Emma Blair's This Side of Heaven is the kind of book that grabs your attention right from the very first page and does not let it go until you reach the very end.Sheila Beattie lives in the village of Dragonholme, secure in the knowledge that she will live there for the rest of her life with her darling Eric.
But, when the sea claims both her family and her beloved, Sheila must soldier on for the sake of her heartbroken mother and sisters-in-law who have lost their husbands.
Fate seems to be smiling down on her when she gets a job as a clerk in the laird's hall, but when a dram loosens the laird's tongue, she realizes that she can't live under the same roof and runs off to Glasgow where she learns to love again.
But the dark clouds of the war gather and Sheila's beloved loses his life in the war. She decides to head back to Dragonholme, where she finds that not everyone is pleased to see her.
For those who love a good saga, then put your feet up and get ready for an absorbing tale that will make you laugh and cry.
Emma Blair is a truly talented author and I look forward to reading more of her brilliant books.
