These Empty Places by Sarah Loudin Thomas: Book Review

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

The Book

When their worlds are upended, two women brought together by their loss discover what truly matters most.

Claire Roth sacrificed love for a life of comfort on Lake Toxaway--until the dam broke, and the lake washed down the side of the mountain. Fourteen years later, she longs to see the lake restored to its former glory even as the country faces hard economic times on the eve of the Great Depression.

Socialite Lena Hawkins married her first love, who swept her off her feet after skyrocketing from rags to riches by speculating in the stock market. Now penniless and rejected by her family, Lena and her husband have arrived at Lake Toxaway for a fresh start. There, Lena forms an unexpected connection with Claire, who hires her to assist with the personal library Claire is building to provide jobs and education for their struggling North Carolina community. When Claire is given a second chance at love and Lena a tempting chance at a life of independence, both women must release the past to fill tomorrow with promise.

Sarah Loudin Thomas paints a rich Southern historical story of friendship, second-chance romance, and new beginnings set in small-town North Carolina on the eve of the Great Depression. This read is perfect for book clubs and fans of Patti Callahan and Lisa Wingate.

The Author

Sarah Loudin Thomas grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV, the seventh generation to live there. Her historical fiction is often set in West Virginia and celebrates the people, the land, and the heritage of Appalachia.

Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Coastal Carolina University and is the author of the acclaimed novels 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 has also been a finalist for the Christy Award, ACFW Carol Award, and the Christian Book of the Year Award.

Sarah’s career includes six years in the PR Department at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and she served as the inaugural director of Jan Karon’s Mitford Museum in Hudson, NC. She currently divides her time between ministry work serving foster and adoptive families and writing. She and her husband live in western North Carolina.

Book Review

I've only read a handful of books by Sarah Loudin Thomas, but with each one I read, I find myself more and more impressed with her beautiful storytelling. This one was no exception. I was very quickly drawn into the lives of both Claire and Lena. Their lives were not short on hardships, drawing me in and making me feel for what they had experienced. But their stories were also ones of resilience and strength, of letting go and moving on from past hurts. This was one that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions but will ultimately leave you with a sense of hope. There was some second chance romance, that I did absolutely enjoy, of course, but for me, I think it truly was the friendship between these two women and the sense of healing that took center stage and made this a beautiful read. If you love Christian historical fiction and stories of friendship, this is one you're not going to want to miss. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4cqWRW0