Six Poppies by Lisa Carter

From Goodreads

Afghanistan, 2007. Carl meets Sarah, a nurse, at Camp Bastion and feels an instant connection with her. But when he discovers that she’s the childhood sweetheart of his fellow soldier, Danny, he vows to keep his distance. Little does he know how much she wishes he’d reach out. . .

After many gruelling months, Carl, Sarah and Danny make it home - now living miles apart, no longer in neighbouring tents. Honouring the lives of the friends he lost to war with a tattoo of six poppies, Carl vows never to forget their stories. Many miles away, Sarah tries to forget the man she swore to leave behind.

But Carl and Sarah are thrown back together, it’s clear that both of them are broken – and that the scars of what they went through together run deep. .

My thoughts

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn to this book by the cover and the premise of the story.  This book would have been the perfect read for this time of year.  I read this book at the beginning of November and finished it a few days before remembering all those that have passed away in wars and conflicts on Remembrance Day.  Unfortunately, the book isn't published until 30th January 2025, so you have all got a bit of time to wait until you can engross yourself in it..   

Remembrance Day from Wikipedia.

Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. The day is also marked by war remembrances in several other non-Commonwealth countries.

This is a dual time frame story that is centred around the conflict in Afghanistan and the years afterwards.  It features a love triangle between two soldiers, Danny and Carl that are friends and a young female nurse Sarah.  As their lives are thrown together Carl and Sarah form a connection, but Carl soon realises that Sarah is a childhood sweetheart of Danny's.  Carl makes a decision that he is better keeping his distance from Sarah, as he respects his relationship with his army colleague Danny. 

As their lives are thrown together again, how will Carl and Sarah cope with what fate has in store for them?

This was a deeply emotional read, that centred around the characters of Danny, Carl and Sarah , both during the conflict in Afghanistan and in the ensuing years once home following the conflict.  Unless you have been involved in similar situations, you have no idea how you would cope with the trauma of what you see and what happens to you, your colleagues, your friends or the people that live in the Country that you are fighting in.  

This will be among my top books of the year and will stay with me for some time.  Thanks for writing this story for us Lisa and I look forward to reading more books by you.