Release Day Review: Daughter of the Sea by Elisabeth J. Hobbes
On a windswept British coastline, the tide deposits an unexpected gift...
It was the cry that she first noticed, the plaintive wail that called to her over the crash of winter waves. Wrapped only in a sealskin, the baby girl looks up at Effie and instantly captures her heart. She meant only to temporarily foster the young orphan, but when news reaches Effie that her husband has been lost at sea, and months pass without anyone claiming the infant, she embraces her new family—her son, Jack, and her adopted daughter, Morna.
Effie has always been an outcast in her village, the only granddaughter of a woman people whisper is a witch, so she's used to a solitary existence. But when Midsummer arrives, so, too, does a man claiming to be Morna's father. There's no denying Lachlan is the girl's kin, and so, Effie is surprised when he asks her to continue looking after his daughter, mysteriously refusing to explain why. She agrees, but when he returns six months hence, she pushes him for answers. And Lachlan tells a story she never anticipated... one of selkies, legend, and the power of the sea...
It was the cry that she first noticed, the plaintive wail that called to her over the crash of winter waves. Wrapped only in a sealskin, the baby girl looks up at Effie and instantly captures her heart. She meant only to temporarily foster the young orphan, but when news reaches Effie that her husband has been lost at sea, and months pass without anyone claiming the infant, she embraces her new family—her son, Jack, and her adopted daughter, Morna.
Effie has always been an outcast in her village, the only granddaughter of a woman people whisper is a witch, so she's used to a solitary existence. But when Midsummer arrives, so, too, does a man claiming to be Morna's father. There's no denying Lachlan is the girl's kin, and so, Effie is surprised when he asks her to continue looking after his daughter, mysteriously refusing to explain why. She agrees, but when he returns six months hence, she pushes him for answers. And Lachlan tells a story she never anticipated... one of selkies, legend, and the power of the sea...
Amazon: https://amzn.to/30HIjPh
iBooks: https://apple.co/3Ecdwrx
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3FdJXXF
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3q6JWyF
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Daughter of the Sea was such a pleasant surprise. I honestly didn't expect the romance aspect to play a big role, but the author did a great job in finding a perfect balance between everything. I was hooked to the story from the start and I couldn't wait to see how everything would unfold. First of all the setting of the story felt magical and I was able to fully visualize the village in my mind. Secondly, I loved the characters and due to the authors great writing I was able to connect to them. The book starts with the main character Effie finding a baby, wrapped only in a sealskin, in a basket floating on the sea. The same day she gets the news that the ship her husband was on has been lost at sea. When no one comes forward to claim the baby she decides to take care of her herself. Together, including her son Jack, they form a family of three. However, one night she gets a visitor who looks strangely a lot the baby and he claims he is the father. They strike a deal and Lachlan leaves Morna with Effie but comes to visit every 6 months.
I loved the magical elements in this book a lot. It was subtle and a great addition to the story. I really enjoyed the growth of the characters, and that the author really took the time to tell their story. Lachlan was a very honorable man and I fell in love with him as much as Effie did. However, he is hiding something and will Effie accept him and his daughter if she found out. I loved the development of their relationship, it felt very organic and there was no rushing. I also loved the the bond between Lachlan and his daughter Morna. The side characters were a great addition and completed the story. I especially loved Effie's aunt Alice. I hope the author will write more books like Daughter of the Sea, because I love historical fiction with a sprinkle of magic. I really enjoyed Elisabeth Hobbes writing style and I really look forward to reading more of her books.
About the Author
Elisabeth’s writing career began when she finished third in Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write contest in 2013 and hasn't looked back. She teaches Primary school but would rather write full time because unlike five year olds her characters generally do what she tells them. She spends most of her spare time reading and is a pro at cooking one-handed while holding a book.
She lives in Cheshire because the car broke down there in 1999 and she never left.
No comments: