I am delighted to be on the tour for Beth Moran's latest uplifting novel, Take Me Home, which was published on 13th October by Boldwood Books.
Sophie Potter’s job is helping people deal with the worst,
because Sophie Potter knows what the worst feels like.
An expert at keeping moving, with her trusty motorhome and
faithful dog Muffin, Sophie has built her life around keeping her loves and
loyalties as few as possible.
Fabulous fifty-something Hattie Langford has kept her heart
and past safely stored away too. But for reasons she’s only willing to share
with a stranger, Hattie needs to tell the story her family has been hiding at
Riverbend, their home in Sherwood Forest. There is a history of heartbreak and
hurt that Hattie is ready to face.
As Sophie helps Hattie uncover the secrets of generations of
women who have lived at Riverbend, along with the stories of the men they have
loved and lost, they start to see echoes in their own pasts. And as Riverbend
shares its biggest secret of all, can Hattie and Sophie finally embrace the
lives they’ve put on hold for so long, and risk their hearts to men who can
break the Riverbend curse?
My Thoughts
In many ways this is a bittersweet read with moments of pure romance but also sadness. It has every shade of emotion, from the laugh out loud moments of the ‘Gals’ evenings to some darker times. Hattie’s story slowly is uncovered. Told in flashbacks as Hattie and Sophie search through the attic, you realise that Hattie has known some cruel times. There are many secrets from the past which affect several of the characters.
The characters have to be a strength of the story. Sophie is running away from commitment, afraid to let herself love again. Hattie, so confident and creative on the surface has some deep sadnesses inside. Gideon seems confident in his own skin but ultimately needs reassurance. The ‘Gals’ have their own midlife crises and insecurities. Agnes has a warm heart under the brittle shell she puts up to mask her vulnerabilities. Home is where the heart is and Sophie has to come to realise what that means for her. If you cut this story in half, you would find family, friendship and love running through it.
In short: take a chance for love
About the Archers
Beth Moran is the award winning author of ten contemporary
fiction novels, including the top ten bestselling Just the Way You Are. Her
books are set in and around Sherwood Forest, where she can be found most
mornings walking with her spaniel Murphy. She has the privilege of also being a
foster carer to teenagers, and enjoys nothing better than curling up with a pot
of tea and a good story.
You can read my review of Christmas Every Day here and How not to be a Loser here and Take a Chance on Me here and We Belong Together here and We are Family here.
Check out the rest of the tour!
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