Bluebird by Genevieve Graham

A dazzling novel set during the Great War and postwar Prohibition about a young nurse, a soldier, and a family secret that binds them together for generations to come—from USA TODAY and repeat #1 bestselling author Genevieve Graham.

Present day

Cassie Simmons, a museum curator, is enthusiastic about solving mysteries from the past, and she has a personal interest in the history of the rumrunners who ferried illegal booze across the Detroit River during Prohibition. So when a cache of whisky labeled Bailey Brothers’ Best is unearthed during a local home renovation, Cassie hopes to find the answers she’s been searching for about the legendary family of bootleggers...

1917

Corporal Jeremiah Bailey of the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company is tasked with planting mines in the tunnels beneath enemy trenches. After Jerry is badly wounded in an explosion, he finds himself in a Belgium field hospital under the care of Adele Savard, one of Canada’s nursing sisters, nicknamed “Bluebirds” for their blue gowns and white caps. As Jerry recovers, he forms a strong connection with Adele, who is from a place near his hometown of Windsor, along the Detroit River. In the midst of war, she’s a welcome reminder of home, and when Jerry is sent back to the front, he can only hope that he’ll see his bluebird again.

By war’s end, both Jerry and Adele return home to Windsor, scarred by the horrors of what they endured overseas. When they cross paths one day, they have a chance to start over. But the city is in the grip of Prohibition, which brings exciting opportunities as well as new dangerous conflicts that threaten to destroy everything they have fought for.

Pulled from the pages of history, Bluebird is a compelling, luminous novel about the strength of the human spirit and the power of love to call us home.

Kindle, 384 pages

Expected publication April 5, 2022

by Simon & Schuster CA

4/5 stars

Genevieve Graham is a go to author for me.  She is a Canadian author who loves history especially Canadian history and it shines through in her books. I love how she goes off the beaten track with pieces of history that I am totally unfamiliar with and keeps me entertained while being educated at the same time.

Bluebird is a dual timeline story set in present day and also beginning in 1917 - Belgium during World War I. While the majority of the story is the latter time. It following the lives of Jeremy Bailey and nurse Adele as they return home, each of them scarred in their own ways from the war. Set in Windsor, Ontario across the river from Detroit during Prohibition. I loved the setting, the speakeasies, rum runners and learning about the Canadian Tunneling Company from the war - see what I mean, educational.

Again Graham has written a captivating story, it was well written (as usual) that kept me intrigued, she had me caring about Jerry and Adele and rather intrigued how the past played into the current storyline. Definitely an author and book I highly recommend. 

My thanks to Simon & Schuster CA (via Netgalley) for a digital arc in exchange for honest review.