4.5 stars
Wow! What a powerful, eye-opening story. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. Bartels weaves together three POVs/three timelines, which isn’t an easy task, and she pulls it all together masterfully. The characters, particularly the three heroines, are multilayered and realistic. They demonstrate strength and love and are courageous. The story lines tackle the harsh reality of racial issues, spanning from the Civil War to the 1960s to present day. Through it all, there is an overwhelming feel of hope, and the reminder that we are all the same in God’s eye is subtly tied in.
I was immediately pulled into this novel, and I hated to put the book down (though I did have to do something else, on occasion!). Historical and present-day events are highly detailed and equally developed, which isn’t always the case in books with multiple timelines. The prose is beautiful and engaging. There were historical components I’d learned little about, especially in relation to the racial tensions in Detroit in the 1960s. It was easy to feel a connection to the characters in this emotional read with themes of pain, loss, love, and hope. This is one book that will likely stay with the reader long after the final page is turned.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
Wow! What a powerful, eye-opening story. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. Bartels weaves together three POVs/three timelines, which isn’t an easy task, and she pulls it all together masterfully. The characters, particularly the three heroines, are multilayered and realistic. They demonstrate strength and love and are courageous. The story lines tackle the harsh reality of racial issues, spanning from the Civil War to the 1960s to present day. Through it all, there is an overwhelming feel of hope, and the reminder that we are all the same in God’s eye is subtly tied in.
I was immediately pulled into this novel, and I hated to put the book down (though I did have to do something else, on occasion!). Historical and present-day events are highly detailed and equally developed, which isn’t always the case in books with multiple timelines. The prose is beautiful and engaging. There were historical components I’d learned little about, especially in relation to the racial tensions in Detroit in the 1960s. It was easy to feel a connection to the characters in this emotional read with themes of pain, loss, love, and hope. This is one book that will likely stay with the reader long after the final page is turned.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.