Rachel Hore

The story explores the moment Irene is separated at birth to how Alice and Irene are reunited by mere happenstance. And since Alice and Irene are both introduced when they are young, it is a pleasure to watch the two characters grow up. The story starts from December 1917 through to January 1940, and Alice and Irene live their lives side by side, knowing nothing about each other. Though, Alice has her memories.

The book is written in the past tense, so the impression of the story is equivalent to that of a recalling of events; thus, the story is told to the readers rather than shown. The style is written virtually like a letter told by the characters’ behalf, showing the characters’ own style of thought and perspective of their surroundings. For example, from Irene’s youthful point of view, she refers to the strangers around her as ‘beasts’, which is particularly precious.

The book also makes it clear whose perspective the readers are viewing – stating the name in the new paragraph – as well as what is in the present and what is a memory through the use of dates and italics; thus the story is easy to follow. The romance featured in the book is also very minimal, so the book centres more on the relationship between a mother and daughter and the lives in which they lead while apart from each other.… (more)

Jude is sent to a location close to family to value items belonging to a generation of astronomers. Jude gets this call through happenstance and the story kicks off the moment she sets foot on location, changing her life forever.

The story switches between Jude and Esther so over time, the mystery meets after 230 years and all is explained. The back and forth is structured clearly and due to this structure, nothing is skipped or missed. The story follows Jude and readers uncover the mysteries alongside the protagonist.

The book is written and perceived - personally - as if readers can watch the events unfold directly beside Jude as she recounts the story in past tense. Events that take place are quite supernatural and yet almost a representation of trauma passed down through generations until Jude resolves the mystery. The romance is soft and not at all overbearing. There are great family dynamics and life goes on while Jude carries out her job.… (more)

A dual timeline story set in Cornwall during WWII and 1966. Belle Is persuaded by her musician boyfriend to spend the summer at ‘Silverwood’ where his artistic friends are living. Belle seems to feel some sort of connection to the house and when she finds a photo of herself as a baby in a strange woman’s arms and a box of books belonging to an Imogen Lockhart, she becomes curious to know more, linking the past to the present.

I hugely enjoyed this book as I have all the other novels I’ve read by Rachel Hore. She’s a favourite author of mine. The Hidden Years is an engaging and well written tale with some realistic and likeable characters. I loved the setting - I’m always attracted to stories set in this part of the country. The descriptions are wonderfully vivid and it was easy to visualise in my mind. The timelines were seamlessly put together and well researched. It’s just a lovely, easy, heartwarming read.… (more)

Interweaving storylines of two generations of women from the same family that were separated at birth as they find their places in the world and ultimately finding their way back to each other.

Set in a time where having children out of wedlock was a mortal sin that lead to ruination of the entire family, this is where we find a heartbroken Alice. Nineteen, pregnant and single, following the death of her fiancé, Jack. Alice had been working in France as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse where she meets and falls in love with Jack. Unfortunately the war rips their futures away from them when Jack is killed in action, leaving Alice heartbroken as well as pregnant. At the insistence of her stepmother Alice is sent away to have the baby in private and adopted by a loving family.

Left adrift after the birth and subsequent loss of her daughter Alice is unsure what direction to take in life, wanting to jump straight back into nursing but forbidden by her parents she makes the decision to study medicine and become a doctor, A profession that is entirely male she struggles to forge a path for herself. Told from two opposing view points and dates it follows the lives of both mother and daughter, separated at birth but interwoven none the less.

Switching between Alice’s past and present as well as Irene’s story this is a multiple threaded story spanning years as the two women find their places in the world and ultimately finding their way back to each other. Even with the multiple switches the transitions are well polished and easy to follow as is the threads weaving everything together.

In Irene’s search for her birth mother Alice it reminds you how much you take the internet and things like Facebook search for granted. Their journeys are neither easy or plain sailing but entirely heartwarming. An easy read that delights and inspires and is one of her best books to date.

Prepare to be swept away as you follow Alice and Irene on their emotional journey of discovery in a predominantly male world.

The Love Child will be published on 05 Sep 2019… (more)