I love timeslip novels. I really enjoyed the storyline set before WWII. I really loved Tilly as a character!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is an entertaining stories told in present day and in the 1930s. In present day, Tilly is let go from her job just as her husband leaves her, so she goes to stay with her dad Ken who is working on the railroad restoration. Ken asks Tilly to help sort thru the boxes of memorabilia found at the railroad, to get her mind off her troubles. In the 1930s, a stationmaster Ted meets Anne who travels back and forth daily to her job, and is attracted to her. They strike up a friendship, until Ted finds that Anne is engaged to a man who her father wants her to marry for financial reasons. Ted and Anne defy her father, have a tryst, and Anne gets pregnant. What to do?

I had a difficult time deciding whether to give this a 3 or a 4. It would have been a 4 because of how interesting this story's concept is, but the frustration that just grew as I continued reading stands out a lot more than I would have liked, so there. 3 stars it is.

The Stationmaster's Daughter takes readers through two stories, interchanging between chapters. One is of Edward 'Ted' Morgan from 1935, and Tilly in the present time. While Ted finds love for the first time, Tilly is undergoing a disastrous divorce. But both their stories intersect at the very same railway station at Dorset. In the midst of healing, Tilly finds clues to what really happened to Ted Morgan so many decades ago. What was a wonderful love story at first became something darker, a blob in the many years that the railway station had operated for.

So, the 1930s — a time when women were still mostly relying on men for their livelihood. It shouldn't come as a surprise to me any longer, really, but everytime I read about powerless women having their lives dictated as if they were nothing else but objects in a historical fiction, I get riled up. Annie Galbraith had no choice (or did she?), but it was because of this very thing that led me to doubt her feelings for dear old Ted, and that was... terrible. I felt so much anger towards her and her circumstances that I began to believe that Ted deserved someone better. But who am I to judge? It is so difficult not to. And because this holds up the crux of the story, and so much of it, I cannot even begin to ignore its existence.

That said, were it not for the connection I feel towards Ted, such strong negative feelings would not have prevailed. That speaks a lot. Sweet old Ted is such a kind, gentle character that I cannot help but feel for him. We have first a lovesick man, then a man who faces a kind of uncertainty that is relatable, and yet unjustified for so good a person. I really enjoyed reading his side of the story. Whether he feels sad, angry or happy, I was with him all the way.

Tilly's story, however, is not as attractive to me. Perhaps it is because she is 39, and I have not reached the stage in life that is similar to hers, that tempts me to turn away whenever her chapters come on. Even so, I am most sympathetic by the reason for her divorce, and sincerely hope that no married woman in this world has to face such a situation in their life. Ever. A question that I have so recently contemplated on has never been more relevant as I read about Tilly's situation, and here I shall voice it out: what is so wrong about adopting a child? I also feel that the dialogues for Tilly's father and friend, Jo, are often pretty awkward to read, and that contributes to my 'aversion' to her chapters.

What is most significant as I read this story is learning about how Ted's life unfolded. There's a sense of mystery behind it (the prologue is everything!), and I love that. It may not be as intense as a pure mystery novel, but it's there for readers who enjoy a slice of life story that is tinged with intrigue.

A great summer read, an engrossing and engaging book, a fascinating storyline, and a cast of well written characters.
I loved this book and I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Having read all of Kathleen's books comes as no surprise as to how her new book is just utterly perfect.
A time slip tale that leaves you wanting more.
This tale of love honesty and honour is majestic I love it from the beginning cant praise it enough.

I would like to thank Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this book. I did enjoy it. It shifts seamlessly between 1936 and the present day. It centres around Tilly who has gone to live with her father after her marriage has broken up needing something to occupy her she starts to archive some old railway papers to help her father who is helping restore an old disused section of railway unearthing long forgotten secrets and heartache.
Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore and Judith Lennox.
The only annoying thing is Tillys friend calls her mate all of the time and it's a bit false and irritating.

I am almost at the end of this book and I do enjoyed it! The mystery of the railroad that closed down the past story and the current story! Not going to say anymore than you won't read the book and this is a must read book! Love the way it was written,the characters and the little bit of mystery surrounding.it! I don't tell the whole story in a review cause if I do,why read the book!! It is a MUST READ in my book!! It's so unbelievable and believable!!🙉🙊🙈

Engaging story, fun storyline, likeable characters, beautiful setting....definitely a great summer read! This is my first book by this author, and I definitely look forward to reading more of what she has written.

A tale of love and tragedy, weaving both past and present in this gloriously sumptuous book that both delights and despairs.

I live close to the boarder between Devon and Dorset so it was like reading about home, making the descriptions of our beautiful countryside that bit more vivid, but even if I lived in a city I would still have been swept away to the seaside alongside Tilly and Ted with the writing that brings the words to life.

The characters are all brought to life before your eyes and as Tilly gets swept away with Ted’s story it is impossible not to get swept away with her. Both Ted and Tilly are extremely likeable so you become emotionally invested in both their stories and I will confess, I may have shed a tear or two!

Tilly is 39 which I really liked the fact she is a bit older and found her a lot more relatable being the ripe old age of 40 myself! (There may still be some life in these old bones yet 😂) Finding herself at her age back living with her father after the brutal ending of her marriage is not how she had envisioned her life turning out but with the help of her father she slowly begins to carve out a new life for herself. She takes on some research of the old railway station and its employees from 1930’s to take her mind off her troubles and finds old diary written by the old stationmaster, Ted.

Ted has worked on the railways his whole life and has been stationmaster for years, his job is his life. He was happy with being a 40 year old bachelor and a quiet life and then he met Annie. She is beautiful, clever and for Ted it was love at first sight. One major issue, he’s never spoken more than a handful of words to her! The other issue, she has just become engaged to someone else, and if that wasn’t bad enough for poor old Ted the train lines will no longer be running come the end of summer so he will have no job and no house.

This is a definite emotional rollercoaster of a read that will make you both cry and smile turning the pages at breakneck speed. It is a perfect summer holiday read for all fans of historical romances and other writers as Kate Riordan and Lucinda Riley, just remember to pack a handkerchief alongside it!

The Stationmaster’s Daughter is due to be published on 07 Aug 2019 and is available to pre ordered now.
Thank you to the author Kathleen McGurl, publishers HQ Digital and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and independent review.

A real page Turner,interesting story,and real life character's.
Good description of all the character's,liked the way the story alternated between past to the present.
Thought that the ending needed to be polished up,it seemed to have ended abruptly.

After a bitter divorce, Tilly moves to Dorset to stay with her father, Who is busy fixing up an old railway office. He convinces her to help him and much to her surprise Tilly finds some solace in the work. Inside the old station, Tilly finds a diary dating back to the 1930s that belonged to a stationmaster named Ted. Tilly is enthralled with the story of Ted and Anne, a woman Ted met at the station, and of the terrible events that kept the two lovers apart. This is a lovely moving historical novel that will have you reaching for your tissues