Sheltering Angel of Belleau Wood
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Published by: Black Rose Writing Publication
Release Date: February 12, 2026
Pages: 326
ISBN13: 978-1685137069
Synopsis
The sequel to the bestseller, Sheltering Angel: A Novel Based on a True Story of the Titanic.
After losing her husband Bradley in the Titanic disaster, Florence Cumings' heartache is far from over. Her teenage son Wells is killed in the WWI battle of Belleau Wood while defending France with the Allies. Two decades later, her second husband Chess dies of influenza shortly before her eldest son Jack succumbs to effects from injuries sustained in the Great War.
Now in the midst of WWII, Florence lives alone in New York City until her granddaughter Eva comes to stay with her. When Eva finds letters Jack and Wells wrote while serving in France, ghosts from the past visit both women, and Florence shows Eva how to endure life's greatest challenges with dignity and grace. Like the bestselling novel Sheltering Angel, a novel of the Titanic, Sheltering Angel of Belleau Wood is based on a true story.
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Praise
"In this meticulously researched WWII novel, an aging woman vividly relives the major events of the Twentieth Century from the sinking of the Titanic (which she survived) to the Great War (which took her son) by sharing a fragile and treasured box of letters with her granddaughter. Sheltering Angel of Belleau Wood is as quiet as a funeral, as thunderous as a battlefield."
–Jim DeFilippi author of Duck Alley and The Mules of Monte Cassino
"In Sheltering Angel of Belleau Wood, Louella Bryant shows how Florence Cumings Swain's emotional memories of surviving the sinking of the Titanic influenced the rest of her life. Readers who have experienced the death of a loved one will identify with Florence's grief as she ponders her losses, especially the passing of her soldier son Wells at the battle of Belleau Wood. Bryant writes with deep compassion for Florence, who asks difficult questions about war and how it disrupts people's lives. As a Gold Star mother, I recommend Sheltering Angel of Belleau Wood that shows one woman's journey through grief and into hope and healing."
–Joan Donaldson, author of Ae Fonde Kiss
"In Bryant's historical novel, as World War II rages, a box of 25- year-old letters turns the thoughts of a twice-widowed Titanic survivor back to World War I.... An addictive, well-composed, and historically engaging read."
–Kirkus Review
"A well-researched and engaging story of one resilient, independent woman's enduring loves, tragic losses, and haunting memories."
–Liza Nash Taylor, author of Etiquette for Runaways and In All Good Faith
"Sheltering Angel of Belleau Wood is a deeply moving and beautifully written novel bridging two world wars through the lens of one woman's heartbreaking losses and enduring strength. Bryant shares Florence's journey, from surviving the Titanic to mentoring her granddaughter on the home front as WWII unfolds, weaving a powerful narrative of generational resilience and the haunting costs of war. The author's use of letters to transport readers to WWI adds a poignant depth, and the subtle hints of ghosts and angels provide a spiritual dimension. A 5-star story of courage, loss, love, and the profound questions surrounding war that never go away."
–Cam Torrens, award-winning author of the Tyler Zahn mystery series
