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The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare
The fate of the world is often driven by the curiosity of a girl. What happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke remains a mystery, but the women who descended from Eleanor Dare have long known that the truth lies in what she left behind: a message carved onto a large stone and the contents of her treasured commonplace book. Brought from England on Eleanor’s fateful voyage to the New World, her book was passed down through the fifteen generations of daughters who followed as they came of age. Thirteen-year-old Alice had been next in line to receive it, but her mother’s tragic death fractured the unbroken legacy and the Dare Stone and the shadowy history recorded in the book faded into memory. Or so Alice hoped. In the waning days of World War II, Alice is a young widow and a mother herself when she is unexpectedly presented with her birthright: the deed to Evertell, her abandoned family home and the history she thought forgotten. Determined to sell the property and step into a future free of the past, Alice returns to Savannah with her own thirteen-year-old daughter, Penn, in tow. But when Penn’s curiosity over the lineage she never knew begins to unveil secrets from beneath every stone and bone and shell of the old house and Eleanor’s book is finally found, Alice is forced to reckon with the sacrifices made for love and the realities of their true inheritance as daughters of Eleanor Dare. In this sweeping tale from award-winning author Kimberly Brock, the answers to a real-life mystery may be found in the pages of a story that was always waiting to be written. Praise for The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare : “From the haunting first line, The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare transports the reader to a mysterious land, time and family . . . the captivating women of the Dare legacy must find their true inheritance hiding behind the untold secrets.” — Patti Callahan , New York Times bestselling author
464 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2022
639 people are currently reading
12351 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Brock
7 books604 followersKimberly Brock is the award winning author of The Fabled Earth, featured as a Must Read in Fall of 2024 by Town & Country Magazine, and The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare, which spent three weeks on the Southern Independent Booksellers Best Seller List. Both novel have been shortlisted for the prestigious Townsend Prize for Fiction.
Her debut novel, The River Witch, was an Amazon bestseller, featured by both national and international book clubs and included in multiple reading lists. Praised by RT Reviews and Huffington Post as a “solemn journey of redemption, enlightenment and love,” and evocative of “the stories of Flannery O’Connor and Carson McCullers,” Her first novel was honored with the Georgia Author of the Year Award in 2013, by the Georgia Writer’s Association.
A former actor and special needs educator, Kimberly received her bachelor’s degree from the University of West Georgia in 1996. In 2014, Kimberly founded Tinderbox Writer’s Workshop, a transformative creative experience for women in the arts. Kimberly speaks widely on the creative life and southern and historical fiction and has served as a guest lecturer for many regional and national groups, including The Women's Fiction Writer's annual conference and The Pat Conroy Literary Center, and in 2023, was featured on the History Channel's 'History's Greatest Mysteries.' A native of North Georgia, she now lives near Atlanta where she is at work on her fourth novel.
To learn more, visit her website at
https://kimberlybrockbooks.com
Be sure to follow Kimberly on BookBub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kimbe...
Her debut novel, The River Witch, was an Amazon bestseller, featured by both national and international book clubs and included in multiple reading lists. Praised by RT Reviews and Huffington Post as a “solemn journey of redemption, enlightenment and love,” and evocative of “the stories of Flannery O’Connor and Carson McCullers,” Her first novel was honored with the Georgia Author of the Year Award in 2013, by the Georgia Writer’s Association.
A former actor and special needs educator, Kimberly received her bachelor’s degree from the University of West Georgia in 1996. In 2014, Kimberly founded Tinderbox Writer’s Workshop, a transformative creative experience for women in the arts. Kimberly speaks widely on the creative life and southern and historical fiction and has served as a guest lecturer for many regional and national groups, including The Women's Fiction Writer's annual conference and The Pat Conroy Literary Center, and in 2023, was featured on the History Channel's 'History's Greatest Mysteries.' A native of North Georgia, she now lives near Atlanta where she is at work on her fourth novel.
To learn more, visit her website at
https://kimberlybrockbooks.com
Be sure to follow Kimberly on BookBub for the latest on sales https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kimbe...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 713 reviews
April 12, 2022
**Now Available**
The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare by Kimberly Brock is about the mother-daughter relationship between Alice Young, a World War II widow, and 13-year-old Penn. The story begins in 1945, just before the end of the war. When her father dies, Alice inherits a home just south of Savannah called Evertell. Alice and her father had abandoned the home after Alice’s mother died during treatment for hysteria.
Alice is one of the descendants of Eleanor White Dare, a survivor of the lost colony of Roanoke that was settled in 1587 by Eleanor’s father. Throughout the centuries, the women heirs of Eleanor have kept a commonplace book with recipes, cures, and survival tips. Many of the women, including Alice’s mother, believed that the Dare women would receive a vision of their future around the age of 13, just as Eleanor had. An old stone Eleanor purportedly carved to let her father know of her survival was being kept at Evertell. Soon after the stone disappeared, Alice’s mother went mad. The stone was mysteriously found in North Carolina in 1937.
Alice feels she is responsible for what happened to her mother. She takes Penn, who is grieving over the loss of her father and grandfather, to Evertell. Alice hopes that her mother left her a message in the commonplace book that will give her guidance on how to find herself and how to be a good mother to Penn.
I enjoyed parts of the story, especially when it discussed finding oneself, being brave, the forgiveness of enemies, the strong legacy of women, and healing from old wounds. Other parts were slow-moving and confusing. I didn’t understand the title since the commonplace book was never lost, only some of the pages had been removed.
3-stars. Many thanks to #NetGalley and Doubleday Books for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion. This book will be published Tuesday, April 12, 2022.
The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare by Kimberly Brock is about the mother-daughter relationship between Alice Young, a World War II widow, and 13-year-old Penn. The story begins in 1945, just before the end of the war. When her father dies, Alice inherits a home just south of Savannah called Evertell. Alice and her father had abandoned the home after Alice’s mother died during treatment for hysteria.
Alice is one of the descendants of Eleanor White Dare, a survivor of the lost colony of Roanoke that was settled in 1587 by Eleanor’s father. Throughout the centuries, the women heirs of Eleanor have kept a commonplace book with recipes, cures, and survival tips. Many of the women, including Alice’s mother, believed that the Dare women would receive a vision of their future around the age of 13, just as Eleanor had. An old stone Eleanor purportedly carved to let her father know of her survival was being kept at Evertell. Soon after the stone disappeared, Alice’s mother went mad. The stone was mysteriously found in North Carolina in 1937.
Alice feels she is responsible for what happened to her mother. She takes Penn, who is grieving over the loss of her father and grandfather, to Evertell. Alice hopes that her mother left her a message in the commonplace book that will give her guidance on how to find herself and how to be a good mother to Penn.
I enjoyed parts of the story, especially when it discussed finding oneself, being brave, the forgiveness of enemies, the strong legacy of women, and healing from old wounds. Other parts were slow-moving and confusing. I didn’t understand the title since the commonplace book was never lost, only some of the pages had been removed.
3-stars. Many thanks to #NetGalley and Doubleday Books for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion. This book will be published Tuesday, April 12, 2022.
April 21, 2022
At the heart of this new release in historical fiction is a young mother who is searching for her identity. Alice has been told all her life about her heritage as a descendant of Eleanor Dare. She returns to Evertell, her birthplace, with daughter Penn in the midst of her identity crisis. Her husband died in Italy in WW II and now her father is also dead. Who is Alice Young? Most of the narrative is from Alice and Penn's perspective. The women in Eleanor Dare's line are supposed to have a vision of their future at the age of thirteen. That is Penn's age now and Alice feels like she missed hers due to a crisis with her mother. The setting is gorgeous on the Georgia coast and Brock gives us lush descriptions of the beauty found there reminiscent of "Where the Crawdads Sing." As Alice and Penn struggle with what they will do next the war is winding down. The family legacy is in the estate of Evertell and in the book that Eleanor started centuries earlier. We are treated to tidbits of her story as Alice studies the book and contemplates adding her name to the line of women. Additional themes to identity include parenting, forgiveness, prejudice, women's roles, and family. There is a small piece of the plot that covers the work in French orphanages in WW I and peacocks which reminded me of Band of Sisters which was released about a year ago. The author's note at the end raised my review up one star.
Thank you to Harper Muse and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. I would also note that the publisher logo was inserted hundreds of times within the ARC. I guess I understand why, but it is rather distracting.
Thank you to Harper Muse and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. I would also note that the publisher logo was inserted hundreds of times within the ARC. I guess I understand why, but it is rather distracting.
April 10, 2022
DNF… I really tried.
I have STRUGGLED through 60% and there have only been a couple tiny mentions of the history of the ‘lost colony’. I’m disappointed, because the premise sounded so good. At this point in the story there’s been very little development with the characters and the story is going no where. Sorry, but I’m feeling like it’s not going to get better and that maybe this book may need to stay lost.
***ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have STRUGGLED through 60% and there have only been a couple tiny mentions of the history of the ‘lost colony’. I’m disappointed, because the premise sounded so good. At this point in the story there’s been very little development with the characters and the story is going no where. Sorry, but I’m feeling like it’s not going to get better and that maybe this book may need to stay lost.
***ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2022
This is an entertaining, well-written historical fiction novel which tells a fascinating story of the decedents of Eleanor Dare, a member of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. The characters are likable, there is intrigue, mystery, female empowerment, a touch of romance, and a happily ever after ending. The author's notes, in Ms. Brock's own words, at the end of the novel, are truly appreciated. I listened to the audio version of this novel and the narrator, Ms. Brittany Pressley, has a captivating southern accent and does an outstanding job depicting the characters and their personalities.
December 7, 2021
This is a beautiful story - I feel I lived the journey with the characters, from grief to happiness, from shame to self-confidence.
Hard not to write spoilers, but the discovery at the end was perfect. Brock's prose is poetic, and she weaves a touch of magic and mystery into the fabric of the story, I'm going to miss Penn and Alice today.. Highly recommend!
Hard not to write spoilers, but the discovery at the end was perfect. Brock's prose is poetic, and she weaves a touch of magic and mystery into the fabric of the story, I'm going to miss Penn and Alice today.. Highly recommend!
April 12, 2022
Weaving myth and legend with historical fact pertaining to an age-old American mystery, The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare is a spellbinding, beautiful story written by a graceful hand with just the right amount of mysticism.
My full review appears here! https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book...
My full review appears here! https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book...
November 6, 2021
The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare by Kimberly Brock is a sweeping historical fiction told in dual timelines and between multiple points of view to give the reader a journey of epic proportions that includes history, mystery, suspense, and a peak inside what might have happened to the lost colony of Roanoke. This was great!
This book is a massive undertaking that encompasses so much. It is multi generational in lineage, it has two timelines between 1590 Roanoke and post-WWII Georgia, it also takes the reader inside the minds of multiple characters (Alice, Penn, Eleanor). This novel also weaves a tale part fiction, part history, and creates a narrative that is addictive and fascinating.
I will not delve into this plot too much, as I want readers to be as enthralled and surprised as I was…but I need to say that the author has a real talent taking all of these characters, elements, timelines, and created a truly beautiful tapestry.
I loved the mystery and suspense…it balanced perfectly with the more human and relationship aspect that was explored. The progression of the female character cast as they navigated their respective trials and obstacles within their own centuries was spot on. I really felt drawn to these women, and wanted to see what happened to them..cared what happened. That is sometimes a challenging feeling to achieve. But, the author did that for me.
The plot, pacing, subject matter, character cast, and ending made for an all around excellent historical fiction.
I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Harper Muse for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately ( as of 11/7/21 no BB listing has been created) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/12/22.
This book is a massive undertaking that encompasses so much. It is multi generational in lineage, it has two timelines between 1590 Roanoke and post-WWII Georgia, it also takes the reader inside the minds of multiple characters (Alice, Penn, Eleanor). This novel also weaves a tale part fiction, part history, and creates a narrative that is addictive and fascinating.
I will not delve into this plot too much, as I want readers to be as enthralled and surprised as I was…but I need to say that the author has a real talent taking all of these characters, elements, timelines, and created a truly beautiful tapestry.
I loved the mystery and suspense…it balanced perfectly with the more human and relationship aspect that was explored. The progression of the female character cast as they navigated their respective trials and obstacles within their own centuries was spot on. I really felt drawn to these women, and wanted to see what happened to them..cared what happened. That is sometimes a challenging feeling to achieve. But, the author did that for me.
The plot, pacing, subject matter, character cast, and ending made for an all around excellent historical fiction.
I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Harper Muse for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately ( as of 11/7/21 no BB listing has been created) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/12/22.
April 16, 2022
A leisurely-paced coming-of-age tale about the bonds forged between mothers & daughters, takes place in a charming setting & populated by supportive secondary characters.
March 16, 2022
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
It is true that human beings delight in the wonderful act of discovery. Uncovering new horizons and always learning more are the primary motivations of human growth. Despite discovery being a huge motivator, the true driving force that pushes human beings forward is the unknown, in other words, mystery; and it is the beauty of mystery that is explored in this work, the irresistible pull the unknown has, its gravity and its ability to drive people insane, wanting to find out the truth.
Alice Young, a tough minded and headstrong woman, visits her old estate, Evertell, with her blooming daughter Penn, after the death of Alice's father, and the subsequent realization that she still owns the home and lands at Evertell. Alice is a widow, her husband having been the victim of the second world war, still taking place during this story. His body has never been recovered, and he lies in a grave far away from his family, preventing them from getting the closure they so desperately need, especially little Penn, who has been left numb and broken ever since her father's demise. Alice hopes that this trip to their old home can help heal her daughter, giving her back the spark of life that has been snuffed out for a while now. However, Alice has her own shadows to confront at Evertell, where she witnessed her mother's tragic breakdown that led to her death years ago, profoundly scarring her. During this trip to Evertell, she attempts to find closure by digging deep into her family's past, a past that her mother was also obsessed with. the story of Eleanor Dare, their ancestor who was the first woman to birth a child in the New World. Alice's daughter Penn gets subsequently involved in this investigation of the past, which reinvigorates her previously lost drive for life.
This book is a very slow and reflective piece of work. Kimberly Brock is a lush writer, expertly bringing the Evertell estate to life. This book is definitely not a fast paced plot driven story. Instead, it is a quiet and patient and slow exploration of Evertell, full of centuries of history that is much greater than the characters who are experiencing it in the present day of the story. The land is ancient, its soul primordial, predating the present culture that dominates it, and the author does a great job infusing this ancientness into the story. The setting and the way it was written is definitely one of the essential aspects this book leans on, and by the end of the story, Evertell grows on the reader and the house, alongside its grounds, and the little island in the middle of the lake, with its ancient graveyard, begin to feel like home.
The driving theme of this story is our desire to know where our roots come from, in order to firmly establish our place in this world and solidify our identities, to have a solid footing on which we can begin paving our path towards our future. Alice and Penn feel stagnated in their lives, due to debilitating grief they can't move on from. Penn feels broken after the loss of her father, and Alice is traumatized due to believing that she was the cause of her mother's demise. The women in their family are known to have a seemingly genetic predisposition to madness, Alice's mother being the last unfortunate example. According to lore passed down throughout the generations in their family, each woman, at some point in her life, will have a vision that will reveal profound insight regarding her past and her roots, dating back to Eleanor Dare. Despite the lack of direct magic in this book, there is always that lingering feeling that the supernatural is just a step away, hidden behind the nearest bush, and all we need is belief to gain access to the magic hidden in the land, and coursing through our character's veins. This subtle implied presence of a possibly magical reality further adds to the intrigue that makes this book enjoyable.
The only aspect that sometimes felt a bit frustrating to get through in this book is the relative lack of plot. This can make the book feel quite long, since the relative slow pace and the reflective nature of the book might seem to drag on a bit if one is not in the mood for such a slow work. In order to enjoy this book, the reader should appreciate it for what it is meant to be, a cozy stay in the ancient Evertell. The characterization isn't as profound either, with most characters being relatively simple, but I hardly noticed or took issue with that, since the beautiful world building was more than enough to make this book stand on its feet.
This story is inspired by the true events relating to the disappearance of the Roanoke Colony, and Eleanor Dare is a real person who has lived during that time. The author has done impressive research and has linked that reality into this story, filling in the unknown pieces with her imagination. Even the characters themselves don't fully know what happened, and through their voices, Kimberly Brock makes it clear that it is not necessary to know the entire facts in all cases, because as long as a story is told, it has its own spirit that is worth acknowledging.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse and the author Kimberly Brock for this advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.
"A story matters not because it's true, but because it's been told."
It is true that human beings delight in the wonderful act of discovery. Uncovering new horizons and always learning more are the primary motivations of human growth. Despite discovery being a huge motivator, the true driving force that pushes human beings forward is the unknown, in other words, mystery; and it is the beauty of mystery that is explored in this work, the irresistible pull the unknown has, its gravity and its ability to drive people insane, wanting to find out the truth.
Alice Young, a tough minded and headstrong woman, visits her old estate, Evertell, with her blooming daughter Penn, after the death of Alice's father, and the subsequent realization that she still owns the home and lands at Evertell. Alice is a widow, her husband having been the victim of the second world war, still taking place during this story. His body has never been recovered, and he lies in a grave far away from his family, preventing them from getting the closure they so desperately need, especially little Penn, who has been left numb and broken ever since her father's demise. Alice hopes that this trip to their old home can help heal her daughter, giving her back the spark of life that has been snuffed out for a while now. However, Alice has her own shadows to confront at Evertell, where she witnessed her mother's tragic breakdown that led to her death years ago, profoundly scarring her. During this trip to Evertell, she attempts to find closure by digging deep into her family's past, a past that her mother was also obsessed with. the story of Eleanor Dare, their ancestor who was the first woman to birth a child in the New World. Alice's daughter Penn gets subsequently involved in this investigation of the past, which reinvigorates her previously lost drive for life.
This book is a very slow and reflective piece of work. Kimberly Brock is a lush writer, expertly bringing the Evertell estate to life. This book is definitely not a fast paced plot driven story. Instead, it is a quiet and patient and slow exploration of Evertell, full of centuries of history that is much greater than the characters who are experiencing it in the present day of the story. The land is ancient, its soul primordial, predating the present culture that dominates it, and the author does a great job infusing this ancientness into the story. The setting and the way it was written is definitely one of the essential aspects this book leans on, and by the end of the story, Evertell grows on the reader and the house, alongside its grounds, and the little island in the middle of the lake, with its ancient graveyard, begin to feel like home.
The driving theme of this story is our desire to know where our roots come from, in order to firmly establish our place in this world and solidify our identities, to have a solid footing on which we can begin paving our path towards our future. Alice and Penn feel stagnated in their lives, due to debilitating grief they can't move on from. Penn feels broken after the loss of her father, and Alice is traumatized due to believing that she was the cause of her mother's demise. The women in their family are known to have a seemingly genetic predisposition to madness, Alice's mother being the last unfortunate example. According to lore passed down throughout the generations in their family, each woman, at some point in her life, will have a vision that will reveal profound insight regarding her past and her roots, dating back to Eleanor Dare. Despite the lack of direct magic in this book, there is always that lingering feeling that the supernatural is just a step away, hidden behind the nearest bush, and all we need is belief to gain access to the magic hidden in the land, and coursing through our character's veins. This subtle implied presence of a possibly magical reality further adds to the intrigue that makes this book enjoyable.
The only aspect that sometimes felt a bit frustrating to get through in this book is the relative lack of plot. This can make the book feel quite long, since the relative slow pace and the reflective nature of the book might seem to drag on a bit if one is not in the mood for such a slow work. In order to enjoy this book, the reader should appreciate it for what it is meant to be, a cozy stay in the ancient Evertell. The characterization isn't as profound either, with most characters being relatively simple, but I hardly noticed or took issue with that, since the beautiful world building was more than enough to make this book stand on its feet.
This story is inspired by the true events relating to the disappearance of the Roanoke Colony, and Eleanor Dare is a real person who has lived during that time. The author has done impressive research and has linked that reality into this story, filling in the unknown pieces with her imagination. Even the characters themselves don't fully know what happened, and through their voices, Kimberly Brock makes it clear that it is not necessary to know the entire facts in all cases, because as long as a story is told, it has its own spirit that is worth acknowledging.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse and the author Kimberly Brock for this advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.
"A story matters not because it's true, but because it's been told."
February 6, 2022
It’s been a long time since a book has swept me up and folded me within the pages of its story.
"Before she even opened her eyes Penn knew she was in love. Not with a boy but with a place. All night she dreamed of the Sea. Never before had she truly imagined the seashore would have stretched so long and wide. Or how the water would sparkling crashed in the little white fits that felt like the reward for everything good she had ever done, and forgiveness for all the rest."
There is so much magic and mystery in The Lost Book of Eleanor Day that I had to stay up late at night to finish reading it, I couldn't put the book down. This is a story that I will be thinking about for a long time, with its blend of history and family folklore. The amount of research done for this story is incredible and it compliments the journey of the characters both good and bad while drawing you deeper into each well written element of the book.
There were times in the book when the description or narrative seemed to run long and maybe felt unnecessary but then I realized that every paragraph, every sentence, every word held within it nuggets of valuable information and touching emotions that could not be left out or overlooked. I don't want to write any spoilers because this book should be on everyone's must read list for 2022.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a digital ARC of this fantastic book. I can't wait to share it as one of my book club titles this year.
"Before she even opened her eyes Penn knew she was in love. Not with a boy but with a place. All night she dreamed of the Sea. Never before had she truly imagined the seashore would have stretched so long and wide. Or how the water would sparkling crashed in the little white fits that felt like the reward for everything good she had ever done, and forgiveness for all the rest."
There is so much magic and mystery in The Lost Book of Eleanor Day that I had to stay up late at night to finish reading it, I couldn't put the book down. This is a story that I will be thinking about for a long time, with its blend of history and family folklore. The amount of research done for this story is incredible and it compliments the journey of the characters both good and bad while drawing you deeper into each well written element of the book.
There were times in the book when the description or narrative seemed to run long and maybe felt unnecessary but then I realized that every paragraph, every sentence, every word held within it nuggets of valuable information and touching emotions that could not be left out or overlooked. I don't want to write any spoilers because this book should be on everyone's must read list for 2022.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a digital ARC of this fantastic book. I can't wait to share it as one of my book club titles this year.
April 27, 2022
I tried my hardest with this one, but I am finally DNF it at 64%.
It's been three weeks now and I just can't get into it for anything. The story has moved at a snail's pace, and the portions of the book surrounding the Lost Colony of Roanoke are few and far between. The premise of this book sounded so amazing and I was very excited to read it. However, it just fell flat for me unfortunately.
It's been three weeks now and I just can't get into it for anything. The story has moved at a snail's pace, and the portions of the book surrounding the Lost Colony of Roanoke are few and far between. The premise of this book sounded so amazing and I was very excited to read it. However, it just fell flat for me unfortunately.
January 17, 2022
I went on a trip to Evertell this weekend. It’s near Savannah, Georgia. Oh? This interests you? Of course this charming Southerm local does. It did me! Want to take an enchanting trip? Then I highly suggest The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare. Best book of 2022 by far!
December 9, 2021
The premise for The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare is intriguing but I didn’t feel the story lived up to the promise. Several points in the book are painted with much tension and anticipation but when they are resolved it seemed anticlimactic. I like the 13-year-old main character Penn (and love her name) but other characters felt a little flat to me. There is a lot going on and it feels complicated. I was waiting for the historical timeline to begin but didn’t get that until half way through, and then it was limited. The book did one thing that I love about historical fiction and that is make me curious, I’m going to look for other books either fiction or not about the lost colony of Roanoke. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an early copy to read and review. This book is expected to release in April 2022.
March 19, 2022
This beautifully written historical fiction novel is about making your home wherever you are. It's a story about love and family and about the strong women in a family over the generations. It's dual time line novel with several points of view.
1585- After her mother died, her father began to ignore his daughter Eleanor. When he offered her a chance to sail to a far off country and start the first colony she agreed to go hoping that he would start paying attention to her. After a long trip, they arrived in what they called Roanoke. The small colony had troubles with farming and her father left for England to get more supplies and when he returned the small colony of people were gone. Eleanor stayed with the colony and got married. Her first daughter, Virginia, was born in 1587 and was the first English child born in a New World English colony. The settlement was never found again and the mystery involving The Lost Colony has lasted for generations. Eleanor kept a book and wrote down observations about her life. The book was passed to the oldest daughter in each generation for thirteen generations before Alice found it.
1945 - As the war is getting near it's end, Alice finds out that her father has left Evertell to her.
Her husband was killed during the war and money is tight, so she and her daughter, Penn, travel to the house she grew up in with plans to sell the house and land so that she has money for Penn's education. When they find Eleanor's book, Penn wants to read it to find out more about her family over the generations and becomes enthralled with Evertell because she sees it as part of her history. Alice is forced to decide if she wants to sell or remain in the house that was passed down to her and holds so many memories.
This book has family, mystery and a bit of romance. It's an intriguing story of the women in a family who are strong and resilient through the generations. Ultimately it's a story about mothers and daughters learning to make a home built on love.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review.
1585- After her mother died, her father began to ignore his daughter Eleanor. When he offered her a chance to sail to a far off country and start the first colony she agreed to go hoping that he would start paying attention to her. After a long trip, they arrived in what they called Roanoke. The small colony had troubles with farming and her father left for England to get more supplies and when he returned the small colony of people were gone. Eleanor stayed with the colony and got married. Her first daughter, Virginia, was born in 1587 and was the first English child born in a New World English colony. The settlement was never found again and the mystery involving The Lost Colony has lasted for generations. Eleanor kept a book and wrote down observations about her life. The book was passed to the oldest daughter in each generation for thirteen generations before Alice found it.
1945 - As the war is getting near it's end, Alice finds out that her father has left Evertell to her.
Her husband was killed during the war and money is tight, so she and her daughter, Penn, travel to the house she grew up in with plans to sell the house and land so that she has money for Penn's education. When they find Eleanor's book, Penn wants to read it to find out more about her family over the generations and becomes enthralled with Evertell because she sees it as part of her history. Alice is forced to decide if she wants to sell or remain in the house that was passed down to her and holds so many memories.
This book has family, mystery and a bit of romance. It's an intriguing story of the women in a family who are strong and resilient through the generations. Ultimately it's a story about mothers and daughters learning to make a home built on love.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review.
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August 9, 2022I’m a sucker for historical fiction, mother-daughter relationships and hints of magic and mystery. In Brock’s book, they’re all presented, wrapped around the legendary Lost Colony of Roanoke, and the age-old question of “Who am I?” - in this case, posed by characters Alice and Penn.
I enjoyed the audiobook version of this novel, which – with the accent – took me directly to the South.
And, as always, I love a good author’s note …
Kimberly Brock shares her fascination for the real-life Virginia Dare and the historic Dare stones, but her bigger appreciation for story and dreaming. As Alice says to her daughter, “Stories matter not because they’re true, but because they’ve been told.” It was so lovely to hear that portion of the book in the author’s voice!
I enjoyed the audiobook version of this novel, which – with the accent – took me directly to the South.
And, as always, I love a good author’s note …
Kimberly Brock shares her fascination for the real-life Virginia Dare and the historic Dare stones, but her bigger appreciation for story and dreaming. As Alice says to her daughter, “Stories matter not because they’re true, but because they’ve been told.” It was so lovely to hear that portion of the book in the author’s voice!
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December 15, 2021For readers of Patti Callahan and Kate Morton, this harrowing exposition on history and loss is a juxtaposition of love, hope and the wisdom that binds women across centuries.
The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare’s plea that we learn from each other, grow from each other and empower each other is wrapped in an arresting, urgent voice that reads as much a rallying cry as a tract on the burden of women to suture the cracks of history. A magnanimous undertaking steeped in impeccable research, Brock offers a feast of a narrative that crackles with a resonant, binding echo of sisterhood across the centuries.
December 20, 2021
Ignore the rating since I did not -- could not -- finish the book. Did not like ANY of the first characters at the beginning. The book is from NetGalley and the first out of almost 20 I finally reported that I would not read. It is based on the stones of Eleanor which is what in the genealogy world would call unverified.
May 7, 2024
The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare swept me up in its pages before the plot had fully been set. A historical fiction novel told in multiple POV's takes you on a journey of not only one family's sordid history, but also on a journey of hope and courage.
Shoutout to my Mamma for suggesting I read this book, she knew I would love it and that was before I was even sold on it.
My head is swimming with what to say. There are so many parts and pieces I want to gush about but that would give away too many of the plot points of this story. I will say, there was one complaint I had. Being as it were this book did not take too much note on the Lost Colony or Roanoke and that was a huge factor in me finally reading this book. The parts that were mentioned were brilliant! A bit of history and a bit of fiction so that really didn't hinder my rating too much.
Pen and her mom were my entire heart though, their relationship might have been difficult because of loss and past heartache but their love was real. They never failed to find out exactly what was going on here even if it took a bit of convincing on Eleanor's side.
Brittany Pressley narrated this story beautifully and while I have been a fan of hers for some time now, this one set that love in stone. Her narrations always come to life and seeing her voice in a role where the mystical and magical were present just made me giddy!
Huge thanks to Kimberly Brock for giving us this story about one family's journey from then to now and back again.
Shoutout to my Mamma for suggesting I read this book, she knew I would love it and that was before I was even sold on it.
My head is swimming with what to say. There are so many parts and pieces I want to gush about but that would give away too many of the plot points of this story. I will say, there was one complaint I had. Being as it were this book did not take too much note on the Lost Colony or Roanoke and that was a huge factor in me finally reading this book. The parts that were mentioned were brilliant! A bit of history and a bit of fiction so that really didn't hinder my rating too much.
Pen and her mom were my entire heart though, their relationship might have been difficult because of loss and past heartache but their love was real. They never failed to find out exactly what was going on here even if it took a bit of convincing on Eleanor's side.
Brittany Pressley narrated this story beautifully and while I have been a fan of hers for some time now, this one set that love in stone. Her narrations always come to life and seeing her voice in a role where the mystical and magical were present just made me giddy!
Huge thanks to Kimberly Brock for giving us this story about one family's journey from then to now and back again.
May 27, 2023
2.5 stars rounding up.
The blurb for this book begins with "The fate of the world is often driven by the curiosity of a girl." Who wouldn't be sucked in by that? Whoever wrote that line set the bar way too high for the book to live up to.
This is a dual-timeline story about a mother and daughter who lost first their husband/father in WWII and then their father/grandfather before the war is over. The latter left them the family homestead where the mother must face painful childhood memories and the daughter may discover the story of generations that came before her. We are promised a story about the lost colony of Roanoke, but little is delivered on that front.
The story reads like a two-lane highway through the plains states - slow and with a story arc that is somewhat less than arc-shaped. I kept going because I kept thinking it would deliver some lovely surprise, but it never materialized. I should have DNF'd it. Life is too short. Find a better book.
The blurb for this book begins with "The fate of the world is often driven by the curiosity of a girl." Who wouldn't be sucked in by that? Whoever wrote that line set the bar way too high for the book to live up to.
This is a dual-timeline story about a mother and daughter who lost first their husband/father in WWII and then their father/grandfather before the war is over. The latter left them the family homestead where the mother must face painful childhood memories and the daughter may discover the story of generations that came before her. We are promised a story about the lost colony of Roanoke, but little is delivered on that front.
The story reads like a two-lane highway through the plains states - slow and with a story arc that is somewhat less than arc-shaped. I kept going because I kept thinking it would deliver some lovely surprise, but it never materialized. I should have DNF'd it. Life is too short. Find a better book.
June 8, 2022
I received a free e-copy of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare from NetGalley for my honest review.
A beautifully written novel written in dual timelines and with multiple points of view. A story of love and family that will absolutely warm your heart.
A beautifully written novel written in dual timelines and with multiple points of view. A story of love and family that will absolutely warm your heart.
April 11, 2022
Kimberly Brock's The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare is historical fiction told in parallel timelines and from multiple viewpoints. This is so that the reader becomes immersed in history, mystery, suspense, and a glimpse into what might happen to the lost colony of Roanoke. This book covers so much ground and covers so many topics. This is a multigenerational story with two timelines spanning 1590 Roanoke and post-WWII Georgia while giving the reader a glimpse into the minds of three different characters (Alice, Penn, Eleanor). Additionally, the author weaves a narrative that is part fiction, part history, and creates a fascinating and addicting narrative. There was an outstanding balance between the mystery and suspense, and the human and relationship aspects explored in this book. We were able to observe the progression of all of the female characters throughout their respective eras as they encountered their challenges and overcame obstacles. There was something incredibly compelling about these women, something that really interested me.
December 8, 2021
Sublimely poignant and hauntingly beautiful, Brock's tale taps at the heart of loss and longing until the weight of it gives way to understanding and acceptance. We are who are because of the love that has shaped us through the generations, changes forced upon us, and hardships endured. Readers will find their own selves on each page until the last and perhaps learn to see the magic in every part of their life.
April 12, 2022
Spellbinding. Whimsical. Atmospheric. Mysterious. Historic.
Storytelling at its finest!
Atlanta author Kimberly Brock delivers a meticulously researched, complex, and lyrical tale of generations of women who have survived by the weight of their often secret pasts to discover essential lessons and pass them on to their daughters.
THE LOST BOOK OF ELEANOR DARE is like a keepsake treasure. The power of the story and strong bonds of mother-daughter relationships. The author's passion shines through on each page.
Alice and her daughter, Penn, are returning to their ancestorial family estate, Evertell in Savannah, GA. As she opens the envelope and deed to Evertell with the antique key to the old rambling estate, her memories rushed back to days she wanted to forget after her mother's death. However, maybe she can sell it to help pay for Penn's education.
From Roanoke survivor 1590 Eleanor Dare, the commonplace book, the stones, to WWII Savannah, GA as they uncover the truths.
The Dare Stones are a series of 48 rocks chiseled with messages to be from those survivors of the famous Colony of Roanoke who went missing between 1587 and 1590. From war, sickness, massacres, misery, and survival. Are they real?
The author's characters come alive on the page, from historical details to myths and legends. A mix of history, mystery, and a heartfelt, beautiful story of resilience, strength, and survival of women.
Intertwining past and present, told from three points of view, two timeframes, the engrossing story not only explores the enigma of the Lost Colony of Roanoke but the bonds of family, its mysteries, and the heart with stories handed down through generations.
I look forward to reading more from the talented Kimberly Brock! For fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Sarah Addison Allen, and Kate Morton.
Thank you to #HarperMuse and #NetGalley for a digital ARC to read, review, and enjoy. Also, recommend the audiobook narrated by my favorite Brittany Pressley!
Blog Review:
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Storytelling at its finest!
Atlanta author Kimberly Brock delivers a meticulously researched, complex, and lyrical tale of generations of women who have survived by the weight of their often secret pasts to discover essential lessons and pass them on to their daughters.
THE LOST BOOK OF ELEANOR DARE is like a keepsake treasure. The power of the story and strong bonds of mother-daughter relationships. The author's passion shines through on each page.
Alice and her daughter, Penn, are returning to their ancestorial family estate, Evertell in Savannah, GA. As she opens the envelope and deed to Evertell with the antique key to the old rambling estate, her memories rushed back to days she wanted to forget after her mother's death. However, maybe she can sell it to help pay for Penn's education.
From Roanoke survivor 1590 Eleanor Dare, the commonplace book, the stones, to WWII Savannah, GA as they uncover the truths.
The Dare Stones are a series of 48 rocks chiseled with messages to be from those survivors of the famous Colony of Roanoke who went missing between 1587 and 1590. From war, sickness, massacres, misery, and survival. Are they real?
The author's characters come alive on the page, from historical details to myths and legends. A mix of history, mystery, and a heartfelt, beautiful story of resilience, strength, and survival of women.
Intertwining past and present, told from three points of view, two timeframes, the engrossing story not only explores the enigma of the Lost Colony of Roanoke but the bonds of family, its mysteries, and the heart with stories handed down through generations.
I look forward to reading more from the talented Kimberly Brock! For fans of Patti Callahan Henry, Sarah Addison Allen, and Kate Morton.
Thank you to #HarperMuse and #NetGalley for a digital ARC to read, review, and enjoy. Also, recommend the audiobook narrated by my favorite Brittany Pressley!
Blog Review:
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
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March 30, 2022I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those books that I have to give you a backstory on before I get to my review. In 2012, I desperately wanted to leave my retail management job when a friend put me in contact with an Atlanta magazine editor to whom I pitched the idea of a book review for the magazine. I couldn't believe my luck that she said "yes" and my first published book review was Kimberly Brock's The River Witch.
Now, 10 years later, Brock's continued commitment to her craft is apparent with a much more detailed story (at 464 pages TLBoED is almost twice as long as TRW). She has not strayed from her magical storytelling style as this wonderfully atmospheric imagining of a historic mystery is written in the same prose that entranced readers of The River Witch. I wrote that The River Witch was a perfect example of modern Southern gothic, full of "family, faith and resentment mix[ed] with love and loss, broken bodies and souls, and a stranger in a strange place." The same characteristics can also be applied to The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare with a strong emphasis on heritage and familial lines.
Another personal note: I am so happy to be able to support the wonderful author who helped to launch my book reviewing career. Upon meeting me in 2012, Kim insisted that I start a book blog ASAP. I took her advice and the rest is history!
Come chat with me about books here, too:
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
This is one of those books that I have to give you a backstory on before I get to my review. In 2012, I desperately wanted to leave my retail management job when a friend put me in contact with an Atlanta magazine editor to whom I pitched the idea of a book review for the magazine. I couldn't believe my luck that she said "yes" and my first published book review was Kimberly Brock's The River Witch.
Now, 10 years later, Brock's continued commitment to her craft is apparent with a much more detailed story (at 464 pages TLBoED is almost twice as long as TRW). She has not strayed from her magical storytelling style as this wonderfully atmospheric imagining of a historic mystery is written in the same prose that entranced readers of The River Witch. I wrote that The River Witch was a perfect example of modern Southern gothic, full of "family, faith and resentment mix[ed] with love and loss, broken bodies and souls, and a stranger in a strange place." The same characteristics can also be applied to The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare with a strong emphasis on heritage and familial lines.
Another personal note: I am so happy to be able to support the wonderful author who helped to launch my book reviewing career. Upon meeting me in 2012, Kim insisted that I start a book blog ASAP. I took her advice and the rest is history!
Come chat with me about books here, too:
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
April 4, 2022
Loved it!
I was sold in the first sentence of the synopsis. A widow and her daughter came to inherence the mysterious house. The place where Alice grew up and associates with the mother who lost her mind, getting lost among other bitter-sweet memories. Through the eyes of her child, Penn she re-discovers the magic of her family inherence. The commonbook written by her ancestors started for one of the survivors of the Roanoke colony, Eleanor Dare.
I must admit that I started it with a lot of expectations, the synopsis got me from the first line. And even if at first the narration was a little slow. I loved it. The plot is built perfectly. The characters gain a place in your heart real fast and the story just catches you. The changes in the narration are perfectly done to mix the stories of the two main characters, and the chapters written by Eleonor. A book that could get almost anyone caught in the mystery and lives of its protagonists.
I was sold in the first sentence of the synopsis. A widow and her daughter came to inherence the mysterious house. The place where Alice grew up and associates with the mother who lost her mind, getting lost among other bitter-sweet memories. Through the eyes of her child, Penn she re-discovers the magic of her family inherence. The commonbook written by her ancestors started for one of the survivors of the Roanoke colony, Eleanor Dare.
I must admit that I started it with a lot of expectations, the synopsis got me from the first line. And even if at first the narration was a little slow. I loved it. The plot is built perfectly. The characters gain a place in your heart real fast and the story just catches you. The changes in the narration are perfectly done to mix the stories of the two main characters, and the chapters written by Eleonor. A book that could get almost anyone caught in the mystery and lives of its protagonists.
February 1, 2022
The synopsis for this book is intriguing, and as a lover of historical fiction, I was pretty excited to read it. For the most part, it was a good read. I found myself entranced by the beautiful mystery of Evertell that Brock paints a picture of.
“The unknown was powerful. It was the monster in the dark, the secret in the box, the poison in the wine.”
Overall, I believe that this story does a great job of telling a story fitting historical fiction. Keep in mind that the book is a fast read, but you’ll enjoy it!
Note: I do find myself having a hard time writing a review because I want to avoid spoilers!
To read a more extensive review of this book, please visit my blog:
https://kayssecretlibrary.wixsite.com...
“The unknown was powerful. It was the monster in the dark, the secret in the box, the poison in the wine.”
Overall, I believe that this story does a great job of telling a story fitting historical fiction. Keep in mind that the book is a fast read, but you’ll enjoy it!
Note: I do find myself having a hard time writing a review because I want to avoid spoilers!
To read a more extensive review of this book, please visit my blog:
https://kayssecretlibrary.wixsite.com...
June 18, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- I am all kinds of in love with this cover!
This was such a heartwarming mother & daughter story. ❤️ A leisurely told historical fiction that takes place during the second world war and which pulls from the stories of the lost colony of Roanoke and the Dare stones. It was beautifully written. Overall, it was well paced. However, I found that sometimes the story slowed to a snail's pace. That said, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I loved the setting. It was very atmospheric, and the author did an amazing job of immersing you into that setting. The characters were all likable and had depth. What more can I say? Yours truly is giving this one, two solid thumbs up!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
This was such a heartwarming mother & daughter story. ❤️ A leisurely told historical fiction that takes place during the second world war and which pulls from the stories of the lost colony of Roanoke and the Dare stones. It was beautifully written. Overall, it was well paced. However, I found that sometimes the story slowed to a snail's pace. That said, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I loved the setting. It was very atmospheric, and the author did an amazing job of immersing you into that setting. The characters were all likable and had depth. What more can I say? Yours truly is giving this one, two solid thumbs up!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
May 6, 2022
This book was not for me. I was hoping for more about Eleanor Dare and the lost colony of Roanoke and while they are mentioned, it is only in passing and not really in a historical exploration way (kind of like The Lost Apothecary or any other historical fiction that has come out recently). This is a coming of age story and about learning how to accept who you are and the people just happen to be descendants of Eleanor Dare. I did not finish this book because I couldn't get through it. Nothing happens.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
April 23, 2022
Interesting Twist On Dual Timeline Historical Fiction. Over the course of 800+ books in the last three years alone, I've read quite a few dual timeline historical fiction books. Generally, one of the timelines is "current", or at least mostly current - end of the 20th century at its oldest. Here, the "current" timeline is actually much older - the last months of WWII - and the "older" timeline is *much* older - 16th century. The poetic prose here highlights the idealized South of the pre-air conditioning era... and yet also doesn't shy away from discussing some of its lower points, including both slavery and extrajudicial murders. (I intentionally don't use a particular "l" word there, as it generally has connotations that do not apply in the particular situation in the book.) All of this is wrapped around the mysterious Dare stones and how so many of them could be judged to be fake... except the first one, Eleanor Dare's stone and the tale therein inscribed isn't necessarily so easily dismissed. The care Brock takes to show an atypical yet also completely realistic and plausible tale of what happened and why to Ms. Dare is quite remarkable, and indeed this shines through in the variety of other situations portrayed in this book as well. It quickly becomes readily apparent that Ms. Brock is a Southern storyteller of the best form - one that doesn't excuse the atrocities of our past, yet one that also respects the real and vibrant cultures of the era, showing that even while misguided on particular points, the overall people were not the monsters many non-Southern (or even Southern of particular political persuasions) writers portray them as. Truly a remarkable work in so many ways, and very much recommended.
April 17, 2022
Dual timeline stories are such a big trend right now in historical fiction, particularly in WWII fiction. To be frank, it is not a format I am always keen on, as I find one narrative in the story more interesting than the other. As soon as I read the synopsis for this story, though, I was intrigued. Even though I am not American, I am familiar with the lost colony of Roanoke and my imagination is captured by the ‘what could have happened’ theories about the disappearance of the settlers. The author does a commendable job weaving together the stories of Eleanor Dare and her fictional descendants, Alice and her daughter Penn. This is an engaging read that blends the hardships of colonial America with the trauma of WWII. The setting is lush and mysterious, and while the pace is a bit slow and contemplative and the characters were not as deeply fleshed out as I hoped, I enjoyed this story of mothers and daughters, the strength and resilience of the female heart, and the intrinsic need to connect with one’s roots and come to grips with her past. I recommend savouring this read while sipping the staple of the American South: sweet tea.
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