How do you define yourself when others have already decided who you are? Six years ago, when Camden Daniels came back from war without his younger brother, no one in the small town of Alba, Colorado, would forgive him–especially his father. He left, swearing never to return. But a desperate message from his father brings it all back. The betrayal. The pain. And the need to go home again. But … need to go home again.
But home is where the one person he still loves is waiting. Willow. The one woman he can never have. Because there are secrets buried in Alba that are best left in the dark.
If only he could tell his heart to stay locked away when she whispers she’s always loved him, and always will…
Great and Precious Things is a heart-wrenching story about family, betrayal, and ultimately how far we’re willing to go on behalf of those who need us most.
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Why can’t I give this book more stars?!?
Never has a novel deserved its title better. GREAT AND PRECIOUS THINGS was insanely great and incredibly precious.
I am a diehard fan of characters that leap off the page and stories that tackle rocky family relationships as well as harder topics. Yarros does both character and plot exceptionally well. Every time I cracked the book open, I fell back into her world and never wanted to climb out.
Camden is one hell of a hero, broken and beautiful inside and out. Willow makes for a great match, a damsel who’s learned to save herself without wrapping her heart and soul in unbreachable armor. The town was a character onto itself, vivid and boisterous. Cam’s father and brother…what a way they both come.
All this to say, Yarros, you’ve conquered me. My goal for May: reading all your backlist.
I usually don’t have a hard time writing a review. I mean I’m no author but the words flow and I am able to express how I felt while reading a book. If it was laughter, trepidation, even tears…the words pour out like a geyser. This is not the case with Great and Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros. Don’t get me wrong…the book was AH-MAZE-ING but being able to capture all of that and put it on a page is a little daunting. But I’ll try.
Great and Precious Things is based in a small ghost town in Colorado. It’s called Alba. I looked it up. On a map. It wasn’t there but if it was…ROAD TRIP. Anywhoo, I digress. I know Ms. Yarros’ writing, so I was semi-prepared for emotion. The ones I mentioned earlier. They were there but so was…MORE. From the very beginning, Ms. Yarros ensnares the reader and begins the ascent. Think of a roller-coaster…up…up…up you go. You know there are twists and turns. You know there are ups and downs. You don’t know when they are coming but you have that flutter in your belly that you just want to throw your arms up and see where the ride goes.
On to the story. Honestly, you couldn’t dream of a better, more steadfastly loyal, loving leading character than Camden. I’m not going to talk about his physical character—geez, go read the book. I’m more interested in his heart. He is unwavering and unyielding. And he doesn’t give one flying fig. (Luckily he’s got the physicality to intimidate). He’s the embodiment of that “if you love something, let go…” saying. He will sacrifice himself with a smile. A bittersweet smile, but smile all the same. And he is the perfect match to Willow’s bruised and battered heart. They appear polar opposites: Cam is big and outwardly opposing. Willow is small and fragile looking. They are two sides of the same coin. Cam is the anchor in Willow’s world. He has the strength to steady her, but also the strength to pull her ‘out of her head’. I hope everybody has their own Camden in their lives.
It is my opinion that this book is a gentle reminder, a loving push, and an earnest nudge from the author to take heart: to be kind (to yourself and others), don’t feel stupid for loving (yourself and others), let the past stay in the past (for yourself and others), and move into the future happy and healthy (for yourself and others). It was just so… like watching the surf roll and ebb into the shore. It was gentle and sweet, angst-y and dramatic, and bittersweet and beautiful. It was a wonderful story. Like a day spent watching the shoreline, reading this book was a day well spent. Ms. Yarros’ characters (Alexander, not Camden and Willow, sometimes Gideon) are substantial and real. They’re people you can imagine knowing. You want to follow them and know their stories. You want to take your shoes off and walk along the shoreline of their world. This book gave equal measure to both the Hero and the Heroine. You could, figuratively speaking, pick up the pieces of the characters like picking up seashells. This story hurts in the best possible way. It’s like watching something so beautiful that it steals your breath away. Tears you didn’t know were falling run off your chin and puddle in that space your bra creates between your girls. That’s truly an un-awesome feeling. You catch your breath and read on because you know —you know what you’re really reading is actually happening. And it sucks. (Besides the wet spot in the middle of your chest ). You just can’t stop. It’s not the rubber-necking you do watching an accident where you can’t look away. It’s different. It’s because you were there in this really private moment of sheer beauty. It’s just fantastic that you got to be in the room while these intimate tender moments are happening between two people. You got to be there.
It’s a beautiful tribute to the love two people can share. It’s a beautiful tribute from the author to the reader—that she trusts you to get it. It’s a tribute to the power of the written word to reach across the most uncomfortable emotions and find beauty. So, here I am. I didn’t stop reading this story. And I have to change my bra. It’s an intensely emotional story. I recommend reading this book. Specifically, read it with your bra on. Goodness knows you don’t want your tears to puddle in the belly button. ;).
This was a touching, heartfelt story. I adored the characters, the plot and the writing. There were times when my emotions were all over the place.
Camden Daniels left Alba, CO a decade ago for the military. He was the middle son. The one who was ALWAYS getting into trouble. He was in love with Willow, the neighbor’s daughter, but she was his younger brother’s (Sullivan) girlfriend. Camden became a Green Beret. Sullivan though idolize Camden and joined the military also. Four years later, Camden would bring Sully’s body back to Alba. Camden is full of grief not only for the death of Sully but because he gave an order unknowingly that took Sully’s life. If only he had chosen a different group then Sully would have been safe. Camden’s father also blamed him for the younger Daniels’ death. Camden leaves Alba determined never to return.
Camden is called back to Alba by his father. Returning after six years after Sully’s death, is hard and Camden is not looking forward to it. The elder Daniels has early-on-set alzheimer’s disease. He wants a DNR but the oldest son has power of attorney and refuses. Upon Camden’s return, he sees Willow almost immediately. The rest of the journey for Camden and Willow to their HEA is one that was an exceptional read.
I loved having the story written in a dual POV format. Getting into the minds of both Camden and Willow really allowed me to fully understand what they were going through. In this case, Camden was really suffering and seeing his internal conflict was really necessary to understand his decisions.
This is a wonderful story. There is a scene that may offend some but the sexy scene was well written and highly glossed over. That being said though, I can only recommend this story for anyone over the age of 18.
I’ve been meaning to read a book by Rebbeca Yarros for a while now and I finally had the chance. I’m so glad I did, because I loved everything about this book.
I loved the writing, the story and the vivid and wonderful world and characters Yarros created. Pretty early on in the book you just have the feeling like you’re right there with the rest of the characters. I loved that we get the dual POV, that we always knew what both Camden and Willow are up to and thinking, well as much as we are supposed to.
The story is both, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. I cried, I swooned and I even giggled and laughed.
It is not only about loss, betrayal and lost love, but also about second chances, healing and accepting not only other but yourself and your past.
I loved both charterers and their real world struggles, so true and honest and how each are coping in different ways.
Overall, I simply loved this book and I’m looking forward to reading more books by her.
I rate it 5
This was my first book from rebecca and what a book to start with !!
A beautiful story that takes you on a emotional journey of terrible grief ,heartache and ultimately illness .
Cam is back and is determined to fight for his father’s voice to be heard , and at the same time stay away from willow his one true love and the women he believes can never be his…
I loved this story its raw and emotional but also heartwarming and beautiful .
The writing is flawless and draws you into the lives of the characters in a way that will leave lasting mark.
Looking forward to reading more from rebecca in the future .
Terrific as always! Rebecca Yarros knows how to bring on the angst and regret! This time, with a terrific mountain setting, too. I loved the claustrophobic small town, and the nosy neighbors and families who won’t back down.
Great and Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros, published by Entangled Publishing, is a full length, stand-alone military romance novel that kept on the edge of my seat from chapter one til the end. Truly an unputdownable read by anoutstanding author. Every time a new book by RY releases, I’m giddy to get my hands on it and every single time I love the story, the excellent writing and connect very easily with the characters.
GAPT is a fast paced read with a lot of twists and unexpected turns that kept me in suspense til the last page.
I highly recommend the book, 5+ Stars.
“I’ll never not want you. Wanting you is all I’ve ever known. You’re in my blood, my bones, my soul.”
GAPT is an emotionally charged book that will have you falling in love, feeling the pain of heartache and questioning what would you do if your loved one wanted something from you that would make the towns folk hate you even more than they already do.
This book is about so much more than the love story between Willow & Cam; which is absolutely breath taking but also about family and the lengths you would go to in order to honor the wishes of your loved one even when you know they no longer love you.
This is a book not to be missed.
A perfect blend of suspense and best friends to lovers romance! FIVE PRECIOUS STARS!
OMG–this book! I finished it five hours ago and am still shedding tears over this powerfully moving story of guilt, betrayal, and love. I’m so glad I discovered this book, because I’ve been craving a captivating story that would grip me from the very first page to the last. Great and Precious Things delivered in spades! I can’t wait to read more books by this talented author.
Okay. Here’s a bit of the plot but no big spoilers, because nothing should spoil your enjoyment of this gem. Our hero (Camden) grew up as the “bad” middle son in Alba, Colorado–an old mining town that depends on summer tourists for its survival. Cam has a seemingly perfect older brother (Alexander) and a much-loved younger brother (Sullivan), but Cam is blamed for whatever goes wrong, including a fire that destroys an old bunkhouse, and the injury of a young girl (Willow) in an abandoned mine shaft.
Willow knows Cam would never hurt her, and they form a strong friendship that she hopes will lead to something more in high school, but Cam won’t allow it. Scorned by the townsfolk and feeling unworthy of her love, Cam walks away from Willow. He joins the Army Special Forces and is sent to Afghanistan, leaving Willow in Sullivan’s comforting arms.
Convinced she’ll never see Camden again, Willow falls in love with Sullivan, and the whole town assumes they’ll marry. But Sullivan decides to enlist as well, and (as fate would have it) he ends up in the war zone in Afghanistan. In the midst of a fierce battle, Camden orders Sullivan’s squad into a firefight; Sullivan is shot in the neck and dies in Camden’s arms. Cam didn’t know that Sully was in that squad, but it doesn’t matter. Consumed with guilt over his brother’s death, Cam swears he’ll never return to Alba, where he’d have to face the condemnation of the town, his father, and Willow–the woman Sully was meant to marry. The woman Cam has always loved.
Six years after Sullivan’s death, Cam reluctantly returns to Alba. His father (Art) is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s, but he manages to send an email to Cam, asking him to come home. Art wants a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate order), but Alexander has power of attorney and refuses to let him have one. Cam thinks his father has a right to choose, but he faces stiff opposition from Alexander and almost everyone else in town, who collectively blame him for Sullivan’s death.
The only person who doesn’t blame him is Willow. Her old feelings for Camden reignite, stirring the embers of a love he’s tried so hard to bury. There’s plenty of push-pull between them as Camden fights a lonely battle with a town that despises him and a brother who opposes him at every turn. He still feels unworthy of Willow’s love, but she refuses to let him walk away again. Will they ever find their Happily Ever After?
I loved Camden–a strong man who carries a heavy burden of guilt and blame for sins he never committed. The true villain is revealed near the end, and it’s a real shocker! Don’t miss this perfect blend of suspense and best friends to lovers romance. It easily earns five precious stars and MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!
I had The Last Letter up on such a high pedestal, that I started Great and Precious Things with a little trepidation. But Just like all the other books I’d read of this author before TLL, I knew in my soul that I would not be disappointed. I absolutely loved that Cam and Willow had a long history, way before their chemistry started. I loved Cam. He manned up when he didn’t have to. He had more choices available to him, but he made the hard choices, the right choices. Willow was such a great young lady. She was wise beyond her years. Their families and the towns people played some mighty interesting rolls. There was such diversity! An amazing cast of characters!
I applaud this author for involving an Alzheimer character. Many may read this story and say, “well that’s not how my *insert relative* acted”. And I am one of them. The 14+ years I dealt with my Mom’s journey didn’t happen as was written in this book. BUT, one of the things I learned in the many Alzheimer Support Group Meetings I attended was, “if you’ve seen one Alzheimer patient, you’ve only seen one Alzheimer patient”. No two families journeys are the same.
A most solid 5 star rating for this beautiful book!
My Best Read for 2021
This is the second book I read by Rebecca Yarros. I had to muster up my courage, emotionally, to pick up another book of hers. She ruined me after reading The Last Letter, my heart still aches just thinking about that book. This book is no exception, it is beautifully written, well thought out, poignant love story full of heartwarming and at times gut wrenching emotions and feelings. This book has everything I enjoyed in a love story. I can’t remember the last time I bookmarked and highlighted a book so many times. The compelling and moving narrative took me under a spell, taking me on an emotional journey through the highs and lows of the story, I couldn’t put the book down. I fell very hard with the two main characters, their love for each other were all-encompassing from the start. Thanks to the acting talents of narrator Carly Robins and new to me narrator, Eric Michael Summerer they were able to evoked so many emotions, helped me lose myself in the book and brought the whole story to life. My best read/listen for 2021.
This book was so much more than a romance novel that at the end you have quite a bit to digest as a reader. Things like the issues facing adult care givers, DNR orders, the differences between people who care about what others think and those who don’t, and survivor guilt. Mixed in to all those things is a romance between two people who’ve loved each other forever but only as adults acknowledge it. This is not a light hearted read, be aware but it is an excellent book, and well written. There is a tenderness between Willow and Cam that all the ugly they are going through can’t diminish and that is what makes the story shine. At some points though I thought there were too many relationships going on Cam and his father, cam and his brother, cam and the town. Willow and her parents, willow and cam. One or two of these could have made the book. The shortcoming got the book was that there were just too many. Maybe that’s more realistic in that we all have stuff going on and it winds thru our relationships but it became a slog at points. Still a four star read though.
I went into this book knowing it was going to be an emotional journey but I think I really underestimated how much.
This book has a lot of angst and the ultimate slow burn really contributed to that. The story wanted to tell you that Willow is really strong but she needed a lot of saving. The story wanted to tell you that Cam was a bad boy but never really brought the receipts.
I enjoyed this book even though there were some things I couldn’t quite get over. I didn’t want to put it down but I really wish there had been an epilogue at the end. I don’t know if an epilogue being missing means we’ll visit this small town again but I hope there’s some closure for these characters in the future.
Rebecca Yarros has become one of the authors that are auto-buys for me. I have to be honest and say I just discovered her writing with The Last Letter; that one book has made her a favorite author.
Great and Precious Things is another reason why I love her writing. I shared my feelings/quotes from the book as I was reading because I had to be able to go back and pinpoint the specific quotes that I wanted to remember/bring to light.
As GaPT was told from both Camden and Willow’s views, whenever I got to Camden’s viewpoint, my heart wanted to burst. He endured and took on so much: Savior, protector, son, brother, bad boy, friend. His character was so strong and he was determined in every aspect of his life; there were so many times I wanted to reach through the pages and just hug him and tell him “You are enough”. Willow was his and would always be and honestly always ways. This was their story of self-discovery and redemption.
I wish I could give this 10 stars because this book has earned them and more.
The woman did it again and brought all the feels. I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful mailing and loved every page of it.
Hands down this might be Rebecca’s best book yet. I loved every dingle word of it. It was emotional and heart wrenching and beautiful all on the same page.
You get so engrossed in the book that you legitimately become part of the story as you read. You are so engrossed it is like watching a movie.
This story has something for everyone in it. You legitimately relate to the book so fiercely in some way the you can’t help but be in love with it. This is a book about having hope and growing from change.
Camden is. Camden. I loved every single character but he was the one who stole the show. Understandably. I fell for him hard and I shipped this story fiercely. I love a book with complex character and diverse plot and this one delivered in spades.
This book makes you think. It took longer to read in order to process the guilt, the betrayal, the father-sin and brother-brother relationships. There are so many layers but there is also love. The forever kind of love between a man and the woman he has loved from afar since he was a young teen. The love of a parent even though it’s a relationship that is very dysfunctional and cloaked in guilt. The love of a brotherhood despite jealousy and resentment. What takes time in coming is self-love. Cam is weighted down by all of his poor youthful decisions and so very heavy ones at that. But he’s a man and he’s here to do right by his dad, settle down with the woman he loves, and create a future in the old ghost town.
There is no winner in family drama and the hurts are many. But knowing you are loved and give love freely and would do just about anything for that love…that’s freeing and healing. Cam’s story is truly a journey. Great and Precious Things was a journey I thoroughly enjoyed taking with Cam and Willow.
“Great and Precious Things” is the first book that I have read by Rebecca Yarros and it was a fantastic book. It is the story of Cam and Willow, two wonderful characters that aren’t treated nicely by the small town of Alba, Colorado. One thing I quickly learned about these two is that although they love their families, they don’t always agree with them.
This book has all the feels and will have you turning the pages quickly because it grabs your attention from the very first page. It is a passionate story of love, loss, hope and forgiveness. It is about family and friends, some nice and some not, and the author also lets the reader get to know these secondary characters.
This book will tear your heart apart and put it back together again, and I highly recommend to all romance lovers!
4.5 Stars
I enjoyed Yarros’s previous book, The Last Letter, but I did think she attempted to manipulate the readers emotions with one too many traumatic events. I suppose that created a bias going into this one, thinking it might go a similar route. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised with the story direction and outcome. The pacing, story development, and characterizations were wonderful and even though it took me longer than normal to complete the book (that’s all on me,) I always looked forward to my time spent in it.
Like in real life, I can’t stand when characters are wrongly maligned and disliked for misconstrued actions or events. Therefore, I compliment the author and how she used that element in this story. After laying out the hero’s dubious history with his small hometown and it’s residents, Yarros gave the reader and her character a sweet and gratifying ending. Overall, a wonderful story full of romance, family discourse, and healing.
Great and Precious Things is a truly fantastic book. It deals with several important topics. It deals with Alzheimer’s, unwed pregnancy, prejudice and what it’s like to return from war. Being married to a soldier, I could really connect with the latter.
This story was extremely well written. It is a cut above the average book. It had a romance in it, but there was enough other things going on that you shouldn’t let that keep you away from it if you’re not a romance fan. I truly did not want this book to end! It was so engaging that it was easy to drown out everything else going on around me.
Title: Great and Precious Things
Series:
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Edition: Paperback
Amount of Pages: 400
Genre: (ex)military, romance, contemporary
Cliffhanger: [no (hide spoiler)]
HEA/HFN: [ HEA (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: [ No (hide spoiler)]
Triggerwarnings: [No (hide spoiler)]
Love Triangle: [ No (hide spoiler)]
Insta Love/ Insta Lust: [ No (hide spoiler)]
Single Parent/Kids/Pregnancy: [ No (hide spoiler)]
Date Read: 05-03-2020 – 07-03-2020
Favorite Quote: “People need to place blame when things go to shit. Makes them feel like they have control over things they don’t.”
Review:
I loved this book. My heart went out to Camden, he dealt with so much during his life and people kept adding more sh*t to it. This book is really about that how people see you isn’t necessary how you are and that once people have a certain positive or negative image of you it can be hard to get away from that. It’s about not letting what people think of you get in the way of your goals.
What is this book about:
Camden is military, and he loves it. He didn’t think he would get out if he didn’t receive a call for help from his father. Going back home definitely isn’t something he wants to do. Everyone hates him there, and his father maybe the most. He gets blamed and blames himself for the death of his younger brother.
The only positive in that town is Willow. Willow is a graphic designer and loves the town she lives in but at the same time doesn’t like certain aspects of it either. It’s a small old fashioned town and they stick to their own visions and thoughts. It makes it hard to move away from how they see her and show them that she has moved on.
Willow can’t believe that Camden is back in town and that he is staying this time. She knows she shouldn’t help him but she can’t help but want to help the man she grew up with. It’s up to Willow to decide how far she is willing to go to help the person that needs her the most.
What did I like/love:
I love Camden. Like I said above I really wanted to jump in and stick up for him and help him. He had nobody in his corner and it broke my heart that he didn’t expect it either. People where really mean to him.
I loved the connection Camden and Willow had. It played out nice in the story.
Willow I really liked as well. It takes guts to stand up to everyone for what you believe is the right thing to do. I admire that in her.
I loved how the story developed. The writing style and the flow of the story are great.
What did I dislike/hate:
/
Rating:
5 I loved it StarsTitle: Great and Precious Things
Series:
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Edition: Paperback
Amount of Pages: 400
Genre: (ex)military, romance, contemporary
Cliffhanger: [no (hide spoiler)]
HEA/HFN: [ HEA (hide spoiler)]
Cheating: [ No (hide spoiler)]
Triggerwarnings: [No (hide spoiler)]
Love Triangle: [ No (hide spoiler)]
Insta Love/ Insta Lust: [ No (hide spoiler)]
Single Parent/Kids/Pregnancy: [ No (hide spoiler)]
Date Read: 05-03-2020 – 07-03-2020
Favorite Quote: “People need to place blame when things go to shit. Makes them feel like they have control over things they don’t.”
Review:
I loved this book. My heart went out to Camden, he dealt with so much during his life and people kept adding more sh*t to it. This book is really about that how people see you isn’t necessary how you are and that once people have a certain positive or negative image of you it can be hard to get away from that. It’s about not letting what people think of you get in the way of your goals.
What is this book about:
Camden is military, and he loves it. He didn’t think he would get out if he didn’t receive a call for help from his father. Going back home definitely isn’t something he wants to do. Everyone hates him there, and his father maybe the most. He gets blamed and blames himself for the death of his younger brother.
The only positive in that town is Willow. Willow is a graphic designer and loves the town she lives in but at the same time doesn’t like certain aspects of it either. It’s a small old fashioned town and they stick to their own visions and thoughts. It makes it hard to move away from how they see her and show them that she has moved on.
Willow can’t believe that Camden is back in town and that he is staying this time. She knows she shouldn’t help him but she can’t help but want to help the man she grew up with. It’s up to Willow to decide how far she is willing to go to help the person that needs her the most.
What did I like/love:
I love Camden. Like I said above I really wanted to jump in and stick up for him and help him. He had nobody in his corner and it broke my heart that he didn’t expect it either. People where really mean to him.
I loved the connection Camden and Willow had. It played out nice in the story.
Willow I really liked as well. It takes guts to stand up to everyone for what you believe is the right thing to do. I admire that in her.
I loved how the story developed. The writing style and the flow of the story are great.
What did I dislike/hate:
/
Rating:
5 I loved it Stars