I interrupt my France travelog to wish America a happy semiquincentennial! If you want to make the celebratory feeling last, there’s a book you should read: Bicentennial Eve: A Wisconsin Novella by Julie Jacob. I had a chance to read the book before it was published and to provide this promotional blurb for it:
Step into the heart of 1976 Wisconsin, where the spirit of America’s Bicentennial pulses through every page. In Bicentennial Eve, Julie Jacob delivers an evocative, unforgettable portrait of a family on the brink of change. A young girl aches for her first kiss, a college student is caught between adventure abroad and love at home, and a devoted husband is left wondering what his wife truly desires. Brimming with nostalgia, longing, and the quiet hope of new beginnings, this gentle novel invites you to relive the magic and heartbreak of a pivotal moment in history. Perfect for fans of rich family dramas and coming-of-age tales, Bicentennial Eve will leave you reflecting on the ties that bind and the dreams that set us free.
–MARIE ZHUIKOV, author of The Path of Totality
I haven’t had time to reread the book since it’s been published, but my friend Vickie Smith has. Please see her review on her “Writing by the Lake” blog.
Marie's Meanderings 
Sounds like a warm story and a bit of nostalgia for someone my age!
I think you might like the book, Eilene. And there’s no swearing in it! 🙂
Sounds like it would be a nice read.
And it’s set in Wisconsin, so what’s not to like? 🙂
It’s a wonderful read. I gave a copy to my sister, and she was swept up into the story. I’ve read it twice, and loved it both times.
Thanks for letting me use your blog review, Vickie! The book is next in my TBR pile.