Are you in the mood for a novel that will keep you guessing, glued to the pages, and make you fall in love with the characters all while telling a completely absorbing story that involves the San Francisco earthquake of 1906? You're in luck then with this extremely well-written piece of historical fiction by an author whose work I have not read before.
I could not put this down even for a minute today and read it in a single setting. I loved meeting Sophie Whalen Hocking who traveled from New York to San Francisco to meet and marry widower Martin Hocking and to raise his 5-year-old daughter, Kat. Even though they don't grow into a love match, Sophie is pleased with her new life and loves the little girl. There are hints, however, that Marin is not exactly the man he claims to be and also that there are some secrets in Sophie's past that she prefers to keep hidden. Right before the terrible events centered on the destruction of the city during the earthquake and resultant fires, Sophie meets a woman who completely shatters the newfound contentment she has experienced as wife and mother. There is more to come as shocking information brings further revelation about Martin Hocking -- none of it good. NO SPOILERS.
Don't you love a good story that brings on all the feels and concludes with satisfaction that everyone ended up where they were meant to be? Every once in awhile I take a break from the chiller, thriller, killer genre and seek out some happy story of resiliency and triumph and this is indeed that novel. There is mystery, there is love, there is loss and recovery. Something new from the ashes. I loved this and trust you will as well. The perfect story for me on just the right day means I'm giving this 4.5 stars that I'm going to round up because it really hit the spot today.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend to any fans of -- dare I say -- a happy tale of love and female friendship.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - historical fiction, mystery
No comments:
Post a Comment