Choose Love
My Great Aunt’s Diary by Laura Sweeney is a marvellous dual timeline novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the second book in the Dovecote Cottages series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The action is set in 1943 and 2016. We ‘hear’ about the action in real time and also via an old diary. The diary is about forbidden love. It ends abruptly, causing the Great Aunt’s niece to search for the end of the story. The search takes her across the sea to Ireland and then back again to Dovecote.
The novel opens in Brighton in 1943 and London in 2016. Both time periods see the characters ending up in Dovecote, unexpectedly. 1943 sees a family bombed out of their Brighton house. In 2016 a cottage is left to a character in a will.
There is loss within the novel. “Grief never really leaves you; you just get better at living with it.” The journey of grief is not linear. There are both good and bad days, one just has to cope the best one can.
In 1943 we see characters having to hide their true selves as social norms of the day mean that certain relationships cannot come to light. “I wanted her [Mum] not to pity me or see me as something broken, or deviant. But I didn’t know how she’d react if I told her.” It is heartbreaking to read, especially as the reader learns, along with the character, that her Mum loves her unconditionally.
A rogue bomb sees a home destroyed for the second time. A character fears it is her fault. “This [bombing] was my fault. I’d committed a sin… and this was my punishment.” The character carries the guilt around with her. It is a burden she was never meant to pick up.
In 2016 a young woman also struggles with feelings of unworthiness. She is told “you don’t trust kindness because you don’t think you deserve it.” She needs to learn to love herself.
We see the role that class plays in both time periods. In 1943 a character chooses wealth and status over true love – and misses out on the love that lasts a lifetime.
In contrast, her female friend in 1943 found and chose love. There are still heartaches and loss along the way but she found a faithful love.
This is a powerful novel about love. It is horrifying for the modern reader to see characters unable to be themselves in 1943 because society dictates to them.
All the characters were well drawn, likable and believable.
I thoroughly enjoyed My Great Aunt’s Diary. I will leave the final words from Violet’s mother:
“You can be whatever you want to be and no matter what you do, no matter who you are, who you become, I will always love you and be proud of you.”
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
Book Description:
Emily’s heart soars as the stone cottage on the cliff comes into view – it is just as she remembered. As she pushes open the weather-beaten door, she wonders if returning to this place will be a chance to start again…
Heartbroken and searching for a new beginning, Emily is shocked to learn she has inherited her great-aunt Violet’s cottage. She remembers summers spent running through its rose garden, but she hasn’t seen her great-aunt in years… So why did she leave her Clifftop Cottage?
Deciding this is the fresh start she needs, Emily travels to the seaside village of Dovecote. Not long after she arrives, she bumps into her childhood love, Will. As he runs his hand through his chestnut-brown hair, she can’t help but think of what happened between them all those years ago…
When Will offers to help redecorate the cottage, Emily is unsure. He broke her heart once before; could he do it again? But she is soon distracted when she finds a leather diary dating back to the Second World War hidden inside an old desk. Turning the pages, she discovers a wartime romance she knew nothing about. Why did Violet keep this secret?
As Emily and Will grow closer while investigating her family history, she wonders if Dovecote could be the place she finally calls home. But can she trust Will to help her uncover a long-buried family secret? And, if she does, will this forgotten diary mend her broken heart, and give her the happy ending she’s looking for?
An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking read packed with family secrets that will transport you to the beautiful south-coast of England. Perfect for fans of Susanne O’Leary, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe.
Author Bio:
Laura writes uplifting escapist women’s fiction with heart and a dash of humour. She was born in Ireland and spent parts of her childhood in France and South Africa. Laura now lives in the south-west of England, where she works in Financial Services, and is locked in a constant battle against her ever-growing to-be-read pile.
https://laurasweeneyauthor.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/laura_c_sweeney
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Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0DVBQZS97social
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