The Hello Girl: An Anthology

By Merline Lovelace

All that's standing in the way of the Dunbars' divorce is Brian Dunbar's unwillingness to sign the papers. And though his wife, Lieutenant Colonel Anne Dunbar, loves him as madly as she did on their wedding day eleven years ago, their differences--intensified by the pressures of career and family--are irreconcilable. Or so she thinks. When a long-lost file lands on Anne's desk, she learns some unexpected lessons about love and trust from the remarkable story of a World War I "Hello Girl" telephone operator. Marie Reynaud fought valiantly for love--a love immortalized in diary entries that transcended war and time. A love inspiring enough to save Anne's marriage?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373230710
• ISBN13: 9780373230716
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Harlequin
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 1.4" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful story

Hello Girl is different from the other Merline Lovelace novels I've read, but it was absolutely terrific. The present day story of a crumbling marriage and the love story of the Hello Girl from World War I tugged at my emotions and, coupled with the tension woven throughout, kept me turning pages. I truly felt I was transported back in time with Marie's story and the bravery of both these women made me once again appreciate how proud I am of our country's heroines, the women who serve in the armed forces. This was a fantastic read and the ending brought tears to my eyes.

One of My Favorites!

Hi, Everyone - Of all the books I've written, THE HELLO GIRL is one of my absolute favorites. I've always been fascinated by WWI, partly because my dad was stationed in France when I was a kid and we lived very close to the killing fields of Verdun. I still remember visiting some of those grim battlefields. Later I studied WWI and the advent of aerial operations as part of my training as an Air Force officer. But it wasn't until I read about the telephone operators who served with Black Jack Pershing's forces in WWI that I knew I had to write about these fascinating women. Luckily, during my research I was able to find some of their diary entries -- even a copy of the Stars and Stripes published the day the first contingent arrived in France!!! So I hope you enjoy their story, interwoven with the story of a modern day military officer fighting demons of her own.

AN AWESOME READ

When I picked up this book, I had no idea who the Hello Girls were. Not only is this story a compelling romance, it conveys a part of our history that few people know about. It's obvious that the author did her research about how the Hello Girls served our country. However, that research in no way overshadows the relationships of the two couples whose heartaches and happiness we get to share. If you read only one book this year, make sure it's THE HELLO GIRL.

Fascinating, fresh take on romance

I just finished The Hello Girl, the first book in this two-book edition, and I loved, loved, loved it. A present day female officer is tasked with awarding a medal to a woman who served in France during World War One--a "Hello Girl", one of the battlefield telephone operators who served Pershing in France. Didn't know about them? Me, neither, which made every journal entry of the WW1 woman fascinating. This book was a real page-turner, as I couldn't wait to see which woman's romance would turn into a "happily ever after". Each has to balance the military discipline needed in time of war with their marriages. Both women--and both of their men--were unique, real characters. I cared very much about what happened to each of them, and cried happy tears at the end of the story. A great read--absolutely recommended. (And you'll impress your friends with how much you'll end up knowing about World War One!)