Having read some of the reviews before reading this book I knew there was going to be some paranormal events in this book and I really enjoyed it.
I really felt for Annie who recently lost her husband, and then discovered she was pregnant. Life for her in the book starts off very depressing until she goes on a short break to a cottage and then her problems get pushed to the back of her mind for a bit.
The spirits that are trying to get her attention need her help but for her it is really scary and something she doesn't want to live with. However she has no choice!
I really liked the way the paranormal was woven into a crime story and the writer really made me believe this could happen.
If you like crime books and books where spirits visit this world then you'll love this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for sending me a copy to read and review.

Annie Philips is still trying to come to terms with the sudden death of her husband, being in her thirties she certainly never expected to become a widow. On top of her husband’s sudden death Annie had also found out that she was finally pregnant with the child that her husband had so desperately wanted so now she is facing raising that baby alone. On the recommendation of her sister Annie has decided to go away on a bit of vacation to try to reset and relax before the birth of her baby.

Traveling to North Wales Annie finds herself nestled in a remote stone cottage in Anglesey. Annie believes that the peace and quiet is exactly what she needed and is quite happy to have come until she she finds a strange box and everything changes for her in the cottage. Annie is quite sure that she is not alone and whatever presence she can feel is not happy with her.

Lay Me to Rest by E.A. Clark is a mix of a horror story dealing with a supernatural presence along with a bit of a mystery to solve as the main character tries to figure out just what is occupying the cottage along with her. The book is one that moved along at a decent pace and was engaging enough although I myself found the overall story to mimic a lot of other horror of that type.

What really brought this one down a bit more other than the lack of a bit of something to make it completely stand out in this genre though was the writing seemed at times a bit over the top. The author does seem to have a background in poetry though with this being her first full length novel so that is probably what seemed a bit off to me. Otherwise the story was a solid first book with hints at the end that Annie’s story may continue in the future.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Lay Me to Rest by E.A. Clark
Lay Me to Rest
by E.A. Clark (Goodreads Author)
30817744
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* Jones's review Sep 30, 2017 · edit
liked it
bookshelves: 2017, netgalley-arc, new-to-me-author, 3-star, paranormal, romantic-suspense, sandy-s-ng-nirvana, sandy-s-reading-retreat, murder-mystery

EXCERPT: 'After pulling the door to, we walked down the slope and across to the farm, the sun a huge blood orange sphere at our backs, sinking behind the distant mountains.
If I had turned then I might have seen. Might have seen that the shadow that I had mistaken for mere imagination was standing, looking down at us, from my bedroom window. And that the glowing dark eyes that bore into the back of our unwitting heads exuded what could only be described as resentment and malevolence. I might have had some premonitory sense of what was in store for me and how I ought to flee before becoming irrevocably changed forever by the terror and intensity of my experience.
But for the time being I would remain in ignorance of the depth of hostility cast in our direction. And that was how it would all begin.'

THE BLURB: Some secrets never stay buried for long…
Devastated by the death of her husband, Annie Philips is shocked to discover she is pregnant with his unborn child. Hoping for a fresh start, she travels to a remote stone cottage in Anglesey, amidst the white-capped mountains of North Wales.

She settles in quickly, helped by her mysterious new neighbour, Peter. But everything changes when Annie discovers a small wooden box, inlaid with brass and mother-of-pearl. A box she was never supposed to find…

Annie soon realises that she isn’t alone in the cottage. And now she’s trapped. Can she escape the nightmare that she has awoken, or will the dark forces surrounding the house claim her life – and that of her baby?

A gripping thriller from E. A. Clark, perfect for fans of Kerri Wilkinson, Sarah Wray and Stella Duffy. You won’t be able to put it down!

MY THOUGHTS: Lay Me To Rest is E. A. Clark's first adult novel after having written short stories and poetry for many years. Although her prose is a little overblown in places, this is a credible effort. It is an easy and quick read, ideal for reading in front of the fire on a cold and stormy night, as I did.

I have to admit to not having picked up on the paranormal reference in the blurb. Had I done, I probably wouldn't have requested it, and I would have missed out on a read that became more interesting the further I read on. It was a little predictable in places, and it seems obvious from the way the ending was crafted that there is going to be at least one more book featuring Annie Philips and her newly discovered psychic ability to come. But if you are a fan of paranormal romantic suspense, Lay Me To Rest is a book that you will, in all probability, enjoy, and E.A. Clark is an author you will need to watch.

Thank you to HQ Digital via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Lay Me To Rest by E.A. Clark for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or my 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

At first glance Lay Me To Rest reads as more of a thriller however there is actually a paranormal/horror edge to it too. With me not reading anything in this genre for quite some time it made a refreshing change to pick up this book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but decided to sit back and just enjoy the story. So what did I think...

It's safe to say the opening made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I'm glad I started reading in the daytime rather than at night where I might have chosen to hide under the covers. Right through the story you can feel Annie's grief radiating from her and it definitely drew me into her life and how things were so different for her now. Then factor in her pregnancy and I could understand the state Annie was in. E. A. Clark wrote her in a way that helped to pull me into Annie's life and made her a likeable character. 

The story moves quickly and I loved the descriptions of Anglesey and the area surrounding the cottage. It really helped me to picture the scene and become more involved in the story. After the prologue the story picks up almost straight away with some paranormal occurrences that instantly had me on edge. The way everything plays out is pretty creepy but I was also curious as to why it was happening. There are plenty of secrets within this book some from deep in the past and some from not so long ago. It was a good contrast to have and definitely made me look for clues to see if there would be a connection. All centered around the holiday cottage and the people who live there. I was kept guessing as to which way the story would go and what the reason was for the paranormal activity which is always a positive I never want to guess the outcome half way through. 

There is a slight change of direction towards the end of the story that really intrigued me and has actually left me wanting more. It's definitely a story for reading with the lights on and I'm not sure that I'm ready to face looking out of a window in the dark any time soon!

In Lay Me To Rest there is a little bit of everything to keep you intrigued such as mystery, ghosts, murder and secrets!

Four stars from me!

With thanks to Elizabeth Clark, HQ Digital & Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion

Annie Phillips husband passed away leaving her widowed at a young age and it wasn't until after loosing her husband that she discovered she was pregnant with her late husbands baby.
As she struggles to come to terms with her loss and a few months has passed Annie's sister Sarah arranges for her to take a break and get away from it all in a cottage in Anglesey.

The cottage and countryside sound idilicc but when Annie reaches the cottage something about the place just doesn't seem right and it certainly doesn't feel very welcoming.
It's not until she gets to the cottage that she finds out she is a psychic.
Whilst settling in she comes across a wooden box, a box that was never meant to be found. As she opens the box it starts unraveling truths about the neighbours that she really doesn't want to know!

She gets woken in the night by a vengeful spirit that wants to tell her all the secrets surrounding the cottage and this spirit makes it very clear it does not want Annie there.
Now she knows that the cottage is haunted by a malevolent spirit Annie decides to look into the cottages history and the local folk law and legends to try to help her work out what the spirit wants.

Now she has opened the box and she has started digging into the mystery surrounding the cottage causing it to be haunted she has to see it through to the end to make the haunting stop and to protect herself and unborn baby.
The descriptions in the book are at times breathtaking and you can see the cottage and surrounding countryside in your mind's eye.

If you like ghost stories and different folk law you will love this book

Great book! What a story!! This is a new to me author and I can't wait to experience the rest of this author' books! I recommend this one to pretty much everyone! :)

The synopsis of the book had me intrigued and I so desperately wanted to enjoy the book. I found the start rather slow however it soon picked up pace and kept me interested although it took me longer than usual to finish. I wouldn't really describe the book as horror as I found it rather tame but overall I enjoyed the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy in return for an honest review.

I was given a copy of Lay Me to Rest by E.A. Clark through Negalley for an honest review. I am a woman who loves to read, I have taken to anything that has an interesting concept and eat it up. I enjoyed this story but I can’t say I loved it. Creepy concept and an awesome character in Annie but it didn’t catch my attention like I wish it did. Annie is taking a break from life because her husband has died. But a peaceful vacation turns into a creepy few days and a murder mystery that must be solved for Annie to get peace. The pace of the story starts off slow for me once it gets going though it does keep you connected. Personally, it reminded me of an episode of Ghost Whisperer and I couldn’t fall in love with it, but I did like it.

This is a nice mystery story about a pregnant young widow who discovered that she is a psychic.
Nice story telling. Some parts were very scarry. LOL. I had goose bumps during reading.
If you`ve a vivid imagination ... don`t read it alone at night.

On February 25th, 2009, Annie Phillips became a widow. At the age of thirty-six, this wasn't in the plan - nor was finding out she was expecting her late husband's child. After months of heartbreak and trying to come to terms with her horrific loss, Annie's sister Sarah arranges a break in Wales via a colleague, Peter.

When Annie gets to Wales, however, she is not as welcome as she would have hoped. There appears to be a malevolent presence in the cottage where she's staying, one that really does not want Annie there. She learns more about local legend and lore, and realises that she will have to see it through and find out what's going on in order for the haunting to stop.

The pacing was good, the story didn't drag (I read it in one sitting). As a standalone, it was okay, but I felt that the language was unnecessarily flowery at times. Towards the end and with the change in setting, I became increasingly invested in Annie as a character, and really liked the idea of a series. I do hope this writer brings her back for another book, I would absolutely read a series about a Ghosthunting widow.

I do not normally read stories with ghosts in them. I am glad I read this one. Annie is trying to get over the death of her husband when she goes to Wales for a break events there frighten her at first. The story is well written and the plot makes it a good thriller. I was totally gripped from the start. I read this book in one sitting. The ending hints at a sequel which I would definitely read.

It's Clark's (can I call her Clark? I'm curious of what E.A stands for, but anyways) first adult novel full into ghost and mystery genre with a bit of thriller I might say. It's what you can expect with a first book. Mellow, a little bit intriguing but if I may say a bit predictable and I like to be surprise with my mystery books but I would totally be giving the author another try when another book comes out.

Annie is the main character and she's a newly-widowed and pregnant, I mean poor thing being pregnant and then her husband dies. So her sister convinces her to take a little holiday out of the city so she can try to connect herself with her baby and coming with terms of not having her husband anymore. Of course things didn't happen the way she wanted to. She goes to a little cottage that an old couple runs and she feels like it's being haunted by some angry spirit. From the beginning things start running. Annie didn't grow on me at the beginning, she was too whiny for my taste but you can blame her hormones and the tragedy but after a while you get used to her and you can see her growing up as a character.

I really liked the old couple and it surprised me the mystery at the end, I was with my bet in one thing and it happened another (which I can't say or you know, spoilers), overall the story carries itself in a good pace. I believe in ghosts and life after death so I'd be terrified if something starts to haunt me, I swear! But Annie is a very strong woman at the end trying to protect her unborn child, which I'm pretty sure I'd have done the same thing. I'd have like more surprises, you could definitely spot on who was the bad person in the story and to get the puzzle pieces right well placed from the beginning. Again I know it's always hard with the first book so I'm excited for more to come because I really enjoy Clark's writing style.

Another thing I liked was her reference to Ed and Lorraine Warren when she created her own couple that helps troubled souls to find their path. I'm mad about theirs books of paranormal stuff and who didn't watch the movies made with them?!

One thing I didn't really enjoy was towards the end when everything carries on, another ghost shows up. I don't know if the author did that to make sure we will have more books with Annie as a main character now helping troubled souls or if she just thought it would be nice, but for me was too rushed and I didn't get to enjoy that end of the book.

For what I understood the book will be only available in e-book format. So I'll be just waiting for some news of books to come so I can have a better judgment next time she releases something new.

It's refreshing, it's new, it's a good paranormal first book.

I received the ARC of this story so I could read and post my honest review of it. This opinion is mine and mine only, you might have a different liking to mine so read to have your own conceptions of this book.

I was allowed to read this story early for an honest review and I have to say I was intrigued with the synopsis of this book and it doesn't disappoint, It follows Annie who has recently lost her husband and then finds out shes pregnant with a child he would of loved, understandably grief stricken she goes on holiday to a little farm to get ready for the birth and grieve but whilst there she awakens some restless spirits and they are not happy shes in their house. Can Annie solve the mystery and save herself at the same time. A decent plot and pleasant characters it is worth reading and could possibly spawn a series of novels

My review as posted on Goodreads:

I liked the concept of this novel, I also liked the way the central character, Annie, was crafted.

I also liked the setting in Rural Wales. The pace of the story was fairly swift, which helped to keep me engaged.

This type of ghostly, paranormal novel is not a genre which really appeals to me. However, the way E.A. Clark links a historical death and a more recent missing person to the location of a farm on Anglesey is achieved with some style.

It soon becomes apparent that not everybody Annie meets along the way can be trusted. I won't say any more for fear of spoiling the story. Are the spirits laid to rest?

I felt the ending was a little rushed, hence the 3 star rating. However I would read future books by this author based on this.

My thanks go to Netgalley and HQ Digital for a copy in exchange for this review.

I chose this book based on the title, cover, & description. I was quickly drawn in by the main character's story & the wanted to learn more, however; as I continued to red the story I became disinterested, so it took me longer than reading a book in the past has. That is why I gave this book 3 stars.

So...so creepy! Annie lost her husband and then found out that she was expecting a baby. In the midst of a psychological breakdown and heavily pregnant, her sister sends her to a remote cottage in Anglesey for a relaxing vacation. Unfortunately, she soon finds herself haunted by a vengeful spirit. The author wastes no time in setting up the action, without neglecting the environment. The description of the fields and cottages is so vivid that it feels like being there. More importantly, the cast of characters is excellent, since we can't really see all the sides of everyone and some turns surprised me. In order to get rid of the ghost, Annie needs to solve more than one forgotten crime. The novel is very engrossing and held my attention until almost the very end: I wish there had been a resolution to the last plot twist - or that this last part had been shorter. I'm not sure if it's the setup of a new volume. Still, this is an excellent, scary novel.

Lay Me To Rest.. 5 stars on descriptive writing alone! This book is wonderfully written, the level of description for the location hand scene setting is immense and it really is important i believe. I finished chapter one and could not wait to keep reading, it kept me hooked all the way through and I was a little sad when i had finished the book. If you like a supernatural thriller this is the book for you! It has just the right amount of scares, thrills and mysteries. even though it is a supernatural book it has a air of realism that made it the perfect read. I didn't feel I was reading a 'story ' , it felt real! As the story began to unravel the spookiness really took over, and I had to keep looking over my shoulder! You pick this book thinking you're getting a new modern thriller, but you're getting an AMAZING new modern supernatural thriller that will leave you wanting more! I'm excited to see what E.A.Clark comes up with next!

Annie is struggling to come to grips with her status as newly widowed. She is about to become a single mom and grieving not only the loss of her husband, but the fact that he will never know the child he so desperately wanted.

Her sister suggests a change of scenery may help lift her from her depression. So off she goes for a stay in what is meant to be a peaceful little cottage in the country. That peace and quiet is short lived when it becomes apparent that more than one ghost inhabits this property and is seeking the closure and justice they never got in life.

This was not really a story I would have expected to find in the horror section, but it was a fairish paranormal mystery.

An unusual storyline about ghosts, grief and murder. However, although I enjoyed some of this book, overall I found it to be rambling with characters I didn't care for or about and a confusing bizarre ending. An ok read.

Found this to be poorly written and it felt more like a self-published novel than anything else.