If You Keep Me
A Sugar Maple Christmas Prequel
by Ciara Knight

Rosie and Vic are struggling with there life at Christmas after the end if WW11 when Vic returns from war broken suffering PTSD and trying to fit back into his life with Rosie who has is also struggling trying to keep there business afloat and there marriage together after she has a miscarriage and losing a child. There is Davey who is the leader of some street orphans . Vic and Rosie are struggling are finding it difficult to get a second chance at their life after both suffering physical and emotional injuries. They end up finding themselves taking responsibility for the orphaned children and their troubles.

Another well written book from Ciara Knight. A lovely book that covers many issues we still have today. 4.5/5

This is a prequel in the ‘Sugar Maple’ Series,. There are 2 prequel books, 5 books in all. Confusing which order to read. I think I read the books in the wrong order. This is a historical series starting in WW2. Very interesting story and believable. Well written as usual by Ciara Knight. Being an American I enjoy British authors. I have recommended to my friends.

If You Keep Me by Ciara Knight is the prequel to A Sugar Maple series. The other books in the series are If You Love Me and If You Adore Me. I enjoy historical romance stories. The cover and the description of the story inspired me to read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

If You Keep Me by Ciara Knight is an unusual second chance at love. Victor and Rosie Bessler were deeply in love and then WWII happened. Fast forward to the end of the war and Victor comes back home to his wife and finds that things have changed for both of them. Rosie has become an independent business woman and Victor is not sure how to accept as he has his own demons that he is fighting (plus he is not sure about Rosie working). Enter a group of young people that belong nowhere. These kids (especially one of them) helps show this couple what is meant by family as they work to find both peace and love and the magic of Christmas.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC for an honest opinion.

This is a very well-written and complex story about a vet coming home with PTSD and a wife who has experienced tragedy while her husband was away serving his country. This is not a light and breezy read, but it is a very good read that I found to be very good. Both of them have things that they need to overcome to be able to be happy in life, both together and as individuals. Read this very interesting book to find out if they succeed.

Loved reading this book and series. Looking forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend this author and book

This is a well-written, thought provoking, emotion inducing story that will have you reading straight through just to see how it ends. I laughed, cried and just all around loved it. I will most assuredly be recommending this.
Thank you Ciara Knight, Author Collective 20 and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

I have never read this author before. I enjoyed the book. It was an easy read. The storyline was interesting.

This was a very sweet story. I have read other books in this series so this one was a real treat. I really enjoyed reading about Sugar Maple in earlier days. Discovering the childhood of Davey, one of the town elders, was especially good. The romance was good with husband and wife dealing with the aftermath of WWII and adjusting to life together once again. Rosie has had to be independent with Victor overseas but now that he's back how is she supposed to act? She's been running a successful business all alone, does she have to become a model housewife now? Victor is broken too. He was injured and is suffering from losing some of his men along with civilians along the way. There are homeless children in Sugar Maple too. Being childless has affected both Rosie and Victor in different ways. Can they overcome their heartbreaks and help these children? It all comes together beautifully in a wonderful way. A very inspiring romance!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.

Each book has its own effect, because it is a kind of composition of pictures through words. This one definitely has such a unique and wonderful effect that while reading it, it seems to you that you are watching a movie that touches you deeply and stays in your mind long after you read the last words.
I'm not a fan of books that are related to war in any way, it's too painful for me to read what one person is willing to do to another, in the name of some ultimate stupidity. But I read this book ... faster than I thought. I cried, I was shocked, angry but also touched by the depth and beauty of this story. Victor and Rosie, two victims who suffered in the war, maybe not on the front lines, maybe not from a bullet, but from the cruelty that separates them, from the monstrous memories that have the power to break even the bravest heart. Victor and Rosie, marked by the cruelty of war, but strong enough to face their demons and unite to help a group of orphans.
This is the first book I read by this author and I must admit that I am really impressed by her writing style - complex and rich, with lots of metaphors and interesting language structures. And so much emotions… Post war struggles, miscarriages, hope and love…everything so perfectly intertwined in this story that will pull on your heart strings from the beginning to the end. On the other hand, it simply perfectly conveys and cherishes the spirit of Christmas - kindness, generosity and the need to be united and loved. How sometimes we should forget our problems and focus on others who are in need. The main characters of Victor and Rosie are described and portrayed quite masterfully, relatable and with skillful psychological subtleties.
Definitely, a lovely Christmas-themed novel with interesting characters and even more interesting storyline that will transport you into the post WWII world, filled with darkness and hope, love and loss. A story of two people overcoming darkness to find happiness. A story that every reader should read.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This is my first book by Ciara Knight and I enjoyed it so much! The perfect description for this book is “short and sweet”. It takes place after WWII has ended. Rosie and Vic were married before the war and were reunited after it ended. Both Rosie and Vic went though many painful things while they were apart. They know they still love each other but they don’t know how to get back to where they were before Victor went off to war. With a lot of patience and the love of five homeless children who become very important to Rosie and Vic, they are able to find the family they’ve always wanted. I guarantee you will fall in love with pretty much every character in this book, especially Davey. This is one of those books that can be so incredibly sad one minute but then make your heart swell with happiness the next minute. I highly recommend this one and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a beautifully written story that is full of emotions. This is the first book I've read by this author and I loved it. If you like small town second chance romance story you will love this book. Thank you Author Collective 20 via NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

If You Keep Me: A Sugar Maple Christmas Prequel by Ciara Knight
Publisher: Author Collective 20
Genre: Historical Fiction | Romance | Women's Fiction
Release Date: October 20, 2020

If You Keep Me is the prequel to A Sugar Maple series by Ciara Knight. The other books in the series are If You Love Me and If You Adore Me.

I'm not typically a fan of historical romance, but the cover and the description of the book drew me in. I am so glad I gave this book a chance!

This is a beautiful story that takes place after the end of WWII about a husband and wife trying to reconnect with each other.

I'm so grateful to Ciara Knight, Author Collective 20, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Rose and Vic are a married couple dealing with the after war scars. Each one has issues affecting their day to day lives. Will they find the way to mend their bounds? Will they be able to become a real family again?
The war and how it affected everyone's life is always a sore subject. In this case, the author navigated through fear and pain with elegance and respect, and avoided falling into old cliches.
I liked this story. The pace is good and the characters are very nice.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Author Collective 20 for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
Another hit from this series for me. What impressed me was that this book is historical fiction, whilst the last book in the series was contemporary (unless I missed something). I haven’t read heaps and heaps of romance series but I think it’s pretty unusual to mix things up like that.
And I know I sound like a broken record but I absolutely adore this cover. If someone had asked me to fill out a tick sheet beforehand of what I wanted from a Christmas cover- this would be the end result.
What I also really really appreciated was this was a romance about a married couple who had to work out some pretty major problems and find each other again. We need more romances like this, because too often I think romances adopt the fairytale ending where all the hard works been done in the formation of the relationship and then it’s all plain sailing from there on out. And we all know life’s not like that don’t we!
So yes, I would highly recommend and I look forward to reading more from this author.

What a lovely return to a sweet series, it feels like returning to a close set of friends, these books are that warm and inviting. It’s another book featuring a warm romance, great community and friendships and overall a wonderful story. Emotional reading but always a worthy read. Lovely

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This was a beautiful and emotional Christmas historical fiction story.

Rosie and Vic are an estranged married couple trying to build their marriage back up. Davey and his gang of street kids come into their lives and things get interesting from there.

It deals with miscarriages and child death so don't read if you get triggered by these.

This story had so much emotion in it. Happiness, heart break and second chances. Davey is such a sweetheart and cares for everyone and scared to be around adults.

I enjoyed this story and will read from this author again.

I love this book, returning to Sugar Maple is a delight. Vic returns from the war a damaged man, and Rosie is coping with her own losses, both learn to rekindle their relationship whilst, caring for the orphaned children around them. Quite emotional at times..

T his is a beautiful story about a husband and wife trying to learn to connect back with each other, heart and soul after the war. Rosie, the wife, who wants children very badly. Victor, the husband, who wants children but will not risk losing his beloved. Things change when an orphaned boy comes into they life and changes them forever.

This book was such an amazing novel to read. I loved going back in time, and seeing how some of the history and what it was kind of like back then. Listening to the radio for television. Going to see the the new moving pictures. I also loved how well they were willing to work together with each other and not belittle one another because one was a man and another was a women. Over all this book definitely warmed my heart, and would recommend it!

Ciara Knight has done something I thought was impossible. She made me fall in love with Davey in If You Keep Me. Of course, this is the scrappy child who hasn’t changed all that much as an old man in the other If You Series books. This story goes back in time when he is around ten years old.

WWII has ended, soldiers are reentering civilian life. Many of the problems of the day are still around today. Families struggling, pregnancy problems, children mistreated, used and abused. It was also a hopeful time which we also still need today. Davey is the oldest of a group of Sugar Maple street children. This is their story along with Vic and Rosie Bessler.

The absolute best book of the series so far. Wonderful writing with emotional richness especially for Vic and Rosie shines through the story. The changes that the war brought with all the ways that the families needed to adjust to individual changes as well as the town. One thing that didn’t change is how a community must support the individuals, find new way to remember the lost as well as looking for ways to rebuild the community and the hope for a bright future.

I have read several WWII stories as of late but this one is the time right after the war. I love it. While part of the series it is a true stand-alone. For a different but amazing Christmas story I highly recommend If You Keep Me.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.