In 2012, art historian Gwen Monroe travels to England’s Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she becomes acquainted with David Bradley–the owner’s handsome grandson–who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a bed-and-breakfast. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd’s staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she uncovers a connection to the father she never knew.
In 1912, after her father’s death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte’s grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.
Two women a century apart are taken on a journey to healing, faith, and forgiveness in this heartfelt dual-time Edwardian romance from bestselling author Carrie Turansky.
My Review:
Simply stunning! I’m grappling with words to describe how spellbinding and captivating and compelling and just plain unputdownable this novel is! And the seamless way the author blends the two timelines — sheer artistry! I was equally invested in both, never wanting to leave the characters in one timeline for another and yet, at the same time, I was eager to embrace the next chapter.
So — dual timeline means dual romances which makes me all kinds of giddy. 🙂 And both are epic toe-curlers with enough emotional angst to make things interesting without reducing a hapless reader into the depths of despair. And the key to both happily ever afters is finding forgiveness. It’s something our heroines wrestle with — hanging on to past hurts in an unhealthy way. Oh, they have very valid reasons, but they can’t find the freedom to love fully until they tackle the bitterness festering within. Such an empowering faith thread!
Turansky’s ability to create images with words is evident in her descriptive passages. I felt like I was in the Lake District, taking in the scenery, admiring the fells — and Longdale Manor itself. The mansion breathes history and I felt the thrill of discovery as Gwen explores the art and antiques. And then she finds Charlotte’s journal and the women are intrinsically entwined though decades separate them.
Reader warning: It’s best to clear your calendar and put off projects looming on the horizon, because The Legacy of Longdale Manor will claim (and deserves) your undivided attention. All the wayt to the exquisite end.
Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
This giveaway is for a paperback copy — open to any reader, anywhere in the world so…yay…another International Giveaway!
If you would like a chance to win a copy of Iscariot, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 7, 2023
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