Scan barcode
debtat2's review against another edition
5.0
Full of heartwarming joys and heartbreaking sorrows, this book will sweep you off your feet and transport you back in time, right into the heart of Tommy’s and Josie’s young lives.
Tracy Rees capitalises on the successes of her previous books to create this powerful novel of love, loss, hope and ambition with her best book to date.
Set in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s it follows the lives of two young people from small neighbouring mining villages as they form an unusual friendship as they grow from young children into young adulthood with plenty of surprises along the way.
It cleverly depicts the living conditions of that era as well as the working conditions and hazards of working down the mines made all the more powerful when compared to the houses and lives of their employers, the aristocratic families who own the mines and their lives, full of comforts and wealths unlike anything the villagers have ever known.It depicts the lines between the social classes as both Tommys and Josie’s lives collide with that of their rich employers and instantly creates an emotional attachment to them both.
Tommy has never wanted to work down the mines, since his early schooling, learning has been what he wants to do with his life, he wants something more than every other man in their villages, a better standard of living but all of that is just a dream. Until a chance encounter with a rather unique stranger.
This book is full of everything you could ever want from a historical romance, full of emotion, ups and downs as well as some unexpected turns of events, it is a real page turner of a book.
If you enjoyed her previous books then you will not be disappointed with this one and if you are new to her books then this will have you rushing off to read her other books, all of which are impossible not to fall in love with.
Beautifully and eloquently written, a story that will touch your heart as well as act as an inspiration to all.
The House at Silvermoor will be published on 06 Feb 2020 and is available for preorder now.
A massive thank you to the author Tracy Rees, publishers Quercus Books and NetGalley for my arc of this book in exchange for an honest and independent review.
Tracy Rees capitalises on the successes of her previous books to create this powerful novel of love, loss, hope and ambition with her best book to date.
Set in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s it follows the lives of two young people from small neighbouring mining villages as they form an unusual friendship as they grow from young children into young adulthood with plenty of surprises along the way.
It cleverly depicts the living conditions of that era as well as the working conditions and hazards of working down the mines made all the more powerful when compared to the houses and lives of their employers, the aristocratic families who own the mines and their lives, full of comforts and wealths unlike anything the villagers have ever known.It depicts the lines between the social classes as both Tommys and Josie’s lives collide with that of their rich employers and instantly creates an emotional attachment to them both.
Tommy has never wanted to work down the mines, since his early schooling, learning has been what he wants to do with his life, he wants something more than every other man in their villages, a better standard of living but all of that is just a dream. Until a chance encounter with a rather unique stranger.
This book is full of everything you could ever want from a historical romance, full of emotion, ups and downs as well as some unexpected turns of events, it is a real page turner of a book.
If you enjoyed her previous books then you will not be disappointed with this one and if you are new to her books then this will have you rushing off to read her other books, all of which are impossible not to fall in love with.
Beautifully and eloquently written, a story that will touch your heart as well as act as an inspiration to all.
The House at Silvermoor will be published on 06 Feb 2020 and is available for preorder now.
A massive thank you to the author Tracy Rees, publishers Quercus Books and NetGalley for my arc of this book in exchange for an honest and independent review.
ginabyeg's review against another edition
4.0
This book started slow, but grew on me the more I read. I didn't quite enjoy it as thoroughly as Rees' first book I discovered, Amy Snow, but it was still an engaging and well-thought-out novel. If you want a sweet but not overly-syrupy love story, woven together with a bit of mystery, and a nicely brought-together ending, this book is worth a read.
jo_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
A new century, the twentieth is upon Tommy and Josie and they have plans but they are seemingly stuck in their respective Yorkshire coal mining villages and it seems their destiny is mapped out for them, long before they were born.
Tommy knows he will go down the mine in the footsteps of his brothers, the men that marry his sisters and his fathers. He also knows that not everyone comes out the same as they were before they were underground. However Tommy wants to learn more about the world, he has a thirst for knowledge and that is not sated by this little village.
Josie, living in a neighbouring village in the shadow of a different mine to Tommy, she sees the effect that this rich mine owner is having on the locals and most of all her family.
Meeting one day Tommy and Josie form an unlikely friendship which is innocent and heartwarming perhaps but their fascination with doing something other than mining and seeing another part of the world through the gates to the Heston Manor they wonder perhaps what life is like in there.
Heston Manor is all closed up, no one lives there since a tragedy some years previous and the owner, also the owner of the mine in the village where Josie lives is not someone to be trifled with - especially when you find yourself on their land.
But there is a secret to Heston Manor and both Tommy and Josie are drawn back there time and time again. What they discover can it change their lives or the lives of everyone in the village.
As fates take their own path, Tommy and Josie find themselves at another big house - Silvermoor. How can a place be so welcoming, opening and accepting when Heston Manor is everything but?
As all the strands of the story start to weave together it seems that Tommy and Josie are about to embark on a very different future to the one they thought they would have.
This book is packed full of wonderful passages and it's pace at times might seem slower than other novels but then I think that is intended as you start to understand the differences between the main characters, their respective villages, the mines, the 'big' houses and the classes.
The research that must have gone into this book was clearly there to see - the scenes in the mines at times had me gasping for breath. Claustrophobia set in as I was taken with Tommy under the ground, where you could not stand up straight, breathe properly and almost taste the coal. There are many more scenes I could choose from to describe how wonderful the writing is but that would just spoil the book for you.
A novel full of opposites, which in show the love and hate, the warmth and coldness, ironically the coal gives you warmth the work to get it so heartlessly cold. I am not sure what the message was from this book - but for me it swept me away and I hope it does you.
For me this is the best book by Tracy Rees so far and is a must for any fans of historical fiction, think Catherine Cookson but on a much higher level.
Thank you to the publisher via netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The House at Silvermoor is published on 6 Feb 2020.
Tommy knows he will go down the mine in the footsteps of his brothers, the men that marry his sisters and his fathers. He also knows that not everyone comes out the same as they were before they were underground. However Tommy wants to learn more about the world, he has a thirst for knowledge and that is not sated by this little village.
Josie, living in a neighbouring village in the shadow of a different mine to Tommy, she sees the effect that this rich mine owner is having on the locals and most of all her family.
Meeting one day Tommy and Josie form an unlikely friendship which is innocent and heartwarming perhaps but their fascination with doing something other than mining and seeing another part of the world through the gates to the Heston Manor they wonder perhaps what life is like in there.
Heston Manor is all closed up, no one lives there since a tragedy some years previous and the owner, also the owner of the mine in the village where Josie lives is not someone to be trifled with - especially when you find yourself on their land.
But there is a secret to Heston Manor and both Tommy and Josie are drawn back there time and time again. What they discover can it change their lives or the lives of everyone in the village.
As fates take their own path, Tommy and Josie find themselves at another big house - Silvermoor. How can a place be so welcoming, opening and accepting when Heston Manor is everything but?
As all the strands of the story start to weave together it seems that Tommy and Josie are about to embark on a very different future to the one they thought they would have.
This book is packed full of wonderful passages and it's pace at times might seem slower than other novels but then I think that is intended as you start to understand the differences between the main characters, their respective villages, the mines, the 'big' houses and the classes.
The research that must have gone into this book was clearly there to see - the scenes in the mines at times had me gasping for breath. Claustrophobia set in as I was taken with Tommy under the ground, where you could not stand up straight, breathe properly and almost taste the coal. There are many more scenes I could choose from to describe how wonderful the writing is but that would just spoil the book for you.
A novel full of opposites, which in show the love and hate, the warmth and coldness, ironically the coal gives you warmth the work to get it so heartlessly cold. I am not sure what the message was from this book - but for me it swept me away and I hope it does you.
For me this is the best book by Tracy Rees so far and is a must for any fans of historical fiction, think Catherine Cookson but on a much higher level.
Thank you to the publisher via netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The House at Silvermoor is published on 6 Feb 2020.
portybelle's review against another edition
4.0
The House at Silvermoor begins around the beginning of the 20th century and follows the lives of Josie and Tommy who meet when young children and become firm friends. They are both from mining communities, from neighbouring rival villages, and both know that there is little expected of their lives beyond marriage for Josie and going down the mine for Tommy. Both dream about a life beyond the pit villages and both are fascinated by the families who own the mines and control their lives.
Tracy Rees' writing takes you right into the era, showing how hard life was for mining communities and how they were totally at the mercy of the pit owners. And mercy was something in short supply, especially if something went wrong. Women and children could find themselves flung out their homes if a miner could no longer work or was killed in a pit accident. I could absolutely understand Tommy's dread at going underground and Tracy Rees described his first terrifying, back breaking dark days in the mines so clearly. Josie too had few opportunities open to her and could only see a life of drudgery ahead, having children, constantly cleaning coal dust, and struggling to feed a family just as her mother and the other women had to do.
And yet these two young people had dreams which they thought could never come true. They both dreamed of a better life for themselves. I loved reading about how they always had ambitions even when life seemed so very hard. Josie in particular was a feisty character, a trait which often got her into trouble but also gave her the chance to make changes in her life. The bond between Tommy and Josie was so well described and the strength their friendship gave to each other was clear. They always stood up for each other and wanted the best for each other.
Another strand of the story features the families who own the mines and hold the livelihood of the villagers in their hands. Here we see two contrasting families with the Sedgewicks of Silvermoor being a much kinder family, showing more duty of care towards their employees whereas the Barridge family of Heston Manor are much more unsympathetic and often negligent. Tommy and Josie's lives become more intertwined with these families than they ever imagined. With secrets concerning both families coming to light, this made for some intriguing reading.
A book about friendship and love and never giving up on your dreams, The House at Silvermoor is an atmospheric read with secrets, love and ambition at its heart.
Tracy Rees' writing takes you right into the era, showing how hard life was for mining communities and how they were totally at the mercy of the pit owners. And mercy was something in short supply, especially if something went wrong. Women and children could find themselves flung out their homes if a miner could no longer work or was killed in a pit accident. I could absolutely understand Tommy's dread at going underground and Tracy Rees described his first terrifying, back breaking dark days in the mines so clearly. Josie too had few opportunities open to her and could only see a life of drudgery ahead, having children, constantly cleaning coal dust, and struggling to feed a family just as her mother and the other women had to do.
And yet these two young people had dreams which they thought could never come true. They both dreamed of a better life for themselves. I loved reading about how they always had ambitions even when life seemed so very hard. Josie in particular was a feisty character, a trait which often got her into trouble but also gave her the chance to make changes in her life. The bond between Tommy and Josie was so well described and the strength their friendship gave to each other was clear. They always stood up for each other and wanted the best for each other.
Another strand of the story features the families who own the mines and hold the livelihood of the villagers in their hands. Here we see two contrasting families with the Sedgewicks of Silvermoor being a much kinder family, showing more duty of care towards their employees whereas the Barridge family of Heston Manor are much more unsympathetic and often negligent. Tommy and Josie's lives become more intertwined with these families than they ever imagined. With secrets concerning both families coming to light, this made for some intriguing reading.
A book about friendship and love and never giving up on your dreams, The House at Silvermoor is an atmospheric read with secrets, love and ambition at its heart.
michwithbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
marloesleest's review against another edition
3.0
Yorkshire, eind 19e eeuw. Twee jonge tieners, Tommy en Josie, groeien op in rivaliserende mijnstadjes en dromen allebei van een ander leven. Tommy heeft altijd het gevoel gehad dat hij voorbestemd was voor een groter bestaan, hij is intelligent en leergierig, maar net als zijn vader en oudere broers zal hij binnenkort af moeten dalen in het duister van de mijnen, om zo geld te verdienen voor zijn familie. Tijdens nachtelijke, heimelijke strooptochten op de landgoederen van de eigenaren van de mijnen, fantaseert hij over een andere toekomst.
Wanneer Josie op het terrein van Heston Manor, het landhuis dat tussen de twee stadjes in ligt, bloemen plukt voor de bruiloft van haar zus, wordt ze betrapt door de jachtopziener en krijgt ze een flinke uitbrander. Naderhand ontmoet ze Tommy, die een wandeling aan het maken is, en al snel hebben ze een klik. Ze zijn gelijkgestemden, voelen zich allebei buitenbeentjes en vinden begrip en vriendschap bij elkaar.
Hun band wordt steeds hechter, ze helpen elkaar, offeren zichzelf soms op voor de ander, cijferen zichzelf weg, gaan voor de ander door het vuur, zoeken afleiding om niet te denken aan hun zware levens en fantaseren over wat er op Heston Manor gebeurd is, waarom het landgoed verlaten is. De ontdekking van een bijzonder geheim zal hun levens totaal op hun kop zetten.
Tracy Rees heeft een beeldende, beschrijvende en gedetailleerde schrijfstijl, ze bouwt haar verhaal zorgvuldig op en je leert Tommy en Josie goed leert kennen door de focus op de personages. Hun perspectieven wisselen elkaar af en Rees heeft duidelijk veel onderzoek gedaan naar deze tijdsperiode, want alles voelt levensecht. Door de uitgebreide opbouw kabbelt het verhaal soms wel behoorlijk en niet alle ontwikkelingen vond ik even verrassend of geloofwaardig, maar je wilt wel door blijven lezen omdat je zo meeleeft met Tommy en Josie en je wilt ontdekken hoe hun verhaal zal eindigen. Het is een mooi verhaal over familiebanden, geheimen, liefde, dromen, hoop, geluk en verlangen. Een aanrader voor iedere liefhebber van een rustige historische roman!
3.5⭐️
Wanneer Josie op het terrein van Heston Manor, het landhuis dat tussen de twee stadjes in ligt, bloemen plukt voor de bruiloft van haar zus, wordt ze betrapt door de jachtopziener en krijgt ze een flinke uitbrander. Naderhand ontmoet ze Tommy, die een wandeling aan het maken is, en al snel hebben ze een klik. Ze zijn gelijkgestemden, voelen zich allebei buitenbeentjes en vinden begrip en vriendschap bij elkaar.
Hun band wordt steeds hechter, ze helpen elkaar, offeren zichzelf soms op voor de ander, cijferen zichzelf weg, gaan voor de ander door het vuur, zoeken afleiding om niet te denken aan hun zware levens en fantaseren over wat er op Heston Manor gebeurd is, waarom het landgoed verlaten is. De ontdekking van een bijzonder geheim zal hun levens totaal op hun kop zetten.
Tracy Rees heeft een beeldende, beschrijvende en gedetailleerde schrijfstijl, ze bouwt haar verhaal zorgvuldig op en je leert Tommy en Josie goed leert kennen door de focus op de personages. Hun perspectieven wisselen elkaar af en Rees heeft duidelijk veel onderzoek gedaan naar deze tijdsperiode, want alles voelt levensecht. Door de uitgebreide opbouw kabbelt het verhaal soms wel behoorlijk en niet alle ontwikkelingen vond ik even verrassend of geloofwaardig, maar je wilt wel door blijven lezen omdat je zo meeleeft met Tommy en Josie en je wilt ontdekken hoe hun verhaal zal eindigen. Het is een mooi verhaal over familiebanden, geheimen, liefde, dromen, hoop, geluk en verlangen. Een aanrader voor iedere liefhebber van een rustige historische roman!
3.5⭐️
bookedmybook's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
bookishhuffle's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
novellenovels's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tessavhs's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75