What the Wind Knows

5+++ Stars!!!!!This book has ruined me for all other books! I'm still trying to wrap my head around what happened and my poor heart! How can it ache SO GOOD and SO BAD?! This was a beautiful story of love, loss, family and patriotism with one of the most unique storylines and had me feeling EVERYTHING!The concept of time travel has always fascinated me but it is certainly a difficult topic to get perfectly right, whether in movies or books. Many times there are inconsistencies and plot holes. Not in this book. Amy Harmon got it right. I mean she NAILED it! I honestly had no idea how perfect it was until the very end. The author carries us on a spectacular time travel journey filled with love and loss. It was like a puzzle that you were trying to solve piece by piece and the anticipation of seeing the whole picture will have you thoroughly enthralled.This book is very rich in history and our heroine Anne gets pulled back to Ireland in 1921 at the cusp of the Irish Civil War. First of all let me just say I am not a history buff. Before reading this book I certainly had no interest in what Ireland went through to gain her Independence. However, you cannot help but be fascinated with Amy's story telling. She weaves the tale of these heroic men and women who fought for Ireland's liberation from Great Britain and I could feel their pride and I wept for what it cost them to achieve their independence. As Anne learns firsthand about the country of her ancestors and lives the events that she only read about in "her time", you can't help but be caught up in the fascination of it all. The details in this book are phenomenal and you cannot help but respect the level of research that must have gone into the writing of this novel.The love Ann and Thomas discover in each other takes them both by surprise. Ann finds herself in love with a man in the past and is at war with what decisions to make. Their love was gradual but intense and passionate. Thomas was such a great man. He was a kind and generous soul but also smart and brave. He risked his life for his family and his country. He loved Anne with such fervor and their path was so gut wrenching but so beautiful! Their love story was simply epic!There were so many amazing characters in this book that each played their role in what unfolded in this story. Everything about this book was beautifully complex. It makes you realize we are a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. Time became irrelevant. Love became important. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time to come. I know it's only January but I know this will be one of my favorite reads of 2019. Well done Amy Harmon!

"What the Wind Knows" is a blend of a romantic novel and historical fiction, with a little fantasy mixed in. Hard core fans of any of these genres might object to the blend. For my own tastes, the book achieved a nice balance. I've read romance novels that are too separate from the world and historical fiction that is too immersed in the factual details.The plot was cleverly woven. The transitions between history and fiction were excellent: visible enough that the reader could recognize the history, and seamless enough that the story flowed smoothly. The fantasy device of time travel was executed with little explanation or fuss, adding a little mystery to the plot. The plot ingredients added up to an interesting and gripping story, though it falls short of being a "thriller".The three main characters were drawn carefully and they were appealing. Their actions were consistent with their personalities. The several minor characters (including the historical ones) were likewise interesting and distinct.The writing was clear. The action was vividly presented and the introspections didn't overly impede the advancement of the plot.The advantage of the blend of genres is that the history was conveyed in the context of "real" personalities. I think the author did a good job of conveying the political and emotional cross currents at a time of turbulent developments in Ireland.Profanity and sex were relatively mild, a plus for me.I enjoyed the book. I recommend it for readers who enjoy a little history combined with a good tale.

This was such a special read... so much more than an exquisite romance... Amy Harmon has weaved a tale intertwining past and present Ireland, mixing historical facts with ordinary people’s lives. It is also a love letter about her ancestors' homeland and the incredible bond of family through the ages.Thomas and Anne were clearly destined soulmates. The feelings they have for each other were utterly divine. ‘What the Wind Knows’ uses a mix of fictional characters and real historical figures, the reader is given a gripping glimpse of what it would have been like living in such severe times in Ireland in the early 1920’s.The core of the story is about Anne Gallagher who is unexpectedly given a chance to understand where she came from. Anne has found professional success and acclaim as an author, but her career has dominated her life for far too long. Suddenly however this strong and steady man in front of her is showing her the importance of family.Thomas is an amazing character, he is soulful and kind and his deep and abiding love for Anne is so passionate in his journal entries it was a delight to read. Together they made such a wonderful couple and I enjoyed getting to know them.‘What the Wind Knows’ is truly a gem of a book. It shows that love is timeless. It will make your heart want to explode. This story is beautiful, magical and it’s a wonderful experience. A definite must read!I am a verified purchaser in Australia

I saw Amy Harmon had a book on kindle first and hit the purchase button so fast! It’s everything!! Everything!*Let us go forth, the tellers of tales,And seize whatever pey the heartlong for,and have no fear.Everything exists, everything istrue,and the Earth is only a little dustunder our feet.-W. B. YeatsMel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

Wow! I have just finished this beautiful book and have read it continuously for the last couple of days or so. It is one of the most glorious books I have read concerning the history of the troubles in Ireland. I was so involved in it I just could not put it down. Amy Harmon's characters were absolutely believable especially as many genuine historical figures kept appearing in this lovely story which made it truly believable. I have loved the history of Ireland for a long time and even visited the West Coast in Connemara last year to try and acquire a picture in my mind and heart of this magnificent country. It was written with such depth and heartfelt feeling and I became so involved in the lives of Eoin, Anne and Thomas and many others too. It put a different edge on the thoughts of the Irish problems in 1918 and 1921/22 because the people of Ireland loved their country so much but at the same time it became complicated. Amy explained in the most beautiful narrative about the heartbreaking decisions many of these people had to make. I have never felt so involved in a story and I feel even more fascinated by the history of Ireland. I can't wait to read more of her writings. She almost made me feel I could do anything whilst reading this book and at times I felt such a whimsical urge to disappear and come back like her main characters did. Thank you Amy for this book, you are the most wonderful writer.

The average scores when I downloaded this book place it up with The Help and Eleanor Oliphant and that is very misleading imho.I nearly gave up so often in the first quarter of the book but persevered as the scores and reviews were so amazing and the author well known.I did not understand the opening Yeats poems at the start of each chapter. I found them so frustrating that I skipped them after a while.I did not find the history that gripping but it was educational which is why I read a lot of historical fiction.The most painful bit of the book were the romance sections which made me cringe.I did not like the time travel concept but it did have its merits at times.Whilst I did not enjoy the book it was well written and many clearly loved it.

BEAUTIFUL * ROMANTIC * BREATHTAKING * HEARTWARMING* OUT OF THIS WORLD * FANTASTICAL * EPIC * 'What the Wind Knows,' is worth all the superlatives and more!The story is so clever, so thought provoking, and so intelligently layered with a richly textured narrative that whisked me away to another world in a bygone age. I’m not supposed to like time travel but I absolutely LOVED THIS STORY SO MUCH. Amy Harmon is super talented and breathes life into a theme that authors have to perfect for me to believe in. I am in awe of her craft and found myself totally immersed in her fantastical world that seamlessly transitions to the historical setting of 1921.This gentle yet extremely profound tale is set in an Irish town with an American heroine at the heart, and a blend of history and fiction that is perfectly enhanced by the blend of realism and 'make-believe'.... I was completely invested in the main protagonists' issues and relationships, that of a man and a woman in love, a grandfather and granddaughter, and a father and son, all so beautiful and meaningful in the tapestry of the prose. My mind was blown by the story and I found myself unpicking the hows and whys, the connections, and contemplating the depth of the narrative and thinking about how the story would play out.'What the Wind Knows,' and the characters within the pages provoked feelings and emotion that blossomed in my heart as the story developed. It totally crept up on my senses and made me love everything about it. #5stars+++

Amy Harmon. When I'm asked who's my favourite author, her name tumbles out of my lips without a second to consider. There's not a book of hers that has not thrilled me. Every time.And this one feels so much more special to me. Normally when reading a story I have to rely on great description for the setting and location. Being from Ireland and a lot of the books I read are set in America, this was in a small way, like looking out my window. I grew up knowing the names and the history of Ireland but what this book brought to me was pride for it as we often feel detached from our roots. Add to that the whimsical flair of Amy's true talent.As with all her books, I wanted to speed through it but never wanted to finish it. It's a tale of love in every sense. I fell head over heels in love with all the characters. They have consumed me and will for some time I'm guessing. This is a magical tale which deserves so much more than the 5 stars that I can give it.

I've never reviews a book before, but this lovely book became unputdownable for me after the first two chapters. This is no lightweight read, but it's not at all ponderous either, quite the reverse. This authors love of Ireland and her troubled history shines through every chapter. The characters are beautifully drawn, and every reader will fall in love with the small boy Eoin. We get a fascinating window into Michael Collin's the person, and the main characters - in fact, every character in the book - walked through a reality challenging the word 'fiction' they are so real. I highly recommend this book.