Moon Over Edisto by Beth Webb Hart is the story of Julia,
her sister Meg, and their mother Mary Ellen, who had their family torn apart years
before when Marney, Julia’s best friend from college had an affair with her
father, Charles Bennett. After divorcing Mary Ellen and leaving the girls, Charles
married Marney and they had three children of their own. Julia, Meg, and Mary Ellen all went their separate
ways and tried to put the past behind them. But the family has never been the
same, suffering for years, still feeling the betrayal of what had taken place. This
story occurs after Charles has passed away, when circumstances reluctantly draw
Julia back to Edisto, to face a past from which she had left so long ago. Julia
is unprepared for how it affects her to be back home in South Carolina for a
week. She had been living life on a new
path in Manhattan where she was engaged to be married. All of a sudden, her
life grows more complicated than she could have ever expected, and her heart is
torn in different directions. Now, she is faced with a major decision that will
determine her future.
This was the first book I had read by this author, but it likely
will not be the last. It was a slow start, as it was kind of challenging to
keep track of the many characters. But, once I figured out the cast of characters,
and got used to the story being told from various characters’ perspectives, the
story moved along and I wanted to just keep reading. Besides Julia’s story,
there were also secondary storylines involving Mary Ellen and Meg. The book was
written in such a way that they all came together naturally and enhanced the
overall story. I will be honest in
saying that this book had me crying in a few places, but crying in a good way.
It touched my emotions as the characters sought and gave forgiveness, even in
the seemingly most unforgiveable circumstances. Characters wrestled with the past
and deeply embedded hurts, and then, in spite of it all, forgave with a sense
of pure selflessness. It was such an encouragement and a testament to the
innate goodness that can come out of bad if only we allow it. I read and
reviewed this book as part of the Booksneeze Blogger program and I would
recommend this book to anyone.
