She captivated audiences until war demanded more of her and her beloved brother. In 1939, British film star Barbara Greene begins a life-changing romance with Joe Kennedy Jr., son of the American ambassador. But as Europe edges toward catastrophe, her life takes an extraordinary turn. Crossing the Atlantic, Barbara trades scripts for survival, eventually flying across the eastern United States to rally support for Britain in its darkest hour. Meanwhile, her brother Kent is thrust into the brutal reality of combat, from the chaos of Dunkirk to relentless campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, and Burma. His war is fought in mud, fire, and sacrifice, hers in courage, reinvention, and defiance. Together, their intertwined journeys reveal a powerful, deeply personal portrait of World War II, where love endures, dreams are shattered, and ordinary people are called to extraordinary acts. Both Sides of the Pond is a vivid, emotionally charged story of resilience, romance, and the true cost of war. "What a wonderful book! The description of the humiliating retreat through Dunkirk is the best I have ever read. Lawrence has gone to great lengths to ensure that her facts and dates are correct and explains the background to events. A worthwhile read, on either side of The Pond." -Roy V Martin , Master Mariner and author of Ebb and Flow: evacuations and landings by merchant ships in World War Two, Suffolk Golding Mission: A Considerable Service , and other books. "Her mother and uncle might have led decent but unremarkable lives coming of age in Great Britain in the late 1930s. Instead they were forced to show the grit and steadfastness that gave Britain its finest hour. For anyone who wants to know what it is really like to have your world turned upside down, read this book and be shocked, thrilled and moved. From heady and improbable love affairs amidst the falling bombs to the gritty deprivations of daily life, it's all here in a timeless well-told tale." -New York Times best-selling author Evan Thomas is the author, most recently, of Road to Surrender. "An intimate and beautifully researched story of one young British woman's life as she finds love and a career on the stage and screen. When World War II destroys those dreams, she and her brother are called upon to serve their country in different but equally perilous ways. The author views historic events through this very personal lens in a way that brings Barbara and Kent's compelling stories vividly to life for the reader." -Elizabeth Winthrop Alsop, author of Daughter of Spies: Wartime Secrets, Family Lies , www.elizabethwinthropalsop.com "Thinking of World War Two as "a good war" risks neglecting the realities of broken or partly broken lives. The war experienced by young actress Barbara Greene and her brother Kent revealed in this deeply researched and impressive family history will draw you in and keep you engaged." -Robert Malcolmson , Professor Emeritus at Queen's University Ontario and author and co-editor of many books and articles, including The Diaries of Nella Last: Writing in War and Peac e. "This is a first-rate account of the build-up to World War 2, a most descriptive account of the attack on Croydon, and generally of the Blitz, that also includes a delightful passage on Warwick Castle. The characters come to life in this book that has a warm feel to it even amid the chaos of war. An excellent piece of writing!" -Brian Ingpen is the author of twelve books on maritime history, including Mailships of the Union Castle Line . "I loved this book and couldn't put it down. History and the complexity of human relationships unfold with uncommon grace." -Barbara Lazear Ascher , winner, most recently, of Pushcart's Editors Award for Ghosting: A Widow's Voyage Out. Barbara Kent Lawrence, Ed.D.Barbara Kent Lawrence is the author of many articles and nine books, including an award-winning dissertation on the influence of culture on aspirations in Maine. A former professor, she has taught courses in anthropology and sociology, research, and writing non-fiction and memoir. Lawrence grew up in New York City and Washington D.C., then earned a BA in anthropology from Bennington College, an MA in sociology from New York University, and an EdD. in Administration, Policy and Planning from Boston University.In addition to teaching, Lawrence has worked for the Department of Social Services and the Housing Development Administration in New York, directed a small museum in Maine, co-run a brokerage and construction company, consulted for The Rural School and Community Trust and KnowledgeWorks, started four non-profit organizations supporting the environment and students, and knit over 500 hats for people who need them. She lives in Maine and is working on the third novel in her Islands series.