2015, 280p, Clean Historical Fiction
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Received a copy from the publisher for an honest review
Wales, 1884
The quiet village of Llanwddyn has long been a safe haven for Gwen, a young Welsh country girl whose life has been fraught with tragedy. Following the untimely death of her parents, it was her aunt's home in Llanwddyn that provided Gwen and her brother a refuge from their grief. Now, with the unwelcome news that the village is to be razed in the name of progress, an inescapable wave of change has begun.
When her brother departs to follow his dream of sailing the high seas, Gwen is left alone to navigate the shifting world around her. She soon finds herself relying on the support of her brother's best friend, Lewis, a gentle blacksmith whose kindness stirs her heart. Resigned to the fact that Lewis may never see her as more than a child, Gwen is soon swept off her feet by Thomas, a prosperous young Englishman. Torn between two men and two very different paths, Gwen has little time to determine what course her heart will follow. With time running out for her beautiful valley, will love come too late?
The village of Llanwddyn is going to be flooded so the people have a few years to relocate (while the dam is being built). Gwen and her brother, Robert, have lived with their Aunty Jane since their parents died. Robert is a seaman at heart and takes off to travel and have new adventures. He asked his best friend, Lewis, to watch over Gwen while he was gone.
Gwen and Lewis don't have much interaction at the beginning. They have polite conversations but that's about it. It also takes a while before Thomas enters the picture. It wasn't too difficult to figure out who she was in love with but it was interesting to see the differences between the men and what they each had to offer.
I fell in love with this book! It moved slowly at times, but I never lost interest. I was immersed in Gwen's life and what was going to happen next. There are some tragic moments that brought tears to my eyes and incredibly happy moments that brought a smile to my face.
I read the Author's Note at the end and wasn't surprised to learn that this novel was based on actual events. It's well researched and well written. If you enjoy clean historical fiction, this is a book you will want to read!
She began her writing career as a student, publishing several magazine articles while still in college. Since then she has published historical romance and romantic suspense novels, along with a variety of children's books.
Although Sian doesn't have the opportunity to speak Welsh very often anymore, she can still wrap her tongue around, "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch." She loves to travel and experience other cultures, but when she's home, her favorite activities are spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.
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