Heirlooms

I struggled a little at first to get into the rhythm of the story. Switching back and forth between generations was a little difficult. But I was quickly drawn in and enchanted with the stories as they spun and wove together with skill. This was a truly unique story and seems true to history without being bogged down by it.

This was my first multi-period novel. I was a little wary after hearing other readers say they always prefer one story over the other. But I’m happy to say that wasn’t the case with this reader. The author did a fantastic job connecting the two timelines through loss, hobbies, and secrets.Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd is like unwrapping a basket of goodies. She immerses the reader in the story’s setting by weaving tidbits from real life into her fictional tale, making the character’s world come alive.Remember party lines?By the end of the book, the reader has made new friends and collected a treasure trove of gardening and culinary ideas they can use in their own lives.I love that Byrd’s characters are always strong and can find a solid solution to their problems. The mid-century story of two widows is a story of triumph and heartbreak. I like the way Helen helped Euhnee even though she knew it could cost her everything. Their friendship is a beautiful reminder of how precious true friends are. The modern-day story of Cassidy and Grace is about overcoming the odds and facing the truth of the past. All four women were relatable and likable.Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own. I also preordered a copy of my own. It's that good.

Sandra did a great job building each character. Even though this was a book that. Jumpy back and forth in time she made it easy to follow. It is a book that tugs at your heart. It makes me want to cook and I am not a cook. I have had a Christianbook club going for over ten years and we have becomeFamily. I can not wait to hear what all the ladies have to say about this wonderful book. We will be reading more of Sandra's books. This on the top of my favorite books to read.

Adult Christian Fiction, dual timeline (1950s and present.) This story takes place on Whidbey Island, outside Seattle. Helen is a Korean war widow working as a nurse at the Navy Hospital. She meets another Korean War widow, Choi Eunhee, who is struggling to navigate the US as a single Korean woman. She moves in with Helen and the two become fast friends. In the present, the granddaughters of the two women, Grace and Cassidy, are also friends. They are reunited after Helen's funeral. Her last wish was for the two granddaughters to go through her attic together. Secrets from generations past come to light and help provide clarity to both young women as they try to steer their career paths and love stories.I enjoyed this story as I don't read a lot about this time period. I also enjoy multi-generational tales and anything related to gardening. In this story Helen and Eunhee start planting the property, and then later Cassidy inherits the property and even some of the actual plants from her grandmother. Both Cassidy and Grace had to find their own way, breaking free from what they "should" do or what was financially safe in order to find their true callings. There were several special needs characters in this community, specifically including Down syndrome and autism. These characters were active participants and not tokenized. Faith was definitely important for the characters here, but it was integrated into the character arcs and not overly didactic. The time periods switched every few chapters rather than every other which gave the reader a bit more time to adjust before being pulled out of that storyline.

Sandra Byrd’s Heirlooms contains two completely separate stories, yet neither are complete without the telling of the other.First, meet two widowed military wives, Helen and Eunhee, then meet their two career-path challenged granddaughters, Cassidy and Grace. All four so different, yet, when faced with overwhelming uncertainties, they find inspiration in each other to do the extraordinary.Sandra weaves her generational story of human fragility and hope against the beautiful scenery of flowers. The avid gardener will find her illustrations a joy. But even those lacking a green thumb will soon appreciate her meaningful depiction of the mugunghwa.Through her characters’ lives, Sandra shows how God designed us, like flowers, to leave more behind than a beautiful memory. Like flowers leave seeds, we are designed to leave heirlooms, something of us that carries hope for a future generation.Heirlooms quickly became my favorite book by Sandra Byrd because I have recently been touched by stories of my own ancestors and by how actions today can influence lives for tomorrow. Among my other favorite novels of Sandra’s are her Ladies in Waiting and Victorian Ladies series.

Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd is a dual-narrative story of two grandmothers and two granddaughters. The first time period is set in the 1950s, and the second is current.I loved this book for many reasons. The beautiful setting is familiar to me—Whidbey Island, Washington. I enjoyed reading about the flowers, food, and faith that were so important to the characters and the story’s plot. My father served in the Korean War, so that time period connected with me. It was obvious that the author did extensive research, and I learned much about Korean culture and immigrants.I was touched by relationships between women that spanned generations. Friendships that stood time while secrets were protected, support was offered when needed, and joy was shared over victories. This story reminds us of how love, loyalty, and relationships are connected to the impact we make on other people’s lives and the legacies we leave our children and grandchildren.