These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas: Book Review

 **ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda is stunned to see Fritz's name in a photograph of an American memorial for German seamen who died near Asheville, North Carolina. Determined to reclaim his body and bring closure to his ailing mother, Hedda travels to the US. Her quest takes a shocking turn when, rather than Fritz's body, his casket contains the remains of a woman who died under mysterious circumstances.

Local deputy Garland Jones thought he'd left that dark chapter behind when he helped bury Fritz Meyer's coffin. The unexpected arrival of Hedda, a long-suffering yet captivating woman, forces him to confront how much of the truth he really knows. As they work together to uncover the identity of the woman in the casket and to unravel Fritz's fate, Hedda and Garland grow closer. But with Hedda in the US on borrowed time while Hitler rises to power in Germany, she fears she'll be forced to return home before she can put the ghosts of her past to rest.

"These Blue Mountains is a masterful tale that weaves together two continents, two wars, and two lives defined by longing and resilience."--PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY, New York Times bestselling author

"North Carolina's mountains hide the secrets of a war long past and a young love cut short in this atmospheric tale of unexpected hope."--LISA WINGATE, New York Times bestselling author

This inspirational historical fiction is set in the mountains of North Carolina in the tumultuous years before World War II. With threads of intrigue, romance, and an international cast of characters, These Blue Mountains is the perfect book club pick and Southern fiction read.

The Author

Sarah Loudin Thomas is the author of numerous acclaimed novels, including The Finder of Forgotten Things, The Right Kind of Fool, winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year, and Miracle in a Dry Season, winner of the 2015 INSPY Award. She worked in public relations for Biltmore Estate for six years and is now the director of Jan Karon's Mitford Museum. A native of West Virginia, she and her husband live in western North Carolina. Learn more at SarahLoudinThomas.com.

Book Review

Simply put... wow, what a story! I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked this one up, but I do know that what I got was definitely so much MORE. However, with so many unexpected twists and turns, I don't want to say too much and take away from the reading experience... because boy, what an experience it was. This story had moments of heartbreak set in the time between the first World War and Hitler's rise to power in Germany, but it also a beautiful message of hope and healing within it as well. I found it to be a perfect blend of history with mystery, found family and yes, some romance too... though I'll admit there were times I wasn't quite sure where the romance was going to go in this one. It was complex and captivating, leaving me wanting to keep going until I knew how it would all turn out. If you are a fan of Christian historical fiction, trust me, this is one you're going to want to add to your TBR. 

You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4kzvBpm