Author: Hester Fox
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series: No
**Warning**
Though I would consider this book appropriate for mid-older teens, there is one very graphic disturbing scene involving an unwanted pregnancy and the result. The disposal of the baby is quite graphic and pulls no punches.
Brief Summary:
The story revolves mainly around the three Montrose sisters, Catherine, Lydia, and Emeline. Scandalous rumors ruined the Montrose name in their native Boston, and the family was forced to flee in disgrace. Their new permanent countryside residence, Willow Hall, is far from the vicious whispers, but the house holds a checkered past of its own, unknown to the new occupants.
Tragedy and rivalry mar the new beginning, and the family is soon trapped in a web of lies, deceits, and deceptions. Lydia is especially sensitive to the supernatural elements that make themselves known, which leads her on a crash course with a destiny she could have never foretold. Add to the mix one handsome next-door neighbor, a desperate ex-fiance, and the rumors that followed them from Boston beginning anew, and you have the perfect recipe for an unforgettable journey.
Here is what Goodreads has to say:
My take:Two centuries after the Salem witch trials, there’s still one witch left in Massachusetts. But she doesn’t even know it.
Take this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences but those around you, as well.
New Oldbury, 1821
In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia, and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall. The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.
All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end…
I found the book quite enjoyable, even though the emphasis on romance was a bit more than I would have liked. That is a personal preference, however, and does not reflect on the author's storytelling ability. The supernatural elements were not exactly 'scary' in the classic sense, but sufficiently unsettling enough to satisfy those looking for a gothic twist. All in all, I found it enjoyable enough that I have added the author to my growing list of 'must-reads.'
