Can she find happiness and love in the place she once only wanted to leave?As the youngest Holley sister, Miriam has always been a bit of a rebel. After spending several years backpacking through Europe and Australia, she’s now back home… unemployed and pregnant, with no boyfriend or husband in sight. At first, Miriam only wants to hide away from the shocked and prying eyes of her father’s … eyes of her father’s parishioners, but her sisters won’t let her. Determined to help her find her way, they urge Miriam to accept a job working as an assistant to Simon, the new vicar… and to think about what will happen when the baby comes.
As Miriam starts putting down roots, she finds an unexpected friendship in her sister Rachel’s ex-fiancé, Dan Taylor. And as she thinks about her future, she finds hope and healing in the most unexpected places. But when the past rushes up to meet both her and Dan, can Miriam stay the course?
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Enjoyed the read – Had a hard time understanding the main character, Anna, but found myself cheering for her to leave her shell and seek happiness. The ending is a cliff-hanger; one needs to read the other books in the series.
Love this series!
Is it just me, or is this a “read with a box of Kleenex” book for everyone? Maybe I empathized too closely with Miriam as she comes to grips with her unplanned pregnancy and struggles to sort out her feelings. What does she wants her life to look like moving forward and which choices will she make to get there? I love the world of The Holley Sisters and the way their lives interconnect and sometimes collide unexpectedly. The residents of Thornthwaite love the Holley family and insert themselves into their lives whenever they get the chance. This volume drew me in and kept me deeply involved in this chapter of the lives of these characters who have come to feel like family to me. Is it too much to hope for more stories of Thornthwaite so I can keep tabs on the Holleys?
I voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley. I offer my honest opinion in response.
I have read all of the books in The Holley Sisters of Thornthwaite series and I found this one to be my favorite. The youngest Holley sister, Miriam, struggles with her faith and rebels. She decided to travel the world. But in Australia, Miriam ends up pregnant by a man she knows nothing about except for his first name, Rory. So, she makes her way back home to her family. Miriam is unsure if she wants to keep the baby or give it up for adoption. She worries about her reputation, and even when people try to help her, she tries to push them away. But, there is one person Miriam becomes good friends with, Dan, who was once engaged to one of her sisters. Dan offers Miriam a place to live in exchange for helping him out in his veterinary clinic. Just when Miriam and Dan’s friendship is about to move on to a new level, Rory shows up. Now, Miriam will have even more decisions to make.
This book has more of a women’s fiction feel to it than a romance. There are many real life situations that the Holley family goes through and I enjoy seeing how they work things out. I also liked catching up with the rest of the Holley family in this story. Though this book feels like it’s wrapping up the series, I sure hope there will be more books to follow.
I love returning to Thornwaite and the Holley sisters. Miriam is the youngest and, after traveling the world, has returned home to her family to try to figure out her next steps. An unexpected pregnancy has her feeling like a disappointment to her family. With the father not in the picture, Miriam has to decide what she sees in her future. As she sorts through her decisions, she starts to find her own way and her own friendships. I loved watching her friendship with Dan develop over time.
This was a quick and fun read for me. It is part of a series, but can easily stand alone as Hewitt provides enough information to keep a new reader from being lost. Curl up with a nice cup of tea and enjoy the visit.
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