|
BOOK REVIEW: Things We Once Held Dear
|
||
|
Click cover to purchase book
|
by: Laura V. Hilton Dancing Word Reviewer
Title: Things We Once Held Dear Author: Ann Tatlock Publisher: Bethany House ISBN: 0-7642-0004-6 Genre: Inspirational/Contemporary/Fiction
Neil Sadler’s beloved wife, Caroline, has recently passed away, and to find healing, Neil returns to his roots, the old family farm in Mason, Ohio. There he finds the farmhouse is being renovated into a Bed and Breakfast and his Uncle Bernie is living in the tower room waiting to meet his maker. Otherwise, Mason remains virtually unchanged—except for Mary . . .
Long ago, Mary Beeken’s father was accused of murdering his wife when her body was discovered at the bottom of the basement stairs. Mary always believed her father innocent, even though the rest of the town had him tried and convicted before he even was arrested. Neil loved Mary then, but he took off for New York and left her to find her own way. Now Mary is wed to a burned-out police officer who is accused of murdering someone in cold blood. Mary knows Dan isn’t possible of such an act, but like before, with her parents, he is being convicted by the townsfolk.
Neil renews his friendship with Mary, and together they find themselves facing the demons of the past. Mary and Neil must find closure for the past—but it means facing hard truths and discovering new ones. For both, the future is in the balance as well.
I wasn’t looking forward to beginning Things We Once Held Dear and put it off as long as I was able. However, once I picked it up, I found I couldn’t put it down. I had to keep reading to find out what happened next. Ms. Tatlock has created characters that live and breath in the pages of this book.
There isn’t very much of a faith message until the end, but even then that isn’t very defined. However, despite that lack, I totally loved Things We Once Held Dear and highly recommend it. My copy will be going on the keeper shelf to be reread and enjoyed over and over. $13.99. 395 pages.
|
|
