This book does give me vibes of Outlander but only for the time traveling parts, otherwise its own amazing book. Had a fantastic time reading this and knowing more Ireland's history during the 1920's.

Anne Gallagher travels to Ireland to spread the ashes of her beloved grandfather, Eoin, in the land he once lived in. Stricken by overwhelming grief for the man who raised her, she is about to find answers to questions he never revealed. With a history she never knew, she is pulled back in time to an Ireland, in its past, tie time of the Uprising. Taking a row boat out to the middle of the lake, she spreads her grandfather's ashes,when strangely she is surrounded by fog and taken to another time. Now mistaken for her grandfather's mother, Anne wakes up in an unfamiliar room with a gunshot wound....she is more than bewildered. Furthermore, she is being taken care of by a doctor, Thomas Smith, the same man who raised her grandfather and who believes she is Anne, Eoin's mother. While her mind is still currently in 2001, her body is in another time, another place.

What does the wind know, will it whisper the truth to those who would listen? Would the wind blow away the secrets of the past, would it leave those who once lived become something only it knows? Or, will the wind set the past free as well as Anne?

I have never read anything that Amy Harmon has written, but that will not happen again. This story has a magic all its own. While there is so much suffering in the history of Ireland, their stories are not to be forgotten, no matter real or in fiction based on reality. I know I will read this book again, it was so well written, the characters both fictional and real, reach out to you. This book is highly recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amy Harmon is one of my favorite authors. As always she never failed to evoke so much emotions from me through her words. Though I admit I am not the biggest fan of historical fiction but she has a gift with words not all authors have. She has this lyrical prose which captivated me from start to finish. I also love how she included Yeats’ poems and the Irish folklore to add body to her tale. The letters written by Thomas Smith also improved the story as it gives you another perspective of what happened during that time. Although the beginning was a bit slow, I still enjoyed and entranced by the story. I may not always a fan of historical fiction but I learned so much about Irish history. After reading this book, I became interested with the history of Ireland that I researched for more information during that time.

This may be fictional albeit some characters who were real historical figures, it gives a personal touch to these people who played a big part in their history. We’ve got to know their feelings, opinions, pains, anguish, and joy. We followed their stories just like individuals and how they lived them. I like how the story also showed that people who were not be favorably written in our History books are not necessarily bad. Each one is fighting for what he or she thinks was right. And I think, they should not be judged. The following quote exactly explained this:

“I’d been wrong about one thing. These were not average men and women. Time had not given them a gloss they had not earned. Even those I wanted to loathe, based on my own research and conclusions, conducted themselves with fervor and honest conviction. These weren’t posing politicians. They were patriots whose blood and sacrifice deserved history’s pardon and Ireland’s compassion.”

Last year, I have read Outlander and both books have similar elements so it’s impossible for me not to compare them. Though they may have similarities because they deal with time-travel and history, both books are amazing in their own way. What I love about this is that this is not just a romantic story between two characters from the past and the future, it is also a story of friendship, family, and patriotism that stayed the same even through time. I loved these characters so much that I really wanted them to have a happy ending. Do you know how much pain I suffered throughout some parts of the book especially the last few chapters? But everything was all worth-it. All worth-it! So if you're a sucker for historical romance and time-travel, you have to read this. I don’t usually sigh after finishing a book, but I did on this one.

Wow what a fantastically written book by Amy Harmon and what a way to start the New Year! It is going to take something very special to top this book. What the Wind Knows is a historical novel with a little of a fantastical twist. The research that has been put in to this book by the Author is phenomenal. I love that the story line is part fiction and part true events in which Amy Harmon's ancestors were actually involved in. Make sure you read the Author's Note at the end of the novel which explains how the story came about. The book steers around a lot of political events which were happening in this time period within Ireland. When I finished the book I wanted to go back and reread it again incase I missed anything as I just inhaled this book and did not want to put it down. Wanting to know what would happen next with my heart beating throughout, anxious as to what was unfolding. This book is something really special. Amy Harmon has really excelled her writing ability. Thank you NetGalley for supplying the copy.

Guys this books is absolutely fenomenal...stunning. I absolutely adore it and devour every single page of it. I am telling you this is the greates love story ever. Everyone should read it. It is historical fiction set in Ireland in 1921 during the war. A time travel romance. God I am so so in love with this book. If they make it into a movie I am sure it will be an Oscar winner. Trust me it will haunt you for a long time after you finish it. It consumes all my thoughts. Honestly I am walking around like zombie. I can't concentrate at anything I am doing because all I think is this book. This for sure will be one of my all time favorite reada. Hands down Amy Harmon you are amazing author. 5 star read. I highly recommend it. Do yourself a favour and read it.

I enjoyed it took a while to get into but a good read I love how Amy harmons books are a little different each time fabulous author Thankyou netgalley for the arc

This has a different feel then other Harmon books. More historic and reflective. When an author grows and changes sometimes the books they write change. This one felt a little like Sand and Ash. When she goes into History she goes in deep and tells a real story that is heartbreaking and real. This book gave me anxiety, I really didn't know if it would end well and that is so hard for me, so let me just tell others like me that this does end well and everything wraps up nicely. I felt relived and so happy at the end. Amy has a way with language that draws you in and wraps you in the world she is writing. You believe everything she says. This was beautiful. I was so fascinated by this time period in Ireland. It is something I have always wanted to learn more about and Amy does an amazing job of telling the story without point fingers and placing blame. Most of the time History just unfolds with many people making decisions and the consequences that follow are everyone's fault and no ones fault.
There is content in her book
Swearing- Most swear words were the Irish version of the words. There were relevant and not over done.
Violence- This is a time of war in Ireland. There is shootings and bombings and death. He is a Dr. and deals with patients who have been hurt. There is also historically accurate mass killings.
Sex- This book has after marriage sex scenes that do not go into too much detail. It is more of the feelings and emotions. There is touching of body parts mentioned through out the book, some are sexual, some are not. If it was a movie I think this part would be pg13. The swearing and violence depending on what they showed would make this an R movie.

5 HUGE STARS!!! Amy Harmon is a special kind of author, in that, every novel she writes takes you on an epic journey! What the Wind Knows is a brilliantly written historical fiction read that will stay with you long after you finish. The storyline is wildly original and although this book isn’t short, I flew through it! Once you start you won’t be able to put it down! Trust me, when you’re not reading this novel, the characters will consume your thoughts! I honestly feel that you should go into this book blind, I saw the author and that it was historical fiction and because Amy Harmon is such a sure thing, I didn’t even read the book’s description! What the Wind Knows is a 5 star novel, but it’s really so much more, I wish I could give it a million stars because it’s so deserving of that many!!!! If you only read a couple of books a year, What the Wind Knows should be one of them- a true must read!

This book had a magically feel about it. Often times you wondered who influenced who, a classic chicken and egg thing. The setting of 1920's Ireland and the unrest happening there was a character of it's own. I loved how the events and people played a big part and wished that things could have been changed.

I really loved the relationship that Anne had with Eoin, both of them. Although seeing Anne mother Eoin was especially sweet. As the story evolved you had to wonder how tough it was for Eoin as he raised Anne, what to tell her and what to hold tight.

I really loved the relationship between Anne and Thomas. I liked that Thomas was open minded enough to listed to what Anne had to say and believe her. I was worried for Thomas towards the end, to what Thomas had to live through and what he searched for.

The ending to this one had me smiling, I loved that our couple found their way back to each other, loved that even after death Eoin was right there with them.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After losing her parents at six years old, Anne Gallagher was raised by her Irish grandfather. Charmed by her grandfather's stories of his home country, Anne is inspired to become a storyteller herself, and now lives her life as a successful author. However, after the death of her beloved grandfather, Anne finds her life much emptier than she anticipated. Following his last wish, Anne travels to her grandfather's hometown in Ireland to spread his ashes, when she suddenly finds herself thrown into a time she has only read about. Suddenly she's being rescued by a county doctor who is convinced she is the missing mother of his ward, and the widowed wife of his best friend. Knowing her true identity is too fantastical to believe, Anne takes on the identity, and discovers this life to be more meaningful than she could have ever imagined.

As per usual, Amy Harmon has weaved together a spellbinding story full of love and hope. I completely adore how she manages to combine history and mythology, as well as a compelling love story. The relationship between Anne, Thomas, and Eoin was so sweet and beautiful, and I loved every scene with their interactions. I also really enjoyed learning about Ireland's fight for independence. I'll readily admit that history has never been my best subject and that I didn't know much about Ireland, but found it be incredibly fascinating, as well as heartbreaking.

Overall, I absolutely loved What the Wind Knows, and easily believe it to be Harmon's best work to date. I would recommend this novel to any fans of Harmon's work, as well as anyone who enjoys historical fiction and romance. I look forward to reading this book over and over again, and cannot wait for and of Harmon's future releases.

500/5

"Anne is asleep now, curled on her side, and I can only watch her, my heart so swollen in my chest that I'll suffocate if I don't stay upright. The light of the lamp touches her freely, boldly even, brushing her hair and tracing the dip of her waist and the swell of her hip, and I am irrationally jealous of the caress."

Amy Harmon has such an exquisite way with words that I am often taken aback by them. They bowl me over, and I have to pick myself up, dust myself off, and read them again, preparing myself the second time around to stay upright. But even the second time around her words hit me square in the chest, a deep ache swelling around my heart. I feel her words in my bones. And I can't be sorry for reading them because the ache is worth it -- What the Wind Knows, was most especially worth it.

It's been a while since I read a book that touched me this deeply. Anne, Eoin, and Thomas--their love for each other was eternal - it was transcendent - it defied time and space - here and now - there and then. It simply just was and is and always will be.

This book wasn't simply a book. It was breath and life. It was heart and soul. It was beauty and pain. Above all else, it was love. Love between Ireland and her people - between a grandfather and his granddaughter - between a mother and son - and between a man named Thomas Smith and a woman named Anne Gallagher. And boy, what a love story all these stories were. Each one touching the other so profoundly that everyone was moved and altered in some way by the other. No one was left untouched. Everyone was shaped and reshaped, defined and redefined by this love. And I ached with it.

But more than aching, I too was shaped and reshaped, defined and redefined by the beauty of this story - this love. There is so much I want to say about Thomas - his journal entries - his thoughts - the way he loved was so big, so authentic, so genuine, that I could feel his soul through the pages. Even now, a day after closing the book, I can feel him, right here, in my heart. And isn't that how it should be? And not just Thomas, but Eoin and Anne, too. Even Michael Collins - I feel them like I knew them. And I don't want to let go.

I have been and always will be an Amy Harmon fan. She has a talent that is rare and I am always going to want to read her stories. But I believe What the Wind Knows has moved to my top favorite from her because this one will stay with me for a long, long time.

There is more I want to say, but I simply do not have the words, so I'll just tell you to read the book and experience it for yourself.


"Yes. I told you. You told me. And you will tell me again. Only the wind knows which truly comes first."

Mystery. History. Time travel. Romance. Heart ache. Want.

Those are all of the words that come to my mind when I sit back and think of this beautiful story. When it comes to Amy Harmon though, many more words come to mind. Sunshine. Artistic. Talented. Soul-filled. Understanding. But should I really expect anything less? No. At this point, I should not. I know that and I know that you know that.

Touching base on Amy and her writing inside of What the Wind Knows first, it’s enchanting. Whether she is writing historical romance or contemporary romance, I can feel her feelings that she evokes in her writing and to me as a reader, that is the type of thing I look for in a book. When I feel like I can connect to not only a story and the characters but also the author, I call it a huge win. What the Wind Knows was different though. I felt something different. I felt longing for two people that I haven’t felt in quite some time. I felt a sense of comfort that these two people found within each other that hasn’t been seen by me in months.

I think it will be so hard for me to put into words what I loved most about this book though. The characters were filled with multiple dimensions, the writing was stunning and flowing off the pages, and the heart ache was something that most authors can’t pull off. But to put it lightly, I loved the way Amy painted the vivid imagery for us. From the clothes to the setting to the locations- I was hooked. I think I loved that the most. The fact that she was considerate enough to take the time and make sure we, as readers, felt so connected with the story we had to pry ourselves out of it once we finished.

I fully believe that Amy Harmon has a gift that most authors do not hold. That makes her so special in this book world. The way she carefully writes the characters she writes makes me always feel so confident that even if one of her story lines don’t necessarily hook me, her incredible writing and relate-able characters will.