The Dwelling Place

The Swan House #2

by Elizabeth Musser

After a childhood accident that leaves her disfigured, Ellie has never been able to embrace the God of her parents, and when her mother falls ill, she only reluctantly moves back home to care for her mother, all the while wondering about the significance of a place in Scotland known as the Dwelling Place, a place sacred to her mother. By the author of The Swan House.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian, Book Club, Historical, Audiobook

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

ELIZABETH MUSSER writes ‘entertainment with a soul’ from her writing chalet—tool shed—outside Lyon, France. Elizabeth’s award winning, best-selling novel, The Swan House, was named one of Amazon’s Top Christian Books of the Year, one of Georgia’s Top Ten Novels of the Past 100 Years and was awarded the Gold Illumination Book Award 2021 for Enduring Light Fiction. All of Elizabeth’s novels have been translated into multiple languages and have been international bestsellers. Two Destinies, the final novel in The Secrets of the Cross trilogy, was a finalist for the 2013 Christy Award. The Long Highway Home was a finalist for the 2018 Carol Award. The Promised Land won second place in Literary Fiction at the 2021 Georgia Author of the Year Awards and won the 2021 Carol Award for Contemporary Fiction. Elizabeth’s most recent novel, By Way of the Moonlight, is a Publisher’s Weekly Top Ten Pick in Religion and Spirituality for Fall Releases in 2022 and Parable and ECPA bestseller and was a finalist for the 2023 Christy Award.

For over thirty-five years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in missions’ work in Europe with One Collective, formerly International Teams. The Mussers have two sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.

Find more about Elizabeth’s novels on her website and on Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub, and Pinterest.

Sign up for her email list https://6231db35.sibforms.com/serve/M....

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't as good as The Swan House, but it was still a wonderful book! I loved how realistic and true Ellie's life and struggles were. I loved how she truly wanted to know Jesus based on her own faith-not of those around her. Mary Swan is an inspiration in both The Swan House and this book. Definitely worth your time to place yourself in these wonderful characters shoes.

[Haley Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I didn't like this as much as the first one, it was stilll a very enjoyable book! Ellie is a very broken person, with no relationship with her mother, and more importantly, no relationship with God. Throughout the book, she comes to know her mother, who is (maybe) dying from cancer. There are some pretty emotional moments and I think I cried a few times.

The obvious plot of the book is Ellie humbling herself to see the pain of other people instead of only herself. However, the secondary plot is God humbling Ellie to see her need for Him. I really enjoyed the slooooowwww softening of her heart throughout the book. You could see God breaking down her walls one after the other. And she didn't "believe" just to get something (a guy, a "better" life).
She did end up with a pretty great guy though ;)

Content:
the weirdest part was how MANY times it mentioned the contrast of her mother's reconstructed chest vs. her emaciated body.
Ellie has a very rough past (and so does her best friend). There are many mentions of drugs, sex, and rape. But not in a graphic way. It's just a part of what makes Ellie who she is today.

[Christina DeVane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took awhile to get into, but the storyline got better. Mary’s daughter had a rough start, so adult content discussed as she had a party life then went to rehab. I think the author was trying to make a stark contrast in her defiance of God then journey to Him. -But seemed a little overdone. The family history was the most interesting, and more communication about this could have helped the relationship struggles earlier in the story.
Overall an enjoyable story and good reminder of God’s faithfulness through life’s difficulties.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this book can be read alone, it follows The Swan House: A Novel in a series of three. I really enjoyed S.H., but had a hard time getting into this one at first. Partly because I had liked the previous book so much, but also the main character, Ellie, seemed to be such a whiner; unlike her mother in SWAN HOUSE.

Ellie, youngest of three daughters, feels unloved and not part of her 'perfect' family. An accident in childhood that disfigured her face has also kept her locked in bitterness and blame. She wants nothing to do with her parents' faith, their 'babble' as she calls it, and their belief that God loves them and is working in their lives; no matter how things may seem.

Ellie's mother has cancer and Ellie reluctantly agrees to help with her care. Through their forced time together, Ellie confronts her past and her own fears.

Musser once again does a good job of dealing with families, their relationships, and how God really is working in our lives.

[Lyndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as prequel, but would read again. had great points, I just had a hard time feeling sorry for the lead character, which didnt seem to have a whole lot of compassion for her mom, that is battling cancer. Not to give the ending away, but I think Ellie does finally realize what her mom went through, which is still going on and is truly a great person with a wonderful life story. Ellie is pretty self absorbed.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this novel before; however, this most recent time I read it immediately after reading "The Swan House", which was fun because the characters flowed perfectly between the two novels. Just like "The Swan House" this book follows a young girl, Ellie, as she struggles with figuring out who she is and her struggles with God (whom she doesn't believe in).... It lacks the race issues and tragedy that made it's prequel such a compelling read-- but it was still a great read!

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relationships without proper communication can lead to hurt, anger and bitterness. Hearts full of selfishness with no intention of forgiveness can only destroy. These are things Satan loves for us to harbor. But God who is full of love and compassion can take those hurts, pain, anger, bitterness and hopelessness and change the coldest of hearts. This is what happened in The Dwelling Place. A story of when ordinary humans give in to an extraordinary God. He takes all of the ugly and makes something beautiful!

[Velma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago when it was published but with the release of the third book last year, I wanted to reread The Swan House and The Dwelling Place. I loved this beautiful story of forgiveness and redemption. The audio book was well done and did the story justice. Elizabeth Musser is a master storyteller. I have loved all of her books I have read and look forward to each new one. I highly suggest you read The Swan House, The Dwelling Place, and The Promised Land.

[Jennifer V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent sequel to The Swan House with an uplifting message of suffering, surrender, grace, and redemption.

My favorite quotes:
He (God) is my story.
Our pain gives us energy.
He (Jesus) drew men to himself through love.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story really struck a chord with me due to situations currently in my life.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stupendous work of fiction by Elizabeth Musser that finishes the story of the Swan House!!!

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 2 out of 5]

At twenty, Ellie Bartholomew feels like a failure. She has always been the rebel in a successful family. Her sisters have careers and families, her loving parents are stable and happy, and her mother, Mary Swan, is a famous artist.

Ellie has long struggled with her identity and with a substance abuse problem. She is finally getting her life back on track, with a decent job and a future as a veterinarian. Yet a problem threatens to topple Ellie's shaky foundation - her mother has cancer and is not doing well. Ellie must face her difficult relationship with her mother, marred by an accident many years before. Will Ellie be able to forgive Mary before it's too late?

This novel continues the story begun in The Swan House, which featured Ellie's mother, Mary. Ellie is very fragile, rebelling against a life she once viewed as perfect, but later found out is not. Ultimately, the story is an examination of a mother-daughter relationship and how our perceptions of events change as we mature. When Ellie allows herself to confront the past, it helps her to move forward. Her faith journey is realistic and heartwarming.

One drawback is that the account moves very slowly through the first half. Much of the backstory, needed to understand Ellie's pain, isn't revealed until much later in the book. This mystery detracts from the overall flow of the story. The plodding pace frustrated me - a shorter book would have kept interest fresh. However, the mother-daughter relationship and their gradual reconciliation in The Dwelling Place is true-to-life and should appeal to readers.

[Laura Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great and very thought provoking book. I love how real her books are. Ellie is scarred as a child due to a fire and she blames her mother. She is now20 and has taken out her anger on her family. She feels she does not fit in and is not lovable and that her scars on her face make her ugly. Ellie's mother is hopefully recovering from cancer and the trip to Europe they had planned gets put off and instead they go to Hilton Head for 2 weeks for her mother to rest. While at the beach Ellie finds paintings her mother did when she was younger and her mother tells her life story thru these pictures. The wonderful, happy, perfect life, Ellie had always imagined her mother to have had was not so. Her life had been difficult , yet her faith in God was strong. Ellie is struggling to accept God and forgive her mother but learns she has to forgive herself too. Ellie must discover the wonderful and caring person she has become.

[Akanke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of a mother and daughter both grappling with issues from their past while attempting to reconnect. The novel starts off very slowly and you have to wade through a tremendous amount of self pity in the first third of the book. At times, the book meanders along. Some characters lacked depth and came off as caricatures rather than real people. I didn't read the first book in the series so it's possible that I placed myself at a disadvantage by starting with the second book in the series.

[Stephanie Blackbern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read everything written so far! I loved Beth Musser, the author's late sister-in-law, who passed away 2 decades. Does reading Musser's books keep my sirit connected-I think so!

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first Elizabeth Musser book I've read that didn't earn 5 stars. I wasn't aware that Swan House is the first in a series, and The Dwelling Place is the sequel. Maybe if I'd read Swan House before this, I would have rated it higher, but I'm not sure. This one was filled with dialog between mother and daughter about things that had happened to the mother earlier in her life. Presumably that is all relayed in the first book, in which case this one is redundant.

Basically, Ellie is the "wayward" daughter who feels like she doesn't measure up to her family's standards for her, and Ellie's mother is dying of cancer. Because her two sisters are married, pregnant, caring for families, the care for her mother falls on Ellie's shoulders. As I said, the book is extremely heavy in dialog. Did I say it's heavy in dialog? What I know and remember about creative writing, the author should always show, not tell. Because of the emphasis on conversation, the book plodded and dragged on for more than 300 pages.

I did not care much for Ellie. Maybe that's why I had a hard time really getting into this book. She just seemed really shallow and one dimensional. She plays softball. She works as a server in a nightclub type eating establishment. She likes the Braves. She socializes a bit with two apartment neighbors--Nick, a developmentally disabled young man, and Mrs. Rose who collects cats. Ellie wants to be a vet. She has previously been in drug rehab and for some reason I couldn't quite grasp, she always blamed her mother for "the accident." The accident was presented as a teaser to the reader, that the details would be revealed later in the book. It was, but I wasn't sure why she thought her mother was to blame, and she was left with facial scars. Furthermore, her father has a glass eye due to an explosion during the Viet Nam conflict.

All the memories of her childhood are rehashed with her mother as they share a week at an oceanside vacation spot her family visited each year. During this time, her mother paints when she feels up to it, and they rehash all the ugly fights they had over the past 20 years. It was boring to read, actually. Ellie found out about her grandparents and great-grandparents. Goody for her, but for me as the reader, I felt like I accidentally attended someone else's family reunion.

Ellie's family all identify as Christians, and Ellie calls it babbling--all the Christian cliches about praying, the Lord's will, and Ellie feels like they won't love her until she surrenders her life to the Lord. She thinks prayer doesn't work. There is a boy---the son of Ellie's mother's best friend (whom she had a major falling out with when they were Ellie's age.) I love it when broken relationships are mended, and because that's what this book is about, I gave it two stars.

The Dwelling Place is far from being horrible and a waste of time, but I wish I'd read the first book first.

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just as in book #1, this one was much, much too long especially since all that really happened was conversation. Because of that, I am probably not going to read the 3rd book.

Mary Swan is now grown, married and has daughters of her own. This one focuses on Ellie, the youngest, who is an angry and unforgiving young woman since suffering a disfiguring accident when she was young.

As I started listening to this book, I almost felt like I had missed a book between #1 & #2 as the dialogue seemed to imply that the reader should recall things that they had not read about. This was resolved as Mary and Ellie are put together for a prolonged time and this "missing" book is there as Mary recounts her life during these years. Ellie was not a very likeable character although there were positive changes in her life.

No sex or profanity and a strong Christian message.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part two of the Swan House set involves Ellie, Abbie's youngest daughter. Ellie is not artistic like her mom. She also is angry, very angry. When she was young, her face was disfigured in a fire and she holds her mother responsible. While the rest of her family are born-again believers Ellie is also mad at God and can't forgive Him either for her problems. This story begins when Abbie, who has breast cancer, needs Ellie's care as she rehabilitates. Together, they travel to a summer home at Hilton Head where family secrets are revealed and where Ellie is finally able to confront her deepest fears.

[Mimi Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE DWELLING PLACE is book 2 of the Swan House series and primarily follows Mary Swan Bartholomew and her daughter, Ellie, as they attempt to repair their damaged relationship. It's set in the southeast again, this time at Hilton Head, and the setting plays a beautiful role. The author's ability to create believable characters and dialogue drew me into the emotional lives of these two women and I cared so much that they straighten things out. Although this is part of a series, this is a stand-alone read. The author provides enough background to fully understand the rich history of the family. Highly recommended, especially for anyone who loved THE SWAN HOUSE.

[Laura Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

An emotional story with a good arch and character development. I just wish the memories had been told as flashbacks not as storytelling. Also, it borderline encourages an eating disorder with people praising Ellie for losing weight by not eating. I waited for it to be addressed but it never was.

I listened to the audiobook and the person reading was AWFUL. I tried really hard to like Ben but the voice she used for his dialogue was just ridiculous. I kept picturing an actual guy talking like that and I wanted to punch him. Maybe it was the dialogue? I don’t know. The reading just sounded like a robot reading the text. I tried not to count that against the book itself.

[Michelle Ule · Rating 3 out of 5]

It pains me to give The Dwelling Place only three stars because I genuinely enjoyed learning more of Mary Swan's story--the insights derived from her life are valuable.

But I found Ellie such an unsympathetic character and the writing around her so irritating, it was sometimes hard to go on.

I don't need the same pain repeated time and again. I got it the first or second time. That's been my irritation with all Musser's books--she belabors her points too much.

Still, it was good to see the characters again.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook--Book 2 in the Christian fiction series. It tells of Mary Swan's adult life and her dealings with her daughter, Ellie. Mary Swan is battling cancer. Ellie, just out of drug rehab, is the only one who can care for her. As they work to mend their broken relationship, they finally come to terms with their past through faith. Ellie realizes that her mother's life hasn't been as perfect as she once thought.

Communication is the key between the two and it takes Ellie a while to care about wanting to find out about her mother. She is able to come to faith throughout the process.

[Sheryl Branscombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked about this book was that I hadn’t even realized it was part of a series until I went to write the review. This is a Christian novel so if that isn’t for you don’t bother picking the book up . I enjoyed the evolving relationship between the main character and her mother. There was a lot for them both to get through and I loved the way the author brought the discussions about. And yes there was the struggle of the main character and her relationship with God as well although I thought that felt a little forced at the end

[Carol Cambra Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out but this time i really enjoyed the Audible version of it. It follows the wonderful characters introduced in my favorite book ever, The Swan House. The author does a wonderful job of explaining faith and doubt via the lens of her very real but flamed characters. As Ellie navigates her life's history we all can relate to the times we have felt forsaken. Can't wait for The Promised Land to complete the story.

[Edie Asbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woven into this story are themes of art, facial scarring from a fire, recovery from addiction, cancer, the Vietnam War, the 1968 student riots in Paris, attempted suicide, beach vacationing, baseball, pets, mentally handicapped, friendships, and restored relationships with family and God. After several rebellious years, 20-year-old Ellie embarks on a journey toward forgiveness, hope, and healing.

[Grace Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read both Musser's The Swan House and The Sweetest Thing before I read this book, and I must say, I was a little disappointed. I adored the other two books so much and I was expecting a little bit more umph from the characters. I think that I was mostly just depressed by the main character because she had a bad attitude, and the way Mary Swan's character is presented seems really unlike the Mary Swan from The Swan House.

[Ashley Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get over how much I've loved this series so far. I am excited to read the last book soon!
The author pulls me into the character's lives and how they love Jesus, or even learn to love and trust Jesus.
I could not put this book down. It tugged at my heartstrings and spoke to me in many ways- sacrificing and loving family and trusting the Lord in all circumstances.
One of my favorite all time books!

[Teresa Merriman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I was so glad to hear more of the story of Mary Swan and Robbie and then to meet Ellie. Beautifully written and oh, so inspiring in my walk with Christ. I highly recommend reading The Swan House followed by The Dwelling Place. There are so very many characters to love and to want to learn more about.

[Melody Dowdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear Atlanta is as much a character in this novel as anyone else. Unfortunately, I read (#2 in this series) way too many years after The Swan House (#1). I enjoyed the book, but I had a difficult time connecting with Ellie. She was quite an unlikable protagonist. While the book was charming at parts, it was predictable and a little drawn out.

[Linda Aldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't an easy or a light read. Was very sad in places too, at least I found it sad but it was ultimately a satisfying, redemptive and hopeful read. Follows on from The Swan House which I read a few months ago. One day I hope to read the 3rd book in the series called The Promised Land but I don't own it yet.