September 29, 2020
NetGalley
Lake Union Publishing
Historical fiction, arc, digital
9/20-10/5
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
The timeline alternates from 1977 back to 1939 where the past helps bring clarity to the present.
In 1980, Lexi carries her daughter Daisy on her back as she hikes the familiar hills of Loch Ewe in the Scottish Highlands. She never imagined while living her dream in the theaters of London that she would find herself back home in Artuath. Lexi returned to take care of the estate when her mother Flora Gordon dies. While in Artuath she attempts to learn more about the relationship between her parents. She was told that her father Alec Mackenzie Grant died in the war before she was born. Her mother was always reluctant to elaborate further on her past.
Daisy recalls her life in London and being swept away by the magnanimous Piers the director of the theatre. When Daisy discovers she’s pregnant it enrages the married man who refuses to claim paternity. Although she realizes her dream of being a stage actor will be shattered; she decides to have the baby and raise it alone. She dreaded her return to Artuath even though she was struggling financially. She felt that her home town would gossip about her and see her as a failure.
Although she tries to keep a low profile in the small town it isn’t long before she is surrounded by the community and those who loved her mother. She learns things about her mother that she never knew after moving into her cottage. Davy Laverock appears to help out as he did for her mother which raises concern for the independent single mother. She also finds comfort in rekindling a friendship with a childhood friend, Elspeth who is married with 2 children.
Lexie learns that her mother lived with her grandfather, Iain Gordon, who was a keeper of the estate of Sir Charles and Lady Helen after her mother and baby sister dies. Her uncle Ruaridh joined the Royal Navy where he befriends Alec Mackenzie-Grant who happens to be the son of Sir Charles. Gradually, Flora’s longtime friends share the love story of her parents. Mrs Moira Carmichael seemed to be the most informed being married to air raid warden, Archibald. Bridie McDonald and Mairi Macleod remained her dearest friends through the years.
The relationship between Alec and Flora was discouraged and eventually forbidden by Sir Charles. He had arranged an engagement for Alec to Diana Kingsley-Scott. Lexie is proud to learn that her mother and friends joined the Wrens to help in the war effort. They had met and befriended some of the servicemen with whom they formed close connections.
Lexie finds that a person can always go home. She discovers that by doing so she found out more about herself as well as her family. This is a touching heartwarming story about courage, determination and love during the war.
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