Great and Precious Things
Rebecca Yarros

How do you define yourself when others have already decided who you are?

Six years ago, when Camden Daniels came back from war without his younger brother, no one in the small town of Alba, Colorado, would forgive him—especially his father. He left, swearing never to return.

But a desperate message from his father brings it all back. The betrayal. The pain. And the need to go home again. But home is where the one person he still loves is waiting. Willow. The one woman he can never have. Because there are secrets buried in Alba that are best left in the dark.

If only he could tell his heart to stay locked away when she whispers she’s always loved him, and always will…

Great and Precious Things is a heart-wrenching story about family, betrayal, and ultimately how far we're willing to go on behalf of those who need us most.

Several years ago, I vowed to never read this author's books again, after I was left feeling extremely betrayed and angry over the ending of The Last Letter. I'm so glad I decided to dive into Great and Precious Things, even if I dragged my feet and did it with apprehension. It makes me sad to think I've been missing out on Camden Daniels all this time.

Our hero stole the show. His character was the perfect balance of flawed and self sacrificing. Lord, my heart is still trying to recuperate after the emotional rollercoaster of one Cam Daniels. I was so invested in his HEA, so invested in his story that I hurt when he hurt. I loved when he loved. I laughed when he laughed. I fought back tears when he fought them back. I loathed those who made him feel like he wasn't worthy, made him doubt himself...that damn town, his brother, his father...ugh! He was so damn worthy. I hated that no one but Willow would let him forget his past mistakes. Because god forbid, we let a grown ass man actually grow up and move past the childish acts of his youth. Because god forbid, we acknowledge that a war hero became a man who was responsible, brave, loving, benevolent and wasn't still the teen who found himself causing ruckus. Because god forbid, we give someone a second chance, and not be close-minded, small town, judgemental douchebags. Example: Oscar starts talking trash about Willow, Cam, and Sully, provoking Cam, and yet Camden is the one the town is judging and treating like he's an abomination. Not that asswipe who originally caused the issue, who bullied. All because as a teenage boy he caused mayhem. *shaking my head*

Let me move on because I can go on for days...lol

I will say, Yarros definitely knows how to pull STRONG emotions out of her readers. If you can't tell.

What about Willow, you say? I adored Willow. ADORED her! I loved that she stood next to Cam no matter who or who was pitted against him. I loved that she told him repeatedly that he was worth so much more than he gave himself credit for. I loved that she showed him his value and how much she loved him, and not with just words, but with her actions, as well. I loved that she took on the town, her father, the memory of her dead fiance and survivor's guilt to prove to Cam that he was hers, unconditionally.

And while I thought Willow was perfect for Cam, I didn't totally feel their romantic connection. Maybe because we spent more time fighting the outside forces, than actually spending it with them as a couple. This book is a slow burn, with lots of emotional angst coming at Cam from the town, his brother, his father's blame/hatred/and medical condition, and being compared to his dead brother, etc. that we didn't really spend much time with Cam and Willow as a couple. Those moments were mainly told. Now as far as connection goes, I absolutely felt their love for each other in friendship form. Which if given more time and less focus on the outside obstacles, I believe would have translated into one hell of a romantic journey. I could totally see myself shipping them.

Anyway, that was my only real complaint with the book. If not for that, this would have been a 5 star read. Maybe even a 6. But the lack of romantic connection, for me anyway, really left me needing just a bit more.

I'm still a little apprehensive, The Last Letter left a huge scar on my heart. But with that, I'm definitely going to read more of Rebecca Yarros. Up next is The Things We Leave Unfinished.

Rebecca Yarros
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Rebecca is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over fifteen novels, and is always ready to bring on the emotions. She's also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward from her Flight and Glory series.

She loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for eighteen years. She’s the mother of six children, ranging from kindergarten to law school, and is currently surviving the teenage years with two of her four hockey-playing sons. When she’s not writing, you can find her at the hockey rink or sneaking in some guitar time. She lives in Colorado with her family, their stubborn English bulldog, and a feisty chinchilla. Having fostered then adopted their youngest daughter, Rebecca is passionate about helping children in the foster system through her nonprofit, One October.