What the Wind Knows
An Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post bestseller.
In an unforgettable love story, a woman's impossible journey through the ages could change everything...
Anne Gallagher grew up enchanted by her grandfather's stories of Ireland. Heartbroken at his death, she travels to his childhood home to spread his ashes. There, overcome with memories of the man she adored and consumed by a history she never knew, she is pulled into another time.
The Ireland of 1921, teetering on the edge of war, is a dangerous place in which to awaken. But there Anne finds herself, hurt, disoriented, and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a young boy who is oddly familiar. Mistaken for the boy's long-missing mother, Anne adopts her identity, convinced the woman's disappearance is connected to her own.
As tensions rise, Thomas joins the struggle for Ireland's independence and Anne is drawn into the conflict beside him. Caught between history and her heart, she must decide whether she's willing to let go of the life she knew for a love she never thought she'd find. But in the end, is the choice actually hers to make?
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Community Reviews
Anne Gallagher grew up listening to her grandfather regale stories of Ireland, so it comes as no surprise when Anne is heartbroken upon his death. Following his wishes, Anne flies from America to Ireland to spread his ashes into a lake. There, she is pulled into another time: Ireland of 1921. What she's only read about becomes very real when everything unfolds in front of her eyes. She is taken under the care of Dr Thomas Smith, and mistaken as the mother of a young boy who is oddly familiar, she takes on that identity. She is soon embroiled in the events that led up to Ireland's independence. There is distrust and conflict all around, but she finds herself willingly taking part in it, if only she could stay beside Thomas. Secrets gradually unfold, and it is then that she learns more of the life her grandfather had led before during his stay in Ireland.
I shelved this first before I read The First Girl Child. For the record, I hated the book, so it took me a while to decide if I really, really wanted to read this book. I decided that every author deserves a second chance, and so I dived in. The experience I had was so much more different in this one, and more welcoming, than it was for The First Girl Child. I love it, from the history to the mysteries to the characters. It was so well planned out and well researched that I drank everything in right from the beginning. I've always felt a connection to the old stories of Ireland, so it was very interesting to learn about the history of that country. All characters are also well-developed, and I love Thomas and Anne so much, especially Thomas. He's not the typical male one would find in romance books. He's gentle, kind and loyal, not egoistical at all.
What I didn't like was how heavy politics has a part to play in this book. I found myself skipping a few pages just to get past those boring bits. Yes, history is my jam, but politics is a no-go. It was too content-heavy that they felt terribly dull.
Otherwise, this book was a joy to read. It's original, emotional and informative. Highly recommended to all.
by A Floret's Breath
I was fascinated by the Irish history which I admit to knowing little about the country's struggle for independence, but knew of some of the names. I found myself looking up some of the Easter Rising and some of the key players mentioned in between listening to the book and can see reading more. Although I was never one for poetry the way that W.B. Yeats' poetry is woven into the text lowered the bar in my understanding his words which set alone, I would be more effective translating a language I have never seen before. But it adds and was so fitting to include.
This is a romantic novel and I am not one to be drawn to romance, but this book is neither too saturated in sex, although there is some, nor is it to sappy in it's love story but just the right balance to make you see the love. I also found many times to be laughing or smiling to myself in listening to the story, particularly in the parts where Anne compares our modern day luxuries that she no longer has in 1916.
The narrators Saskia Maarleveld, Will Damron do a fantastic job.
All is in all, I highly recommend this book and now I want to read more of Amy Harmon's books.
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