Search This Blog
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
The Lost Hours Perfect for Gentle Summer Days (With a Giveaway!)
This is the conundrum Piper faces in Karen White's new novel, The Lost Hours. The protagonist, a woman haunted by a serious equestrian accident, eagerly ignores her own rehabilitation to focus on the mysteries of her family's past. She knows the answers lie somewhere in her grandmother's childhood, but attempts to question the elderly woman only agitate her. So, Piper turns to her grandmother's old friend, Lillian Harrington-Ross, who shows no desire to re-visit the past. Clearly, the family mystery goes even deeper than Piper first believed. Determined to shake out Lillian's secrets - and thus her grandmother's - Piper infiltrates the old woman's ranch, posing as a renter. Although the idea of being anywhere near a horse scares Piper to death, she knows she can't leave Asphodel Meadows without the answers for which she has come.
As Piper attempts to draw Lillian out, she becomes enmeshed in the household, lured by the matriarch's wise granddaughter; her lively great-grandchildren; and their grief-stricken father. Each, including Piper herself, hides his/her own secrets. But it's Lillian's secrets in which Piper is most interested. Lillian, herself, prefers the past to remain where it belongs - in the past - but something about her mysterious boarder stirs up old memories, memories that refuse to leave her be. The truth about what happened all those years ago will be found, but at what cost? Will Piper's search destroy not one, but two elderly women? Will it bring her closer to the grandmother whom she never really knew? Will her tenacious search for truth finally allow her to heal - or will knowledge of past horrors rip her heart wide open? Piper's journey into her family's past will change her indelibly - will it be worth it?
Books about family secrets always appeal to the voyeur in me. This one tends toward the predictable. It's also a bit far-fetched - I kept wondering how a horse family like Lillian's could not figure out Piper's real identity - but I still found it compelling. The characters are believable, the setting seductive, the mystery intriguing. Although Lillian's truths won't surprise you, White's writing just might - it's poignant, atmospheric and appropriately moody. Her prose gets clunky in places, but overall, it's lovely. Despite some predictable plotting, The Lost Hours provides a very decent read. Although it's a little dark, it ends on a hopeful note, making it a perfect book to enjoy during the gentle days of summer.
Grade: B
P.S. Karen has generously supplied me with 2 copies of The Lost Hours to give away. If you're interested in entering, please leave a comment on this post. The names of two winners will be drawn on June 19 (hubby's birthday). Good luck!
18 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
Time Travel Thursday3 hours ago
-
September 2024 Reading Wrap Up4 hours ago
-
#ThrowbackThursday. October 2011 Part 36 hours ago
-
-
Monthly Wrap-Up September 20248 hours ago
-
-
Murder in Berkeley Sqyare by Vanessa Riley11 hours ago
-
A Review of The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion11 hours ago
-
-
-
What I Ate In One Year1 day ago
-
-
WIP Wrap-up for September 20241 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner1 day ago
-
The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz2 days ago
-
-
I have been reading...2 days ago
-
Randomness....2 days ago
-
September Reflections2 days ago
-
-
Reading Recap August 20241 week ago
-
-
-
-
Review: The Duke and I1 month ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus2 months ago
-
Sunday Post2 months ago
-
-
-
The Music of 2024: Q23 months ago
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?11 months ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
Looks like a good read to me!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to enter!:)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read. I'd love to win it!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds really good. Please enter me. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great read. And I sure enjoyed the interview with the author!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read! I loved how she wrote 'memory of water' through all of the characters eyes, can't wait to read this one now! Thank you for offering it in a give a way!
ReplyDeletesounds very interesting. Are you willing to ship to Canada if I win the book?
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that the giveaway is open to readers anywhere in the world. Sorry about that.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to read this! It sounds intriguing and the cover is so pretty. : )
ReplyDeleteEnter me please!
ReplyDeleteI would like to enter! :)
ReplyDeleteI'd like to enter, I'm always up for a good summer read.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like one I'd like to read!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review! I'd like to enter please. I just read The House on Tradd Street by Karen White and really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read this! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThis one looks good. I'd love to win!!
ReplyDeleteI'm adding this to my list. And am determined to win one of your giveaways someday.
ReplyDeleteMe! I'm interested! Thanks!
ReplyDelete