This book has twists and turns that you’d never see coming from the first few chapters of the book. It captures the intimacy of Kate and Olivia’s relationship as you read about their childhood friendship and experiences.

It gets way more complicated when they reach adulthood and move off in different directions. Kate becomes a nurse while Olivia enlists in the British Royal Naval Service (WRNS). But Olivia has secrets, even as close as she was with Kate, she never divulged the scenes she witnessed at her home. Her father being portrayed as a sexual addict and her mother cringing at the thought of his touch. This shaped Olivia’s view of men and she becomes very promiscuous. This isn’t to say there are lots of sex scenes in the novel, there aren’t. It’s well written and not a steamy romance type book at all. But a good study in human behavior as you read about the lives of two women, once so very close, and the different ways they deal with the war and people they interact with.

Full review and food may be found at my site here:
http://www.novelmeals.com/2011/11/kate-and-olivia-by-annie-murray-smoked.html ( )