Ashes on the Moor by Sarah M. Eden: Book Review

Details

• Genre: Historical fiction
• Series: No
• Length: 310 pages (Kindle edition)
• Publication Date: March 1, 2018

Tropes

• Small-town
• Opposites attract
• Fish out of water
• Slow burn

My Rating

Book Description

“The life of an impoverished schoolteacher is not one Evangeline Blake would have chosen for herself. Torn from her home and her beloved sister and sent to work in the gritty factory town of Smeatley, Evangeline must prove herself to her grandfather, a man who values self-reliance above all else, before he will grant her access to her inheritance. Raised to be a lady of refinement, she hasn’t any of the skills necessary to manage on her own nor does she have the first idea how to be a teacher. But failure means never being with her sister again. 

Alone and overwhelmed, she turns to the one person in town who seems to know how she feels — Dermot McCormick, an Irish brick mason who is as far from home and as out of place as she is. Despite the difference in their classes and backgrounds, Evangeline and Dermot’s tentative friendship deepens and grows. Her determination and compassion slowly earn her the faith and confidence of the skeptical residents of Smeatley, who become like the family she has lost. 

But when a secret from her past comes to light, Evangeline faces an impossible choice: seize the opportunity to reclaim her former life and rejoin her sister or fight for the new life she has struggled to build for herself — a life that includes Dermot.”

— from Goodreads

My Review

A moving story of resilience and belonging.

Dermot might be a curmudgeon.  But, at least, he’s a (begrudgingly) helpful one 😂  And such a sweet father to Ronan!

I loved watching Evangeline bond with Ronan herself.  And how it helped her bond with Dermot, as well. 

This story doesn’t shy away from showing the plight of the working class during that time.  Frequently, children couldn’t enjoy just being children.  To help feed their families, they had to work in dangerous, stifling factories or become apprentices to sometimes cruel masters.

Evangeline’s situation immediately made me sympathize with her.  Not only was she grieving and separated from her young sister, but she was also completely in over her head.  And Aunt Barton’s animosity toward her did not improve matters in the slightest.

However, even though Evangeline initially seemed ill-equipped to teach in Smeatley, she ended up being the perfect fit.  And because she truly had the children’s best interests at heart, they blossomed under her care.

Favorite Moments

🐑 borrowing a blanket
🐑 cooking lessons
🐑 comforting Evangeline after the inspection 
🐑 forgiven
🐑 willing to go to Leeds
🐑 staying in Smeatley

Favorite Quotes

“‘Home is a comforting place.’ She walked alongside him as they headed up the street.

‘It is that,’ he said.

Evangeline eyed him. ‘Did we just agree on something?’

Mr. McCormick glanced up with a look of overdone pondering. ‘Sky’s not falling.’ He trudged onward.“

Sarah M. Eden

“‘We’re up the street a few paces — the only house with a yellow door. Should you need anything, give us a knock.’

For a moment, she could do nothing but stare in mute shock at his offer. The day had been terrible and sorrowful. He, of all people, had offered a kind word, a moment of compassion. She hardly knew how to respond.

‘But we’ve a limit of one knock per day, so don’t go abusing the invitation.’ There was the Mr. McCormick she’d come to expect.

‘I will set a goal of one knock per lifetime,’ she said“

Sarah M. Eden

“‘The majority of children in town aren’t coming to school as it is.’ She sighed. ‘Any difference I make will be miniscule.’

‘Seems to me you’re needing to decide if a small difference is a difference worth making, if changing just one life for the better or changing a mere dozen would be a waste of your time.’“

Sarah M. Eden

“‘Dermot,’ she acknowledged. ‘And I am Evangeline.’

He shook his head and signed in unmistakably feigned annoyance. ‘That is a mouthful, that is.’

She grinned back at him. ‘I think you have fire enough to manage it.“

Sarah M. Eden

“The irascible, unapproachable neighbor whom she’d first meet upon arriving in this strange and difficult town had show a side of himself that was, in a word, wondrous.“

Sarah M. Eden

“‘Is that not one of the greatest tests of a person’s character?’ She spoke as if asking herself the question. ‘Caring about the welfare of people who do not seem to deserve it.’

‘I suppose it is.’ He let his shoulders droop from the exhaustion he’d been fighting all day. ‘Life’d be far easier if we weren’t required to be decent.’

She laughed as he’d hoped she would. ‘I, for one, am grateful that you are a vast deal more than decent.’“

Sarah M. Eden

“‘You didn’t know me before you came here. I was gruff and unfriendly and meaner than a bull with his tail on fire.’

‘Oh, no, you were like that when I arrived.’ He looked at her, then burst out laughing at the mischievous amusement lighting her features.

‘I’m glad you’ve come to Smeatley. You’re a joy you know that?’“

Sarah M. Eden

“He took her face gently in his hands. ‘Everything’ll be grand, Evangeline. Grand altogether.’

She met his gaze. ‘And if it all falls to pieces?’

‘We’ll put it back together again.’“

Sarah M. Eden

“A degree of sadness entered her expression. ‘Do you really feel so terribly alone?’

There was something pleading, something deeper in what she was asking. The question beneath her words was not lost on him. ‘I’ve not felt as alone these past weeks.’

‘Neither have I,’ she said softly.“

Sarah M. Eden

“She smiled up at him, and he, who had spent so long guarding his heart, lost a little more of it to her.“

Sarah M. Eden

“His free arm wrapped around her in his warm embrace. ‘Do you think you can be happy in Leeds?’

…’You will be with me,’ she answered. ‘I will be joyous.’“

Sarah M. Eden

“‘Does this mean you are lifting your one knock per day limit?’

He laughed. ‘You may knock whenever you like and as often as you’d like. Until the day my door and your door are the same.’

‘I like the way that sounds.’“

Sarah M. Eden

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