I was first
introduced to this book a couple weeks ago and the concept of the novel caught
my attention. It actually was not what I expected at the start, but what I got
within the pages was certainly fulfilling.
The opening starts with a great
hook. A girl still too young, taking care of her mom who is slowly slipping
away from her. Watching this girl take on more than should be put on her
shoulders made my heart yearn to help her.
The middle I thought lacked a bit of
power to keep the story from growing a bit slow. I could understand Ally’s
bitterness - after a while I grew tired of it. She has people loving and
yearning to help her and she continuing ignores the kindness.
That said, I didn’t grow bored with
the story and just about the time I was looking for something to move it
forward, something did. I thought the ending was completely endearing and I loved
how it closed. It carefully tips and tucks and rounds characters out nicely.
My only true complaint about the
story? I wanted to see more of Sam. He is such a sweet character…one I wished I
could have gotten to know better. But his mysteriousness is definitely a draw.
(smile)
All in all…a very good debut novel.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks
to the publishers and Netgalley for my ARC to review.
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More about the novel...
Can love really heal all things? If Sam Carroll hadn't shown up, she might have been able to get to her mother in time. Instead, Allie Everly finds herself at a funeral, mourning the loss of her beloved mother. She is dealt another blow when, a few hours later, she is sent from Tennessee to Maine to become the daughter of Miss Beatrice Lovell, a prim woman with a faith Allie cannot accept. Poetry and letters written to her mother become the only things keeping Allie's heart from hardening completely. But then Sam arrives for the summer, and with him comes many confusing emotions, both toward him and the people around her. As World War II looms, Allie will be forced to decide whether hanging on to the past is worth losing her chance to be loved.
Casey, you have a most delicate way with words. I love your description, "It carefully tips and tucks and rounds characters out nicely."
ReplyDeleteThanks Anne! I do love to play with them. ;-)
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