Two women--a century apart--embark on a journey to
healing, faith, forgiveness, and romance.
In 2012, art historian Gwen Morris 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 meets
David Bradford--the owner's handsome grandson--who is desperate to save the
crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. 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's left searching for answers.
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.
My Thoughts:
In this dual timeline, we have two women who have fathers that they never really knew. Charlotte, in 1912, loved her father very much, but when he suddenly dies, she finds out he was not the man she thought he was. She and her mother and siblings now are destitute, so they head back to her mother's father and to her childhood home, Longdale Manor. Except they are not welcome and must impose on kind childhood friends for shelter. What seems to be the end of the world happens to be an awakening of true love for Charlotte. If only she can trust the man who wants to win her heart.
In the present-day story, Gwen is an art historian, and her grandfather has sent her to the Longdale Manor to help an old family friend. Gwen had also made a mistake in the art world that has caused a lot of trouble for her grandfather's company. So, she goes, but with reservations and shame. Having lost her mother some years ago, and not being able to ask her more questions, Gwen hopes to find the father who abandoned her and her mother. She never met him and understandably has questions for him. However, what she is finding out about him may mean she is better off not knowing him at all. She too has a chance at a love match, but trust is an issue for her as well.
Longdale Manor reaches across the years to both of these women and their broken hearts, the love they ultimately want, and a Father's hand to hold and rely on.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author:
Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of twenty-one inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She loves traveling to England to research her Edwardian novels, including No Journey Too Far, No Ocean Too Wide, Across the Blue, and the Edwardian Brides series. Her novels have been translated into several languages and have received starred reviews from Christianbook.com and Library Journal. Learn more at carrieturansky.com.
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