Emmalyne Knox and Tavin MacLachlan were destined to be together...until the tragic deaths of Emmalyne's youngest sisters. Family tradition mandates that the youngest daughter should remain single to care for her parents in their old age, and now that daughter is Emmalyne. Her father unyielding, Emmalyne surrenders to her duty, heartbroken. Tavin leaves town, equally devastated.
Years later, Emmalyne's family moves, and she and Tavin meet again. Their feelings for each other are as strong as ever, but their painful past and Emmalyne's father still stand between them. Soon both families are in the midst of the growing conflict rising between the workers at the granite quarry that Tavin's father owns and operates. When a series of near-fatal accidents occur, Tavin must figure out who is behind the attacks before someone gets killed.
Bound by obligation, yet yearning for a future together, can Emmalyne and Tavin dare to dream that God could heal a decade-long wound and change the hearts of those who would stand in the way of true love?
Years later, Emmalyne's family moves, and she and Tavin meet again. Their feelings for each other are as strong as ever, but their painful past and Emmalyne's father still stand between them. Soon both families are in the midst of the growing conflict rising between the workers at the granite quarry that Tavin's father owns and operates. When a series of near-fatal accidents occur, Tavin must figure out who is behind the attacks before someone gets killed.
Bound by obligation, yet yearning for a future together, can Emmalyne and Tavin dare to dream that God could heal a decade-long wound and change the hearts of those who would stand in the way of true love?
Goodreads Summary
Making permanent decisions, of any kind, during times of trauma probably never turns out well. The circumstances surrounding a decision that will have sad implications for 11 years are horrible…and remind me of the recent tragedies in Oklahoma. When her two younger sisters are victims of a tornado, Emmalyne Knox is shocked to find that her stern father expects her to fulfill the role of caregiver for her parents – a family tradition that she had never considered. Due to the loss of their home, Luthias Knox moves his remaining family away from St. Cloud, Minnesota. Emmalyne has to leave her childhood love and fiancé Tavin MacLachlan behind as she wishes to please and honor her parents. Then, Emmalyne is shocked when her distant, penny-pinching father decides to move his family back to St. Cloud where he will work for Tavin’s father who now owns a quarry.
When Tavin suggested that they elope rather than agree to Emmalyne’s father’s plan, it felt wrong to me. But then, the story quickly jumps ahead 11 years, and I wanted to shake her for going along with her father. What a stupid family tradition! Why couldn’t they stay nearby or live together, so her parents were cared for – but Tavin and Emmalyne could be married? Wow! You want to hate that Luthias. However, I appreciated Tracie Peterson’s message about the power of kindness, honesty, and prayer. “Love is not an emotion, but an act.” Reverend Campbell’s counsel and advice from the eighth chapter of Romans reminds Emmalyne and us that the Word of God offers hope and instruction. Sometimes, prayer makes you feel friendlier toward a difficult person. Sometimes, asking direct questions and little acts of kindness can move someone’s stony or depressed heart. Emmalyne makes it happen with her father and mother!
I liked young Dr. Williams, though he didn’t have a chance with Emmalyne. At first, I wanted to shake her mother out of her depression…how could she let her family life get the way it did? How could she sit and mope when Emmalyne worked so hard? How could Emmalyne’s friend, Fenella, be so broken by her husband’s death that she couldn’t care for her little boys? It was nice that the doctor so understood mental/emotional problems. By reading through the book, I began to see how these people’s difficult lives, especially women’s lives –could easily break a person’s mental health. I wonder if there really were people, like Dr. Williams, who understood and cared so much for people with mental illness back then. It seems to be the case that many people, in our easier lifetimes, have mental problems, and there are many options for care.
I enjoyed the education about unions and their, sometimes, dangerous tactics. I would have liked to hear more about the work of the quarry and about Tavin’s creative work with the stone. This is a good story of honorable acts, true love, and redemption.
Four Stars
*Reviewed by Colleen*This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
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That's a weird tradition they have...sounds like a very good story though :)Great review!