The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky

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Book Review of The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky

As an American reader and book lover, for some reason I find that books set in England seem so much more romantic than books set in America. Am I crazy? Is it a consequence of my love of Jane Austen’s books? Is it because I’ve never been there and haven’t lived and worked there so my vision is all in my imagination? I’m not sure, but my theory has proven true so many times. What do you think? Today I’m reviewing The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky, and yes, it’s set in England.

Blurb:

Two women—a century apart—embark on a journey to healing, faith, forgiveness, and romance.

In 2012, art historian Gwen Morris travels to England’s Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she meets David Bradford–the owner’s handsome grandson–who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd’s staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she’s left searching for answers.

In 1912, after her father’s death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte’s grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.

My Book Review:

I love the double time period point of view in books! It’s so fun to read about the differences between the ages. What are the people doing in the different years? What has changed in the landscape, technology, culture? The Legacy of Longdale Manor splits the time periods so well! The transitions flow seamlessly, and I love how they connect (sorry, no spoilers here).

The characters make this book, for sure! The 1912 characters of Charlotte Harper with her family and Ian Storey with his family bring the era to life. Charlotte is such a relatable character. She can be stubborn and quick to jump to conclusions, but she has a good heart and wants what is best for her family and friends. I loved watching her journey and growth in this book. Ian is a complex character. He is also relatable. I loved learning about his faith and devotion to his family.

The 2012 characters of Gwen Morris and David Bradford are just as relatable and did a great job of bringing the story into more current times. Gwen has suffered great loss in her life and is trying to find herself. She, like Charlotte, also likes to jump to early conclusions, which sometimes causes her more heartache. David seems like a great, down-to-earth guy who is just trying to figure things out and do what is best. I love the devotion he has to his grandmother. He falters at times but learns from his mistakes and tries to do better the next time.

One of my favorite parts of reading is going on adventures to different places. The Legacy of Longdale Manor takes place in London and Manchester, England. I need to go see this Lake District they keep raving about! Click HERE to see pictures of Derwentwater, the local lake of Keswick (It’s beautiful!). Ms. Turansky does a great job of describing the town, the lake, the mountains (or fells), and the feelings around keeping it beautiful and pristine.

I liked the story lines in each of the time periods and felt like Ms. Turansky did a good job of bringing them together. At the end of the book, I was left with a few questions, and one of the questions was quite important to the story. However, I did receive an ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy) of the book, and it may have been fixed in the final draft.

Christianity and faith are not brought up a lot in a lot of books today, and I appreciated learning about each of the character’s faith journeys. There is everyone from a traveling preacher to a recent college graduate who questions her faith. They pray over their meals, go to church, and discuss their faith. I loved the honesty in it as some questioned their faith and grappled with themselves or others not living up to the standards they thought they should. Faith is a journey, and each of us is at our own place on that journey. It’s helpful to remember that, and to give each other grace and love.

If you’re looking for a beautiful story set in a beautiful place, The Legacy of Longdale Manor is for you! You won’t be disappointed! It’s heartfelt and deals with tradition, loyalty, love, fatherhood, faith, forgiveness, and hope.