Review: Secret Shores

Title: Secret Shores

Author: Ella Carey

Publisher: 5 September 2017 by Lake Union Publishing

Pages: 318 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: historical fiction, romance, mystery

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

In 1946, artist Rebecca Swift’s dreams of love and a life free from convention are crashing like the waves of the Australian coast below her. And it’s into those roiling waters that she disappears.

Forty-one years later, Tess Miller’s dreams are crashing, too. The once-successful New York editor has lost her most prestigious author to the handsome new golden boy of publishing. Meanwhile, she’s stuck with Edward Russell, a washed-up Australian poet writing a novel about some obscure artist named Rebecca Swift. But Tess may have underestimated Russell. His book is not only true—it’s a searing, tragic romance and a tantalizing mystery set in a circle of postwar modernists. When Tess uncovers a long-hidden secret, she’s drawn even deeper into Rebecca’s enigmatic life and death.

As Rebecca’s past intertwines with the present, Tess finds herself falling for the last man she thought she’d ever be drawn to. On the way, she discovers the power of living an authentic life—and that transcendent love never really dies.

My Thoughts

“Take life one day at a time. It is the only way we can control our lives at times of indomitable grief.”

I have been looking forward to reading an Ella Carey book, and I was not disappointed - coming along at a time in my life when I really needed to read some of its contained wisdom. Being a huge fan of historical fiction and dual timelines, I was enthralled with this tale. ‘Secret Shores’ starts in Australian 1946 (just after WWII and all the ramifications of that) and then in 1987 with a clear link between the two timelines, only varying locations.

“The Heide circle were young moderns, trying to forge a new life out of the shatters of war. It was all-encompassing, you know, what they did, their rejection of the Establishment. From the way they lived, to the way they loved, freely, to the way they approached marriage, modernism went to the very core of themselves.”

This is a complex and intriguing tale of the modernist movement post WWII (you will be running to Google actual people) and how they attempt to break with traditions. You really get a feel for each of the characters especially the love story between Rebecca and Edward. The switch between timelines is smooth and meeting Edward in 1987 provides the opportunity for a retrospective reflection and a lesson in how to not only move on, but also, learn from lessons of the past.

“...perhaps it was equally important to look to the past, to not replicate the mistakes that people such as Edward’s family and their class had made, because the bubble would burst in the end.”

As is often the case, one story is slightly stronger, and although the link between the two is strong and well executed - the present love story between Tess and James feels at times a little contrived. Her paranoia and hostility begin to grate, but do not let that deter you from what is a well thought out story and plot evolution. When Tess discovers that the book she is editing is about the love Edward still harbours for Rebecca, thus begins a journey of self discovery for each of the characters.

Reading the novel along with Tess is a clever way to reveal facts from the past, whilst also securing new and personal insights through one-to-one discussions. It’s also interesting to see a small parallel between both relationships - past and present. The plot twist at the end of the book is well done and provides the perfect conclusion.

Overall this is a most interesting and worthwhile read - a moving tale, with complex characters and a compelling storyline that will keep you engaged until the very end.

“He had no desire to take himself back to those secret shores that he had sworn he would never revisit. That period of his life was too difficult, too frightening.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release