Dedicated to serving – Winnipeg Free Press

Violet St. Croix is ​​a young woman struggling to break free from family convention and social expectations. She has it all – a wardrobe full of the latest fashions, fancy parties and fast cars. She has a handsome groom that her father bought but paid for with her mother's money.

What he wants is a life full of meaning and purpose. He finds it when World War II breaks out when he volunteers for the Red Cross.

Winnipeg author Kelly Bowen's latest historical fiction, Tomorrow is for HeroesInspired by the true story of Susan Travers, the only woman who served in the French Foreign Legion.

Violet fights fiercely against her parents, society, and most importantly herself – to achieve her goals and freedom. He was raised and conditioned not to disappoint his father and to doubt himself at every turn.

Through the dialogue of his family and friends, readers can easily turn to Marxists intent on waging class warfare. Consider the play of the young women at Violet's wedding, when Germany is about to invade France: “One of our gardeners has left. Ana showed absolute fitness. He should have found someone else to look after his roses.”

Another replies, “Who cares about your mother's roses?” Couture houses that would be closed if the Germans threatened Paris… What if this was my last Dior this year?… I wouldn't be able to show my face in public.”

Violet hopes there will be no war. “Nobody has forgotten the horrors and evil of the past war. Soldiers and civilians…” She is cut off by one of the other women. “Speaking of evil, did you all see what Roselle Huberdeau wore tonight?…I'm honestly surprised she even showed her face here.”

There is a sharp contrast between the upbringing of Violet and her friend George, the daughter of a fisherman. “My parents always told me that a person's place is not determined by what others think, but by where they are happiest,” she reflects. For Violet, the opinions of others have always been like a living, fire-breathing dragon in her life, ready to extinguish her entire life even if they were wrong.

Violet's estrangement from her family deepens after she helps George and his brother Henri rescue victims after a boating accident. Instead of praising Violet's bravery, Violet's fiancé begins to think of ways to hide it. How embarrassing to see Violet with these normal people and work clothes. Is there no limit to humiliation?

Violet confronts her father and volunteers for the Red Cross. She wants to be an ambulance driver, but has to decide to become a nurse until she can work as an ambulance driver overnight, “because there aren't many men here who have experience driving anything that doesn't involve a horse.”

When he tries to save people, he stops caring what people think, at some point he tells the general to sit down and shut up. Because of his skill and courage under fire, he moves him to a permanent driving job.

And Violet continues her work, guiding senior army officers through the battlefields of North Africa. Although his bravery was recognized in the field, his father's attitude did not change when he came home. “Now that this nonsense is behind you, you need to start thinking about your future if you're going to stay in Nice.” Her parents expect her to apologize to her ex-fiancé “(f)or even if you think you are a part of these last years, leaving her to run away. If he forgives you, you will be happy.”

It's a fun novel that's hard to put down, if you discount the urge to throw the book at something every time Violet's father speaks.

Gordon Arnold is a Winnipeg writer.