Hope Sparrow has mastered the art of outrunning her tragic past, learning never to stay anywhere too long and never to allow anyone control over her life again. Coming to Wanishin Falls in search of her family's history already feels too risky. But somewhere in the towering stacks of this dusty old bookshop are the books that hold Hope's last ties to her late mother—and to a rumored family treasure that could help her start over.
Only, the bookshop is in shambles, and the elderly owner is in the beginning stages of dementia and can’t remember where the books lie. To find the last links to the loved ones she's lost, Hope must stay and accept help from the townsfolk to locate the treasured volumes. Each secret she uncovers brings her closer to understanding where she came from. But the longer she stays in the quaint town, the more people find their way into the cracks in her heart. And letting them in may be the greatest risk of all…
Mollie writes Contemporary Fiction with a Heart for History, a blend of modern settings and fascinating historical elements woven throughout.
A born and bred Midwestern gal, Mollie Rushmeyer, makes her home in central Minnesota with her husband and two beautiful daughters. She is not only a bibliophile (the dustier the better, in her opinion), she’s a true Britophile at heart. Tea and coffee fuel her travels, by Google maps at least, and her passion for the written word.
My Thoughts
This novel is in a bookshop, Dusty Jackets, in Wanishin Falls near Duluth. Hope Sparrow, not her real name has escaped her life as a woman for 10 years in a human trafficking situation. She can't trust anyone because of this and has a genuine fear of what men could do to her.
She comes to Wanishin Falls to retrieve her mother's old books. She becomes ingrained into the lives of Mags and Ulysses, owners of the bookshop. Through them, she is able to have a roof over her head and a job helping Mags with Ulysses. He has Alzheimer's and she needs the extra help that Hope can provide.
As she tries to find her mother's books, she becomes involved with Ronan, Mags, and Ulysses' grandson. Through him, she is able to get back her books. During their attempts to find out more about her family and how they were connected to the town, they become closer and after a while, she reveals what happened to her in the past.
With Ronan's help and with the help of her faith in God, she is able to become the person she should have always been. She learns to trust again and they are able to figure out what happened to her family and its secrets.
This is a story that will tug at the heartstrings, the reader can understand the traumas that can deplete the human spirit. I loved the fact that it took place in a bookshop and the care that was taken in describing Hope and Ronan's traumas make this a very readable book.
I give it 4 stars.
I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.
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