Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko
About the book:
Now in her eighties, Perla Phillips has carried a secret since she was eighteen years old. When she sees her granddaughter, Ella, struggling for perfection, she decides to share her secret to show that God can use even the biggest mistakes for good. But before she can reveal what happened during that summer sixty years ago, she has a debilitating stroke.
Carrying a secret of her own, Ella arrives back in Wise, West Virgina, to help her aunt Sadie care for Perla. Both know the woman wanted to tell them something, but she’s now locked in silence. Together they begin looking into the past, but they may learn more than they expected.
Will they have the courage to share their hearts? Or will the truth remain buried forever?
My Review:
I was very anxious to know Perla’s secret, and as we read, I wanted it to be revealed a little faster. It made more sense when I realized this was actually the first book this author wrote, and she ended up publishing the others first. I loved Ella. She was just such a likable character for me. I related to her, the fear of relationship, but also Perla, in her frustration of communication.
This generational story is told in pieces, much like a quilt. You start to lobby for the different relationships throughout the book, and wonder what will be. Nothing is certain until the end. This third book in the series will answer some questions, but you will want to enjoy the previous two books before reading it.
This book was given to me for review by NetGalley and the publisher. The opinions contained herein are my own.