Book Review WWI Canadian fiction with Jenny Knipfer

 

Silver Moon, By the Light of the Moon series, book 3 by Jenny Knipfer

Inspirational Historical fiction

self-published, June 30, 2020, 409 pp

Buy the book

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Print: $15.99

EBOOK: $2.99

About the Book

Silver Moon, the third book in the series: By the Light of the Moon, paints a stunning and poignant picture of life on the home front in Webaashi Bay, Ontario, and of three men who are a part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during WWI.

Shamed into joining the war, the tide turns for Luis Wilson when he is steered into the depths of espionage. Injured and presumed missing, will he lose his heart to the very woman who presented him with a white feather?

Oshki and Jimmy offer a grim perspective on life in the trenches. They despair of ever returning home to the women who hold their hearts.

Meanwhile, Lily fights for the cause in her own way and rallies the female troops at home as prejudices run high and the local cafe owner is accused of being a spy.

Will the women of Webaashi Bay receive their men back unscathed? Can the power of love win out over insurmountable odds? All this drama and more plays out under the light of a silver moon.

My Review:

The third book in Knipfer’s By the Light of the Moon series draws the reader into World War One on the European front and at home in Webaashi Bay, Canada. Although this story stood alone quite well, readers will be intrigued to see how the family drama developed in the first two stories plays out. This story felt comfortable for a first-time reader to the author, more like being welcomed by new friends. The setting, a time of need, camaraderie and survival, brings the large cast and reader together. I enjoy history, and Knipfer’s research and literary replay put me in place in Canada and the trenches of France and Belgium. 

Told from a dramatic starting point, Knipfer leads her readers through a web of time and place that slowly draws us toward a meeting point when all the timelines and character threads meld and move forward together. Three soldiers share their stories from the war front while the reader is pulled back in time to explain what led up to the events. I admit that the number of family members of each character and the time jumps from the start of the war at home to periods in between up to 1917 were somewhat jerky until I settled into intimacy with their unique voices and perspectives. In this case, I recommend that the reader simply let the stories unfold in their own time.

Luis is an artistic soul who joins up when challenged by a stranger, much to the surprise and dismay of his family. His First Nation friend Oshki then jumps on the bandwagon primarily to make sure his buddy stays safe. Their stories twine is precious ways. The third hometown boy’s story comes about some ways into the story when Luis’s sister Lily takes up a community effort to support the valiant men and begins not only a letter-writing campaign, but establishes a women’s civic club for mutual benefit among the citizens of the small Ontario community.

Knipfer’s sense of place and era were lovingly recreated as little-known facts emerge, such as placing citizens of German descent in internment camps during the war, much like was done to Japanese-descent citizens during World War Two.

Ultimately, Silver Moon is a story of forgiveness, second chances, prayer and patience. Although told through multiple characters, Lily and Luis carry the main threads. An epilogue wraps up this story line. Harvest Moon, the fourth in the series, is scheduled for release later this fall and I look forward to reading it.

About the Author

Jenny Knipfer lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Ken and their pet Yorkie, Ruby. She is also a mom and loves being a grandma. She enjoys many creative pursuits but finds writing the most fulfilling.

Jenny’s education background stems from psychology, music, and cultural missions. She spent many years as a librarian in a local public library but recently switched to using her skills as a floral designer in a retail flower shop. She is now retired from work due to disability.

She authored and performed a self-published musical CD entitled, Scrapbook of a Closet Poet. Jenny acquires joy in the journey as an author. Ruby Moon, the first title in her historical fiction series: By the Light of the Moon, earned a five star rating from Readers' Favorite. Her books are available in eBook and paperback formats through Amazon and Ingramspark.

Jenny holds membership in the: Historical Novel Society, Wisconsin Writers Association, and Midwest Independent Booksellers Association.

Jenny’s favorite place to relax is by the western shore of Lake Superior, where her novel series is set.