A Fall From Yesterday by Norah Wilson – a Review

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Description:
Ocean Siliker has come back to Harkness, New Brunswick in defeat, after failing to set New York on fire with her playwriting. The first item on her agenda? Climbing White Crow Cliff, where her best friend Lacey Douglas died six years ago. If she conquers the mountain, perhaps she can rediscover her courage. But the only thing she finds herself is…lost.

Family obligations have left Titus Standish stuck in Harkness. While his younger siblings went off into the world, he stayed, working the farm and running the local search and rescue. He was there when Lacey fell to her death and blames himself. He dreads the day another mission takes him up there again. But when Ocean’s mother calls, concerned that her daughter is wandering the mountain, he leaps into action.

Ocean is thrilled to be found…until she sees her savior. She’s known Titus Standish all her life, and has loved him almost that long. But at four years his junior, she was just a kid with a crush. When Titus finds her, he’s determined to march her back down the mountain to safety. But Ocean has other plans; she’ll be damned if she’ll give up this trek. Yet all trails seem to lead to one place…straight into Titus’s arms.

Review:

Titus Standish is finally ready to do what he has always wanted.  He’s been accepted into the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) program, which has been a life-long dream.  He’s called in his siblings to tell them that not only is he leaving, but that his dad has agreed to sell the farm.  As his brother, Scott, and sister, Ember, both arrive home, there are a couple of people up on Harkness Mountain that are in need.  Titus has been part of the search and rescue team there forever, but there’s no way he can be in two places at one time.  When their dad steps in and says that Titus is to go after Ocean Siliker and Ember will hike in to help a guy stranded at a cabin, neither Titus nor Scott is happy.  But, as their dad point’s out that their sister is no longer a child and that she has her medical degree, they know they’ve lost the battle.  All three head to the mountain with Scott waiting at the base as backup as Ember and Titus head up the mountain.  Little did they know this day would change everything………..

Ocean knows she should not have headed up the mountain without a real plan, but felt like this were her chance to, as the blurb says, rediscover her courage.  Once she’s a ways up the mountain she discovers that not only did she forget her map, but that she is lost.  And, truth be told, maybe a little scared.  Soon she discovers that someone has come to her rescue.  What she doesn’t understand is why it had to be Titus Standish.  When Titus tells her they’re heading back down the mountain, Ocean rebels and makes it know that she WILL climb to White Crow Cliff with or without him.  Of course, Titus gives in and makes the climb with her, even though he knows it’s a bad idea.  He lets everyone know that he has Ocean and she’s safe, but they’re gonna be gone for a little while longer.  As they climb and feelings are given into, Titus can’t help but feel guilty.  He knows he’s leaving, but he can’t fight his attraction to Ocean.  Nor can she fight her attraction to him.  They both seem to be exorcising their own demons as it relates to Lacey’s death, but in the end, it’s inevitable that someone is going to be hurt.  After all, Titus is leaving and Ocean has vowed to help him live out his dream.  He’s been living for his family, not it’s time he lived for himself…………

A Fall from Yesterday is a nicely written story.  Titus Standish is an amazing character.  He’s done a lot for his family, putting his own plans on hold, and has always put everyone else first, until now.  Yet, he still feels guilty.  Ocean was a good one as well.  Even though she came home with her tail tucked, she’s determined to make something of herself.  She’s just not sure what that something is.  The supporting characters are wonderfully written as well, and I cannot wait to read more about them.  I wasn’t a fan of how Ms. Wilson left everything hanging with regards to them, but I know she was just setting up the next book.  A Fall from Yesterday is ultimately a story about making peace with one’s past and preconceived notions about your future to truly forge ahead and do what truly makes you happy.  This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Wilson, but it won’t be the last.  Well done, Norah Wilson!  Very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Author