A Review - 4 stars
Although the cover of a book traditionally captures my attention, in this circumstance, it was the retreat research and the name Meredith Appleyard that had me intrigued. The story held between the two covers of this book warmed my heart and filled my soul as I journeyed alongside Sarah and Grace, a mother and daughter duo with individual perspectives of life in and around Miner’s Ridge, a small rural South Australian town. Add in an all-consuming family farm, new romances, valuable life lessons and revelations of the past, family connections strengthen, but not without drama.
Returning to Miner’s Ridge after tragedy struck all those years ago was not a decision made lightly for Sarah, but after the loss of her own mother, and Grace departing for London, Sarah found herself craving family. After an 8-year hiatus and being surrounded by estranged family members once more, Sarah finds herself unsettled. With the road less than smooth, before long, Sarah befriends Carol Claremont and finds herself with support as she attempts to mend long broken bridges.
On the other side of the world, Grace follows her career in corporate banking all the way to London. Surrounded by all things European, Grace finds herself stuck on the corporate treadmill, too many hours spent at work and not enough spent on living. It’s when Grace looks within, she truly understands her yearning, but not without confusion from the men in her life. It takes time for Grace to allow herself access to her heart, not just her mind.
What I enjoyed most about these women was their inner strength and resolve when facing unpredictable life challenges. They navigated these with humility and a determination to ‘fix’ their family, however, Grace’s overprotectiveness of her mother at times found her alienating others, a trait that many may relate to. Despite being surrounded by males, it is the women who shine. I felt as though Sarah was the heroine, while Grace was the protagonist, and it wasn’t until the end that I understood my why. Sarah had the most to lose.
This was the first novel I had read where the dual protagonists were showcased with different styles of voice. We connect with Sarah through her first-person point of view, leading to a deeper understanding of her inner character. However, Grace is written in third person allowing us to view her both through her mother’s eyes, and that of the narrator. At first, I found this completely off putting, but after a few character/chapter changes I fell into a smooth reading rhythm, though for my own brain, I couldn’t put the book down part way through the chapter, I had to wait until the character changeover.
I will be interested to read other Appleyard novels to compare and contrast the techniques she uses within her writing. With over half a dozen books on her published list, I am drawn to Becoming Beth or All About Ella. Though her most recent novel, Daisy and Kate is widely talked about in the reading community and will enter by TBR some point soon.
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