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Heirlooms
Answering a woman’s desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bond over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.
After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother’s love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.
Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother’s final breaths: ask Grace Kim—Eunhee’s granddaughter—to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers’ long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to own their lives.
Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women—grandmothers and granddaughters—intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life.
After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother’s love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.
Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother’s final breaths: ask Grace Kim—Eunhee’s granddaughter—to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers’ long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to own their lives.
Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women—grandmothers and granddaughters—intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published July 5, 2022
133 people are currently reading
2157 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Byrd
75 books1,013 followersThe author of more than fifty books, Sandra’s work has received many awards, nominations, and accolades, including a starred review-PW Pick from Publishers Weekly and multiple starred reviews and Best Book selections from Library Journal. Other awards include the Historical Novel Society’s Editor’s Choice, two Christy Awards nominations, a BookPage Top Pick for Romance, and inclusion on Booklist’s Top Ten Inspirational Books of the Year list.
A dedicated foodie, Sandra cooks through the topic and location of every book she writes. In addition, she collects vintage glass and service ware in her free time, loves long walks with her husband, and Sunday Suppers with her growing family.
Reach Sandra Here: https://linktr.ee/sandrabyrd
A dedicated foodie, Sandra cooks through the topic and location of every book she writes. In addition, she collects vintage glass and service ware in her free time, loves long walks with her husband, and Sunday Suppers with her growing family.
Reach Sandra Here: https://linktr.ee/sandrabyrd
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
June 27, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded up
This is a lovely story told in dual timelines of the past and present, embracing themes of family and uniting together in the midst of difficulties.
There's something here for everyone: romance, mystery, women's issues, food and cooking descriptions, gardening, drama, historical situations, and present-day situations. Byrd's writing skill shines through, I'm not usually a big fan of historical fiction but always look forward to Byrd's well-crafted tales. I appreciated her exploration of passing things down through the generations--these aren't always "things" but can be many other representations. It made me think about what I'm passing to my children and grandchildren and what has been passed to me that I might not have considered before.
I honestly wasn't the biggest fan of Cassidy, she was pretty irritating and caused me to want to skip over sections that included her character. Other than that I really enjoyed this book and the imagery it provides. There is a gentle and subtle faith element to the story which feels natural to the narrative.
Overall this is a lovely book and perfect for readers who like dual timeline stories focusing on women.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a lovely story told in dual timelines of the past and present, embracing themes of family and uniting together in the midst of difficulties.
There's something here for everyone: romance, mystery, women's issues, food and cooking descriptions, gardening, drama, historical situations, and present-day situations. Byrd's writing skill shines through, I'm not usually a big fan of historical fiction but always look forward to Byrd's well-crafted tales. I appreciated her exploration of passing things down through the generations--these aren't always "things" but can be many other representations. It made me think about what I'm passing to my children and grandchildren and what has been passed to me that I might not have considered before.
I honestly wasn't the biggest fan of Cassidy, she was pretty irritating and caused me to want to skip over sections that included her character. Other than that I really enjoyed this book and the imagery it provides. There is a gentle and subtle faith element to the story which feels natural to the narrative.
Overall this is a lovely book and perfect for readers who like dual timeline stories focusing on women.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
July 4, 2022
5 stars, personally, and so many thoughts. 😭
About this book:
“Answering a woman’s desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bond over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.
After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother’s love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.
Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother’s final breaths: ask Grace Kim—Eunhee’s granddaughter—to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers’ long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to own their lives.
Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women—grandmothers and granddaughters—intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life.”
Series: As of now, no. A stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, remembered, & quoted; Prayers & Thanking God; Talks about God, being mad at Him, those in the Bible, & callings; ‘H’s are not capitalized when referring to God; Helen isn’t a believer, wonders that “if God saw the future, it seemed problematic that he didn’t head off some of the troubles at the pass”, is witnessed to by others and notices that they have something she does not and wants to fill the hole in her life (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, drawing on strength by going to church and being with other believers, church going, pastors/preachers, & a message at a funeral; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of those & events in the Bible (Job and his story, the parable of the blind man, & Esther); Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of Christians & being one; A few mentions of blessings; A couple mentions of a Christian mixer; A mention of Eve from the Bible (in regards to apples): A mention of missionaries;
*Note: Mentions of Greek gods & goddesses (including a story about the Trojan War starting from an apple and Greek gods); A few mentions of the Korean holiday Chuseok when Koreans give thanks to their ancestors for a good harvest (Eunhee says she thanks God and does not worship her ancestors, though she is grateful for their sacrifices); A couple mentions of a misunderstanding about “Cinn (cinnamon) rolls” being mistaken as “Sin rolls” and wondering if you must confess and repent; A couple mentions of thinking that a husband would worship the ground his wife walked on if it wasn’t idolatry; A mention of a quote saying that “Fate” sent someone lemons.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’; A bit of eye rolling & sarcasm; Seeing the death of two loved ones (one peacefully, not violent and preparing for the other); Getting stuck in quicksand and thinking you might drown (up to semi-detailed); Helen smokes a bit at the beginning (at one point, breathing the smoke soothes her anxiety); Cassidy socially drinks (beer at a restaurant and wine after dinner/with dinner) with some friends (it’s causally mentioned and written as a normal thing to do); Mentions of wars, deaths, & fighting; Mentions of deaths & a death from a training accident; Mentions of injuries, pain, blood/bleeding & broken bones (up to semi-detailed, written in a medical way); Mentions of prejudice & racism (including an “Asian flu” going around and a Korean woman being blamed for a death, a Dutch church not being welcoming to a non-Dutch person, mixed raced family being shamed, & some in the 1950s talking bad about a child with disabilities—more on that in the Note section); Mentions of alcohol & socially drinking; Mentions of smoking & cigarettes; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of rumors & gossip; A few mentions of DUIs and divorces; A few mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of a mother dying from breast cancer; A couple mentions of a physically & verbally abusive father; A couple mentions of possibly killing someone in a car because of their bad driving; A couple mentions of throwing up; A couple mentions of the smells of urine & dirty diapers; A mention of Hitler’s first victims being intellectually and physically disabled people; A teasing mention of hiding bodies; A mention of a crime; A mention of jealousy; A mention of a man teasingly saying that he would leave his wife for a woman who is a good cook;
*Note: A doctor and orderly are bluntly rude about those with disabilities (including saying that it would be better if the baby died as they won’t have a meaningful life, that the child is damaged, that is would be best for the mothers to forget she had the child, blaming the mother for the baby’s conditions, that the babies are abnormal and don’t have feelings, and about those being “worthy” to have surgeries and limited resourced for health), this all great upsets Helen; Helen visits an institution and is wrecked by what she sees, hears and the lack of care the people there have for those who need compassion and care; Both Helen and Eunhee are grieving the loss of their husbands; Mentions of actresses, TV shows, singers, & songs (Elizabeth Taylor, American Bandstand, The Lawrence Welk Show, As the World Turns, Petticoat Junction, Elvis, Doris Day, Connie Francis, and Nu Shooz); Mentions of brand names, stores, & items (Folger’s, Lipton, Sears, Avon, Ray-Ban, Kodak, Vicks VapoRub, Johnson’s baby products, Mirro waterless cookpot, Chanel, iPads, Sharpie, Rubik’s Cube, Nintendo Switch, Corelle dishes, 7UP, Bialetti espresso machine, Macy’s, and Sunshine Hi Ho crackers); Mentions of websites & social media sites (Google, Facebook, FaceTime, LinkedIn, Instagram, The Knot, Etsy, Zoom, & GoFundMe); Mentions of The Lion King movie & quotes from it; Mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of aliens & UFOs.
Sexual Content- Two not-detailed kisses, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, and a semi-detailed kiss; Some Touches, Embraces, Snuggling, Hand Holding, & Tingles; Blushes; A bit of Noticing & Smelling (& wanting to run your fingers through someone’s hair); Helen’s (married) boss at the hospital is overly friendly to her, touches her thigh, and propositions her to have an affair with him (called a “secret arrangement”, but she is very uncomfortable with his attention and firmly tells him no; he mentions that him and his wife are “not together in the most important ways” and Helen feels bad for his wife who is married to a man “who would not reserve himself for his wife alone”); Mentions of the possibility of a woman having a child out-of-wedlock & other unwed mothers; Mentions of dating, dates, boyfriends, exes, & break-ups; Mentions of sending mixed signals; Mentions of winks & blushes; A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of thinking that a young woman is moving in with a guy (she’s not); A couple mentions of unwelcome propositions from male bosses & one’s philandering; A mention of jealousy; A mention of a guy teasingly pretending to vamp; Very light love & the emotions;
*Note: At the beginning, Helen longs to have a baby and is sad about it not happening; Mentions of labor, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed, written in a medical-based way); A few mentions of women’s periods; A couple mentions of breastfeeding & the baby having trouble latching onto the mother’s nipple.
-Helen Devries, age 27
-Cassidy Quinn, age 28
P.O.V. switches between 3rd person P.O.V. of Helen & 1st person of Cassidy
Dual-Time Period: 1958 & Present day
464 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Five Stars
{ Add a ½ star for older girls interested in Korean culture. }
{ Add a ½ star for those with interest in working with those with special needs.}
The minute I saw this book featured Korean and Korean-American characters, I was instantly excited. I’ve been learning Korean for the last five years and it’s a language and culture that I love. It’s always been in the back of my mind, though, (some days in the front of my mind) that my love for Korean and my interest in Christian Fiction have never been able to overlap.
Until this book.
My heart. This book had my heart—my passions—in it.
Not only did this book have about the beautiful Korean language and Korean traditions, it had a ton of gardening and growing flowers to bring others joy, and then also about advocating for those who are differently abled with having characters who have Down Syndrome and Autism. I loved seeing the message of hope and having hope weaved through both time periods.
I haven’t read many dual-time period novels but all the ones I remember reading, I didn’t enjoy them because how I would be in one story/time and then the next chapter I would be in another, and this would continue back-and-forth for the whole book. But with “Heirlooms” we spent a few chapters with each set of characters before changing which made the typical brunt of switching way less noticeable. I would be a bit sad each time when it would switch, but I still liked both a lot for different reasons—the 1950s time due to Helen and Eunhee and then all the gardening and caring with Cassidy.
Overall, this book was a beautiful story to me. I loved all these messages and topics, how important the friendship aspects were, the writing style, the faith content (particularly how some of the characters witnessed their faith to others by their actions, though overall I would have liked a bit more faith content, personally), the digital marketing/tech parts, and light romance (which was nowhere near the focus of the book as they were both growing and learning). I cried at multiple parts because of these messages and how much I was enjoying the story with all these elements that are so near and very dear to my heart.
(Note on ratings for the target ages of BFCG, ages 9-19: The only two things I wasn’t a big fan of are reflected in the ratings for the target ages of this site but did not affect my personal rating for this book. 1.) Cassidy and a couple of her friends they socially drink (beer at a restaurant and wine at night) and it’s casually mentioned, but it’s up to each family’s opinion on those handful of parts being okay or not. 2.) Another would be that in the 1950s time, Helen’s boss at the hospital propositions her to having an affair with him (the word is never said) and she is uncomfortable with him being near him and tells him no, so that element is nipped in the bud (pun intended) about half-way through.)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Tyndale) for this honest review.
About this book:
“Answering a woman’s desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bond over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.
After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother’s love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.
Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother’s final breaths: ask Grace Kim—Eunhee’s granddaughter—to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers’ long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to own their lives.
Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women—grandmothers and granddaughters—intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life.”
Series: As of now, no. A stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, remembered, & quoted; Prayers & Thanking God; Talks about God, being mad at Him, those in the Bible, & callings; ‘H’s are not capitalized when referring to God; Helen isn’t a believer, wonders that “if God saw the future, it seemed problematic that he didn’t head off some of the troubles at the pass”, is witnessed to by others and notices that they have something she does not and wants to fill the hole in her life (*Spoiler* ); Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, drawing on strength by going to church and being with other believers, church going, pastors/preachers, & a message at a funeral; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of those & events in the Bible (Job and his story, the parable of the blind man, & Esther); Mentions of Heaven; Mentions of Christians & being one; A few mentions of blessings; A couple mentions of a Christian mixer; A mention of Eve from the Bible (in regards to apples): A mention of missionaries;
*Note: Mentions of Greek gods & goddesses (including a story about the Trojan War starting from an apple and Greek gods); A few mentions of the Korean holiday Chuseok when Koreans give thanks to their ancestors for a good harvest (Eunhee says she thanks God and does not worship her ancestors, though she is grateful for their sacrifices); A couple mentions of a misunderstanding about “Cinn (cinnamon) rolls” being mistaken as “Sin rolls” and wondering if you must confess and repent; A couple mentions of thinking that a husband would worship the ground his wife walked on if it wasn’t idolatry; A mention of a quote saying that “Fate” sent someone lemons.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’; A bit of eye rolling & sarcasm; Seeing the death of two loved ones (one peacefully, not violent and preparing for the other); Getting stuck in quicksand and thinking you might drown (up to semi-detailed); Helen smokes a bit at the beginning (at one point, breathing the smoke soothes her anxiety); Cassidy socially drinks (beer at a restaurant and wine after dinner/with dinner) with some friends (it’s causally mentioned and written as a normal thing to do); Mentions of wars, deaths, & fighting; Mentions of deaths & a death from a training accident; Mentions of injuries, pain, blood/bleeding & broken bones (up to semi-detailed, written in a medical way); Mentions of prejudice & racism (including an “Asian flu” going around and a Korean woman being blamed for a death, a Dutch church not being welcoming to a non-Dutch person, mixed raced family being shamed, & some in the 1950s talking bad about a child with disabilities—more on that in the Note section); Mentions of alcohol & socially drinking; Mentions of smoking & cigarettes; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of rumors & gossip; A few mentions of DUIs and divorces; A few mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of a mother dying from breast cancer; A couple mentions of a physically & verbally abusive father; A couple mentions of possibly killing someone in a car because of their bad driving; A couple mentions of throwing up; A couple mentions of the smells of urine & dirty diapers; A mention of Hitler’s first victims being intellectually and physically disabled people; A teasing mention of hiding bodies; A mention of a crime; A mention of jealousy; A mention of a man teasingly saying that he would leave his wife for a woman who is a good cook;
*Note: A doctor and orderly are bluntly rude about those with disabilities (including saying that it would be better if the baby died as they won’t have a meaningful life, that the child is damaged, that is would be best for the mothers to forget she had the child, blaming the mother for the baby’s conditions, that the babies are abnormal and don’t have feelings, and about those being “worthy” to have surgeries and limited resourced for health), this all great upsets Helen; Helen visits an institution and is wrecked by what she sees, hears and the lack of care the people there have for those who need compassion and care; Both Helen and Eunhee are grieving the loss of their husbands; Mentions of actresses, TV shows, singers, & songs (Elizabeth Taylor, American Bandstand, The Lawrence Welk Show, As the World Turns, Petticoat Junction, Elvis, Doris Day, Connie Francis, and Nu Shooz); Mentions of brand names, stores, & items (Folger’s, Lipton, Sears, Avon, Ray-Ban, Kodak, Vicks VapoRub, Johnson’s baby products, Mirro waterless cookpot, Chanel, iPads, Sharpie, Rubik’s Cube, Nintendo Switch, Corelle dishes, 7UP, Bialetti espresso machine, Macy’s, and Sunshine Hi Ho crackers); Mentions of websites & social media sites (Google, Facebook, FaceTime, LinkedIn, Instagram, The Knot, Etsy, Zoom, & GoFundMe); Mentions of The Lion King movie & quotes from it; Mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of aliens & UFOs.
Sexual Content- Two not-detailed kisses, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, and a semi-detailed kiss; Some Touches, Embraces, Snuggling, Hand Holding, & Tingles; Blushes; A bit of Noticing & Smelling (& wanting to run your fingers through someone’s hair); Helen’s (married) boss at the hospital is overly friendly to her, touches her thigh, and propositions her to have an affair with him (called a “secret arrangement”, but she is very uncomfortable with his attention and firmly tells him no; he mentions that him and his wife are “not together in the most important ways” and Helen feels bad for his wife who is married to a man “who would not reserve himself for his wife alone”); Mentions of the possibility of a woman having a child out-of-wedlock & other unwed mothers; Mentions of dating, dates, boyfriends, exes, & break-ups; Mentions of sending mixed signals; Mentions of winks & blushes; A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A few mentions of thinking that a young woman is moving in with a guy (she’s not); A couple mentions of unwelcome propositions from male bosses & one’s philandering; A mention of jealousy; A mention of a guy teasingly pretending to vamp; Very light love & the emotions;
*Note: At the beginning, Helen longs to have a baby and is sad about it not happening; Mentions of labor, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed, written in a medical-based way); A few mentions of women’s periods; A couple mentions of breastfeeding & the baby having trouble latching onto the mother’s nipple.
-Helen Devries, age 27
-Cassidy Quinn, age 28
P.O.V. switches between 3rd person P.O.V. of Helen & 1st person of Cassidy
Dual-Time Period: 1958 & Present day
464 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Five Stars
{ Add a ½ star for older girls interested in Korean culture. }
{ Add a ½ star for those with interest in working with those with special needs.}
The minute I saw this book featured Korean and Korean-American characters, I was instantly excited. I’ve been learning Korean for the last five years and it’s a language and culture that I love. It’s always been in the back of my mind, though, (some days in the front of my mind) that my love for Korean and my interest in Christian Fiction have never been able to overlap.
Until this book.
My heart. This book had my heart—my passions—in it.
Not only did this book have about the beautiful Korean language and Korean traditions, it had a ton of gardening and growing flowers to bring others joy, and then also about advocating for those who are differently abled with having characters who have Down Syndrome and Autism. I loved seeing the message of hope and having hope weaved through both time periods.
I haven’t read many dual-time period novels but all the ones I remember reading, I didn’t enjoy them because how I would be in one story/time and then the next chapter I would be in another, and this would continue back-and-forth for the whole book. But with “Heirlooms” we spent a few chapters with each set of characters before changing which made the typical brunt of switching way less noticeable. I would be a bit sad each time when it would switch, but I still liked both a lot for different reasons—the 1950s time due to Helen and Eunhee and then all the gardening and caring with Cassidy.
Overall, this book was a beautiful story to me. I loved all these messages and topics, how important the friendship aspects were, the writing style, the faith content (particularly how some of the characters witnessed their faith to others by their actions, though overall I would have liked a bit more faith content, personally), the digital marketing/tech parts, and light romance (which was nowhere near the focus of the book as they were both growing and learning). I cried at multiple parts because of these messages and how much I was enjoying the story with all these elements that are so near and very dear to my heart.
(Note on ratings for the target ages of BFCG, ages 9-19: The only two things I wasn’t a big fan of are reflected in the ratings for the target ages of this site but did not affect my personal rating for this book. 1.) Cassidy and a couple of her friends they socially drink (beer at a restaurant and wine at night) and it’s casually mentioned, but it’s up to each family’s opinion on those handful of parts being okay or not. 2.) Another would be that in the 1950s time, Helen’s boss at the hospital propositions her to having an affair with him (the word is never said) and she is uncomfortable with him being near him and tells him no, so that element is nipped in the bud (pun intended) about half-way through.)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Tyndale) for this honest review.
August 5, 2022
Such a beautifully emotional dual-time novel from one of my favorite authors. It blends together past and present times,weaving in the hardships and light times of goodness,secrets and sadness,cultural differences that were met on middle grounds.Flower and food growing bond two women together as their friendship grows stronger. Wonderful story about the strength and perseverance of women.
Pub Date 05 Jul 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Pub Date 05 Jul 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
October 20, 2022
3.5 stars rounding up to 4 on Goodreads
Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd is a multi-generational story surrounding Helen Devries, a Navy Widow, who opens her home to refuge Choi Eunhee. Both Choi and Helen’s husbands passed away in the Korean War time. This is a dual timeline story – we follow Helen and Choi’s story together in 1958 and then cut to their granddaughters in present day – Cassidy and Grace. As they dig into the past, they unearth the long-held secrets between their grandmothers that they never expected.
I enjoyed this story and loved learning about this family’s history, but there were some triggering topics for me personally, so I struggled throughout the reading process here. I will list the trigger warnings at the bottom of this review for those interested. I did appreciate the advocacy for children who have Down Syndrome and Autism. It means a lot to me as an Autism Mama to see those characters and shed light on how differently people treated those with special needs in the 1950s vs the present day. But many of the details from the past regarding that topic were hard and sad to read.
I really liked the dual timeline in this story – how they were connected to each other. Cassidy and Grace were going through all the contents of the locked hope chest form their grandmothers’ past and then it would cut back to what the story of the grandmothers’ past. I loved the friendship between Helen and Choi. They were the perfect example of self-sacrificial friendship and they were each a great example of strong women. We also see Cassidy is going through a tough time, as her grandmother’s property she inherited has a looming tax debt that threatens her inheritance.
The Korean culture and traditions were also very interesting to learn about. I do wish we had a bit more faith content but there is a message of hope, purpose and trusting God throughout the story.
If you love gardening and flowers, you will also enjoy this book. This story is full of great gardening details. There is also a nice reconnecting story between a past love. One of my favorite parts was how it shows “party lines” in the 1950s – hilarious and made me laugh each time.
Overall, an enjoyable generational story with a big emotional impact.
*Trigger Warnings*
- Loss of a family member
- Infertility / Child Loss / Grief
- Mentions of mistreatment of children with special needs, how those children were treated in the 1950s
I think it’s very important to mention these trigger warnings because this content affected me in a tough way, especially since I am a mother of a child with autism.
Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd is a multi-generational story surrounding Helen Devries, a Navy Widow, who opens her home to refuge Choi Eunhee. Both Choi and Helen’s husbands passed away in the Korean War time. This is a dual timeline story – we follow Helen and Choi’s story together in 1958 and then cut to their granddaughters in present day – Cassidy and Grace. As they dig into the past, they unearth the long-held secrets between their grandmothers that they never expected.
I enjoyed this story and loved learning about this family’s history, but there were some triggering topics for me personally, so I struggled throughout the reading process here. I will list the trigger warnings at the bottom of this review for those interested. I did appreciate the advocacy for children who have Down Syndrome and Autism. It means a lot to me as an Autism Mama to see those characters and shed light on how differently people treated those with special needs in the 1950s vs the present day. But many of the details from the past regarding that topic were hard and sad to read.
I really liked the dual timeline in this story – how they were connected to each other. Cassidy and Grace were going through all the contents of the locked hope chest form their grandmothers’ past and then it would cut back to what the story of the grandmothers’ past. I loved the friendship between Helen and Choi. They were the perfect example of self-sacrificial friendship and they were each a great example of strong women. We also see Cassidy is going through a tough time, as her grandmother’s property she inherited has a looming tax debt that threatens her inheritance.
The Korean culture and traditions were also very interesting to learn about. I do wish we had a bit more faith content but there is a message of hope, purpose and trusting God throughout the story.
If you love gardening and flowers, you will also enjoy this book. This story is full of great gardening details. There is also a nice reconnecting story between a past love. One of my favorite parts was how it shows “party lines” in the 1950s – hilarious and made me laugh each time.
Overall, an enjoyable generational story with a big emotional impact.
*Trigger Warnings*
- Loss of a family member
- Infertility / Child Loss / Grief
- Mentions of mistreatment of children with special needs, how those children were treated in the 1950s
I think it’s very important to mention these trigger warnings because this content affected me in a tough way, especially since I am a mother of a child with autism.
January 6, 2023
There are good books. There are great books. And then there are books that leave a deep imprint on your heart. This is one.
There are so many things I could say about this book. It’s about friendship, widowhood, motherhood, and community. It’s about love and loss and grief and hope. It’s about hard things and finding the strength to move forward. It’s about sowing into the lives of others….and how interconnected our lives can be if we choose it.
There’s so much diversity of characters in this book. Main characters who are Korean, with their culture and traditions weaves into the story. Characters with special needs. A Dutch character. Navy widows. A storyline with gardening and tree orchards as it’s foundation but somehow, a beautiful setting for that ties this story all together.
It is clean, faith based, and oh such a sweet story for the soul. I cannot gush about this book enough. It’s definitely a special kind of book💛✨
There are so many things I could say about this book. It’s about friendship, widowhood, motherhood, and community. It’s about love and loss and grief and hope. It’s about hard things and finding the strength to move forward. It’s about sowing into the lives of others….and how interconnected our lives can be if we choose it.
There’s so much diversity of characters in this book. Main characters who are Korean, with their culture and traditions weaves into the story. Characters with special needs. A Dutch character. Navy widows. A storyline with gardening and tree orchards as it’s foundation but somehow, a beautiful setting for that ties this story all together.
It is clean, faith based, and oh such a sweet story for the soul. I cannot gush about this book enough. It’s definitely a special kind of book💛✨
June 9, 2022
“He picked up the lemons that Fate had sent him and started a lemonade-stand.”
Byrd’s five-star story reminds readers that the most precious heirlooms are “gifts of the heart, soul, and the will, offered day by day throughout life rather than given after death.” Two of the main characters, Navy widow Helen Devries and recently widowed Navy wife, Eunhee Roy, strive to live a hero’s life rather than die a hero’s death, after discovering that it’s found not in the financial resources nor in the material possessions passed along after death, but in their daily decisions. Rather than let their grief bury them alive, they were determined to live for themselves and for their future generations. The small decisions the two friends made with respect to each other accumulated over time and the treasure of their friendship was passed along to their granddaughters, who thankfully, continued the tradition.
Using examples from Korean and Dutch heritage, Byrd explores what it means to emigrate and examines the emotional cost of immigration and what it takes to be part of the American dream. She unites threads of family and friendship and shows how they complement each other and contribute to a healthy sense of identity. Byrd reminds us that “the best family and friends stand in the gap for each other no matter the cost,” encouraging readers to be committed to becoming the best family member, friend and hero for another. In doing so, we’ll honour the heirlooms we’ve been gifted and increase the value of the ‘treasure’ we pass along.
Those who garden will love the references to agriculture and flowers. The idea of packing seeds from one’s birthland to bring to a new country to plant anew will resonate with many immigrants.
I am in awe of Byrd’s ability to place me in the late 1950s! The following initial paragraph speaks for itself:
“Helen Devries carefully removed her nurse’s cap, fluffing her platinum back-combed bouffant, crackling the Aqua Net lacquering it in place. On the television in the back of the living room, Elvis offered a flirty smile and almost wink as he was measured for his uniform.”
I smiled as I read about party lines, black rotary dial phones, Folger’s coffee crystals, lido-green Buick Skylark (just like my Dad’s), the Sears catalogue, Avon ladies, and casseroles. I felt like I was there, accidentally walking through a cloud of Aqua Net spray on my way to coif my hair!
I’m also in awe of her lyric and descriptive prose:
“Helen hesitantly moved toward the phone. It sat upon a small table next to the window overlooking the unused canning shed, set in a field sleepy with wet weeds splayed against the ground like closed eyelashes. Licorice rope phone lines stretched toward the farmhouse. Four birds convened on the line, silhouetted by the outdoor lights she’d had installed for safety.”
Both gifts enabled me to become completely immersed in the story despite not knowing/living a Navy lifestyle nor knowing much about the Korean culture. The friendship between the two ladies is the highlight of the book. Each contributed to the healing and growth of the other. It was amazing to watch it blossom.
FYI, Sandra Byrd: I’m stealing the term “Sin Rolls” and using it to describe my homemade cinnamon buns!
This sweet inspiring story, set on Whitby Island and spanning generations, explores the love we share with family and friends, the secrets we keep from each other, and the treasures we garner from living a hero’s life.
I was gifted this advance copy by Sandra Byrd, Tyndale House Publishers, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Byrd’s five-star story reminds readers that the most precious heirlooms are “gifts of the heart, soul, and the will, offered day by day throughout life rather than given after death.” Two of the main characters, Navy widow Helen Devries and recently widowed Navy wife, Eunhee Roy, strive to live a hero’s life rather than die a hero’s death, after discovering that it’s found not in the financial resources nor in the material possessions passed along after death, but in their daily decisions. Rather than let their grief bury them alive, they were determined to live for themselves and for their future generations. The small decisions the two friends made with respect to each other accumulated over time and the treasure of their friendship was passed along to their granddaughters, who thankfully, continued the tradition.
Using examples from Korean and Dutch heritage, Byrd explores what it means to emigrate and examines the emotional cost of immigration and what it takes to be part of the American dream. She unites threads of family and friendship and shows how they complement each other and contribute to a healthy sense of identity. Byrd reminds us that “the best family and friends stand in the gap for each other no matter the cost,” encouraging readers to be committed to becoming the best family member, friend and hero for another. In doing so, we’ll honour the heirlooms we’ve been gifted and increase the value of the ‘treasure’ we pass along.
Those who garden will love the references to agriculture and flowers. The idea of packing seeds from one’s birthland to bring to a new country to plant anew will resonate with many immigrants.
I am in awe of Byrd’s ability to place me in the late 1950s! The following initial paragraph speaks for itself:
“Helen Devries carefully removed her nurse’s cap, fluffing her platinum back-combed bouffant, crackling the Aqua Net lacquering it in place. On the television in the back of the living room, Elvis offered a flirty smile and almost wink as he was measured for his uniform.”
I smiled as I read about party lines, black rotary dial phones, Folger’s coffee crystals, lido-green Buick Skylark (just like my Dad’s), the Sears catalogue, Avon ladies, and casseroles. I felt like I was there, accidentally walking through a cloud of Aqua Net spray on my way to coif my hair!
I’m also in awe of her lyric and descriptive prose:
“Helen hesitantly moved toward the phone. It sat upon a small table next to the window overlooking the unused canning shed, set in a field sleepy with wet weeds splayed against the ground like closed eyelashes. Licorice rope phone lines stretched toward the farmhouse. Four birds convened on the line, silhouetted by the outdoor lights she’d had installed for safety.”
Both gifts enabled me to become completely immersed in the story despite not knowing/living a Navy lifestyle nor knowing much about the Korean culture. The friendship between the two ladies is the highlight of the book. Each contributed to the healing and growth of the other. It was amazing to watch it blossom.
FYI, Sandra Byrd: I’m stealing the term “Sin Rolls” and using it to describe my homemade cinnamon buns!
This sweet inspiring story, set on Whitby Island and spanning generations, explores the love we share with family and friends, the secrets we keep from each other, and the treasures we garner from living a hero’s life.
I was gifted this advance copy by Sandra Byrd, Tyndale House Publishers, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 4, 2022
A heartfelt story of friendship, faith, holding on, and letting go.
Whidbey Island, 1958, Helen Devries welcomes another young Navy widow into her home, beginning a decades long friendship, and sharing a secret with ramifications touching the present day.
A compelling dual timeline story, masterfully woven together, about courageous women of grit, wisdom, and faith both in the present day and 1958. I loved the rich cultural details in this well crafted novel, I admired Choi Eunhee's steadfast faith, and though to many it would appear that she was on the receiving end of things, she gave so much more back. Helen is practical, seeming to have it all together from the outside, she is clever and capable, and I loved how her friendship with Eunhee brought out another side of her.
Cassidy in the modern day is chasing a dream that seems so out of reach, she has a gift for gardening and encouraging others, even when she is defeated. I enjoyed every minute of this book, not wanting to put it down, yet wanting to savor it and not have it end too soon. Richly layered storytelling, with strong themes of friendship, faith, perseverance, and hope, heartfelt women's fiction at its best!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Whidbey Island, 1958, Helen Devries welcomes another young Navy widow into her home, beginning a decades long friendship, and sharing a secret with ramifications touching the present day.
A compelling dual timeline story, masterfully woven together, about courageous women of grit, wisdom, and faith both in the present day and 1958. I loved the rich cultural details in this well crafted novel, I admired Choi Eunhee's steadfast faith, and though to many it would appear that she was on the receiving end of things, she gave so much more back. Helen is practical, seeming to have it all together from the outside, she is clever and capable, and I loved how her friendship with Eunhee brought out another side of her.
Cassidy in the modern day is chasing a dream that seems so out of reach, she has a gift for gardening and encouraging others, even when she is defeated. I enjoyed every minute of this book, not wanting to put it down, yet wanting to savor it and not have it end too soon. Richly layered storytelling, with strong themes of friendship, faith, perseverance, and hope, heartfelt women's fiction at its best!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 7, 2022
Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd is a split time story with both the modern-day story and the story from the late 1950s showing the value of friendship.
Navy Widow Helen Devries received a call from Choi Eunhee, also a widow, who needed help after her husband passed away. Eunhee is a Korean woman who married an American. Together, they learn and grow through both life's challenges and everyday adventures.
Cassidy Quinn's mother passed away when she was a young girl. After she passed, Cassidy spent the summers with her grandmother, Helen, at her farmhouse and finds her passion for flowers and gardening. When Helen passes away, Cassidy inherits her home and garden--along with a task Helen asks her to do with Grace Kim, Eunhee's granddaughter and her friend. Together, the girls discover some of their grandmothers' secrets. Both women also have love interests and challenges in their own modern lives that they can help each other through.
Heirlooms is a character-driven novel. I grew to like all of the main characters in this novel. I especially liked how the women encouraged and worked with people with Down's syndrome and Autism. I have an autistic son, while the challenges may not be exactly the same, I understand some of them. I also liked how Byrd wove in a love of food, food family history, and a love of recipes. There are two recipes included in this book at the back too. I thought the women in both generations faced some of the challenges that many of us face with communication struggles and relationship challenges of various sorts. That all seemed quite realistic in this book. There isn't a lot of romance in this book but there is some. Mainly the book is focused on friendships and family history. As can often happen with character-driven novels, I did think that the plot moved a bit slowly for me at times but otherwise Heirlooms was a pleasurable read as a whole.
Heirlooms could be a fun book to read with a book club. Along with the main story, with the focus on recipes, it would be fun to have a potluck meal at the end of the book. There are also book club questions included at the end of the book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through JustRead Tours. All opinions within this review are my own.
Navy Widow Helen Devries received a call from Choi Eunhee, also a widow, who needed help after her husband passed away. Eunhee is a Korean woman who married an American. Together, they learn and grow through both life's challenges and everyday adventures.
Cassidy Quinn's mother passed away when she was a young girl. After she passed, Cassidy spent the summers with her grandmother, Helen, at her farmhouse and finds her passion for flowers and gardening. When Helen passes away, Cassidy inherits her home and garden--along with a task Helen asks her to do with Grace Kim, Eunhee's granddaughter and her friend. Together, the girls discover some of their grandmothers' secrets. Both women also have love interests and challenges in their own modern lives that they can help each other through.
Heirlooms is a character-driven novel. I grew to like all of the main characters in this novel. I especially liked how the women encouraged and worked with people with Down's syndrome and Autism. I have an autistic son, while the challenges may not be exactly the same, I understand some of them. I also liked how Byrd wove in a love of food, food family history, and a love of recipes. There are two recipes included in this book at the back too. I thought the women in both generations faced some of the challenges that many of us face with communication struggles and relationship challenges of various sorts. That all seemed quite realistic in this book. There isn't a lot of romance in this book but there is some. Mainly the book is focused on friendships and family history. As can often happen with character-driven novels, I did think that the plot moved a bit slowly for me at times but otherwise Heirlooms was a pleasurable read as a whole.
Heirlooms could be a fun book to read with a book club. Along with the main story, with the focus on recipes, it would be fun to have a potluck meal at the end of the book. There are also book club questions included at the end of the book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through JustRead Tours. All opinions within this review are my own.
July 5, 2022
I read an early edition of this book and I absolutely love it. The connections between family past and present are so heartfelt and authentic. While there are a few tearjerker moments, at its heart, Heirlooms is a novel of hope, strength, and love. The bonds of family, not just family we are born into, but those we choose shine in this book! As I read, I fell in love with the characters bit by bit. Helen and Grace and Cassidy and Grace are two generations of strong women each whose stories have aspects that are relevant to modern readers.
This time slip story is expertly blended. Every detail down to the sin rolls recipe to the meaning of flowers on the dinner table lends itself to a story that is highly readable and enjoyable! I’ve read it a few times since I originally wrote this review and I’m sure I’ll keep it on my bookshelf forever! Just look at the beautiful cover! That alone makes it worthy of a spot on anybody’s keeper shelf!
~ My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars! ~
*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
This time slip story is expertly blended. Every detail down to the sin rolls recipe to the meaning of flowers on the dinner table lends itself to a story that is highly readable and enjoyable! I’ve read it a few times since I originally wrote this review and I’m sure I’ll keep it on my bookshelf forever! Just look at the beautiful cover! That alone makes it worthy of a spot on anybody’s keeper shelf!
~ My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars! ~
*I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.*
July 19, 2022
1958 & present day Whidbey Island (Washington)
Lovely tale about the strength of women and the value of helping others. Interwoven in the pages is the joy of cooking.
There are not many novels set in the 1950s so it was a joy to be a part of the time period including details such as party lines (a busybodies dream!). As a widow Helen finds joy in her job as a nurse at the local military hospital and also in her home and land. In the beginning of the novel, she's getting by on TV dinners. Fortunately, women come into her life that teach her to cook.
In the present day thread, Helen's granddaughter Cassidy is struggling to find what do with her life. Her grandmother was an inspiration.
Engaging novel that held my interest from beginning to end. And the cover is so beautiful and a great representation of the joy of flowers. Loved hearing more about the meaning of different flowers in the pages.
My gratitude to the author and publisher for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Lovely tale about the strength of women and the value of helping others. Interwoven in the pages is the joy of cooking.
There are not many novels set in the 1950s so it was a joy to be a part of the time period including details such as party lines (a busybodies dream!). As a widow Helen finds joy in her job as a nurse at the local military hospital and also in her home and land. In the beginning of the novel, she's getting by on TV dinners. Fortunately, women come into her life that teach her to cook.
In the present day thread, Helen's granddaughter Cassidy is struggling to find what do with her life. Her grandmother was an inspiration.
Engaging novel that held my interest from beginning to end. And the cover is so beautiful and a great representation of the joy of flowers. Loved hearing more about the meaning of different flowers in the pages.
My gratitude to the author and publisher for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
May 8, 2023
Set in both modern day and mid-century Whidbey Island, Washington. this dual timeline is quite intriguing as the mid-century is two close friends and the modern focuses on their two close granddaughters. Young Navy widow, Helen Devries, opens her home to a recently widowed Korean, Eunhee, who had been married to a Navy man also. Helen's granddaughter, Cassidy, has now inherited her grandmother's home and its belongings and hopes to bring her passion for flowers to a business on the huge acreage, but will taxes and other things cause her idea to fail. Also will a hope chest in the attic open secrets for both Cassidy and her best friend, Eunhee’s granddaughter, and lead them to well hidden secrets that will change both their lives?
Well written, this book was hard to put down as both storylines were so interesting. Byrd's research into the life and times of Whidbey Island brought this story to life in a little known setting off the coast of Washington. Having visited there, I was delighted to see this setting used for a beautiful story.
Well written, this book was hard to put down as both storylines were so interesting. Byrd's research into the life and times of Whidbey Island brought this story to life in a little known setting off the coast of Washington. Having visited there, I was delighted to see this setting used for a beautiful story.
July 7, 2022
Heartfelt & Uplifting! Heirlooms focuses on the friendships of women. In two time periods, we see how life changes when women uplift & strengthen each other instead of allowing unhappiness or insecurity to reduce their relationships to competition, gossip & coldness. I especially loved that the author drew in how beautiful & noble it is to nurture the vulnerable blossoms in life--whether it be Downs Syndrome children, autistic teens, or the aliens who take refuge on American shores. This story is as lovely as the gardens it describes. A worthwhile read! (4.5)
July 6, 2022
This was my first time reading a book by this author and I'm so glad that I was able to be part of her release team! This is a beautiful story that revolves around the lives and relationships of four women. We meet Helen and Choi Eunhee which are Army widows in the 1950's and despite their differences they form a lifelong friendship. In the present day, we meet their grandaughters who also become best friends. I really enjoyed the full circle of the plot.
The women in the story are definitely well written. Helen is very likable and relatable. Despite her loss and hurts she is willing to help someone that others may see as different and truly develops a kinship that she did not expect to happen. Euhnee was so sweet and I really enjoyed how the author portrayed her and taught me about the Korean culture that she came from.
I really enjoy dual timelines especially when they are written well and Sandra definitely does. She had me engaged in both timelines and I was never lost. I am not a gardening person at all, in fact despite my love for flowers my kids tell me I have a black thumb. I definitely try planting though every year and don't give up! Euhnee brings the Victory garden to life and in the process makes the friendship stronger between them.
The storylines almost mirror each other from the past and the present timeline. So very much like what happens in our life as some of the things we go through are the things that our ancestors have as well. I thought that was a very relatable part of the plot line. There is a lot to the story to love. A lot of themes that the author tackles may be sensitive to some like autism, down syndrome, etc... but she did it with ease.
The faith element is there and was done so great. I loved Helen's neighbor whom always showed Christ in the way she talked and lived but never was pushy or overwhelming with it. She definitely lived out her faith and I think that's more of what we need to see in our walk with the Lord. Let people see God in you.
I definitely recommend you pick this one up especially if you enjoy stories about friendships and community!
I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
The women in the story are definitely well written. Helen is very likable and relatable. Despite her loss and hurts she is willing to help someone that others may see as different and truly develops a kinship that she did not expect to happen. Euhnee was so sweet and I really enjoyed how the author portrayed her and taught me about the Korean culture that she came from.
I really enjoy dual timelines especially when they are written well and Sandra definitely does. She had me engaged in both timelines and I was never lost. I am not a gardening person at all, in fact despite my love for flowers my kids tell me I have a black thumb. I definitely try planting though every year and don't give up! Euhnee brings the Victory garden to life and in the process makes the friendship stronger between them.
The storylines almost mirror each other from the past and the present timeline. So very much like what happens in our life as some of the things we go through are the things that our ancestors have as well. I thought that was a very relatable part of the plot line. There is a lot to the story to love. A lot of themes that the author tackles may be sensitive to some like autism, down syndrome, etc... but she did it with ease.
The faith element is there and was done so great. I loved Helen's neighbor whom always showed Christ in the way she talked and lived but never was pushy or overwhelming with it. She definitely lived out her faith and I think that's more of what we need to see in our walk with the Lord. Let people see God in you.
I definitely recommend you pick this one up especially if you enjoy stories about friendships and community!
I received a copy of this book from the author. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
July 29, 2022
Sandra Byrd is a long-time favorite author of mine, and I was happy to see her delve into a dual-time story. Past and present intertwine beautifully in this story of friendship, secrets, and sacrifice. Everyday challenges and life decisions color this character-driven novel. There are references to growing food and flowers and how these things have spanned the generations.
The 1950s setting is such an engaging time period, full of details that bring it to life. The lovely friendship between Helen, a Navy nurse and war widow, and Eunchee, another widow in dire circumstances, shines brightly in this narrative. Byrd paints a vivid picture of the life-long relationship that blossoms from such love and care for one another. Helen’s life had become stagnant much like her farm had lain fallow and in need of care. With Eunchee to help her, food and flowers begin to grow and blossom along with their friendship.
This is the legacy that Helen’s granddaughter, Cassidy, is determined to uphold after inheriting the home and farm. At Helen’s insistence before her death, Cassidy reaches out to Grace Kim, her friend and Eunchee’s granddaughter, to uncover secrets that will impact both families. The secondary characters are lovely, especially those that welcome Cassidy as she makes a go of life at the farmhouse. As her flowers bloom, so do the varying people that have vested their time and love into them, and by extension, into her. Things may not turn out exactly as planned, but that doesn’t mean that there can’t be beauty in the unexpected – “I was not going to rehearse a litany of my losses. Instead, I’d recall a bounty of my blessings.”
Heirlooms is a charming novel with grit and heart. Highly recommended for readers of dual-time fiction.
I received an advanced complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher; a positive review was not required, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
The 1950s setting is such an engaging time period, full of details that bring it to life. The lovely friendship between Helen, a Navy nurse and war widow, and Eunchee, another widow in dire circumstances, shines brightly in this narrative. Byrd paints a vivid picture of the life-long relationship that blossoms from such love and care for one another. Helen’s life had become stagnant much like her farm had lain fallow and in need of care. With Eunchee to help her, food and flowers begin to grow and blossom along with their friendship.
This is the legacy that Helen’s granddaughter, Cassidy, is determined to uphold after inheriting the home and farm. At Helen’s insistence before her death, Cassidy reaches out to Grace Kim, her friend and Eunchee’s granddaughter, to uncover secrets that will impact both families. The secondary characters are lovely, especially those that welcome Cassidy as she makes a go of life at the farmhouse. As her flowers bloom, so do the varying people that have vested their time and love into them, and by extension, into her. Things may not turn out exactly as planned, but that doesn’t mean that there can’t be beauty in the unexpected – “I was not going to rehearse a litany of my losses. Instead, I’d recall a bounty of my blessings.”
Heirlooms is a charming novel with grit and heart. Highly recommended for readers of dual-time fiction.
I received an advanced complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher; a positive review was not required, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 10, 2022
A touching, gentle story with a focus on friendships and family connections both past and present. This well written book is full of lovely landscape descriptions and garden references that illustrate life lessons. The main characters deal with difficult situations and decisions that have them leaning on each other and their faith. There are tough topics handled gently here, like prejudice, stigmas, and cultural differences. The author has included her thoughtful research notes at the end adding a personal connection to the setting. I loved reading a story set in a place near where I live and have visited. Whidbey Island is a beautiful place with an interesting history.
Recommend to readers who enjoy character driven stories punctuated with faith and hope. 4.5 stars
( An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
Recommend to readers who enjoy character driven stories punctuated with faith and hope. 4.5 stars
( An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
July 11, 2022
Well it's been a four year wait but Sandra Byrd has finally released a new novel and what a beautiful story it is, worth the wait! This was a such a beautiful, moving story of grief and loss, hope and healing, and legacy and friendship. I really enjoyed the Naval Base setting and learning so much about Korean culture and traditions. Heirlooms was filled with such wonderfully human characters and I loved the emphasis on friendship and leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. One of my favourite parts was definitely the 'party phone line' (#IYKYK), it made me laugh everytime it was used throught the story. I would not class this book as a romance, but the small romantic moments it did have were very sweet.
I was gifted a copy of this book but all views and opinions expressed are my own.
I was gifted a copy of this book but all views and opinions expressed are my own.
November 16, 2021
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to read an early version of this book and I loved it! This timeslip is a beautiful mix, showing connections and ramifications of the past on the present. The characters are likeable and real, the setting is lovely, and the plot and pacing make this book a page turner. I love how the main character has to choose between what is expected and what brings her real joy and fulfillment. As in real life, it's not an easy, straightforward decision. Great read!
dnf
August 6, 2022DNFd at 17%
I think I’m gonna DNF this one. I tried it because it was a free borrow on the hoopla app, but it is contemporary which is not my jam. Also, right off the bat, the main character is a widow and a woman who desperately desires motherhood; two topics sensitive to my heart…
I think I’m gonna DNF this one. I tried it because it was a free borrow on the hoopla app, but it is contemporary which is not my jam. Also, right off the bat, the main character is a widow and a woman who desperately desires motherhood; two topics sensitive to my heart…
June 30, 2022
Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd is a women’s fiction novel that takes place on Whidbey Island in Washington State. The book weaves together the story of present day Cassidy Quinn and her friend Grace Kim with Cassidy’s grandmother, Helen Devries, and friend Eunhee Roy from 1958. The story brings them all together through their home, plants, cooking, friendship, letters and their heirlooms.
This was one of the most delightful novels of 2022 for me. I loved the friendships shared, blending of cultures, support for people with disabilities, and seeing the changes in our world since 1958. The author built a wonderful community for her characters and I fell in love with the town of Whidbey Island. For me it was a very impactful story that I have pondered its lessons since finishing.
Heirlooms leads you to hope in the future, remember the value of each person you meet and it reminds you to make a difference in our world. Truly an inspiring read that I highly recommend.
I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.
This was one of the most delightful novels of 2022 for me. I loved the friendships shared, blending of cultures, support for people with disabilities, and seeing the changes in our world since 1958. The author built a wonderful community for her characters and I fell in love with the town of Whidbey Island. For me it was a very impactful story that I have pondered its lessons since finishing.
Heirlooms leads you to hope in the future, remember the value of each person you meet and it reminds you to make a difference in our world. Truly an inspiring read that I highly recommend.
I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.
October 29, 2022
Heirlooms, by Sandra Byrd, is a profoundly touching novel. Set on Whidbey Island off the coast of Washington, this beautifully written dual-timeline story is absolutely captivating as it tells the story of four women and the connections that unite them even across generations. The riveting plot alternates easily between two points in time, one in the past and one in the present. These storylines find connections in scenes of family, adversity, longing, friendship, hope, and redemption.
With undeniable talent, Ms. Byrd has crafted a moving story that highlights human heartbreak, perseverance, resiliency, and compassion. Scenes of loss, despair, and uncertainty find an emotional balance in the honest moments of hope and redemption that are supported by gentle reminders that healing and restoration can be nurtured in the presence of love, kindness, and grace.
The beauty of this novel lies within the well-developed characters who are truly authentic and vulnerable. They often show themselves to be thoughtful, resilient, and determined. Their will to fight for significance and survival is utterly compelling. Their questions, their insecurities, their fears, and their needs are certainly believable. When confronted with misfortune, malice, and doubt, their struggle is genuine and raw. Though they are challenged by events that test their beliefs and threaten their goals, their faith endures. Again and again, their tenacity and fortitude is inspiring. Despite unexpected circumstances and surprising discoveries, they display courage and determination to help one another to restore a sense of purpose, hope, and belonging.
Ms. Byrd is a genuinely talented writer and storyteller. In Heirlooms, she offers the reader a surprising, enriching, and memorable novel. Page after page, it is a tender and heartfelt story of loss, love, faith, and family. As it explores relevant themes like inclusion, racism, and community, it also reveals the power of love, friendship, and perseverance. Every minute spent reading this book is a thoughtful, immersive, and meaningful experience. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author/publisher and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.
With undeniable talent, Ms. Byrd has crafted a moving story that highlights human heartbreak, perseverance, resiliency, and compassion. Scenes of loss, despair, and uncertainty find an emotional balance in the honest moments of hope and redemption that are supported by gentle reminders that healing and restoration can be nurtured in the presence of love, kindness, and grace.
The beauty of this novel lies within the well-developed characters who are truly authentic and vulnerable. They often show themselves to be thoughtful, resilient, and determined. Their will to fight for significance and survival is utterly compelling. Their questions, their insecurities, their fears, and their needs are certainly believable. When confronted with misfortune, malice, and doubt, their struggle is genuine and raw. Though they are challenged by events that test their beliefs and threaten their goals, their faith endures. Again and again, their tenacity and fortitude is inspiring. Despite unexpected circumstances and surprising discoveries, they display courage and determination to help one another to restore a sense of purpose, hope, and belonging.
Ms. Byrd is a genuinely talented writer and storyteller. In Heirlooms, she offers the reader a surprising, enriching, and memorable novel. Page after page, it is a tender and heartfelt story of loss, love, faith, and family. As it explores relevant themes like inclusion, racism, and community, it also reveals the power of love, friendship, and perseverance. Every minute spent reading this book is a thoughtful, immersive, and meaningful experience. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author/publisher and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.
July 17, 2022
*Sometimes sentimentality is more important than practicality-at least to the heart.*
This was an exquisite story of investing in what is important for future generations: friendships, faith, preservation and leaving a legacy for those who come after.
It was a nostalgic trip for me because I connected with the times and attitudes of the 50s, as well as having friends of many ethnic groups and a mother who not only grew up in China as a missionary kid, but went on to teach mentally handicapped kids.
A dual time story of friendship told in a beautiful way. Helen and Eunhee forged a friendship out of need. * A soft heart makes a soft nest, and love and honest talk make good friends.*
And Grace and Cassidy carried on that legacy on the farm that Helen started. * It kind of reminds me of Queen Esther. She was born for her time and for her challenges. So were our grandmothers. We are born for our time and for our challenges.*
We can lean many lessons from this touching story.* Rich or poor, we each have the opportunity to invest whatever we have been given.*
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
This was an exquisite story of investing in what is important for future generations: friendships, faith, preservation and leaving a legacy for those who come after.
It was a nostalgic trip for me because I connected with the times and attitudes of the 50s, as well as having friends of many ethnic groups and a mother who not only grew up in China as a missionary kid, but went on to teach mentally handicapped kids.
A dual time story of friendship told in a beautiful way. Helen and Eunhee forged a friendship out of need. * A soft heart makes a soft nest, and love and honest talk make good friends.*
And Grace and Cassidy carried on that legacy on the farm that Helen started. * It kind of reminds me of Queen Esther. She was born for her time and for her challenges. So were our grandmothers. We are born for our time and for our challenges.*
We can lean many lessons from this touching story.* Rich or poor, we each have the opportunity to invest whatever we have been given.*
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
December 9, 2022
Navy widow Helen Devries opens up her home to a fellow widow, Choi Eunhee. They form a wonderful friendship over common losses and a potentially devastating secret.
Cassidy spent her childhood summers with her Gran after losing her mother, where her passion for gardening blossomed and she hopes will expand into a career. After her Gran passes she finds her home is in financial dire straits, and she may not be able to keep in in the family.
I struggled with Heirlooms because of the pacing and I found there was a disconnect between the characters and the story. I don't know if that was intentional or if it was just me, and I was close to DNFing, but I persevered because I have read prior books of this author, and I have always enjoyed her writing, characters, and plot. Halfway through something shifted and I don't know what it was but I started connecting with both timelines! I guess I started seeing the other side of the coin, so to speak and it all came together. The beauty of family and what it can be if you let it shine through all your efforts.
Cassidy spent her childhood summers with her Gran after losing her mother, where her passion for gardening blossomed and she hopes will expand into a career. After her Gran passes she finds her home is in financial dire straits, and she may not be able to keep in in the family.
I struggled with Heirlooms because of the pacing and I found there was a disconnect between the characters and the story. I don't know if that was intentional or if it was just me, and I was close to DNFing, but I persevered because I have read prior books of this author, and I have always enjoyed her writing, characters, and plot. Halfway through something shifted and I don't know what it was but I started connecting with both timelines! I guess I started seeing the other side of the coin, so to speak and it all came together. The beauty of family and what it can be if you let it shine through all your efforts.
March 28, 2023
A wonderful book. I loved how the two timelines connected. The love of friends and family and the theme of heirlooms was well done. Beautiful!
June 5, 2022
Oh what a sweet story! A split time-line, with one story placed in the post WWII era and the other present day. The first time-line follows two Navy widows, one a Korean war bride. These two women are learning what family means and how to live in this world with their grief, while also growing. The second, modern time-line follows one of the widows' grand-daughter and her journey of grief after her grandmother's death. Both stories lead us along with the characters in an organic and gentle manner, where we learn and growth the characters naturally. These were likeable characters, who faced hard times and hard decisions. I really enjoyed the story, even if it was a little predictable. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and look forward to reading more from her.
January 26, 2023
I'm not always the biggest fan of contemporary fiction, even if it's a dual-timeline novel, but this was better than some from my perspective. My biggest takeaway was the emphasis on the sanctity of human life and the effort of the women in both eras to stand up for that in spite of obstacles.
I also really enjoyed both the glimpses into Korean culture and the setting, since it is my native region, the Pacific Northwest.
It's not necessarily a book I would have chosen on my own, but I'm definitely glad I read it (listened to it)!
I also really enjoyed both the glimpses into Korean culture and the setting, since it is my native region, the Pacific Northwest.
It's not necessarily a book I would have chosen on my own, but I'm definitely glad I read it (listened to it)!
May 3, 2023
Beautiful story of friendships and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come. One little life that will transform decisions and change lives. Also a book for those that love flowers and food. Highly recommend.
July 3, 2022
This was a really good heartfelt novel! I loved all the references to the flowers and their meanings as well as learning about the Korean cultures, beliefs and different sayings. Told through two time lines, this follows grandmothers and granddaughters as they grow and learn the meaning of their lives. Helen and Eunhee are navy windows in the 1950's trying to get their feet back on the ground. During this very different time, Helen doesn't think twice about helping Eunhee and the two quickly form a bond and friendship unlike another, and each learning valuable lessons from the other.
Cassidy has had the deviation of losing her grandmother, and as we all d0, she wishes she had had more time with her. But she left instructions that Cassidy is to inherit the farmhouse and she must clear out the attic with the help of Grace, and it is time sensitive so they need to do it as soon as possible. Not sure why her grandmother wants her friend to help her but she holds true to her wishes. The two make time to go through the old farm house attic and what awaits them is shocking and life changing, but forces the past to be talked about and lessons about life and themselves are learned as they journey this path they've been put on.
I really loved this novel! I loved everything I learned from it and this is one I would read again, as I feel there may be so much more I could learn a second time. Thank you to the author, Justread Tours and Tyndale Publishing for the free novel. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Cassidy has had the deviation of losing her grandmother, and as we all d0, she wishes she had had more time with her. But she left instructions that Cassidy is to inherit the farmhouse and she must clear out the attic with the help of Grace, and it is time sensitive so they need to do it as soon as possible. Not sure why her grandmother wants her friend to help her but she holds true to her wishes. The two make time to go through the old farm house attic and what awaits them is shocking and life changing, but forces the past to be talked about and lessons about life and themselves are learned as they journey this path they've been put on.
I really loved this novel! I loved everything I learned from it and this is one I would read again, as I feel there may be so much more I could learn a second time. Thank you to the author, Justread Tours and Tyndale Publishing for the free novel. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
January 24, 2023
If you love stories that bind women together, this one will be good for your heart. It makes you reflect on the sweet friendship you have and family that's not always blood family.
Helen is a woman of substance and character. I liked her immediately. She's suffered loss, but when it comes time to help another, she's all in. I enjoyed getting to know Eunhee. I felt that the author did an incredible job of portraying the Korean culture that she came from. She gave me a deep sense of passing important family traditions on to the next generation.
I loved how their granddaughters in this split time story are best of friends as well! Cassidy has had a lot of loss in her life as well (and I'll just say here for the record I'm not a fan of her dad and even less so of her stepmom who we thankfully never have to meet). When you talk about life not going as planned, Cassidy has had her lion's share of it. Grace ends up living with her - reminiscent of Helen and Eunhee - and it was sweet to watch them support each other. As a gardener, I appreciated all of the flowers and gardening references throughout the story!
The story also shows us in many ways how important community can be, especially during hard times. The author does an incredible portrayal of characters are differently abled: autism and Down syndrome. It was incredible to see the ripple effect a baby's life had on three generations. The author handled the subject matter with deftness and sensitivity.
I appreciated how Eunhee's life as well as their neighbor Johanna's glorified the Lord without bombarding Helen over the head with their faith. They lived it out for her to see. It certainly made an impact in the best of ways!
Altogether a very satisfying story that will stick in my heart for a long time!
*I received this book for review. This is my personal opinion.
Helen is a woman of substance and character. I liked her immediately. She's suffered loss, but when it comes time to help another, she's all in. I enjoyed getting to know Eunhee. I felt that the author did an incredible job of portraying the Korean culture that she came from. She gave me a deep sense of passing important family traditions on to the next generation.
I loved how their granddaughters in this split time story are best of friends as well! Cassidy has had a lot of loss in her life as well (and I'll just say here for the record I'm not a fan of her dad and even less so of her stepmom who we thankfully never have to meet). When you talk about life not going as planned, Cassidy has had her lion's share of it. Grace ends up living with her - reminiscent of Helen and Eunhee - and it was sweet to watch them support each other. As a gardener, I appreciated all of the flowers and gardening references throughout the story!
The story also shows us in many ways how important community can be, especially during hard times. The author does an incredible portrayal of characters are differently abled: autism and Down syndrome. It was incredible to see the ripple effect a baby's life had on three generations. The author handled the subject matter with deftness and sensitivity.
I appreciated how Eunhee's life as well as their neighbor Johanna's glorified the Lord without bombarding Helen over the head with their faith. They lived it out for her to see. It certainly made an impact in the best of ways!
Altogether a very satisfying story that will stick in my heart for a long time!
*I received this book for review. This is my personal opinion.
January 26, 2023
Ah, how can I describe a book as beautiful as this one? If you're someone who loves the beauty of nature and incorporating it into your every day life, this is the book for you. Through the author's prose, you will be able to smell the sweet fragrances of flowers and the lovely aromas of fresh garden vegetables cooking in a quaint kitchen.
You will also find yourself immersed in two different worlds - one of a Korean mother and American nurse in 1950s America, as well as one of a young girl in present day trying to carve her own path in life. You will also find yourself filled with compassion toward those who have been given a different path to travel in life, whether due to disability or because of the heartache they've endured.
It has been many years since Sandra's last fiction release, but I can assure you, the wait has been well worth it. If you follow Sandra on social media, you know that she has a deep love for the Whidbey Island setting and all the culture surrounding it. This affection shines through on each page through these characters that you want to wrap in a warm hug. As you read, you will instantly see the care and thoughtfulness that went into this story. Here's hoping that we will have another novel as beautiful as this one very soon!
You will also find yourself immersed in two different worlds - one of a Korean mother and American nurse in 1950s America, as well as one of a young girl in present day trying to carve her own path in life. You will also find yourself filled with compassion toward those who have been given a different path to travel in life, whether due to disability or because of the heartache they've endured.
It has been many years since Sandra's last fiction release, but I can assure you, the wait has been well worth it. If you follow Sandra on social media, you know that she has a deep love for the Whidbey Island setting and all the culture surrounding it. This affection shines through on each page through these characters that you want to wrap in a warm hug. As you read, you will instantly see the care and thoughtfulness that went into this story. Here's hoping that we will have another novel as beautiful as this one very soon!
November 11, 2022
3.5 stars
I love dual timeline stories, so that caught my attention with this story, along with the fact that I've enjoyed other books by Byrd in the past. The alternating POVs (Cassidy in the present and Helen in the past) are done in sections, so you have a few chapters in the same POV at one time, which may help readers keep things straight. There is a faith element, but it's not overpowering. Descriptions are vibrant and pull the reader in, and the characters are well-crafted and relatable. Overall, this is a story of second chances and friendship, with a bit of romance and mystery woven in.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
I love dual timeline stories, so that caught my attention with this story, along with the fact that I've enjoyed other books by Byrd in the past. The alternating POVs (Cassidy in the present and Helen in the past) are done in sections, so you have a few chapters in the same POV at one time, which may help readers keep things straight. There is a faith element, but it's not overpowering. Descriptions are vibrant and pull the reader in, and the characters are well-crafted and relatable. Overall, this is a story of second chances and friendship, with a bit of romance and mystery woven in.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
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