Past Preserve Us is a richly textured historical romance set in 1968, blending the backdrop of the waning days of the Vietnam War in America with the emotionally intricate life of Jeannie Parks, a young widow and textile curator at Great Lakes University. At the heart of the novel is Jeannie’s journey through grief, resilience, and rediscovery, sparked unexpectedly by a rugged mammalogist named Dr. Nicholas Randall. What begins as a collision between the two turns into a slow-burn entanglement of intellect, humor, and buried longing. Woven through it all is a deep appreciation for textile history, academic life, and the quiet power of community.

This isn’t just a love story. It’s about healing after devastating loss, about finding meaning in small things, like a student’s enthusiasm for a costume collection or a widower’s story told in a church basement. Nickles is careful not to make grief a plot device; she respects it, lingers with it, lets it shape her characters without overwhelming the story. The romantic tension between Jeannie and Nick is electric but mature, refreshingly grounded in their very real, very messy lives. And can we talk about Nick? He’s smart, a little cocky, rugged in all the best ways—total heartthrob, but with depth. Their chemistry? Off the charts.

I was absolutely drawn in by the writing. Carol Nickles doesn’t just describe scenes, she animates them. The smell of vinegar from a lunchroom pickle jar, the hiss of cold Michigan wind, the warmth of a hand on a coat sleeve—all of it feels immediate and intimate. Her characters are full of life, especially Jeannie, who is one of the most relatable heroines I’ve come across in a long time. She’s complicated, often overwhelmed, sarcastically funny, and achingly real. The prose moves with energy, shifting from wistful to witty without missing a beat. That blend of emotion and detail makes it’s hard not to get pulled in.

Past Preserve Us made me laugh, ache, and even tear up once or twice. It’s for anyone who’s ever lost something and still dared to hope again. I’d recommend this novel to readers who enjoy historical fiction with strong female leads, fans of slow-burn romance, and anyone who appreciates a smart, beautifully crafted story about life, loss, and love.

Pages: 390 | ASIN : B0F1PB24KC