THE GOOD: A feel good holiday "beach" read with a fun exotic New Zealand locale. Classic Second Chance Romance: Boy and girl reunite, things are tenseTHE GOOD: A feel good holiday "beach" read with a fun exotic New Zealand locale. Classic Second Chance Romance: Boy and girl reunite, things are tense, they start falling back in love, an obstacle is thrown in their way, which they ultimately overcome for a happy ever after. And, thankfully "diversity checklist" free
Merged review:
THE GOOD: A feel good holiday "beach" read with a fun exotic New Zealand locale. Classic Second Chance Romance: Boy and girl reunite, things are tense, they start falling back in love, an obstacle is thrown in their way, which they ultimately overcome for a happy ever after. And, thankfully "diversity checklist" free...more
An easy-to-pass-the-time beach read. Boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, obstacles are thrown in their way. Will it be a happily-ever-after for An easy-to-pass-the-time beach read. Boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, obstacles are thrown in their way. Will it be a happily-ever-after for Peter and Claire?...more
A chilling thriller of memory loss and secret lies by best-selling author Sara Foster who, with five novels under her belt, is proving to be a modern-A chilling thriller of memory loss and secret lies by best-selling author Sara Foster who, with five novels under her belt, is proving to be a modern-day master of psychological suspense. Shrouded in the moody, drippy weather of London in winter, this gripper sucks you into the story faster than green grass through a goose!
*Firstly, though, let’s pause for a big thank you to Sara Foster, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for providing a free Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.* Now, back to our main event…
Young, 21-year-old Eleanor is looking for a fresh start. She packs up her belongings, scantly more than a suitcase a few articles of clothing, and heads off to London for a new life. She’ll be living with her mother’s only sibling – an uncle Eleanor barely knows – in Uncle Ian’s tony home on Notting Hill, along with his wife and two young daughters. What’s more, Aunt Susan’s publishing firm has an opening for an admin assistant that should be perfect for Eleanor.
But things start to go terribly wrong on a rainy evening at the company Christmas party. Eleanor has only been in the UK and at the firm a few weeks and so hasn’t yet made any friends. Determined to be merry and hopefully find some companionable souls, Eleanor is flattered when the beautiful, social butterfly Arabella, the belle of the publishing house, singles Arabella out for drinks and conversation. But then the next day, Arabella is dead. And Eleanor has no recollection of what happened after the party or even how she got home that night.
Frightened of The Hidden Hours in her consciousness, and how she may have been involved in Arabella’s death, Eleanor frantically attempts to recreate the tragic events of that night and salvage her future… while simultaneously outrunning the past that lives inside her mind as it were only yesterday.
Not to be out done by the main murder-mystery plot is the fable-like, cautionary tale embedded in the immensely layered and deftly woven flashbacks to Eleanor’s childhood in Australia. These are all the more powerful, as well, due to the contrast between the hot, dry landscape of the southern continent and the damp and dark bustle of the U.K. metroplis.
Originally released in paperback and for Kindle in 2017, in an unusual move, this is the debut release of the hardcover edition for 2020. If you’re a fan of chills and thrills, and things that go bump in the night, then you won’t be able to put this one down! This reader really enjoyed the read and gives it a praise-worthy, four stars.
Support your indie books stores and pick up your copy of The Hidden Hours, releasing Nov 3rd, at www.bookshop.org – the online bookstore that gives away 75% of its profit to support local indie bookstores. (Note: Desiree does receive a small commission should you purchase through this link, however, she shares this out of love and care for her local, corner bookstores everywhere.)
This is one of those novels where the author takes all the loose ends and ties them up in a nice little bow at the end, which is really refreshing. AnThis is one of those novels where the author takes all the loose ends and ties them up in a nice little bow at the end, which is really refreshing. And, too, there was so much more to this novel than at first appeared. I am a reader who loves atmosphere, and “travelling” new places through my books, and this one did not disappoint – from Australia to Paris to the French countryside, so many new things to experience through this story!
*Thank you to Alexandra Joel, Harper Perennial publishers, and GoodReads Giveaways for providing a free Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.*
As to one reason why I say there’s so much more to this than at first expected: We know from the back cover that our main character, Grace, becomes a model in Paris and falls head-over-heals in love with the tall, dark and handsome Philippe who just might have more history in his past than he is willing to reveal. What we don’t fully absorb, although it’s referenced (I’m not relating any spoilers here) is that the first third of the novel takes place in Grace’s (and the author’s) native Australia – and this is one part of the book I truly loved. Never having been to the Land Down-Under myself, I was fascinated by the rural life Grace led there, along with the knowledge Grace needed to thrive on the sheep farm run by her father. The descriptions of the Australian countryside – the sunny weather, the work on the farm - were quite captivating.
Grace also, through the events of the story that I will be careful not to spoil, finds herself in the French countryside, with its slow, warm charm.
A story is often remembered by how you feel at the end, and this one had a definite, satisfying finish! It was tracking as a 3-star for “I like it” for most of the novel for me, but the way author Alexandra Joel loops back and wraps everything together was like a cold beer on a hot day – such a simple pleasure, but one often missed by other authors! For that reason, I’m awarding an extra star for “I really liked it”. Notable too, is the ending Author’s Note which reflects quite a bit of effort on Joel’s part to tell this true story. I wasn’t certain at first if it was “based on” or “actual” – turns out it’s true! – which makes it all the better!
Conclusion: A complex tale well told and an enjoyable read!
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