Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The House of Brides by Jane Cockram

 
An English estate has been home to generations of the women who married into the Summer family.

When one of the daughters gets a letter from a current, teenage relative addressed to her mother pleading for help, Miranda leaves Australia and heads to Barnsley House.  The funny thing is that her mother has passed away.

Miranda never was reliable, and after her job disaster and her father's finding her another job she doesn't want, she thinks this letter from a cousin will save her.

Miranda tricks her father into paying for her flight from Australia to England to find out what the letter meant and finds herself being interviewed for a job as a nanny instead of why she came in the first place. 

Did Miranda go from a bad situation to a worse one?

She can't reveal why she really arrived, and she doesn't know what really is waiting for her at Barnsley House, but she soon finds out all isn't as it should be

What she finds are three children, their father, a housekeeper, an empty, not well-kept inn, an estate in disrepair, odd things happening, and no visible mother.

Ms. Cockram created the story line in a very creative way.  She revealed some of the family's secrets by using a book Miranda’s mother had written that describes the history of the house and the family. Ms. Cockram also used a diary with background information of the characters written by the infamous, "missing" mother.

Everyone and everything seemed to have a secret at Barnsley House.  The housekeeper was especially secretive, dangerous, and frightening.

If you enjoy odd characters, old mansions, family secrets, supposed ghosts, a stolen book, and Gothic undertones, you will want to have THE HOUSE OF BRIDES added to your TBR.

HOUSE OF BRIDES has an absorbing, captivating story line you won't want to put down.

Ms. Cockram’s writing style is descriptive and draws you in.  A marvelous debut all around.  5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.


13 comments:

  1. Is anyone planning to read THE HOUSE OF BRIDES?

    ENJOY if you do.

    Thanks for stopping.

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  2. Your description has certainly piqued my interest.

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    1. Great to hear!!

      It was really good, Kathy.

      I hope you get to read this book.

      Thanks for commenting.

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  3. The title made me expect one thing but your review shows it is something else. Intriguing.

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    1. It was intriguing.

      Thanks for commenting, Judy.

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  4. This one sounds good. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. It is very good.

      ENJOY when you read it. I think you will like it, Laurel.

      Thanks for commenting.

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  5. This one sounds very intriguing and suspenseful. I like books with a Gothic undertone.

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    1. I think you will enjoy it, Laura.

      Thanks for commenting.

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  6. The cover isn't very good - at least in my opinio0n. Cheers

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    1. Yes...sometimes they aren't. :) :)

      Thanks for commenting, Carole.

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