Review of The Silver Locket by Margaret James

Beginning in 1914 and set against the backdrop of the Great War, The Silver Locket follows the story of Rose Courtenay and Alex Denham.

Rose Courtenay has been brought up in a beautiful manor house in Dorset, the only expectations that her parents have set upon her is that she should make a good marriage – a view taken by almost all upper class parents of that generation. For Rose, however, this is not enough and when she is forbidden to take up a place at Oxford she flees to London alone to train as a nurse and help with the war effort.

Alex Denham is everything that the Courtenay’s do not want for their daughter. Denham is an officer in the Royal Dorset Regiment, but a dubious past sheds a shady light over him. Alex and Rose seem to harbour feelings for one another that neither will admit, but wartime changes everything. What will the consequences be for Rose and Alex?

This is a real tearjerker of a novel, so have your tissues ready. James has created a wonderful love story which spans countries, war torn battle fields and many customs of the time. I loved this novel and once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. It is beautifully written and the description of life during the First World War is brought to life and made to seem so real.

From rural Dorset to the horrors of frontline trench warfare and onto Russia this is a wonderful love story showing the lengths that two people will go to be together against all odds.

Thank you to Choc Lit for sending me a copy to review.