Customer Reviews

The Widows Choice: 1941 (The House of Winslow #39)

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This really doesn't even seem like a House of Winslow book since the main character starts out named Alona Winslow Jennings. I had to search that darn family tree for like five minutes until I even found her on it. Those nits aside, it's a decent story, typical Gilbert Morris. If you're ready for this book (meaning have read most of the other House of Winslow books) it won't disappoint you. And if you're just starting the HOW series, you've got a long long long way to go, but this one would be fine to read now anyway since it's basically a stand alone.

The Widow's Choice is Gilbert Morris's 20th novel in The House of Winslow series. However, it is truly a stand-alone novel that requires no long-term commitment to a series or to a cast of characters.

The novel beings in July 1938. Alona Winslow Jennings is the happy, loving mother of three boys who finds happiness beyond description with her husband Truman. Then her life is turned upside down when Truman in killed in a quarry accident. The mining company offers Alona a shameful, pitiful sum of $1,000 as compensation for her husband's life. Desperate for money, Alona accepts the meager offering.

By the time September 1939 rolls around, Alona and the boys are forced to move from their home to the poor side of town. Alona has gotten a little domestic work, but money is almost non-existent. With her faith and her boys to keep her going, Alona does the best she can.

Then she meets and marries Oscar Moran, a wealthy, much older man, who can provide for her and the boys. Oscar may have feelings for Alona, but she does not reciprocate. Alona and the boys move into Oscar's mansion where she meets his much younger brother Jason, a fighter pilot in the escalating World War II. Sparks fly between the two.

The Widow's Choice reminded me a lot of the Humphrey Bogart/William Holden film Sabrina, but set in a different time period.

Armchair Interviews says: A good read for a cold winter's evening.

I was given the first 24 books out of 40 in the Winslow series. So, I bought #25 thru #40. This book is #39 and also the most expensive. $13 more than any other book in the series. I don't know why.

Alana is a widow with three boys living during the Great Depression. Her husband died during an accident in the mine that he worked in. She has to find a way to support to her family by working in a factory. Along the way she meets Oscar Moran, a rich older man who she decides to marry after he shows that he can support her and her family. However the marriage is one of convienience and not love, and Alana finds herself drawn to Oscar's younger brother Jason. The feelings are mutual between the two but they don't act on it due to Oscar's jealousy. Then Jason joins the military right before Pearl Harbor and everything in the lives of the three changes.

I have read almost all of Gilbert Morris's books and every single book in the House of Winslow series. I love this series because goes through almost every single important American event through the eyes of a family. From the way the cover is portrayed, I thought the book would be more focused on Pearl Harbor but that doesn't take place until the last few chapters and even then it's only briefly mentioned. I have also noticed with this book, as with the last few HOW books, that there is no attempt to bring about other members of the Winslow family to the story. I guess when you have a family tree that goes almost four pages, it's hard to keep track of everyone. I didn't like though how Oscar changes from when he was courting Alana to after they got married. All of a sudden he goes from being a nice old man, to a cold, insensitive, jealous husband. What I do love about Morris's books is the rich historical detail he gives into his stories. I really like hearing about the culture and events that took place in the late 30s and early 40s. You learn about news events, movies that were playing, what clothes people wore. Also you can always count on a mouthwatering description of the food from that time period. I have enjoyed reading this series throughout the years, I've learned a lot about history from it. Unfortunately the next book will be the last one in the series. I was hoping for the Winslow family to come into the 21st century but I guess I'll just have to use my imagination for that.