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.
more
After Camden Daniels leaves town, promising himself that he’d never return to the small Colorado town where he grew up. But when his father calls looking for help, he goes home to all the secrets and pain that have kept him away. There are few secrets in small towns, and it isn’t always easy to go home again. I really felt for Cam here, but he does it, opening the door to possibilities.
Willow Bradley is the girl he left behind, a friend with history with his brother. If anyone knows Cam, it’s Willow and while she has her own pain to work through, she sees Cam and his misplaced guilt. She sees that he is strong and loyal and willing to help his family even though it’s costing him.
I’ve been a fan of Rebecca Yarros’ writing since her first book and she only gets better with each new title in terms of creating an emotional story and characters that you fall for in the first few pages. Great and Precious Things is no exception. Cam and Willow have to relive much of their painful past in order to clear the way for their future. The slow burn romance contains a bucket load of emotional content, so just be prepared. You might need to wipe your eyes a time or two, but if you’ve read Rebecca Yarros before you know that’s just how it is.
I love a good small town story and this standalone really hits the high and low points of what it means to come home. I did love the themes of choice and consequences that are woven throughout and make this is a book that will leave a bit of a mark, at least for a little while. Those are the best stories — the ones that have you thinking about it for days afterward.
Another great (and precious;) title from Rebecca Yarros. If you like your romances with plenty of emotion and weaved around familiar circumstances, then you just might like Great and Precious Things.
An ARC was provided by the publisher. This is my honest review.
Whenever I pick up a book by the beautiful Rebecca Yarros I know one thing. I am going to get ALL the feels. So I try to do it at a time when I can afford to experience them which, with a house full of kids, is in short supply.
So I put my hand up for a review copy and waited for my rejection only to run through the house squealing when I got it. But then it taunted me. Every single time I opened my kindle, there it was And all I wanted was to crawl into my bed with a locked door and box of tissues and dive in but I adulted like a champ and waited.
Obviously it was worth the wait. No one writes like Rebecca. No one makes me care about everyone and everything like she does. Her words all have a weight to them that you can only experience while reading one of her stories.
Cam was such a beautiful character. I want to say he was broken but it feels wrong. He was too solid and dependable and perfect to be called broken. His life experiences had been brutal and harsh but he came through them with so much love and compassion he can’t be described as broken.
Willow had her own strength and it so perfectly complemented Cam’s, it was perfect. The connection between the two of them leapt from the page and held onto my heart for the whole book.
The background characters were perfect in that I felt them too. Their small mindedness and judgement felt all too real, like small town anywhere, where everyone remembers everything through the curtain of their opinion. But I enjoyed watching them have their eyes opened even if it was still a little less groveling than I would like.
Anyway the only thing you need to know about this book to go out and purchase it is that Rebecca Yarros wrote it. And of course it is as perfectly, devastatingly, beautiful and haunting as all her other stories. Bring tissues.
Rebecca Yarros does it again! Elizabeth@ Carolina Chic’s Read
Camden and Willow have always been meant for each other, but Camden has never felt good enough for her. When a series of events pushes them together it’s only a matter of time before they give in.
Every now and then you run across an author that knows how to write a feel good book. One filled with a second chance love, chemistry, turmoil, and so much love.
5 Glorious Stars!
There were things about this book that made me think of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden–as well as the film adaptation starring James Dean–as well as Legends of the Fall, which had a powerhouse cast led by Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins and directed by Edward Zwick. Elements regarding family and rivalry, love and loyalty, brotherhood and betrayal were all shared by Steinbeck’s classic novel, Zwick’s haunting movie, and Rebecca Yarros’s heartrending story, yet each stands on its own respective merits. Yarros’s writing is the kind that takes hold of my heart and refuses to let go even after I’m done reading. Cam and Willow’s story had aspects that resonated with me, and I loved the story line regarding their romance as much as I did that when it came to their families. If you’ve never read anything by Yarros before, I’m highly encouraging you to rectify that with Great and Precious Things (and then work your way through her brilliant back list). I promise, you will not regret it. An infinity of stars.
If you’ve read anything by Rebecca Yarros you know she creates characters you love and makes sure she knows what she’s talking about. Everything in her books always feels realistic and that always makes me love her stories just a little bit more! Great and Precious Things was no exception to what I just described.
One of my favorite things about this book is that it takes place in a small town. They’re the best, but they can also be really bad. Things are never forgotten in these towns and people have a hard time letting things go. On the other hand, people care for each other and just want to see their town stay succesful! Even if it can be just as bad as a soap opera.
Also, Rebecca Yarros creates characters you just have to love. Camden left this small town ten years ago and hasn’t looked back. If it weren’t for his father sending him a message, who knows if he would’ve head home at all. I don’t want to give too many details, because this is a story you need to experience on your own. Camden has always been seen as the black sheep and everything that happens is his fault. So much so, that he’s actually starting to believe people are right about him. Tragic events caused this thinking even more so. Camden is a character that you just want to hug and tell him it will all be okay. It was amazing to see him start to realize he wasn’t all bad and that he deserves love!
Willow lost what everyone thought was the love of her life, but that may not have been the case. Her Dad is a big part of this small town and doesn’t always agree with her decisions or other things that have happened in her family. I loved Willow, because she has such a strong will and won’t give up her dreams because her family didn’t approve. She’s not afraid to fight for what she believes in and won’t back down for anyone. She loves unconditionally and it shows.
Camden and Willow have a past and I love how that this plays a part in this story. Their love for each other is clear. It gradually develops and that fit this perfectly. Even when letting each other go would probably make things easier, they keep on fighting. They take on all obstacles together.
Another aspect of this story I loved was that it wasn’t just the romance between Camden and Willow. Family, grief, forgiveness, free will and new beginnings also play a big part in Great and Precious Things. On top of that there are some major twists I did not see coming. Rebecca Yarros still knows how to surprise me. This wasn’t an ugly cry book, but I felt so with these characters that I won’t forget them anytime soon!
I had previously read Rebecca Yarros’ The Last Letter and was excited when I heard about Great and Precious Things. Her stories are heart felt and have serious matters woven into. Great and Precious Things tells the story about Alzheimer’s, war, death, love and fighting for one’s rights.
Willow , Cam and Sullivan were friends that grew up together. Cam always wanted Willow but thought Sullivan was better for her. Sullivan was the good brother and Cam the black sheep or so he let everyone think. Willow loved Cam deeply but was with Sullivan. When Cam’s dad needs help Cam returns after 10 years.
The story tells one mans fight for his father’s right to a DNR, a town needing help and a love that never died. Cam always took the fall and is not liked by the town. He doesn’t care but is just trying to do the right thing. He has always loved willow but tries to keep her in the friend zone. Willow decides to go after what she wants and that is Cam.
Another character in the book is Alzheimer’s. To see the struggles that one goes through, some days knowing your family, others not. It is a hard breaking thing to go through and watch.
The love story between Cam and Willow is a slow burn romance that builds throughout the book. If you like Rebecca Yarros’ writing and books you will love Great and Precious Things.
How do you change a town’s perspective of you when they’ve already decided who you are? That’s just part of the obstacles Camden faces when he returns to his hometown to help his ailing father. Camden and Willow are captivating and their chemistry is incredible.
Rebecca Yarros has given us another emotionally charged romance for the ages. Compelling storytelling that feels your heart to the brim with love, laughter and tears.
A heartbreaking, heartwarming story of love and family. What would you do for yours?
I loved Camden, I felt for him, I cried for him and I just wanted to hug him. He’s sweet, protective, tries to always do the right thing no matter what, he doesn’t care what people say about him. He’s his own man and makes no excuses. You know what though? He bleeds just like anyone else. When you hurt him, he feels it, when you stand up and say I’m here for you, he hopes that you mean it but won’t hold it against you if you don’t.
I’m really not going to go into detail about the book just know that it pulled at my heartstrings in more ways than one.
Camden Daniels stayed away from his hometown because they would never let him forget that his brother followed him off to war and didn’t return. Cam was the troublemaker, and his brother was the best of them, the golden boy. The town, and especially his father, would never forgive him for his part in his brother’s death. But a phone call has him returning despite his promise to stay away. What he finds at home will challenge everything he thought about his home.
Willow Bradley was his brother’s girlfriend and is caught in her own web of grief. But even before she was attached to Sullivan, she was also friends with Cam. She hasn’t left home and the ghost of Sullivan still follows her – the town expects that she continues to grieve their hero.
I loved Cam from the very beginning. Rushing home was not something he had predicted he would do, with the chilly reception he received the last time he visited. It frustrated me to no end that the town itself wouldn’t let him grow up and continued to view him as the troublemaking kid he had been when he left. But I loved his determination to show everyone that he was dependable and to make up for his past actions, even to his own family.
The way Cam and Willow leaned on each other just served to make me love them together even more. The history they share, the loss of Sullivan, and their present struggles find them working together more than either of them imagined.
This is such a great story from start to finish. It is not just about Cam and Willow remembering the bond that their friendship was based on, but it is also about letting go of the hurts of the past, remembering the good, and cherishing the promise of the future. There are legal issues, medical battles, secrets from the past, and new bonds formed. Once again, Rebecca Yarros has proven that she can write the heck out of an emotional story with multiple interwoven threads.
This book was beyond amazing!
So this book doesn’t have the angst of “The Last Letter” (thank goodness!!), but it does still have all the feels and is such a heartwarming, sometimes heartwrenching story that will pull you in from the first page to the last page. The talent of Rebecca Yarros is truly beyond compare!
There were so many things to love about this story:
a. Cam is just everything – he is flawed, but has such a good heart. The way he takes the blame growing up for so many things to make life easier for those around him…it’s commendable, but so frustrating when the town is so unforgiving.
b. Willow aka “Pika” – okay that kitchen scene and knowing why he calls her that – OMG goodness!! Willow is stronger than people give her credit for and many women would have denied what they want (their late boyfriend’s older brother), but she remains true to her heart even when it is against the odds. Does she always immediately stand up for what’s right – not necessarily – but still provides the right support in the end!!
c. Rose – is such a delight and brings much needed giggles to the story…and is integral to other parts of the story (no spoilers!).
d. Strong women – both Willow and Charity are strong characters and you can’t help but root for them.
e. Art – he is such a tough character to love at times, but overall – you can’t help but love him for what he goes through and how he stands up for things in the end – both for himself and when it matters most!
f. Betrayal – the form(s) it comes in are not always expected and are very anger-producing.
This book caused me to highlight so many passages – not just quotes, but entire paragraphs because the story was so good. Here are some edited ones:
“The past could be buried and would eventually set you free. Hopes and dreams for futures that would never come to fruition? Those suckers were the real ghosts.”
“The path rejected me…It didn’t want me, so I decided not to want it.”
“I was relieved that you didn’t. And I knew that eventually I’d be okay. I’d heal. And I did. I put myself back together and made myself whole. But I knew that if your places had changed…I can’t picture my world without you in it…”.
“There is no me without you.”
Cam and Willow’s love story was in the making for years, decades. Seeing them finally be able to reach each other and let go of the past is worth everything! This is one book that you will not regret reading as it is everything! Such an incredible story of love, loss, betrayal in many forms, loss of hope, finding of hope, future hope…really just full of “great and precious things”.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy, but purchased a book for myself to have forever!
Great and Precious Things was brilliantly written and a wonderful and emotional read.
Cam and Willow were perfect complements of each other. Their connection was palpable from the first page they shared together, and it only got better and stronger as the story went on. Their history, their struggles, the connections between their families and their siblings, it was wonderfully told from the first to the last page. Each character, each tiny detail was so perfectly weaved that this story, though longer than some, felt like it went by so quickly. And that was only because I was devouring each word ferociously and without an ability, or want, to put it down until it was finished. I had to know what happened next. And interruptions were an irritant I just wasn’t having as I read.
There were amazing plot twists, intense scenes, and Rebecca put so much thought and detail into each and every aspect of this story that no question, no plot point, no relationship went without being tied up and explained to perfection.
Loving books by Rebecca is nothing new to me. Between her Flight and Glory series, her Renegades, her Hotshot Firefighters from the Legacy series, to her gripping standalone The Last Letter there hasn’t been a page by her I’ve read that I haven’t loved yet.
BUT! Even with saying that, Cam and Willow, Great and Precious Things, are special. They are the couple that will stick with me. I can’t say that they have raised the bar for her writing, because each of Rebecca’s books offer something unique and different, and can’t be compared to each other as they are all perfectly done and wonderfully told in their own ways. But Great and Precious Things has certainly set the bar for my 2020 reads. It is what I will be measuring everything else against this year.
5+ Stars!
Love. Love. Love.
I haven’t struggled to write a review in a long time but I have to admit, I struggled to write this one. The passion and love I feel for this story makes it difficult for me to put into words how much I loved it. I forced myself to take breaks while reading this so I could savor it as long as I could (something I never make myself do). I knew that if I devoured the story in one sitting, like I wanted to, I’d be kicking myself that it was over too quickly. Even after slowly savoring this story, I didn’t want it to end. I am so in love with this world and these characters.
Rebecca Yarros is hands down one of my favorite authors of all time. She writes her stories in such a way that you immediately feel immersed in the world with her descriptions of the setting and characters. I have loved everything she has written but this may be my favorite of hers to date.
We all know I’m a sucker for friends-to-lovers romances and this one quickly became one of my all time favorites. A hot tattooed military hero, a dash of forbidden-ness, a strong female lead, a dreamy setting, and a slow burn romance was the perfect mix for this story. I will absolutely be re-reading this one soon!
Please. Read. This. Book.
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
Let’s face it. If you read Rebecca Yarros’s last book, The Last Letter, you probably fell into one of two categories. Either you loved it despite the tears you shed at the end, or you weren’t sure you’d ever pick up one of her books again. I fell firmly into the first category and couldn’t wait to read Great and Precious Things…despite my lingering tears when I think about The Last Letter. I’ve been a fan of Rebecca’s words for a long time, so there was no way I was going to miss out on this book.
You guys…there is just SO much in this book, and it’s all way too good to spoil it, but let me try to sort my thoughts and feelings about this story for you. The theme the author wants to hammer home is to always be open to altering your perceptions. Whether that is of people you think you know well, situations you think you understand well, or your own feelings about yourself. Never get so stuck in one place than you can’t see something new in someone, something, or some situation. And Rebecca Yarros does this so very well.
And I’m just going to add that the hero, Camden Daniels, is my new book boyfriend out of all of her heroes now! (OK, OK…I still love Josh and probably always will!) Cam is just so beautifully broken and misunderstood. Who wouldn’t fall for and root for an American hero who doesn’t see that he’s a really amazing man? Willow Bradley sees it. She’s always seen it. But he broke her heart years ago and now he’s back. And she seems to be one of the few people really glad about the fact that he’s finally home. There’s so much for them to overcome…including their own misconceptions.
NICUnurse’s Rating: Rebecca Yarros never fails to write beautifully. I’m a huge fan of her words, and I don’t think her work has been recognized nearly as much as it should. Her characters are always wonderfully complex, and her stories never fail to evoke a LOT of emotion, usually taking you on a crazy rollercoaster ride throughout the entirety of the story. Great and Precious Things did all of that. And it made me think, like really ponder, about how hard it is to break out of that mold that people like to put us in based on our pasts- especially our past mistakes. We were all young and stupid at one time. But who people think we are at age 40 shouldn’t be based on who we were at age 18 or even age 30. How often do we want to judge people by their pasts, yet in the same breath ask people not to judge us by our own? While a few of us are confident in who we are and what we are, most of us are still usually also our own worst critic and tend to personally define who we are based on mistakes, missteps, and bad decisions in our own past. Add in Alzheimer’s, and that was its own emotional rollercoaster ride. It’s a heartbreaking disease and having to watch a loved one suffer with it is incredibly hard on everyone that knows and loves the victim of such an insidious disease process. I could literally go on and on about the eye-opening themes of this book and how well it’s written in such a way as to entertain as much as it is written to make us think and to evoke some very complicated emotions. But I’ll stop here and just simply say that you will NOT be disappointed in this book. So run! Get it NOW!
I give Great and Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros 5 out of 5 stars, and if I could, I’d absolutely give it more!
Rebecca Yarros nous offre une superbe romance qui nous fera découvrir la petite ville d Alba dans le Colorado. Les frères Daniels vont s affronter pour tirer un trait sur le passé et tout ne sera pas facile . J’ai adoré les thématiques que l’auteur va aborder dans cette romance riche en émotions
Camden Daniels avait juré de ne jamais revenir dans cette ville qui le hait tant et pour cause . Il a eu une enfance et adolescence agitées et cela a laissé des marques . Tout le monde le voit comme le fauteur de troubles mais surtout comme celui qui a tué son frère Sullivan . Revenir n’est donc pas un choix qu’il a fait à la légère et seul le message laissé par son père sur le répondeur lui fera prendre cette décision lourde de conséquences. Art ne porte pas son fils dans son coeur et leur retrouvaille sera explosive puisqu’il tentera de lui tirer dessus . Art est atteint d Alzheimer précoce et à 58 ans , les moments de lucidité sont contrebalancés par les moments de déroute . Il veut que Xander accepte de ne pas le réanimer en cas d’urgence médicale mais ce dernier se refuse à accéder à cette demande qu’il juge insensée. Cam doit donc de nouveau endosser le mauvais rôle s’il veut que son père puisse mourir en toute dignité. Les combats qu’il va devoir mener vont remuer de douloureux souvenirs mais Cam ne renoncera pas . J’ai adoré ce personnage car il est ultra protecteur avec ceux qu’il aime et il est prêt à endosser toutes les responsabilités même s’il n’en est pas la cause .
Son retour ne se fera donc pas dans le calme car toute la ville le hait et le tient responsable de la mort de Sullivan . Son frère s’était engagé comme lui en tant que soldat et il a péri sut le terrain alors que Cam n a fait qu’exécuter un ordre qu’on lui a donné. Il ressent cette culpabilité de plein fouet et il se sent très responsable de cela. C’est pourquoi il ne cille pas quand Art lui reproche encore et encore cette perte . Sullivan était un homme bon contrairement à Cam qui serait prêt à tout pour prendre sa place. Le jugement sera donc très sévère à son égard et j’ai très souvent mal eu au coeur pour lui et ce qu’il va subir. Les propos de son père seront très durs à son égard comme ceux du juge Bradley , le père de Willow. Il va devoir faire face aux rumeurs, aux médisances car vivre dans une petite ville a ses avantages mais aussi ses inconvénients. Il a tout quitté pour revenir dans sa ville natale et l’attitude des habitants pourrait le rebuter encore plus. Mais c’est un homme en mission qui ne reculera devant rien si ce n’est Willow. Il l’a toujours aimé mais n’a jamais estimé être digne de son amour. Qu’en sera t-il alors qu’ils ne sont pas vus depuis 6 ans?
Willow Bradley est une jeune femme que j’ai aimé découvrir. Elle a aimé Sullivan de tout son coeur mais était ce vraiment un amour passion et dévastateur. Je suis convaincue qu’elle aimait un autre frère avant lui et que le temps n’a pas changé ce qu’elle ressent. Elle va cette fois ci prendre le parti de Cam quand toute la ville va se mettre sur son dos. De même, elle affrontera son père qui sera aussi très vindicatif. Quand on voit comment il a traité Charity quand elle a eu Rosie, on sait très bien qu’il ne va pas accepter ce nouveau revers. Mais elle va se battre comme lui se bat pour elle ou s’est battue pour elle. Nous allons découvrir qu’ils s’entendent très bien depuis leur plus tendre enfance et que déjà à cette époque , il endossait le rôle de héros qui l’a sauvé de situations bien délicates. Les autres ont toujours cru qu’il l’a mise en danger mais c’était très loin de la vérité. Willow va donc refuser cette fois ci de le laisser expier des fautes dont il ne porte pas la responsabilité. Elle va connaître toute la vérité sur ce qui s’est passé à la mort de Sullivan et elle pourra compter non seulement sur sa soeur mais aussi sur Thea sa meilleure amie pour la pousser en dehors de ses retranchements. Et que dire de Rosie que j’ai adorée. Cette jeune demoiselle saura à sa manière apaiser des moments très tendus entre adultes et pour une jeune fille de 9 ans, elle est très futée.
Xander est la frère de Cam et on va apprendre à le connaître tout en lui en voulant légèrement pour ce qu’il va infliger à son frère. Il est le maire de la ville, il a toujours été irréprochable mais il ne veut pas entendre ce que son père veut lui dire. On le comprend car cette décision sera très difficile à prendre et il ne veut pas souffrir mais les moyens qu’il va utiliser pour contrer Cam seront dans l’ensemble assez déloyal. On ne le verra jamais prendre ouvertement la défense de son frère notamment en public et cela peut donc être perturbant. Il ne veut pas mouiller sa chemise et on se pose même des questions à son sujet. Je n’en dirai pas plus le concernant mais sachez qu’il sera très surprenant.
Bref, si vous avez envie d’une belle romance teintée de souffrances, de choix cruciaux et de seconde chance, alors ce roman est fait pour vous. Rebecca Yarros nous offre une magnifique romance où nous allons nous attacher fortement à Camden et Willow et où nous allons espérer qu’ils touchent enfin au bonheur à deux.
I’ve got to say one thing; How the hell did I manage to live this long for this to be my first Rebecca Yarros book?!? How the hell it’s possible that I’ve never read this all consuming, heartbreaking, all the feels books that she delivers.
I don’t have words to describe what this book did to me. My heart broke everytime someone spoke with anger or malice with Cam. I’m not sure how he stood his ground and took it all stoically. And that’s why I loved Willow. She was his rock and I loved her for choosing him before everyone else. Their love made me a believer that good things come to those who wait and that good people always get their HEA’s.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads blog***
6 Having the Freedom to Make the Right Choices Stars!!!
Yes, this is a definite 6-Star read for me. Which shouldn’t be a surprise given how stunningly beautiful, complex, and gripping this newest story by Ms. Yarros is. I was concerned that this book would tear me apart like her last release and while I did shed some tears they were different and did not break me in half!
Camden has returned to his tiny hometown of Alba, Colorado at the behest of his brother Xander and it really is the very last place he wants to be, but, he mans up and does the right thing. And let me tell you, his first day home is full of fireworks of all varieties!! Not only does he see the one man he’s dreading seeing, but he also sees the woman that can bring him to his knees, Willow.
This book is a true slow-burn of second chances and redemption that leads to very tense situations that I saw coming and some that I didn’t see at all. There’s a sense of sorrow in this book that truly did bring me to my knees because of what it touches on what’s happening in Cam and Willow’s lives. Actions of others have ramifications that were quite shocking at certain points. But the one thing that can’t be denied is the love that Cam and Willow have for each other even if they’re not supposed to feel this way about each other.
Watching a man that was broken when he came home and his struggles to find his footing in this small town where everyone knows everything was an awe-inspiring experience. Ms. Yarros brings insight and such detailed descriptions to each scene I felt like I was living in Alba, CO. There’s healing that is unexpected but so needed for many of the town’s inhabitants. There’s also a beauty in the healing of Cam’s relationships with those that threw him to the side years ago.
This book is an absolute must read for anyone that loves a sweeping romance of more than just two people but of an entire town. You’ll be drawn into the story from page one and when it’s over, you’ll have a sense of peace and calming about you that all you want to do is sit back and bask in the greatness you just read!
You will definitely not want to put this down until you read the very last word. This is an extremely well written story that will take you on an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows. You will laugh and you will cry. It is a story about love at its deepest level. Willow and Camden are tossed into set of circumstances that have kept them apart for a decade. Living back in their hometown together after all this time gives them an opportunity to right all the wrongs and face their truths. It is complicated by decades of family issues on the side of both parties and a small town mentality that watches and comments on everything they do. The relationship they both have with their fathers and siblings, add to the many ways that their lives is complicated. The author doesn’t shy away from dealing with the hard and emotional conversations, but digs in and allows the reader to go on this very personal journey with the characters. Reading this story more than once will be well worth the time.
Oh Rebecca you have restored my love of the ultimate love story. The reader is gifted a ringside seat to a beautifully written emotionally charged story. The family dynamics laid bare in the story are painful to read but so realistic. The small town world that Rebecca built was so effective that I felt like I could walk the streets of Alba and feel at home. Normally it is the female character who inspired the most feeling in me but Cam was so broken and treated so badly that I wanted to be on his side. I loved the scenes with Willow they were tense and filled with longing and everything unsaid. This was a slow burn romance with people at it’s heart. Family secrets and betrayals have a way of shaping the past and the present it’s how you deal with them that counts. Some books take you on a journey and some like this one seep into your soul and stay there.
I knew going into this book that it would be emotional and I was proud of myself for making about 35% into the story and hadn’t shed a single tear…..that was short lived. I am not ashamed to admit that I ugly cried many, many times throughout this story. Rebecca Yarros wrote a beautiful, heart wrenching story that will leave you breathless.
Cam and Willow have a past, a long history together going back to the time they were young children. Willow is the sweet, neighbor girl. The judge’s daughter. Cam is the middle brother out of three. From a young age the town deemed him to be the black sheep and the bad boy. When Cam returns after being away for six years no one in town wants to support him or help him, besides Willow.
Cam and Willow become each other’s rocks, they support each other, the fight against the entire town together. Their chemistry is undeniable from the start; however, this is a slow burn romance that is 100% worth the wait.
Great and Precious Things captivated me from the very start and I fell in love with these characters, their history and their future. A MUST READ and a top read of 2020!
Cam is coming home to a place that holds lots of good memories, but also some painful ones too. The loss of his brother is easily felt the moment he sets foot in town, and a reminder that some hold him responsible is very evident. He can’t even begin to understand what he is about to walk into, being the bad boy returning home, folks aren’t all that receptive to his presence, but he has no choice, he is needed. His family needs him… and maybe even Willow too.
She is the one woman he can’t have, the one whose heart once belonged to his brother. But he isn’t here now, not to pickup all the broken pieces left behind, Willow needs him, but he isn’t so sure he can be the man she needs. Taking something that isn’t his would be unforgivable, so all he feels he can offer her is friendship, but they easily fall into something else, something he has wanted for a long time now. But having all of her just isn’t an option, or is it?
Between the pages of this heart-wrenching tale readers will meet a man with many demons and the woman who saves him from them. Willow and Cam have always been close, and at one point he thought he might have a shot at her heart too, but then his brother swooped in and stole it. Cam is returning home to a place that isn’t all that welcoming, armed with insurmountable guilt, and forced to face all the stuff he walked away from when he joined the military and never looked back. This isn’t a insta-love kind of story, it is very much a slow burn romance. One riddled with old hurts to heal, forgiveness to be sought, and apprehension to conquer…. it’s quite the heartrending journey. I loved every single second of this story, even though it nearly destroyed me. Each word was doused with so much pain and emotion, and I felt every ounce of it, but I also felt the love these two had for one another too, and that made it all worth it in the end. I highly recommend you take a chance on this one, it’s words will grab your heart and attention and not let go!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.