Book Description
In the Dark of the Mine, In the Face of Rising Water,
In the Shadows of the Hills, Faith Will See Them Through
Judd Markley knew he could never set foot underground again. The mine collapse that nearly killed him and claimed his brother's life meant leaving West Virginia forever. Although that hard Appalachian world was all he knew, he put it behind him and headed for the open sky of the thriving town of 1954 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Larkin Heyward's life in the beach town is uncomplicated, mostly volunteer work and dancing at the Pavilion. But she dreams of one day doing more and being more--maybe moving to the hills and hollers of Kentucky to help the poor children of Appalachia. But she's never even met someone who's lived there--until she encounters Judd, the newest employee at her father's timber company.
Drawn together in the wake of a hurricane that changes Myrtle Beach forever, Judd's and Larkin's dreams pull them in divergent directions. It will take a significant sacrifice to keep them together--or maybe, it will take a miracle.
Review
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Here is my honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. It took me quite a bit longer to read than I normally spend with a book but that wasn't due to the book at all. It's a historical romance that is actually a bit more than that. Yes, Judd and Larkin fall in love; but their story unfolds in a way that is so rich and has such depth for each character that I can't think of it as simply a romance.
Judd doesn't strike me as the
typical romantic hero; perhaps this is because Thomas gives us the measure of him as a man....and not just his rugged good looks. There is something about him that inspires confidence in the people he encounters: from employers to co-workers to boarding house residents to family. It is clear that Judd notices and cares about the people around him and is a man who gains respect for the way he treats people. Another reason I found him to be a great character is that he is hurting over the loss of his brother, and while he seeks out a new life, he is not prone to shutting out the world around him. There is no doubt that Judd is the star of this book.
Larkin is a great character as well. She is a good representation of young women at the time but also shows the strength and desire to seek more than what society has laid out for young women (of her social class) during the 1950s. I love the way Thomas develops this, not as a bold, abrasive, feminist character but as a woman who knows that there is more than superficial pursuits to life. I also loved how Thomas developed the relationship between Larkin and her parents. It is obvious that she loves and respects them even as she prepares to step outside of the plans they have for her. She is not rude or hateful or mean-spirited in her defiance of their wishes and continually seeks to make amends and yet be able to make decisions for herself and her life.
This book has a very slow pace for me. I would dip into it, read a chapter and feel like I had read 5. This is not a story that unfolds over 2 months; it simmers, gently, and the plot and the relationships all work together so beautifully. Not only does Thomas explore first and lasting love, she also looks into family relationships and obligations, friendship, and community. It's absolutely beautiful....which allows me to overlook (mostly) the very poor character development of Mr. Heyward, Larkin's father and Judd's employer. He has such an impact on them, both individually and as a couple, and has such growth as a character that it seems a little off because I don't know the positive parts of him to balance out the negative aspects of his character. While I think his character could have been developed a little bit more, it doesn't make me love the book less.
I gave this book: ★★★★
★ = I did not like it ★★ = It was okay ★★★ = I liked it
★★★★ = I really liked it ★★★★★ = I loved it
