BY SHARON GOSLING
An Adventure Book Review hosted by Erin the Literary Cat ©
Hello, and welcome to my weekend Book Review featuring this week, Adventures in Middle-Grade Adult Fiction!
⭐️ A WINNER! ⭐️ Before we proceed with this week’s post, we need to announce the winner of the copy of The Shadow Order that Mrs H bought out of her pension for the Shadow Order Blog Tour. The winning commenter, was Jackie, from the Memories of Eric and Flynn blog. Please contact Mrs H, Jackie, to arrange delivery of your prize.
Now let’s head on over to Upper Much-Mousing, and see what Erin and Mrs H are up to this week and what book they have . . .
“Mrs H, what is a folly?” Erin was sitting leafing through this week’s book for review.
“Well, dear, a folly is something that might be considered foolish or unlikely to succeed. Like you trying to convince me I need to feed you when I know you’ve just had your third supper. A folly can also be something with no purpose other than to be itself, no matter how strange or out of place that may be.
“Like the Lighthouse in this book,” Erin gestured to the cover.
“Yes, exactly that. It was built as a library, seemingly on the whim of the landowner, for his wife.”
“And is that Sharon Gosling on the cover? I can’t see her cat, Newt, with her.” Erin knew Newt travelled with the author to her allotment to help with security, grounds maintenance and rodent control.”
“I think that’s Rachel, the lead character.” Mrs H smiled warmly at her feline companion, who often took things far too literally and who she suspected had ASD like herself. “There is a cat in the story, though, called Eustace. And a dog called Bukowski, who together add to the flavour.”
“Maybe we should have a lighthouse. Or at least a small tower!” Erin scratched at her ear absentmindedly.
“And who would be expected to clean this tower, hmm?” Mrs H gave Erin a raised eyebrow stare which meant she was not amused.
Erin cringed. “I think maybe I’ll settle for just looking at this picture then.”
“Yes, dear, I think that’s best. Why not introduce the review whilst you have our guests’ attention?”
“Great idea, Mrs H. This week, dear readers, we have the great pleasure of reviewing The Lighthouse Bookshop. Read on to discover all, and the chance to win a copy!”
AUTHOR: SHARON GOSLING
Cover art by: PIP WATKINS (Senior Designer at Simon & Schuster)
Published by: SIMON & SCHUSTER UK
Publication date: 18 August 2022
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4711-9869-4
Cover price for Paperback £8.99
Pages: 440.
Age range: Adult
Any dogs or cats? YES! A Cat and a Dog in supporting roles.
Thank you to…
We are exceedingly grateful to Sharon Gosling, Simon & Schuster & Net Galley for the privilege of getting to Read & Review this delightful adult book, which is out now.
As ever, our views are always our own, and we only share reviews of books we like and feel our readers deserve to know about and that we hope they will enjoy.
The plot
Our protagonist is Rachel. The story opens with the arrival of a letter and a note posted within another. Seeing the name and address on the inner envelope, words thought left behind, shatters five years’ worth of them being forgotten about. This is Rachel’s secret, and she means to keep it that way for her own sanity and, ultimately, her very real safety.
Rachel came to the remote Aberdeenshire village of Newton Dunbar, some miles inland from the coast. Alone and then homeless, save for her campervan, she finally found a place to call home and work. That place was a lighthouse that sat too far from the coast to be of any use. It was, in the true sense, a folly. Within its walls was once the library of the nearby stately home that burnt down soon after it was built in the early 1800’s. Now it is a bookshop. Both tower and the stately have a history, a sad one at that, but both hold secrets too. Secrets that will come to feature prominently.
The owner of the Lighthouse Bookshop, and carer of Eustace, the cat, is Mr Cullen MacDonald. The bookshop and Cullen are loved by all; both are the centre of a tight community of friends. It is a place where Cullen and Ron play chess, and villagers have coffee and fresh baked culinary treats made by local engraver, Edie. Of course, it is also a place of friendly banter. And even as a neutral ground, where once friends, now unfathomably quarrelsome neighbours, Esra and Edie spar and goad each other.
It is a place like many others, maybe you know a place like it. But in a small village, it is probably more intense and passionate. Gilly, a young girl in her teens, enters the mix. She is camping out, essentially on the run from the system and adoption. Strong-willed, fiercely independent, and like Rachel, wanting to leave things behind. She falls foul of Dora McCreedy, the local property magnate with an axe to grind and the despicable villain of this book. Finding her tent and possessions destroyed by McCreedy, who threatens to call the police, Gilly ends up at the lighthouse. Her presence splits opinions amongst the villagers regarding her intent, honesty and actual situation, and more importantly, what they should do about it.
When Cullen dies suddenly and without leaving a will, his legacy, the bookshop, and thus Rachel’s world and safe place, are at the mercy of the highest bidder. And McCreedy makes it clear that she will be the victor.
Now, I have introduced you to all but one of the main supporting characters. Enter Toby Hollingwood. War journalist, now set to work on his memoirs. But it is a past that is haunted by demons.
OK, so that is as far as I can go. Rest assured, there is much elegance and compelling reading in what follows next. There is joy, sadness and, yes, tears too.
So, what did we think?
This is Sharon’s second full length adult fiction tale, the first being The House Beneath the Cliffs. She has a long and respected career as a professional entertainment journalist and writer of non-fiction on film and television, including tie-in books for movies. Mrs H was highly impressed and says she’ll soon be buying The House Beneath the Cliffs.
Our review of Sharon’s latest thrilling Middle-Grade adventure, The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott. A link to that can be found HERE.
This is as delicious, refreshing and comforting a tale as a bowl of summer fruit or a favourite hot pudding in winter.
Once again, Sharon has delivered a timeless piece of writing. It gently conveys the essence of the characters and their lives. Rounded yet flawed, as we are, this tale gives charm, sass, wit, fear and insight into a plotline that is, I think, unique.
Centred around a ‘folly’ of the title, which itself hides secrets beyond the obviousness of its unlikely presence, the story unfolds and grows in a delightfully organic way. We get a natural feel for the tight-knit community, the stresses and strains, and the actual value of comradery.
So . . . .
Crunch time.
Whilst adult books are not my usual stomping ground, cosy mysteries and Middle Grade reads as befits my age, this is a most welcome, engaging exception. It handles aspects of a social, family and mature nature, including PTSD, with a delicate accuracy; no sensationalism or gratuity.
I enjoyed every minute of this book and hope you will too. Everything to love and applaud, as is to be expected from a very skilled writer.
⭐️ We have a Giveaway! ⭐️
Mrs H has kindly funded the purchase of two copies of this fabulous book. Two lucky commenters will each receive a copy to enjoy. All you have to do is leave a comment below, and Mrs H will, with my help, select a winner at random from our virtual hat! Entries close Friday 14th October 2022.
Want to buy a copy?
To get a copy, please do think of your local independent bookshop. There are plenty out there, though maybe none as mysterious as the Lighthouse Bookshop, and each is a beacon ready to light your path to fun and adventure with a personal touch.
Sharon Gosling’s WEB page can be found HERE or type this:
Simon & Schuster UK’s web page can be found HERE. OR type this:- https://www.simonandschuster.com/
If any publishers wish us to review their books, please contact us. Details are listed on our book review page.
I shall leave you with a Sunday Selfie of me doing what comes naturally…..
Till laters!
ERin
© All images and text are subject to copyright, and nothing may be used, copied, stored or shared, either in part of whole, in any format, without the express written permission of the copyright holders in advance.
Erin the Literary Cat 