This slow-burning romance was isn’t just good; it’s great and precious!

Great and Precious Things is a slow-burning love story packed full of hard-won and endearing great and precious moments. Cam and Willow are old friends who need to deal with some unaddressed emotions. Willow is Cam’s dead brother’s former girlfriend and untouchable in Cam’s eyes. Cam, who recently retired from the Army Special Forces, blames himself for his brother’s death. He returns home many years to a small town of people that despise him, including his own father. Cam and Willow have to so many family-related hurdles and emotional baggage to sort through. They tip-toe through a mine-field of love, lies, guilt, and deception to find each other. Great and Precious Things was beautifully written and not overdramatic. The end was just a perfect beginning! I loved this one.

Wow! What a beautiful story of love and healing - several kinds: romantic, sibling, parental, and friendship. The transformation Cam went through despite hostilities in his home town is heart jerking and warming at the same time. He is a beautiful soul, hard in the beginning, but as you read, you see his softening, his walls coming down, peace breaking in. His strong family ties are ever present even with his family not trusting him or wanting him near, then thankfully are resolved to a bittersweet conclusion. I loved his fierce protection and connection with Willow, that spans almost their entire lives. You could feel the intensity of their feelings throughout the story. Willow became such a strong advocate for Cam and by doing so became a stronger, more assertive woman in her own right. Their story was a thing of beauty and I could not put it down, reading in whatever spare minutes I could find. I did not want it to end and would love to have a glimpse into their future.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

Oh Rebecca you have restored my love of the ultimate love story. The reader is gifted a ringside seat to a beautifully written emotionally charged story. The family dynamics laid bare in the story are painful to read but so realistic. The small town world that Rebecca built was so effective that I felt like I could walk the streets of Alba and feel at home. Normally it is the female character who inspired the most feeling in me but Cam was so broken and treated so badly that I wanted to be on his side. I loved the scenes with Willow they were tense and filled with longing and everything unsaid. This was a slow burn romance with people at it's heart. Family secrets and betrayals have a way of shaping the past and the present it's how you deal with them that counts. Some books take you on a journey and some like this one seep into your soul and stay there.

I received an earc of Great And Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros via the publisher for review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Going into Great And Precious Things, I knew that I was going to be torn apart. Rebecca Yarros really knows how to hurt me. I've cried in nearly every one of her books. I'm not even joking here, she knows how to tear me into little pieces and leave me there. And I was right because Great And Precious Things really did tear me apart - but gosh was it beautiful.

Great And Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros follows Camden Daniels comes home from war. And he doesn't get the heroes' welcome. No, he comes back to a town that hates him to the core. That despises him and wants him gone. But he knows he has to push that aside because his family needs, even if his father hates and doesn't want him there either. Because Camden killed his brother. The town knows it, his father knows it, and Camden knows it. There is only one person in the town that Camden is there for. But it's also the one woman he could never have.

Camden was such an interesting protagonist. It's not often that I read books with a male protagonist at the forefront. If they are a protagonist, it's normally because they are the love interest. But Camden was front and center and that alone intrigued me. Yarros has a real good knack of writing characters that have fantastic arcs - and Camden was no different. The reader gets to see Camden go on a journey. A journey that is long and hard. Not only does it have to deal with the grief of losing his brother, but also the guilt that he was the one responsible.

Sometimes it was really hard being in Camden's head. He is filled with guilt and with how everyone is treating him in town, that takes its toll. But I also loved seeing Camden's soft side. The reader is really able to see that he feels everything and that really shapes Camden into the person that he is. And while at the start he let everyone in town walk all over him, as the novel goes we get to see Camden let the guilt go and stand up for himself.

Willow was such a nice female protagonist in Great And Precious Things. I loved that she didn't take over the novel. She was able to stand her own. Like Camden, the town has really influenced the way that Willow presents herself. But, Willow has also been through a lot and she has to try and work her way out of those things. Willow was really easy to get along with. She felt very real while reading the novel, she had her faults. But that is what made her such an enjoyable character.
The relationship in Great And Precious Things had many ups and downs. But it was beautiful. Camden and Willow together, just fit for me. They worked. There weren't any ifs and buts. They just did. One of the things that I loved most about the romance was that the 'climax' in the book wasn't because of miscommunication or because of Camden or Willow. It's not often you see that in a romance novel and it was great. I adored that Camden and Willow had so much history, it made for this rich romance that I got swept up in. Their connection was spot on.

Another thing that Rebecca Yarros does extremely well is exploring the notion of family, and things were no different in Great And Precious Things. While I normally prefer the representation of good family dynamics, sometimes there need to be representations of bad families. Both Camden and Willow have a lot of trouble with their families, but it was also nice to see them both try and work things out.

Another major focus of this book is the notion of Alzheimer's. Camden's dad has been suffering for a couple of years before he arrives back in town. It was really hard to read certain scenes in Great And Precious Things, because of the way that Camden's father reacts. Most of the time he can't stand the sight of Camden and that was really hard to read. Because the reader is able to see that Camden loves his father and wants what is best for him. Even if it's breaking his own heart. I think that Rebecca Yarros was able to represent the ups and downs of Alzheimer's throughout Great And Precious Things. And gosh did it hurt at parts.

Overall, Great And Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros is heartbreaking, beautiful and just so good. It explores the notion of guilt and grief, as well as a fresh start. Camden and Willow were perfect protagonists that each had their own story. Rebecca Yarros knows how to tear me apart and she did again. The romance in this one is so perfect, it's a friend to lovers, to absolutely perfect. If you are looking for a romance that is haunting, but also beautiful, then this is for you.

This book will take you and create a whirlwind of feels.

We follow a romance that is complicated and full of secrets while supplying a small-town scenario. It’s the kind of book that hits you with life and death, love and loss.

So it’s nothing like your typical light-hearted love story, but instead has that realness that you sometimes just crave from a story. If you want a slower buildup this one may be right for you.

I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the drama that occurred in the middle, so I had to drop the rating down to a 3 out of 5 stars, but it’s definitely a book that will stay with you awhile after finishing the last page!

Great And Precious Things by Author Rebecca Yarros is a flawlessly executed novel. The author beautifully woven together the main characters to create a story that touches your heart and soaks your soul in feelings. Her words are spun gold!

Great And Precious Things is real and raw and gut wrenching. The backstory is perfectly laid out and marries perfectly with the circumstances that the characters are currently living through and struggling with. Your heart will break...it will heal, make your soul rejoice. Your toes will curl at the heat happening between Camden and Willow.

The book poignantly describes what in sickness and in health and the struggles that families face. It perfectly marries humanity, family and all of its complexities magnificently. Author Yarros compassionately addressed the issue of being able to address your own end of life decisions while illness is stealing their memories. As someone taking care of ill parents I can tell you that this story hit home and pulled my heartstrings.

Camden and Willow mean everything to each other. They are too afraid to express it to each other or reach across the divide between them. They have each other’s back no matter how much time has passed since they last saw each other. They heartbreak is indescribable, their love is palpable and their stubbornness suspenseful.

I have so much love for this book!!!

5+ Stars!

Love. Love. Love.

I haven't struggled to write a review in a long time but I have to admit, I struggled to write this one. The passion and love I feel for this story makes it difficult for me to put into words how much I loved it. I forced myself to take breaks while reading this so I could savor it as long as I could (something I never make myself do). I knew that if I devoured the story in one sitting, like I wanted to, I'd be kicking myself that it was over too quickly. Even after slowly savoring this story, I didn't want it to end. I am so in love with this world and these characters.

Rebecca Yarros is hands down one of my favorite authors of all time. She writes her stories in such a way that you immediately feel immersed in the world with her descriptions of the setting and characters. I have loved everything she has written but this may be my favorite of hers to date.

We all know I'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers romances and this one quickly became one of my all time favorites. A hot tattooed military hero, a dash of forbidden-ness, a strong female lead, a dreamy setting, and a slow burn romance was the perfect mix for this story. I will absolutely be re-reading this one soon!

Please. Read. This. Book.

Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.

This was an emotional read, I loved it!It was a great story that will touch your heart and make you ach for the characters.

Cam and Willow stole my heart, I loved their intensity and the feelings they give through the pages.

It felt realistic, sweet and heartwarming .

Rebecca Yarros’ writing is STUNNING. This book is an emotional journey like no other. A true work of art! Be sure to have your tissues near by as there will plenty of ugly crying going on! (or there was for me anyway). Rebecca has weaved a heart wrenching story of second chance, healing, forgiveness and a deeply intense and beautiful love story. Camden is 28 years old, and has just returned home to Alba, Colorado from the army. He has been through a lot and adjusting to civilian life wasn’t an easy one. He has some hearts to mend and has some things from his past to make up for. Willow is Camden’s young love. He has always loved her and the moment they run into each other again you know that they have an uphill battle ahead. Willow has the most beautiful heart. She has a caring soul and is one of the only people happy to have Cam back home. The emotional connection was INTENSE with these two. I couldn’t get enough. She really fought for him through all his pain and what he was going through and I thought that was so special. This story is so much more than romance though, the family dynamic and Camden dealing with his fathers Alzheimer’s was so real and painful. In this story there is so much for Cam to overcome. The angst and the twists and turn I did not see coming had me reeling at times but the ending is so very beautiful. Rebecca has an incredible talent at creating these deeply connected emotional characters and I felt so attached to them I didn’t want the story to end. There is so much more I could say but to avoid spoilers I will end my review here and hope that you pick up this book to experience it all. 5+++ STARS!

After Camden Daniels leaves town, promising himself that he'd never return to the small Colorado town where he grew up. But when his father calls looking for help, he goes home to all the secrets and pain that have kept him away. There are few secrets in small towns, and it isn't always easy to go home again. I really felt for Cam here, but he does it, opening the door to possibilities.

Willow Bradley is the girl he left behind, a friend with history with his brother. If anyone knows Cam, it's Willow and while she has her own pain to work through, she sees Cam and his misplaced guilt. She sees that he is strong and loyal and willing to help his family even though it's costing him.

I've been a fan of Rebecca Yarros' writing since her first book and she only gets better with each new title in terms of creating an emotional story and characters that you fall for in the first few pages. Great and Precious Things is no exception. Cam and Willow have to relive much of their painful past in order to clear the way for their future. The slow burn romance contains a bucket load of emotional content, so just be prepared. You might need to wipe your eyes a time or two, but if you've read Rebecca Yarros before you know that's just how it is.

I love a good small town story and this standalone really hits the high and low points of what it means to come home. I did love the themes of choice and consequences that are woven throughout and make this is a book that will leave a bit of a mark, at least for a little while. Those are the best stories -- the ones that have you thinking about it for days afterward.

Another great (and precious;) title from Rebecca Yarros. If you like your romances with plenty of emotion and weaved around familiar circumstances, then you just might like Great and Precious Things.

An ARC was provided by the publisher. This is my honest review.

Rebecca leads the way in slow burn, emotional tales... she's such an incredible storyteller and I especially LOVED this standalone. A friends to lovers romance, heart warming with all the feels and surprises too. A real joy to read, such a precious gem.

Great And Precious Things has a wonderful unrequited-love, slow-burn romance, but this bittersweet, emotional story is so much more than a romance. It is full of forgiveness, redemption, family drama, and how far you will go to right a wrong.

Returning back home to his small Colorado town was something that Camden never thought he'd do. But when his father called asking him to fulfill a long-ago promise, he put aside everything that was telling him not to go back home in order to uphold that request. My heart broke for Camden over and over again. He is not only the black-sheep of his family, but he is scorned and an outsider in the town as a whole. Silly childhood mistakes and misguided judgements are still being held against him, even though he is a decorated war hero. Nobody can get past how he was responsible for his younger brother's death -- especially his father.

Well, there is one person who forgave Cam: childhood friend Willow. The girl next door who he has always been in love with. But she was his brother's girlfriend, and that makes her hands-off. Needless to say, Camden is blown away when Willow confesses that she's been in love with him as long as he's been in love with her.

Their forbidden, frowned-upon romance is complicated by the court battle between Cam and his older brother, Xander, over guardianship of their father, who is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's. Dad wants a DNA and wants Cam to help him get it; Xander, who has Al's medical power of attorney, is against it. The battle over Al's want to die with dignity tears the family apart more than they already are, and the tragedy of Al's disease rips them even further to shreds as his bad days outnumber the good.

This was a fantastic follow-up to The Last Letter. Great And Precious Things is an poignant, emotional family drama. Despite the rather abrupt ending (I would have liked something set further in the future, but it is what it is!), this book is one that had me reading and crying into the wee hours of the morning because I could not stop turning the next page.

I received an advanced copy via the publisher and NetGalley and voluntarily left a review.

This was my first book from rebecca and what a book to start with !!

A beautiful story that takes you on a emotional journey of terrible grief ,heartache and ultimately illness .
Cam is back and is determined to fight for his father's voice to be heard , and at the same time stay away from willow his one true love and the women he believes can never be his...

I loved this story its raw and emotional but also heartwarming and beautiful .
The writing is flawless and draws you into the lives of the characters in a way that will leave lasting mark.
Looking forward to reading more from rebecca in the future .

Heading into Great and Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros, I knew that I needed to mentally and emotionally prepare myself, but even then, I wasn’t wholly prepared because the one component of Yarros’ writing that resonates from each of her books is the ability to pull out readers’ emotions, making them feel EVERYTHING that the characters endure and struggle with as they work to find their much deserved happiness.

There’s a lot to unravel when it comes to the reasons for Camden Daniel’s departure from and return to Alba, and as that information is provided, it becomes a tangled web of strained relationships, well-kept secrets, and a litany of betrayals that have to be sorted through and cleared up before anyone, especially Camden, can move forward and alleviate some of the burden left on his shoulders for so many years.

Camden definitely has an edge to him, almost like a protective exterior, due to how life has treated him and what he has had to endure due to how certain events played out and other people’s quick judgments.
It’s clear he wears the scars of misjudgment, harsh criticism, and blame like an albatross around his neck, but he’s grown into a man who works to redirect his anger in different ways than simply exploding and being forced to deal with the fallout. There is so much more to Camden than certain people believe and the fact that he proves himself to those who matter is essential for his ability to move on from everything that he was forced to face.

Willow Bradley is Camden’s perfect other half, but coming to that realization and making it happen takes time. But Willow’s not afraid to go against the grain, to choose herself over those who judge her for exactly that reason, and that’s what allows her to follow her heart and be true to herself despite how others view those choices.

The small town world that Yarros creates allows readers to get to know, not only the main characters, but the supporting cast as well, and this adds such a depth to the situation that Cam and Willow find themselves in as well as offers insight into how easily misperceptions and assumptions damage someone’s reputation and/or what they believe they’re capable of doing and achieving. The small community of Alba could be any small town in America, and the author showcases that fact by aptly demonstrating how prejudices and narrow minds lead to dramatics that could have been prevented from happy if people were willing to open their eyes and see the truth behind the lies or false perceptions.

Yarros doesn’t rush anything between Cam and Willow because it’s the slow burn of them acting on their feelings that allow readers to see just how well they complement one another and illustrate why bad timing or missed chances wouldn’t prevent them from going for it this time around, even with what they faced at almost every turn.

I so appreciate every aspect of Rebecca Yarros’ writing because she ALWAYS allows readers to understand who her characters are at her core, way beneath the hardened or damaged exterior. Readers see, firsthand, just how complex…how endearing…just how worthy the hero and heroine are, despite other people’s misjudgments…despite their own self-doubt and recriminations.

4.5 Poison Apples

Miss Yarros did it again! what a wonderful book, I couldn't put it down, these characters and story will pull at your heartstrings, be prepared to be blown away!

j'ai adoré aussi bien l'ambiance que les personnages, j'ai été prise au piège de l'intrigue de la première à la dernière page, j'ai aimé les voir se battre pour ce qui compte pour eux et aller au bout de leurs idées. Cam est un homme bon et franc qui a peur de la réaction des gens qu'il aime mais qui va devoir aller au bout pour arriver à se pardonner ce dont il n'est pas responsable. Quant à Willow, elle a du mal à croire qu'il soit revenu, le lui fait un peu payer mais elle sait qu'ils sont fait l'un pour l'autre et va se battre pour qu'il le reconnaisse. Les événements s'enchainent très rapidement et j'ai adoré les révélations de la fin du roman que je n'avais pas vu venir et la façon dont on les quitte. Une très belle aventure !!

Great and Precious Things by Rebecca Yarros is a 5 stars and a Top Pick of 2020 ⭐

The 🦄 in the title fits to the plot but also speak to the kind of story this is..this book is the rare unicorn read... the kind of book that sucks you in from the first word, keeps you glued to your kindle experiencing a beautiful story told to you by a great talent all while you would swear these characters are REAL people.

This may be the first time I read a book because I admired the author and her social media often touched me and OMG am I forever thankful I did, Great and Precious Things is literacy genius; a powerful and raw look at the human condition intertwined with the spellbound love story of soulmates.

The blurb for this one is not super detailed so I am going to try to keep my review without any details of this magnificent story.

Camden Daniels home from war to the small town of Alba, Colorado and as he does he faces the ghosts of his past, the man he used to be and the woman who he thought he would never have Willow.

The Daniel's family is facing some major challenges and is then thrown secrets they never imagined.

Hold onto your heart as the author takes the reader on one heck of a ride!

Cam and Willow will hold a forever place in this readers heart. ❤

This book was beyond amazing!

So this book doesn't have the angst of "The Last Letter" (thank goodness!!), but it does still have all the feels and is such a heartwarming, sometimes heartwrenching story that will pull you in from the first page to the last page. The talent of Rebecca Yarros is truly beyond compare!

There were so many things to love about this story:
a. Cam is just everything - he is flawed, but has such a good heart. The way he takes the blame growing up for so many things to make life easier for those around him...it's commendable, but so frustrating when the town is so unforgiving.
b. Willow aka "Pika" - okay that kitchen scene and knowing why he calls her that - OMG goodness!! Willow is stronger than people give her credit for and many women would have denied what they want (their late boyfriend's older brother), but she remains true to her heart even when it is against the odds. Does she always immediately stand up for what's right - not necessarily - but still provides the right support in the end!!
c. Rose - is such a delight and brings much needed giggles to the story...and is integral to other parts of the story (no spoilers!).
d. Strong women - both Willow and Charity are strong characters and you can't help but root for them.
e. Art - he is such a tough character to love at times, but overall - you can't help but love him for what he goes through and how he stands up for things in the end - both for himself and when it matters most!
f. Betrayal - the form(s) it comes in are not always expected and are very anger-producing.

This book caused me to highlight so many passages - not just quotes, but entire paragraphs because the story was so good. Here are some edited ones:
"The past could be buried and would eventually set you free. Hopes and dreams for futures that would never come to fruition? Those suckers were the real ghosts."
"The path rejected me...It didn't want me, so I decided not to want it."
"I was relieved that you didn't. And I knew that eventually I'd be okay. I'd heal. And I did. I put myself back together and made myself whole. But I knew that if your places had changed...I can't picture my world without you in it...".
"There is no me without you."

Cam and Willow's love story was in the making for years, decades. Seeing them finally be able to reach each other and let go of the past is worth everything! This is one book that you will not regret reading as it is everything! Such an incredible story of love, loss, betrayal in many forms, loss of hope, finding of hope, future hope...really just full of "great and precious things".

I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy, but purchased a book for myself to have forever!

4.5 Stars.

From the very first chapter I wall pulled in completely. The draw to these wonderful but broken characters was real. Ms Yarros does a fantastic job of making you feel like you are in that small town experiencing everything first hand. The feels... all the feels, angst, pain, love, sadness, longing and revival. Are you ready for this emotional rollercoaster?

Camden is the forgotten son of the Daniels family. Or so the town hoped. To those who love him, they just wanted him back, even his father who has trouble remembering him. But Cam left his mark on their small town and the outsiders are not so willing to let him forget his antics from the past. Can this war hero show everyone including himself that he has grown, he has regrets, and he can do good if given the chance?

Willow has seen more than her share of downs, but somehow she manages to pick herself back up and forge ahead with a smile and love in her heart. This strong woman seems to always be there for those around her. Even willing to go against the town to prove a point when needed.

Can Camden and Willow move forward and leave the past in the past. Can she show him that he has worth. He is so much more than the perception the town folk have of him.

Once again Ms Yarros has left me lost in thought at the end of a book. Needing some time to pull my senses back together before jumping into the next book.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

I've got to say one thing; How the hell did I manage to live this long for this to be my first Rebecca Yarros book?!? How the hell it's possible that I've never read this all consuming, heartbreaking, all the feels books that she delivers.

I don't have words to describe what this book did to me. My heart broke everytime someone spoke with anger or malice with Cam. I'm not sure how he stood his ground and took it all stoically. And that's why I loved Willow. She was his rock and I loved her for choosing him before everyone else. Their love made me a believer that good things come to those who wait and that good people always get their HEA's.

***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads blog***