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Echoes of the Heart #1
The Deepest Sigh
Seventeen year old Marilla Eckert is in love with Langdon "Lang" Prescott, her family's hired farm hand, unaware of his passionate feelings toward her older sister Delia. When Delia weds a longtime beau, Lang settles for Marilla instead, despite his continued longing and intent to someday win Delia away from her husband. Marilla soon realizes where Lang’s devotion truly lies, yet she presses on, giving everything she has to offer, convinced she can still gain his love.
Then America steps into the Great War. The men are sent a world away to fight, and Marilla's cares, coupled with the lack of her husband’s favor, finally wear her thin. When heartache and disaster strikes on every front, and Marilla’s hour of need leads her elsewhere for comfort, will each of them wind up too broken to ever find their hearts' true homes?
Then America steps into the Great War. The men are sent a world away to fight, and Marilla's cares, coupled with the lack of her husband’s favor, finally wear her thin. When heartache and disaster strikes on every front, and Marilla’s hour of need leads her elsewhere for comfort, will each of them wind up too broken to ever find their hearts' true homes?
274 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2010
94 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Naomi Dawn Musch
23 books457 followersNaomi loves stories rich in American history, but occasionally writes in other genres as well. She pens stories from the pristine north woods, where she and her husband live as epically as God allows near their five adult children and passel of grandchildren. She has worked as an editor for a small press, a staff writer for an EPA award-winning newspaper, a ghost writer, and has published dozens of magazine and internet articles for the encouragement of homeschooling families and young writers. Naomi is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Lake Superior Writers, and the Wisconsin Writers' Association. She loves engaging with others and always discovering kernels of a new story. She is available for speaking and book groups. Her newest novel is Mist O'er the Voyageur, and she anticipates re-releasing several of her back-list novels in 2019.
Connect with her through her website: http://www.naomimusch.com
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Connect with her through her website: http://www.naomimusch.com
FB: Naomi Musch - Author
Twitter: NMusch
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 11, 2024
Wisconsin mid 1910's
Mr and Mrs Eckert had two daughters, Delia 21 and Rilla 18.
The couple were farmers and owned a big land.
The daughters were helping with the chores as well.
Twenty-four year old Langdom was a handsome and charismatic man who knocked on their door one day and became the Eckert's hired farm hand.
The younger daughter Rilla was secretly in love with him while he was secretly in love with the elder daughter Delia.
Delia was very beautiful and Lang thought she was golden, ethereal, a goddess and the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
He thought Rilla a faded shadow of Delia, but Delia married Theo, the neighbour she was in love with.
Lang did not lose hope. He thought that Delia might tire of Theo after a time once the newness would wane.
Lang had no plans to leave the farm, he liked it there and he had to be around for when came a time for Delia to become available again.
He thought there was no reason he should wait like a eunuch.
Even Jacob in the bible had Leah while he waited for her sister Rachel.
He decided that he would marry Rilla and he could always imagine she was Delia.
The young owner of the General store in town, Jacob, was in love with Rilla, so Lang knew that he should step up his game.
He told Rilla he loved her (He lied) , and she was in seventh heaven.
They had a pleasurable honeymoon but there were times that Lang long to share those moments with Delia.
They started their married life in a cabin on her father's farm.
Rilla tried to be an excellent wife while Lang looked forward to every chance he had to see Delia.
Rilla became pregnant and Lang reluctantly told her he was happy but he knew that a baby would make things more difficult later, when he run away with Delia.
If Delia was pregnant with his baby he would have been elated.
He would often visit Delia while Theo was at work at the Railway.
He would have lunch with her, they would chat, tease, joke and have a good time while ogling her the whole time.
There was touching as well but supposedly "innocent".
As the months slipped by, Rilla noticed that Lang had lost interest in her. He let her do heavy jobs and stopped making love to her altogether.
She gave birth to a son, Emmett.
Lang would always find an excuse to visit Delia and she would always welcome him with big smiles.
He was even at Delia's on his first wedding anniversary, having forgotten the special day.
He gave Delia a pair of gold earrings on Christmas.
Rilla knew that Lang admired her sister and when she asked Delia what the two talk about, Rilla found out that they were discussing many subjects while the only subject Lang wanted to talk with herself was Delia.
Rilla was now suspicious. She'd started to realise that maybe she was living in a fool's paradise.
He never was saying that he loved her and he did not seem interested in his son neither.
Rilla was pregnant again. The reader knows Lang did not welcome the news.
He thought that he loved Rilla too, but it wasn't with the same burning heat and desire.
As Rilla's pregnancy progressed, Lang had seen her struggle to do things, but too often he found himself going to do tasks for Delia instead.
Rilla went into labour while she was at the General store and Jacob took her to the Hospital where she gave birth to a little girl.
Lang and Delia went to visit together and Rilla saw the way Lang was treating her sister and his complete lack of interest in herself and the newborn baby, and for the first time she knew for sure.
Lang loved her sister.
When Lang and Delia left the Hospital that day, Rilla turned her face into the pillow and wept.
While Rilla was recovering back home, Lang was not with her nor did he wanted to be.
He was hanging around Delia.
When Rilla complained about his constant visits to her sister, he tried to brush off her suspicions.
The first World War broke out many months earlier.
Theo was already in Europe fighting.
There were a lot of "comforting" hugs between Lang and Delia during this period.
Lang was called for military service.
The day before his departure he told Delia that she meant a lot to him, that he would always be there for her and that she was the reason he did not want to go to the war, not he said, Rilla and the children.
That last night Rilla told him "You love her". He did not respond, did not deny it.
He felt relieved. He thought that the next day he would be gone and wouldn't have to think about anything to do with Rilla.
She could get used to living without him and Delia would have the time thinking and accepting what he had told her.
Theo got injured fighting in the war. He lost his leg and was coming back to America.
Lang never wrote to Rilla.
Rilla sent a letter informing him about Theo's situation.
She did not inform him about her new pregnancy. She knew he did not care.
When Lang received the letter, he thought that eventually Delia would tire of taking care of a cripple.
She'd miss a whole man who could take care of her, him.
He never replied to Rilla's letter.
In the trenches somewhere in Europe, Lang wrote a letter to Delia. Here's an excerpt: "...l am writing to say that you are what keeps me alive. You must have seen it in my eyes, felt it when l've comforted you, held you. I have always loved you and only you. I never should have married Rilla. It was always been you, l've loved you since the first day l came to your father's farm. Delia, my darling Delia. Please let me love you...".
Delia read the letter and decided to give it to Rilla to read...
The book deserves four stars, it's so well written, the rest of the book is so compelling, but l am withholding one star because of the Hero. He made me so mad.
Mr and Mrs Eckert had two daughters, Delia 21 and Rilla 18.
The couple were farmers and owned a big land.
The daughters were helping with the chores as well.
Twenty-four year old Langdom was a handsome and charismatic man who knocked on their door one day and became the Eckert's hired farm hand.
The younger daughter Rilla was secretly in love with him while he was secretly in love with the elder daughter Delia.
Delia was very beautiful and Lang thought she was golden, ethereal, a goddess and the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
He thought Rilla a faded shadow of Delia, but Delia married Theo, the neighbour she was in love with.
Lang did not lose hope. He thought that Delia might tire of Theo after a time once the newness would wane.
Lang had no plans to leave the farm, he liked it there and he had to be around for when came a time for Delia to become available again.
He thought there was no reason he should wait like a eunuch.
Even Jacob in the bible had Leah while he waited for her sister Rachel.
He decided that he would marry Rilla and he could always imagine she was Delia.
The young owner of the General store in town, Jacob, was in love with Rilla, so Lang knew that he should step up his game.
He told Rilla he loved her (He lied) , and she was in seventh heaven.
They had a pleasurable honeymoon but there were times that Lang long to share those moments with Delia.
They started their married life in a cabin on her father's farm.
Rilla tried to be an excellent wife while Lang looked forward to every chance he had to see Delia.
Rilla became pregnant and Lang reluctantly told her he was happy but he knew that a baby would make things more difficult later, when he run away with Delia.
If Delia was pregnant with his baby he would have been elated.
He would often visit Delia while Theo was at work at the Railway.
He would have lunch with her, they would chat, tease, joke and have a good time while ogling her the whole time.
There was touching as well but supposedly "innocent".
As the months slipped by, Rilla noticed that Lang had lost interest in her. He let her do heavy jobs and stopped making love to her altogether.
She gave birth to a son, Emmett.
Lang would always find an excuse to visit Delia and she would always welcome him with big smiles.
He was even at Delia's on his first wedding anniversary, having forgotten the special day.
He gave Delia a pair of gold earrings on Christmas.
Rilla knew that Lang admired her sister and when she asked Delia what the two talk about, Rilla found out that they were discussing many subjects while the only subject Lang wanted to talk with herself was Delia.
Rilla was now suspicious. She'd started to realise that maybe she was living in a fool's paradise.
He never was saying that he loved her and he did not seem interested in his son neither.
Rilla was pregnant again. The reader knows Lang did not welcome the news.
He thought that he loved Rilla too, but it wasn't with the same burning heat and desire.
As Rilla's pregnancy progressed, Lang had seen her struggle to do things, but too often he found himself going to do tasks for Delia instead.
Rilla went into labour while she was at the General store and Jacob took her to the Hospital where she gave birth to a little girl.
Lang and Delia went to visit together and Rilla saw the way Lang was treating her sister and his complete lack of interest in herself and the newborn baby, and for the first time she knew for sure.
Lang loved her sister.
When Lang and Delia left the Hospital that day, Rilla turned her face into the pillow and wept.
While Rilla was recovering back home, Lang was not with her nor did he wanted to be.
He was hanging around Delia.
When Rilla complained about his constant visits to her sister, he tried to brush off her suspicions.
The first World War broke out many months earlier.
Theo was already in Europe fighting.
There were a lot of "comforting" hugs between Lang and Delia during this period.
Lang was called for military service.
The day before his departure he told Delia that she meant a lot to him, that he would always be there for her and that she was the reason he did not want to go to the war, not he said, Rilla and the children.
That last night Rilla told him "You love her". He did not respond, did not deny it.
He felt relieved. He thought that the next day he would be gone and wouldn't have to think about anything to do with Rilla.
She could get used to living without him and Delia would have the time thinking and accepting what he had told her.
Theo got injured fighting in the war. He lost his leg and was coming back to America.
Lang never wrote to Rilla.
Rilla sent a letter informing him about Theo's situation.
She did not inform him about her new pregnancy. She knew he did not care.
When Lang received the letter, he thought that eventually Delia would tire of taking care of a cripple.
She'd miss a whole man who could take care of her, him.
He never replied to Rilla's letter.
In the trenches somewhere in Europe, Lang wrote a letter to Delia. Here's an excerpt: "...l am writing to say that you are what keeps me alive. You must have seen it in my eyes, felt it when l've comforted you, held you. I have always loved you and only you. I never should have married Rilla. It was always been you, l've loved you since the first day l came to your father's farm. Delia, my darling Delia. Please let me love you...".
Delia read the letter and decided to give it to Rilla to read...
The book deserves four stars, it's so well written, the rest of the book is so compelling, but l am withholding one star because of the Hero. He made me so mad.
October 20, 2022
This was so sad and the hero was so awful! Terrible!!!
I probably should have read the negative reviews more carefully as I thought there would be a quicker and happier turnaround in his feelings for her instead of her sister. NO! He methodically courts the h so he can marry her so he can continue to try and pursue the now married sister. I’m happy to report that this sister, unlike many an HP and other romance sisters, is a good sister and is not only clueless about the H, but is furious when she finally finds out.
How does he betray the h?
I probably should have read the negative reviews more carefully as I thought there would be a quicker and happier turnaround in his feelings for her instead of her sister. NO! He methodically courts the h so he can marry her so he can continue to try and pursue the now married sister. I’m happy to report that this sister, unlike many an HP and other romance sisters, is a good sister and is not only clueless about the H, but is furious when she finally finds out.
How does he betray the h?
August 5, 2020
This was a huge no for me.
I don't mind cheating books if the emphasis is on reconciliation not actively cheating.
In this book, the male lead character, I cannot call him a Hero, emotionally cheats for at least 70% of the book.
He misses out on getting the girl to someone else so he marries the sister, who adores him, to sate his needs, while waiting for the sister, who he thinks he loves to get fed up of her now husband and run off with him.
I'm not sure what sort of man thinks that it's okay for a sister to do that and what he thinks that would do to the whole family dynamic.
He is manipulative and connives ways to spend time with the sister, who doesnt notice and is not interested in him and is all about her husband.
He fantasizes about what their life together would be like and imagines her in the place of his wife.
His wife bears him 3 children who he doesn't really seem to make much effort with.
The real kicker is he originally changed his mind about woman who became his wife because another man showed interest.
I really wish she'd ended up with Jacob but he had more morals than her husband so he wouldn't have gone there.
It is closed door sex scenes.
Emotional cheating but nothing physical actually happens.
HEA, if you believe he can be redeemed.
I don't mind cheating books if the emphasis is on reconciliation not actively cheating.
In this book, the male lead character, I cannot call him a Hero, emotionally cheats for at least 70% of the book.
He misses out on getting the girl to someone else so he marries the sister, who adores him, to sate his needs, while waiting for the sister, who he thinks he loves to get fed up of her now husband and run off with him.
I'm not sure what sort of man thinks that it's okay for a sister to do that and what he thinks that would do to the whole family dynamic.
He is manipulative and connives ways to spend time with the sister, who doesnt notice and is not interested in him and is all about her husband.
He fantasizes about what their life together would be like and imagines her in the place of his wife.
His wife bears him 3 children who he doesn't really seem to make much effort with.
The real kicker is he originally changed his mind about woman who became his wife because another man showed interest.
I really wish she'd ended up with Jacob but he had more morals than her husband so he wouldn't have gone there.
It is closed door sex scenes.
Emotional cheating but nothing physical actually happens.
HEA, if you believe he can be redeemed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2024
Reread 4/18/2022
He really is a pig. On the reread it’s hard to get past this.
He marries one sister while “in love” with the other. When he can’t have the one he wants, he proposes to the other. Sadly, she’s completely in love with him and believes he loves her. And he uses his wife while trying to pursue the married sister, hoping they can somehow run away together. Only the sister ignores all his subtle attempts for attention. When the sister’s husband goes off to fight in WW I, he also goes. And when her husband almost dies and loses a leg, he sees his chance and writes a love letter to the sister. She never acknowledges any of this.
He and his wife have 2 children and finds out she’s pregnant with a third when he’s fighting in Europe (and he’s not happy about that). Before leaving he pushed a family friend to take care of his family (with the hope that the friend would take over when he eventually runs away with his SIL- great guy.)
He’s wounded right before the armistice and while recovering he receives news from his wife that…
1. She knows about the letter to her sister.
2. Her BIL is home and recovering and her sister is beyond happy to have him home.
3. They’ve lost their son to the flu.
Now, he’s feeling like a fool and doesn’t know how to acknowledge this. The entire time he was gone the only letter he wrote was the one to his SIL.
Around 70% he realizes it was just infatuation with the SIL and he loves his long suffering wife. Is it too late? The friend has done his job, he’s taken care of the family and is very much in love with the wife and the children. But he’s a God fearing man and won’t steal another man’s family. The wife is heartbroken, she’s stuck with a man in love with her sister and has feelings for a good man that cares about her and her children. At this point, the reader wants to 🔪 the husband and hopes she’ll find her HEA elsewhere.
But that’s not going to happen. The husband wants back, her father gives them the family farm, and she feels stuck. And basically, he waits her out. He takes care of the farm, builds her a house, apologizes to the sister, and he waits for her to forgive him. And through most of this she just moves through life, numb to everything. She cooks, she cleans, she cares for their children with as little interaction with him as possible. How long can that go on?
It goes on until they finally talk about everything and she basically says when you couldn’t have my sister, you decided to marry me to get the farm. It’s probably the best line in the book. And it’s their turning point. He loves her, for whatever reason, she 1. believes him, and 2. she still loves him—more fool her.
So honestly, this is one great big angst fest, OTT and somewhat entertaining. So why 2 stars? Historically it’s a hot mess. The most egregious mistake… 1918 and the author refers to the pandemic as the Asian Flu. There are a number of other errors too. On my first read I ignored most of them, with the exception of the flu—you can’t ignore that one.
Original review…
I should not have liked this story as much as I did. Marilla is a sweet, innocent young lady infatuated with a man that doesn’t deserve her. Lang wants who he wants and it’s not poor Marilla, He comes across as caring and loving, but is nothing but deceitful.
There’s an historical error in the book that I found frustrating, the flu pandemic in 1918 was the Spanish influenza not the Asian that was in 1957.
He really is a pig. On the reread it’s hard to get past this.
He marries one sister while “in love” with the other. When he can’t have the one he wants, he proposes to the other. Sadly, she’s completely in love with him and believes he loves her. And he uses his wife while trying to pursue the married sister, hoping they can somehow run away together. Only the sister ignores all his subtle attempts for attention. When the sister’s husband goes off to fight in WW I, he also goes. And when her husband almost dies and loses a leg, he sees his chance and writes a love letter to the sister. She never acknowledges any of this.
He and his wife have 2 children and finds out she’s pregnant with a third when he’s fighting in Europe (and he’s not happy about that). Before leaving he pushed a family friend to take care of his family (with the hope that the friend would take over when he eventually runs away with his SIL- great guy.)
He’s wounded right before the armistice and while recovering he receives news from his wife that…
1. She knows about the letter to her sister.
2. Her BIL is home and recovering and her sister is beyond happy to have him home.
3. They’ve lost their son to the flu.
Now, he’s feeling like a fool and doesn’t know how to acknowledge this. The entire time he was gone the only letter he wrote was the one to his SIL.
Around 70% he realizes it was just infatuation with the SIL and he loves his long suffering wife. Is it too late? The friend has done his job, he’s taken care of the family and is very much in love with the wife and the children. But he’s a God fearing man and won’t steal another man’s family. The wife is heartbroken, she’s stuck with a man in love with her sister and has feelings for a good man that cares about her and her children. At this point, the reader wants to 🔪 the husband and hopes she’ll find her HEA elsewhere.
But that’s not going to happen. The husband wants back, her father gives them the family farm, and she feels stuck. And basically, he waits her out. He takes care of the farm, builds her a house, apologizes to the sister, and he waits for her to forgive him. And through most of this she just moves through life, numb to everything. She cooks, she cleans, she cares for their children with as little interaction with him as possible. How long can that go on?
It goes on until they finally talk about everything and she basically says when you couldn’t have my sister, you decided to marry me to get the farm. It’s probably the best line in the book. And it’s their turning point. He loves her, for whatever reason, she 1. believes him, and 2. she still loves him—more fool her.
So honestly, this is one great big angst fest, OTT and somewhat entertaining. So why 2 stars? Historically it’s a hot mess. The most egregious mistake… 1918 and the author refers to the pandemic as the Asian Flu. There are a number of other errors too. On my first read I ignored most of them, with the exception of the flu—you can’t ignore that one.
Original review…
I should not have liked this story as much as I did. Marilla is a sweet, innocent young lady infatuated with a man that doesn’t deserve her. Lang wants who he wants and it’s not poor Marilla, He comes across as caring and loving, but is nothing but deceitful.
There’s an historical error in the book that I found frustrating, the flu pandemic in 1918 was the Spanish influenza not the Asian that was in 1957.
Read
November 24, 2022No rating
I knew this book was not for me. I read all the spoilers and KNEW this was a hard pass...Well, it should have been. But I read it anyway. Curiosity killed the cat. At this point, I think I read these type of stories just to feel something. In any case, I feel it wouldn’t be fair for me to rate it.
My thoughts?
I wasn't convinced he deserved a second chance. It’s not that he didn’t redeem himself, because I believe he did change. I think he was sincere, that he was remorseful and that at the end, he loved his wife. Unfortunately, the level of his betrayal was unforgivable and his disloyal behavior went on for way too long--years. Even at the end, to me, it felt his wife was second best/choice. I also felt he didn't dwell long enough in guilt. After all that emotional cheating and total disregard for his wife and children, why shouldn't he have suffered more, suffered longer? He got off easy. There weren't any real consequences for his behavior; only the pain he caused his wife. The fact she didn’t tell him to go to hell when he returned, that she allowed him back into her home knowing the extent of his betrayal…really is infuriating. And don’t get me started on how she felt she had to apologize to him for leaning on another man for support when her husband had practically abandoned his family, when he put another woman first before his wife from the very start. Just no. And in my opinion, any time spent around her sister would forever be awkward.
I should add, the only part that made me feel empathetic towards him was when he cried at his son's tombstone. That entire scene was poignant; I got misty-eyed. I felt his regret and sorrow.
I knew this book was not for me. I read all the spoilers and KNEW this was a hard pass...Well, it should have been. But I read it anyway. Curiosity killed the cat. At this point, I think I read these type of stories just to feel something. In any case, I feel it wouldn’t be fair for me to rate it.
My thoughts?
I wasn't convinced he deserved a second chance. It’s not that he didn’t redeem himself, because I believe he did change. I think he was sincere, that he was remorseful and that at the end, he loved his wife. Unfortunately, the level of his betrayal was unforgivable and his disloyal behavior went on for way too long--years. Even at the end, to me, it felt his wife was second best/choice. I also felt he didn't dwell long enough in guilt. After all that emotional cheating and total disregard for his wife and children, why shouldn't he have suffered more, suffered longer? He got off easy. There weren't any real consequences for his behavior; only the pain he caused his wife. The fact she didn’t tell him to go to hell when he returned, that she allowed him back into her home knowing the extent of his betrayal…really is infuriating. And don’t get me started on how she felt she had to apologize to him for leaning on another man for support when her husband had practically abandoned his family, when he put another woman first before his wife from the very start. Just no. And in my opinion, any time spent around her sister would forever be awkward.
I should add, the only part that made me feel empathetic towards him was when he cried at his son's tombstone. That entire scene was poignant; I got misty-eyed. I felt his regret and sorrow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2023
4 conflicting Stars
TEAM JACOB ALL THE WAY!!!
Man I have no clue what to rate this heartbreaking book so I'm just gonna ramble about the character's
Lang was a pathetic excuse of a man. Honestly he came across as super desperate when it came to Delia. I was actually embarrasssd for him in some scenes. What he put Rilla through was truly horrendous..there are really no words for how cruel he was. He wasn't only a shitty husband but a lousy father as well. He didn't deserve Rilla or his children.
Delia the sister that Lang is in love with. Sorry but I don't like her. So what she didn't return his advances, she also NEVER SHUT HIM DOWN! She had to know with the amount of time he spent with her that he was not only neglecting her sister but his children but did she send him home? Nope. She didn't because let's face it she liked the attention. Some could say she needed the help with her husband gone but what about Rilla? She was still doing all her chores and she had two, I repeat TWO children under two. She needed help not Delia. Then the letter happens, she shows it to her sister which is the right move and then promises to never be alone or talk with him again. Does she keep that promise? Also no. But she does have the gall to tell the h she's being to prideful for not forgiving her husband when he returns. All I could think was man Delia I wonder how fast you would forgive your husband if he confessed that he never loved you and wanted to runaway with your sister?? Probably not quickly. Wow I didn't realize how mad she made me until now🤣😅
Rilla- My heart just broke for her. She was duped into believing Lang loved her. She bore him 3 children in 3 years and lost one as well. She went through so much heartache in such a short amount of time. I just wanted her to be happy and I don't think she will ever truly be happy with Lang anymore. There is no way she'll ever truly be comfortable with Lang and her sister around each other. I just think she will constantly be on guard
Jacob- Oh how I wish he ended up being the H of the story. He was so good to Rilla and her kids. Showed her more love and compassion then Lang ever did. He even had better bonds with his(Langs) children.
So I still don't know how I feel about this book except sad for Rilla and Jacob. I do believe they would of been happy together. If Lang wouldn't of come up with his plan, I think they would if even got together naturally. Do I believe Lang loves Rilla now? Yes but it's to little to late. He never really made up for anything. I kept wondering if Delia gave him the go ahead where would Rilla be? Probably out in the cold with her children that Lang cared nothing about.
So with that being said I'm gonna make up my own ending. Theo finds out about the letter and kills Lang in a fit of rage. This leaves Rilla and Jacob now free to be together without the shadow of Lang over them. They all live HEA except Lang. The End.
I'm decided I'm gonna give it a 4 because I finished it in one day and it really got my blood pressure up🤣
TEAM JACOB ALL THE WAY!!!
Man I have no clue what to rate this heartbreaking book so I'm just gonna ramble about the character's
Lang was a pathetic excuse of a man. Honestly he came across as super desperate when it came to Delia. I was actually embarrasssd for him in some scenes. What he put Rilla through was truly horrendous..there are really no words for how cruel he was. He wasn't only a shitty husband but a lousy father as well. He didn't deserve Rilla or his children.
Delia the sister that Lang is in love with. Sorry but I don't like her. So what she didn't return his advances, she also NEVER SHUT HIM DOWN! She had to know with the amount of time he spent with her that he was not only neglecting her sister but his children but did she send him home? Nope. She didn't because let's face it she liked the attention. Some could say she needed the help with her husband gone but what about Rilla? She was still doing all her chores and she had two, I repeat TWO children under two. She needed help not Delia. Then the letter happens, she shows it to her sister which is the right move and then promises to never be alone or talk with him again. Does she keep that promise? Also no. But she does have the gall to tell the h she's being to prideful for not forgiving her husband when he returns. All I could think was man Delia I wonder how fast you would forgive your husband if he confessed that he never loved you and wanted to runaway with your sister?? Probably not quickly. Wow I didn't realize how mad she made me until now🤣😅
Rilla- My heart just broke for her. She was duped into believing Lang loved her. She bore him 3 children in 3 years and lost one as well. She went through so much heartache in such a short amount of time. I just wanted her to be happy and I don't think she will ever truly be happy with Lang anymore. There is no way she'll ever truly be comfortable with Lang and her sister around each other. I just think she will constantly be on guard
Jacob- Oh how I wish he ended up being the H of the story. He was so good to Rilla and her kids. Showed her more love and compassion then Lang ever did. He even had better bonds with his(Langs) children.
So I still don't know how I feel about this book except sad for Rilla and Jacob. I do believe they would of been happy together. If Lang wouldn't of come up with his plan, I think they would if even got together naturally. Do I believe Lang loves Rilla now? Yes but it's to little to late. He never really made up for anything. I kept wondering if Delia gave him the go ahead where would Rilla be? Probably out in the cold with her children that Lang cared nothing about.
So with that being said I'm gonna make up my own ending. Theo finds out about the letter and kills Lang in a fit of rage. This leaves Rilla and Jacob now free to be together without the shadow of Lang over them. They all live HEA except Lang. The End.
I'm decided I'm gonna give it a 4 because I finished it in one day and it really got my blood pressure up🤣
May 8, 2024
2.75*
Not for the romance but for Rilla, even Jacob.
And yes the angst ... and Emmett!
Certainly non for the zero - Lang, or her (physically and emotionally absent ) family, or her oh-so-nice-and-innocent sister - Delia.
"But you did marry me because you wanted two things. You wanted Delia, and you wanted the farm. You couldn't have the first thing so you settled for the second, and that meant taking me into the bargain."
A christian inspired that thankfully does not preach much ... till the end when the h is kinda gaslit to forgive the a-h.
Not for the romance but for Rilla, even Jacob.
And yes the angst ... and Emmett!
Certainly non for the zero - Lang, or her (physically and emotionally absent ) family, or her oh-so-nice-and-innocent sister - Delia.
"But you did marry me because you wanted two things. You wanted Delia, and you wanted the farm. You couldn't have the first thing so you settled for the second, and that meant taking me into the bargain."
A christian inspired that thankfully does not preach much ... till the end when the h is kinda gaslit to forgive the a-h.
August 16, 2017
With her exemplary unique voice, Naomi Musch has crafted a hauntingly beautiful novel that immediately sent my emotions in a tailspin! They were literally all over the page as I drank in the heartbreaking details of Marilla Eckert's life, whose only sin was to fall in love with the handsome, charming man of her dreams. A man who just so happens to be totally enamored with her sister. I wanted to throttle Langston Prescott, who came to work on Marilla's father's farm and immediately fell in love with the beautiful, spunky Delia Eckert. I know people can't help who they fall in love with, but why did he have to propose to the tall and skinny Marilla (whose only attribute is her lovely sea green eyes), just because her exquisite sister marries another?
Lang doesn't mistreat her and he really tries to be a good husband (I have to give him credit for that), and I almost felt sorry for him—but not too much. We definitely had a love/hate relationship going on and I'll be the 1st to admit he was pretty hunky. I love how Marilla evolves throughout the story...from a young, naive victim to a strong, independent wife and loving mother. When America steps into the Great War and Delia's husband enlists, Lang finally gets the chance to win her favor. But when tragedy and disaster strikes, will Marilla and Lang wind up too broken to ever find their way back home again?
What a powerful story! I stayed glued to the pages til way past bedtime—so great was my desire to see how everything played out. The characters were so realistically written that I actually found myself wanting to pray for them, weep with them, laugh with them. This was an unusually different historical read, but one that will keep you madly flipping the pages until you take that last satisfying deep sigh at the superb conclusion.
Lang doesn't mistreat her and he really tries to be a good husband (I have to give him credit for that), and I almost felt sorry for him—but not too much. We definitely had a love/hate relationship going on and I'll be the 1st to admit he was pretty hunky. I love how Marilla evolves throughout the story...from a young, naive victim to a strong, independent wife and loving mother. When America steps into the Great War and Delia's husband enlists, Lang finally gets the chance to win her favor. But when tragedy and disaster strikes, will Marilla and Lang wind up too broken to ever find their way back home again?
What a powerful story! I stayed glued to the pages til way past bedtime—so great was my desire to see how everything played out. The characters were so realistically written that I actually found myself wanting to pray for them, weep with them, laugh with them. This was an unusually different historical read, but one that will keep you madly flipping the pages until you take that last satisfying deep sigh at the superb conclusion.
August 8, 2020
I liked this more than I should have. The H was "THE ORIGINAL ASSWIPE" of the 20th century. Rilla deserved a whole lot better. He couldn't hang pants on any doorknob, latch or hook without her getting pregnant!! Talk about fertile.. The H was very manipulative and selfish.
October 31, 2025
Lang was one of the most selfish POS H’s I’ve ever read. He tricks a young woman who just turned 18 into marrying him cuz he wants to stay close to her sister whom he’s actually in love with. The majority of the book is him visiting the sister Delia and spending time with her while her husband works on the railroad and is overseas in WWI. He neglects the h Rilla, even when she’s pregnant. She’s carrying heavy things and doing all kinds of things she shouldn’t be while pregnant. He constantly thinks of Delia and compares the sisters and Rilla is obviously always lacking. He ends up being drafted, and Rilla realizes he loves Delia and confronts him the night before he leaves for the war. She’s had this thought before but she ignored it because of course he loves her; he says it back to her when she says it to him. 🤦🏻♀️ Anyway he says nothing, just walks away. He’s also told Delia he loves her and wants to be with her the night before he ships out, but she doesn’t really say anything.
Rilla being the ever little doormat takes him to the train station the next morning. She writes to tell him she hopes he comes back home to her and his family, she also writes to tell him she’s pregnant with their 3rd child, at which he gets really mad because that further ruins his chances with Delia. He of course only writes to Delia to tell her he loves her and has always loved her from the day he showed up on the farm. Rilla writes again to tell him their oldest son died from the flu. He’s deeply upset by this which is hysterical because he didn’t care about his kids when he had the chance to spend time with them before being shipped overseas. His entire time overseas he thinks of Delia and thinks of telling his friend dickie that Delia is his wife, not Rilla. He even thinks of his kids and if they’ll ever want to do things with him like go fishing, but then he thinks he may not want to do those things with them cuz he’s gonna run off with Delia. He does think he’s been terrible to Rilla, but not enough to not want to rush home to see Delia and wonder if she’s thought about what he said and if she missed him. He continues to realize how terrible he’s been to Rilla, but that doesn’t stop his obsession with Delia. He visits Delia and her husband Theo and sees Delia grab and hold theo’s hand, and it’s an aha moment where he realizes she will never leave Theo. So suddenly Lang loves Rilla and it’s been her all along. It was just lust with Delia.
Meanwhile, Rilla has been falling in love with Jacob while Lang was away. Jacob has loved her forever and comes to help her and the kids. She goes to talk to Jacob, but even though he loves her, he admits they aren’t the type of ppl to have an affair and sends her away. She’s very upset by this, and Lang is suddenly jealous as he can tell they love each other. So instead of being a good guy for once and leaving Rilla so she can be happy with Jacob, he insists he loves her and wants to win her back. Jacob ends up having to move to help his sister with her kids and the farm cuz her hubs dies in the war. Lang builds the house Rilla has been wanting for years now, and he magically feels all these emotions when he holds his kids and spends time with them. Doormat Rilla who’s husband has neglected her and their children, been used through the entire book, had her husband admit he’s always loved her sister, had him ruin her chance at happiness with Jacob decides she still loves him and they live HEA. I seriously can’t. I know it was a different time, so she couldn’t just leave Lang, and there’d be a stigma if she left him for Jacob, but she and Jacob should’ve been together. Lang was right; it would’ve been better for everyone if he’d died overseas in the war.
Also, I know a lot of reviews say Delia was innocent and had no clue and loved her husband. I don’t buy that for one second. She should’ve asked why he was spending all his time with her instead of his wife and kids. She’s married and loves her husband, and she doesn’t need Lang to be at her house every day. She even hinted she knew when they spoke at the end when Lang magically decided he loves Rilla. How many times did Lang tell her he’d protect her and support her, and did she understand what he meant, and she said yes. So she knew, and quite frankly, I think I liked her even less than Lang. She didn’t deserve to get pregnant, and I’d bet my life if theo didn’t come home from the war, she would’ve gladly run off with Lang.
Rilla being the ever little doormat takes him to the train station the next morning. She writes to tell him she hopes he comes back home to her and his family, she also writes to tell him she’s pregnant with their 3rd child, at which he gets really mad because that further ruins his chances with Delia. He of course only writes to Delia to tell her he loves her and has always loved her from the day he showed up on the farm. Rilla writes again to tell him their oldest son died from the flu. He’s deeply upset by this which is hysterical because he didn’t care about his kids when he had the chance to spend time with them before being shipped overseas. His entire time overseas he thinks of Delia and thinks of telling his friend dickie that Delia is his wife, not Rilla. He even thinks of his kids and if they’ll ever want to do things with him like go fishing, but then he thinks he may not want to do those things with them cuz he’s gonna run off with Delia. He does think he’s been terrible to Rilla, but not enough to not want to rush home to see Delia and wonder if she’s thought about what he said and if she missed him. He continues to realize how terrible he’s been to Rilla, but that doesn’t stop his obsession with Delia. He visits Delia and her husband Theo and sees Delia grab and hold theo’s hand, and it’s an aha moment where he realizes she will never leave Theo. So suddenly Lang loves Rilla and it’s been her all along. It was just lust with Delia.
Meanwhile, Rilla has been falling in love with Jacob while Lang was away. Jacob has loved her forever and comes to help her and the kids. She goes to talk to Jacob, but even though he loves her, he admits they aren’t the type of ppl to have an affair and sends her away. She’s very upset by this, and Lang is suddenly jealous as he can tell they love each other. So instead of being a good guy for once and leaving Rilla so she can be happy with Jacob, he insists he loves her and wants to win her back. Jacob ends up having to move to help his sister with her kids and the farm cuz her hubs dies in the war. Lang builds the house Rilla has been wanting for years now, and he magically feels all these emotions when he holds his kids and spends time with them. Doormat Rilla who’s husband has neglected her and their children, been used through the entire book, had her husband admit he’s always loved her sister, had him ruin her chance at happiness with Jacob decides she still loves him and they live HEA. I seriously can’t. I know it was a different time, so she couldn’t just leave Lang, and there’d be a stigma if she left him for Jacob, but she and Jacob should’ve been together. Lang was right; it would’ve been better for everyone if he’d died overseas in the war.
Also, I know a lot of reviews say Delia was innocent and had no clue and loved her husband. I don’t buy that for one second. She should’ve asked why he was spending all his time with her instead of his wife and kids. She’s married and loves her husband, and she doesn’t need Lang to be at her house every day. She even hinted she knew when they spoke at the end when Lang magically decided he loves Rilla. How many times did Lang tell her he’d protect her and support her, and did she understand what he meant, and she said yes. So she knew, and quite frankly, I think I liked her even less than Lang. She didn’t deserve to get pregnant, and I’d bet my life if theo didn’t come home from the war, she would’ve gladly run off with Lang.
February 4, 2024
This had one of the worst “heroes” I’ve ever seen.
Over half of the book is him pining and scheming to get the heroine’s sister to be his and then he will leave his wife. His affection for the sister is for seven years and then within one moment in time one day he realizes he loves his wife now? I was not convinced. I am also a bit conflicted about how quickly she was expected to forgive him once he realized he loved her; trust would take a long time to build back.
We see so many selfish thoughts and actions in his viewpoint, and hers, which made this hero irredeemable in my book.
But, 3✨’s for all the angst!
Over half of the book is him pining and scheming to get the heroine’s sister to be his and then he will leave his wife. His affection for the sister is for seven years and then within one moment in time one day he realizes he loves his wife now? I was not convinced. I am also a bit conflicted about how quickly she was expected to forgive him once he realized he loved her; trust would take a long time to build back.
We see so many selfish thoughts and actions in his viewpoint, and hers, which made this hero irredeemable in my book.
But, 3✨’s for all the angst!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2023
just 3 ⭐️
I’m not a fan of looooooong suffering h’s. And this book was one of those. The H was well…I can’t say it cause it’s not nice. I would never be that forgiving. I realize the time dictated what a woman could do but I don’t have to like it.
I’m not a fan of looooooong suffering h’s. And this book was one of those. The H was well…I can’t say it cause it’s not nice. I would never be that forgiving. I realize the time dictated what a woman could do but I don’t have to like it.
October 13, 2025
very slow, a little boring. we read about feelings but we are not able to feel them because the author kinda brushes off everything.. the death of a child, emotional cheating, WWI
January 26, 2023
It took until the end for me to like this guy. He made it hard with the attention he gave to the sister and the plans he had that included her and not his wife. The sister wanted no part in that, and he finally opened his eyes.
Yeah.... I believe that in the end, he loves his wife and loves his wife, kids, and life they have planned.
Yeah.... I believe that in the end, he loves his wife and loves his wife, kids, and life they have planned.
October 23, 2022
This started out well enough but the author didn't really resolve anything. The H is in love with the h's sister and is emotionally unavailable. He marries the h when the sister marries her long-time beau. The sister is totally uninterested in the H. The H spends all his time imagining how he's going to run away with the sister. He leaves his wife to slave away at their home and rushes off to help the sister because her husband is at war. When he enlists, he sends one letter home - to the sister. Not his wife who is dealing with the loss of their older son. He even set up his friend to step in and look after his wife, hoping they would hit it off. They do. The friend is a warm, caring man who even loves the kids and brings them candy and spends time with them.
Meanwhile the H comes back home, decides that the sister was never going to leave her husband and then decides he does love his wife. He's now jealous and offended that she's attracted to another man. There is no real reason for this change of heart, except what we as readers can see - he has realized he has no chance with the sister and decides to settle for the h's farm. She forgives him and asks his forgiveness for being attracted to a man who showers her with attention and kindness. #facepalm.
I'll confess, I didn't really enjoy this book. Others have pointed out factual errors but I just couldn't like the characters or empathize with them.
Meanwhile the H comes back home, decides that the sister was never going to leave her husband and then decides he does love his wife. He's now jealous and offended that she's attracted to another man. There is no real reason for this change of heart, except what we as readers can see - he has realized he has no chance with the sister and decides to settle for the h's farm. She forgives him and asks his forgiveness for being attracted to a man who showers her with attention and kindness. #facepalm.
I'll confess, I didn't really enjoy this book. Others have pointed out factual errors but I just couldn't like the characters or empathize with them.
December 13, 2018
Wow. I don't know what I expected in this book, but I was engrossed from start to finish. The characters didn't let me go even after I'd shut the book. They are deep, complex, and achingly human with their hopes, dreams, faults, and foibles. Sometimes you don't know who to root for. Sometimes you want to slap one of them. Sometimes you want to weep for them. Beautifully written in a style that will appeal to any who enjoy historicals and historical romance. Set during WWI at a very pivotal time in our history, a very satisfying story of people who did their best in a world that was shifting and changing before their very eyes. I highly recommend this one.
January 2, 2023
Difficult to grasp or relay to potential readers the depth of the monumental betrayal committed here.Alternatively, the author portrays the betrayal in stunning blatant fashion via the H's unvarnished, uncensored, morally vacuous internal rhetoric! Fairly pathetic that he had to be literally shell shocked and that it took a WW to snap him out of his debauched plan. I could appreciate this for its worth as an angsty rage read but unfortunately resolution and redemption for such sins was ludicrously speedy and for the most part unearned.I realize we were privy to much more than the h,but even so the grovel should have been extensive and protracted !
December 22, 2021
annoying faux Christian narrative that basically affirms that if you go through hell, put your happiness aside, and let everyone walk over you, you too can keep a broken, shitty man in the end.
February 11, 2020
I read Mist O'er the Voyageur & loved the detail, the writing, and the way some morally dicey scenarios were handled. In this book, I again loved the historical detail and writing, but found the wrap-up of the story quite troubling.
The plot has a bit of a Rachel/Leah/Jacob feel to it... if Jacob had chosen to marry Leah because Rachel had married someone else and Jacob continued to lust after her and hope to eventually abandon Leah and any children from their union and instead be with Rachel.
Rilla's youthful love and earnestness, met with cool acceptance by her new husband; Lang using his wife's body to satisfy his desire for her sister; Rilla's hope for his eventual love; so much overt emotional abandonment of his family- especially during pregnancy and newborn years.
I kept waiting for the redemption twist. And then, he returns from the war, after writing to his sister in law forthrightly about his feelings for her, sending zero reply to any of his wife's correspondence (including heartbreaking spoiler), and expects that saying that he's sorry &c will undo the years of harm he's deliberately caused.
Within 3 months of his return, Rilla's sister is chastising her for not forgiving Lang who is, "clearly, repentant." In addition to that, Lang has the audacity to be upset that a good childhood friend of Rilla's stepped up to help her while Lang was overseas, despite them handling things with propriety. Nevermind this was the guy Lang himself encouraged Rilla to look to before his change of heart because it made him feel better to know she'd have someone when he eventually ditched his family to be with the sister he REALLY cared about.
***She apologizes to him for being emotionally unfaithful while he was overseas because she was looking to her friend for support during (lots of spoilers). He ponders later that he WAS encouraging them toward each other, but that's not something he needs to admit to her.
And then boom, forgiveness and love and sex- where for the first time in their marriage, he's not thinking about her sister.
Stars given for the writing and interwoven historical details. Stars declined for all of the above. This could have been handled in a much healthier way. Tossing in religious reasons why she ought to just forgive him already was extra triggery.
The plot has a bit of a Rachel/Leah/Jacob feel to it... if Jacob had chosen to marry Leah because Rachel had married someone else and Jacob continued to lust after her and hope to eventually abandon Leah and any children from their union and instead be with Rachel.
Rilla's youthful love and earnestness, met with cool acceptance by her new husband; Lang using his wife's body to satisfy his desire for her sister; Rilla's hope for his eventual love; so much overt emotional abandonment of his family- especially during pregnancy and newborn years.
I kept waiting for the redemption twist. And then, he returns from the war, after writing to his sister in law forthrightly about his feelings for her, sending zero reply to any of his wife's correspondence (including heartbreaking spoiler), and expects that saying that he's sorry &c will undo the years of harm he's deliberately caused.
Within 3 months of his return, Rilla's sister is chastising her for not forgiving Lang who is, "clearly, repentant." In addition to that, Lang has the audacity to be upset that a good childhood friend of Rilla's stepped up to help her while Lang was overseas, despite them handling things with propriety. Nevermind this was the guy Lang himself encouraged Rilla to look to before his change of heart because it made him feel better to know she'd have someone when he eventually ditched his family to be with the sister he REALLY cared about.
***She apologizes to him for being emotionally unfaithful while he was overseas because she was looking to her friend for support during (lots of spoilers). He ponders later that he WAS encouraging them toward each other, but that's not something he needs to admit to her.
And then boom, forgiveness and love and sex- where for the first time in their marriage, he's not thinking about her sister.
Stars given for the writing and interwoven historical details. Stars declined for all of the above. This could have been handled in a much healthier way. Tossing in religious reasons why she ought to just forgive him already was extra triggery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2022
My Musings
This book has some strong emotionally charged moments, especially in the later part of the book. I detested Lang for well over half of the novel. However, the glimmers that there was more to him than meets the eye, kept me reading. Rilla was a very young girl with her head in the clouds. It takes a long time for her to realize the shallowness of her marriage, but she had my empathy because I have been there when I was a young woman. While Lang is at the western front, his experience with Dickie, had been searching his soul. It still takes him a long time to see the pain and heartache he's caused Rilla and it is deplorable. There is a scene toward the last part of the book that is very moving when his behavior at last sinks into his being. It's a very powerful moment that made his character real, flaws and all. It begins his redemption in a big way. This a book that has great depth that can easily be missed if one doesn't look deeper than the surface. I'm so glad I continued reading because by the end, I was pleased with Lang's character arch. This is a story of emotional infidelity which is so much worse than physical betrayal. I'm glad Rilla makes him work for her forgiveness. Happy reading!
This book has some strong emotionally charged moments, especially in the later part of the book. I detested Lang for well over half of the novel. However, the glimmers that there was more to him than meets the eye, kept me reading. Rilla was a very young girl with her head in the clouds. It takes a long time for her to realize the shallowness of her marriage, but she had my empathy because I have been there when I was a young woman. While Lang is at the western front, his experience with Dickie, had been searching his soul. It still takes him a long time to see the pain and heartache he's caused Rilla and it is deplorable. There is a scene toward the last part of the book that is very moving when his behavior at last sinks into his being. It's a very powerful moment that made his character real, flaws and all. It begins his redemption in a big way. This a book that has great depth that can easily be missed if one doesn't look deeper than the surface. I'm so glad I continued reading because by the end, I was pleased with Lang's character arch. This is a story of emotional infidelity which is so much worse than physical betrayal. I'm glad Rilla makes him work for her forgiveness. Happy reading!
January 9, 2024
This would have been a 5 but I just couldn't resign myself to agree with her need to forgive him in such a religious manner. Toward the end when the onus was put on her to forgive him when he hadn't even fully come clean with her and COMMUNICATE was disappointing. Did things develop with Jacob? Yes! And almost rightfully so! Lang's lack of connection to her verbally that went on for MONTHS after he came back before they really had "the talk" was so disconcerting it spoiled the groveling for me. But in reality, men can be like that. They just go about their business thinking she'll figure out that I do love her...."I just didn't think it was important enough to rehash things..." That just left me with irritation. And then she's blaming herself for being full of pride. No, it wasn't pride. She was so damn hurt by his flagrant disregard for her for all those years. And that's the grovel that was missing. So I would have liked to see a more open display of Lang's reality hitting him paraded in front of his wife without the wife having to grovel herself. Oh, that pisses me off. Other than that, a well written story couched in World War I affairs.
September 17, 2024
Not a fan, I do like a cheating/redemption book (yes he emotionally cheated) but there was no redemption here.
He spent 80% loving the sister, even told her so, didn’t seem to particularly care for his kids, didn’t once wrote to his wife or kids whilst he was at war, even after his son died wtf what was the early 1900’s name for shitty dad?.
Then kind of felt like he settled for h once and for all as sister definitely wasn’t leaving her husband and they got the farm.
Given the time the book was set I understood Rilla putting up with her lot but the H was not redeemable for me. I don’t think I would’ve cared if H was killed off at war in this, new H would’ve been better for Rilla.
Settled, she settled, he settled…he’s but let’s be honest eat, they probably both eventually grew miserable and resentful and just plodded along.
Also pretty sure the WW1 pandemic was Spanish Flu not Asian
He spent 80% loving the sister, even told her so, didn’t seem to particularly care for his kids, didn’t once wrote to his wife or kids whilst he was at war, even after his son died wtf what was the early 1900’s name for shitty dad?.
Then kind of felt like he settled for h once and for all as sister definitely wasn’t leaving her husband and they got the farm.
Given the time the book was set I understood Rilla putting up with her lot but the H was not redeemable for me. I don’t think I would’ve cared if H was killed off at war in this, new H would’ve been better for Rilla.
Settled, she settled, he settled…he’s but let’s be honest eat, they probably both eventually grew miserable and resentful and just plodded along.
Also pretty sure the WW1 pandemic was Spanish Flu not Asian
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 29, 2020
This heart-wrenching WWI novel is captivating from beginning-to-end. A young man, Langdon works on a Wisconsin farm obsessively falling in love with the older married beautiful sister, but marrying the younger one as a consolation prize. Marilla comes to learn this despite the birth of their children when he finally confesses as he is drafted into WWI. During his absence, a childhood friend comforts Marilla through love, sickness, and death of her child. Yet, the war changes Langdon when he returns to find his wife's devotion is to another, attempting to win her back. Extremely detailed character development in this long, heart-wrenching novel on the complexities of love and devotion versus human nature. Highly recommended for those who prefer a historical, WWI Christian-based intriguing read. (FYI - 1918-1919 was catastrophically affected by the "Spanish" flu, not the Asian flu).
February 10, 2019
The beginning of this book had me believing the story was about loving the wrong person. But about half way through, I realized it went so much deeper than that. It showed me how much we are capable of forgiveness and trusting someone after a broken heart. This book ended up capturing my attention in such a way that I never expected! Love doesn't happen all on it's own. It happens with time and effort from both people. What an excellent book! I've read 2 of Naomi's books now, and each one taught me something profound. Lovely writing!!
October 1, 2019
The setting is Wisconsin dairy country during the time of World War I. It’s the retelling of the Biblical story of Rachel and Leah, but it’s not. I found myself disliking Langdon Prescott right from the start. But that was good, because when he changes for the better I’m cheering. My heart went out to his longsuffering wife Rilla, who loved him from the moment she first lays eyes on him. This historically accurate, well-crafted story was everything I wanted to see despite a few detours before reaching its satisfying ending.
December 23, 2025
The hero was awful, didn't believe he loved her even after he came to the conclusion. The writing was bad, all tell, no show. It was certainly no romance, since no romantic tension ever existed between them. The hero only chose the heroine, because "that's what you do" as a upstanding religious man or what not. Just awful.
Oh and, the heroine had to overcome what the author called "pride". Well I call it a backbone. Who wants a man, who even after years of bedding you, wouldn't write to you from war. But he wrote a passionate love letter to her sister, so that's that.
Oh and, the heroine had to overcome what the author called "pride". Well I call it a backbone. Who wants a man, who even after years of bedding you, wouldn't write to you from war. But he wrote a passionate love letter to her sister, so that's that.
December 16, 2018
I'd enjoyed the author's Mist O'er the Voyageur, but this is so much different--yet oh so well nuanced, her characters so real, their reactions, their glances. The story wraps around two Wisconsin sisters and their compelling entanglements during the years of the Great War and the "Spanish flu." There are fewer than a dozen characters, one of whom never wrote his wife while fighting in France, although he did write her sister. A well woven story.
December 20, 2019
Wow! This is a great story of redemption! I just have to say, I didn't like Lang for much of the book. I continued to read this well written book because I cared about Rilla. Musch is a wonderful story teller and an excellent writer. I appreciated how she told this story and how she wrapped it up. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
November 22, 2018
I loved it but I didn't
I ask sure I will read this again. The plot was solid and the characters were even better. The part that I didn't love was central to the plot and was done amazingly well. But I struggled with the beginning.
I ask sure I will read this again. The plot was solid and the characters were even better. The part that I didn't love was central to the plot and was done amazingly well. But I struggled with the beginning.
July 10, 2024
Couldn't put this book down
The characters and setting are so well portrayed that they carried me right along. Believable, heart wrenching, with a very satisfying and inspirational ending, this story will stay with you for a long time.
The characters and setting are so well portrayed that they carried me right along. Believable, heart wrenching, with a very satisfying and inspirational ending, this story will stay with you for a long time.
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