Rating: 5 mind bending stars

Oh man, I loved this book! As luck would have it, this was the third book in a row that I read that contained a time travel element. This was book was by far my favorite of the three. Perhaps it was because it was mainly historical fiction about Irish history in the early 1900’s, with a bit of romance and time travel thrown in that spiced things up. I love historical fiction. But I really was intrigued by the time travel angle of the book too. This book was very relationship centric in how it told both the historical sections set in 1920’s Ireland; and how our protagonist, modern-day New Yorker, Anne Gallagher found herself transported back in time due to her great love for her Grandfather.

For me, a bit of mind bending was required to follow the time travel element in this story. I found it similar to the oft asked question in evolutionary theory, “Which came first, the chicken, or the egg?” Anne travels back in time and meets her Grandfather. But her Grandfather is just a boy, and he mistakes Anne for his mother who had been presumed to have been killed in the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin. At that point, the modern day Anne Gallagher actually takes on the persona of her great-grandmother (her grandfather’s mother) back in Ireland.

After Anne travels back in time, she finds herself rescued by the wealthy, yet humble Irish doctor whose large house fronts the location that Anne was found. Dr. Thomas Smith is well connected to the leaders of the fight for the Irish Republic, and takes Anne along with him to Dublin and other more rural locations as he helps support one of the leaders, Michael Collins financially, emotionally, and physically as Collins struggles to hold his coalition together as they fight to throw off British rule. During their time together, Anne gets to experience the events that she previously had read about in the history books.

I’ve read quite a bit about this period in Irish history. The struggles and betrayals amongst the differing Irish factions detailed in the book matched my understanding of the history. I always like that when a work of historical fiction stays true to the main elements of the era. Yes, there is romance, but it is not overdone. It all seemed so plausible to me, if you can accept the time travel element, as I did. I fell in love with the characters. My anxiety grew as we got nearer to the hard parts that I knew were coming up in the history that Anne and Thomas were going to experience. I think that this book is a nice blend of three fairly different genres. It captivated me with its emotional pull from the start, and it didn’t let up until I read the last word. I still find myself thinking about Anne and the life (lives?) she led.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Lake Union Publishing; and the author, Amy Harmon; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anne Gallagher grew up with stories from Ireland. Not all the family secrets but enough of Irish history for her to love her roots. When her grandfather lay dying his last wish was his ashes to be sprinkled over the Lake or Lough of his birth. Though his death was inevitable, when it happens she is devastated and goes to Ireland wanting to also find something for herself of her history.

Going across the lake Anne is pulled into another time going back decades to when her grandfather was a little boy, and she his mother. Convoluted as it is, her absence and then her presence in Ireland draws the suspicion and questions of where she disappeared for five years and what her intentions are now. With her husband Declan dead, Ireland in continuous strife, Anne is drawn towards the calm, enigmatic Doctor Thomas Smith. How she is going to balance what she knows of the future, what she knows of her own life in America and can she decide to stay back in the past, or move back into her future is the question here.

Drawn into a history of which she has a little knowledge only, Anne is literally torn into two. To give her son the protection and love he needs in the absence of his father and to return the love shown by Thomas and then her other life as a successful writer in New York.

A very intense love story. Plenty for the history aficionados. This was a wonderful read.

What the Wind Knows is a great read. I am giving this book four stars. I recommend it for other readers.

I really loved Thomas and the history. I related to Anne but it felt a bit predictable to me. I still loved it and would recommend it. I adored the Thomas journal entries most of all.

I have been a fan of Amy Harmon for years. She has a way of laying out a scene that makes you truly feel like you’re existing between her pages. This captivating tale is no different. With beautiful imagery and a story that pulls you in and forces you to feel everything, Harmon takes us on another ride of a lifetime.

DNF-ed at 47%. Though I have definitely enjoyed both from time to time, I'm not currently much of a fan of Historical Fiction or Fantasy. I have never really cared for time-traveling plots in particular. However, I'm a big fan of Amy Harmon and that's why I picked up this book. Unfortunately, it was not enough for me to love it. I had a really hard time getting into the story and I decided to set it down for awhile and I read a couple of other books. I finally tried picking this up again and still couldn't get into it. It was at 47% that I decided to stop reading and then I just kind of skimmed to the end. I didn't really find the end very satisfying (mostly due to my time-traveling plotline feelings) so I'm glad I decided to call it when I did. However, everyone else I know has loved it and I wish Harmon nothing but the best. I'll still definitely be picking up more books from her in the future.

"Freedom is the ability to go where your heart calls." So true, is this quote from the book, especially as the story unfolds.
A successful young American author, keeping a promise to her recently deceased beloved grandfather, embarks on a trip to his hometown in Ireland to scatter his ashes in the nearby lake. This begins a fascinating tale which includes time travel, Irish history, romance amid beautiful description of the country. Our heroine, Ann Gallagher, finds herself caught between a future that was her past and a past that could well be in her future.
This is a wonderful book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, anybody who loves romance, and for those who love time travel!
In other words, there is something for everyone! Excellent!

What The Wind Knows is a beautiful love story that transcends time as well as bends the mind. It’s not only a haunting love story about Thomas and Ann but a true ode to Ireland and the ones that have shaped its history.

Amy Harmon has crafted a full sensory experience with this book. I could see the the Ireland of old so clearly, smell and taste and feel the past so much; I was completely immersed.

The writing is remarkable and the words unforgettable and at the very core of this book is a gorgeous connection of two souls tied together by a beautiful boy.

Amy Harmon, I do have a greater respect for the men and women who came before and I believe they did make the world a better place. Thank you for that!

Amy Harmon has always been a favorite author of mine, from her very first book I was hooked and as her stories progress, they truly only seem to get better.

I was so eager to get my hands on her newest release and for good reason, because let me tell you, it was riveting and so worth the wait. Once again, from the very first page, I was pulled right into the story and it was so hard to put down.

Riddled with emotion, I was captured by the setting, the story line and the very real characters themselves. Everything about this story called to me.

Set in Ireland during one of the islands worst events in its history, it was so enchanting. From the stories and lore to the very heart of the rebellion. Everything about it demanded that you pay attention and read on.

I can't even begin to express how much I adored this story. From young Eoin right down to Thomas, so much about this story spoke and called to me in all the best ways that only Harmon seems to know how to do.

This book is in a class all by itself. It is unlike anything I’ve ever read before and it’s a story I won’t soon forget. Amy Harmon has crafted an amazing tale of freedom, heartache, and undying love while weaving historical facts throughout. It’s a story of past meets present and compels the reader to appreciate the journey. Where you are is important, but it’s also vital to remember what it took to get you here. The love story of Anne and Thomas is one that transcends time.

I think everyone knows by now I'm a huge fan of Amy Harmon's books and I'm always over the moon when I find out there is a new story coming out. The year 2019 has without doubt started on a high note with the upcoming release of What The Wind Knows. It is simply impressive how different and unique each new story is, and this newest addition is no exception. What The Wind Knows is one of my new favorites with a fascinating historical setting in 1920s Ireland, a time travel twist and a romantic and family story you cannot help but fall in love with. Each element has been created and developed to ultimately form a perfect balance together and they result in a story that will appeal to historical fiction and romance fans alike. The writing and plot development are sublime. The writing style will have you under its spell from the very first page and the beautiful prose is one of the reasons I already know What The Wind Knows will appear on my list of 2019 favorites. The plot itself is fascinating, well constructed and gives us a real insight what it would have been like living in 1920s Ireland. The descriptions of the setting and characters are detailed and help set the perfect atmosphere for this story... The time travel element is fascinating touch without it being a turn off for those who normally don't enjoy science fiction. I personally loved how past and present mingled and overlapped, the lines blurring until 'only the wind knows which truly comes first'. The chapters alternated between journal entries written by Thomas and Anne's POV set both in past and present. The chapters not only connect past events, but also show the influence of both characters on each other and their surroundings. The journal entries are simply fascinating and help put together the full image of both their lives. What The Wind Knows is wonderful romance story with a time travel twist set in a turbulent time of Ireland history. Beautifully crafted and simply splendid!

I'm honestly not all that surprised by my reaction to What The Wind Knows, because I have loved every Amy Harmon book I have picked up so far (both Making Faces and The Smallest Part also receiving the highest rating possible). It doesn't matter whether you prefer reading historical fiction or a romantic family drama, because What The Wind Knows manages to deliver both in a perfect balance. The time travel element gives this story a unique touch and is well incorporated into the story and Irish cultural references. The writing, the setting, the descriptions, the characters... This story is absolutely fantastic and I can highly highly recommend it.

***5 beautiful "Don't go near the water, love!!!" stars***

I pulled you from the water
And kept you in my bed.
A lost, forsaken daughter
Of a past that isn't dead.
....
Don't go near the water, love.
Stay away from strand or sea.
You cannot walk on water, love.
The lough will take you far from me.

This book was pure magic, but not in the way you think!!!
It was as much real, as it was magnificent!!! It was old and new, at the same time...
It was captivating until the very last page and it made you craving more and more of this wonderful story!!!
Mrs. Harmon knows really good how to write beautiful and heartwarming stories, and this story was... pure magic, as i told you above!!!
In this book, she managed to marry reality with fiction, the old with the new and in a way, a crazy story had begun...

"My name is Anne Gallagher. I was not born in Ireland, but Ireland has always been inside of me..."

Anne Gallagher's life is about to change forever... The constant parental figure in her life, her beloved grandfather Eoin, is dying and Anne is devastated... Those two were always very close...
Before he died, he spoke to her about her ancestors for the first time and he gave her a journal and some pictures... His only demand is for her to go in Ireland back to "him" and to throw his ashes in Lough Gill...

"Don't forget to read the book. He loved you. He loved you so much. He's been waiting, Annie."

After his death, Anne is making his wish come true and she goes to Ireland... In there, she is trying to learn more about the persons in the photos and when the right time is coming, she is fulfilling Eoin's final wish!!!
But when she is dusting his ashes in the lake, something terrifying and at the same magical is happening...
She is turning back in time and everything is changing in her reality... Now, she is back in 1921 and in the center of history itself!!!

"I can't live like this."
"Like what?"
"Like this... Pretending to be someone that I'm not. Being punished for things I can't explain and blamed for things I know nothing about."

The people of 1921 are confusing her with someone else and steadily, she is starting to learn more about her family, about little Eoin and she is finding tenderness and love in the face of Thomas Smith!!!
But the dangers that are lurking in the dark are too many.... The fear of the unknown is always there and at the beginning, the need to return back in her life is strong... But then everything are starting to change...
She has been thrown in the middle of significant parts of Ireland's history and she is getting to know very important persons... Thomas Smith is becoming for her something vital like the air she breathes and after some time, she has so much things to lose...
But nothing lasts forever, right??? What will happen in this crazy story that she is forced to be a part of???

"Each day I walked along the shore, considering. And each day I turned away, unwilling to try... I ached for my grandfather... I mourned for my life... But the choice was easy to make. Here, I loved. And, in the end, I wanted to love more than I wanted to return."

Well, honestly, the story was too big and it had too many things inside... Things that i can not share with you... I think that i told too much already!!!
The author managed to bound real facts with fictional facts in a beautiful and skillful manner and she pulled me under her spell...
My mind all the time was wondering how it was possible for the heroine to go back in time, how the things will develop, if the history will change after the time traveling and how our heroes will manage to find redemption after all.... And because I'm a romantic soul, i wanted for Thomas and Anne a HEA, but it seemed impossible... Near to the end, my heart was aching and i was praying for a miracle...

"Was I changing history, or had I always been part of it?"

"Was Thomas in love with Anne?" I'd asked my grandfather.
"Yes and no," Eoin had answered.
"Oh wow. There's a story there," I'd crowed.
"Yes. There is," he'd whispered. "A wonderful story."
And now I understood.

Well, i loved many characters in here very much!!!! Amy, always, is making me love more people than is necessary... Not only the protagonists... but i will try to stick only to them...
Anne was caught in between... She was longing for a different life and she was longing her loved ones, and she took them in a different form... It was fascinating in a way to read about that period of time... I was mesmerized... and I think, Anne was too!!!
After all, who could meet his/ her ancestors from first hand??? Who could live history in its core??? And who could find love in the most unexpected place and time???

"I am not her, Thomas... Right now, I almost wish I were. But I am not that Anne."
"No. You're right. You've changed. You don't burn my eyes like you once did. Now, I don't have to look away."

Tomas and Anne were fitting perfectly together... They were soulmates!!! They belong to each other, even though they seemed cursed to have no future together...
Tomas was a magnificent man... A patriot!!! He was so loyal, so kind, so generous... and he showed his virtue repeatedly in this book... It was impossible to not love this guy!!!
Anne was a wonderful person herself... She was confused, but at the same time, she was adapting in this new life really good...

"Thomas Smith was the kind of man who could quietly slip into and out of a room without drawing much attention. He was handsome if one stopped to contemplate each feature... Yet he had a slight stoop to his shoulders and an air of melancholia that had folks respecting his space and his solitude, even as they sought him out... He wasn’t tall. He wasn’t short. He wasn’t a big man. He wasn’t a small man. He wasn’t loud or obtrusive even as he moved and acted with an innate confidence. He was simply Thomas Smith, as ordinary as his name, and yet . . . not ordinary at all.
I could have written stories about him. He would be the character that grew on the reader, making them love him simply because he was good. Decent. Dependable.”

"We were impossible. In a moment, in a breath, it could all be over. He was a dream I could easily wake up from, and I knew all too well that once awake, I wouldn't be able to call the dream back."

As i told you before, there were many remarkable persons in here, but i will have to stick to Eoin...
Eoin was an amazing child who had lost already too many things... But he had found others, more beautiful...
He was a sneaky old man since he knew everything and he orchestrated them really good for Anne... I loved how thoughtful he was and i loved him for the love that he was feeling toward Anne and Doc...
Also, in here, a basic role was belonging to Michael Collins!!! Yep, the known Irishman!!! We lived his story through Thomas's and Anne's eyes and it was so beautifully given... Hopefully, in his time, he had such wonderful friends by his side as in here, because the burden upon his shoulders was very heavy...

“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.”

Honestly, there are so many things that i want to share about this book that i could write about them for hours... My mind is still confused in a way, but my soul feels satisfied!!!
I'm sure that i have forgotten many things to say, but i have to stop writing now. ..
I just want to say that i'm still in awe and that in this book exist wonderful things and wonderful people with wonderful stories...
I loved very much this travel to past through Anne's eyes and through Thomas's journal... They were both having a voice and it was an amazing thing to witness!!!
I love Amy Harmon's book!!! She never disappoints!!! In contrary, she knows how to spellbound you!!!

"Someone very wise told me that we keep the people we love in our hearts. We never lose them as long as we can remember how it felt to be loved by them."

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

***ARC generously provided via NetGalley for the exchange of an honest review. Thank you!***

Wow! This book was amazing! I have always loved Amy Harmon’s books but this one is quite special. It takes you on an epic journey through time. Beautiful book!

Words escape me about how good this book was. Full of history. Full of love. It took me longer to read because I was trying to absorb every word. If you enjoyed Outlander series or Maeve Binchy then you will love this book.

Such a beautiful story! I mean, who can resist a time travel novel? I really cannot and Amy Harmon weaves a beautiful tale of a 21st century woman who finds herself traveling back to 1920's Ireland. Just like main protagonist Anne, I was swept away into the political intrigues of a country that wished to get rid of its British oppressor. Not to mention that I certainly fell in love with Thomas and little Eamon.

Published on Goodreads on 4/02/19
Publication date: 01/03/19

I’ve never been to Ireland but after finishing What The Wind Knows it feels like I had. I’m a novice when it comes to historical romance but this book was calling out to me. I’m so glad I read WTWK. It has a perfect blend of history and fantasy thanks to the cleverly and brilliantly writing from Amy Harmon. Her prose is flawless. Absolutely effortless and intoxicating in her description of the beautiful country Ireland and her development of the storyline and its incredible characters.

I was completely immersed in this story. With Annie and her journey. Her story has so many layers and it was cleverly explored and depicted. I fell in love with her, Eoin and Thomas. The history of Ireland was fascinating and I felt like I was a part of Annie’s journey. It was intense emotions because of the the events that transpired in Ireland and then mixed with the beautiful love story of Annie, Eoin and Thomas. I was a mess numerous times. Tears down my cheeks. That’s a testament to Amy Harmon’s writing. She harness so much emotion with few little words. Magnificent.
WTWK is truly magical. A must read. I hitched a ride back to 1916 and it was a fantastic ride. A marvelous adventure.

5 Countess Stars

What The Wind Knows to put it simply was pretty fucking amazing. I figured out the twists way before they were revealed but that in no way shape or form detracted from my enjoyment of this story. I was hooked from the first line and fully immersed in the story by the end of the first page. This story was everything. It contained so many things I love to read about, history, time travel, love, secrets, lies, betrayal and adventure. Oh what an adventure it was. This story, these characters *happy sigh* just fully worked for me. I highly, very highly recommend this book. Do yourself a favour and go read it.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in an exchange for an honest review!

I had seen a lot of trusted book sources excited to read this so when I saw the opportunity to request it on Netgalley I jumped at the chance. Who doesn't love a good romance/historical fiction with a time traveling element to it? Yes, there are a lot of ways this is similar to Outlander, but by the end I was able to push those comparisons aside and enjoy the story for what it was. A fabulous adventure with characters you won't forget.

Anne Gallagher is a young novelist who was raised by her beloved grandfather, Eoin Gallagher. Growing up she was enchanted by the stories of his life in Ireland and begged him to take her there. Eoin had always refused to take her, but when he passes away, Anne fulfills his last wishes by taking his ashes back to Ireland. It is in completing this task that she is transported back in time and she finds herself adopting a role she was born to play.

Reading this book was a true journey for me because I had a wide variety of opinions as I read it. I started out sort of disengaged, then grew frustrated with myself because I couldn't stop comparing it to Outlander, then started to feel captivated as the main character, Annie, began her adventure in 1921 Ireland. As the book wound down with only about 50 pages left, I went from a strong 3.5 stars to a solid 4 stars. This was a really good book and the ending was superb. The author, Amy Harmon, was so in tune with the exact right moment to move the story along. Just as I was starting to feel settled, she would transport the plot and completely elevate my reading experience. She creatively told the story through Anne's perspective as well as through journal entries that helped educate the reader on the turbulent time period that Anne had found herself in.

Overall, I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the history of Ireland, loves historical fiction and romance or wants to read a story they will never forget.

This book was such a beautiful novel! Amy Harmon is one of my favorite authors and this books doesn’t disappoint. It’s a slow burn, romance with many historical facts thrown in.
I loved the last half of the book the most. By the last page, Amy had me in tears over this beautiful story.

This book has turned me into a blubbering mess! I love Amy Harmon, her books have a tendency of making you invested just with the first few words. If you love epic love stories mixed with a bit of fantasy, a lot of history and wonderful and extraordinary characters please do not miss reading this book! Guaranteed to turn you into a blubbering mess but eventually a smiling mess!