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On a Falling Tide
Two women. Connected by heartbreak, separated in time. Can Charity save the man she loves, or will Lydia’s vengeful spirit prove too strong? Two haunting love stories and a hundred and fifty-year-old curse… When the beloved grandfather who brought her up dies, Charity is left struggling to cope. Alone and rootless, she’s drawn to the sleepy fishing village of Beaumouth near Lyme Regis and begins to research her family tree. A chance encounter with attractive boat-builder Matt sparks a chain of mysterious and unsettling events and leads Charity to uncover the story of a young girl who lived in the village over a hundred years before. In 1863 all Lydia Pavey wants to do is follow in Mary Anning’s footsteps and become a ‘fossilist.’ Instead, she is being forced into marriage to a man she barely knows. Charity’s obsession with Lydia becomes all-consuming and she risks losing everything. With a longed-for family tantalisingly in reach, will Charity find the happy ever after she’s yearned for and, most importantly, can she save the man she loves? **** "Georgia Hill creates an intense and intriguing narrative between past and present, against the imposing backdrop of the Jurassic Coast." - Lisa Hill, The Ones That Got Away
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 25, 2020
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I was really intrigued by the blurb after I read it and knew that this was a book I wanted to read, I love historical fiction and this one had the added spookiness that I love in a book, it was very atmospheric and I thought that the author did a great job bringing it to life!
I loved the pace of the story and I found that it was very well written. The plot was well developed and there was plenty happening throughout the story too. I really liked the setting for the book too and the author had a great way with words to bring the setting, characters and past to life.
I liked that the story was told by way of the time slip too, it was a nice touch. We go on holiday very near to where the book was set so that also added to my enjoyment.
Overall I loved the plot and thought that it was well developed – it is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – very highly recommended and one I really enjoyed!
I was really intrigued by the blurb after I read it and knew that this was a book I wanted to read, I love historical fiction and this one had the added spookiness that I love in a book, it was very atmospheric and I thought that the author did a great job bringing it to life!
I loved the pace of the story and I found that it was very well written. The plot was well developed and there was plenty happening throughout the story too. I really liked the setting for the book too and the author had a great way with words to bring the setting, characters and past to life.
I liked that the story was told by way of the time slip too, it was a nice touch. We go on holiday very near to where the book was set so that also added to my enjoyment.
Overall I loved the plot and thought that it was well developed – it is 4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – very highly recommended and one I really enjoyed!
December 26, 2019
Just finished this great time slip - a spooky, atmospheric and gripping tale about thwarted love and revenge, set on the Jurassic coast of the UK (on the Dorset/Devon border) - loved it!
March 28, 2020
I’ve read and enjoyed many of Georgia Hill’s romantic comedies in the past, so when I found out that she had written a timeslip novel, I could not wait to read it and I was not disappointed. Full of atmosphere, intrigue, romance and mystery, On A Falling Tide sees this talented author add another feather to her fat with this enthralling and evocative tale set on the Jurassic coast.
When her beloved grandfather dies, Charity is paralysed by her grief. Having been brought up and cherished by him, Charity had struggled to cope with the loss and the anguish that had consumed her. All alone in the world and feeling rootless and desperate to find somewhere she feels she belongs again, Charity finds herself drawn to the sleepy village of Beaumouth and starts to research her family tree. Finding out about her family and discovering all of their secrets is just the distraction Charity needs and slowly but surely she begins to heal. However, a chance encounter with attractive boat builder Matt sparks off a chain of mysterious and unsettling events that compel
her to uncover the story of a young girl who lived in the village well over a century ago…
In 1863, Lydia Pavey was a woman with dreams and ambitions which did not include marriage. Forced into marrying a man she barely knows, let alone loves, Lydia is not prepared to bid farewell to her deepest yearning to become a fossilist like her heroine, Mary Anning. Lydia wants nothing more than to be in charge of her own destiny and to decide her own path. But with all the odds being stacked against her, can she keep hold of her dream and make it a reality? Or will she be forced to let others dictate to her what her future will be?
As Charity becomes completely and utterly consumed by Lydia’s story, is she going to let her obsession jeopardise not just her relationship with a longed-for family, but also the future she could have with the man she has grown to love?
Georgia Hill’s On A Falling Tide is an accomplished timeslip novel that stands shoulder to shoulder with Barbara Erskine and Susanna Kearsley’s best work. Effortlessly juggling the past with the present, On A Falling Tide is a tale of love, family and the ties that bind that will touch the heart and send shiver upon shiver down one’s spine as readers find themselves completely enthralled by this superior novel of dangerous secrets and forbidden passions. Georgia Hill’s characters are wonderfully drawn and the Jurassic Coast is described so vividly and beautifully that readers feel as if they are living the story alongside her protagonists.
Georgia Hill is a talented writer who grabs her readers’ attention from the first line and keeps them completely and utterly hooked throughout and On A Falling Tide is a fantastic example of her
impressive storytelling prowess – I certainly hope she will be writing more timeslip novels in the future.
When her beloved grandfather dies, Charity is paralysed by her grief. Having been brought up and cherished by him, Charity had struggled to cope with the loss and the anguish that had consumed her. All alone in the world and feeling rootless and desperate to find somewhere she feels she belongs again, Charity finds herself drawn to the sleepy village of Beaumouth and starts to research her family tree. Finding out about her family and discovering all of their secrets is just the distraction Charity needs and slowly but surely she begins to heal. However, a chance encounter with attractive boat builder Matt sparks off a chain of mysterious and unsettling events that compel
her to uncover the story of a young girl who lived in the village well over a century ago…
In 1863, Lydia Pavey was a woman with dreams and ambitions which did not include marriage. Forced into marrying a man she barely knows, let alone loves, Lydia is not prepared to bid farewell to her deepest yearning to become a fossilist like her heroine, Mary Anning. Lydia wants nothing more than to be in charge of her own destiny and to decide her own path. But with all the odds being stacked against her, can she keep hold of her dream and make it a reality? Or will she be forced to let others dictate to her what her future will be?
As Charity becomes completely and utterly consumed by Lydia’s story, is she going to let her obsession jeopardise not just her relationship with a longed-for family, but also the future she could have with the man she has grown to love?
Georgia Hill’s On A Falling Tide is an accomplished timeslip novel that stands shoulder to shoulder with Barbara Erskine and Susanna Kearsley’s best work. Effortlessly juggling the past with the present, On A Falling Tide is a tale of love, family and the ties that bind that will touch the heart and send shiver upon shiver down one’s spine as readers find themselves completely enthralled by this superior novel of dangerous secrets and forbidden passions. Georgia Hill’s characters are wonderfully drawn and the Jurassic Coast is described so vividly and beautifully that readers feel as if they are living the story alongside her protagonists.
Georgia Hill is a talented writer who grabs her readers’ attention from the first line and keeps them completely and utterly hooked throughout and On A Falling Tide is a fantastic example of her
impressive storytelling prowess – I certainly hope she will be writing more timeslip novels in the future.
June 17, 2020
On A Falling Tide is a beautifully written novel of love and loss. Georgia Hill‘s writing is brilliant. It’s vividly intoxicating with time-slipping. I love when a tale of past and present can be written so beautifully.
I’m struggling to write this review. This is a novel to experience. Darkness and light, addicting and enchanting, this book is one I could not put down. I needed to find out the ending.
I know this review is short. Just trust me and read this one. You need to experience it, not read a lengthy review from me. Highly, highly recommended.
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
I’m struggling to write this review. This is a novel to experience. Darkness and light, addicting and enchanting, this book is one I could not put down. I needed to find out the ending.
I know this review is short. Just trust me and read this one. You need to experience it, not read a lengthy review from me. Highly, highly recommended.
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
November 6, 2022
I really enjoyed this novel, and when I started, couldn’t put it down. It was particularly poignant for me, as I was raised by my grandfather, and was left struggling in life when he died - alone, rootless, spending years tracing the family history, discovering some mysterious stories. So, this book was spooky for me in more ways than one! Beautifully written, it spans two times periods, weaving flawlessly together, keeping the reader guessing and drawing us into the incredible landscape of the Jurassic Coast. It’s so atmospheric and the main characters are brilliantly written and believable. Georgia Hill is a very talented writer and I highly recommend this book.
July 12, 2020
I actually give this book a 3.5 stars. It’s a ghost story but more than that. It’s the story of Charity and her quest to find a family she didn’t know existed. I don’t usually read this type of story, but this one was enjoyable. The only thing is I found it a bit long, the historical sections of the ghost’s life were a few too many.
March 31, 2020
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, and BLKDOG for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
A lot of the people that reviewed this book described it as “atmospheric” and boy if there was ever a book that I had to label as atmospheric, it would be this one. I am not one that reads a lot of time slip novels, or ghost story romance novels that span different eras in time, and I really ended up liking this one. I think the ghost story aspect of it is what made it atmospheric to me, and gave it that sort of long lost, trying to figure out what really makes a true love story span the test of time type of feeling, and it was something that I was thoroughly impressed with.
While Charity is trying to cope with the death of her grandfather – the man who practically raised her, not just a man that she would see every once in a while – she starts to do some research on her family tree. This is something that has always made me a little jealous, when someone can actually trace back their different ancestors throughout their tree without many gaps or questions, because I don’t have that kind of experience. I’ve always wanted to do something like that though, to see where my family came from, the kind of people they were and how their past ended up shaping our present and futures. I had a little soft spot for Charity’s quest to do that, and it made sense that she would end up doing so after her grandfather passed away. It made me think of my own grandfather that I miss terribly, and I know I was in a lot of pain when he first passed away. He didn’t raise me like how Charity’s grandfather did, but I feel like if he did, I would be in a state of grief similar to Charity’s.
I also thought it was interesting that of all the people that Charity could have become “obsessed” over, it was Lydia. Whether it really because of the mental health struggles that Charity was having after the death of her grandfather, or something else that she related to in Lydia’s life, I won’t spoil it for her. But the “visions” that dealt with Lydia, and how it was very fluid and could very well feel like Charity was really going back to Lydia’s time to witness what she was going through was well done and very interesting. I said interesting a lot in this review, but I feel like that gives the gist of what I’m trying to say. I don’t know whether or not I feel for Lydia or Charity more, and whether or not I have to feel for one woman over the other, but I had strong feelings about both of their struggles while reading this novel and I am glad that the ending was pretty satisfying for me.
A lot of the people that reviewed this book described it as “atmospheric” and boy if there was ever a book that I had to label as atmospheric, it would be this one. I am not one that reads a lot of time slip novels, or ghost story romance novels that span different eras in time, and I really ended up liking this one. I think the ghost story aspect of it is what made it atmospheric to me, and gave it that sort of long lost, trying to figure out what really makes a true love story span the test of time type of feeling, and it was something that I was thoroughly impressed with.
While Charity is trying to cope with the death of her grandfather – the man who practically raised her, not just a man that she would see every once in a while – she starts to do some research on her family tree. This is something that has always made me a little jealous, when someone can actually trace back their different ancestors throughout their tree without many gaps or questions, because I don’t have that kind of experience. I’ve always wanted to do something like that though, to see where my family came from, the kind of people they were and how their past ended up shaping our present and futures. I had a little soft spot for Charity’s quest to do that, and it made sense that she would end up doing so after her grandfather passed away. It made me think of my own grandfather that I miss terribly, and I know I was in a lot of pain when he first passed away. He didn’t raise me like how Charity’s grandfather did, but I feel like if he did, I would be in a state of grief similar to Charity’s.
I also thought it was interesting that of all the people that Charity could have become “obsessed” over, it was Lydia. Whether it really because of the mental health struggles that Charity was having after the death of her grandfather, or something else that she related to in Lydia’s life, I won’t spoil it for her. But the “visions” that dealt with Lydia, and how it was very fluid and could very well feel like Charity was really going back to Lydia’s time to witness what she was going through was well done and very interesting. I said interesting a lot in this review, but I feel like that gives the gist of what I’m trying to say. I don’t know whether or not I feel for Lydia or Charity more, and whether or not I have to feel for one woman over the other, but I had strong feelings about both of their struggles while reading this novel and I am glad that the ending was pretty satisfying for me.
March 29, 2020
On a Falling Tide is a mish-mash of time travel, romance, and historical mystery/suspense. It's an intriguing read that will keep readers on their toes, wondering what, exactly, is going on, and why. I found myself immersed in this book, set in a little seaside town, as I curiously tried to figure out the connection between Lydia in 1863 and Charity in today's time.
I was quite fond of Charity in this story. She seemed like a good, honest person who was dealing with a lot in her life. She had abandonment issues. She had a pesky little voice that was constantly telling her she wasn't good enough. She was saddled with a lot of baggage. Add in her strange visions of Lydia, and it was a recipe for disaster. But even with all that, Charity was still able to find romance. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy that she had someone who loved her, even with everything she was dealing with.
I also enjoyed Matthew's character. He was a really great guy, and although he didn't have as much baggage as Charity, he still came with his own set of issues. Together, though, he and Charity were able to make things work. I liked that they found their happily ever after, if you will.
And, I have to admit, I felt bad for Lydia. She was a character you can't help but side with. She's a young girl growing up in a time where life for women sucked. Seen as property, Lydia was forced to live a life she didn't want at all. And because of that, she rebelled. Unfortunately for her, her happily ever after isn't so happy after all.
There's a lot going on in this book. While a little slow in some spots, I found it to be an engaging read. The suspense kept me flipping through, wondering what Charity would uncover about Lydia each time she went back in time. The romance made me smile; I was definitely rooting for Charity and Matt. And the historical/time travel element was what brought it all together and made for a nice touch.
If you're a fan of well-written stories that make you feel as though you're right there in the book with the characters, you'll enjoy On a Falling Tide.
4 stars from me!
I was quite fond of Charity in this story. She seemed like a good, honest person who was dealing with a lot in her life. She had abandonment issues. She had a pesky little voice that was constantly telling her she wasn't good enough. She was saddled with a lot of baggage. Add in her strange visions of Lydia, and it was a recipe for disaster. But even with all that, Charity was still able to find romance. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy that she had someone who loved her, even with everything she was dealing with.
I also enjoyed Matthew's character. He was a really great guy, and although he didn't have as much baggage as Charity, he still came with his own set of issues. Together, though, he and Charity were able to make things work. I liked that they found their happily ever after, if you will.
And, I have to admit, I felt bad for Lydia. She was a character you can't help but side with. She's a young girl growing up in a time where life for women sucked. Seen as property, Lydia was forced to live a life she didn't want at all. And because of that, she rebelled. Unfortunately for her, her happily ever after isn't so happy after all.
There's a lot going on in this book. While a little slow in some spots, I found it to be an engaging read. The suspense kept me flipping through, wondering what Charity would uncover about Lydia each time she went back in time. The romance made me smile; I was definitely rooting for Charity and Matt. And the historical/time travel element was what brought it all together and made for a nice touch.
If you're a fan of well-written stories that make you feel as though you're right there in the book with the characters, you'll enjoy On a Falling Tide.
4 stars from me!
May 28, 2021
On A Falling Tide takes you to the Jurassic Coast, to Lyme Regis and the surrounding area. It's an area I know well. My husband grew up there, and we visited a few times. If you're ever travelling in that direction of Dorset and Devon, do check it out!
But I digress. This novel is an intriguing dual-timeline story. The plot weaves between the present and the past, interlinking the two through a beautiful fossil. A clever ruse!
In the present, we have Charity, a young woman who has come into an inheritance through her grandfather who'd raised her. Her mother left her when she was a baby. As a result, Charity is suffering from a strong sense of insecurity. She doesn't feel worthy of a steady relationship, as any man would leave her anyway, just like her mother had done. This is a clever psychological plot which is challenged by Matt, a local boat-building instructor. He turns Charity's world upside down.
But he's not the only one. Bring in Lydia, a young lady who lived in the early 2nd half of the 1800s. A girl of 17, with a passive mother and an overbearing father who arranges a suitable marriage for her. But all Lydia wants is go fossil-hunting on the coast, and to chat to The Boy, a young fisherman called Abel who she falls in love with.
By interlinking the two women's stories, Ms Hill has created a gripping plot. As Charity delves into her family history, she finds that the more she uncovers, the more it begins to intertwine with Lydia's life. I'm not going to give away any of the clever twists Ms Hill weaves into the story, but suffice to say, Charity ends up with more than she bargained for.
There is an underlying sense of danger, as Lydia's ghost haunts the coast, hissing, 'Dragon's teeth'. The meaning will be explained in the story. It's real Gothic goosebump territory!
On a Falling Tide is a novel of tragedy, of loss and unhappiness, but also of overcoming your own inner demons. A highly engaging and gripping read that keeps you thinking about the characters long after you finish reading. A read I can highly recommend.
But I digress. This novel is an intriguing dual-timeline story. The plot weaves between the present and the past, interlinking the two through a beautiful fossil. A clever ruse!
In the present, we have Charity, a young woman who has come into an inheritance through her grandfather who'd raised her. Her mother left her when she was a baby. As a result, Charity is suffering from a strong sense of insecurity. She doesn't feel worthy of a steady relationship, as any man would leave her anyway, just like her mother had done. This is a clever psychological plot which is challenged by Matt, a local boat-building instructor. He turns Charity's world upside down.
But he's not the only one. Bring in Lydia, a young lady who lived in the early 2nd half of the 1800s. A girl of 17, with a passive mother and an overbearing father who arranges a suitable marriage for her. But all Lydia wants is go fossil-hunting on the coast, and to chat to The Boy, a young fisherman called Abel who she falls in love with.
By interlinking the two women's stories, Ms Hill has created a gripping plot. As Charity delves into her family history, she finds that the more she uncovers, the more it begins to intertwine with Lydia's life. I'm not going to give away any of the clever twists Ms Hill weaves into the story, but suffice to say, Charity ends up with more than she bargained for.
There is an underlying sense of danger, as Lydia's ghost haunts the coast, hissing, 'Dragon's teeth'. The meaning will be explained in the story. It's real Gothic goosebump territory!
On a Falling Tide is a novel of tragedy, of loss and unhappiness, but also of overcoming your own inner demons. A highly engaging and gripping read that keeps you thinking about the characters long after you finish reading. A read I can highly recommend.
March 26, 2020
If you are torn between reading contemporary romance and historical fiction this lovely, gothic-inspired story gives you both. Charity bereaved, after losing her final family member, the grandfather who raised her, is struggling with her mental health, and her feelings of self -worth.
Needing to escape her old life to aid her healing, she visits the Jurassic coast. Somewhere her grandfather said they had family connections, although he would never visit the area. Drawn by the cliffs she has a serendipitous meeting with Dolly, the Springer Spaniel and Matt, the attraction is instant, even though he is rescuing her from a muddy situation.
The story follows Charity’s life in Lyme and Beaumont and is filled with authentic, complex characters, who draw her into their community and make her feel part of something. There are conflicts with Saskia, and indecision and fear over her growing feeling for Matt.
Interwoven, with this contemporary tale, is a strange, sad and sinister encounter with a woman on the beach. Charity's research into her ancestry, reveals information about the mysterious woman. Charity is drawn into another world. Her mental health makes her questions, whether this is a delusion. It threatens her growing attachment with Matt, but she is hypnotised by its power and cannot stop it even with it puts her in danger.
The timeslip into Victorian times is realistic, given the fragility of Charity’s mental health, and her crippling grief. The folklore about a ghost near the cliffs gives credence to her experiences. The stories are woven together so well, one informs the other, and introduces powerful conflict.
Atmospheric, poignant and menacing, it builds to the climax. This story's haunting, gothic quality, fuses perfectly with an engaging conflict-ridden contemporary romance. The ending is a lovely conclusion to a very enjoyable story.
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher in return for an honest review.
Needing to escape her old life to aid her healing, she visits the Jurassic coast. Somewhere her grandfather said they had family connections, although he would never visit the area. Drawn by the cliffs she has a serendipitous meeting with Dolly, the Springer Spaniel and Matt, the attraction is instant, even though he is rescuing her from a muddy situation.
The story follows Charity’s life in Lyme and Beaumont and is filled with authentic, complex characters, who draw her into their community and make her feel part of something. There are conflicts with Saskia, and indecision and fear over her growing feeling for Matt.
Interwoven, with this contemporary tale, is a strange, sad and sinister encounter with a woman on the beach. Charity's research into her ancestry, reveals information about the mysterious woman. Charity is drawn into another world. Her mental health makes her questions, whether this is a delusion. It threatens her growing attachment with Matt, but she is hypnotised by its power and cannot stop it even with it puts her in danger.
The timeslip into Victorian times is realistic, given the fragility of Charity’s mental health, and her crippling grief. The folklore about a ghost near the cliffs gives credence to her experiences. The stories are woven together so well, one informs the other, and introduces powerful conflict.
Atmospheric, poignant and menacing, it builds to the climax. This story's haunting, gothic quality, fuses perfectly with an engaging conflict-ridden contemporary romance. The ending is a lovely conclusion to a very enjoyable story.
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher in return for an honest review.
July 29, 2024
Recently I’ve been drawn to ghostly timeslip mysteries where a woman escapes her difficult past by setting up in a new location, but it turns out the new location has a difficult past of its own. As well as parrying the attentions of a brooding, mysterious suitor, the protagonist has to face unquiet ghosts from a previous era to set the place, the suitor and herself free from impending doom. I had thought the genre was the exclusive province of American authors such as Simone St James and Wendy Webb, so I was delighted when I chanced upon this book set closer to home by Georgia Hill.
Mourning the death of her beloved grandfather, who brought her up, Charity takes a break from her London life to rent a cottage in Lyme Regis. She hopes to find out something about her grandfather’s family who came from the area.
Out on the beach one day, she slips on the mud and is helped to her feet by local eligible bachelor, Matt. Her fall was caused by the startling vision of an angry young woman collecting fossils. Before long, Charity is seeing the ghostly woman everywhere and seeks to find out more about her from the local museum archives. She starts to experience whole episodes from the woman’s life in 1863. As visions become more vivid, Charity suffers migraines and lapses in consciousness. Why has this angry ghost attached herself to Charity? What is the connection to her grandfather’s family? Will Charity come to terms with her grief to build a new life with Matt in Dorset or return to London?
The writing is flawless, characters rounded, and as for the setting… Georgia Hill did such a good job of depicting Lyme Regis that I wanted to go there. So I did, yesterday. I’m pleased to say it lived up to the descriptions this talented author created – The Cobb, Monmouth Beach and the Ammonite Pavement, fossil shops, the Mary Anning Statue, the Boat Building Academy, the lifeboat station…
Georgia Hill is well known for her uplifting contemporary fiction but I’ve also tracked down another ghostly suspense mystery by her: While I was Waiting. I’ve made a start on it and it’s great too.
Mourning the death of her beloved grandfather, who brought her up, Charity takes a break from her London life to rent a cottage in Lyme Regis. She hopes to find out something about her grandfather’s family who came from the area.
Out on the beach one day, she slips on the mud and is helped to her feet by local eligible bachelor, Matt. Her fall was caused by the startling vision of an angry young woman collecting fossils. Before long, Charity is seeing the ghostly woman everywhere and seeks to find out more about her from the local museum archives. She starts to experience whole episodes from the woman’s life in 1863. As visions become more vivid, Charity suffers migraines and lapses in consciousness. Why has this angry ghost attached herself to Charity? What is the connection to her grandfather’s family? Will Charity come to terms with her grief to build a new life with Matt in Dorset or return to London?
The writing is flawless, characters rounded, and as for the setting… Georgia Hill did such a good job of depicting Lyme Regis that I wanted to go there. So I did, yesterday. I’m pleased to say it lived up to the descriptions this talented author created – The Cobb, Monmouth Beach and the Ammonite Pavement, fossil shops, the Mary Anning Statue, the Boat Building Academy, the lifeboat station…
Georgia Hill is well known for her uplifting contemporary fiction but I’ve also tracked down another ghostly suspense mystery by her: While I was Waiting. I’ve made a start on it and it’s great too.
March 25, 2020
“I don’t actually know if what I’m seeing is a ghost, or a hallucination, or maybe just a figment of my very over active imagination…”
Charity was raised by her grandparents after her mother abandoned her as a baby. Her grandmother dies when she’s 10. Then, when her grandfather passes away when she’s an adult, she has no family left. Years of ignoring her abandonment issues come to the surface and she gets counseling for that and depression. She decides to change the pace of her life and get away for an extended vacation. However, instead of a tropical island, she is pulled to visit the villages where her grandfather’s ancestors come from – Beaumouth and Lyme on the coast of Southern England. The area is known for fossil hunting and Charity finds a perfect specimen of an ammonite on her first walk on the beach. She also finds a possible love interest at the same time - Matt.
When Charity goes to get her ammonite cleaned up, she meets Matt’s former flame, Saskia. A friendship starts until Saskia realizes Matt is interested in Charity. One day, while walking on the beach with the ammonite, Charity sees a ghost who draws her close to the cliffs. Matt comes just in time to save her from a rockslide, but he doesn’t believe in ghosts. Charity researches the area and finds more about the ghost – a young woman named Lydia who was betrothed to an older man by her uncle for a business deal. She loved someone else and just wanted to live a single life where she could study science, but her world did not allow for that. She died in a rock slide on that very beach.
As Charity digs deeper and deeper into Lydia’s story, she comes to uncover that she still has distant relatives living in the nearby towns. Their stories help her uncover the truth of why Lydia is having such a strong tie to Charity’s life. History has been repeating itself, but can Charity stop it?
On a Falling Tide is a captivating tale of suspense, history and romance. The story unfolds at a pace that is realistic and the ties between the past and the future are strong. The underlying theme of knowing your past to help your future is one everyone can relate to. How much does a family’s past affect its future? There is some romance in the book, but it’s not very graphic. I really enjoyed the plot and would recommend this book to readers who enjoy good fiction. It was unique but had a nod to both life in the Georgian era and life today. You’ll wonder what secrets might be in your family’s past.
Charity was raised by her grandparents after her mother abandoned her as a baby. Her grandmother dies when she’s 10. Then, when her grandfather passes away when she’s an adult, she has no family left. Years of ignoring her abandonment issues come to the surface and she gets counseling for that and depression. She decides to change the pace of her life and get away for an extended vacation. However, instead of a tropical island, she is pulled to visit the villages where her grandfather’s ancestors come from – Beaumouth and Lyme on the coast of Southern England. The area is known for fossil hunting and Charity finds a perfect specimen of an ammonite on her first walk on the beach. She also finds a possible love interest at the same time - Matt.
When Charity goes to get her ammonite cleaned up, she meets Matt’s former flame, Saskia. A friendship starts until Saskia realizes Matt is interested in Charity. One day, while walking on the beach with the ammonite, Charity sees a ghost who draws her close to the cliffs. Matt comes just in time to save her from a rockslide, but he doesn’t believe in ghosts. Charity researches the area and finds more about the ghost – a young woman named Lydia who was betrothed to an older man by her uncle for a business deal. She loved someone else and just wanted to live a single life where she could study science, but her world did not allow for that. She died in a rock slide on that very beach.
As Charity digs deeper and deeper into Lydia’s story, she comes to uncover that she still has distant relatives living in the nearby towns. Their stories help her uncover the truth of why Lydia is having such a strong tie to Charity’s life. History has been repeating itself, but can Charity stop it?
On a Falling Tide is a captivating tale of suspense, history and romance. The story unfolds at a pace that is realistic and the ties between the past and the future are strong. The underlying theme of knowing your past to help your future is one everyone can relate to. How much does a family’s past affect its future? There is some romance in the book, but it’s not very graphic. I really enjoyed the plot and would recommend this book to readers who enjoy good fiction. It was unique but had a nod to both life in the Georgian era and life today. You’ll wonder what secrets might be in your family’s past.
March 25, 2020
I haven't read many of Georgia Hill's books but I love a good Historical Romance, and this one had amazing elements that made me enjoying the story a lot.
As we follow Charity and Lydia in this time slip story, we get to uncover mysteries as we go, and understand the characters in a deepest and emotional way. The main characters were very relatable and I could empathize with them. Brilliantly written and well developed.
The plot was interesting and the storytelling, both in the present and the past, were well crafted and I felt transported to that time and place, side-by-side with the characters, living with them. There was a good equilibrium in the story, in terms of the dark and light scenes as well as the pace, and the romance, drama and action moments.
I loved the story, I haven't really read many books that have this feel too it, and that have this time slip kind of plot, and I quite enjoyed. I love Historical romances as much as I love contemporary ones, it's kind of a good middle ground in a way. Plus, Georgia Hill wrote about such amazing people, with background that felt real and true, and that realism is something that I love in a book.
Overall, I felt as if it was the kind of book everyone that enjoys a dual time view should check out. It allowed this amazing moment of thinking and feeling, and reflecting about our lives, because of how it shows the connection we all have with the past, present and future.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Georgia Hill for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and by being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book.]
As we follow Charity and Lydia in this time slip story, we get to uncover mysteries as we go, and understand the characters in a deepest and emotional way. The main characters were very relatable and I could empathize with them. Brilliantly written and well developed.
The plot was interesting and the storytelling, both in the present and the past, were well crafted and I felt transported to that time and place, side-by-side with the characters, living with them. There was a good equilibrium in the story, in terms of the dark and light scenes as well as the pace, and the romance, drama and action moments.
I loved the story, I haven't really read many books that have this feel too it, and that have this time slip kind of plot, and I quite enjoyed. I love Historical romances as much as I love contemporary ones, it's kind of a good middle ground in a way. Plus, Georgia Hill wrote about such amazing people, with background that felt real and true, and that realism is something that I love in a book.
Overall, I felt as if it was the kind of book everyone that enjoys a dual time view should check out. It allowed this amazing moment of thinking and feeling, and reflecting about our lives, because of how it shows the connection we all have with the past, present and future.
[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Georgia Hill for the eCopy of this book and for allowing me to join in the fun and by being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book.]
March 23, 2020
I unfailingly enjoy a well-handled time slip story, and I certainly enjoyed this one. In the present day story there’s a heroine you take to your heart in Charity, damaged and fragile, rebuilding her life while staying on the Jurassic coast, finding a new support network and the possibility of a rather lovely new relationship.
The secondary characters are excellent too – her close friend, the jealous ex, the pub landlady, the elderly historian, the young man at the museum – all fully three-dimensional (even the wonderful dogs!) and adding real depth and interest to the story.
The time slip is triggered both by location and a “find” on the beach (after a particularly dramatic moment), and the story becomes richly atmospheric – a tale of a curse, bitterness and revenge, tense and threatening at times – as we discover the life of Lydia back in Georgian times, struggling with its expectations and within its constraints.
I will confess to a marginal preference for the present day story – although the glimpses of Lydia’s life were particularly well done, and I really liked the transitions, I thought they sometimes slowed the pace a little – but I did particularly like the way Charity became obsessed with seeing the events of the past through to conclusion, whatever the risks involved for herself and others.
It really is a compelling read, great story-telling with a wonderfully drawn location, moments of high drama, plenty of chilling episodes, two strong and convincing love stories, and the threads expertly interwoven throughout. And I must add that I loved its conclusion, quite perfectly done – but I won’t tell you any more, you really do need to discover it for yourself.
The secondary characters are excellent too – her close friend, the jealous ex, the pub landlady, the elderly historian, the young man at the museum – all fully three-dimensional (even the wonderful dogs!) and adding real depth and interest to the story.
The time slip is triggered both by location and a “find” on the beach (after a particularly dramatic moment), and the story becomes richly atmospheric – a tale of a curse, bitterness and revenge, tense and threatening at times – as we discover the life of Lydia back in Georgian times, struggling with its expectations and within its constraints.
I will confess to a marginal preference for the present day story – although the glimpses of Lydia’s life were particularly well done, and I really liked the transitions, I thought they sometimes slowed the pace a little – but I did particularly like the way Charity became obsessed with seeing the events of the past through to conclusion, whatever the risks involved for herself and others.
It really is a compelling read, great story-telling with a wonderfully drawn location, moments of high drama, plenty of chilling episodes, two strong and convincing love stories, and the threads expertly interwoven throughout. And I must add that I loved its conclusion, quite perfectly done – but I won’t tell you any more, you really do need to discover it for yourself.
March 13, 2020
Absolute page-turner!!
This is a very powerful book full of love, loss, longing and madness! It’s brilliantly written, superbly plotted, and vividly descriptive. It’s a time-slip novel that impacts on present-day lives, and as the story unfolded, I found myself submerged in this compelling tale that left me at times with the hairs on the back of my neck uncomfortably raised! There’s darkness as well as light in this fabulous book, and I found it to be compulsive reading - I just HAD to keep reading, I HAD to know the full story. Ultimately though, I didn’t want to finish the book, I didn’t want the story to end - it was that good. This is a book that I know I will return to again and again. I Loved it!
This is a very powerful book full of love, loss, longing and madness! It’s brilliantly written, superbly plotted, and vividly descriptive. It’s a time-slip novel that impacts on present-day lives, and as the story unfolded, I found myself submerged in this compelling tale that left me at times with the hairs on the back of my neck uncomfortably raised! There’s darkness as well as light in this fabulous book, and I found it to be compulsive reading - I just HAD to keep reading, I HAD to know the full story. Ultimately though, I didn’t want to finish the book, I didn’t want the story to end - it was that good. This is a book that I know I will return to again and again. I Loved it!
November 19, 2023
The Lyme Regis setting and title with a hint of the sea were enough to draw me to this book. The clarity of the prose and the character hooks kept me there. This is the first book I’ve read by Georgia Hill, and I loved it. Charity and Matt engaged me from the moment they were introduced, then it didn’t really matter where the story took them… I would follow! Flashing back to Victorian Lyme was intriguing and gave the story an added dimension. As the intrigue unfolded, I found myself praying the two main characters would NOT discover they were related! I like prose that is sharp, and clunk-free, and this book delivered perfectly. Loved the tear- jerker ending, too. I’m off to search out more books by this author!
December 5, 2019
Recommended read
This is the first book I've read by this author and I will look out for more.
This is a story if two interconnecting lives told a cross time. The characters are strong and the writing is filled with imagery and emotion.
All in all and great book...dont want to put spoilers but I really liked the resolution of the story between Lydia and Charity (that's all I will say).
This is the first book I've read by this author and I will look out for more.
This is a story if two interconnecting lives told a cross time. The characters are strong and the writing is filled with imagery and emotion.
All in all and great book...dont want to put spoilers but I really liked the resolution of the story between Lydia and Charity (that's all I will say).
December 4, 2019
This was the first title I've read by Georgia Hill and I really enjoyed it. Hill has a really engaging writing style and perfectly captures the atmosphere of one of my favourite corners of England. I was concerned that flipping between two characters/timelines would be an issue, but this is done well. Perfect reading with a cup of tea by the fire!
May 30, 2020
Multi-layered story
A terrific read that kept me up late into the night! Georgia Hill's writing style is easily readable and I instantly warmed to both Charity and Matt, as the author tantalisingly peels back the layers of an interesting present-day story interlaced with a darker, Gothic-style Victorian tale. I look forward to reading more from this writer.
A terrific read that kept me up late into the night! Georgia Hill's writing style is easily readable and I instantly warmed to both Charity and Matt, as the author tantalisingly peels back the layers of an interesting present-day story interlaced with a darker, Gothic-style Victorian tale. I look forward to reading more from this writer.
October 15, 2020
I am so enjoying this book! It is a story written with such heart and generosity - a tale of grief, romance, mystery... this book has it all, along with the beautifully evoked setting of Lyme Regis and the Jurassic coast. Something of a departure from Georgia Hill's other books, I really get the impression it was a tale she passionately wanted to tell.
July 16, 2020
Could not put the book down
The story of broken hearted Charity, looking for answers in her grandparents family village. Romance, mystery and a ghost story. Great book, kept me guessing to the end
The story of broken hearted Charity, looking for answers in her grandparents family village. Romance, mystery and a ghost story. Great book, kept me guessing to the end
January 18, 2020
Great read.
February 9, 2020
A fabulous "tour de force" in a class of it's own
I've managed to catch my breath at last. From the very beginning I got caught in these wonderfully interwoven tales of love that spans centuries. Lydia haunted me as well as Charity. She had me in her grip right to the heart stopping end. So much attention to details especially of women's lives in the the Georgian period. Snippets of Pride & Prejudice here and there made me smile. I will never look at my shells in the same way again. Bravo Miss Hill I love all your books but this one is in a class of it's own.
I've managed to catch my breath at last. From the very beginning I got caught in these wonderfully interwoven tales of love that spans centuries. Lydia haunted me as well as Charity. She had me in her grip right to the heart stopping end. So much attention to details especially of women's lives in the the Georgian period. Snippets of Pride & Prejudice here and there made me smile. I will never look at my shells in the same way again. Bravo Miss Hill I love all your books but this one is in a class of it's own.
June 29, 2020
A story of two women split between two centuries. Both of who have sad tales. One tale ends in tragedy and creates tragedies for generations of a family.
July 22, 2020
Wonderful time slip/ghost story that keeps you gripped.
August 12, 2020
I loved the intrigue of a tragic past from another era woven into the new beginnings of the main character. Romance, paranormal, Victorian time slips: all made for a compelling read. Well done.
May 2, 2020
When hauntings from the past are jeopardizing your future…
Charity is finding it difficult to cope with the death of her beloved grandfather. Feeling that she has been abandoned again, she decides to leave momentarily London and moves to a fishing village Beaumouth. There she wants to find herself again and decide what she truly wants to do with her life. It’s also the perfect occasion to research her family history.
After meeting Matt, she finds herself attracted to him, but her fear of being abandoned again and thinking he is in a relationship, makes her become just friends. Charity finds herself in possession of an ammonite, which is the catalyst of several nightmares and hallucinations. Through them, she gets to know Lydia Pavey, who lived in 1863.
Lydia’s big dream is to become a ‘fossilist’, like her idol Mary Anning. But her family thinks of it as nonsense and are forcing her marrying a man she barely knows. And this while she finds herself attracted to “The Boy”…
Charity gets obsessed by finding out who Lydia is and what happened to her. She risks losing everything due her obsession. Can she manage to get her grip on reality again?
What an intriguing story! I sympathized with Charity. Grieving for the loss of her grandfather, is she also struggling with the idea she is ‘unlovable’. And when she meets Matt, she is certain that he is going to leave her someday. She is having so many personal issues to overcome and adding ghosts from the past aren’t making the situation any easier. Matt is just amazing. He doesn’t believe in ghosts or whatsoever, but he believes Charity. He stands by her, as supportive as possible. He doesn’t judge, but helps where and when he can. When we get to know to know Lydia through the nightmares, she is this curious, adventurous young woman. She defies her family and will not just give up her dreams easily. Through the whole story you feel sorry for her, as she cannot do what she wants, but has to follow the rules dictated by society and her family.
But for me, Lydia changed for the worse. Initially I liked her, but in the end, I just despised her. What she did in the past and was still doing to Charity and Matt was over the top and not like the young woman we got know.
Overall, I liked this story as I wanted to know what truly happened to Lydia, but I also wanted to know if Charity would manage to overcome her insecurities. And would her obsession fade away so that she and Matt could have a future together? A great story switching from present to past and vice versa keeping you on the edge of your seat!
Charity is finding it difficult to cope with the death of her beloved grandfather. Feeling that she has been abandoned again, she decides to leave momentarily London and moves to a fishing village Beaumouth. There she wants to find herself again and decide what she truly wants to do with her life. It’s also the perfect occasion to research her family history.
After meeting Matt, she finds herself attracted to him, but her fear of being abandoned again and thinking he is in a relationship, makes her become just friends. Charity finds herself in possession of an ammonite, which is the catalyst of several nightmares and hallucinations. Through them, she gets to know Lydia Pavey, who lived in 1863.
Lydia’s big dream is to become a ‘fossilist’, like her idol Mary Anning. But her family thinks of it as nonsense and are forcing her marrying a man she barely knows. And this while she finds herself attracted to “The Boy”…
Charity gets obsessed by finding out who Lydia is and what happened to her. She risks losing everything due her obsession. Can she manage to get her grip on reality again?
What an intriguing story! I sympathized with Charity. Grieving for the loss of her grandfather, is she also struggling with the idea she is ‘unlovable’. And when she meets Matt, she is certain that he is going to leave her someday. She is having so many personal issues to overcome and adding ghosts from the past aren’t making the situation any easier. Matt is just amazing. He doesn’t believe in ghosts or whatsoever, but he believes Charity. He stands by her, as supportive as possible. He doesn’t judge, but helps where and when he can. When we get to know to know Lydia through the nightmares, she is this curious, adventurous young woman. She defies her family and will not just give up her dreams easily. Through the whole story you feel sorry for her, as she cannot do what she wants, but has to follow the rules dictated by society and her family.
But for me, Lydia changed for the worse. Initially I liked her, but in the end, I just despised her. What she did in the past and was still doing to Charity and Matt was over the top and not like the young woman we got know.
Overall, I liked this story as I wanted to know what truly happened to Lydia, but I also wanted to know if Charity would manage to overcome her insecurities. And would her obsession fade away so that she and Matt could have a future together? A great story switching from present to past and vice versa keeping you on the edge of your seat!
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