All That Was
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4.6 • 7 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Emily Reed keeps her grief just beneath the surface — and any touch to that place leaves a mark. Elizabet Thomas has waited eighty years for a promise that was never kept: that her husband would be there when she crossed to the other side. Now, in this quiet, dual-perspective novel of women's historical fiction, their two worlds are about to collide.
When Emily, a first-year attorney, is assigned to catalog the records of Seattle's aging First Church, she expects tedious hours of dust and paperwork — a welcome distraction from the feelings she's kept buried for a decade. Instead, she uncovers proof that her own parents were married within these same walls, and the grief she's outrun for ten years is finally catching up to her.
Elizabet died in 1935, and she's wandered the sanctuary halls ever since — a lost soul unable to find the husband she was promised she'd see again. Now the church itself is at risk of being torn down, and Elizabet must find a way to reach the one living person who might save it — the young lawyer down in the archives.
When Emily discovers a decades-old diary hidden in the church's basement, she's drawn into a stranger's words in a way she doesn't expect. And as the fight to save the church unfolds, Elizabet begins to realize that she and the woman cataloging her personal records may have more in common than either could have guessed.
Can two women, separated by a century and united by loss, save the place that holds them both — and finally face the grief they've each been running from?
This book is for you if:
•You love a slow-burn, character-driven story that rewards patience.
•You want grief handled with honesty, humor, and hope.
•You believe some endings are earned, not easy.
All That Was is a standalone novel of women's historical fiction. If that sounds like your kind of story, All That Was is waiting for you.
Customer Reviews
Love, loss, grief and redemption, this story has it all!
‘All That Was’ is a story about love, loss, grief and redemption with a generous portion of history, humour and the supernatural thrown in for good measure.
It takes place in The First Church of Seattle, a beautiful 150 year old classic building; a landmark of old downtown Seattle. The old church is embroiled in a lawsuit over its proposed sale to developers.
The main characters are Emily and Elizabet:
Emily is a modern young woman who is mired in grief engendered by the untimely loss of her parents. She is unable to free her heart so she can give it to Ryan who loves her dearly. In readiness for the proposed sale of the church, she has been hired to organize the church’s archives, which are in a terrible state of affairs. In the process of her work she discovers Elizabet’s diary in which Elizabet describes her life and her participation in church activities almost a century ago. She also discloses her beloved husband’s death and confesses her unresolved grief. Emily recognizes a kindred spirit.
Elizabet is a spirit who has haunted the old church since her death nearly 90 years ago. She refuses to move on because she is afraid she will never find Rupert, her dearly departed husband again. Surely he will come for her here. At first Elizabet is angry that Emily has invaded her privacy but she relents when she learns Emily’s sad story and realizes that they have much in common. She resolves to try and help Emily heal.
There are several other engaging characters in this story, both with and without bodies. They all conspire together to help Emily learn to love again, and fix their own problems in the process.
‘All That Was’ is a delightful read. It warmed the cockles of my heart and touched me in all the right places. Tanya Williams has done an excellent job with her new book and I am happy to give it a 5 star review. I will put this book in my ‘read again’ file. I know that when I go to it again I will get as much joy out of it as I did the first time.