Review: Cypress Hollow Revisited
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 24, 2013
Once again Rachael Herron takes us on a journey to the sleepy town of Cypress Hollow where the legend that is Eliza Carpenter lives on and we discover a bit about the girl whom Eliza took in, Cora Sylvan.Cora values her independence more than anything else. Having grown up in and out of orphanages and then at the age of sixteen being taken in by Eliza Carpenter, she's only really had herself to depend upon.Now a young widow herself, she takes nothing in life for granted and is rather pragmatic in that approach, preferring to plan her whole life using the never-ending list of "what if's" she journalises.When Mac, her deceased husband's cousin arrives back in town after being away for quite some time, he threatens to disrupt the quiet life she has managed to build for herself when he finally reveals the real reason for his reappearance.Long-held feelings of anger and desertion threaten to boil to the surface of her carefully maintained life and home. Along with the very real prospect of financial ruin after unintentionally setting fire to her shed cum workshop, thereby obliterating all the hard work she has put into her canned goods and knitting yarn, she will need to ultimately confront Mac and learn the real reasons behind him leaving Cypress Hollow.Cora's Heart is the fourth story in the Cypress Hollow series and, after reading Eliza's Gift towards the beginning of last year, I was really looking forward to this instalment of life in the somewhat sleepy town, and Rachael Herron didn't disappoint.With her extensive knowledge of knitting along with her creative flair and keen eye for detail, intertwined with her lyrical writing style and beautiful words of knitting wisdom heading each chapter, Rachael has created a story with likeable characters, a touch of comedy and lots of knitting with a satisfying, albeit somewhat formulaic, plot.A recommended read for those ardent knitters out there who enjoy their craft with a side of romance and humour.