Guernsey Retreat

Two violent deaths. Separated by time, but with a fatal connection…

A man loses his father. A young woman loses her mother. Both in tragic circumstances that lead, when they meet, to surprising revelations from the past.
Louisa needs to find the father she has never known, to warn him of possible danger - for them both. Her search takes her from England to Guernsey. Malcolm's journey is more tortuous: conceived in Guernsey, he travels to Canada as a baby with his bereaved mother. Many years later he arrives in India, and from here he is led back to Guernsey to open a health centre at La Folie. This was his father's home, where Malcolm was conceived, but never lived and where his father was killed at the start of the Second World War.

At the heart of the two deaths lie stolen jewels. Valuable enough to kill for. Twice.
Finding her father brings Louisa more than she bargains for, and her life is transformed, while Malcolm learns that life is, after all, for sharing…

*May Contain Spoilers*

Anne Allen continues sharing the magic of Guernsey in her novel, Guernsey Retreat. A rich story of familial discoveries, love that is lost as well as found, and a chance to bring justice to those who deserve it, Guernsey fans will enjoy the new series addition.

Louisa is the main character and readers will love her free spirited personality and open heart. She works as a physiotherapist, illustrating her focus of helping people. When Louisa meets her father for the first time, she is understanding, brave, and a bit nervous. These small details add to the overall realistic depiction of Louisa. She's a swimmer, loves the outdoors, and is quite health conscious. Readers will thoroughly relate to Louisa as she focuses on opening her life to a father who wants to make up for lost time and a chance to be truly balanced in life. 

The novel opens with the death of Susan, Louisa's mother. After a home invasion, Susan dies of heart failure, but Louisa caught a glimpse of the attacker. And with her last words, Susan told Louisa to warn her father -- a man she has never met -- of the mortal danger. With hope and fear simmering within, Louisa travels to Guernsey where her father has just opened a health and wellness center. Together they hope to track down the man who caused Susan's death. 

Guernsey Retreat is a book about building an enjoyable life and discovering new wonders by being open. It's also focused on family and the importance of love in your life. The novel is written mainly from Louisa's point of view in European style - complete with alternate vocabulary spellings. Though the characters and story line are interesting, the dialogue seems stiff at times and I had trouble imagining the characters actually saying certain phrases. Regardless, Anne Allen weaves a delicate novel with relatable characters and intriguing mystery.

Rating: 3.5/5Cups