The Family Divided

One family, divided by death – and money

Andy Batiste, at loggerheads with his degenerate cousin, seeks to discover the truth of his family history. Why was his pregnant grandmother forced to flee to France? What really happened to her husband during the German Occupation, sixty years ago? Who accused Edmund, the elder son and Batiste heir, of being an informer? Was he really a traitor – and who murdered him?

With Edmund’s brother Harold now head of the family, enjoying the wealth which ought to have come to Andy’s father, the family is forever divided. Andy yearns to clear Edmund’s name and restore his father to his rightful inheritance.

Into the conflict comes Charlotte Townsend, newly divorced, lonely and struggling with writer’s block and the consuming threat of impending loss. She returns for healing at Guernsey's natural health centre, La Folie, and becomes involved in Andy’s family affairs.

Together they embark on a hunt for the truth…

*May Contain Spoilers*

Anne Allen writes of enchanting Guernsey in her fourth installment of the Guernsey novels, The Family Divided, making readers jealous with abundant love matches and mysteries. I've enjoyed the Guernsey novels from the beginning, and am still excited for each one. Anne Allen brings the reader into the circle of islanders, making them a part of the family, while introducing new characters to join the previous.

This time the focus is the wealthy, socialite, Charlotte Townsend, publisher and aspiring author. She was introduced briefly in the previous installment and has become a dear friend of Louisa, the third Guernsey girl. Charlotte is a character in motion. She's recently divorced and is still figuring out who she wants to be and where she wants to go in life. Charlotte is a little on the snooty side with her manor house and personal chef, but she has been known to have a carefree notion and dice a few vegetables. Readers will enjoy watching her wonder about starting over, stumble, and finally decide to leap. She's a loving character who tends to over worry a bit, though only about the serious things. She struggles to keep her head up when her mother's cancer returns and buries herself in research for a man she barely knows. Though that does change quite quickly. Head over heels, I believe. The reader will connect with Charlotte through her worries, her faith, and her openness while also enjoying the plot. 

The storyline follows Charlotte to Guernsey where Andy has made a life as an architect. Andy is a friend of Paul, who is still dating Louisa from book three. Charlotte meets Andy while having lunch with Louisa and offers to be his research assistant to an intriguing mystery going back sixty years. A mystery involving his father, murder, and a rather large inheritance. Though the mystery is the main focus of the characters, the characters are the main focus of the book. Charlotte is trying to uncover the truth of Andy's family while also trying to emotionally support her mother and decide what she wants for her future. Andy falls for Charlotte almost immediately, but feels he needs to hold back as they are from different social classes. Though once the mystery is solved, their relationship is the only thing left to figure out and Anne Allen does a nice job giving readers a happy ending with the promise of more.

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

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

Teaser Tuesday (136)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers


Guernsey Retreat (43%)
    - Anne Allen

Louisa had only said that her hypnosis session had produced results, but from the excitement in her voice he guessed it was significant.

Finding Mother

Prepare to be swept away by a heart-warming tale of family relationships and love
Three women. Three generations. Sacrifices for love… 

Who is she really? Nicole is about to find out as she searches for her real mother; the woman who gave her away at birth. With her marriage in tatters, she sets out from England: travelling to Spain, Jersey and Guernsey before the extraordinary story of her real family is finally revealed. 

Nicole becomes an unwitting catalyst for change in the family. Two women are forced to reveal long-buried secrets. One going back as far as the Second World War. Lives are transformed as choices have to be made and the past laid to rest… 

*May Contain Spoilers*

Anne Allen shares another Guernsey story in her novel, Finding Mother. The main character, Nicole, struggles with her identity when the life she built begins to crumble. As Nicole searches for the mother who gave her up, she discovers a new world where she can redefine herself and focus on all the future can promise. 

Nicole is an extroverted woman in her thirties who built a life as a television journalist with her husband. A successful career, beautiful home, and someone to share her life with, Nicole seems to have it all. But the adulterous nature of her husband forces Nicole to examine her life and decide what she really wants. Readers will immediately be drawn to Nicole at the beginning of the novel when she confronts her husband's transgressions. This sympathetic connection becomes the foundation for the bond between reader and character.  Nicole's character steadily grows through the search for her mother, revealing her strength, her independence, and her courage. 

The plot of Finding Mother begins with a trial separation from her husband, during which Nicole sets off to find her biological mother. The search takes her to Guernsey where she meets not only her mother, but her father and grandmother as well. The struggle to find her place in this new family is overwhelming at times, but through it all Nicole is honest, hopeful, and open-minded. 

The detail that Allen provides is astounding. Readers will be swept to the beautiful island with her intricate descriptions. Though the dialogue is sometimes stiff and seemingly formal, it may be a cultural difference and it doesn't take away from the story. The sub-plot of Nicole finding new love is a bit strained because of the separation/divorce details, but that didn't stop it from being enjoyable. (If readers enjoyed Dangerous Waters, Allen's first novel, they'll enjoy seeing Jeanne again as she pops into Finding Mother as a supporting character.)

Rating: 3/5 Cups

Dangerous Waters

'Oh my God, what's happening to me? After all this time, please, not again!'

Jeanne Le Page, gripped by fear and panic, struggles to breathe as the ferry arrives in Guernsey, the island she had fled 15 years before, traumatised by a family tragedy.

Now she has to return after her grandmother's death. Jeanne has inherited her cottage and she plans to sell it before returning to the UK. Unhappy after the recent end of a long-term relationship, she has no desire to pick up her old life on the island.

Suffering traumatic amnesia after being involved in the accident that killed her family, Jeanne has experienced nightmares for years. The return to Guernsey triggers frightening flashbacks and she undergoes hypnosis to recover her memory, reliving the tragedy as the ghosts continue to haunt her. 

But someone on the island does not want her to remember, and she faces danger from an unexpected source . . .

*May Contain Spoilers*

Anne Allen's debut novel, Dangerous Waters, is a combination of understanding loss, facing fears, and finding love. Allen gives the readers an in-depth look at the life of Jeanne, a woman who struggles to accept what's happened to her and a desire to know why. 

Throughout the novel, readers follow Jeanne's story as she moves back to her birth-place, Guernsey, and begins piecing together her past. She's a well-crafted character full of life and love. She trusts easily and shows those around her how much she cares for them. 

The connection between reader and character is slow at first, but picks up towards the middle of the book. As Jeanne begins researching her family's history, readers will see the heart of Jeanne and be able to form a friendship with her. The reaction to her discoveries creates the foundation for making her a real-life character. 

My favorite thing about the novel were the interactions Jeanne had with the people around her. Allen's supporting cast of characters is a melting pot of different personalities, making for a fantastic read. Especially when they all get together. Molly and Peter are my two chosen favorite, as they are always near by for Jeanne, offering support in any way they can. Of course, the two love interests make for an interesting triangle, though readers will choose their sides. (And perhaps switch sides as more information comes to light.) 

The plot of Dangerous Waters was incredibly in-depth. Readers will have no choice but to be impressed at the thorough research Allen has done to make this novel come to life. The various plot lines swirl together to make one hell of a story, it's incredible to see how Allen perfectly crafted them as she didn't seem to leave anything out. It's a novel that crosses the genres of mystery, cook-book, history, and romance. 

Dangerous Waters is a stunning first novel that will leave readers anticipating what Allen will produce next. 

rating: 4/5

Dangerous Waters - Mystery, loss and love on the island of Guernsey

on Amazon

Note of Source: From Author for Review