The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky

The Legacy of Longdale Manor
by Carrie Turansky

ISBN-13: 9780764241055
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: September 26, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In 2012, art historian Gwen Monroe 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 becomes acquainted with David Bradley--the owner's handsome grandson--who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. When Gwen's invited to read a one-hundred-year-old journal and finds an intricately carved shepherd's staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she uncovers a connection to the father she never knew.

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 a man's word again.

Two women a century apart are taken on a journey to healing, faith, and forgiveness in this heartfelt dual-time Edwardian romance from bestselling author Carrie Turansky.


My Review:
The Legacy of Longdale Manor is a Christian romance set in 1912 and 2012 in England. I felt like the 1912 story was the more developed story as we're able to see Charlotte and Ian grow in maturity and wisdom and fall in love as they spent time together. Many of the scenes in the 2012 story either showed Gwen and David in conflict due to different values or apologizing and learning to get along. Gwen helped David to see that sometimes he got focused on the wrong things and needed to take people's feelings into consideration. We're told they spent time working together on ways to preserve the historical aspects of the manor during the renovation. I would have liked to see scenes of their shared interests and collaboration, especially as that turned out to be an important point later.

Historical details were woven into the story and created a distinct sense of time and place without slowing the pacing. The characters came across as real, complex people who changed and matured through the events of the story. Any misunderstandings between the couples felt like realistic issues that needed to be worked through--and were-- rather than artificial conflict.

Gwen's father apparently abandoned her and her mother before she was born. Charlotte felt deeply betrayed by her father preaching one thing while engaging in a secret sin that she only discovered after his death. They both came to realize that only God is the perfect Father, and He can be fully trusted even in difficult times. They also had to forgive people who let them down. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.