Eve Chase – Vee Reads

I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had previously read Black Rabbit Hall by this author but I hadn’t liked it as much as I had wanted to. The atmosphere was great but the story just didn’t work for me. However, I am always willing to give multiple chances so I was very excited to receive this ARC! Here is my review:

When 15-year-old Margot and her 3 sisters arrive at Applecote Manor in 1959, they were expecting a nice vacation in the quiet English countryside. Instead, they find their aunt and uncle still shrouded in grief over the disappearance of their daughter Audrey. As the sisters’ bond falls apart by the presence of 2 handsome neighbours, Margot finds herself drawn to the life Audrey left behind. When the summer takes a deadly turn, the girls must band together to protect each other from harm.

50 years later, Jesse is desperate to move her family into Applecote Manor, in order to escape their London home, where signs of her widower husband’s previous wife surround her. Applecote Manor is exactly the change that Jesse – and the family – need. But soon, things begin to fall apart, as Jesse finds herself isolated in this sprawling home, and at odds with her 15-year-old stepdaughter.

Compared to Black Rabbit Hall, this was much more up my alley! This novel has got a beautiful gothic atmosphere and a very interesting dual storyline that had me hooked from the start. There were a lot of positive things that the author did with this novel that really made me appreciate the story! Each character was unique and had their own distinct voice and character, which was really awesome to see. These characters were complex and each evoked a different response from me throughout the novel. I’m not going to lie, I was definitely more interested in the storyline taking place in the past; it was the one most surrounded by mystery and intrigue! I liked how the author weaved between Margot’s story and Jesse’s story… I only wish there had been more of that! Overall, this was a very well-written story with an amazing gothic feel and a solid double storyline!

Happy reading ~

I just finished two exams this week – and I felt really really good about them. So I decided to go to Indigo and splurge a little on myself as a reward for my good performance. This novel was one that I chose, as it was resting on the recommended table. I usually do not make impulsive buys because I like to choose the books I buy carefully. I am a poor student (just like most students – haha) so I only like to buy books that I know I will keep reading over and over again. But this was a one time thing so I decided to go ahead and take the plunge!

Amber Alton loves Black Rabbit Hall. It’s where her family can truly be themselves. She loves spending time with her twin brother, her younger siblings, and her parents. She loves the woods and the beach and the house itself. Time seems to pass by differently here – slower, and softer, and happier. But one stormy evening in 1968 is all it takes to unravel this whole family apart.

More than three decades later, Lorna Dunaway has made it her mission to get married in Black Rabbit Hall. It has a charm that only an old home can carry and it is just perfectly haunting. But after meeting with the proprietress, Lorna begins to feel as if there is more to this house than just its appearance. There are memories in this home, memories that are bringing out hidden things from her own past – and Lorna soon finds herself consumed by the desire to seek out the mysteries of Black Rabbit Hall as well as those in her own life.

This novel reminded me a great deal of The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton in its style and story plot. I won’t say any more about the plot because I don’t want to reveal anything but I could see a lot of similarities between the two novels. The characters from the past were well-developed but there were some instances where I really did not like the way the relationships between the characters were going (again, I’m not going to elaborate as that would give away too much of the story). While the novel itself was quite good, I don’t think it is quite deserving of being a contender for Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. It was easy to predict where the story was going and I found myself more intrigued by the storyline in the past than the storyline in the future. Either way, it was a good effort on the part of the author. If you liked The Forgotten Garden, then I am sure you will enjoy this novel!

Happy reading ~