Set in Devon the first novel in a trilogy.
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. 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. Can Seth persuade Emma that they can overcome their past?
My thoughts:
Poor Emma, she sure lived in a village filled with bitches and bastards. People can be so cruel, but then they can be so kind too and not ask for anything in return. It kind of reminded me of the Catherine Cookson stories, her heroines always have a hard time before finding their way and luck.
Emma is 15 when her parents die and the crappy village she lives in does not make things better. She is on her own, but she is strong and wont let anyone push her around. That is what I liked about her, her will do go on and try. Even if I had run away and lived in the woods, cos I just could not take all those people talking behind my back. She tries to build a new life and that is not easy.
The romantic interest is Seth, he does try to do his best by her, but when he stands up someone always pulls him down (his family is horrid.) These two does not have an easy way to each other and sometimes I wondered if they ever would end up together (I will of course not tell you). It's a love that grows and matures. Other people in the book are of course Seth's horrible father and brothers. And Matthew who shows up like a knight in shining armor. He was one of the nice ones.
I really can't say more as a few years go by and things happen in the book. There is heartache, happiness and it's a story about a courageous young woman.
Conclusion:
It's a book that promises drama, romance and even a mystery behind the scenes. After a bit of a heartbreaking beginning the book just flows on and is truly easy to read.
Genre: Historical romantic fiction
Pages: 300
Published: June 7th 2012 by Choc Lit
Source: For review
Kindle UK /US/ Print
This book sounds good Blod. You're reviews always make me smile. "Poor Emma, she sure lived in a village filled with bitches and bastards."<-lol!!!!
ReplyDeleteHihi, I am glad :) One women in particular just made me soooo mad!!!!
DeleteGreat review, I'll keep this title in mind!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do :)
Deleteawwwwwwwwwwww sounds like a good tale. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was :)
DeleteI really do wonder, where is the line between historical fiction, and historical romance? But the story does sound nice, thanks for the review Blodeuedd.
ReplyDeleteThe line is, well it's hard. It's not historical fiction and it's not historical romance. It's more fiction on general, which sounds weird since than it's his fic, but well it just is not. I need a new genre for it. It's fiction with romance
DeleteYou're really enjoying the Choc Lit books. :)
ReplyDeleteThey are fun :) Even if I can never place the genre
DeleteI love a character growth story... and I love your reviews! You always manage to put a smile on my face. That first line was perfect! LOL
ReplyDeleteLol, I do my best. It seems I swear in my reviews. Well a little. And I who just read a post where someone looked down on that
DeleteThat cover does not prepare me for historical romance...
ReplyDeleteWell it's not, arghh hard genre to place. It's his fic with romance thrown in
DeleteIt doesn't look historical at all...
Deletewell if you look close you could imagine her clothes to be from that era, her being poor and all
DeleteLol, I had to say it like it was. The first 80 pages made me wanna punch someone in the face ;)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book. Kind of reminds me of The Tea Rose. I'm going to put it on my TBR list. Thanks for the review! :)
ReplyDeleteI think I remember seeing that book around a few blogs :)
DeleteThis sounds wonderful..and it's the first in a series..not the 11th..LOL Awesome review!
ReplyDeleteHihi, yup first, even if I did not know that before finding the blurb
DeleteA 15 year old girl in the 1900s... sounds like she doesn't stand a chance already.
ReplyDeleteNo, life was harsh back then :/
DeleteA village filled with bitches and bastards seems like a location I know...
ReplyDeleteIt was such a horrid village..ok I should not judge all, but, booo on them
DeleteThis sounds like an interesting & different kind of historical romance.
ReplyDeleteThat is sure was :)
DeleteSounds like a strong women with a fight on her hands to find love and a good life. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteShe sure fought for it, and she had such good goals, good for her :)
DeleteEmma sure sounds like she has a hard future carved out for her. I'm so curious if she ever got her HEA?! Excellent review, B :)
ReplyDeleteMy lips are sealed (but since I did not throw it at the wall.. ;)
DeleteI didn't know this book neither the author but it's intriguing. It's nice to have a story during this period to learn more. thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI'd like more books from this era to when I think about it. That would be really fun. I do not read nearly enough books from then
Deletei love reading about this time period so that part sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteThen it's a book for you :)
DeleteHaha - "a village full of bitches and bastards" It sounds like where I live!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Poor you then
DeleteAw poor Emma! Living in a village full of bitches and bastards...I can relate sometimes :) Sounds like an interesting read. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh me when i get going, lol
DeleteI'm glad that I read your review because honestly that cover is not appealing at all and I would've never looked twice at this one.
ReplyDeleteIt's rather..bland really in the end
DeleteI actually don't read books like this because I'm lame. I stopped reading some authors because the author puts the character through soooo much before it comes together in the end. I'm so sad that I'm like this but I just can't take it.
ReplyDeleteThe first 80 pages were though, and I wanted to scream. But it got better and nothing truly bad happened, cos then I would have died :/
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