Publishers Weekly
10/25/2021
Fancett Pagels (Butterfly Cottage) weaves an overstuffed dual-timeline tale of love and mystery set at the picturesque Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Upper Michigan. In 1895, itinerant singer Lily Swaine is spending the summer as a songbird at the hotel. She never stays in one place for long, is always one step ahead of the secrets in her past, and struggles to trust in a God who allows so many "terrible things" to befall her. A romance with psychiatrist Stephen DuBlanc, who harbors secrets of his own, may help renew her faith and convince her to put down roots. In 2020, hotel designer and HGTV star Willa Christy returns to her home on the Upper Peninsula to consult on a redesign of the Grand Hotel, and happens on Lily's journal, uncovered in a room she's renovating, and begins to wonder about her, recalling stories both of a female murderer and arsonist named Lily. Willa becomes even more intrigued when she realizes Michael DuBlanc, the landscape architect she's been falling for, is related to Lily. While the two core plots hold appeal, a profusion of subplots and the tangle of intertwined relationships in one close community (over two timelines) can make the narrative a challenge to follow. Romance fans looking for escapism might end up needing a flowchart to keep up with this one. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
Carrie Fancett Pagels creates a wonderful story of intrigue and romance in Behind Love's Wall. Set on the amazing historical Mackinac Island, the author makes a creative balancing act of time periods and characters, bringing it all together in one story that I found hard to put down. I believe readers will enjoy the twists and turns, and I highly recommend Behind Love's Wall.
- Tracie Peterson, best-selling, awarding winning author of over 125 novels including Ladies of Lake and Heirs of Montana series
In Behind Love’s Wall, beloved author Carrie Fancett Pagels skillfully weaves two generations’ worth of romance and secrets to craft a captivating story set on breathtaking Mackinac Island. With unforgettable characters, a moving faith element, rich historical details, and two tantalizing mysteries to unravel, Pagels provides a highly satisfying tale that kept me reading far past my bedtime!
- Susanne Dietze, RWA RITA® nominated, Selah Award-winning author of The Blizzard Bride and A Small-Town Christmas Challenge Behind Love’s Wall takes the reader on a double journey of intrigue and romance on Michigan’s Mackinac Island. Author Carrie Fancett Pagels does a well-balanced job in this dual-timeline story. From 1895 to 2020, the setting of the famous Grand Hotel immerses the reader in the grandeur and elegance of a time gone by that is still accessible today. While Lily and Stephan do their best to hide their pasts in 1895, Willa and Michael are equally determined to unearth them in 2020. There are enough tangled webs in this story to keep the reader happily turning each page. This may be my favorite book by this author yet. - Pegg Thomas, award-winning author of Sarah's Choice “Set on beautiful Mackinac Island, Michigan, Carrie Fancett Pagels has woven together intriguing historical and contemporary plots that will grip you heart and keep you up late at night, turning pages to discover the outcome for her heroines. Mystery, romance, and inspiration give this story what readers are looking for!” - Carrie Turansky - award-winning author of No Ocean Too Wide and No Journey Too Far
