“Get ready for a wild, emotional ride, wrapped in mystery, War history and a whole lot of heart. Dear Laura, by Laura Elliott is not just a memoir, it’s a full on adventure story that starts with a wooden bench and whispers at a birthday party and spirals into a hidden World War II story that will leave you speechless.”

– @WhatMansiReads

“I was interested and encouraged when I read your book introduction, since it seems we’ve been on similar journeys in pursuit of our quest to answer profound questions related to our family history.  It also validates my thought that you were the right person to help me craft my family’s story.”

“I found the Author’s Notes to be quite intriguing and a very interesting prelude on what was to come. Coming from a military family and having heard many stories of my own from my father (Vietnam era) as well as a student of our family history including family members in WWII (Iwo Jima, Pearl Harbor, and capturing of German spies), I instantly felt a connection. 

After all these years, how nice to still have and use your bench – such a neat link, past to present. I can’t wait to read the full story. Your dad’s since of adapting to survive set against exotic locations and mystery, this book promises to continue to be a very interesting read that will leave the reader wanting to know more from chapter to chapter.”

“Your book has been fabulous reading––so well researched and told in such a lovely way––you go girl!”

“We learned so much about the connection between the Dutch and the Japanese while we were visiting Japan. Every time we thought of your dad. Most moving, when we were at Hiroshima, there was a display about a POW camp that was destroyed during that bombing. I was so thankful that your dad was outside of Tokyo instead of Hiroshima.”

“What an amazing survival story! So excited to dig into your book!”

“Reading in the rain on a covered porch at Redfish–you just left Jogja and headed to Mr. Bromo! How many months and trips did you take for all of this research? Epic.”

“I’m loving it all––and in love with your balls and your writing. You have a deft hand in combining your story with the incredible stories from your dad. I am thinking screenplay in the works?”

“You put Elizabeth Gilbert to shame with your depth and breadth of character and writing.”

“I’m almost done––am starting the Bombing of Tokyo and am scared to read it…”

“Turned the page in Dear Laura and this photo stopped me in my tracks––Laura, you look just like your grandmother! Two beauties! You have her same adventurous spirit.”

“Finished the book last night with a tear or two––congrats on your life’s work little Miss Kirkus.”

“Finished Dear Laura yesterday! What a beautiful story of love and resilience. Laura, I am so impressed with you!!”