
Before the Swallows Come Back
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Narrated by:
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Steve Worsley
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By:
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Fiona Curnow
About this listen
Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, and Sal by Mik Kitson, with its celebration of the natural world, its misunderstood central characters living on the outside of society's norms, their survival in the wilderness, and the ultimate fight for justice.
Before the Swallows Come Back is a story of love, found family, and redemption that will break your heart and have it soaring time and time again as you sit on the edge of your seat desperately hoping.
Tommy struggles with people, with communicating, preferring solitude, drifting off with nature. He is protected by his Tinker family who keep to the old ways. A life of quiet seclusion under canvas is all he knows.
Charlotte cares for her sickly father. She meets Tommy by the riverside, and an unexpected friendship develops. Over the years it becomes something more, something crucial to both of them. But when tragedy strikes each family, they are torn apart.
Charlotte is sent far away.
Tommy might have done something very bad.
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By: Shanessa Gluhm
-
The Long Road Back to You
- By: Buck Turner
- Narrated by: Matt Hicks
- Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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In small-town Tennessee, 18-year-old Charlie Ross wagers a kiss from Anna Cochran, the prettiest girl in town, and wins. But before their burgeoning romance can take flight, Charlie is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. Anna promises she'll wait for him, no matter how long it takes. But when Charlie is taken prisoner, and later presumed dead, Anna is left to pick up the pieces to her shattered world. Eight years later, Charlie comes home. But his triumphant return is short-lived when he discovers the love of his life has moved on.
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Touching
- By Uhura on 06-09-23
By: Buck Turner
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Where Butterflies Wander
- A Novel
- By: Suzanne Redfearn
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd, Vivienne Leheny, Jordan Cobb, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
After a tragic accident claims the life of one of her children, Marie Egide is desperate to carve out a fresh start for her family. With her husband and their three surviving children, Marie travels to New Hampshire, where she plans to sell a family estate and then, just maybe, they’ll be able to heal from their grief. Marie’s plans are thwarted when she realizes a war veteran known by locals as “the river witch” is living in a cabin on the property, which she claims was a gift from Marie’s grandfather. If Davina refuses to move on, Marie won’t be able to either.
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The dichotomy between the characters
- By Linda on 03-24-24
By: Suzanne Redfearn
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Where the Grass Grows Blue
- By: Hope Gibbs
- Narrated by: Helen Laser
- Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Penny Crenshaw’s divorce and her husband’s swift remarriage to a much younger woman have been hot topics around Atlanta’s social circles. After a year of enduring the cruel gossip, Penny leaps from the frying pan into the fire by heading back to Kentucky to settle her grandmother’s estate. Reluctantly, Penny travels to her hometown of Camden, knowing she will be stirring up all the ghosts from her turbulent childhood. But not all her problems stem from a dysfunctional family. One of Penny’s greatest sources of pain lives just down the street: Bradley Hitchens.
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Awesome….
- By Patrick Cummiskey on 06-04-23
By: Hope Gibbs
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Eight Weeks Later
- A Novel
- By: G.T. London
- Narrated by: Eden Gabay, Marina Fess
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
After a tumultuous childhood, Roy Fernsby now runs a quaint London coffee shop that his friends frequent, cycles on Sundays . . . and keeps his distance from romantic relationships. Though Roy’s charming and well-liked, being single suits him—if only because it helps him avoid the sting of abandonment. Besides, Roy likes his life exactly as it is.
By: G.T. London
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The Lighthouse
- By: Christopher Parker
- Narrated by: Braden Wright
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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Story
Something strange is happening in Seabrook. The town's lighthouse - dormant for over 30 years and famously haunted - has inexplicably started shining, and its mysterious glow is sparking feverish gossip throughout the spooked community. Amy Tucker is only visiting for the night and has no plans to get caught up in the hysteria, but that changes when she meets Ryan, the loyal, hard-working son of a ranch owner who lives on the outskirts of town.
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Loved it!!!
- By Diana Leguizamon on 11-11-21
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A River of Crows
- By: Shanessa Gluhm
- Narrated by: Lu Banks
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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In 1988, Sloan Hadfield's brother Ridge went fishing with their father and never came home. Their father was arrested and charged with murder. Ridge's body was never recovered, and Sloan's mother slowly descended into madness, insisting her son was still alive. Now, twenty years later, Sloan's life is unraveling. In the middle of a bitter divorce, she's forced to return to her rural Texas hometown when her mother is discharged from a mental health facility. Overwhelmed by memories and unanswered questions, Sloan returns to the last place her brother was seen all those years ago.
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Quite a few bends in this river!
- By Yetibettie on 03-10-25
By: Shanessa Gluhm
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The Long Road Back to You
- By: Buck Turner
- Narrated by: Matt Hicks
- Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In small-town Tennessee, 18-year-old Charlie Ross wagers a kiss from Anna Cochran, the prettiest girl in town, and wins. But before their burgeoning romance can take flight, Charlie is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. Anna promises she'll wait for him, no matter how long it takes. But when Charlie is taken prisoner, and later presumed dead, Anna is left to pick up the pieces to her shattered world. Eight years later, Charlie comes home. But his triumphant return is short-lived when he discovers the love of his life has moved on.
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Touching
- By Uhura on 06-09-23
By: Buck Turner
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Where Butterflies Wander
- A Novel
- By: Suzanne Redfearn
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd, Vivienne Leheny, Jordan Cobb, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
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Performance
-
Story
After a tragic accident claims the life of one of her children, Marie Egide is desperate to carve out a fresh start for her family. With her husband and their three surviving children, Marie travels to New Hampshire, where she plans to sell a family estate and then, just maybe, they’ll be able to heal from their grief. Marie’s plans are thwarted when she realizes a war veteran known by locals as “the river witch” is living in a cabin on the property, which she claims was a gift from Marie’s grandfather. If Davina refuses to move on, Marie won’t be able to either.
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The dichotomy between the characters
- By Linda on 03-24-24
By: Suzanne Redfearn
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Where the Grass Grows Blue
- By: Hope Gibbs
- Narrated by: Helen Laser
- Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Penny Crenshaw’s divorce and her husband’s swift remarriage to a much younger woman have been hot topics around Atlanta’s social circles. After a year of enduring the cruel gossip, Penny leaps from the frying pan into the fire by heading back to Kentucky to settle her grandmother’s estate. Reluctantly, Penny travels to her hometown of Camden, knowing she will be stirring up all the ghosts from her turbulent childhood. But not all her problems stem from a dysfunctional family. One of Penny’s greatest sources of pain lives just down the street: Bradley Hitchens.
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Awesome….
- By Patrick Cummiskey on 06-04-23
By: Hope Gibbs
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Eight Weeks Later
- A Novel
- By: G.T. London
- Narrated by: Eden Gabay, Marina Fess
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
After a tumultuous childhood, Roy Fernsby now runs a quaint London coffee shop that his friends frequent, cycles on Sundays . . . and keeps his distance from romantic relationships. Though Roy’s charming and well-liked, being single suits him—if only because it helps him avoid the sting of abandonment. Besides, Roy likes his life exactly as it is.
By: G.T. London
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The Lighthouse
- By: Christopher Parker
- Narrated by: Braden Wright
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Something strange is happening in Seabrook. The town's lighthouse - dormant for over 30 years and famously haunted - has inexplicably started shining, and its mysterious glow is sparking feverish gossip throughout the spooked community. Amy Tucker is only visiting for the night and has no plans to get caught up in the hysteria, but that changes when she meets Ryan, the loyal, hard-working son of a ranch owner who lives on the outskirts of town.
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Loved it!!!
- By Diana Leguizamon on 11-11-21
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The Keeper of Stars
- A Novel
- By: Buck Turner
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Phillips
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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A novel written by Ellie’s first love, Jack Bennett, tells the story of a young man and woman who meet at the water’s edge and fall madly in love, only to have their romance cut short by forces beyond their control. Ellie quickly realizes this is no ordinary story; it’s their story. Captivated by Jack’s words, she immerses herself in the pages, reliving the adventures they shared that magical summer. To her astonishment, hidden among the tales of star-gazing and stolen kisses is a detail that has her questioning everything.
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From Heartache to Hope: An Unforgettable Love Story
- By Sheila on 05-22-24
By: Buck Turner
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The Magic of Ordinary Days
- A Novel
- By: Ann Howard Creel
- Narrated by: Justine Eyre
- Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Olivia Dunne, a studious minister's daughter who dreams of being an archaeologist, never thought that the drama of World War II would affect her quiet life in Denver. An exhilarating flirtation reshapes her life, though, and she finds herself banished to a rural Colorado outpost, married to a man she hardly knows. Overwhelmed by loneliness, Olivia tentatively tries to establish a new life, finding much-needed friendship and solace in two Japanese American sisters who are living at a nearby internment camp.
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I purchased this audio book not 15 minutes ago...
- By Kim on 09-15-16
By: Ann Howard Creel
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The Wild Road Home
- A Novel
- By: Melissa Payne
- Narrated by: Landon Woodson, Lisa Cordileone
- Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Story
Mack Anders will do anything for his wife, Daisy. Even die. With the woman he loves fading away from Alzheimer’s, Mack fakes his own passing. The insurance makes certain that Daisy will be taken care of with dignity and comfort until the end. In a lonesome cabin in the Wyoming wilderness, he lives off the grid with nothing but thoughts of the past to keep him company and the belief that Daisy is better off without him.
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Good Story, Well Told
- By Jo from Texas on 11-04-24
By: Melissa Payne
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Appalachian Song
- By: Michelle Shocklee
- Narrated by: Caroline Hewitt
- Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she’s tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart.
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You Just Have to Read This Story!
- By Phyllis R on 11-14-23
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Talmadge Farm
- By: Leo Daughtry
- Narrated by: Justin Price
- Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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It's 1957, and tobacco is king. Wealthy landowner Gordon Talmadge enjoys the lavish lifestyle he inherited but doesn't like getting his hands dirty; he leaves that to the two sharecroppers - one white, one Black - who farm his tobacco but have bigger dreams for their own children. While Gordon takes no interest in the lives of his tenant farmers, a brutal attack between his son and the sharecropper children sets off a chain of events that leaves no one unscathed. Over the span of a decade, Gordon struggles to hold on to his family's legacy as the old order makes way for a New South.
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The Days of Nicotine and Glory
- By The Elf in the Kitchen on 12-13-24
By: Leo Daughtry
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I Know This Much Is True
- By: Wally Lamb
- Narrated by: Ken Howard
- Length: 5 hrs and 42 mins
- Abridged
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In the long awaited follow-up to the highly praised novel She's Come Undone, Dominick Birdsey must come to terms with himself, as well as with the schizophrenic twin brother he has spent his life both protecting and resenting.
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Disappointing
- By Douglas on 03-20-08
By: Wally Lamb
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Black Woods, Blue Sky
- A Novel
- By: Eowyn Ivey
- Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman
- Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Birdie’s keeping it together; of course she is. So she’s a little hungover, sometimes, and she has to bring her daughter, Emaleen, to her job waiting tables at an Alaskan roadside lodge, but she’s getting by as a single mother in a tough town. Still, Birdie can remember happier times from her youth, when she was free in the wilds of nature. Arthur Neilsen, a soft-spoken and scarred recluse who appears in town only at the change of seasons, brings Emaleen back to safety when she gets lost in the woods. Most people avoid him, but to Birdie, he represents everything she’s ever longed for.
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Compelling story and characters
- By LoriB49 on 03-27-25
By: Eowyn Ivey
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The Snow Child
- By: Eowyn Ivey
- Narrated by: Therese Plummer
- Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart - he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone - but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees. This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods.
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WOW!!! A MUST Listen - even better than reading.
- By Edmund W. Cheung on 02-13-19
By: Eowyn Ivey
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Sold on a Monday
- A Novel
- By: Kristina McMorris
- Narrated by: Brian Hutchison
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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2 CHILDREN FOR SALE. In 1931, near Philadelphia, ambitious reporter Ellis Reed photographs the gut-wrenching sign posted beside a pair of siblings on a farmhouse porch. With the help of newspaper secretary Lily Palmer, Ellis writes an article to accompany the photo. Capturing the hardships of American families during the Great Depression, the feature story generates national attention and Ellis's career skyrockets. But the piece also leads to consequences more devastating than he and Lily ever imagined - and it will risk everything they value to unravel the mystery and set things right.
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Not what I anticipated...
- By Lashawn on 10-13-18
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The River We Remember
- A Novel
- By: William Kent Krueger
- Narrated by: CJ Wilson
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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On Memorial Day in Jewel, Minnesota, the body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. The investigation falls to Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero who still carries the physical and emotional scars from his military service. Even before Dern has the results of the autopsy, vicious rumors begin to circulate that the killer must be Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who has recently returned to Jewel with a Japanese wife.
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This book makes me believe that there are good books written by good authors.
- By Va on 09-15-23
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The Last of the Moon Girls
- By: Barbara Davis
- Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen
- Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Lizzy Moon never wanted Moon Girl Farm. Eight years ago, she left the land that nine generations of gifted healers had tended, determined to distance herself from the whispers about her family’s strange legacy. But when her beloved grandmother Althea dies, Lizzy must return and face the tragedy still hanging over the farm’s withered lavender fields: the unsolved murders of two young girls, and the cruel accusations that followed Althea to her grave.
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outstanding book
- By Alyssa Amori on 08-03-20
By: Barbara Davis
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Memorial Days
- A Memoir
- By: Geraldine Brooks
- Narrated by: Geraldine Brooks
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Many cultural and religious traditions expect those who are grieving to step away from the world. In contemporary life, we are more often met with red tape and to-do lists. This is exactly what happened to Geraldine Brooks when her partner of more than three decades, Tony Horwitz–just sixty years old and, to her knowledge, vigorous and healthy–collapsed and died on a Washington, D. C. sidewalk.
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Uninspired, mediocre writing.
- By C. Tyler on 03-04-25
By: Geraldine Brooks
What listeners say about Before the Swallows Come Back
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Lori J. Little
- 03-28-25
Such a Touching Story
Even though this was a book written about another time and place from my own, I appreciate the telling of this story, and the reality of how awful things can be when times are tough. I’m so thankful there are ways out of dark troubles, and then wonderful endings.
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- Lisa Dushais
- 01-17-25
Plot
I liked everything about the book, the story, the reading with Scottish accent descriptions of nature and the length
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- jlz
- 01-14-25
Epic tale
It's a long book with a slow start, but ended up being a great read!
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- Mare
- 07-30-24
l liked the characters
just felt it ended all of a sudden
wasn't quite finished
all of sudden the book was finished
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- Janice R Larsen
- 12-20-24
Loved the book
Nature descriptions were wonderful. Reader was great. Loved characters and descriptions of each. Felt I was there
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- TC in Montana
- 08-01-24
Bad language
I wanted to love this book. the narrative and character are wonderful, but the story gets dark and all of a sudden they are adding in offense language. I prefer not to read or hear that.
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2 people found this helpful