What the Wind Knows

What a delight, to begin the year with one of my most anticipated reads of 2019, by one of my favorite authors of all. Every Amy Harmon book leaves me in awe - completely astonished by the gifts she was endowed with, the feelings she's able to put into language my brain does not possess. Amy Harmon holds more talent in her little finger than most of us could wish to acquire in a lifetime. That's why anything I say about her or her books will be an injustice to the greatness she is able to craft in her stories.

What the Wind Knows started off slow for me. It took some time for me to grasp the numerous characters and the history taking place. Granted, I'm not familiar with Irish history, making everything in these pages new to me. I also wasn't in the correct frame of mind for reading when I started this novel - life hit my family hard in the new year and it's taken time to adjust. Finally, I was determined to let the characters sweep me away to 1920s Ireland and leave my present world completely behind. I was not disappointed in the least and I cannot say how grateful I am that I was able to escape my own reality for a few hours. The attention to detail in this book made this story come alive in a way I've rarely experienced while reading. I could feel the discomfort of the clothing, the confusion of being in a new place and time, and see the world as if I was reading in 3D.

"But the wind and water know all the earth's secrets. They've seen and heard all that has ever been said or done. And if you listen, they will tell you all the stories and sing every song."

Time-travel is a subject that has always fascinated me from a young age. My imagination is often absorbed by history. I will find myself standing in a place and wonder about the feet that have stood where mine are planted. What the Wind Knows takes this idea and expands upon in it, layer upon beautiful layer. Time is not linear in this story, but annular, leaving readers with a picture of just how connected all of our stories are, if only were are open to listening.

"I loved churches the way I loved cemeteries and books. All three were markers of humanity, of time, of life."

I highlighted line after line within these pages, again completely awe-struck as I read feelings and thoughts I have experienced, but have never been able to put into words as eloquently as Amy Harmon. The connections to ghosts of the past are sure to leave each reader full of wonder. Once you come up for air, you may not be sure which time period you're living in, only to realize it truly doesn't matter. What the Wind Knows grants a shift in perspective, allowing readers to realize what is important has always been important. Love is love, no matter which year we live in. Only our relationships, our legacies of love, and the stories of our passions will be the things that matter in the end.

I don't know where to begin in describing my admiration for the characters. Being along for the ride through Anne's perspective was everything I needed, while still getting to experience life through Thomas's eyes in his journal entries. As Anne fell for Thomas, I did too. He was timeless - simple, yet strong, and completely human. His care for Anne shows the type of love every woman should aspire to find. The dedication and loyalty the characters showed to one another was inspiring and beautifully written. Despite my love for the main three characters, the standout in my mind was Maeve. If she was in the story at the moment I was reading, you can be sure there were tears flowing the majority of the time. She gave the story a nostalgic feel I reveled in.

Thank you, Amy Harmon, for the chance to read an ARC and for kicking my reading year off with a bang. My words are inadequate, but I hope they will encourage readers to pick this book up and stick with the story throughout. The ending made my heart swell and my eyes swim with tears - just try to read this one without shedding a tear or two. This beauty will hit your Kindles on March 1, or if you are impatient, pick up a hardcover on February 1st. You will not be disappointed.

“I pulled you from the water and kept you in my bed. A lost, forsaken daughter of a past that isn’t dead.”

I find the hardest reviews for me to write are for the books that I love the most, so writing a review worthy of What the Wind Knows feels nearly impossible. How on earth can I put into words the magnitude of my love for this incredible story? Because this book is a triumph. It’s perfection in storytelling. What the Wind Knows is a true masterpiece full of political intrigue, the beautiful magic of Ireland, and a consuming love affair set against the backdrop of the real events surrounding Ireland’s fight for freedom in the early 1900’s. It is such a captivating and transcendent narrative that encompasses the full scope of emotion as a nation desiring peace and freedom is torn in two, and a couple fights not only for that freedom, but for a love that seems impossible yet completely pre-destined.

Every aspect of this brilliant novel is full of the depth, creativity, and redemption that I’ve come to expect from Amy’s books. Amy not only tackles the historical accounts of what occurred in Ireland in the early 1900’s, but flawlessly creates a time travel narrative, while still writing one of the greatest love stories I’ve ever read. The characters are so well rounded and full of a depth that only Amy can give them. Her scope of understanding of the intricacies of human nature astounds me constantly. The pacing is perfect, every line is immersive, captivating and exquisitely written, and the story is life changing.

I truly believe that the greatest books will change you for the better, and What the Wind Knows is no exception. I am better for reading this story. Amy’s honest and brave look into what Ireland experienced during their fight for freedom from the British changed many opinions I had so casually, but ignorantly, held about a nation that I love. A nation of my heritage. As always, the research she pours into the events that occurred between Michael Collins and the other key players during the Easter Rising and the events that followed is phenomenal. I not only got carried away in this story, but I learned from it, I was altered by it, and am better for it. This is a book that the world needs to read.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t discuss what I love best about every Amy Harmon novel: the relationships. The romance in this book was everything. Absolutely everything. It was artful, poetic, and reached to the very depth of my soul. I yearned with Thomas and Anne, I loved with them, mourned with them, rejoiced with them...and they returned the favor by staying with me long after I finished the book. I think they are my very favorite couple she has written to date. And true to form, while the romance shines, every relationship in this book is noteworthy. I loved Eoin and his relationship with his Annie...in every form it took, their love for each other was beyond beautiful. All of the characters in this story play such a crucial role and are so well developed, I could almost believe that they truly do exist.

Suffice it to say, this book is special. There’s really no other way to state it. I felt like I got such a glimpse of the heart and soul that Amy poured out while writing this remarkable story. Her love for the history and culture of Ireland shines throughout this novel. This book is a testament and tribute to her heritage, to her family, to her boundless imagination, and to her immense talent. What the Wind Knows is a story that beats with its very own heartbeat, breathes with a life only Amy Harmon could give it, and will live on in the hearts of all who read it. I am so very grateful to have been one of them.

What the Wind Knows is a masterpiece. What Amy Harmon has created is a timeless journey, both literally and figuratively, that completely consumed me, every step of the way. I honestly could not get enough of this story of one woman's desire to recapture of bit of her family's history and her surprising adventure of a lifetime.

Harmon beautifully describes the Ireland of today and the one in the early 1900's where the strife most of us have only known through news reports over many years, comes alive on every page. Our heroine, Anne Gallagher, is the devoted granddaughter of her beloved Eoin and when he asks her to scatter his ashes in his native Ireland, never did she dream she would then feel closer to him than ever. I felt privileged to 'walk' beside Anne as she discovers long-held secrets Eoin had never shared with her and the life he led as a young boy in the small town of Dromahair.

This book is beyond rich with emotion, as Anne navigates a past told brilliantly in alternating POVs. We get the exquisite journal entries of one Dr. Thomas Smith, a man who was more than a father to young Eoin and Anne's take on a most fascinating new world. Here I thought my own trip to Ireland a few years ago was memorable. That pales in comparison to what Anne gets to witness! With unforgettable characters like Michael Collins (!), a man who I now need to explore further, and the delightful O'Toole family, I never wanted to leave the pages of this story. My heart was anxious, and yet my soul was thoroughly satisfied.

I was both thrilled to continue and hesitant to see if the past, present and future could exist together and Anne would finally find the personal happiness she knew was missing from her life. The unexpected but very touching love that she finds is truly the icing on the glorious cake that is this book. It's a delicate love that has the unfortunate insecurity attached to it that can't be avoided. As I held my breath during the last few chapters, I could only hope that Harmon would 'save the day' and give me the ending I craved.

What the Wind Knows is bursting at the seams with history. I couldn't look away if I tried and there was no way I could even skip one word. All of it is necessary. All of it is breathtaking. All of it is perfect. Getting the start to the IRA; realizing just how much the Irish people have suffered for a freedom I sometimes take for granted, blew me away. And Harmon is a true artist as she weaves this crucial time in history with Anne's determination to know her family better and to claim a love she never saw coming.

Please don't miss a single moment of this book. Relish the joy that the Author gained by using her own family's history to tell the tale of Anne Gallagher and how her life changed just when she needed it most. Not to mention the use of the poetry of W.B. Yeats as a lead-in to every chapter, which made me smile. Anne is forever surrounded by the love that her beautiful Eoin gave her and now her life is better than she could have ever imagined.

Yes What the Wind Knows is fantastical (my new favorite word, courtesy of Harmon). And if you just let yourself be swept away by its charm and its grace, you will find this to be a magnificent read that is truly unmatched.

5+++++++++ stars all the way!

Every book I read by Amy Harmon I loved, and What The Wind Knows is no exception. Amy's writing is so beautiful and her characters are so compelling, you can't help but fall in love with her stories. What the Wind Knows is a book about Anne who travels to Ireland to spread her beloved grandfather's ashes and finds herself transported 80 years back in time, when Ireland was fighting for independence. There she finds a home and a family that she never had in her own time. But can she stay in a time period that is not her own?

What the Wind Knows is for everyone who loves historical fiction, time travel books in the vein of Outlander, and impossible love stories. It will sweep you of your feet, tug at your heartstrings, and make you cry sad and happy tears. I highly recommend it!

*ARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a way to start this new year! Words are inadequate to describe the uniqueness of this book. What the Wind knows is a time travel romance but it is not fantasy. The author gave historical facts but in the heart of this story, there is an enchanting love story that defies time.

Anne grew up loving her grandfather and his tales of his lost home, Ireland. When she loses him, she goes back to learn more about the beloved place, but she finds herself pulled back in Ireland of 1921.

Confused and terrified, she comes under the care of a gentle man, Dr. Thomas Smith. Ireland is a dangerous place to live as it is on the verge of war, but the most dangerous thing is losing her heart.

Although, I didn’t know the details of this part of this history, I found myself investing into this book. The author managed to describe vividly the era without boring you. She found the perfect balance between facts and fiction and I loved that she didn’t take a side. We were all witnesses to the unraveling of this story.

The characters are deeply complicated and dimensional and the love story is sweet and emotional. There is a quietness in her words but the feelings are shouting!

The thing I admired mostly was the bond and the relationship between the characters. There are no bad and good people, just men and women who followed their hearts and their ideas.

I won’t share more details because this book needs to be read blindly without predicaments and thoughts. The only thing you need to know is that you should grab it!

Amy Harmon has once again written a book that is impossible to put down once you begin reading. What the Wind Knows, is the past and the present, it’s Ireland, it’s love, it’s a truly amazing story.
Pick up your copy today. I’m jumping right back in and re-reading it with you.
Thank you Amy!

I love anything by the incomparable Amy Harmon and this is no exception. Beautifully written and executed What the Wind Knows is guaranteed to be hailed as a top read of 2019. A fantastic self journey into a family history. It’s a must read.

What the Wind Knows was a sweepingly rich historical with a timeless romance. Harmon’s lush storytelling transports readers to the Ireland of 1921 with ease, wrapping readers in the words and sights of a nation on the brink of war and the characters surrounding it. I was left breathless with the beauty and pain woven into this time-travelling story, and then ultimately left sobbing when it ended.

With subtle touches of an Outlander-esque tale, the romanticism within was limitless—swirling in the Irish people, the beautiful landscapes, the spirited families, and, ultimately, the couple at the helm of the story. Told between Anne’s point-of-view and Thomas’ journal entries, the turmoil of the unrest in the country were heartbreaking and filled the story with a bright sense of urgency. I fell for the strength of every character, those who wanted a free country and were instead torn down by a tyrannical rule of the British—ripping the people of Ireland down the middle. Though the beginning felt slow, it opened up nicely to a more intimate story that grabbed at my heart. Watching Anne navigate this impossible situation with her heart on her sleeve and a compassion that rivaled those in the thick of the issue, I fell for her as she fell for this time period and those within it. But Thomas, the sweet-loving, loyal doctor stole my heart completely. Their love story was out of this world in its breadth.

What the Wind Knows was a powerful story with a wonderful blend of history and love—a love of family and of soulmates. I loved every moment and the idea of a love that can withstand the test of time and space, if you’re willing to believe. A true must-read.

Spellbinding.....Enchanting....Transporting !!
the wind and water know all the earth’s secrets. They’ve seen and heard all that has ever been said or done. And if you listen, they will tell you all the stories and sing every song. The stories of everyone who has ever lived. 
FABULOUS story from the esteemed coffers of Harmon, excelling in narration, plot and impact. ALL her books are seeped in colourful emotions, she has a piece of her soul invested in each book. But this book goes a step further. Or should I say several steps backwards!!
This book's predominant emotion is HEARTACHE. For lost love, for the beloved country, for road back home. It's not just a simple love story between two people who meet like ships passing in the night of different eras, it's a deep connection that a person has with one's soil, roots that tether you to your heritage.
“Don’t let the history distract you from the people who lived it,” 
It's not only historical, it's HISTORIC. Events we read about in yellowed pages are soaked crimson with blood, charred black with soot and disintegrating under water. Set against the backdrop of Irish uprising, the story is about deep love that Anne shares with Eoin, with Thomas. Friendships she shares with Maeve, Mick & Robbie. Her heart pulls her back and fate moves her forward, and somewhere in between is the Lough Gill. I've never had the pleasure of reading such a unique storyline. Not sure I'd ever try it, BUT for Amy Harmon. I trust my reader heart in her hands, assured that she would fill it with love in all its colours.
I felt my soul swooping over the fog choked Lough, over the bogs, green rolling hills and in Gravagh Glebe. I became Anne Gallagher, a woman lost between parallel worlds, she is losing her beloved grandfather -Eoin Gallagher and a promise made to him, to transport his ashes to Eirèan, his beloved Ireland. His soul has unfinished business, there is somebody waiting for Anne on the other side of time and Lake........he loves her too much, misses her too much and sheds tears for her.
“There are some paths that inevitably lead to heartache, some acts that steal men’s souls, leaving them wandering forever after without them, trying to find what they lost,” 
“Don’t let the history distract you from the people who lived it,” 
Thomas Smith crept in my heart, softly and slowly. Dignified and diligent, he's all that is good in the world

Anne, the one I met, is serene, kind, compassionate. Her soft smile, reticent love, powerful words just stole my breath. How strong is her mettle that despite finding herself misplaced and displaced, she strives to adjust her constitution. Hangs on to Eoin with focused love.
Michael, I'd like to have read more as a man, rather than a political figure. Maeve is most sassy and Robbie the ever loyalist. 
I'm telling you, this book is literally OUT OF THIS WORLD. It took me  a while to get into because the beginning is expansive and overwhelming. But as you read on, it's like you get closer to a huge painting. The characters etch out, their colours get more vibrant, the scenes become clearer and when you reach the halfway mark you will what to widen your eyes to take all of it in. 
Take your time to read.  Don't rush it, savour the words, re-read some, let Yeats soak in your senses, join the dots of prose, poems, history and feelings. 
Now let me be, I want to stand on the shores of Lough Gill, strain to hear the whistling again....
“They can’t forget, they never will, the wind and waves remember Him still.”
Bless your beautiful heart and God bless your mighty pen Mrs. Harmon.

Annie was raised in America by her Irish grandfather. He has been preparing her to embrace his home country her whole life. She has researched the details surrounding Ireland's complicated history, she's learned it's culture and ancestral language, and she can converse with a born and bred accent. Her grandfather has a particular vision for Annie's first step into Ireland and the timing never seems to be right. But when he dies, Annie must make the much anticipated trip alone as she honors his wishes to scatter his ashes in the middle of Lough Gill. One task. One lake with a haunted past. Little does Annie know just how consuming Ireland can be.

What the Wind Knows is a multi-genre novel full of culture, history, family, and romance. Fiction meets nonfiction in a poetic and emotional story that is said by the author Amy Harmon to be very close to her heart. According to the author's note, Annie's character followed Harmon's own footsteps as she recently journeyed to Ireland to experience her ancestral birthplace. Many of the locations and people within this book are all part of Harmon's personal history. Someone once told me if I wanted to learn more about something, then teach it to someone else. That is what Harmon did. I finished this book completely stunned by the sheer amount of research that is carried within this tale of life, loss, loyalty and conflict. But beyond all, love. Love for country and love for each other. Absolutely timeless. Check it out.

Thank you to the following for permitting me access to an advance reader's copy (ARC) of What the Wind Knows. This generosity did not impact my honesty when rating/reviewing.
Source: NetGalley
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genres: General Fiction (Adult), Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: March 1, 2019