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A review by beate251
The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.
Kate hasn't spoken to her sister Emma in 15 years, ever since Emma stole her fiancé Philip from her. She is now a hotshot lawyer in London, about to make partner, so when a call comes in from Dr Matthew Whitford, the grumpy headmaster of the posh school Emma's two children Izzy and Max attend, she isn't happy to have her routine interrupted. Emma is in hospital and has apparently offered Kate's name up as next of kin. Reluctantly, Kate drives to the dilapidated big house that Emma and Philip unwisely bought in order to renovate it. Not only is it unfit for habitation (the family live in the small gatehouse) but it's also spooky. Oh, and Philip is nowhere to be seen.
In 1880 something, Rookswood House was occupied by a photographer, his wife and two daughters, Ava and Camile. The Victorians loved the macabre and it was a craze back then to have photos doctored so bodies would appear headless or with their head under their arm. Photos of dead people in alive poses were also popular. Ava got her father to teach her the art of photography, so when their parents died, they had a means of supporting themselves. The Weird Sisters, as they were known, swore to always stay together, but then something happened to tear them apart forever. Now Ava is a trapped spirit who haunts the big house, not able to move on, and strange things happen to Kate and anyone else coming close to the house.
We get two stories here of two pairs of sisters, all brought together by a crumbling manor house. I'm not normally one for ghost stories but I was drawn in by the cover so I downloaded it. I'm glad I did. It is more atmospheric than spooky, and it's best to just believe there's a ghost and get drawn into the story. I really liked Ava and Camile's flashback parts because they felt kind of exotic, whereas Kate's story was modern and without the interrupting "can you find my sister for me?" ghost could have been a regular romance, albeit with secrets and sister reconciliation. I thought Kate was rude and snappy at the beginning but Izzy wasn't much better. Then there is Charlie the builder - what are his true intentions?
Recommended if you liked Jenni Keer's The Ravenswood Witch. This is a new author for me, but Lauren Westwood, like many Boldwood Books authors, is on Kindle Unlimited, so I immediately downloaded The House of Second Chances for future perusal.
Kate hasn't spoken to her sister Emma in 15 years, ever since Emma stole her fiancé Philip from her. She is now a hotshot lawyer in London, about to make partner, so when a call comes in from Dr Matthew Whitford, the grumpy headmaster of the posh school Emma's two children Izzy and Max attend, she isn't happy to have her routine interrupted. Emma is in hospital and has apparently offered Kate's name up as next of kin. Reluctantly, Kate drives to the dilapidated big house that Emma and Philip unwisely bought in order to renovate it. Not only is it unfit for habitation (the family live in the small gatehouse) but it's also spooky. Oh, and Philip is nowhere to be seen.
In 1880 something, Rookswood House was occupied by a photographer, his wife and two daughters, Ava and Camile. The Victorians loved the macabre and it was a craze back then to have photos doctored so bodies would appear headless or with their head under their arm. Photos of dead people in alive poses were also popular. Ava got her father to teach her the art of photography, so when their parents died, they had a means of supporting themselves. The Weird Sisters, as they were known, swore to always stay together, but then something happened to tear them apart forever. Now Ava is a trapped spirit who haunts the big house, not able to move on, and strange things happen to Kate and anyone else coming close to the house.
We get two stories here of two pairs of sisters, all brought together by a crumbling manor house. I'm not normally one for ghost stories but I was drawn in by the cover so I downloaded it. I'm glad I did. It is more atmospheric than spooky, and it's best to just believe there's a ghost and get drawn into the story. I really liked Ava and Camile's flashback parts because they felt kind of exotic, whereas Kate's story was modern and without the interrupting "can you find my sister for me?" ghost could have been a regular romance, albeit with secrets and sister reconciliation. I thought Kate was rude and snappy at the beginning but Izzy wasn't much better. Then there is Charlie the builder - what are his true intentions?
Recommended if you liked Jenni Keer's The Ravenswood Witch. This is a new author for me, but Lauren Westwood, like many Boldwood Books authors, is on Kindle Unlimited, so I immediately downloaded The House of Second Chances for future perusal.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, and Suicide attempt