Petunia 1949

Author: Leah Brewer
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 410
Release Date: May 1, 2023
Publisher: Self-Published

Can two women of different races maintain a friendship when the odds are against it?

Arkansas 1949. After spending her childhood working in the cotton fields, spitfire, Petunia Hollings’s dreams of being swept away by true love have finally come true. She’s on her way to Chicago and a new life, leaving her family and best friend, Opal, behind.

The time comes for Petunia to return to Arkansas, where she and Opal find themselves together again but caught up in a web of danger. When matters take an even more deadly turn, Petunia must choose to walk away or stand by her friend.

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Reviewer: Linda Klager

Petunia's father never showed her any love. He acted like she was not fathered by him. Her father would disappear from the family's life from time to time. Then he would come back, stay for a while, and leave again.

Petunia had a dear childhood friend named Opal. Opal was black, and Petunia was white. Later on in the story, there was much hatred shown to Opal and Petunia because of their friendship.

Petunia married Verlon at a young age after her mother persuaded her that he would make a good husband for her. Because of his job, they moved to Chicago. For the first time in her life, Petunia flourished! Verlon was a wonderful husband to her, and she grew to love him dearly.

Verlon wanted to enter the military and see the world. While Verlon was in basic training, Petunia really missed him, and his parents gave her much stability during this time. After Verlon's training, war broke out in Korea, and he was sent to fight this awful war. Petunia is raising two boys with the help of his parents.

There were a lot of villains in this book. Many men tried to take advantage of Petunia. I very much admired her adaptability to the many changes in her life.

I highly recommend this historical fiction book. I received a complimentary copy from the author through Interviews & Reviews and was not obligated to leave a favorable review.

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