Quick read that was engrossing, but full of sadness. It had a interesting premise, and kept you wanting to know what would happen next. A lot of the choices the characters made were questionable, and a couple of characters in particular I rather disliked. Many of the characters seemed to be a bit one-dimensional.

The protagonist was blatantly prejudiced, snobbish young women, and criticise her stepmother and others for picky reasons. Alexa was just not a nice person and I didn't feel much sympathy for her throughout the story, which detracted from what were supposed to be emotional moments.

I did like the settings of Cornwall and Venice, and found the descriptions delightful and vivid. But this was the bright bit in the book

I recently bought a new kindle after my old one broke. For some reason I was unable to download this title from the cloud onto my kindle, therefore I will be unable to review this title. I am sorry for any inconvenience caused.

A bittersweet quick read that is a must read for any fans of historical fiction.
Characters to fall in love with and a story that flows beautifully start to finish.

nicely written book with a well done time split and great characters.
If you are looking for a good historical fiction, give this one a try.

An echo of Kate Morton books-

Nevertheless an interesting historical romance, it was sweeping, engaging and touching. But ‘Alexa’ what’s that name all about- I kept thinking of the ask Alexa feature.

Interwar Europe was never so romantic, but sad and moving. It’s addictive reading, you want to know more.

That to me is a successful book- it transports you into the world of a person different from you- I found I needed the escape and this provided in spades. An easy beach read.

Fantastic story which grabs you from the first page. I could not put it down and read it all in one day.
It is a great story set in the twenties and thirties of the last century.
Alexa and Harvey both from well to do families have been friends since childhood . On her 18th birthday Harvey hosts a ball and in front of all their family and friends proposed to her but she refuses and runs away to London to be a companion to a titled lady.
Alexa has secrets in her life and she is determined to get to the bottom of them before she can get on with her life, but at what cost?

Dusk had fallen, the day snuffing itself out and, in the twilight, Alexa searched for her familiar surroundings, the headland, the evening star bright on the horizon. She sensed the presence of the sea as it continued to swell and move, the waves whispering their distant balladry. But the primal magic of Porthdeen that had always been with her, always by her side, was gone. However hard she looked, home was not home anymore. And her childhood, along with it, had vanished. Tomorrow was her twelfth birthday.

I saw this on Readersfirst, when browsing books due to come out soon. From the cover, I didn’t initially think that I would be interested in this book. Then I read the synopsis: as soon as Venice was mentioned I wanted to find out more!
Next, I noticed the time period that the story is set in – I really enjoy historical novels set during this period and I make an extra effort to read any books with Venice as the setting, so I clicked to read the first few chapters. (Readersfirst offers the opportunity to read a sneak preview to see if you would be interested in reading more)
I was hooked straightaway! Our main character initially comes across as quite fragile, yet quickly reveals that she has hidden depths and strength. I liked how the first chapter happens in present day, then the second chapter throws us back into the past. I can imagine that by the time we have read our way back up to present-day, we will have fallen in love with the characters and the events of the first chapter are going to hurt even more…
Okay, now I have read the book I have looked back at my first impressions and they were quite accurate. The story is split into sections, the first leading you back up to the events of the prologue, then continuing from there and the far-reaching consequences of what seems like quite an insignificant event.
I liked Alexa although I disagreed with some of her choices (as I disagree with some of the choices past me has made!). Harvey didn’t make a great impression in the prologue as I felt he seemed a bit controlling, but a softer side to his personality came out later on in the book. Overall, I didn’t feel that it was a story of ‘star-crossed lovers’ as mentioned on the cover, but a story of how selfish decisions that seem very simple can hurt lots of people around you.
Both Cornwall and Venice are described lovingly, with the themes of water and the sea running through everything. I did get impatient with one of the final twists of the story as I felt like our main character had already dealt with so much tragedy, yet the ending left me with tears in my eyes and the inner romantic satisfied.
Give this a go if you enjoy historical fiction, the landscape as a character and lovers finding their way back to each other time and time again despite mistakes on both sides. A realistic, heart-rending look at the ties of love, familial and other, and how they bind us and free us simultaneously.

Alexa stood for a moment, relishing the warmth of the bonfire at her back, its simple and fierce primordial heat. It could do nothing else but revive her, remind her that the darkest day was over, the dead winter was turning its face towards spring. In a week, no longer, the calendar would shift, a new year arrive. A new life, a new beginning, surely.

What I liked: The setting in both Cornwall and Venice, the time period in which it is set, the beautiful relationship between Alexa and her sister, the ending. I also liked how water runs through the stories, linking them and alternatively providing a sense of menace or comfort.
Even better if: The final tragedy felt like a step too far for a character who had already suffered too much, I distrusted Guy from the second he appeared, wish that Sarah and Eleanor had been more fleshed out as characters. Oh and this is an editing problem rather than anything else, but a characters says she couldn’t ‘bare’ something instead of ‘bear’ it on page 111. I am a pedant and this annoyed me!
How you could use it in your classroom: Not one for your primary classroom, but could be recommended at secondary level for avid readers of historical fiction or those studying the period between the first and second world wars. Though there is mention of extra-marital affairs, there is nothing explicit.

This is a story about grief, how it changes you, how it can tear people apart and eventually bring them together. If you are looking for a mystery this isn't one, there no hidden secret to be unravelled, no secret past to be explored. Any hint of mystery is explained away pretty early in the book, before you would even think to ask the question you know the answer. This book was as engrossing as it was depressing but I do think the synopsis is very misleading. 

I immediately felt bad for and empathised with the main character Alexa, she's told to be quiet and sit still and is never allowed to express herself, which leads her to shut herself off from the world. She feels like a stranger in her own life, and everyone around her doesn't really take the time to understand her. When she finally flees Cornwall in my view its perfectly understandable as to why she makes this choice. Some of the choices she makes later are questionable but I guess this is a story about a girl coming of age and finding out what she wants in the world so she is allowed to make questionable decisions. 

I loved the descriptions in this book, particularly of not just the majestic landscapes and enchanting cities but also the little things like the buttons in the box. The characters for me were a bit lacking particularly Sarah was very obviously the infatuated poor girl hopelessly in love with the local rich boy who has eyes for someone else. At one point I felt like I was reading Tess of the d'Urbervilles when Guy was introduced, he was very clearly the bad guy love interest who was going to teach Alexa a difficult life lesson. 

I think the depressing nature of this book was what let it down for me in the end. I'm not against a heart wrenching story but I felt it was a bit much for me as far as this book was concerned. There was so much grief and sadness from beginning, middle and end and I think it definitely took away from my enjoyment. I would say this book is a slightly predictable story of a girl learning to deal with grief and the choices that she makes but it lacked the feel of a romance. 

DISCLAIMER: I was given this eARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An enjoyable read great for fans of Judith Lennox and Katherine Webb a little predictable at times but a great book to curl up with on a winter's day

1924 the war is over and life seems full of promise for little Alexa. Much loved but sadness is to follow. Her mother dies unexpectedly and her father finds a step mother very quickly. Life changes for Alexa in many ways and she knows she must get away to establish a life of her own.

The vagaries of life and the challenges Alexa faces whilst away from her beloved home and father are many. She does come to grips with her life in the end but it is a struggle throughout.

The overall tone of sadness was prevalent throughout the book and though described as a historical fiction with romance it was too sad to be of much happiness to the reader.
I found it difficult to read especially because of the sadness.

Goodreads review up on 4/1`1/2017. Review on my blog 30/11/2017. Amazon is not accepting reviews yet.

Quick read that was engrossing, but full of sadness. It had a interesting premise, and kept you wanting to know what would happen next. I just didn't agree a lot of times with choices the characters made, and a couple of characters in particular I rather disliked. The personas seemed to be a bit one-dimensional. I did like the settings of Cornwall and Venice, and found the descriptions delightful and vivid. Overall, a bit depressing but not bad. Setting starts out in 1924, but most of the action is in early 1930s.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Bonnier Zaffre Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an ARC.

Sorry but I could not honestly finish this book. I found the writing to be boring and I never felt connected with the characters.

Thanks Bonnier Zaffre and netgalley for this ARC.

You'll be smitten and not be able to put this one away. I went thru the gauntlet with this one. Love every minute.

I had no idea what to expect from this book. I received it via Netgalley to read in return for a review. The cover looked interesting and the short blurb on the back made it sound like a historical romance. I found this one to be rather depressing and often really difficult to wade through. It was a little difficult to believe that a 16 year old boy would be "in love" with an 11 year old. Sure they were neighbors but really the age difference would have been very pronounced at that young ages. It wouldn't have been a problem once we get to the grown up ages. Anyway. I know this is billed as mysterious and romantic, I found it to be just a tale of a girl who makes some really bad choices and has to suffer the consequences. I didn't like Guy Moreland from the get go and knew he was trouble. I hated what she chose to do to avoid scandal and felt like Harvey was far too weak to really be a dashing hero.

The story isn't bad, it just wasn't for me. There was no language and no explicit romance which was appreciated, but lacked morals and a happy ending.

A great holiday read for anyone who enjoys historical romance.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher. What a great read, the description of the Cornish coast and the intrigue and family tensions were very believable.

A good story with interesting characters who just don't quite sizzle for me.

This book follows Alexa, starting shortly after World War I when she’s a school girl growing up in Cornwall and follows her as she flees, years later, to London, then Venice after the death of her mother. But the glamorous life she wishes for is just out of her grasp, and she will soon begin to question everything she once believed. A gorgeous and sweeping historical about a world poised between two world wars

While it is not the kind of a book I usually read, it was a pretty great and relaxing read. Even though some of the characters and their behaviour seemed very stereotypical for romance novels (not that I've read that many), it still gave the idea of the characters living in different and changing world.

What stuck with me the most was the plot twist which is, I believe, not that common for a romance novel. And the epilogue nearly brought tears to my eyes.