Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Vicky from I’d Rather Be At The Beach who posts the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book she decided to read based on the opening. Feel free to grab the banner and play along.
On 22 March 2018 Rachel Hore’s new book Last Letter Home will be published by Simon & Schuster. I do enjoy this author’s historical novels having first found her by reading The Glass Painter’s Daughter which was published way back in 2009.
Blurb
On holiday with friends, young historian Briony Wood becomes fascinated with a wartime story of a ruined villa in the hills behind Naples. There is a family connection: her grandfather had been a British soldier during the Italian campaign of 1943 in that very area. Handed a bundle of letters that were found after the war, Briony sets off to trace the fate of their sender, Sarah Bailey.
In 1939, Sarah returns with her mother and sister from India, in mourning, to take up residence in the Norfolk village of Westbury. There she forms a firm friendship with Paul Hartmann, a young German who has found sanctuary in the local manor house, Westbury Hall. With the outbreak of war, conflicts of loyalty in Westbury deepen.
When, 70 years later, Briony begins to uncover Sarah and Paul’s story, she encounters resentments and secrets still tightly guarded. What happened long ago in the villa in the shadow of Vesuvius, she suspects, still has the power to give terrible pain … Amazon
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
First Chapter ~ First Paragraph ~ Intro
One
They call it a storm and after days of it she felt storm-tossed clinging to the wreckage of her life each new attack dashing against her with a force that left her bruised and gasping. She might have borne it if it had simply been words, painful, devastating words though they were, words that cruelly shredded her self-worth, her professional reputation, her trust in her own judgement, her identity as a woman, but it was more than that; her sense of safety was threatened.
Another good one! It’s those last few words that intrigue you.
LikeLike
It was a very good read with some big issues going on amongst the pages.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great intro, what devastating words were these? I would definitely continue reading.
LikeLike
HI, Cleo!
I’ve not read any of her books, but I’ve heard of her, and from what I can tell above she is very good. I need to read more historical novels!
Here’s my #TalkTuesday link up : The Third Victim by Phillip Margolin http://bit.ly/2GnpB0G
Have a great day!
LikeLike
Definitely a book for me!
LikeLike
Fab intro and I love the blurb as well!
LikeLike
I love the sound of this book. I’ve read a few of Rachel Hore’s books and really liked them, although I must admit to having more than one on my TBR pile.
LikeLike
This really does sound good, Cleo. I like that connection between past and present timelines. And now that first bit has really intrigued me. I’m really looking forward to your review of this one.
LikeLike
This sounds really good and it reminds me a bit of The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen that I read a few weeks ago. See what we are featuring this week at Girl Who Reads
LikeLike
Blurb, cover, and first paragraph all make me want to read this.
LikeLike
I like the first paragraph too. It’s sad and, of course, I’d need to find out who is speaking and what happened.
LikeLike
This is a new-to-me author. I’m going to look for her earlier novel.
LikeLike
Great beginning. This sounds like an excellent story. This week I am featuring Deja Moo by Kristen Weiss. Happy reading!
LikeLike
Beautiful excerpt, and the blurb also drew me in. Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog. Enjoy!
LikeLike
Hmm…
LikeLike
I love the sound of this one.
LikeLike
I love the sound of this as well, enjoy Cleo
LikeLike
I would read more.
LikeLike
There is a lot of drama in that first paragraph. I like it!
LikeLike
The plot sounds good. I might need to read a few more paragraphs before committing! 🙂
LikeLike
I love that cover. The story sounds good so I hope you enjoy it!
LikeLike
Definitely sounds like one to consider. I like the name Briony too.
LikeLike