Grace Greene

Author Grace Greene always tugs at your heart, but with her latest book, Emerald Heart, she grabs it and shakes it. This is one emotional book. You want to hug Mignon, then you want to shake her, then you want to hug her again. But she’s closed herself off emotionally and she won’t let you get near enough for hugs or shakes.

Grief is real and hard and unrelenting. For most people, usually, maybe, at the start the grief is right there, right in your face and it’s the filter between it and everything else you see and do. But over time, maybe a long time, but usually eventually, the grief moves to the side. You can still see it, it’s always there, things will always be different, but you don’t have to look through it, don’t have to fight your way through it for every single thing, large or small, that you want to accomplish.

Except for Mignon. For her the grief never moved to the side. She sees all of it all of the time. She knows the past is real, the tragedies occurred, but the hope is strong that maybe, just maybe, something will be different someday. So she’s frozen in time, in place, afraid to forget, unable to move on. She has friends but only reveals tiny bits of herself and is quick to pull them back. She knows she needs to make decisions, needs to make a life for herself – but can she?

Mignon is now the sole owner of the Emerald Heart Hotel that she once ran with her husband. Originally his dream, not hers, but they had a good life and she was happy. But Arthur’s been gone two years now and she can’t continue as she has been. She can’t afford to operate the hotel on her own, but neither can she afford to continue the minimal upkeep she’s been doing. There have been many offers to buy, but the property would likely be razed and redeveloped. Could she let that happen? Wouldn’t that be abandoning the child they lost and the husband she loved – and needed – so much?

Mignon is a difficult character. She’s stubborn and withdrawn and angry and suspicious and confused. Not easy to deal with. She has managed to retain some friends, but she is the only one who can decide if she will retreat forever or take a risk. Complicated, and even more complicated when she feels pressure from her and Arthur’s long-time friend Dominick to make up her mind, and when her ex-sister-in-law Jeanette shows up and old wounds and hurts and anger resurface, and when a man named Blake moves in next door. Is he interested in her or her property? Does she want him to be interested in either or is it all too terrifying?

Emerald Heart is another wonderful story from this wonderful author. It’s heartbreaking and sweet and just won’t let you go. The characters are so real you feel every emotion with them. You feel the despair and the hopelessness and then just a little bit of joy creeps in and it feels so good. This is such a satisfying read. Don’t miss it. Thanks to the author for providing an advance copy of Emerald Heart as part of her review crew. I recommend it without hesitation, and while you’re at it go back and read everything Greene has written. You will love them all. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.… (mere)

When Sandra Hurst leaves her husband Trent for the second time, she has a bigger problem. She has no job skills, no self esteem and now no support from her parents who have decided to sell their house and move to Florida. With no money and no place to live she accepts the job of house sitting for her aunt on the family home place. The rundown place gives her a lot to do and time to think and realize that she is capable of more than she ever thought possible. Grace Greene provides a captivating story of a young woman finding her place in the world and also finding herself along the way.
A very enjoyable read that left me hoping for a second book.
… (mere)