| Anne Whitfield |
| ~ Broken Hero ~ |
| Broken Hero is my first attempt at writing a romance story set in World War II. This era is something that personally compelling to me. I've always been fascinated by the bravery of the men and women who lived through these times. I thoroughly enjoyed researching the second world war and also the area I used to set the book, Bridlington, East Yorkshire. I place that I have often visited while living in England. Audrey and Jake's story begged to be told. I adored writing Broken Hero and making the characters come alive. I hope readers enjoy them too. Broken Hero will be available in both paperback and ebook from the publisher The Wild Rose Press and the general online bookstores such as Amazon, etc. It is available to order in at your local bookstore. Buy Broken Hero: Paperback from The Book Depository (free delivery world wide) Broken Hero is available in ebook - Buy Here Also available for Amazon's Kindle here Paperback available here from Amazon. Also from Barnes & Noble and Amazon UK |
| Blurb Audrey Pearson's life changed dramatically when WWII broke out and her large home, Twelve Pines on the East Yorkshire coast, became a convalescence home for wounded soldiers. Her life is no longer lavish with entertainment, beautiful clothes and surrounded by a loving family. Soldiers, physically and mentally wounded now fill her home. The smell of disinfectant replaces her mother's perfume and gone are the friends and acquaintances - instead nurses roam the hallways. Captain Jake Harding, a doctor training in psychiatry arrives at Twelve Pines. Audrey immediately finds herself attracted to the Captain, but he is remote towards her. Puzzled by his cold behaviour, Audrey tries to learn more about the handsome Captain. He reveals that he's lost a wife and baby in childbirth and refuses to ever remarry. However, despite this, Audrey believes she can change his mind and make him aware he doesn't have to spend his life alone. The ice around Jake's heart begins to melt. For years he has rejected the possibility of finding love again because of the pain it caused him before, but the beautiful Audrey shows him her love and she needs someone to love her in return. Could he honestly walk away from her, from the love that could be his? |
| WWII Posters |
| Broken Hero was a top ten finisher for best romance 2008 Home |
Reviews ~
~ ~ Audrey believes she is in control of her life and her emotions, until Captain Jake Harding's arrival affects her in a way
she never expects. She rails against his inability to respond to her due to the demons which haunt him from his past. Does
she salve her pride and stop trying? Will he come to realise he needs the devotion she can offer, or is this broken hero
beyond her reach?
Broken Hero is an uplifting story about the unseen wounds war inflicts on the strongest and the way ordinary people
learned to adjust to cope with extraordinary situations.
Readers will sympathise at every level with Anne Whitfield's characters, the strong minded Audrey and the compassionate,
damaged Jake who needs her but cannot or will not acknowledge it.
Anita Davison, Historical Fiction Author
http://www.anitadavison.webeden.co.uk
~ ~ Anne Whitfield has done it again. She quickly became one on my 'must read' list. In this latest accomplishment, Ms.
Whitfield took us to East Yorkshire, England in Spring 1944 World War II.
Ms. Whitfield has taken a plot with horrible situations and deplorable conditions and made a beautifully intricate story which
will grab the heart of her readers. Audrey's character is strong, but vulnerable. Jake is a man who has shut down his
emotional functions. The supporting characters keep the story lively. They also help the emotionally-struggling doctor to
face his own personal problems. Jake is a strong, caring doctor who totally rejects facing his own past horrors. Audrey not
only projects her own strength, she is an encourager and, regardless of setbacks, refuses to give up on anyone or anything.
Broken Hero is a wonderfully poignant story of a man who just happened to be a doctor in World War II, who had to
decide how to deal with his patients without neglecting his own needs. I highly recommend this story to anyone who is
interested in WWII and the scenery around this part of England. Ms. Whitfield has graciously gone into detail so that I,
who have never traveled, felt as if I had been in the midst of the storyline.
Overall rating: 5/5
Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual
Reviewer: Brenda Talley - The Romance Studio
March 14, 2008
~ ~ Broken Hero was a wonderfully sweet story. It pulled on my heartstrings and brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't
have asked for more heart warming characters which you couldn't help but suffer with and cheer for. If you are looking
for a story that will make you feel deeply and leave with you with the truth that love conquers all, then you shouldn't miss
Broken Hero!
~Reviewed by Lynda from Simply Romance reviews.
~ ~ 'Broken Hero' produces a rich, cohesive view of a few lives during the turbulent war years, and also gives us a hint of
life before the war. The writing invites us to read slowly, understand the individuals' histories, and savor the story.
Foremost; this is a really beautiful romance.
~reviewed by Long and Short Reviews.com
~ ~ Audrey believes she is in control of her life and her emotions, until Captain Jake Harding's arrival affects her in a way
she never expects. She rails against his inability to respond to her due to the demons which haunt him from his past. Does
she salve her pride and stop trying? Will he come to realise he needs the devotion she can offer, or is this broken hero
beyond her reach?
Broken Hero is an uplifting story about the unseen wounds war inflicts on the strongest and the way ordinary people
learned to adjust to cope with extraordinary situations.
Readers will sympathise at every level with Anne Whitfield's characters, the strong minded Audrey and the compassionate,
damaged Jake who needs her but cannot or will not acknowledge it.
Anita Davison, Historical Fiction Author
http://www.anitadavison.webeden.co.uk
~ ~ Anne Whitfield has done it again. She quickly became one on my 'must read' list. In this latest accomplishment, Ms.
Whitfield took us to East Yorkshire, England in Spring 1944 World War II.
Ms. Whitfield has taken a plot with horrible situations and deplorable conditions and made a beautifully intricate story which
will grab the heart of her readers. Audrey's character is strong, but vulnerable. Jake is a man who has shut down his
emotional functions. The supporting characters keep the story lively. They also help the emotionally-struggling doctor to
face his own personal problems. Jake is a strong, caring doctor who totally rejects facing his own past horrors. Audrey not
only projects her own strength, she is an encourager and, regardless of setbacks, refuses to give up on anyone or anything.
Broken Hero is a wonderfully poignant story of a man who just happened to be a doctor in World War II, who had to
decide how to deal with his patients without neglecting his own needs. I highly recommend this story to anyone who is
interested in WWII and the scenery around this part of England. Ms. Whitfield has graciously gone into detail so that I,
who have never traveled, felt as if I had been in the midst of the storyline.
Overall rating: 5/5
Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual
Reviewer: Brenda Talley - The Romance Studio
March 14, 2008
~ ~ Broken Hero was a wonderfully sweet story. It pulled on my heartstrings and brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't
have asked for more heart warming characters which you couldn't help but suffer with and cheer for. If you are looking
for a story that will make you feel deeply and leave with you with the truth that love conquers all, then you shouldn't miss
Broken Hero!
~Reviewed by Lynda from Simply Romance reviews.
~ ~ 'Broken Hero' produces a rich, cohesive view of a few lives during the turbulent war years, and also gives us a hint of
life before the war. The writing invites us to read slowly, understand the individuals' histories, and savor the story.
Foremost; this is a really beautiful romance.
~reviewed by Long and Short Reviews.com
| Amazon UK |
| Amazon USA |
Excerpt:
From downstairs they heard the commotion of the emptying cellar.
“I’d better check that everyone is all right,” Jake said, but didn’t move. He reached out and took one
of her hands. “We need to talk I think.”
“We do?” She tried to pretend she didn’t know his meaning. From his sad expression, she knew it
wouldn’t be a talk she’d want to have. He was regretting his actions already. Well, she wasn’t
ashamed. She knew she loved him.
“Audrey, I can’t be what you want.”
Her chest squeezed, but she raised her chin in challenge. “You haven’t tried, so how do you know?”
“You want a good man to love you. You deserve a man’s love, the right man for you.”
“And what if you are the right man for me?”
“I’m not. You mustn’t think I am.” He ran his hands through his hair. “You’re young and beautiful,
there’s many a man who’d love you—”
“Don’t patronise me.” She tossed her head, angered by his attempts to brush her aside again.
“I’m not, honestly. You’re wonderful, and I wish I could be the man you need.”
“But you are! If you just allow yourself to be.” She reached out for him, only he backed away,
shaking his head.
“I won’t. Audrey. I’ll never marry again. I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t cope with the responsibility of
loving someone again, of the possible pain…”
“But I love you.” There, she had said the words.
He looked appalled. “You can’t.”
“Don’t tell me how I feel.”
“You don’t know what love is!”
“I’m speaking from the heart, Jake. I’m not one of those girls who plays with men’s feelings. I love
you like I’ve never loved anyone else before.”
He backed away, shaking his head, his eyes haunted. “No. I won’t do this.”
“What we shared in my bedroom was special. It was meant. You can’t deny that.”
Jake gave a mocking laugh. “It was a kiss, Audrey. A simple kiss that men and women share in
times of need. It leads to sex. You don’t have to be in love to have sex.”
“No. I won’t listen to you.”
“It’s true. Don’t make it out to be more than it was.”
“Why are you so certain that it meant nothing?”
“Because I know the difference.”
She felt sick. “So you wanted s-sex? Just any woman would do…”
He wiped a hand over his tormented face. “No, I didn’t mean…Damn, this isn’t what I meant to say.
Listen to me—”
“I won’t listen to you, not until you really know what you’re saying. Not until you really know what
you want.”
“I don’t want love, Audrey.”
Emotion clogged her throat. “Are-Are you saying you can never love me or any woman ever again?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Why?” she croaked. Lord, could there be a pain any worse than this?
“I don’t want to love another woman again, not ever.” He closed his eyes momentarily. “I wanted to
die after Marianne, I nearly did. I can’t do it again, Audrey, I can’t suffer such…such anguish as that
again…”
People were coming up the stairs and their chatter filtering up, drove Jake away. With a last glance
at her, his eyes sending his apology, he went to meet the others and resume his role of doctor and
caretaker of their reason.
But what of your reason, Jake? Audrey inwardly cried. Who will save you from your self-imposed
loneliness?
From downstairs they heard the commotion of the emptying cellar.
“I’d better check that everyone is all right,” Jake said, but didn’t move. He reached out and took one
of her hands. “We need to talk I think.”
“We do?” She tried to pretend she didn’t know his meaning. From his sad expression, she knew it
wouldn’t be a talk she’d want to have. He was regretting his actions already. Well, she wasn’t
ashamed. She knew she loved him.
“Audrey, I can’t be what you want.”
Her chest squeezed, but she raised her chin in challenge. “You haven’t tried, so how do you know?”
“You want a good man to love you. You deserve a man’s love, the right man for you.”
“And what if you are the right man for me?”
“I’m not. You mustn’t think I am.” He ran his hands through his hair. “You’re young and beautiful,
there’s many a man who’d love you—”
“Don’t patronise me.” She tossed her head, angered by his attempts to brush her aside again.
“I’m not, honestly. You’re wonderful, and I wish I could be the man you need.”
“But you are! If you just allow yourself to be.” She reached out for him, only he backed away,
shaking his head.
“I won’t. Audrey. I’ll never marry again. I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t cope with the responsibility of
loving someone again, of the possible pain…”
“But I love you.” There, she had said the words.
He looked appalled. “You can’t.”
“Don’t tell me how I feel.”
“You don’t know what love is!”
“I’m speaking from the heart, Jake. I’m not one of those girls who plays with men’s feelings. I love
you like I’ve never loved anyone else before.”
He backed away, shaking his head, his eyes haunted. “No. I won’t do this.”
“What we shared in my bedroom was special. It was meant. You can’t deny that.”
Jake gave a mocking laugh. “It was a kiss, Audrey. A simple kiss that men and women share in
times of need. It leads to sex. You don’t have to be in love to have sex.”
“No. I won’t listen to you.”
“It’s true. Don’t make it out to be more than it was.”
“Why are you so certain that it meant nothing?”
“Because I know the difference.”
She felt sick. “So you wanted s-sex? Just any woman would do…”
He wiped a hand over his tormented face. “No, I didn’t mean…Damn, this isn’t what I meant to say.
Listen to me—”
“I won’t listen to you, not until you really know what you’re saying. Not until you really know what
you want.”
“I don’t want love, Audrey.”
Emotion clogged her throat. “Are-Are you saying you can never love me or any woman ever again?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Why?” she croaked. Lord, could there be a pain any worse than this?
“I don’t want to love another woman again, not ever.” He closed his eyes momentarily. “I wanted to
die after Marianne, I nearly did. I can’t do it again, Audrey, I can’t suffer such…such anguish as that
again…”
People were coming up the stairs and their chatter filtering up, drove Jake away. With a last glance
at her, his eyes sending his apology, he went to meet the others and resume his role of doctor and
caretaker of their reason.
But what of your reason, Jake? Audrey inwardly cried. Who will save you from your self-imposed
loneliness?
