One Last Beautiful Summer

The House At River’s Edge by Rachel Burton is a powerful dual timeline that I just could not put down. I read it in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep!

The two time periods are 1914-1919, and 1997. The chapters alternate as we follow a family through the first World War years, and again after a long-lost photograph is found. Along with the characters, we have questions about the ancestors of a family. All is not as we first thought.

The summer of 1919 was the final summer of freedom. “I hold on to the memories of that summer.” With the advent of war, lives would be changed forever. A generation of young men left enthusiastically for war. Many never returned. Those who did, had often left their minds on the battlefields. “When I sleep, I’m back there, in the trenches.” We see the devastating effects of shell shock. “They can talk about peace and armistice as much as they like; he knows he will never find peace again.” People often suffered from shell shock for the rest of their lives.

We witness the heartbreaking results when a loved one dies. “Death doesn’t care about those who are left behind.” Characters know they will never love again like they did, making decisions to support each other.

The modern reader is horrified by the prejudices of the day in 1914. “Why society has to label some love good and some love bad is beyond me.” Society judges, meaning that some people cannot be true to themselves.

There is also the outdated attitude to women in 1914. Women were expected to make marriage alliances and could be seen as ‘on-the-shelf’ by their mid-twenties if they were still single. Women could not vote either. The first World War would do a lot to advance their freedoms.

One thing which women did do, and is deplorable, was to hand out white feathers to young men – no questions asked. Not every young man who wasn’t fighting was a coward or a C.O. Some young men had health problems or were in required professions, and therefore did not fight.

In 1997 we meet a grandmother, mother and daughter. They are strong women who are all dealing with loss. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect it too but the three pull together. An old trunk full of documents and letters, holds some surprising secrets. As age-old secrets come to light, lives are renovated, along with an old property.

I thoroughly enjoyed The House At River’s Edge. It showed a bygone age, one last enjoyable summer of 1914 before lives would be transformed forever. I really loved it and was entertained as the two time periods were inter-woven.

I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON

The House at River’s Edge

1914: Anticipating a long summer of freedom at her friend’s family estate in Cambridge, Grace Villiers is disappointed by an unexpected addition to their party. Then the new arrival offers to teach Grace to swim, and she is forced to see there is more to Algernon Lake than his reputation. But, with war brewing across Europe, this will be a summer that changes everything.

1997: Following her father’s sudden death, Barbara finds herself living with her mother in a house that is, literally, falling down around them. As she tries to put their new home in order, she discovers a photograph of her grandfather as a young man with his friend – two soldiers at the start of the First World War. Setting aside her grief, Barbara becomes determined to uncover their story, hoping it will bring her closer to the family she feels slipping away.

But when her search for answers opens up truths she isn’t prepared for, Barbara will come to realise, some secrets may be best left alone.

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/houseatriversedge

Author Bio –

Rachel Burton is the bestselling author of historical timeslip novels and romantic comedies. Rachel was born in Cambridge and studied Classics and English Literature before starting a career in law. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, a variety of cats and far too many books.

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