A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

It was a.great way.to say goodbye to.the People and the Island. Boy have they grown. I Will actually miss them. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

This installment of the series was a page turner. I was very engrossed in this chapter of the saga and enjoyed it thoroughly.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a series that I could not put down! Beautifully written, filled with lots of good history about emigration, adventure, Canada and cultures of the time period. Kate Hewitt is one of my favorite authors. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

A heart-wrenching and powerful historical novel from a master storyteller, The Island We Left Behind is an unforgettable and emotional page-turner from Kate Hewitt’s immensely talented pen.

Amherst Island was a place full of wonderful memories for Ellen and Lucas Lyman. The island had been home to the two of them. It was where they met, where they became friends and where they fell in love. Amherst Island might have been where their heart was, but they soon realized that a future elsewhere beckoned for the two of them. Settling in New York, Ellen and Lucas had quickly made a home for themselves and the Big Apple was everything they wanted it to be and so much more besides. Lucas had begun to make a comfortable living on the stock market and Ellen found happiness and fulfillment as a mother raising their family. Everything was going well for Ellen and Lucas until tragedy struck and their entire future was placed in jeopardy.

Their beloved son Jamie falls ill and Ellen and Lucas are beside themselves. There is nothing in this world they would not do for their dear boy, but with Lucas unable to leave his job, it’s up to Ellen to make an impossible choice and a perilous journey that will take her all the way across America without the man she loves with all of her heart by her side. With Jamie needing her more than ever, Ellen will move mountains to help him recover – even if it means leaving behind everything and everyone that is familiar to her.

Will Jamie recover? Will Ellen have a safe journey across stormy seas and dangerous waters? And will she ever be reunited with her soulmate, Lucas?

Kate Hewitt has the storyteller’s gift and she never fails to write emotionally satisfying novels that touch the heart and leave readers spellbound from start to finish. The Island We Left Behind is an evocative, dramatic and compelling tale about the ties that bind, a mother’s love for her children and the courage and resilience that sustains us through difficult times that will strike a chord with readers everywhere and have them reaching for the tissues.

Beautifully written and wonderfully told, Kate Hewitt’s The Island We Left Behind is an outstanding historical novel readers will not want to miss.

Return to the Island was supposed to be the final book in the Amherst Island trilogy so it came as a pleasant surprise when the author announced that she was releasing a fourth book in the series. The third book ended on a satisfying note and I wondered how would the storyline proceed in this new book.

We find Ellen and Lucas living a financially fruitful life in New York with their two children, Rosie and Jamie, towards the end of the 1920s. Jamie was born premature with weak lungs and as a result suffers from bad coughing bouts during winter months which could prove fatal in the long run. The stock market is booming which keeps Lucas busy as a corporate lawyer; hence, Ellen takes the trip to California alone with her children and her cousin Gracie to give Jamie a chance to regain his health. Gracie proves to be difficult to manage with her wild ways but Ellen suspects that Gracie is hiding a deep wound underneath. She also bumps into her old friend Will Turner who shares his own disturbing notions about the booming stock market as well as his prediction of another war on the horizon. Even though surrounded by the glitz, glamour and wealth of Hollywood and the Hamptons alongwith the continuous assurance of Lucas, Ellen can't help but still feel agitated about the future...

This was a great continuation to the series that we all thought had ended with the third book. If I felt the ending to the third book was satisfying then the ending to this book was at par with it, hopefully with more stories to follow.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Kate Hewitt for the e-Arc of the book.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this.

I read this story, unaware that this was a series, following the life of Ellen and Lucas, not having read the previous books, I found myself still enjoying this story.

This book is set in New York, where both Ellen and Lucas has made their home and family, with two young children. Life is peaceful until their son becomes seriously ill. With Lucas unable to leave his job, Ellen is left to journey across America without him with their daughter in tow. Accompanying them is Ellen's cousin, Gracie.

As we progress we see that Ellen is very set in her ways and that with the 'modernising' of women, is unable to embrace this new world that her cousin has.

This is a story not only about family but also about embracing change.

As noted above, this book is fourth in the series, and while I have not read the previous books, this was very well written that not reading the previous books, did feel like it didn't take anything away from the story. I would consider going back and reading the others now.

In this heartwarming fourth book in the Amherst Island series, Ellen Lyman has settled in an affluential New York home with her husband Lucas and their two children Rosie and Jamie. While she misses her childhood home of Amherst Island, her primary concern is for Jamie’s frail health. He suffers with breathing difficulties, especially during the cold winter months. Her marriage to Lucas is idyllic, despite a time that it seemed that they might never have found marriage. Lucas is busy in his employ and when Jamie’s doctor recommends spending the winter months in a warmer climate before it is too late for the young boy, Lucas encourages Ellen to take the children to California to give Jamie a fighting chance. They decide to have Ellen’s cousin Gracie accompany them to help with the children.

Ellen, Gracie and the children make the cross country trip and Ellen soon learns that this presents quite a strain on her marriage. However, Ellen would do anything for her children. The move is only temporary but the trials never let up. On the one hand, Jamie thrives in the warmer climate. However, things with Gracie become quite worrisome for Ellen all while she begins to worry about the security of her marriage to Lucas. The timing in this story turns to the horrible stock market crash in 1929 in the story shifts as we see how this impacts Ellen and Lucas and their future.

As mentioned, this is the fourth book in the series. However, I had not read the previous books but this did quite well as a standalone novel. I did read a little bit about the previous books and they show how Ellen started off on Amherst Island at the age of 12 and the traveling that she did over the years and what led her to marrying Lucas. That is all very important to see the foundation that they had built based on their original home in on the island and how everything falling apart around them came to show how important the island becomes for their future.

What an incredibly touching book! This book was about a mother’s love, surviving the most difficult of trials, and how hope can come from starting over. This beautiful story had a wonderful conclusion.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I love Kate Hewitt and I definitely love this series.

This is the fourth book of this series and I've loved all these books from the start.

She is now married and has two sons but one of her sons was born with weak lungs.

This is an emotional read

Highly recommended.

The Island We Left Behind is the fourth book in the Amherst Island series by Kate Hewitt. The story picks up a few years after the last book. Ellen and Lucas are happily married with two children. But, their five year old son, Jamie, was born with weak lungs and always suffers from a wracking cough. Jamie’s doctor suggests that a drier climate might be a tremendous help in helping and even possibly curing young Jamie of his affliction. Ellen, along with her son Jamie and seven year old daughter, Rosie head out to Pasadena on the West Coast with their cousin Gracie tagging along while Lucas remained in NYC. Is this the right choice for Jamie and their family?

I really enjoyed reading all of the books in this series, but I must admit this might have just been my favorite of all. I absolutely love history, especially the roaring 20’s prohibition era. Hewitt really brought to life the 20’s with a lot of text rich in history. My grandmother still uses some of the phrases from the first half of the 20th century still today. Also a point of note is the movies of the times first starting out as silent movies and then talkies, which was such a huge deal back in those times. I remember my grandmother practically forcing me to watch her favorite actor and actress movies from the 30’s, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddie on VCR tapes when I was a teenager and when VCR’s were a thing (Geez I am getting old!). I also got a huge kick out of the La Brea tar pits mentioned in this book as I am watching the new NBC series, La Brea.

I really have enjoyed this series tremendously watching Ellen grow from a young girl to a woman in her mid thirties and all of the life experiences she has gained throughout her life and with Amherst Island always in the background of this wonderfully written series.

The island we left behind by Kate Hewitt.
Amherst Island book 4.
1928, New York City: Ellen and Lucas Lyman have made a heart-wrenching decision to leave their beloved Amherst Island behind in search of a new life. The island was once the home of their hearts: where they had met as children, become friends, and over time found love.
A lovely read. Love does conquer all. Brilliant story and characters. 5*.

Great to be back with Ellen and Lucas for this final book in the Amherst series, I have loved all of the previous books and this one did not disappoint although I would recommend reading them in order. Ellen has the heartbreak of a mother trying to do the best for her son in this story even if it means being away from her beloved husband and is an emotional read that you can't put down. I love all of Kate Hewitts books they always hook you from the first pages and I am sad that this is the last in the series

I've read all 4 books in the series. Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Proves the saying 'love conquers all: It certainly did for Ellen and Lucas who, from having everything ended up with nothing, but overcame the hard times and found happiness again.

The last in the series for Ellen and family. Definitely recommend this book but read The Amherst Island series in sequence. Ellen is now married with two children and lives well in America. However following life’s twists and turns Ellen goes through different emotions and moods to workout what she should do following the Stock market crash. Equally amazing as the other 3 books in the series. Thanks Kate Hewitt, your publisher and NetGalley.

The Island We Left Behind is the fourth book in the Amherst Island series, and it didn't disappoint me. It is the late 1920's, and Ellen has two beautiful children. Unfortunately, her son Jamie seemed to suffer with some kind of lung disorder. His doctor suggested taking him away from the cold, damp atmosphere of New York to a warmer, sunnier climate for a period of time. Elken's husband, Lucas' couldn't leave work to accompany the family, so Ellen and the children went with her cousin, Gracie.

The family returned home to regale Lucas with their adventures. Then came the stock market crash and Lucas had lost everything - the house, money just like many others. What would they do?

I was captivated reading this..... I recommend reading the other 3 books but it's not essential. Lovely read.

I had no idea that there would be a fourth book in the Amherst Island Series so I was thrilled to find out about The Island We Left Behind by Kate Hewitt. As with the first three books this one continues with Ellen and Lucas’ life now married with children The year is 1928, WWI behind them but so is their beloved Amherst Island. I never thought that they would leave once that Ellen had returned.

This is a truly marvelous historical family drama as decisions are made for the sake of family and one child in particular. Then of course if you know history the stock market crash happens. My parents were young children during this time in history just as Rose and Jamie but through Ellen and Lucas I was able to experience it through the adults’ perspective The loss, the worry, the stress, and the resiliency. Such a great story ending with on a hopeful note. Which just goes to show you can take the island girl from the island but you can’t take the island from her heart. In the ending a reuniting will happen.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ellen and Lucas Lyman left their family on Amherst Island for his job/career in New York City, but the city has been the best for the son's health, so they make an even harder decision to split the family and Ellen will take the kids to California in hopes that their son can grow and overcome this health obstacles and Lucas will stay behind to keep his career moving forward in NYC.

Knowing history and Lucas' career in the financial world and knowing that the fall was about to happen caused me some anxiety as I knew where this family would end up and wondering how it was all going to go down. I loved the dynamic between Ellen and her cousin, Gracie as they were figuring out how to survive in California. It was fun to see them interact with real historical figures and weave in and out of fact and fiction.

Starting midstream with this series was definitely weird and I felt as though I was missing out on some of the needed history about these characters, but even still the story was self contained within these pages. BUT I finished wanting to go back and start at the beginning, so I think that is a good sign and something that I hope to do soon.

New York City, 1928, Ellen and Lucas Lyman have made the very difficult decision to leave Amherst Island for a better life. Amherst Island has been their home that they have loved with all their heart. They met as children, and were friends that had found love. It has always been their home. Lucas makes money on the stock market, and Ellen loves being a mother in New York City. But when their son Jamie becomes seriously ill, and Lucas can’t leave his job, it’s up to Ellen to take Jamie to a place that can help him recover. Ellen does everything she needs to save her son’s life, even if it means she must leave Lucas, the man she loves. So Ellen and Jamie make the long journey across America. This heartbreaking and heart pounding story is an unputdownable must read. Definitely keep the Kleenex nearby because you will surely need it. This rapid page turner is one that will definitely stay in your heart long after you flip the last page. I absolutely loved the amazing addition to this series. This series is one to be cherished for a long, long time.

Thank you Kate Hewitt for another wonderful and the final installment to the Amherst Island series.  This series is completely unforgettable, heartbreaking and phenomenal. It is an absolute must read. I loved everything about this entire series, and I highly recommend it.

The Island We Left Behind by Kate Hewitt is a riveting conclusion to the Amherst Island series. It is the late 1920s and Kate is beyond upset about her son Jamie's lung problems. This time the doctor has a suggestion. Take him to Arizona or California for the winter. Even Lucas seems excited and starts to make arrangements. Then Kate discovers that Lucas doesn't plant o come along . . . just her and the children. Wracking her brain for a companion, she comes upon her cousin Gracie, who might be perfect. She doesn't know Gracie well, but it is better than a stranger. Arrangements are made. California here they come. It turns out to be just the thing. Before long Jamie is strong and healthy. But, change is in the wind, for world, for the country, for Kate, and for Gracie. Lucas is so busy her doesn't even read her letters, let alone answer them. Skip forward to the stock market crash and losing everything. She doesn't mind so much for herself, but Lucas is beside himself. Could returning to the island be the answer? She was happy there but was Lucas?

This has been a saga and a totally engaging one, that has seen Kate, as a child, come from Scotland, lose her father, discover her family and the island, and so much more. It is full of people just wanting to live. There is tragedy and love, hope and fear, death and life. Some of the strangest romances ever. And yet, they are returning to the island. It has been the one constant in Kate's life. This series, this book, has always reflected the current world, and Kate's world within that context. It has encompassed interesting people and interesting times. Hewitt has made the reader a part of that life, that world. It has been fun to read and I will miss the island and Kate and her family. It has been so worth the read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Island We Left Behind by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #bookoutre #katehewitt #theislandweleftbehind

The Island We Left Behind by Kate Hewitt is a great historical fiction saga that is the fourth book in the lovely series: Amherst Island. I have enjoyed this whole series from beginning to end.

I am a huge fan of Ms. Hewitt and have enjoyed every book that I have read of hers thus far. While one could read this book as a stand alone, the reader would truly appreciate the story as a whole if read as part of the series.

This book starts off where the previous left off. This is late 1920s, pre-WWII. It covers the US ( NYC/California) as well as Canada. We follow Ellen (the main character throughout the novels) and her adult existence as a wife to Lucas and mother to Jaime.

We see the family as a whole trying to make their place in this quickly-changing world and society. Obstacles present themselves as they leave their home and attempt to expand their horizons. Are they able to save one another? Are they able to stay together? Can Ellen and Lucas find their own respective purposes in life, but also keep their family together? Does it all end up full circle for them in the end and they leave off where it all began? I really enjoyed finding out.

Great character development and wonderful ending.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Bookouture for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 11/30/21.