Friday 24 March 2017

Book Review - The House on Sunset Lake by Tasmina Perry

Amazon UK
Title: The House on Sunset Lake
Author: Tasmina Perry
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Headline
Publication Date: 23rd March 2017
Rating: 4.5 Stars


Casa D'Or, the mysterious plantation house on Sunset Lake, has been in the Wyatt family for over fifty years. Jennifer Wyatt returns there from university full of hope, as summer by the lake stretches ahead of her. Yet by the time it is over her heart will be broken, her family in tatters, her dreams long gone.

Twenty years later, Casa D'Or stands neglected, a victim of tragic events. Jennifer has closed the door on her past. Then Jim, the man she met and fell in love with that magical summer, comes back into her life, with a plan to return Casa D'Or to its former glory. Their reunion will stir up old ghosts for both of them, and reveal the dark secrets the house still holds close...

What an evocative story of romance, suspense, intrigue, secrets, family and a whole lot more, in a story spanning a twenty year gap.

The majority of the book is set around Casa D'Or on Sunset Lake, and is was great to see how this one house, could feature in so many key bits of two people's history.  For it is central to Jim and Jennifer's story both in 1994 and now in the present too. 

Some of the book is set in the 90s and the rest in the present, and I loved both parts of it, as together it tells you all about Jim, Jennifer, and their families, past and present.  It didn't take too long into the book for me to be gripped by the fabulous writing, and the story, while suspecting there would be some surprises along the way. 

Casa D'Or is in Savannah, Georgia, which is a part of the US that I haven't really encountered much in fiction before. With this book I got a great feel for the climate and feel for the area, even if my knowledge o the town doesn't really extend much past this property. 

But the book isn't just set in Savannah, there is also plenty in New York, and then there are some scenes on a Caribbean island, that I believe to be entirely fictional, but no less gorgeous than real life. 

I enjoyed seeing the contrast in how the years have treated Jim and Jennifer, from their younger ideals, to the man and women in their forties now. There are many parts of story that are hinted at, but its only in the last third or so where everything comes together and you see just how good and clever the majority of the book has been! 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The House on Sunset Lake, and its definitely a return to form for Tasmina Perry, although I do still prefer her big blockbuster books, this has some of the feel of one, with the destinations and intrigue, but was missing the lashings of sex! 

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Headline for this copy which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly. 


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