Where The Rivers Merge.

 

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 Thank you to publisher, William Morrow for providing me with ARC Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

 

1908: The Lowcountry of South Carolina is at the cusp of change. Mayfield, the grand estate held for generations by the Rivers family, is the treasured home of young Eliza. Free spirited, she refuses to be confined by societal norms. Instead, Eliza revels in exploring the golden fields and sparkling ponds of Mayfield, observing wildlife, and riding horses. 

But her halcyon days are cut short by the Great War, coastal storms, and unexpected challenges to Mayfield. As Eliza battles personal pains and the ravages of family turmoil over the years, her love and devotion for the natural world puts her on a collision course with the patriarchal traditions of a bygone era. 

1988: At 88, Eliza is the scion of the Rivers/DeLancey family. She’s fought a lifetime to save her beloved Mayfield and is too independent and committed to quietly retire and leave the fate of the estate to her greedy son. She must make decisions that will assure the future of the land and her family—or watch them both be split apart. 

Set against the evocative landscape of the twentieth-century low country, Where the Rivers Merge is a dramatic and sweeping multigenerational family story of unyielding love, lessons learned, profound sacrifices, and the indomitable spirit of a woman determined to persevere in the face of change in order to protect her family legacy and the land she loves.

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What a beautiful story! 

This was my first Mary Alice Monroe, but I’d been hearing her for a while. There are no words…I’m completely blown away. I was hooked from the first to the last page, not realizing how much time had passed. I was so immersed in Eliza's story, including the minor characters. The author made it possible for readers to relate to most of the characters. I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to all of them next. I adored how the plot switched between the past and present and how the two timelines interacted. I also adored the fact that the story took place in the country, in the South; I love reading stories like that. The setting was one of my favorite components of the narrative; the descriptions were magnificent, and I wished I could escape to Mayfield. 

I adored Eliza and admired her determination. However, there were situations when I questioned her decisions and wondered what she was thinking at the time. The friendship between Eliza and Covey was another of my favorite aspects of the story. I loved reading how their friendship developed through the years, and their bond reminded me of me and my best friend who I had known for over 20 years. In addition to Eliza, Heyward, and Hugh, Covey were another of my favorite characters. Every page left me wondering where they would wind up next. When I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the story and wondering how it would end. 

I liked how the author introduced facts about nature and animals at the beginning of each chapter. I have a passion for nature and animals. I felt like I knew so much more than I did before I started reading this book. I wasn’t sure about the ending at first, feeling as it was incomplete, until I found that there would be a second book. I’m eager to see what will happen to Mayfield and how Eliza’s story will end in the next book. Where The Rivers Merge explores family relationships, nature preservation, love, war, racial discrimination, and friendship. There is much more, but I don't want to give it all away. This is a story I believe everyone should read. Highly recommended!