While you wait for Broken Country

Since its release in March, Clare Leslie Hall’s novel Broken County has held onto its place at the top of the most requested items list at the library. The story follows Beth, her gentle husband Frank and the man Beth thought was her one great love, Gabriel, who she met at 17. 

After one intense summer of young love, Gabriel left a broken-hearted Beth behind to become the man his mother wanted him to be. Frank was the one who picked Beth up and together they created a life much different than the one Beth envisioned with Gabriel. 

Years down the line Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog attacking their sheep, which leads to a life-changing turn of events. The dog belongs to Gabriel who has returned to the village with his young son Leo.

As Beth and Gabriel’s lives once again begin to intertwine, both jealousy and tensions grow threatening the possibility that dangerous secrets will be revealed. Beth must decide who she is now and who she wants to be. Will the truth really set her free?

If you are waiting on the holds list for this thrilling love story, you may be feeling that itch of impatience. I’m here with recommendations to captivate your interest in the meantime!

The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh 

Emma and Leo have created a beautiful life together. They have a home, a dog and a daughter, Ruby. Emma would do anything for her family except telling them the truth about who she really is.

When Emma is stricken with a serious illness her obituary writer husband copes by doing what he does best. Leo researches and writes about Emma, the person he’s supposed to know best.  

As Leo dives deeper into researching Emma’s life he learns she doesn’t really exist, at least not in the way she should. They've been together for 10 years yet Leo isn't sure he knows the woman he calls his wife. 

Forced by the circumstances, Emma must finally reveal her past to show Leo she is still the woman he loves. It’s not easy when her truth includes revealing the other love of Emma’s life. 

If you are drawn to Broken Country because of the promise of an intense love story then The Love of My Life is the book you want to check out now. The secrets waiting to be revealed about Emma’s past life and lover will keep your reading.  

Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paige Toon 

Like Broken Country and The Love of My Life this novel from Toon explores how a secret can come between two lovers. What makes this story different is these lovers don’t already have a shared history.  

Wren is heartbroken after finding out her fiancé is in love with someone else. Unsure of what else to do, she decides to spend the summer with her dad and step-family on a farm in Indiana. Wren hopes the distance from the life she once knew will help her heal.  

Meanwhile Anders is still grieving the loss of his wife who has been gone four years. There’s a new woman, Wren, and she might just be the change he needs.  

As Wren and Anders lives cross paths and a love begins to develop, a new challenge also develops. Anders is hiding something. If he enters into a relationship with Wren, the damage that ensues could harm to many people. 

Is this love worth the hurt that may be involved or will the truth be too dark to continue the pursuit of this budding love story? Grab this novel now, especially if you are also a fan of Jojo Moye’s emotionally driven story Me Before You.  

It All Comes Down to This by Therese Anne Fowler 

Are you a fan of the ways lives intertwine in a complicated web of emotion? Well, you must be if you’re waiting to get your hands on Broken Country. You’ll want to grab It All Comes Down to This, which might be an even more complicated web of emotion than Broken Country.  

The Geller sisters Beck, Claire and Sophie are facing the reality that their mother, Marti, is dying. Luckily for them Marti wants to make things easy by getting her estate sorted early. 

To the girl’s shock making the estate easy to deal with means selling the family’s summer cottage. C.J. Renyolds is ready to hand over cash in exchange for the keys. However, he isn't an anonymous buyer, he's a former con man who has history with one of the sisters.  

In this complicated world each of the sisters must contend with her own messy life and the fact that things didn't turn out how they hoped it would. To take the next step forward the sisters need to confront the things they are hiding from one another and themselves.

Where the Creek Bends by Linda Lael Miller 

Madison Bettencourt’s life isn’t what she planned it to be despite having carefully assembled all the pieces. Her grandmother is losing her sense of self and Madison is called upon to move home and care for her. 

Returning home bring childhood memories rushing back to Madison. These include the memories of her best friend Bliss who vanished from Madison’s life suddenly. 

Madison knows she needs to uncover what happened to Bliss before moving on with her life. During the process she meets Liam who is dealing with his own relationship troubles. He becomes an ally and there seems to be something more between them. However, Madison needs closure before she can really trust someone new.

As she dives deeper into her history, the past and present begin to blur in an unusual way leaving her to question what she truly knows. Despite it all, Madison knows she must follow where her heart leads to find the life she's meant to live.

Like Broken Country Miller’s novel explores how past and present intertwine to create the complex relationships that become our everyday reality. Where the Creek Bends adds a touch of magical realism that shifts the storyline in a unique way. I won't reveal how, so make sure to grab the novel and learn for yourself.

Broken Country may be at the top of your to-be-read list, but  these other novels of love and hidden truths should keep you reading long past your bedtime while you wait.