I absolutely loved this book! Cynthia Ellingsen is an auto-buy author for me and this one did not disappoint.

This is a captivating dual-timeline mystery that keeps readers hooked as it unravels secrets spanning more than a century. At the heart of the story is Lindsey, who becomes determined to uncover the truth behind a missing ring, a quest that pulls her deep into the past while unraveling connections to the present.

Ellingsen crafts the narrative with an engaging back-and-forth between timelines, seamlessly transporting readers from the present day to events that unfolded generations earlier. This structure not only builds suspense but also layers the story with richness and intrigue, allowing readers to piece together the puzzle right alongside Lindsey.

What makes the novel so enjoyable is the balance of mystery, history, and unexpected twists. Just when you think you’ve discovered the truth behind the ring’s disappearance, another secret surfaces, shifting everything you thought you knew. The slow unveiling of hidden motives and buried truths adds depth and complexity, making the mystery more than just about a lost piece of jewelry—it becomes a story about family, legacy, and the echoes of the past.

The twist at the end is both surprising and satisfying, tying together the dual narratives in a way that feels earned and rewarding. It’s the kind of ending that makes you want to revisit earlier chapters to see all the breadcrumbs Ellingsen carefully laid out along the way.

With its elegant prose, strong sense of history, and clever construction, The Cut of the Moon is the perfect read for fans of mysteries with a historical edge. It’s atmospheric, suspenseful, and full of secrets waiting to be uncovered—a story that proves the past is never truly gone, and its mysteries are often closer than they appear.

I was pleasantly thrilled that an immersive reading technique (listening to the Audiobook and reading from my Kindle at the same time) worked for this book! It really helped to distinguish the tone between the two existing timelines happening in the book.

My first impression of this book is that it was page turning! I couldn’t put my headphones and kindle down. It felt a bit slow at first, but I was hooked! I’ve always loved family secrets as a huge theme for ANY mystery book.

The characters were impeccably created for the plot point and very well balanced. I enjoyed getting to know Ruby and Chester from the 1920s as well as Lindsay and Otis in present day.

This book is a solid 4/5 stars for me. Looking forward to the author’s next book!

The Cut of the Moon by Cynthia Ellingsen is a beautifully woven story that I thoroughly enjoyed. What stood out most to me was the way the author intertwined the lives of two women across time, connecting their journeys in a way that felt both seamless and meaningful. The dual perspectives added richness to the narrative and kept me fully engaged as each woman’s story unfolded.

The audiobook narration was strong and truly enhanced the listening experience. Each voice brought depth and distinction, making it easy to follow along and connect with both timelines. The pacing felt just right, allowing the suspense, emotions, and revelations to build naturally.

This was a heartfelt and well-crafted story that balanced history, mystery, and emotion. I loved how it all came together, and it left me eager to explore more of Ellingsen’s work.

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

The story was dual timeline, past and present. I was expecting more mystery but it's mostly about what happened all those years ago, then trying to piece it all together. It did drag in places but was overall an interesting story. The narrator did a good job.

A mystery the spans across time and romances caught in each of these periods are the basis for this exciting book. Ruby Thornhill lives on Wind Thorne, an estate in upstate New York; it's the 1920s and the estate is in trouble financially. But Ruby is more concerned about her sister getting married, so she steals her ring. From there as the story alternates between 1920s and the present where Lindsay McKenna, a jeweler/designer, comes across the story of the stolen ring. Her aunt now owns Wind Thorne and Lindsay has across to the Thornhill home. There are startling secrets revealed in the telling of this story that keep you riveted. Ruby is a great character!
She's fearless even though frightened and has a strong moral compass. I listened to this book that was excellently narrated. I want to thank the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

Two women are enthralled with the stately Windthorne Estate many decades apart. In 1925 Ruby, a young teenager living at the estate steals her older sister's wedding ring in hopes that it will delay the marriage. Due to danger lurking in her family, Ruby flees her home for many years.

In the present, jewelry designer Lindsey, who has her own connections to Windthorne (which is now a museum) is approached by someone with historical objects that point to some mysterious history of the estate.

Told in dual POVs of Ruby and Lindsey, this epic story weaves interesting and unique elements for each character including great loves and family drama. I listened to it on audio and enjoyed the narration and remained quite entertained by the plot. It was definitely on the longer side though. 3.75 stars.

I received this advance audio copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

An engaging story that takes place in two time periods. The contemporary story is of a niece who is helping her aunt with the family estate. The earlier timeline is of what happened in that house, the secrets that were hidden for years, and eventually how the house came to be in the aunt’s possession. It’s also a story of romantic love and family love: expectations, belonging, being valued (or not), and what we leave behind.
The audiobook narration is good and the pacing between the timelines worked for me. It read like a mystery puzzle from the past that the contemporary characters worked to figure out from letters, diary entries, and etched and carved marks.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #TheCutoftheMoon for review purposes. Publication date: 16 September 2025.

A dual timeline look at the lives of two women as they deal with family and secrets. I went in expecting more focus on a mystery, but still found myself pulled in by the story. I was not expecting some of the reveals about Ruby’s family and enjoyed piecing it together with Lindsey (I also really liked that Lindsey and Otis made guesses that weren’t always correct. It felt true to life that they didn’t just automatically intuit what the reader knew).

That said, I think I may have enjoyed this more if I had read it rather than listening, as I struggled with the narration. Specifically, the narrator had a tendency to overact, and I found her voice for Otis to be flawed. The description of the character and how he was supposed to sound clashed with the voice he was given.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC!

Thank you to the author, narrator, publisher and Net Galley for the ALC.

The summary for this historical fiction sounded interesting, but I feel like I read a different book. Maybe it was due to the dual time lines with an audiobook, it was the narrator. But I had a hard time connecting with the story and characters. I may look for a printed copy once it's released and give it another try.

3 stars.

So.... what are the chances of me reading two books in a row where one of the main characters is named "Otis" ??? Very slim to none, I'd guess... but, here we are! Two books. Two Otis' !!

Let me also start by saying that I LOVE Dual Timeline books, and this one did NOT disappoint in the least!!!

We start out in 1925 (I think) and go all the way through to 1933 or so...
And the other timeline is listed as 'present day'.

Ruby is living with her family on a farm. She is a very curious young girl who tries to 'record' everything that happens by writing it down in a journal. And now, her older sister is getting married. BUT, she's not sure that she likes the boy as he argued with her sister AND made her cry. In Ruby's young eyes... he must be made to pay for this.
And so, she doles out a retribution of sorts to hurt him... but what she doesn't realize is that she has actually changed quite a bit with the one small move that she made... and most probably has changed the course of history in this house... at least for her family.
They are a well-known, well-off, Well-feared farming family that has many in their employ.
And young Ruby is just BEGINNING to see the ways of her family.

Chester is a young boy living in a neighboring farm house. He and his older brother are thick as thieves... and get themselves into trouble quite often... as young boys often do.
And when he plans to 'escape' the life he lives, well, Ruby is thinking this might just be something she wants as well.

Fast forward about a hundred years and we have Lindsey, who is trying to uncover some secrets from The Wind Thorne Mansion that happened over a hundred years ago. She is a jewelry designer, kind of following in her later mother's footsteps, and is so happy to be working at the exhibit at the Wind Thorne Estate!! When an old diary is discovered, she is hoping to find some news from the past... as well as maybe, uncovering some old secrets too!!

Otis is a gemologist. He is also working at the exhibit at Wind Thorne, and he and Lindsey immediately hit it off! So they begin to 'kind-of' work together...

But, the more they uncover, the more they seem to need-to-know, as they are lost as to what the heck happened in this house all those years ago!!!

Family. Friendships. Neighbors. Love. War. Longing for Peace. and... Back-ways and old-time-thoughts accompany them on their journey too....

What an amazing book that incorporates two centuries, many generations, and a few families into one story!!!

#TheCutOfTheMoon by @CynthiaEllingsen and narrated beautifully by @AlexandraRyan! And yes, I am shocked to see that this was only ONE NARRATOR!!!! WOW!! Wonderful performance!! I had NO idea!!!!

All the stars for me, and then some!!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨✨✨✨✨💫💫💫💫💫

*** THIS HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT SOON!! RELEASE DATE IS 9/16/25!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #BrillianceAudio and #BrilliancePublishing for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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This was a fun read with a mix of intense and slower moments. The story took a little while to really pull me in, but once it did, the pages flew by. While much of the plot is predictable, I didn’t mind—it still made for an enjoyable escape. I’d recommend this book as a great vacation read or something cozy for a rainy day.

I listened to the audiobook version, but I think I would have enjoyed the story more if I had read it instead. The narrator, Alexandra Ryan, didn’t quite bring the characters to life for me. The men’s voices, in particular, came across more geeky than charming, and the added crying noises felt distracting when the text only described the action.

Overall, the story itself was entertaining, but if you’re considering it, I’d suggest picking up the print or ebook rather than the audio.

The Cut of the Moon by Cynthia Ellingsen is an engaging work of historical fiction that weaves together dual timelines—one set in the 1920s–1930s and the other in the present day. I especially loved the strong female leads: Ruby Thornhill in the past and Lindsay McKenna in the present. Watching their growth across time made the story all the more compelling.

Ellingsen captures both the resilience and heartbreak of life during the Great Depression, immersing the reader in a time of hardship and survival. At its core, this is a novel about forgiveness, the weight of consequences, and uncovering long-buried mysteries.

The audiobook narration by Alexandra Ryan was excellent—she truly brought the characters and atmosphere to life, enhancing the overall reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for letting me read this ARC.

Jewelry designer Lindsey McKenna is thrilled to work at the Wind Thorne estate, a historic landmark turned museum. When a visitor gives her an old diary, Lindsey is drawn into the estate’s past, uncovering secrets alongside young Ruby Thornhill, whose attempt to stall her sister’s wedding puts her in danger.

I didn’t fully connect with this story in audiobook format, and I think the narration just wasn’t for me personally. I generally enjoy historical fiction, and the premise of this book is genuinely intriguing, so I’m planning to give it another try in ebook format once it’s released. Sometimes it’s just about the format, and I’m looking forward to giving it another shot then.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I really tried with this but I found it to be flat and boring. The story hasn’t taken off and it’s just a bunch of Ruby being a bratty child and the now main character being clueless and wondering about her mom Ana her family history when she’s in the museum with her aunt. Idk wasn’t for me.

This historical audio book was told in the 1920s and 1990s timelines by two different women. Jewelry designer Lindsay McKenna`s aunt owns Wind Thorne. She also meets someone tied to the estate leads her deeper into the past. There is also Ruby from 1925 who has a ton of secrets and tries to make right her family`s wrongs.
There was a lot more mystery and sadness in this story than I had though. Not that is was bad just some twists I had not anticipated. There is so much detailed descriptions of everything in this story it really puts you right in the heart of the 1920s and the heart of the story. I liked both of the female characters, but Ruby really had so much strength to me throughout the story. If you like historical fiction about secrets, jewelry, mysteries, strong female characters, and strong writing, this book is for you!