8 May 2014

SECRETS OF THE TIDES.

SECRETS OF THE TIDES (Released as The House Of Tides in America) by HANNAH RICHELL

SOURCE: One of six books won celebrating the blogoversary of Lindsay over at THE LITTLE READER LIBRARY 

Every family has its secrets.

Some are small, like telling a white lie or snooping through a private drawer. Others are more serious, like infidelity and betrayal. And some secrets are so terrible they must be hidden away in a deep, dark place, for if they ever came to light, they would surely tear a family apart . . .

The Tides are a family full of secrets. Returning to Clifftops, the rambling family house high up on the Dorset coastline, youngest daughter Dora hopes for a fresh start, for herself and the new life she carries. But can long-held secrets ever really be forgiven? And even if you can forgive, can you ever really learn to love again?
..... Outer back cover

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue}: A half-empty train rattles through fields and farmlands towards the grey concrete sprawl of the city.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 238}:It was a bit like living with those zombies you saw in the movies: two pale, silent bodies drifting around the house, seemingly devoid of life until suddenly they turned on each other, lashing out in a rampage of vitriolic anger and gnashing teeth.

MY THOUGHTS: A family saga all about demons, the sort of demons that haunt the Tide family as they struggle with the events of that one tragic day all those years ago, the sort of demons so horrendous that surely they are best kept a secret lest they totally tear apart a family already plagued with guilt.

Jumping back and forth between the past and the present day, the story unfolds as bit by bit the secrets of 'that day' and the part mother, Helen, and daughters, Cassie and Dora, had to play are revealed.

A dark and heart wrenching debut novel in which family relationships play a major role. Tested to breaking point it is these that make the book so compelling, that make the characters so memorable.

A difficult book to review in many ways as the potential for spoilers is huge, I'll simply say that should you like family sagas with themes of tragedy, betrayal and forgiveness chances are you'll love this.




Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper. All original content on http://pettywitter.blogspot.co.uk/ is created by the website owner, including but not limited to text, design, code, images, photographs and videos are considered to be the Intellectual Property of the website owner, whether copyrighted or not, and are protected by DMCA Protection Services using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act Title 17 Chapter 512 (c)(3). Reproduction or re-publication of this content is prohibited without permission. In addition I would also urge that if you are reading this on any other page you contact the original blog owner/reviewer.

14 comments:

Melliane said...

It can be interesting, I love when a author managa to well do parts in th present and in the past. It's something I love to read.

Lindsay said...

Lovely review of this one Tracy, I bought this book so long ago as I really liked the sound of it and am determined to finally read it in the next couple of months! Some books that we are so excited about end on the to be read pile far too long, or they do with me anyway!

Yanting Gueh said...

It's the glowing blue on the cover that attracted me first. The storyline sounds good, too. I'll put this on my to-read list.

Stephanie Faris said...

Family sagas aren't really my thing but what a pretty cover! I could look at that all day!

Kelly said...

I love the cover and the book sounds really good, too. Great "memorable moment", as well. I think this one will have to go on the wishlist.

Literary Feline said...

I hate it when the publisher changes the title between countries (when it's in the same language--different languages, I understand).

I can see why this would be a difficult read. It sounds like it. Which makes it something I probably would like.

So many books, so little time said...

Well done, reviewed with enough info to let us know what it is about yet not providing spoilers which can be really hard, I feel, to do.

Well done on winning too.

Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

Camila Rafaela Felippi said...

Good review and interesting story... tragedy and betrayal is a difficult genere to write, because the reader have to feel it and sometimes the writer can't pass this feeling!

Brian Joseph said...

Great commentary Tracy.


Dark old secrets when combined with strong characterizations make for oh so fascinating books.


I wonder why the American Title is different. I guess it was some kind of marketing decision.

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

This does sound interesting, but something I'd probably have to be in the mood for before I started it. Congrats on the win!

Suko said...

Tracy, this sounds quite enticing. Wonderful review, as usual!

Stephanie@Fairday's Blog said...

This does sound interesting. What an awesome cover. I was hoping the story was great because the cover drew me in right away. Thanks for sharing!

Heather said...

i agree with the others, that the cover is very appealing.

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I like your review. I think I'd have to be in the right mood for this book but it sounds good.