Secrets of the Shell Sisters by Adrienne Vaughan #FamilyDrama #BlogTour #BookReview @adrienneauthor @rararesources #TuesdayBookBlog

I’m delighted to be joining the blog tour organised by Rachel’s Random Resources and sharing my review for Secrets of the Shell Sisters

My thoughts

Nana Morgan is sorting shells with her little granddaughters. The telephone rings.

“Will you get that?” she calls to the young woman at the range.

“It’s Mrs Fitzgerald.” the young woman says urgently.

“I thought the line might be down with the storm.” The voice crackles.

“It’s wild up here, alright, they’ve forecast a bad one.” Nana stops; she hears an infant crying. “What’s that?”

“I have the little one, she’s alright. I found her on the beach.”

Beginning with an intriguing prologue Secrets of the Shell Sisters introduces us to the Morgan sisters – Cassandra, Greer and Orla. They are each distinct and individual in their own way but united in love for each other, their shared incredible gift and the fact that they believed they were to blame for the unexplained disappearance of their mother many years ago.

The eldest sister, Cassandra is struggling to keep the family hotel afloat and in good shape, so much maintenance is needed and the nearby competition isn’t helping matters. She had carried the burden alone for a long time but perhaps now is the time to share the load.

Otherworldly and innocent, Orla is unconventional, collecting and listening to shells that she insists bring her messages. And she does seem to know things ahead of time. One message in particular, the outcome of which is a great shock to one of the sisters, but turns out to be a wonderful benefit to them all.

Greer has just returned home after a long absence while pursuing her career, and then a relationship that wasn’t what it seemed and left her heartbroken. The three navigate through the challenges life brings in their own way, but at the same time supporting each other.

This is a compelling, character driven and multi layered family drama with wonderful characterisations and long buried secrets rising to the surface, which encompasses a wider circle than just the sisters themselves. I loved returning to gorgeous Rosshaven and following the sisters’ stories as they unfolded with more than a little tension, suspense, excitement and with an added sprinkling of romance and mythology.

Adrienne Vaughan peoples her novels with characters who aren’t perfect and have their quirks, but are engaging and easy to like. Secrets of the Shell Sisters is well crafted with surprise twists, a wonderfully vivid sense of place and an emotional impact.

“That’s like believing in Father Christmas,” he said.

“Or mermaids,” she replied, gravely.

Meet the Morgans. Three very different sisters, who each blame themselves for their mother’s mysterious disappearance.

Now over forty years on, they’re in crisis.

Cassandra – the eldest – runs the family’s cliffside hotel. But the business is in trouble, and a secret from the past seems determined to resurface.

Greer – the youngest – walked away from a glittering career to live alone in London. Now she has no choice but to return to the family home – but what kind of welcome can she expect.

And Orla – the middle sister – whose obsessive shell collecting and messages from the ‘sea-people’ dominate her life. But Orla knows things. She knows Greer is coming home to a new future, that Cassandra’s dark secret will change their lives and their mother never really left at all.

And there’s another secret, something they all share …but of course, nobody’s telling.

Purchase Link ~ https://mybook.to/ShellSistersRRBk2

Adrienne Vaughan writes spellbinding, page-turning romantic suspense. Her Heartfelt Series − The Hollow Heart, A Change of Heart and Secrets of the Heart – is set on an island off Ireland’s west coast and features a feisty investigative journalist, and her irresistible West Highland terrier. Adrienne studied at the Dublin College of Journalism and loves animals, especially dogs.

Her collection of short stories and poetry, Fur Coat & No Knickers was shortlisted for the Irish Carousel Prize for Anthology and her WWII short story, Dodo’s Portrait, was shortlisted for the Colm Toíbín International Short Story Award at the Wexford Literary Festival.

Secrets of the Shell Sisters is the second in a series of sweeping family dramas, each with a touch of Irish magic. All her books are heart-warming, uplifting reads, featuring her trademark gripping style, and laugh out loud moments. Adrienne, husband Jonathan, and two cocker spaniels divide their time between rural Leicestershire, the Wicklow mountains, and coastal South Devon. Agatha Christie – the cat – takes care of things while they are away.

PS: Adrienne’s keeping everything crossed there’s still time to realise her ambition to be a Bond girl.

Social Media Links – Twitter / Instagram

The QR code is for Adrienne’s Amazon page