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The blurb
Life in Devon in 1909 is hard and unforgiving, especially for young Emma Le Goff, whose mother and brother die in curious circumstances, leaving her totally alone in the world. While she grieves, her callous landlord Reuben Jago claims her home and belongings.
His son Seth is deeply attracted to Emma and sympathises with her desperate need to find out what really happened, but all his attempts to help only incur his father’s wrath.
When mysterious fisherman Matthew Caunter comes to Emma’s rescue, Seth is jealous at what he sees and seeks solace in another woman. However, he finds that forgetting Emma is not as easy as he hoped.
Matthew is kind and charismatic, but handsome Seth is never far from Emma’s mind. Whatever twists and turns her life takes, it seems there is always something – or someone – missing.
His son Seth is deeply attracted to Emma and sympathises with her desperate need to find out what really happened, but all his attempts to help only incur his father’s wrath.
When mysterious fisherman Matthew Caunter comes to Emma’s rescue, Seth is jealous at what he sees and seeks solace in another woman. However, he finds that forgetting Emma is not as easy as he hoped.
Matthew is kind and charismatic, but handsome Seth is never far from Emma’s mind. Whatever twists and turns her life takes, it seems there is always something – or someone – missing.
Emma has fallen on tragic times, losing both her family and her childhood home. Taken in by a neighbour who is not as trustworthy as the local doctor would expect, Emma flees as soon as she is strong enough to venture out on her own.
Emma makes her way back to the tied cottage she shared with her family to find that it is now being rented to a fisherman by the name of Matthew who is working for her father's former employer, Reuben Jago.
So begins the moving story of Emma's struggle to come to terms with the loss of her family and be seen as a girl on verge of womanhood who can and will pick herself up and make a life for herself.
Emma is a strong willed character but her naivety as a young girl not quite 16 can and gets her into situations she would prefer not to be.
Seth is sweet on Emma but he is from the wrong family, The Jago family.
Matthew is the new fisherman who helps Emma, much to the jealousy of Seth. Matthew is a mysterious character with some secrets. I do not want to say more on the characters for fear of spoiling it for others to get to know them, suffice to say I loved all three of these characters.
Oh, I loved this tale set in a fishing village in Devon in the early 1900's. I felt empathy for Emma as a young girl and admiration at her determination to survive and make a new life for herself.
I was so engrossed in the novel that I was worried the storyline would take the characters in directions I did not want to see them go.
The storyline flowed easily and the writing was superb, one of those novels that makes me wish I could write.
This story would appeal to historical romance and saga fans.
5 out of 5 for me!
Review copy from ChocLit
I totally agree - a great debut and the good news is there are two more books to come!
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret,
ReplyDeleteYes, another fellow author in the Choclit fold.As you know I am also a fan of your writing, too :)
carol
Ooh, intriguing! FAB review, Carol! Huge Congrats, Linda. Loving the sound of this. :) xx
ReplyDeleteA lovely surprise to find this up today....thank you so much for this, Carol.....and to Margaret and Sheryl for your comments.
ReplyDeleteI loved this one too Carol. Great review. I am glad there is more to come involving these characters.
ReplyDeleteLindsay
The Little Reader Library
Thank you Sheryl.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
It was a pleasure to read and review.
Lindsay,
Look forward to more :)
carol
Sounds like a definite for my wishlist thanks for the review and from Choc Lit what could be better. :)
ReplyDelete