Review ~ Guernsey Retreat by Anne Allen

Sarnia Press
2014

Two violent deaths. Separated by time, but with a final connection...

Hotelier, Malcolm has returned to Guernsey to open a health centre in the beautiful sanctuary of La Folie, plagued by the secrets of his past, he hopes to uncover the truth about what really happened to his father at the start of WW2. Louisa, suffering from the trauma of devastating loss, is determined to track down the father she never knew. In the peace and tranquillity of La Folie, Malcolm’s and Louisa’s story start to intertwine and a story of long buried family secrets starts to be uncovered.

The story is strong, slightly darker in places than previous stories but no less absorbing and from the very start of the book I was taken into a very believable world. The characters completely enchant me, so much so, they soon become as familiar as friends and I really start to care about what happens to them. I loved the burgeoning relationship between Malcolm and Louisa and their tentative steps to finding out more about their past gives the book its heart and soul. The author writes with a lovely light touch, really emphasising the bond between friends, and the hesitant, yet beguiling nature of new relationships, is explored with complete understanding and sensitivity.

There is no doubt that in this series of novels the author has captured the essence of Guernsey to perfection. The glory of the island, its places and its people really comes alive and as beauty of Guernsey starts to beguile the reader, there is a real sense of belonging, not just in the glorious descriptions of island life but in the way the minutiae of relationships is examined and controlled.

I really can’t wait to read more Guernsey novels from this talented writer.

My thanks to the author for sharing her work with me.

Come back tomorrow to read an interview with Anne Allen and a chance to win a copy of Guernsey Retreat.

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