Review by Katelyn Scott -- Yesterday by Samyann

[Katelyn Scott]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Yesterday" by Samyann.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Samyann's Yesterday, a historical fiction novel that takes you back to the American Civil War and the Great Chicago Fire, asks one crucial question; when people die does their love for each other die as well, or does the love of yesterday endure into the future? A wonderfully crafted story that weaves a tale of love, endurance, and perseverance through tragedy, Yesterday goes farther than most historical fiction novels dare to tread.

Yesterday is essentially two stories interwoven together. The first portion focuses on Amanda Parker--an antiques appraiser--and Mark Callahan--a mounted police officer. When Amanda saves Marks life he feels that he somehow knows her, despite the two never having met. An encounter with an antique clock leads them both to believe that they've indeed met before--in a past life. Together, they search for answers to their past connections while trying to figure out how to make things work in the present.

The second portion of the story follows Bonnie May Belle Lexington as she deals with devastation and heartbreak, first in the Civil War and then the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In this time, Bonnie must struggle with the loss of those she holds dear while looking to the future with the love of her life.

While I'm not a believer in reincarnation, I loved how Samyann used it as a pretext to create a unique spin on a romance, as well as the catalyst through which Amanda learns to move past the demons of her current life. The book was intriguing and incredibly well paced. I loved how it slid gently between Bonnie and Amanda's lives with each answer being dropped like a trail of bread crumbs leading to the final revelation. There were many things that I guessed, but Samyann expertly kept the confirmation from me until the very end.

I also have the highest praise for the character's dialogue. Each character had a unique--and often witty--voice that was easily distinguishable from the next. If someone had read this with me blindfolded and omitted indicators of who was speaking, I could've followed the dialogue on words alone without once becoming confused. That is a rare talent and one that I haven't seen in a long time.

Yesterday is a wonderful addition to the historical fiction genre, and I give it 4 out of 4 stars. Anyone who loves history, romance, and--yes--even mystery, this book comes highly recommended.

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Yesterday
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