Feathertide by Beth Cartwright

Blurb

"Born covered in the feathers of a bird, and kept hidden in a crumbling house full of secrets, Marea has always known she was different, but never known why. And so to find answers, she goes in search of the father she has never met.

The hunt leads her to the City of Murmurs, a place of mermaids and mystery, where jars of swirling mist are carried through the streets by the broken-hearted.

And Marea will never forget what she learns there.

Feathertide is an enchanting, magical novel perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale."

Published July 2020

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sharing a copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

I was immediately intrigued by the beautiful cover of this book and it's unusual premise and that feeling of curiosity continued throughout the book.

Beginning with Marea's childhood hidden in the basement of a brothel, you follow her story as she explores the limited world around her, guided by her mother, the whores and a professor to teach her about the wider world. Before too long, being told about the world isn't enough and Marea sets out to find her father and learn the truth about herself. 

I was really excited to find out about the City of Murmurs but felt a little let down as, to me, it didn't seem quite as magical and wondrous as I was expecting from the blurb and the story slowed down for a while as Marea settles in and does a lot of dog walking. However, there are some beautiful descriptions of Marea's world and the City of Murmurs and I enjoyed the story as Marea met more characters and started to open herself up to love in different forms.

An intriguing, coming of age story that didn't quite draw me all the way in but was very enjoyable. I give this 3 out of 5.

Blog Tour: Coming Home to Penvennan Cove by Linn B. Halton

Blurb

"Can Kerra's Cornish hometown offer the fresh start she needs?

When Kerra left the quiet Cornish town of Penvennan Cove for the bright lights of London she didn't look back. But after the death of her mother, she's decided it's time to face her past and return to the place she called home. Her father needs her, and perhaps she needs him more than she's willing to admit?

Tackling town gossip, home renovations and a flame from her past, it's not quite smooth sailing for Kerra. Ross is the bad boy she was meant to forget, not a man who still sets her heart aflutter. As he helps bring her dream home to life, they begin to break down the barriers that have been holding them back and in the process learn things about themselves they never thought possible.

As friends old and new come together, the future in Penvennan looks bright."

Due to by published 8th October 2020.
With thanks to the author, published and NetGalley for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Review

Returning from her busy London life to the scenic Cornish village of her childhood, Kerra is a determined lady who doesn't hesitate to step in and help to get the job done. She's been very successful in the past and now wants to spend time with her dad and old friends while she decides what she wants to do next. Personally I occasionally thought she was a little bit arrogant, thinking she always knows best and assuming everyone is desperate to know what she's doing next, but her heart is in the right place and she wants the best for everyone she cares about.

There's a delightful romantic energy between Kerra and Ross and I enjoyed reading how their relationship develops and about their past. Sy and Tegan, along with a whole village of other characters add fun and energy to the story. Ripley the Bengal cat is a great character in her own right and adds plenty of drama!

Set in a village in the beautiful Cornish countryside, there is a strong sense of community and everyone knowing everyone else's business!

A lovely Cornish adventure full of friendship, loyalty and romance, I give this 4 out of 5.

The Author

Linn B. Halton is a #1 bestselling author of contemporary romantic fiction. In 2013 she won the UK Festival of Romance: Innovation in Romantion Fiction Award. Originally from Bristol, she now lives in the Welsh valleys with her husband and Bengal cat, Ziggy.

For Linn, life is all about family, friends and writing. She is a self-confessed hopeless romantic and an eternal optimist. When Linn is not writing, she spends time in the garden weeding or practising Tai Chi. And she is often found with a paintbrush in her hand indulging her passion for upcycling furniture.

Her novels have been translated in to Italian, Czech and Croatian. She also writes as Lucy Coleman.

Visit Linn's website at: https://linnbhalton.com

And follow her on Twitter: @LinnBHalton

Join The Blog Tour