The Storm Girl by Kathleen McGurl
Genre: Dual timeline, Historical fiction, Contemporary fiction
Read: 4th May 2022
Published: 11th May 2022
★★★ 3 stars
DESCRIPTION:
The gripping new historical novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Girl from Bletchley Park and The Forgotten Secret.
A heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for centuries.
1784. When Esther Harris’s father hurts his back, she takes over his role helping smugglers hide contraband in the secret cellar in their pub. But when the free traders’ ships are trapped in the harbour, a battle between the smugglers and the revenue officers leads to murder and betrayal – and Esther is forced to choose between the love of her life and protecting her family…
Present day. Fresh from her divorce, Millie Galton moves into a former inn overlooking the harbour in Mudeford and plans to create her dream home. When a chance discovery behind an old fireplace reveals the house’s secret history as a haven for smugglers and the devastating story of its former residents, could the mystery of a disappearance from centuries ago finally be solved?
Sweeping historical fiction perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kathryn Hughes and Tracy Rees.
MY THOUGHTS:
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.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Kathleen always wanted to write, and for many years was waiting until she had the time. Eventually she came to the bitter realisation that no one would pay her for a year off work to write a book, so she sat down and started to write one anyway. Since then she has published several novels with HQ and self-published another. She has also sold dozens of short stories to women's magazines, and written three How To books for writers.
After a long career in the IT industry she became a full time writer in 2019. When she's not writing, she's often out running, slowly.
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