Book Review – Secrets of Swanfield House by Elayne Grimes – @ely_438 @lovebookstours @KellyALacey – #Ad #FreeBookReview #LBTVirtualBookReview #Contemporary #Saga
I blew through this atmospheric domestic drama that read way more like a cozy crossover to me! It was filled with action and family drama from start to finish!
About the Book
When Marcie Mosse receives news that her grandmother is sick, she rushes back to her childhood village in the remote Scottish Highlands. Despite the tragic circumstances, returning to her family’s ancestral estate, a once grand and now crumbling farmhouse overlooking a crystal-clear loch, feels like a long-awaited homecoming.
Reconnecting with childhood friends, Marcie is flooded with memories of her life before moving to the city. Then, during a windswept horseback ride along the edge of the loch, she bumps into Ruaridh Balfour. With the same bear-like hug and dry wit that won her over all those years ago, Ruaridh still knows how to read her mind – and make her heart flutter. But Marcie has a life back in London, not to forget a fiancé.
While torn between her past and present, Marcie grows increasingly concerned about her uncle, who’s been like a father to her and seems to be fading before her eyes. Marcie’s instincts tell her something is wrong, and it’s connected to a mysterious new farmhand. As secrets rear their heads and family tragedy strikes, Marcie must decide where she truly belongs – and just how far she’ll go to protect those she loves.
Fans of Susanne O’Leary, Liz Eeles and Sheila O’Flanagan will adore Secrets of Swanfield House.
My Thoughts
What a delightful read! I love a good atmospheric book, and you can’t get more atmospheric than a small village in Scotland. Most rural places have some beauty to offer, don’t get me wrong. But, to this day, I’ve never found somewhere quite as beautiful as Scotland. I’ve had people amazed before that I live in New Orleans, and that’s how I felt about people getting to live in that natural beauty. But, it wasn’t just that kind of atmosphere the author built – she was good at building tension as well. Boy, was she! Between awkward and tense arguments amongst family and/or friends, to dangerous seeming encounters, I was not expecting all that atmosphere from something labeled as “contemporary/saga” fiction. Normally, you need a “thriller” or at very least “crime” or “mystery” somewhere in the designation.
But I really enjoyed whatever type of fiction you want to call this book. Maybe I’ll have to branch out and give more books a chance based on more than just their genre tags this year. If you are a fellow cozy mystery lover like myself, this certainly had some of the best elements – an unexpected, charming FMC sleuth with an equally charming MMC sidekick. The stakes on this will-they, won’t-they romance were a little higher than normal, which gave me some weird feelings, but I liked how things were resolved. I also really liked learning a new Scottish name – Ruriadh. The high stakes mystery that the quirky cast of characters barely believes in blurs the line between domestic drama and cozy mystery even more.
The idyllic Highland lifestyles portrayed on the Hallmark channel were just that – pretend, not real life.
Marcie – “Secrets of Swanfield House” by Elayne Grimes
I am so grateful to the author and LBT for being included in this tour, and I can’t wait to read more by this author. In fact, there’s a next book already! And I’m excited to be on that tour, too! You can read my thoughts on that book “Escape to the Highland Retreat” on April 7.
Who’s It For?
If you love contemporary family sagas, steeped in mystery, suspense, and domestic drama, you will love this book. Because of the nature of the story, it will also bring up a lot of emotions, so be sure to check the content warnings before reading.
Content Warnings: This book contains topics that may disturb some readers, including but not limited to domestic/familial cruelty, familial loss, pregnancy, infidelity, betrayal, suicidal ideation, murder, violence, death, and more.
About the Author
After a long career in crisis communications spanning from the Black Isle to the Balkans, and from Beirut to Buckingham Palace, Elayne Grimes decided it was time for a change. It was then she discovered a love for writing about the lives of lovable, quirky characters. Having resided in the Scottish Highlands for several years, Elayne draws inspiration from the wildness and stunning beauty of the region’s remote villages, towering mountains, and tranquil lochs.
As a Bookshop.org (US) Affiliate, I may earn on qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org purchases support local, independent bookshops. My chosen affiliate bookshop is Tubby & Coo’s Traveling Bookshop, a local, queer-owned bookshop in New Orleans.
Published by Amorina Carlton.
Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.
Published by Amorina Carlton. Award-winning American author, Amorina Carlton, is currently working on her first novel. You can find more about her published work and works in progress on the home page. She also serves as the PR/Marketing Lead for Ravens and Roses Publishing, and reviews books, mostly by other indie authors, here and on Bookstagram.