Today I have a great read for you by Rachel Burton, The Last Party at Silverton Hall, which was published by Aria on 2nd March.
A gripping and heartbreaking tale of family, duty and the
secrets we keep from those we love most. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore, Lorna
Cook and Kathryn Hughes.
Two women. Two centuries. A life-changing night...
1952: Vivien and Max collide in the thick London
smog.
Within a few years, their whirlwind romance sees them living
a quiet life on the Norfolk coast, blissfully happy with their beautiful
daughter –at least, that's how it appears...
2019: Isobel is hoping for a fresh start when she
inherits her beloved grandmother Vivien's house in Silverton Bay. But when she
discovers an old photograph of Vivien at one of the infamous parties held at
Silverton Hall in the 1950s, Isobel is forced to question how well she really
knew her grandmother. Silverton Hall is a place Vivien swore she never went and
never would –but why would she lie? And what other secrets was she keeping?
Together with an old friend, Isobel searches for answers.
But is she prepared for the truth?
'I was absolutely transported to Silverton Bay... I loved
it and wanted to savour every page.' Kathleen McGurl
Praise for Rachel Burton:
'Enticing and atmospheric... Packed with love and mystery
that will keep you wanting more from the first page to the last' Lauren North,
author of Safe at Home
'A wonderful escape... I adored the characters, the
headiness of their first loves, and vulnerabilities as they hoped for their own
happily-ever-afters' Jenny Ashcroft
'With her signature
nostalgia, swoon-worthy hero and wistful setting, this is a romance to whisk
you away any time of the year' Victoria Cooke
My Thoughts
A dual timeline novel, we follow different generations in the same family. Starting in 1952, we learn how Vivien meets her future husband, Max, and comes to live by the coast in Norfolk. At the beginning, she seems inexperienced and naive but this fits in perfectly with the life she leads in a country which is emerging from a World War. Fast forward to 2019 and Vivian's granddaughter, Isobel, has returned to her grandmother's house, having inherited it on Vivian's death. Together with her mother, Gina, who lives in New York, Isobel has found excuses not to return to visit her grandmother and now harbours regrets. The past hangs over the house, in its neglected, musty walls and broken windows. As Isobel sets about repairing the building, she uncovers secrets from her family history.
This is a story about second chances and starting again. With a gentle romance, Isobel has to decide what she wants to do with her future. In fact, she is not the only character with decisions to make. In coming back to Norfolk, she has met up again with Nick. Coming to terms with the past and moving on is part of his story too, The setting is important to both Vivien and Isobel, as the coast brings a healing calm and a feeling of being at home.
In short: a mystery from the past, secrets buries in family history
About the Author
Rachel Burton has been making up stories for as long as she
can remember and always dreamed of being a writer until life somehow got in the
way. After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature
she accidentally fell into a career in law, but eventually managed to write her
first book on her lunch breaks. She loves words, Shakespeare, tea, The Beatles,
dresses with pockets and very tall romantic heroes (not necessarily in that
order) and lives with her husband in Yorkshire. Find her on Instagram and
Twitter @RachelBWriter
Social links:
Thanks to Rachel Burton, and Amy Watson of Head of Zeus for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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