These Empty Places

by Sarah Loudin Thomas, Pilar Witherspoon (Narrator)

When their worlds are upended, two women brought together by their loss discover what truly matters most.

Claire Roth sacrificed love for a life of comfort on Lake Toxaway—until the dam broke, and the lake washed down the side of the mountain. Fourteen years later, she longs to see the lake restored to its former glory even as the country faces hard economic times on the eve of the Great Depression.

Socialite Lena Hawkins married her first love, who swept her off her feet after skyrocketing from rags to riches by speculating in the stock market. Now penniless and rejected by her family, Lena and her husband have arrived at Lake Toxaway for a fresh start. There, Lena forms an unexpected connection with Claire, who hires her to assist with the personal library Claire is building to provide jobs and education for their struggling North Carolina community. When Claire is given a second chance at love and Lena a tempting chance at a life of independence, both women must release the past to fill tomorrow with promise.

Sarah Loudin Thomas paints a rich Southern historical story of friendship, second-chance romance, and new beginnings set in small-town North Carolina on the eve of the Great Depression. This listen is perfect for book clubs and fans of Patti Callahan and Lisa Wingate.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian

Audible Audio

Expected publication May 5, 2026

About the author

Sarah Loudin Thomas grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV, the seventh generation to live there. Her historical fiction is often set in West Virginia and celebrates the people, the land, and the heritage of Appalachia.

Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Coastal Carolina University and is the author of the acclaimed novels The Right Kind of Fool–winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year–and Miracle in a Dry Season–winner of the 2015 Inspy Award. She has also been a finalist for the Christy Award, ACFW Carol Award, and the Christian Book of the Year Award.

Sarah’s career includes six years in the PR Department at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and she served as the inaugural director of Jan Karon’s Mitford Museum in Hudson, NC. She currently divides her time between ministry work serving foster and adoptive families and writing. She and her husband live in western North Carolina.

Reviews

[Melissa (christianbooksandcoffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Another wonderful story by this author! I enjoyed it a lot! In this story we get the povs of two women, Claire and Lena. Claire is 47 years old and is a widow, with an adult daughter. Claire also has a new romance with a younger man. Lena is younger and married, she and her husband, Preston, are having a rough go of it and he strives to make more money for them. Lena goes to work for Claire and they become great friends.
I really enjoyed this story! I loved how willing Claire was to help others. I actually really loved her character. I also liked seeing a reverse age gap romance with her character. I haven’t read many of those. Lena was a great character too. She was very supportive of her husband and tried not to hurt his feelings. Preston makes some unwise choices and puts them in a bad way, he made me mad at times haha. There is good Christian content as well. Overall, a great book and I recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Joann Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Know What Real Treasure Looks Like

When you pick up a novel by Sarah Loudin Thomas, you’re guaranteed more than just a compelling story—you’re also stepping into a richly researched slice of history. These Empty Places is no exception. As someone who enjoys verifying the historical details in her books, I can say with confidence that Thomas delivers both emotional depth and authentic historical context.

The story opens with a haunting scene: Clair Roth rowing across the serene waters of Lake Toxaway with her ten-year-old daughter, Millie, sitting in the bow of the boat. Completely unaware of the danger looming, they are moments away from one of the most dramatic events in the region’s history—the catastrophic failure of the Toxaway Dam. In an instant, the lake that Clair considers the most beautiful place on earth is transformed, its landscape altered for decades to come.

We’re soon introduced to Lena and Preston Hawkins, a newly married couple whose lives have been upended by the Great Depression. Once a successful speculator who made and lost a fortune, Preston must swallow his pride and move with Lena from Virginia to the mountains of North Carolina. They take refuge with Preston’s brother, Newland, and his wife Christine, where Preston finds work at the Bellamy Lumber Company.

Through the intertwining lives of these characters, Thomas weaves a heartfelt tale of love, loss, resilience, and redemption. We witness their struggles and joys, their mistakes and growth, and ultimately, how they learn what genuine love looks like when lived out day by day.

I quickly fell in love with Clair. Her quiet wisdom and inner strength carry her through profound losses: the death of a true love, a marriage that grew into deep affection, and then widowhood. Later in life, she discovers love again with John Bellamy in a tender, playful, and surprisingly sweet way that defies their ages. Her patient, understanding friendship with Lena is especially moving.

Lena initially frustrated me (I’m not sure I would have shown her the same grace Clair did!), but I grew to deeply admire her as well. Coming from a privileged background, she faces the harsh realities of a marriage her parents disapproved of, her husband’s repeated financial failures, and the hardships of the Depression era. Both Lena and Preston show remarkable growth as they confront their challenges and learn to rebuild.

Threaded throughout the story is the intriguing rumor of the “Toxaway Treasure,” which adds a layer of mystery and fun. Without spoiling anything, I’ll simply say that the real treasure in these pages isn’t gold or jewels—it’s the enduring power of love.

These Empty Places is a beautifully crafted story that surprised me in the best possible way. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but I found myself fully invested in these characters and their journeys. You’ll not only enjoy the novel, but you’ll also come away with a deeper appreciation for a fascinating piece of North Carolina history.


The world will always offer empty places. The question is whether we learn how to fill them—with faith, with perseverance, and especially with love.

My sincere thanks to Bethany House Publishers for the advanced copy of this book. This review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings.

[Emily Waits (emilylovesreading_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.)

I discovered Sarah Loudin Thomas a couple of years ago, and she is now an auto-read author for me! I’ve been excited for this newest release, “These Empty Places,” and it was everything I hoped it would be.

As a North Carolinian, I always love the North Carolina history that so many of Sarah Loudin Thomas’ stories tell. This title is set in Lake Toxaway, NC, and now I definitely want to go there!

The story follows two women and is told in dual POV with multiple timelines for one of the ladies, Claire Roth, a wealthy socialite who has long lived and loved and lost at Lake Toxaway. The other woman, Lena Hawkins, is a younger woman who’s recently lost it all during the Great Depression, including her family's support. Lena and her husband Preston find themselves in Lake Toxaway and soon meet Claire, someone who will have a huge impact on their lives.

This story is about love, second-chances, friendship, and letting go of the past. The writing was so beautiful, and I found the story itself to be incredibly moving. I loved Claire’s character especially!

This is such a wonderful new Christian historical fiction title! There’s still time to pre-order and the pre-order goodies look lovely–I love the sticker! And the 40% off and free U.S. shipping, of course.

Here’s the pre-order link: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9...

I highly recommend this title!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

ROUGH DRAFT
4.5 stars
"Sometimes love requires a grand gesture, but most of the time it requires patient persistence."

Claire Roth has already learned that lesson but newly married Lena Hawkins was traveling down the road of unexpected challenges. It was a rocky road for Lena and her husband Preston, their circumstances had gone from riches to rags almost overnight after the stock market crashed. Her upper crust upbringing had not prepared her for poverty and her affluent parents refused to support the newlyweds having discouraged the union from the beginning.

When Lena and Preston move to the Lake Toxaway area to live with Preston's brother and wife, Lena crosses paths with the widowed Claire Roth whose money and prestige had survived the economic downturn, and whose philanthropic heart sensed a kinship with her young neighbor, offering her a job and time spent with someone wiser to the ups and downs of a young marriage. Unfortunately, there were going to be some serious downturns, would Lena be able to persist? Meanwhile Claire is given a second chance at love, will she put her past to rest and embrace a different kind of future?

INCOMPLETE

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Empty Places is a touching story. Lena grew up in a wealthy family, the daughter of a politician father and socialite mother. They did not approve when she married Preston, who grew up poor but now lived large. After the stock market crash left them practically penniless, Lena and Preston moved to Lake Toxaway, North Carolina to stay with his brother and wife. I liked the way Lena was able to adjust to the changes, though it was certainly not what she was used to. She soon met and became a friend of Claire Roth, a wealthy widow. Claire became her employer, mentor, and mother figure. Lena soon found joy in work, though Preston didn't understand. He wanted to provide elaborate things for her, which caused trouble. Claire also learned to know herself better and readjust her expectations and dreams. There are many lessons to be learned by all the main characters. I was in tears a couple of times while reading this lovely, well written book. I highly recommend These Empty Places. I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

[Randi Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only read a handful of books by Sarah Loudin Thomas, but with each one I read, I find myself more and more impressed with her beautiful storytelling. This one was no exception. I was very quickly drawn into the lives of both Claire and Lena. Their lives were not short on hardships, drawing me in and making me feel for what they had experienced. But their stories were also ones of resilience and strength, of letting go and moving on from past hurts. This was one that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions but will ultimately leave you with a sense of hope. There was some second chance romance, that I did absolutely enjoy, of course, but for me, I think it truly was the friendship between these two women and the sense of healing that took center stage and made this a beautiful read. If you love Christian historical fiction and stories of friendship, this is one you're not going to want to miss.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm back again with the third novel inspired by the Great Flood of 1916 in western NC. This journey started with These Tangled Threads (flood at Biltmore), then These Blue Mountains (flood at Hot Springs), and now we come to These Empty Places (flood at Lake Toxaway). Which just goes to show that writers never run out of research! I know not everyone will think it's a five-star read, but I sure did everything I could to make it one. I hope you enjoy it! - Sarah

[Anne Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Roth turned away from her first love to maintain a life of comfort and wealth. Although she loved her late husband and adores her daughter she sometimes wonders what the lost 'treasure' her first love left for her actually is.

Lena Hawkins, on the other hand, marries the man who sweeps her off of her feet. She was a socialite from a wealthy family. He was from a poor background, but has done well speculating on the stock market. Then came the financial crash. Lena and Preston are penniless and living in a hovel before Preston manages to find work and housing thanks to his brother. Things start, very slowly, to look up for the Hawkins, and when they find an abandoned home to live in, Lena starts to enjoy making it 'hers'. But Preston's constant determination to be 'on top of the top' at all costs no matter how he gets there has devastating results...

This is a clever look at what real treasure looks like, as well as having lots to say in mostly quiet ways about both friendship and love. Lena ends up working for Claire, a lady who would have been her peer rather than her employer in her previous life, before her marriage estranged her from her wealthy parents. Their working relationship doesn't take long to move to friendship, and conversations about life and love. 'Love isn't always easy, is it?' says Lena. 'Almost never,' Claire agrees. 'Not if you're doing it right.'

And love certainly isn't easy for Lena. The up-and-coming, charismatic man she married isn't the man she deals with when their fortunes are low. He is unpredictable and sometimes hostile. Even in the pages of a book, he sometimes scared me and often infuriated me. He is proud in a dangerous way. He dislikes Lena working, even though they desperately need her wage, and he doesn't like her finding a friend as well as an employer in Claire. He is constantly focussed on getting to the top and being rich and routinely expects that Lena will meekly do what he expects of her when he has 'made it'. He rarely actually listens to what Lena says, or takes the time to see what her heart really wants. When he is finally making more money and is able to move them to a smarter home, he still disregards Lena’s own hopes and dreams and assumes what she wants rather than actually asking her.

Claire says of her late husband George: 'Love, she'd realised, was a choice to be made' and she made it (Claire’s story - told in the book - is lovely), but it is clear again and again that it is a choice which Lena has to make too, and it is not easy. I liked the fact that she did not just run into Preston's arms again, even when I was irritated that he expected her to! That said, Lena doesn't always make the best choices herself and she spends a lot of time crying and being angry. I totally understand why she would rightly be angry, and I would probably also cry! But there do seem to be quite a few scenes where she is 'sobbing'.

Getting past my dislike of Preston (which is counterbalanced somewhat by my liking for John Bellamy and his quiet wisdom) took a long time, and it was lucky that there are so many other much more likeable characters in the book! The setting is also very beautifully described. And I liked the way all the various threads were tied up, although I personally felt the epilogue was surplus to requirements and felt awkward, unnecessary and a bit sad.

This is up there with the author’s earlier richly told historical novels. She has a gift for creating multilevel stories around lesser-known historical events, in this case the loss of Lake Toxaway due to the failure of the earth dam in 1916 and the impact on the resort and local people. It’s a great book club option on what real treasure is, with an excellent set of reading group questions at the end.

I read a pre-publication version supplied by the publisher. No review was required. All comments and opinions above are entirely my own.