Friday 11 September 2020

The Velvet Cloak of Moonlight by Christina Courtenay



Amazon UK
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Goodreads

Time slip / romance
17th century
Wales
(Shadows from the Past Book 4) 
(first published 2016)



'  "As the velvet cloak of moonlight settled over the ruined towers of Raglan Castle, the shadows beneath them stirred ..." When newly widowed Tess visits Raglan Castle, she experiences an extraordinary vision that transports her to seventeenth-century Wales and a castle on the brink of a siege. Even when Tess leaves Raglan to return to Merrick Court, her late husband’s home, the strange dreams continue as her life becomes increasingly intertwined with the past. And when the new owner of the estate arrives - New Zealander Josh Owens - the parallels become even more obvious. But perhaps the visions aren’t just trying to tell their own story, maybe they’re also giving a warning …'

I picked this book up after I saw it 'advertised' as a Retweet on Twitter -  I'm so glad I saw that Tweet! What a fabulous read!

There is a fine well-crafted blend of the contemporary, present-day scenes and those of the past, with the characters and their situations superbly drawn and very credible and believable. These characters (Tess and Josh in the present day (2016) and Arabella and Rhys several centuries in the past: 1646, during the disruptive period of the English Civil Wars) immediately grab your attention, either because you want to root for them - or you hiss and boo at the villains. Whatever emotion, you want to find out what happens next.

In addition to the intriguing characters and superb plot, we have the added bonus of a writer who knows her craft, how to pace a story, how to keep the reader's attention and how to include the details of history and location without intruding on the story, and how to create words with skill and expertise.


I'll be seeking out the other books in this series!

A truly enjoyable novel. 

Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds 

© Anne Holt
 e-version reviewed







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1 comment:

  1. 17th century! My catnip! Off to read the sample. (Thanks or posting a review, Ann Holt.)

    ReplyDelete

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