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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
A sweet read with some heavy topics. Very much a love at first sight kind of romance with stories of war, consent and grief.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot twist at the end!!
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, War
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a story about twin young woman that are from a community. They have lost their parents. A group of Italian pow’s comes to the island they are living on. They are building a barrier. One of the twins saves a prisoner and they fall in love. The other twin has been hurt by a man from town. I enjoyed learning about the chapel and how they built it from nothing. The story of the twins, the town and the prisoners is good. It was a good book overall. It was a slow read in the beginning and picked up towards the end. I received a free promotional copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway and am very thankful for the opportunity to read it.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A powerful, emotional story about love and war, trauma, obsession and power, compassion and kindness.
The heart of the story is the bond between the two sisters, Dot and Con, living isolated in their remote refuge after an assault which has left Con fearful and distrustful. Interwoven with the complex sisterly bond is historical detail about the conditions for foreign POWs, a suspense-laden plotline about obsessive love, and a sweet romance that develops despite the adverse conditions.
There is a strong sense of time and place throughout – you can taste the sea salt and feel the wind’s chill through your bones as you read – and the ways the main characters face their challenges are a testament to the perseverance and endurance of the human spirit.
I was quite worried towards the end of the story, as in the build-up to the climax I wasn’t sure how the author was going to manage a happy-ish ending for the characters at all, and I was desperately rooting for it after everything they had been through. However, Caroline Lea skilfully navigates those dangerous waters to deliver an ending which, while not exactly happy, is certainly both narratively satisfying and satisfyingly unexpected.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
The heart of the story is the bond between the two sisters, Dot and Con, living isolated in their remote refuge after an assault which has left Con fearful and distrustful. Interwoven with the complex sisterly bond is historical detail about the conditions for foreign POWs, a suspense-laden plotline about obsessive love, and a sweet romance that develops despite the adverse conditions.
There is a strong sense of time and place throughout – you can taste the sea salt and feel the wind’s chill through your bones as you read – and the ways the main characters face their challenges are a testament to the perseverance and endurance of the human spirit.
I was quite worried towards the end of the story, as in the build-up to the climax I wasn’t sure how the author was going to manage a happy-ish ending for the characters at all, and I was desperately rooting for it after everything they had been through. However, Caroline Lea skilfully navigates those dangerous waters to deliver an ending which, while not exactly happy, is certainly both narratively satisfying and satisfyingly unexpected.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This novel is beautiful in every way. The Orkney setting is magical, the characters have real depth and the story was perfect.
❤︎
Twins Dorothy and Con live apart from the community in a bothy, making a simple life for themselves in often harsh conditions. Then everything is turned upside down when a POW camp is built on their island. With secrets, love and betrayals, this novel evokes every emotion, and the climax does not disappoint!
❤︎
I loved this book. 4 BIG stars from me, and a new found desire to visit Orkney and the Italian chapel which the story is based upon. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc.
❤︎
Twins Dorothy and Con live apart from the community in a bothy, making a simple life for themselves in often harsh conditions. Then everything is turned upside down when a POW camp is built on their island. With secrets, love and betrayals, this novel evokes every emotion, and the climax does not disappoint!
❤︎
I loved this book. 4 BIG stars from me, and a new found desire to visit Orkney and the Italian chapel which the story is based upon. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc.