This book I wanted to love but it just jumped all over the place. This one told in three POVs wasn't done very well in my eyes. I felt like each chapter took me out of each story and then trust me back into each one. I wished that it would have only been maybe two POVs at the most. But as its written it just didn't work for me. I had issues remember what had happened in one POV by the time I had gotten back to the first one.

Overall, if multiple POVS don't bother you then check this one out!


Go Into This One Knowing: 3POVS, Confusing

EXCERPT:...he said, 'I was thinking about the house in Tasmania.'

'Me too,' she said.

'I was thinking about who the woman might be.'

Willa could hear the hint of forced cheer in his voice.

'Yes, me too.'

'I...I know you won't want to hear this, but I think there's only one person who it can be,' said Hugo. He turned and looked at her, and Willa looked back. She could see his love, his open trusting heart, but beneath all that she could see a hint of fear, and she almost couldn't bear it.

He squeezed her gloved hand.

Willa was holding the coffee cup with her other, bare hand and focused on the warmth of it in her palm, the cold air against her knuckles. She reached down and placed it at her feet.

'Yes,' she said. 'I suppose you're right.'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Two years after a family tragedy, and still consumed by her grief, Willa receives a strange letter from halfway across the globe. She has inherited a house in Australia, in a town she’s never heard of, from a woman she doesn’t know…

Following the mystery to the inviting shores of Sisters Cove, Willa is entranced by the dilapidated old Chapel House she now owns, perched high on a windy cliff within the grounds of Merrivale Estate. As Willa’s suspicions grow about her connection to the place, she begins to look amongst the dusty artwork and sealed boxes of papers left to her, and it becomes clear that the truth is not at all what she expected.

At Merrivale, social butterfly Annabelle is alarmed by Willa’s arrival. Why did her old friend and confidante Lillian leave her home to this stranger? As the two women’s lives intersect in the small, insular world of Sisters Cove, neither realises the dark truth that connects them until it’s too late. And when that terrible secret is exposed, it could destroy the lives of everyone involved…

MY THOUGHTS: What begins as a quietly charming read about a family still devastated by the unexpected death of their teen aged daughter two years previously, slowly turns into a slightly darker read when secrets, lies, betrayals and worse are brought to light by Willa's presence in Tasmania.

I enjoyed this book. It was touching, sad and heartwarming. There is a lot of grief in this book, beyond the obvious. And yet it is not a depressing read. There is also a lot of love, not of the sickly, romantic kind, but a deep enduring love. The characters are well portrayed, all of them with multiple layers, hidden depths.

The story is told from multiple points of view - Willa, Sylvia and Annabelle - over two timelines, currently and the 1970's.

This was not a quick read, it is one I lingered over, enjoying the author's depiction of the characters, her descriptive prowess. I did not enjoy Sarah Clutton's first book, Good Little Liars, but I could see that she had talent. She has proved that with The Daughter's Promise. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.

The Daughter's Promise is due to be published January 8, 2020.

****

#TheDaughtersPromise #NetGalley

A few of my favorite snippets from The Daughter's Promise:

'Kilometers made so much more sense. There were more of them for a start, so you felt better about how much exercise you'd achieved.'

'Stars were sprinkled through the sky like powdery gems, and out to her right, the ocean was a black mass of nothingness.'

'She'd always liked the French attitude that her mother had explained to her as a girl - one's appearance was a favour to other people. They were the one's who had to look at you, so you should make an effort as a sign of courtesy.'

THE AUTHOR: Sarah Clutton is an Australian author and former lawyer who writes suspense novels packed with drama and nuanced characters. Having majored in psychology in her original degree, Sarah is fascinated by people. How does the past shape us? Can we can learn empathy? What determines the outcomes when moral and legal boundaries collide?

Sarah's work earned her the Dymocks/Fiona McIntosh Commercial Fiction Scholarship in 2018, a national award run by one of Australia's most successful commercial fiction authors and sponsored by one of Australia's largest book chains. An alumna of the Australian Writers' Centre novel writing course, and with a mostly-finished Master of Arts (in Writing) that she has no interest in finishing because she prefers making stuff up, Sarah lives with her family in the very pretty tourist town of Bowral, near Sydney. She has lived all over Australia, and if she didn't live in Bowral, she would live in Hobart, the most beautiful city she knows.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Daughter's Promise by Sarah Clutton for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage.

Wills inherited a house in Tasmania from someone she didn't know. At the time she was grieving the death of her daughter, so after much thought she decided to go to Sisters Cove to figure out who left this to her. She was adopted so she thought this could possibly be her birth mother. Once there she met Annabelle, her sister Sylvia and her daughter Indie.
Annabelle and Sylvia were involved in a love triangle with Dan who is Annabelles husband. There are lots secrets and lots of angst. The descriptive prose however made me want to visit this part of the world because it sounds amazing.
This is a great story with lots of family drama and lots of subplots. I highly recommend it.

The description of this book reminded me of the gothic novels that were popular in the 1970's, only the book is is set in contemporary Australia. The plot centers around a British woman named Willa, who inherits a house in Tasmania from a woman she's never met--or has she? [cue scary music]. Willa is searching for a new beginning after the death of her daughter, so she goes to the town of Sister's Cove, where she encounters a cast of mysterious characters.

In her quest for the truth, Willa becomes involved with several long-time residents of the town, including sisters Annabelle and Sylvia, who are in a love triangle with Annabelle's husband, Dan--though, personally, I couldn't understand why either of them cared for him.

While the book is okay, it's not particularly memorable. I think it will appeal more to fans of cozy mysteries and Debbie Macomber. The character's relationships are more interesting than the mystery itself.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A really good read. There is a lot packed into this story. There is a lot of heartache and grief but there is a lot of love and happiness and strength. I loved the characters and the way the story is written and I loved the wonderful setting. I would definitely recommend this book and I will be looking out for more books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Willa is about to take a tip trip. Why did she receive a house in an inheritance, and in Sisters Cove in Australia? She doesn't even know who sent the letter. The mere thought of all of this induces her ever present anxiety. Will her husband and son be okay while she is gone? Will this trip allow her to continue to cope with the grief of losing her daughter two years ago?

Despite the fact that the house is actually falling apart, Willa is in awe. One person she meets upon arrival is Annabelle, who seems none too pleased to see Willa, especially once she states her purpose. So, there is indeed a mystery. When Willa reveals the fact that the letter came from someone named Lillian, Annabelle gets even more nervous.

What a touching story. I love how it went back and forth between past and present, slowly unveiling who Lillian was, how she and Anabelle knew one another, and how and if these two women had anything to do with Willa. As I started to realize the impact and changes that Willa would experience going further, I was even more invested in this story. Another thing that made me think in this story is how Willa dealt with her major anxiety and her triggers. Meanwhile, there was indeed a secret that would impact Willa and even others.

I loved this book by Sarah Clutton! I was drawn into the story from the very beginning and was able to enjoy an evening of reading this book from cover to cover.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for the chance to read and review this book. This is a story involving heartache, mystery and romance. I liked it, but didn't love it. I think it had a great premise, but sometimes the transitions seemed a little awkward. I liked Willa and I was glad she found some peace in her life, but Annabelle just seemed to bury her head in the sand. The sister and husband were just not likable. I liked the setting and the descriptions of Australia, but just not my favorite book.

I was not really a huge fan of this book. It had a lot of mystery and plot twists but I found them confusing. I was also not sure how the title fit with the story of the book. I wish I would have enjoyed the book more but it just not keep me engaged.

This is a gentle story about grief, family and belonging that starts with a mysterious bequest and an awakening out of grief for the main character, Willa, who makes a trip to Australia that ultimately changes her life.

A few awkward bits of prose at the start of the book are soon left behind, and the story is casually but impactfully told as Willa finds out more about herself and her family as she goes along.

The plot keeps your interest and carries you through to an interesting conclusion, this is a light read that does cover some serious subject matter and that ends well, if a little too neatly.

I LOVED this book!!! I loved everything about it- the characters, story and writing style. I was sad when it ended. I wanted to know what was going on with Willa and Annabelle. I loved reading about the woman. There was a bit of mystery to the story, plus everyone was hiding secrets that would eventually be revealed. Who were Willa's parents? Willa thought she might have figured it out when she inherited a house from a woman she didn't know. Traveling to Tasmania was the best thing for Willa. It helped her with her grief and also helped Annabelle. I'm not sure how Annabelle would have survived everything if Willa wasn't there. Loved all the woman in the book, maybe not so much Sylvia. Sylvia always manage to runaway when people needed her the most. This book definitely centers around family drama. Dan definitely got what he deserved and will probably get more after breathing in all that asbestos.

When you decide to break in somewhere, make sure you will fit through the window. You don't want to be caught because you are stuck halfway in the window, with ladder on the ground!!!!! That part made me laugh.

Definitely recommend the book. I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. I look forward to reading more books by the author

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. You felt that you got to know the characters during the story. but still were left wondering about certain aspects of their lives. A good story from beginning to end

This was one of those books where I wanted to love it, but ended up just liking it. I loved the mystery element of the plot, but it did feel a bit predictable in the sense that it was clear from quite early on how the three women were tied together.

One issue I did have was with some of the language used. On literally the second page of the book, Willa makes a comment about her 6’2 son, and how ‘she should be happy he wasn’t a midget’. Discriminatory language such as this really should not have been used in the first place, and definitely should have been picked up on by an editor. As someone with a little person in their family, I found this quite a surprising oversight.

There is also a potential trigger for some people in the form of several references to cancer - just a heads up for anyone who might be sensitive to reading about it.

All in all, it was ok. Not one I would rush to read again, but not one that I regret reading either. It was enjoyable enough, but ultimately is not a memorable read.

Willa is originally from Australia but now lives in London with her husband and son. One day she receives a letter informing her that she has been left a property at Sisters Cove in Tasmania by a woman whose name she does not recognise. After some deliberation she decides to go to Sisters Cove to sort out this mystery.

Once she arrives she soon meets the next door neighbour to her property Annabelle. Annabelle's husband Dan really wants to buy the property that Willa has inherited. Willa is also adopted and as she begins to unravel the mystery of why she has been left this charming place, she suspects that Lilian, the woman who has died, might have been her biological mother.

The mystery soon absorbs the reader as it gradually unfolds. The descriptive prose easily allows us to vividly imagine the north-west of Tasmania and its coast without distracting us from the plot. We are drawn into the slower way of life of a small town where everyone knows everyone's business. Annabelle, her sister Sylivia and Dan have a complicated relationship and the motivations of each character are slowly revealed as the story moves back and forth in time but without jolting the reader.

Given the pace of the plot, the climax seems a bit over the top especially with the actions Constance takes. And as an adoptee myself who has found her biological family, I felt many opportunities were missed to bring in the conflicting emotions Willa must have felt especially surrounding the nature of her conception. Nevertheless, this is generally well written and plotted.

In the beginning the author introduces the reader to a whole group of characters. You might think this would be confusing because you have to remember who is who, but she also took the time to make clear who belongs where. You have no trouble at all to place them.

This story is a mixture of a lot of things. There is suspense, tragedy and love. Family bonds can be as strong as steel, but when you jump to conclusions even those can break and mending something that has been broken is easier said than done.

When something tragic happens, it's normal that you grieve or try to hide it in a corner of your head, but you have to be careful not to let it take over your life. You might risk losing so much more. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet even if it's hard to do so.

Don't think you can get away with everything. Karma might be watching you ...

I loved the story. The author created some very interesting characters to ensure a few entertaining hours. 5 stars.

Thank you, Sarah Clutton and Bookouture

This is about Willa who inherits a house from someone she doesn't know. She travels to Tasmania to found out more. I enjoyed this book. Not everything is what it seems. There are so many secrets...maybe a bit too many if you ask me. The book has got several unexpected twists. I like the characters, especially Willa. There were some characters that annoyed me, like Annabelle and Dan. After a while Annabelle grew on me. I just had to get to know her better. This was the first time I read something by this author. I'll probably try another one of her books.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in return for a honest review.

Absolutely beautiful. I just loved this amazing book. Heart breaking and Heart warming. A thought provoking and powerful story of love, loss, forgiveness and how to keep on living after the worst has happened. Just beautiful. One of my favourite reads of 2019!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This one took me awhile to get into, but I found myself drawn to the character of Annabelle and wanted to know what happened to her. When her longtime friend and neighbor dies and leaves her home to a seemingly random stranger, the whole Australian town of Tasmania is confused and anxious. Will this stranger sell to a developer, ruining their small-town community?
Willa, recovering from a family tragedy, decides to visit her new home and find out why Lillian left it to her. She makes friends with Annabelle and her sister Sylvia while investigating the mystery. Secrets, both old and new, are revealed that will tear families and friendships apart, never to be the same again.
The only character I actually liked in this book was Annabelle. No matter how many times she got knocked down, she picked herself back up with a positive attitude. Her husband Dan is a real jerk throughout the entire book. The character I really disliked though is Sylvia. No matter in the past or present in this book, there is no excuse for the horrible things she does to her sister and I can't believe that Annabelle would forgive her so easily. Just ok for me, but I don't usually read much chick-lit.

One of the best books I’ve read in awhile. Did not want to put it down so I read it in one day! The ending was very interesting. Great characters and an interesting story developed with each page read. Just as you thought you knew the story’s plot of what was happening...it changed,
#The Daughter’s Promise
#NetGalley

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

"Two years after a family tragedy, and still consumed by her grief, Willa receives a strange letter from halfway across the globe. She has inherited a house in Australia."

This one falls directly into chick lit and cozy mysteries which is not a favorite choice of genres. An okay and quick read if you like this kind of book.

2.75☆

All is not as it appears

Willa lives with her son and husband in Oxford. Two years ago her daughter passed away and she is still grieving. One day a latter comes from Australia from a lawyer's office telling her that someone she never met has left her a house in Sister's Cove Australia.

She goes to Australia and falls in love with the little chapel house that Lillian left her. She thinks that Lillian could possibly be her birth mother as she grew up in an orphanage in Australia. She meet Annabelle the next door neighbor and friend of Lillian as well as Sylvia Lillian's goddaughter .
Through photos and papers left behind in the chapel house as well as speaking to Annabelle and Sylvia she tries to solve the mystery of why Lillian left the house to her, and possibly who her birth parents were.

I found the story to be interesting, the characters were charming and believable. There were some twists and turns and some personal feeling to work through for everyone and somehow everyone was involved in the mystery. I never guessed how the mystery would turn out until it was revealed in the book. It left me guessing until the end.

It was a good read and I would recommend it.
Thanks to Sarah Clutton, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of the book.