BROKEN FACES: Historical Romance Based on True WWI Events by Chris Karlsen and Jennifer A Conner – WWI Historical Fiction, Medical History, Historical Romance

A towering achievement, Broken Faces: Historical Romance Based on True WWI Events by Chris Karlsen and Jennifer A Conner follows two young people who, for different reasons, embark on a journey to restore the self-esteem torn from wounded soldiers by bloody conflict.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, 1914 plunged Europe into one of the most horrific wars in history. Daily British papers featured articles about a bleak future. London quickly felt the effects of the war, with stores closing and basic goods in limited supply.

Abigail Belorman, a young American woman and talented sculptor, had relocated to Britain with her newlywed husband Theo, the US ambassador to England. Pained by Theo’s emotional neglect, Abigail finds comfort in visiting injured soldiers who had returned from the front to a nearby hospital. Each of the young men there has a story to tell and wounds to recover from. Some, however, suffered irreparable damage to their faces, along with any chance at a normal life taken from them, and they will be forced into isolation.

During a period when plastic surgery was unheard of, Abigail uses her sculpturing skills to make scar-concealing masks for the WW1 veterans, helping restore some measure of hope and dignity to those who had been subjected to wretched anguish in the trenches of battle.

Colm Harp, an adept metalsmith, is fueled by the desire to give his brother Danny a second chance at life. Danny joined the war to escape constant mockery from neighbors, but returned from the front with a severely mutilated face.

The loss of a loved one to suicide adds to Colm’s determination to join Abigail in helping soldiers heal from both external and internal scars. The two are forced to confront the tragedies of war and the realities of their own lives, revealing that empathy can triumph over adversity and little gestures of kindness do count.

Karlsen and Conner take an unrelenting approach to the harsh realities of war.

Their battlefield imagery and the mental anguish of those left on the home front waiting desperately for any information about their loved ones are palpable.

Broken Faces further examines the social stigma these soldiers encountered upon their return home, contemptuously referred to in French as “les gueules cassées”—shattered rags. This led many to retreat from normal civilian lives, opting to live as recluses.

The text offers a solemn tribute to war veterans, exploring their sacrifices and struggles through various fleshed-out characters. Karlsen and Connor illustrate these veterans’ rightful place in our hearts and society: one of recognition and accolade.

The authors’ attention to detail, seamlessly intertwining prose and place in history, will keep readers invested in the lives of these broken men and the people who care for them.

Broken Faces: Historical Romance Based on True WWI Events by Chris Karlsen and Jennifer A Conner is the go-to for curious minds about the personal impacts of WWI. This book will especially enthrall historical fiction enthusiasts who enjoy slow-burning war stories that blend romance, history, and endearing characters all into one.