Rose of Anzio – Moonlight (Volume 1): a WWII Epic Love Story by Alexa Kang – Review by Jennifer Gordon

Moonlight by Alexa Kang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this World War II epic love story by Alexa Kang. Set in the summer of 1940, fourteen year old Tessa Graham has been sent from England to live with the Ardley family in Chicago. This move is for Tessa’s safety and happens just before the Blitz in London. Finding herself in a unfamiliar city and feeling claustrophobic by the rich and prominent Ardley family she finds herself exploring the infamous South Side. Here Tessa discovers a world of jitterbug dancing and gets immersed in the powerful Irish community. Meanwhile eighteen year old Anthony Ardley is now of age to be conscripted but he does not want to leave his privileged life on the campus of the University of Chicago. Anthony is sole heir to the Ardley fortune and is expected to stand with his staunch isolationist beloved uncle. However he is tempted to join his more radical classmates wanting American intervention. Both Tessa and Anthony are discovering themselves but they also discover each other as their paths keep crossing time and time again and their relationship changes over time.
This is a wonderfully written coming of age story and an epic love story all in one. The authors detailed descriptions of time and place really transported me back to pre war era Chicago and into a world that felt as though it was fast loosing control. The main characters, Tessa and Anthony were well defined and relatable and I liked how their opinions of each other changed as did their relationship throughout the story. The will they, won’t they aspect to the story definitely kept me guessing and happily turning the pages. This book gripped me from start to finish as the plot was multilayered and the narrative kept the book flowing nicely making it an enjoyable read. The authors note at the end clarified some historical facts and was interesting. I look forward to the rest of the series and being back with Tessa and Anthony and what ever the future holds for them both.

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