I feel like I'm a broken record...here I go again. I Loved this book...I Loved this book...I Loved this book. Yes, I know I say that A LOT! So excuse me as I say it again let me say it again...I Loved this book.
Usually I devour books but man alive, this book, well let's just say, it ate me alive. My emotions were pulled in, completely invested in Cecily, snatched away from me, shoved inside the wringer, rung out and left for all to see. I was a bit of a sobbing mess. You know the expression, wears their heart on their sleeve? Yeah that's completely me. Plus I'm a people person through and through. I love meeting people, I love making connections, I love creating new friendships and I've got your back! And yes...I love my literary characters too. I love my book friends! That whole connecting and friends thing, yes it applies to books too!
So when I say this book ate me alive, it did. I have loved this Longing for Home series. When I saw there was a new one coming out, let me just tell you that I was watching that release date for when I could read it. I have the first two books sitting pretty on my bookshelf at home (nestled in with pretty much every Sarah M. Eden book). When I had an email pop up for the chance to read an ARC of this one, you better believe I said YES! I was patiently waiting for the release date to get a little closer before I read and reviewed it and that time has finally come!
I stayed awake a little late last night reading, and yes, sobbing. The tears were pouring down my face. I kept sniffling and trying to hide those sniffles as well. These characters. Oh, how they feel like dear friends and family. Their struggles from the first two books have shifted to different struggles and life altering circumstances that they don't quite know how to cope with, or even know how to grieve and move forward with life. I want to tell you about several of the characters but here's the problem, if you haven't read the first books I might cause major spoilers for you. I don't like giving spoilers so I'm avoiding that.
I will say that there is some pretty thick armor being worn by all these characters. Miss Cecily Attwater has come to town, with her own armor of course, and is trying very diligent to find that little chink in it all. If she can just uncover that maybe, just maybe, her student has a chance at learning how to survive the new circumstances of their life. Otherwise, her own armor will just grow thicker to protect her own heart from defeat.
I know part of my emotions are coming from learning of a dear friend's death last night (she was almost 95 and lived a full life but sad to say goodbye) and another friend struggling right now. So when the scenes came talking about the loved ones who had died and possibly one dying, oh my heart cracked open. Sarah Eden knows how to write characters and show their emotions without writing it word for word. To borrow an Irish phrase, she knows very well how to "Spin a Yarn." These Irish characters and one very English character and a couple very American characters are walking a very fine tightrope, and the balancing pole is everyone's emotions. If too much of one emotion gets in the way, it will all come falling down. Watching, or rather, reading this balancing act and the healing that must occur to lighten the emotional pole was beautiful. It was rough, and heart wrenching at times but beautiful.
I'm fine and emotions are under control now but for a little bit there, I let my armor down and let these characters into my heart for some good soul cleansing crying, and good emotional healing.
"This is a difficult world with strength of character, and an impossible one without it." "That is the truth, and no denying it," Biddy said. "I also advocate for humility enough to accept help when it is needed and offered."
Content: Clean. Some sweet kisses, a few moments of peril but nothing graphic. I'd recommend for lover's of historical fiction, clean romances, and just beautiful soul searching feel good reads. I Loved it (would somebody stop that broken record please)! ;-)
I received an ARC from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!