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In the aftermath of WWII all Jakob Wilheimer wants is to get over his pain, get on with life, and if at all possible, forgive those who've wronged his family -- including himself. But it's hard to do when there are constant reminders. One of them being his former schoolmate, now teacher, Meri Parker -- Miss Port Delamar Pearl, Mayor's daughter, Belle of the town -- Meri Parker.
After enduring the stigma and isolation associated with the internment camp, the awkwardness of going back to school should've been a cake walk. But Jakob didn't expect to find himself inexplicably drawn to Meri. Or to discover that the pain and loneliness of her life surpassed his own. She needed to be rescued from the wretched people seeking to control her life. And more than anything, he needed to be the one to save her.
EXCERPT
Meri looked at her plate with a sudden loss of appetite. Why did her parents intrude on every aspect of her life? She couldn't even enjoy a meal with a friend like Jakob.
She watched him tickle his niece. The infant's giggle burst from her tiny body, eliciting laughter from Jakob as though it were a reflex -- a natural response to Beth's purity of joy. Her mother would never appreciate Jakob's simplicity. As a matter-of-fact, she'd despise him for it. Images of Meri's mother smugly looking down her nose came to mind, clear and vivid. And her father? She tried to visualize but Jakob didn't seem to fare much better. It was more likely that her father wouldn't even acknowledge his existence.
As though they had the right to judge.
From deep within, a shady memory emerged. Meri could hear her mother screaming and cursing as glass shattered against the wall. She learned more about her family from her mother's temper tantrums than anything else.
A defiant smirk pulled at the corners of her lips. "Did I ever tell you what my dad did before he was mayor?"
"Wasn't he a lawyer?" Jakob said.
"He still is, just not currently practicing."
"Okay."
Meri scooted to the edge of the sofa. "You've been to Galveston, right?" she asked.
"Of course. It might surprise you but we Wilheimers love the beach. And contrary to Hitler's version of our gene pool not all of us sunburn -- just Ruthie."
"Have you ever heard of the Balinese Room?" Meri asked.
"Supposed to be a swank joint, right?"
"If you're a gambler."
"Your dad's a gambler?"
"No," she said. "But he used to spend a lot of time there." Meri bit her bottom lip and lowered her head to look at Jakob. "Being entertained by clients...?"
"You just said he doesn't gamble."
"There are other forms of entertainment," she said with a raised brow.
"Oh, Meri, stop..." Jakob held up his hand. "This wasn't what I meant about family stories. I don't need to hear this." He furrowed his brow. "How would you know anyway?"
"Bits and pieces over the years. Sometimes my parents' arguments aren't so discreet, at least not in our home. Anyhow, my dad's indiscretions weren't what I was referring to. Some of his clients made their living through organized crime. They occasionally needed his services to stay out of trouble. He didn't defend murderers or anything like that. My dad's not that kind of lawyer -- though I'm sure they needed one of those as well. My dad helped them with business legalities, or I should say, he helped them get around business legalities. The Balinese room was their establishment." She folded her arms and leaned back. "It's ironic, isn't it? Your family was treated like you had something to hide, and mine really does."
As soon as Meri finished the sentence regret set in, hard and heavy. Something about the look on Jakob's face made him seem weighted. Burdened.
She shouldn't have done that. Jakob had asked about her family because he was curious about her. And she'd used the opportunity to get even with her father -- forcing something ugly upon Jakob. It wasn't fair to either of them.
Why had she done that?
"Is this Shawna's first novel? No Other by Shawna K. Williams pulled me into the story with the first sentence. This historical romance, set in Post-WWII America, possesses the right amount of detail to keep the reader in the late 1940s... No Other is a refreshing look at two people in love during a forgotten era. It's a must-read. I look forward to a sequel. I'd like to know what happened to Roger. (wink, wink)"
"Both Meri and Jakob are flawed, but very human characters. Meri wants something more substantial than the love her parents offer – she wants a pure, good, true love, one that is patient, kind, and never boastful, but does she have the strength to claim it? Jakob is strong, physically and in spirit, but he needs to learn patience. It's a value he struggles with, especially when he embraces the love he has for Meri... Overall, the novel is a solid character romance that will resonate with the reader."
"This debut novel by author Shawna Williams took my breath away. It sounds cliche, but I don't know how else to describe the emotions that moved through me as I read this book... I loved how true to life this story seemed and it was edgy enough to make me want to cheer Shawna on. This story felt real to me because the characters were complex and three dimentional. There were a few shifts in plot that were delightful as well. I love it when the author does something you aren't expecting. Nice job! I can't wait for the next book. This is making my "favorites" list for fiction for this year - 2010."
"There are many big moments that touched my heart... Shawna Williams brilliantly stirs profound emotions throughout No Other. It’s filled with wonderful drama, romance, and history. I highly recommend No Other. I’m looking forward to reading her sequel, In All Things, in November."
"Shawna's mastery of characterization infused the story with such believability, and I fell in love with Jakob and Meri. No sappy scenes, no corny lines--this book is about story. Yes, it's a love story, but it is so much more... No Other is beautifully written. If you love romance, you will love No Other. And if you don't like romance...no matter. You'll still love it."
"No Other by Shawna K. Williams is a beautifully written romance set in post WWII America... No Other is a lovely and satisfying read - not too difficult with just the right amount of poignancy to keep the reader going. Williams herself aptly describes it as "Grace Inspired". I would recommend this book to readers looking for a romance that is somewhat different than the norm, yet still delivers on the `romance-meter'."
"Shawna has written a remarkable story with 'No Other'!. I believe Shawna has written a wonderful book about forgiveness and love. I would encourage you to get a copy and read for yourself! I believe you will be blessed!"
"Oh. My. Gosh. I was amazed at how much I loved this book... This story evoked so much emotion from me that towards the end I was literally gasping, flinging my hands around, and on the edge of my seat because I did not know what would happen next. This is an author to watch, because she will definitely be going places."
"In general, I don't buy stories set around WWII. That time period never seems to connect with me... I don't know what I was expecting. But I certainly wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. It was a *very* pleasant surprise. I knew in advance that No Other was considered edgy christian fiction, but still the actions of the main characters surprised me (and surprising this reader is a good thing!)...Shawna Williams is on my to read list from now on, whether she's writing about WWII or not."
"This was probably one of the most historically authentic books I've ever read, so the author has done a lot of research into the post-WWII time period where people in the United States were unsure about German families who might be spies... I have not read a book in Christian romance that tackles the issues this book does, and for that I commend the author. This is a book about real life, real people, and real struggles. It's not the watered down, everyone's perfect and holy book. This is a book about overcoming those moments where we fail to meet God's best because, in the end, that is what the Christian faith is all about: God perfecting us in spite of our sins."
"Thanks to the wonderful story-telling expertise of Ms. Shawna Williams, I didn't get anything I'd planned done this weekend... No Other" is the kind of book that will draw you in make you forget anything negative that's going on in the world as you succumb to the enjoyment of the story. She reminds us that even Christians make mistakes, but God loves and forgives us. You can bet I'll be waiting for the sequel in November. It's a delightful read and I can't recommend this book enough."
"No Other is indeed a story like no other. Shawna K. Williams has succeeded in telling a heart-warming, and often heart-wrenching, story of love, compassion, acceptance and redemption. This well-written story dates back to 1947 when World War II was still fresh in everyone's mind the lines between social classes and ethnic groups were clearly drawn. A modern day Romeo and Juliet in many ways, No Other beautifully illustrates the promise we have that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
"I generally shy away from historical fiction but found myself drawn to the characters of this book. The time period of WWII intrigued me...I found myself rooting for the characters in this story and reading long into the night so I could find out what happened."
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