I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Sorry, I'm so late in reviewing. I read it quite a while ago. Still, I remember it with fondness.

This is the fourth of this series and I never got book three. I hate reading things out of order. But the book sat on my Kindle shelf so long I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did. This was one of the best character development stories I've read in a long time.

Bette Lee Crosby can write so well, you feel you are there, smelling, tasting, feeling everything the characters do. Their mental confusions can make you wonder about your own thoughts. The sadness the characters feel draw the Kleenex near. But when things work out you nearly are jumping up and down.

Please give this gem a try. It easily could stand alone. The other books in the series only give you a bit of a back knowledge, not really needed to care about what is happening and to whom. Loved it! I can't wait to read more of Ms. Crosby's work!

The Regrets of Cyrus Dodd by Bette Lee Crosby is the 4th book in her Wyattsville series. It is a story of two West Virginia farmers that feud over a piglet and life is never the same for either one of their families. Pride can cause a man to do things you never thought possible with consequences that bring heartache and devastation and as Cyrus' wife reminds him "pride is a river that can't be crossed without a price." And oh the prices that are paid. The story is told from several points of view and with the author's skillful writing, flows well with twists to the plot and a fair amount of unexpected action. The main characters are realistic, likable (or not) and strong--mothers who will do anything to save their children, husbands who will make drastic changes to save their wives, lovers who conquer the challenges of life because they recognize that "love and sorrow come into your life hand in hand." Cyrus has a list of regrets as long as his arm, can he let go of them and begin to count his blessings? The author explores the healing power of love and community, and whether the wrongs of the past can ever be made right. Poignant, heartbreaking and yet so heartwarming too.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a review and the opinions are my own.