The Love & Courage Series
The last years of World War II – sometimes called “the last good war” – is the setting for The Love and Courage series. The story takes place at Ft. Des Moines, the actual home of the first Women’s Army Corps camp. Over 250,000 American women served in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during the war. The individuals who volunteered were as different as the states they came from, but they worked together to help their country. Members of the WAC were the first women other than nurses to serve within the ranks of the United States Army. Although the country was united in total war, many were opposed to the idea of women in the military. Yet the majority of the women who enlisted were totally committed to their duty, and they paved the way for women who serve today.
“With the whole world at war, victory is never certain as two women wage their own battles of will and desire.”
Book One:
Basic Training of the Heart
Socialite Elizabeth Carlton impulsively joins the Women’s Army Corps to escape love’s disappointments and her father’s attempts to control her life. Still, she has never been one to accept discipline imposed by others—not even someone as intriguing as her new sergeant.
Sergeant Gale Rains is accustomed to challenges, but she’s never had a recruit quite like this one. Rains surrendered much of her Sioux heritage to the Army to escape the hardships and pain of her youth. Now a drill instructor, her calm, steady manner and firm hand have molded women from all walks of life into WACs. But not one of them has ever touched her. Why should this spoiled party girl be any different?
Reviews
Set in 1944 the story takes place within The Women’s Army Corps (WAC). The author addresses the hardships these inspiring women faced on many levels. Throw in an American Indian and a spoiled socialite who has a problem with authority, makes an interesting read. I learned a few historical facts about American Indians and the WAC’S in the process. Priding myself on being a history buff this is always a delight in a work of fiction.
I would like to suggest; sequel please. Perhaps an in depth story on Sargent Rains and a separate one about Bett. These characters are too interesting and complex for just one book, in my opinion. like I stated above, always craving more.
An enjoyable first novel from Jaycie Morrison.
Reviewed by B. J.
Basic Training of the Heart is an interesting and clearly well-researched book. I felt immersed in the time and appreciated that the style made it very easy to read while taking in so much information. The romance burns slow and it also builds slowly throughout Bett’s eight weeks of basic training. This made it believable and satisfying for me when they finally end up together, even if I wonder what happens to them when the war is over. There are some great WWII lesbian romances out there and you can count Basic Training of the Heart among them. It’s well worth a read and I look forward to seeing what’s next in this series.
Reviewed by T. S.
“Can the heart’s orders overrule the chain of command?”
Book Two:
Heart’s Orders
September 1944. Private Helen Tucker has two goals—to drive for the Women’s Army Corps motor pool and to convince Tee Owens to be more than best friends. Helen has always done whatever it takes to survive, and she’s not good at waiting for what she wants. But Private Teresa Owens is a good Baptist girl who’s struggling with how her feelings for Helen can be wrong when she can’t bear to be without her.
Sergeant Gale Rains has learned to make her way in both the Sioux and White worlds, but will her love for Bett Smythe put her career in the WAC at risk? Private Elizabeth Smythe hopes Rain will be her future, but is she truly free from her past, including her class-conscious family?
Reviews
This is the second book in the Love and Courage series. The two books actually enhance each other. This book picks up before the first actually ends. It shows the POV of other people, and what they were doing during that same time period. Then the book goes past where book 1 ended, and you get to see what happens to the main couple from book 1, and the new main couple from this book. It is actually quite clever how Morrison chose to do this; this is not a normal sequel. My personal recommendation, to really enjoy this series, read Basic Training of the Heart first, then read this book while book 1 is still fresh in your mind. I think Morrison writes characters very well. They are all far from perfect, and it is nice to see them evolve.
This book does deal with a few tough subjects, though Morrison didn’t just throw it in. But this is not a dark book. In fact, the romance seems to be amped up from book 1, especially for Bett and Rain. Where they are in their life, they have more time to be together, and it shows. Morrison can write some really sweet and poetic lines.
If you enjoy military love stories, definitely give this series a chance. At times it can be wonderfully romantic. I will absolutely keep my eye out for what Morrison writes in the future.
Reviewed by L. K.
Awesome. If you haven’t already read it, the first book in this series is Basic Training of the Heart and it is definitely worth your hard earned cash. While ‘Heart’s Orders’ could work as a standalone novel, the first third of it overlaps with some of the timeline from the preceding book, giving us other characters’ perceptions on events.
One major thing that this change in perspective gives is more depth into Rain’s motivations and internal struggles during Basic Training. No longer is she just Bett’s lover and a strict but fair authority figure, she is now a deep but also somewhat flawed individual.
As stated in the blurb, we also have another romance. Thankfully this is far from the traditional fare. I don’t want to say too much, as I’d run the risk of spoiling how it is played out in the pages of this wonderful book. All I will say is that I was very pleasantly surprised by how well written and unpredictable it was.
Highly recommended and I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series!
Reviewed by A. J. S.
“As treachery and temptation threaten the women of the WAC, who will risk it all for love?”
Book Three:
Guarding Hearts
Sergeant Bett Smythe and Lieutenant Gale Rains are building a life together, despite the risks in the tightly closeted world of the Women’s Army Corps. When another couple, Captain Kathleen Hartley and Lieutenant Victoria Whitman, invite Bett and Rain to a dinner party, they’re introduced to the lesbian underground on the base.
Kat and Whit have had a turbulent relationship, and as a budding friendship deepens, Kat’s attraction to Rain threatens both couples’ futures. When Whit’s friend is accused of sexually assaulting a recruit, the ensuing investigation impacts them all, professionally and personally.
As the Battle of the Bulge rages overseas, the bounds of love and friendship are tested. Whit will do almost anything to preserve what she has with Kat, but who is the real threat? And can Bett protect her relationship from the very real dangers close to heart and home?
