Synopsis: When Iola Anne Poole, an old-timer on Hatteras Island, passes away in her bed at ninety-one, the struggling young mother in her rental cottage, Tandi Jo Reese, finds herself charged with the task of cleaning out Iola's rambling Victorian house.Running from a messy, dangerous past, Tandi never expects to find more than a temporary hiding place within Iola's walls, but everything changes with the discovery of eighty-one carefully decorated prayer boxes, one for each year, spanning from Iola's youth to her last days. Hidden in the boxes is the story of a lifetime, written on random bits of paper--the hopes and wishes, fears and thoughts of an unassuming but complex woman passing through the seasons of an extraordinary, unsung life filled with journeys of faith, observations on love, and one final lesson that could change everything for Tandi.
Thoughts: **I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own."
What a great book to read at the beginning of a new year. It touched my heart so many times, and made me more intent on leaving a written record of my thoughts and my life, for future generations.
The book tells two stories....the life of Iola Anne, and the life of Tandi Jo. It's not until the last pages where we see them fit together, in a story that brought tears to my eyes.
Aside from the two main characters, who are brought to life in an amazing way, there is a bevy of supporting characters. Each one has an important part to play in one story or the other, and their personalities also come through in the writing.
This is going to be one of those books I read over and over again!
My rating: 5 stars
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