I first discovered Kathleen McGurl a few years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed every book she's published since. However, I have to say that this one was a disappointment for me...not because it wasn't well written or plotted out well but because the story really didn't interest me. I've never been all that interested in stories around smugglers and I have to admit being far more interested in the present day plot than the historical one. I loved wondering what was going to be uncovered next in the renovation of the 18th century house rather than the play out in the past.

Thirtysomething Millie, recently separated from her husband and going through a very amicable divorce, buys an 18th century house in much of need of some TLC...if not, complete renovation. She hires builder Nick to undertake the renovations for her and a discovery is made that begins an exciting and interesting historical journey for Millie who thus seeks out a local historian to clue her in on the history of her new "old" house.

Rewinding back to 1784, Esther Harris works alongside her brother and father in their pub The Ship at Anchor. But besides this, she also works by night with the smugglers (or free traders) as they loot and store smuggled items in their very secret and purposely built cellar beneath the pub. She faces many difficult decisions and challenges, one of which questioning her steadfast love for one man when she is given an opportunity to wed another. But she must choose carefully...for there will be consequences far reaching should it be the wrong one. And then the battle raging between the smugglers and the Revenue and Customs officers brings things to a head...never knowing who to trust and who might betray them.

The present and the past are interwoven beautifully with each aspect of the past revealed at just the right time the story unfolds in the present. One of my favourite things about dual timelines.

However, this was not one of my favourites of Kathleen McGurl's but that isn't to say it isn't well researched or well written, because it is. Reading is subjective and what appeals to one does not to another. As I said at the beginning, the subject matter wasn't an appealing one to me and I found little interest in it. But I did read it to the end all the same.

I do look forward to more by Kathleen McGurl as she is a wonderful storyteller and a master at weaving the past with the present, however tenuous the link. It just so happens, this story wasn't for me but it was still exceptional storytelling.

I would like to thank #KathleenMcGurl, #Netgalley, #HQStories and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheStormGirl in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I love reading stories about historical fiction. This story os about two different timelines, one follows the past and the other, the present, both intermix between the pages.

It was lovely to read both stories, even though they were set in different periods, but were joined by the same place where the story is set.
There was drama, mystery and suspense in both timelines and I was continuing to read to know what happens next.

I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.

A gripping dual-timeline story, set in Mudeford, near Christchurch, Dorset. Eighteenth-century smugglers try to evade the Revenue men, using the Haven House Inn's secret tunnel to hide the contraband. In the present day. Millie moves into the former inn, which is in need of sympathetic renovation and discovers the old tunnel. The author really captures the atmosphere of the old inn and Mudeford Quay, which I can vouch for as I lived not far way for many years. A great story from the author of The Girl from Bletchley Park.

Wow. Excitement by the bucketful! Set in Mudeford.
This is a dual timeline covering the time of the free traders smuggling goods from the ships into hidden caves. The customs men are always busy trying to catch them. Luke Harris runs the local inn with his daughter Esther who is having to do the heavy work when her father hurts his back. This includes helping the smugglers of which her boyfriend Sam Coombes. While Esther works in the bar one of the customs men Tom Walker starts showing an interest in her. When her father pleads with her to look interested to keep him onside so he doesn’t report them for smuggling she has no choice but to agree. What will happen to Sam?

In the present day is Millie who has just bought a house in Stanpit after splitting up with her husband. Millie is keen to start renovating the house while at the same time keeping some of the character. She enlists the help of local builder Nick who she thinks she likes and he seems friendly too, unfortunately her new neighbour doesn’t think so. Will she let herself be swayed?

Read this in record time. Recommend it.

The Storm Girl is a book that just comes to life thanks to Kathleen McGurl.

The story is told in dual time lines with alternating chapters and takes place in 1784 and in present day.

Esther in 1784 a bigger role in the smuggling operation run from their pub. Smuggling is a huge part of history in that era due to excessive tariffs.

Millie who in present day has bought a home that just happens to be that pub that Esther lived and worked in.

You can feel the tension of the smugglers and you cheer them on and hope for the best.

What is so interesting to me is the author's notes and how many of the characters were actual people.

Both Millie and Esther are strong characters and I hated their story to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ, HQ Digital for a read that grabs you from beginning to end.

An escapist read - good for the beach or a long journey. Millie, in the process of a divorce, moves to a new house. It's an old pub that needs a lot of work. A local builder - love interest! - sets to work and makes some unexpected findings. What is the history of the house?

Switching between the present day and the late 18th century, the two threads of the story combine well

An enjoyable and effortless read .

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a dual time line historical fiction set in WWII England during smuggler times and current. This story was a bit slow to start but gained some speed at about the 25% mark. I liked the attention to details from history and enjoyed Esthers character.

After reading the blurb of this book it sounded just like my kind of read, as I have always loved stories about the historical ways of life from the past. The story follows two very different timelines, one is of present day and the other is of the past, alternating between chapters. It kind of felt like a buy one get one free deal as your reading two romance stories set centuries apart but are totally connected by the place where the story is set.
I really loved how this story played out with all the suspense, mystery and drama within each timeline, it kept me wanting to keep on reading to see what would happen next.
This is my first book to read by this author and would definitely read more from them in the future. as their writing style was so easy to read, that I found myself getting lost amongst it’s pages and couldn’t put it down.

A brilliant time slip book set in the present day with a woman buying a new home and finding a hidden tunnel, and in the 1780s with smugglers. Loved the feel of the history of it.
This was my second Kathleen McGurl book and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you netgalley

The Storm Girl is a dual timeline novel, and as a reader and writer of historical fiction, it was the historical storyline that captivated me far more than the modern-day tale of divorce and starting afresh.

Coming at this from a 'newb' point of view, I expected both storylines to have some connection, other than the most tenuous one, of them simply taking place in the same space although at different times. That wasn't what happened, and I did encounter some problems, whereby the one storyline gave away events in the other - which was a little frustrating.

With all that said, I did enjoy this book. The historical storyline, while a little too wholesome for me, did capture my imagination and The Storm Girl is very much a competent and go-getting type of gal that a modern audience will thrill to discover.

Will I try a dual timeline novel again, that remains to be seen? I confess I would have been happy to have the story revolve only around the historical elements, and not worry about the modern-day setting at all, but I more than understand that a dual timeline narrative is extremely popular, and I'm sure fans of this genre will be captivated by this tale of a place in two different timelines, over two hundred years apart, and will, hopefully, consider learning more about their own local history as a result of reading the book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy. #BlogTour

I have read several books by this author and have always enjoyed them. The books I’ve read have all been similar in that they are dual timeline stories, usually in present day and centuries earlier. This book is no different and we are transported between the modern-day coastal town of Mudeford and then the town in its smuggling heyday of the late 1700’s. In the present-day timeline, we meet Millie Galton. She’s just moved to Mudeford following her divorce and has bought a house which she later finds out used to be the former Ship at Anchor pub. Hundreds of years earlier, the Ship at Anchor was run by Esther Harris and her father. They were involved with the local smugglers bringing in black market goods to avoid paying the revenue. Both stories revolve around the old pub and the tunnels that lead from it, and both also feature the mystery and romance from both timelines.

I liked Millie’s storyline and enjoyed her relocation to the old pub, and the subsequent renovation she had planned. I love the historical features found there and would have loved to have ventured down the old smuggling tunnels! Millie’s character was interesting, although she did annoy me a little when she preferred to listen to idle gossip rather than find out the truth. I also liked Esther’s character and enjoyed her storyline. The portrayal of the communities during those times was interesting and I loved how some of the characters and storylines were based on true stories and people. Esther’s storyline was definitely the stronger of the two, but I did enjoy them both equally.

This was a lovely read, which held my interest right from the beginning. It’s a mixture of history and mystery with a little bit of romance thrown into both timelines. The smuggling storyline was intriguing and had me reading with bated breath with the suspense of it all. There was a lot of emotion written into the book, particularly with Esther’s story, and I felt myself getting swept away with it as the storylines moved on. The author creates perfect dual timeline stories and has caught the essence of both timelines so well. Would definitely recommend.

The Storm Girl is an atmospheric tale set in duel timelines, 1784 and the modern day.

It is a tale of smugglers, which I found both enlightening and enchanting, especially as I live near the coast where smuggling was rife. It is part romance, part historical and I felt that the historical aspect has been very well researched, easily transporting me to the 18th century.

I really enjoyed both timelines and found it easy switching between the two, which are set out in alternative chapters which works extremely well. The whole book is beautifully written and just flows as you read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book it seamlessly passes between modern day and the 1700s. The parts about the smuggling are well researched and very compelling.
It is a very enjoyable time slip novel perfect for readers of katherine webb, Rachel hore , Judith lennox.

I enjoyed this dual timeline story, with the first timeline being in the late 18th century and centering around Esther Harris, whose father owns the Ship at Anchor pub in Mudeford and her interactions with the local smugglers who bring in goods to avoid paying duty fees and the Revenue men who are attempting to end the smuggling, and the second timeline being in the present day, with Millie having purchased the home that used to be the Ship at Anchor pub, and discovering the old smuggling tunnel that leads from the fireplace to a hidden cellar while she is renovating her home. The characters are richly drawn and all very likable, and the story comes to a very satisfying ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Told in a dual timeline, 1784 and the present. I loved the story of the smugglers and their hard lives battling the revenue officers, never knowing who to trust and who might betray them. The up-to-date story reveals an old fireplace with a hidden passage that leads the owner Millie Galton to the secrets of the old inn. and more. The book is well written, it held my attention from the first page to the last.

I really enjoyed this book, as I have every Kathleen McGurl book I've read. Since reading The Girl from Bletchley Park I've been planning on visiting the museum there and now I need to add Mudeford to my list. The smuggling story was fascinating, and I really felt for Esther, stuck as she was between love and protecting her family and the wider community. Millie was a likeable and relatable character and I enjoyed both timelines although I was slightly more invested in the past. I really liked the author's note at the end explaining the characters and places that were based on real people and events.

I always look forward to a new Kathleen McGurl book and this one was no exception.

The smuggling escapades of long ago finely interweave with the story in the present when the new owner of an old inn with a long history of smuggling unlocks secrets from the past during renovations to the building. Enjoyable and gripping, I loved it!

This was just the most beautiful book ,from it's gorgeous cover to the immersive storyline. I haven't read anything quite as engaging as this in recent years! Recommend Storm Girl to everyone!

Despite knowing little about smuggling in the eighteenth century I enjoyed the story, especially the way it moved back and forth with the twin timelines. I liked the main characters and wanted to find out more about them. I didn’t realise that much of the smugglers stories in the book were based on fact. Smuggling was rife around Christchurch in the eighteenth century and real names and events are included. I found myself looking at a map of the area which really helped understand the story!

A highly enjoyable dual time line juxtaposing the smuggling of brandy, tea and tobacco with modern day drugs smuggling. The two main female characters are well drawn and highly likable and alternate chapters make for easy reading.

I also liked the fact that a lot of the intrigue was based on actual events. It was well researched and thought out.

The author has yet again produced a gripping read.