A Time to Live
by Mary Burton Horne

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Except for the baby stirring in her belly, Beth had never felt so utterly alone. Unmarried, pregnant by her fiancé—a World War II soldier who was killed in action before he ever learned he would be a father, and disowned by her parents, her future was bleak. But then, miraculously, came a glimmer of hope when her fiancé’s best friend, John, offers to take care of her and her baby by proposing a marriage in name only. With no other options, Beth accepts his unexpected, heroic kindness. But as the bombing worsens in London, John makes a difficult decision—Beth must go to Canada, where she can safely have the baby and live with his parents on their farm in Western Canada. Thrust into a world she never imagined, Beth must navigate the cold welcome of in-laws who never knew she existed and a new way of life. Determined to stand on her own feet, Beth begins to carve out a place for herself in a family and community that slowly comes to embrace her. However, her world is further shattered when a telegram arrives announcing that John is missing in action. Though the world insists she must accept the loss, Beth cannot let go. Something deep within her heart whispers that he is still alive, still fighting, and that their story is not yet finished. Filled with danger, hope, romance, and the resilience of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary times, A Time to Live weaves a gripping tale of love shaped—and reshaped—by the sweeping forces of a world at war.

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Although only a young child during World War II, author Mary Burton Horne has personal memories and connections to World War II, including losing family members to the conflict. This led to a lifelong interest in the war and decades spent watching wartime documentaries, studying the rise of Hitler, and exploring the human stories behind these global events. As in wartime Germany, Mary believes that people need to speak up when they see that their freedom is gradually being taken away in their own country. Mary currently lives in Alberta with her family, where she enjoys hiking, swimming, and golf. She also enjoys studying languages—including Russian, French, and Spanish; reading; and, of course, writing. This is Mary’s second book, previously having published a collection of short fiction stories entitled Key to My Heart.

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Contributors

Author

Mary Burton Horne

Contribution by

John Horne