You can always count on Erin Bartels to provide a rich, colorful, and thought-provoking story that simultaneously captures your heart and challenges you toward deeper inward reflection. Published by Revell in the early months of 2021, “All That We Carried” is a powerful tale of two sisters who drifted apart after a tragedy turned their lives upside down, and are now trying to piece their relationship back together. Setting out on a hiking trip to reconnect, they both carry ten years worth of heartache and misunderstanding. But a wilderness escape should be the perfect opportunity to get everything out in the open – or will it?

Although not many characters appear in the pages of this book, and the setting and plot are both quite simple and understated, this is a story that will stay with me for a long time to come. Why? Because it is so masterfully written that I could feel each character’s pain and struggle as she tried to communicate her point of view to her sister. I definitely did not agree with everything they said or did, but the depth of emotion that each woman felt was moving, to say the least.

So if you are ready to take a journey of epic discovery, one that challenges, surprises, and provides hope for our souls, I highly recommend this beautiful new story from Erin Bartels. “All That We Carried” starts off the year of 2021 with high standards. It is going to be hard to top this story in terms of masterful writing, and it was a treat to witness the journeys of renewal within the hearts of both primary characters. As the story tagline suggests, sometimes “the most treacherous terrain is found within”.

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book, free of charge, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.