an action scene, SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY is reminiscent of Robert Ludlum, one of fiction's all-time masters. It also brings to mind such classic books as BATTLE CRY by Leon Uris and even FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS by Hemingway. After the opening scene, Barnett takes readers back in time introducing of the main characters including:

Kitty Kincaid as she tries to outrun the Gestapo; JR Cassidy the gutsy young American Army Captain sent on an unusual mission; Charlotte (Charley) Morrison, daughter of a barnstormer and famous aircraft designer whose flying prowess eventually enables her to join an elite group of women; William "Red" Morrison, the young Texan who always wanted more adventure than he'd find running a gas station in west Texas; and George "Skip" Inskip, the RAF flying ace whose becomes a reluctant national hero following a personal tragedy.

In chapters following, readers get a glimpse of the lives of these brave young men and women until their stories eventually intertwine and fate brings them together.

Barnett has chosen to tell her story in short chapters, each of which bear the title of a popular song from the era - a very effective method which not only describes what is happening in that particular chapter but will have the reader humming many of the old standards.

This is an emotional story skillfully told and is sure to make Barnett into a major star in the world of fiction. Her three-dimensional characters and exciting action place the reader firmly in the scenes. This is a story which will be enjoyed equally by men and women as evidenced in this reviewer's own household.

Barnett has done what would seem impossible - effectively melding the best of women's fiction and men's action adventure together. This book was at once nearly impossible to put down and one this reviewer wanted to savor forever.

And even though words to describe this may be difficult - I'll try a few: Magnificent! Outstanding! This is a wonderful reading experience.

Being a diehard Jill Barnett fan, it was only natural that my wife would come home with Ms Barnett's latest book, Sentimental Journey. After taking a look inside the "jacket", I found my interest peaked.

Having spent my life on or around the sea in both the military and civilian environments, reading was always my solace, my escape. It was synonymous with my travelling. I, particularly, enjoyed authors such as Louis L'Amour, Wilbur Smith, Dale brown, Tom Clancy, John Grisham, Jack Higgins, Alistair MacLean, C.S. Forrester, Monsarrat, etc..

One of my most important criteria for an author is that they "hook me" at the beginning of their book. All of the above were able to do that.

Once I opened and started reading Sentimental Journey, I was "hooked" by Jill Barnett. I could not put her book down. Her manner of presenting this story would not let me. She intigued me with each new chapter. I found her book believable, captivating, demanding (because I had a hard time putting it down), and, most of all, downright enjoyable.

I strongly recommend that you men out there who like an excellent adventure with a little romance PICK THIS BOOK UP AND GIVE IT A GO.

Ms Barnett has written a winner!

As a baby boomer born shortly after the end of WWII, I would often ask family members who served during thr war to tell me about their experiences and ercollections. For those who were at home I would also ask hwo the war impacted them esepcially if they were part of the war effort at home. I therefore learned a great deal about the war from my parents, uncles, aunts, cousins and survivors of the Holocaust. As an avid reader I also found myself learning about WWII and the Holocaust through books such as The Winds of War by Herman Wouk, The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk, Exodus by Leon Uris, Waterloo Station by Emily Grayson and Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally. Recently the title Sentimental Journey by Jill Barnett was recommended to me and I found myself once again deep into the war in several digfferent locations. Sentimental Journey now ranks among one of my favorite fiction books about WWII. So well does the author present her material and characters, that I am now looking foward to reading more books by this author and more about WWII as well.

Sentimental Journey begins with a flashback and as we read we sense that the characters the author so vividly portrays will meet up with one another someday. Stretching from the mideast to the plains of Texas to England and the skies over Eurpoe, we meet five very special inviduals which include a blind woman held cative by the Germans, a female aviator, a Texas youth who longs to fly, an English pilot and lastly an American who finds love in the desert. How these characters meet and influence each other's lives and survive during the war fills the pages of this book which goes by much too quickly.

I truly enjoyed the material about these five characters effotrst during the war and the glimpses into the backgrounds of these characters who remain with me still, a couple of days since I've finished this book. The author also cleverly used song titles from the WWII era as the chapter headings. It was fun to hum a few bars of each song I knew as I began the chapter. And the epilogue which tells us about the characters years after the war is a perfect ending.

This was a wonderful book which I recommend to all. Although there were some very sad moments in this book and some heartwenching outcomes, the book moved me as few others have done recently. A grand tale told in a well written book. I truly hated to see this book end and know the characters and their lives will remain with me for sometime. What more could any reader ask for from a book. I end by urging you to read this book and see if you don't agree that Jill Barnett has written a wonderful keeper.

One of the best books I've read in years. I simply couldn't put it down. Considering there were so many 'main characters', each was fully-drawn and wonderfully engaging. The ending was particularly superb. A very carefully-crafted, gripping, emotional story.

In 1942, in spite of the war, Kitty Kincaid seeks escape from the pressure of being the daughter of a renowned critically important American research scientist. She travels to North Africa, but the Nazis take her prisoner. US Army Captain J.R. Cassidy, known for his seemingly impossible but successful rescue missions is assigned the job of freeing Kitty.

Charlotte "Charley" Morrison has been an aviator forever, but females do not fly combat missions. Instead Charley supports the war cause by flying planes to the British. She meets mechanic Red Walker who will follow her anywhere and RAF ace Skip Inskip who suffers from an anguished past that thirsts for vengeance.

Now this quintet will meet and through support and love hy struggling to survive the most destructive war in history.

Jill Barnett, known for her romances, flexes her writing muscle with a powerful World War II fiction novel that is reminiscent of the Winds of War. The story line provides the audience a close look at the five characters, who serve as the keys to a fast-paced insightful story line that enables readers to become more than just acquainted with each one. Less than half way through the book, the audience is so hooked they want the quintet to survive and hope that Ms. Barnett provides an epilogue that includes a happily ever after. The author's fans and readers who enjoy well written World War II dramas will relish this terrific tale.

Harriet Klausner

A story set during World War II about the lives of 5 people. Kitty Kincaid has been living in Morocco and just as war breaks out and before she can leave, she is caught by the Germans and held captive because the Germans wish to trade her for information which her scientist father holds. J.R. Cassidy of the US airforce is sent to North Africa to rescue her. He breaks her out of jail and together they travel across the Sahara desert, through dangerous terrain. As they escape towards freedom, they find themselves falling hard for each other.

Charlotte Morrison (Charley) is a female pilot and flies planes to Great Britain. Her heart is torn between two men. The first is Red Walker from small town Texas. Red is madly in love with Charley after meeting her during a stormy night in Texas. She gives him inspiration to join the airforce to escape his small town life and to learn to fly free in the skies. The second man in Charley's life is George Inskip (Skip) who she meets during a dance in London. Skip is an handsome RAF hero who has lost his childhood friend and wife, Greer during a bombing raid in London. Meeting Charley helps to heel his heart but will he ever love again like he loved Greer.

This was an epic story on a grand scale. A departure from Jill Barnett's usual humourous romances. A Sentimental Tale is written with a serious tone although the repartee between the main characters can at times be amusing. The lives of the 5 characters is interwoven cleverly and the epilogue neatly ties up a bittersweet ending.

Lea Ling Tsang

I have never gotten "into" a book as quickly as I did this one. I really enjoyed it. The characters were interesting, lots of chemistry between them, and the whole story was very engaging. I highly recomend it for a very fun read.

I have been a fan of Jill Barnett's since her first book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with her first hardback. After reading the last page of Sentimental Journey I have to say IMO it is her best to date. I got to know the characters and fell in love with them. Kitty, J.R., Red, Charley, Skip all have their own special appeal. These are people I would have liked to have met had they been real.

Set against the background of WW II, Sentimental Journey takes us back to a time of duty and patriotism where the reality of war shapes the lives and destinies of the characters in this memorable read. Ms. Barnett has captured the era through her likeable characters and fine research. I would recommend this book to both men & women. Kudos to Ms.Barnett!

In 1940, Great Britain has entered World War II, and 'Skip' Inskip is an RAF pilot deemed a hero for the number of enemy planes he has destroyed. His lovely wife Greer is expecting their first child.

Captain J.R. Cassidy is on a mission in North Africa in 1941. Kitty Kincaid, daughter of a famed scientist is being held hostage by the Germans. Cassidy rescues her, and the two embark on a dangerous journey across the desert.

In 1941 Texas, Red Walker has just finished Army flight school and meets up with Charley Morrison, a beautiful female pilot he met several years ago when her plane almost collided with the gas tanks at his gas station.

None other than a force called fate could bring these people together in a war where both men and women did their parts to defeat Hitler's army.

Brilliantly executed, SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY chronicles the lives and emotions of the players as they face the true dangers inherent in war and combat. Without being overly explicit, Ms. Barnett shows the horror of World War II, not only for those in combat, but for those waiting for word from loved ones. Intense love scenes are poignantly depicted in this novel as war rages all around. Buy a box of tissues for this wonderful read.

This epic romance/drama tells the stories of three couples whose lives become interwoven during World War II. Ms. Barnett's historical background touches - cars, clothing, airplanes, music (is anyone reading this review old enough to remember the song "Sentimental Journey"?) - are right on. Her climatic suspense scenes are of the nail-biting type! The characters come alive for the reader - and they will grab your heart. (I was especially taken with the poor Texas boy and his unrequited love for a barnstorming female pilot.) The love scenes are sizzlers! And have your tissues handy, because - without giving anything away - you will definitely need them! But I can also guarantee that the last chapter - an epilogue of sorts - will have you smiling through your tears. I cannot say enough about this wonderful book - get it, read it, tell all of your friends (romance readers and non-romance readers alike) about it. It is a story that will remain in your memory and in your heart!