The Secrets of Hawthorn Place

by Jenni Keer

Two houses, hundreds of miles apart...yet connected always.

When life throws Molly Butterfield a curveball, she decides to spend some time with her recently widowed granddad, Wally, at Hawthorn Place, his quirky Victorian house on the Dorset coast.

But cosseted Molly struggles to look after herself, never mind her grieving granddad, until the accidental discovery of an identical Art and Crafts house on the Norfolk coast offers her an unexpected purpose, as well as revealing a bewildering mystery.

Discovering that both Hawthorn Place and Acacia House were designed by architect Percy Gladwell, Molly uncovers the secret of a love which linked them, so powerful it defied reason.

What follows is a summer which will change Molly for ever...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, British Literature, Chick Lit, Mystery, Historical

429 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2021

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

When, Molly Butterfield’s relationship ends, she assumes she can stay with her mum Annetta and step-father Brain. They have other plans, her grandfather Walter’s recently been widowed, he’s lonely and Brian agrees to take her to stay with her Pop. Her grandfather lives in an odd house called Hawthorn Place, on the Dorset Coast, it’s a very unique house and it’s around a hundred years old.

Molly’s used to everyone picking up after her, she’s spoilt, twenty four and broke. She discovers that her grandfather hasn’t been coping, he’s been sleeping in a chair, and eating microwave dinners. His once beautiful garden is over grown, Molly stops feeling sorry for herself, and tries to get her grandfather interested in more than watching TV and he discovers the internet.

Molly finds a tiny door, it reveals an identical Art and Crafts house, called Acadia House, and it’s in Norfolk and two hundred miles away. The Secrets of Hawthorn Place, has a dual timeline that goes between the past, present, it’s a whimsical and mystical story about the two houses and the people who lived in them. They were designed by architect Percy Gladwell, the current owner of Arcadia House, Rory Brooker has his own issues with mental health and he and Percy have a lot in common.

Molly is transformed from being a rather selfish person, she becomes interested in history, architecture, domestic tasks, and helping both her grandfather and Rory overcome the tragedy in their lives. Jenni Keer has written a really interesting story, the past and present are linked together in a very clever way, and five stars from me.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s always a thrill to start a new book and that thrill intensifies as you realise it’s going to be a good read. I just loved this story from Keer and I am excited to have discovered a new author for my (ever-increasing) radar.

There is magic, love and a bit of history in this story as we follow Molly Butterfield, spoiled brat and lazy drifter who has lost her job, house and boyfriend. With nowhere to go and her parents leaving for a holiday, she finds herself at her grandfather’s large house in Dorset. It’s a chance for Molly to regroup – except that she has no money, no job and no handouts from her parents.

Realising she needs a job to keep her going (and to relieve the tedium of being at Hawthorn Place that has yet to meet modern times and have the internet), Molly starts working for Rory at Acacia House. However, her commute to her new job is less than conventional and this adds magic to a tale about growing up and becoming independent. Molly tricks her way into being an assistant-come-cleaner for Rory, although it is soon evident she can barely operate a mop, let alone tidy an entire house! I laughed at her naivety of the world, felt frustrated by her reliance on others, and yet, enjoyed watching her transform over the story.

Working for Rory feeds into her living with her grandfather. He also has lost his way through the recent loss of his wife. Molly’s arrival at Hawthorn Place is an opportunity for someone to look out for him and help him rediscover his zest for life. As Molly learns more about what she is capable of doing, she starts to look after her grandfather too, and I really enjoyed seeing her become a more aware, selfless person.

However, this story isn’t just about Molly and her transformation. Keer moves the story into the late 1800s, where we observe an architect, Percy, building Acacia House – the house where Rory lives in the present. This part of the story was most intriguing, especially as there are some vital connections to the present day. I became as fascinated as Molly does and enjoyed picturing the building of both Acacia House and Hawthorn Place, learning about the Arts and Crafts movement in architecture at the same time.

I loved the magic and mysticism that is sprinkled into this story. It very much reminded me of the tales of Narnia and I delighted in this child-like indulgence in the story. There were many times when I thought Molly’s luck would run out and she would be discovered – and not just regarding her poor housekeeping abilities. This added to the entertainment of the story and it was satisfying to see her transform to a lazy sofa-surfer to someone with multiple jobs and just enjoying life again – just like her grandfather.

This was such a great read and I appreciated that Keer left some ambiguities to the story, leaving readers the pleasure of their own imaginations to fill in the gaps. It is a story about loss and how one learns and moves on from the experience. Characters across both time frames endure hardships and it was fascinating to see how they adapted across the story.

With thanks to Headline Accent and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

I’d been warned that she was a religious woman who did not approve of anything approaching fun. No wonder her daughter looked so miserable.

I smiled, but the glare I received in return would dampen even Satan’s furnaces.

He was as bonkers as a box of frogs on speed, but it was certainly never dull with him.

I went and cocked it up so badly that even a powerful fairy godmother with the biggest magic wand on the planet couldn’t sort this mess.


My Review:

I was quite taken with the clever craft of this book, it was a bewitchingly addictive tale that kept me intrigued and smirking in equal measure due to this wily author's amusing wit and perceptively descriptive observations. Told across two timelines with a dual POV, I enjoyed the canny layering and shrewd pacing of the separate tales as they wove a heart-squeezing, and compelling tale from the past alongside a more vibrant and somewhat vexing tale in the present day and expertly and slyly stitched the pieces together with an unpredictable leap forward. I was enmeshed, enchanted, and totally delighted. Jenni Keer has mad skills and is a gifted and evocative storyteller.

[Bookishgirl75 🍁📚❄️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book from Jenni, my 3rd this year . I admire her imagination for her books , this especially as it was captivating I loved it .
A dual timeline going back to the 1800’s & the current day which I really connected with a lot , especially the “I’ve ordered more Tassimo pods” … my husband says this to me now I’ve started drinking Lattes at the jolly age of 49 so I LOL at that part .
Molly is a lovable MFC and easy to relate to, and loved her family … overall a great story that once again kept me interested all the way just like “The Ravenswood witch” and I’m so glad for the ending … I almost need a 2nd book to follow !

I look forward to the others I’ve saved to read .

[Katie Mettner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully, well-written treat The Secrets of Hawthorn Place is! The premise of this novel drew me in, simply because I couldn’t figure how Ms. Keer would be able to write a book about 1896 and the present day without it either being boring or confusing. Let me tell you, it was neither. The past flowed like tiny ripples in a creek, always carrying along the present-day part of the story.

When the book opens, Molly, a rather poorly put-together young woman, arrives home to her parents’ house for some coddling after a relationship gone bad. It’s immediate to the reader that Molly has some issues, the least of which is the breakup with her boyfriend and where she will live because of it. Molly is struggling having graduated college, but not finding a place in the world where she fits. She needs to do some soul-searching and thankfully, her mother sees it more than Molly does. Needing to place to stay for a month, but also needing closure and forgiveness from her now-deceased grandmother, Molly takes the journey to stay with her grandfather on the coast. It is there that she will come to visit the past in a way that hasn’t happened since the 1900s.

While we are reading Molly’s story and her adventures along the way to find herself, find true love, mature, and find a place in the world, we’re reading the story of Percy Gladwell and Violet Marston and all that transpired in their lives one hundred years earlier. It was their love that created the vexing situations Molly’s family has lived with over the years.

It is difficult to review this book without giving spoilers from either the past or the present part of this novel. I can say every word was worth reading and the beautiful descriptions of the Dorset coast made me feel like I was there rather than in the middle of Wisconsin. The ending was so much fun and left you smiling as you closed the book with a happy heart. I was swept away by the love that was hidden and found in The Secrets of Hawthorn Place. A sweeping five stars from me for this novel that defies time but trusts in love.

[el · Rating 2 out of 5]

those 2 stars are for percy and violet and them only! molly and rory and harrison are so insanely insufferable

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has possibly the best setting in any book I have read this year so far ! The beautiful Dorset coast and the Norfolk coast with the authors description you are transported there , you can see the surroundings , feel the sun on you , hear the sounds of the coast. The author does an amazing job of taking the reader and putting them inside the book in their mind.

In the book we meet Molly Butterfield , I warmed to her straight away and knew that she was a character I was going to love more and more as I read on in the book, I also really loved Wally her grandad, I really felt for him.

The book itself is one that hooks you then reels you in page by page ,I would say it's more of a slow burner where you uncover secrets along the way. It is a really brilliant read and one I would definitely recommend

There is a trigger warning as there is reference in the book of previous attempted suicide.

[Stephanie Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed reading this book and discovering the connection between the two houses in real time as Molly researches the history behind the architect's life.
There are several different strands to this tale and all work wonderfully together as the author weaves between them to culminate in a very satisfying story full of love, self-discovery and new beginnings.
Highly recommended.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a dual-time story, and it all started so well – the beautiful medieval love poem, Percy Gladwell’s letter of farewell to “darling Violet” before stepping off the cliff at West Bay on the Jurassic coast. And then the story returns to the present day – that’s what happens in a dual-time story – and we meet Molly, down on her luck, expecting her mother and stepfather to bail her out in the way they always have. She might be 24, but she really has the life skills of a 12-year-old – she’s selfish and entitled, could be a poster girl for everything us oldies see as “the problem with the younger generation”, and I really rather struggled to like her. But then I remembered that this was a novel by one of my favourite authors - and Molly was bound to have a few redeeming features...

And this time, the parents don’t come to her rescue – she treats her rather lovely stepfather like he’s something on her shoe, and you fear she’s going to win her mother over once again as she greets her with a pink gin and a sympathetic ear, but it’s just not going to happen this time. Instead, she’s saved by an invitation to spend the summer with her widowed grandfather, in his Victorian Arts and Crafts house on the Dorset cliffs – and when she arrives she finds that he’s really struggling after the loss of his beloved Briggy, surviving on toast and spending his days in front of the telly rather than tending the garden he’s always loved, and the house is wreathed with dust. Housework and cooking aren’t skills that Molly has ever acquired, but it soon becomes clear that she needs to step up a little: and her inept attempts become increasingly funny, I began to enjoy the relationship between them both, and found I was reading with a wide smile on my face.

And then Molly discovers – and it’s more than my life’s worth to tell you how, but there’s a touch of real magic – that there’s an identical quirky house in Norfolk, far more at home in its surroundings. The story then alternates between both houses – they’re almost characters in the story, quite wonderfully described and brought to life – with dips back into the past and the enthralling love affair between Percy, the house’s architect, and out-of-reach Violet. Molly becomes fascinated by the houses’ history – while learning some of those life skills she was so severely lacking, discovering what’s important and turning her life around, and having a few romantic encounters of her own.

I honestly think that’s one of the poorest synopses I’ve ever written – I really haven’t sold you the book yet, have I? I just so desperately don’t want to spoil the book for anyone – and there are a few real surprises along the way – but I have to say that I absolutely loved every moment. I might not have taken to Molly when I first met her, but by the end she’d entirely won my heart – her journey’s a difficult one, but I adored her as she made one big mistake after another, every twist and turn of her story exceptionally funny but also, at times, emotional and extremely touching. And if you enjoy things emotional, you’re going to just love Percy and Violet’s turn-of-the-century love affair, revisited regularly as the book progresses – there were times when it really broke my heart.

This is quite wonderful writing – the author has an exceptional imagination that took my breath away, and the whole premise of the book is highly original and so well-handled. The characterisation is simply wonderful – I grew to love Molly, I adored her grandfather, but the whole supporting cast is quite tremendous, as are the very real relationships between them all. There’s a lot of love in this book, quite beautifully done, and the humour’s spot-on too – every shade from subtle to slapstick – and there were plenty of moments that made me laugh out loud, only to be wiping away a little tear a few pages later.

It’s well-researched and totally captivating, the author’s writing has never been better, and I adored every moment – it perhaps wasn’t entirely the book I was expecting it to be, but that only made me love it more. What a story – thoroughly recommended to all.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly Butterfield at age 24, hates her telemarketing job and is still letting others take care of her. So, when her lover throws her out of his house, she tries to go back to her mom and stepfather Brian's place. Unfortunately, they are swapping houses with a couple from New York. She is offered a lifeline with an offer to go stay with her her recently widowed grandfather on the Dorset coast. She had spent lovely summers there, but had argued with her grandmother just before she died. Molly decides to go back to stay with her grandfather who is grieving badly. The house was very unusually designed and built and has a very peculiar cupboard that leads Molly into an odd situation that makes her grow up. The house is the link to the dual time stories and the information about architecture in the early 1900's is interesting. Molly is an unlikeable spoiled brat for about a quarter of the book, but staying with her is worth it as she starts to take responsibility for her actions and the other characters in the two stories are sympathetic. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Elizabeth Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 24-year-old graduate, Molly should be at the beginning of a good career, looking forward to the future, but she is going nowhere. Working in a call centre in London, she has depended on her boyfriend, Rupert, to pay all their bills and her only ambition seems to be to enjoy her social life. So when their relationship ends, she is homeless and even her parents say they cannot accommodate her at present. Her only option is to stay with her grandfather, Wally, in Dorset, who is still grieving the death of her grandmother. Her non-existent housekeeping skills mean that she struggles to cook and clean but gradually Molly follows the guidance her grandmother had shown and learns responsibility.
Wally’s house, Hawthorn Place has always meant a lot to Molly and now she researches the Arts and Crafts architectural style and the biography of its architect, Percy Gladwell. In occasional chapters we follow Percy’s life in late Victorian England. He has been commissioned by Edward and Violet Marston to design a house on the Norfolk coast for them. Percy specialises in creating personal houses for each client and he uses motifs from nature for decoration. It is soon clear that Violet will be the spiritual lead for the design, and he becomes interested both in the garden she proposes and in Violet herself.
Although working hard to cheer Wally’s spirits and engage him in gardening, which he once loved, she stumbles into an unwise new relationship. The discovery of an amazing secret in Hawthorn Place leads her to a job with recluse, Rory Brooker, who also needs her help, but she finds herself in a network of lies with no easy way out.
This dual time story deals with personal relationships, love and maturity and the reader gradually identifies with Molly in her struggle to understand the people who are important to her. In parallel we follow the story of two lonely people more than a century earlier in an intriguing tale of magical realism.

[Erin Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written time-slip artfully connected by two intriguing and exquisite period houses. I loved who Keer described the architectural features of each providing a solid foundation for each story. Family duty forces Molly to attend to grandad’s needs in stunning Dorset, enabling her to reconnect and correct past mistakes. Percy defies social convention to create, design and provide an ever-lasting monument for the love of his life. I was hooked by both stories, but Percy’s story brought a tear to my eye, as it captured the pleasure and pain of true love. Highly recommended. Five stars.

[L. Soper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoiler: I cannot understand the relationships between Molly and any other character in this book. She has the strangest attachments to each character (how could she possibly LOVE Rory already?!? What??) and literally ALL of the interactions with Molly and each character contains at least one cringy dialogue or physical interaction. On top of all that, add the miscommunication with ages and Rory's feelings for (what he thinks to be) an underage girl and it's just really weird and poorly created.

That said, I really loved the relationship between Percy and Violet. I didn't understand why that portion of the book felt more rushed through when it was definitely the best part of the story.

As for the magic of the cupboard? We're supposed to (after investing all of our time in this story) accept that it's simply the magic of love. We don't know how or when it came to be or how it was discovered or if it was a feature that Percy had specifically created for each house with wishful and whimsical intentions. We have no idea. That's the biggest disappointment of the whole book. A total let down ending.

[Emmalucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of historical fantasy, lavish architecture, gardening and good housekeeping tips! Literally something for everyone. The references to architectural history were fascinating. As were the cultural references of gender inequality in the 1800s. The book splits between two timelines and two houses, joined in love. The character of Molly was meant to be annoying and frustrating as it was her story of turning her life around which was central to the storyline. Jenni has written a lovely novel which will keep you guessing until the end.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Molly arrives at home with a broken relationship in tow, she's shocked to see her Mom and stepdad house swapping for the summer, leaving her without a place to crash. Reluctant to return to her boring job, she agrees to live with her Grandad to help him around his home for the summer. Even though it means no Wi-Fi.

Molly is an irritating character of privilege and while there were often parts I didn't get in the book, such as her Mom not telling her who her real father is, it was an intriguing book nonetheless. I loved the dual timeline and the mystery Molly got caught up in. Well written fun book to read at the beach!

[Gloria Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Complicated Story starts off in Dorset present day then goes back to the year 1894 then back to present day but through a cupboard in the house in Dorset leads to a house in Norfolk then back through the cupboard in Dorset Could not really enjoy this book but did finish reading the book

[Cheryl Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, read it in a few days. Bit slow towards the end but I enjoyed it.

[Gail Wylde · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely read!

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. What will I read now? Will have to find another by this author. The story was cleverly written and the images I created in my mind are vivid.

[Anne G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book from this Author, the first The Legacy of Halesham Hall I loved and I even loved this one more, If I could I would give it than 5 stars

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was slow throughout but ended good!! had a sweet ending and shocking twist

[Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Molly has been dumped by her boyfriend and left without a place to call home. She runs to her mother and stepfather, Brian's house hoping to crash there only to find they have swapped homes for a holiday, but luckily, Brian's father, asks Molly to come stay with him. She isn't sure if she wants to because even though she adores Grandad, he has no internet and there is nothing there for her to do, but eventually agrees because she really needs a place to stay. Molly acts like a 14 year old not a 24 year old, I had a hard time with ther character, she really bugged me.

I am really not sure how I feel about this book. I loved most of it, the story of Percy and Violet was lovely, I really liked learning about the houses and the arts and crafts style of architecture. The mystery of the house was enjoyable as well. My issue was with the main character, Molly, she was such a spoiled brat that I had a hard time with her character even when she grew up and redeeemed herself. Molly's granddad, was a lovely character, I loved everything about him and his parts of the story might have been my favourite.

I would definitely read another bok by this author, I liked her style of writing.

[Susanne Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seriously ticked so many of my “what I love in a book list”, it’s such a brilliant storyline and idea, so different and a little quirky, it’s what I enjoy to read - I adore books that are a little magical and mysterious.
Straight away I was caught up in the duel timeline stories, and I liked how they flowed between the past and present happenings.
Molly at the start isn’t someone I particularly liked, but as the book progresses I found myself becoming attached to her and by the end I was definitely a fan. It was a clever story that intrigued me and had me thinking about the characters, even when I had dragged myself away from reading it!
I won’t go into much detail, there are secrets that you have to find out as you read, and I don’t want to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of finding them out!
Just to say that this book was perfect for me, and I just love it so so much!

[Lisa Willis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this book, but was quite disappointed.

Molly goes to stay with her Grandad at Hawthorn Place after her relationship ends. She starts to discover things about the house and also Accacia House.

Accacia House is talked about by Percy, so the book runs over a dual timeline. The secrets between both houses I found really didn't fit in with the book and it was quite strange.

I couldn't take to Molly's character either - she was like a very spoilt child, considering she was meant to be a 24 year old woman.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I found this book too far fetched for a recommended “historical fiction” novel. While the details of Dorset and Arts and Crafts architecture was enjoyable, I found the main character Molly immature and one dimensional. I was surprised the overall book ratings were quite high.

A light read for the summer?

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this magical dual timeline story with its two houses and four fabulous characters. I wasn’t sure about Molly to begin with and enjoyed Percy’s story much more - as she grew in character though, I found myself routing for her and loved how she became invested in the history of the house.

[Sarah Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most definitely my favorite Jenni Keer novel so far. A love story, a romance, history, and a little bit of magical mystery....all the things I love in a book, it kept me hooked right to the very end.

[Bookfan36 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brief synopsis from the book cover:

Two houses, hundreds of miles apart...yet connected always.

When life throws Molly Butterfield a curveball, she decides to spend some time with her recently widowed granddad, Wally, at Hawthorn Place, his quirky Victorian house on the Dorset coast.

But cosseted Molly struggles to look after herself, never mind her grieving granddad, until the accidental discovery of an identical Art and Crafts house on the Norfolk coast offers her an unexpected purpose, as well as revealing a bewildering mystery.

Discovering that both Hawthorn Place and Acacia House were designed by architect Percy Gladwell, Molly uncovers the secret of a love which linked them, so powerful it defied reason.

What follows is a summer which will change Molly for ever...

My rating:

Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Historical Fiction


Review:

A wonderful story written over an dual time line with a mystical twist. The first timeline tells the story of Percy an architect of the Arts and Craft movement and takes place at the end of 19th century and early 20th century. The second timeline is set in the present and tells the story of Molly who after her relationship ends finds herself at a loose end. Unable to fall back on her parents as she was expecting, she is kind of forced stay with her granddad a recent widower in a remote village in Dorset. With no internet and plenty of time on her hand, she becomes intrigued with the history of the house she is staying in, in her investigation she not only helps her granddad heal but also finds herself again.

Overall:

This book is beautifully written, set in a beautiful location. It gave am interesting insight into the Arts and Craft Movement, which I didn’t know a lot about. The setting of the book the Dorset and Norfolk coast were described in great detail. This made the scenes appear very realistic. The characters were complex but interesting and their actions felt authentic, this made them realistic. You feel yourself getting invested in them easily. The story flowed well and was very captivating. I was sad when I reached the end and there was no more.
.

Review copy provided by Netgalley at no cost to me.

[J.B (Debbie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Molly's life is the pits at the moment. Dumped by her boyfriend she now finds herself homeless. Her mother and step father are unable to help her out by offering her a place to stay so she goes to visit her widowed grandfather in the house that holds may happy childhood memories for her. Molly goes with the intention of looking after her grandfather who is really struggling with the loss of his beloved wife. Given that Molly is so absolutely useless about the house and constantly immersed in her online presence, how will she manage to care even for herself, never mind an elderly man. I'd go as far as describing her as a spoilt, entitled snowflake but yet there was something about her I warmed to immediately. However, the quirky Hawthorn Place is Molly's idea of an internet desert with no wifi, Molly is left without her beloved social media. But, the old Victorian house has other ideas about how to keep Molly entertained and she magically finds Acacia House, designed by the same love sick architect Percy Gladwell. Two identical houses, miles apart in more ways than one and a magical gateway to both! And for Molly, it seems life will now never be the same again.

The Secrets of Hawthorn Place is a dual timeline story and goodness I absolutely adore a good dual timeline. One aspect of the book is written from Molly's perspective and written in a happy go lucky, almost comedic way on occasion at the beginning of the book. In contrast, Percy's story and heart wrenching love story are written in such a way to absolutely tear at your heart strings and I will admit to stifling a sob or two. As the story progresses however, Molly matures and learns some valuable lessons and we see her character growing up in a way that she hadn't before her visits to the two houses.

Its very difficult to write a good review without giving too much away about this wonderfully quirky, magical and addictive read but lets just say its absolutely got all the right ingredients to keep you entertained. The plot was well paced, the characters fascinating, lots of secrets and the right sprinkling of magic. And of course, love so strong that the threads of it are never truly broken despite the passage of time. Definitely a highly recommended read. I wouldn't expect anything less from the very talented Jenni Keer.

[Judy Christiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the main theme of this book is transformation by love. In the beginning of the story, many of the characters were honestly not very likeable to me. I continued to read and convinced myself that they had those personalities for the story to develop. Once I was able to get pass my feelings for the characters, I really enjoyed this lovely book. It is filled with magic, hope and the knowledge that love will find a way.

The book is written in a dual timeline and that was an excellent way to tell this tale. It was very interesting to see that life really does not change all that much from time to time. People still have the same issues to deal with. Whether it is being tied to the constraints of society, or growing to find your way in the world, people from historical times and current time are still struggling with this.

I enjoy this author’s writing style and I always adore that she includes a character from the older population. I believe a well-formed story should include characters of different ages.

Two of the main “characters” are houses that were designed by the same architect. The houses play a huge part in the story and they have a magical quality that I really enjoyed. I cannot help hoping that this could be a reality in life. I will now look at old houses differently and wonder about mystical happenings in them.

I was engrossed in the book by 50% and I definitely did not want to put it down and then I was so sorry that it had ended. I grew to care so much for the characters. The plot took me on an unknown path and it was a fantastic journey.

I highly recommend this book and I look forward to more of Jenni Keer’s work in the future. I want to thank Headline, Headline Accent and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC. #TheSecretsofHawthornPlace #NetGalley