Beholden by Lesley Crewe
The story begins with Nell, the “spinster on the hill” near St. Peter’s Cape Breton. Scarred by her own childhood, she swears she could never love a child and that she will never marry, denying herself a life with the man she loves. She’s proven wrong when a baby is born down the road. Her love for little Jane propels us forward through generations trying to untangle traumas and secrets. Eventually we meet Birdie and through her bravery she settles for nothing less then love.
This one is full of family drama, heartbreak, friendships, and loss. It’s a lovely book that I enjoyed reading and loved the fact it is based on Cape Breton. I’ve never visited CB before and it’s on my list. It’s a beautiful island of Nova Scotia.
This is the third and final book up for the Jim Connors Dartmouth Book Award for the Atlantic Book Awards and a big thank you to for sending me this copy!
Life with Books 