A Time to Live
by Mary Burton Horne

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Except for the baby stirring inside her, Beth never felt so alone. Pregnant with the child of her British pilot fiancé—killed in action before he ever learned he was to become a father—and disowned by her parents, she found herself in a desperate situation. But then, miraculously, came a glimmer of hope when her fiancé's best friend proposes a marriage in name only to take care of her and the baby. With no other options, Beth accepts his heroic proposal. But as the bombing in London worsens, John makes a difficult decision to send Beth to Canada to his parents where she can have the baby in safety and live with his parents on the farm. Thrust into a world she never imagined, she must navigate the cold welcome of in-laws who just recently discovered 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 starts to embrace her. Her world is shattered when a telegram arrives telling her that her husband is missing in action. Filled with hope, danger and 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 a young child during the war Mary has memories of her two cousins, brothers who went off to war, one killed and buried in Italy, the other survived the war and brought home an English war bride to Canada. This led to a lifelong interest in the war and decades spent watching World War II documentaries and movies exploring the rise of Hitler and the human stories behind these global events. Mary currently lives in Alberta and enjoys swimming, hiking, and golf. She also enjoys studying languages, currently studying French, Spanish and Russian. She loves spending time with family. A certified Dream Builder Life Coach, Mary– at the age of 89, is living proof that you are never too old to follow your dreams. This is Mary’s second book, previously having published a book of short fiction stories entitled Key to My Heart.

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Contributors

Author

Mary Burton Horne

Contribution by

John Horne