These Empty Places — Sarah Loudin Thomas

Claire Roth sacrificed love for a life of comfort on Lake Toxaway—until the dam broke, and the lake washed down the side of the mountain. Fourteen years later, she longs to see the lake restored to its former glory even as the country faces hard economic times on the eve of the Great Depression. Socialite Lena Hawkins married her first love, who swept her off her feet after skyrocketing from rags to riches by speculating in the stock market. Now penniless and rejected by her family, Lena and her husband have arrived at Lake Toxaway for a new beginning. There, Lena forms an unexpected connection with Claire, who hires her to assist with the personal library Claire is building to provide jobs and education for a struggling community. When Claire is given a second chance at love and Lena a tempting chance at wealth, both women must release the past to fill tomorrow with promise. Sarah Loudin Thomas brings the history of North Carolina to life in a rich literary story of friendship, love, and letting go.