What the Wind Knows

 

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon.  Lake Union Publishing, 2019. 406 pages. *****

Anne Gallagher, raised by her Irish Grandfather, longs to visit Ireland with him. He puts her off by saying it is not time yet. Anne wonders when will the right time be and longingly listens to his stories of his life there. Woven into his tales are words of wisdom to quell her continuing questions.  "The wind you hear is the same wind that has always blown. But the wind and water know all the earth's secrets." Saddened by his death, Anne travels to his hometown to distribute his ashes in Lough Gill. That seemingly innocent act deposits her in another time and conflict. Harmon skillfully weaves in the Irish struggle for Independence by dropping Anne into the thick of it with her mentor, Dr. Thomas Smith, and his friend Michael Collins. Knowing the outcome and recognizing that she is mistaken for her great-grandmother, Anne is hurt, disoriented, shaken, and unsure of her place in this time. 

A childhood friend recommended this book and I am so glad that she did. Told in the alternating voices of Anne and Thomas, it includes all the elements of a successful story - romance, family, friendship, time-travel, and history.  I was held captive from the very beginning and kept reading anticipating the ending and at the same time, not wanting it to end. I am a fan of time travel and  historical fiction. Harmon is skillful in her ability to bring the story full circle and provide the perfect ending.  This one will be on my top ten for 2024 list. 

From the book jacket:

Amy Harmon is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen novels. Her historical novels, inspirational romances, and young adult fantasy books are now being published internationally. For more information on Amy Harmon and future publications, click here.

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