This is volume 1 of a 3-volume set on Jeanette MacDonald and Gene Raymond. Volume 1 concentrates on their lives up through WWII. While the subtitle includes "wartime letters" there are no letters in Volume 1. It is a comprehensive look at their lives and careers before they met, their romance, and early years of their marriage. I loved the part where Gene had secretly bought a house and on their wedding day had Jeanette's possession moved from her house to their new home so after the ceremony they went to their new home. I think Gene's mother had to be the mother-in-law from hell. I thought this was well done although it was apparent the author is a Jeanette MacDonald fan as there really wasn't anything negative said about her other than - she was human. I liked learning more about Gene Raymond who I think was a true gentleman. ( )