As someone who grew up in Asheville and has close ties to the Biltmore Estate, this novel resonated with me on a deeper level than most. I felt a strong connection to many of the physical locations depicted in the story, which made the setting feel especially vivid and meaningful. While I was unfamiliar with some of the historical events, I found myself happily diving into research to learn more. The 1916 flood featured in the book struck a particularly personal chord, especially in light of recent flooding from Hurricane Helene and, three years earlier, Hurricane Fred. Both my hometown of Asheville and the town where I currently live were significantly impacted.
I’ve always enjoyed historical fiction that explores events I already know about or am curious to discover. That said, I found this book a bit challenging to follow at times due to its shifts between multiple characters and timelines. I often found myself flipping back to earlier chapters to clarify who was who and when certain events took place. That might just be a personal quirk, but I do find those kinds of narrative structures take extra effort to track.
Interestingly, my favorite character wasn’t one of the main ones. Vivian stood out to me. Her independence—living alone deep in the woods during that era—was admirable, and her motivations became all the more moving once her traumatic past was revealed. Her deep love for her craft was undeniable. She created for the joy and healing it brought her and appreciated when others valued her work, though she never sought recognition.
The ending tied the various threads together nicely, and overall, I genuinely enjoyed the book. If you’re familiar with the Vanderbilts or the Biltmore Estate—or if you’re simply intrigued by that period in history—this would be a great read. Fans of historical fiction with a touch of drama and a hint of romance will likely enjoy it. I could easily see this being adapted into a Hallmark movie or a limited series on Netflix.