This was a gentle, historical read. It was a slow paced book and it's more of a character driven book. The dialogue was a little stilted in places but I still enjoyed it.

Written in a stilted, perhaps-emulating-the-period style of the 1940s, this novel follows a young widow in her post-WWII life, where she's trying to recover from losing her husband, establish her own professional identity, and look after the aunt and uncle who raised her. The plot involves Lucy's relationship with her uncle's second-in-command at the publishing company where they all work, a mystery regarding a publishing project, and possible black marketing. Perhaps because of the reticent narrative voice of Lucy, I found this rather painful reading and found Lucy's descriptions of the emotions of everyday actions and thoughts inexorably melodramatic and overwrought. The romance is one that takes place with little communication, and the mystery ends up being a misunderstanding caused by jumping to conclusions. The characters and plot ideas were all fine and could have made for a really stellar novel, I can't say this was a pleasure to read.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Iam really sorry to say this book was not for me I really tried to read it but could not

There are many novels written that are set during WWII but this one is in the period just after the war ended: 1946 and that is a first one for me. Let me start by saying I am very interested in history. A lot is still rationed and men slowly get demobilised and send home. Lucy who worked during the war in Bristol during the bombings loses her job to the returning men and goes home to her elderly aunt and uncle who raised her. But there she discovers the couple has taken in a lodger who is also working as an editor for her uncles publishing company. Lucy, widowed and childless, can only get a secretarial menial job and sleep in the room above the office. Her gloomy daily life is depressing and she is only 26! I thought her family was heartless but we find out why they did what they did.

We slowly discover how other people are still trying to cope with the war. The man who spent five years in a prisoner of war camp, the man who had quite a nice posting and is jealous of the people who are seen as heroes, the old people who cannot cope without their children.

And mrs. P who realises she is just young Lucy and who still attracts men. And that she still lives.

In the story is a mystery. A young girl who grew up in a mansion and who seems to have disappeared 50 years ago and who is mentioned by one of the authors. Lucy feels the urge to find out what happened. And that is definitely inspired by her own childhood..

The readers who hoped it is a romance novel. Sorry. It is more a period drama. And there is a light touch of spirit talk in it. What I think could have easily ditched.

I liked the view into the era. I also liked the psychological aspects. Not a big fan of the ghosts.

I am not familiar with this writer and was pleased to receive an advanced copy. I am a huge historical fiction reader. The story begins with Lucy, a war widow who is working in her uncles publishing house. We immediately have a chemistry between Lucy and the new editor recently returned from war. Lucy is living over the shop because the young editor is living with her Aunt and Uncle. He disappears frequently for day trips that leave Lucy puzzled.
I admit, it was hard to really get into the story. I did not feel the initial pull I would of liked. There were other characters such as a mysterious Doctor who wanted to know too much, an elderly neighbor who has written a book and a shop girl downstairs always curious. We also got glimpses into the publishing world.
I look forward to additional books by this author to see where they will go.

Lorna Gray is a new author to this reader and I was excited to receive this story to read. The main character is Lucy, who is a widow returning to her hometown after the war. She works with her uncles at a small publishing house. She comes to find out that the new editor is living with her aunt and uncle and she is put in the position of living above the shop. Result...both these characters have their share of ups and downs as they muddle through life post war.

Where to start with this story....the characters weren't a comfy to me and I had a time connecting to them in the story. I love all types of historical fiction but this one was a bit dry, slow and wordy without engaging this reader into really wanting to know the individuals. At times, I found myself skipping through a few pages just to find some areas that would pick up the story. Unfortunate, this was not what I was expecting but would love to read other novels from this author in hopes of changing my perception of her writing.

I would like to thank the author, Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

2-Stars

Lucy is a widow returned home after the war to the Cotswolds to figure her life out. She begins work at her uncles small publishing house and discovers there’s a new editor there who is also living with her aunt and uncle (which forces her to live above the shop instead of the home she was raised in). They both are navigating through what life looks like post war.

I had a really hard time connecting to the characters or the story. It felt like it was very wordy without saying a lot. I love historical fiction and can usually navigate through some drier prose in favor of the story, but I just couldn’t connect and push through with this one.

After losing her husband during World War II, Lucy returns home to the Cotswolds and her aunt and uncle to try to build a new life, while taking comfort from the old. Books have always held a very special place in Lucy’s life, but the new editor of Kershaw and Kathay Press is a former prisoner of war and is struggling to resume any semblance of a normal life. When the story of a child left to fend for herself surface, Lucy has to work to understand both Robert’s motivation for the project and what really happened to a lost little girl