Historical fiction set around Eleanor Dare, a survivor from the lost city of Roanoke and her descendants. Eleanor kept a journal that passed to her daughter and her daughter. Each generation of daughters adds to the journal entries, giving their descendants a picture of life through the ages. This generation's daughter is Alice Young. Her husband died during WWII leaving her with Penn, Alice's 13 yr old daughter. These two women, mother and daughter, must find the strength their ancestors displayed at this point in their own era. A unique story line that builds each character on the bones of their mothers.

A bit of myth and legend and some old fashion historical fiction, which I love by the way, this book left me flat. It took forever to finish as other more interesting books jumped ahead of this one. I would read 25 pages and move on to another book, then comeback and read another 35 pages and move on again. Although it sounded appealing it just couldn’t hold my interest. I did painfully finish but my honest option is The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare needs to simply stay lost.

This story is so beautifully written and the plot so unique and fascinating that I was immediately captivated and loved every minute of it. I really enjoy dual timelines and they worked well for this book. You won't want to miss this one!

This sweeping saga was amazing. I loved the character development and the mystery. I will definitely read more by this author.

Such masterful storytelling from Kimberly Brock, carried by characters that remain long after the story ends.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare</i> weaves a tale of mystery and historical fiction, drawing from the legendary lost colony of Roanoke. The narrative follows Alice, a descendant of Eleanor Dare, as she unearths family secrets and a mysterious book linked to her ancestors. The story intertwines past and present, exploring themes of legacy, memory, and the enduring impact of history.

<h4>The Details</h4>

Kimberly Brock's meticulous research shines through, bringing the story of Roanoke and Eleanor Dare to life. The historical context is vividly depicted, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the past.

Also, both Alice and Eleanor are well-developed characters. Their strength and resilience add depth to the narrative, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of women across generations.

Furthermore, the author excels in creating a hauntingly beautiful setting. The descriptions of the old Dare family home and the surrounding landscapes add to the book's enigmatic and reflective tone.

However, the dual timelines, while interesting, can sometimes disrupt the flow of the story. Certain parts of the narrative drag, causing the reader to lose engagement.

With that, some of the revelations and twists in the story are foreseeable, which might lessen the impact for readers who enjoy more unpredictable plot developments.

And while the main characters are compelling, some secondary characters feel underdeveloped. Their roles often seem to serve the plot rather than adding meaningful depth to the story.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare</i> is a commendable attempt at blending historical fiction with a modern-day quest for identity and understanding. Kimberly Brock's strength lies in her ability to create a vivid historical backdrop and strong female leads. However, the story's pacing and predictability slightly hinder its overall impact. Fans of historical fiction and those intrigued by the mystery of Roanoke will find much to appreciate, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking a more dynamic and unpredictable narrative.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. The author did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

I ended up DNFing this one and it makes me so sad. I got around 75% through the book and had to put it down.

I didn't anything really happened. It was 75% of nothing.. It didn't live up to the description's hype.

The novel takes the reader on a journey through the lives of Alice and her daughter Penn, revealing their connection to the mysterious history of Eleanor Dare, a descendant of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. As the two navigate their family's tumultuous past and present, the uncovering of the long-lost Dare Stone and Eleanor's enigmatic commonplace book becomes an exploration of their legacy. Overall, the book represents a multigenerational tale intertwining familial history, grief, and exploration. While some aspects, notably the exploration of Roanoke, may leave readers wanting, the novel excels in its portrayal of characters grappling with lineage and the weight of their legacy. The evocative setting and emotive character narratives offer an immersive experience, although some may find the pacing and focus diverging from the promised Roanoke mystery.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #NetGalley #TheLostBookofEleanorDare #LifeLongLearning

This one was a DNF for me, I really could not get in to the storyline or the characters, I got close to halfway before I ended up giving up on it,

I've been waiting a long time to read this one and now I wish I hadn't. Being familiar with Helen, Dahlonega and Savannah, I was excited when the story began mentioning all three places. But it spiraled downhill quickly. I didn't care for any of the characters, including the young girl Penn who got on my nerves. And the story about a "supposedly" lost book that wasn't even lost was incredibly boring. Can't recommend it to anyone. My thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I DNF'd this one about 50% through. The book just didn't deliver on what the description promised. I was expecting a lot more mystery/intrigue/history etc. but it was just a lot of learning about this small community and the politics of everything in the first half.

Ever since I first learned about the lost colony of Roanoke in history class, I've always had an interest. The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare is a must-read for anyone who wonders what exactly could have happened to the lost colony.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty interesting story that had a bit of focus on the lost colony of Roanoke but was mostly set during WWII. The point of view jumped back and forth mostly between Alice and her daughter Penn, but there were also some short pieces by some of their ancestors.

Overall I liked the variety of characters and the different personalities. The story was pretty good but I felt at times it moved slowly. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, I think this would be a good pick.

Oh this was good. I was not familiar with the story about the engraved stones. Of course I had heard about the lost colony but never really looked into the story of it all. This was historical fiction during WWII but almost in an abstract way. It was mentioned because it affected everyone during that time, but it was not a main part of the story. I liked how the story unfolded and the authors ability to weave the tale.

2.5 stars rounding up.

The blurb for this book begins with "The fate of the world is often driven by the curiosity of a girl." Who wouldn't be sucked in by that? Whoever wrote that line set the bar way too high for the book to live up to.

This is a dual-timeline story about a mother and daughter who lost first their husband/father in WWII and then their father/grandfather before the war is over. The latter left them the family homestead where the mother must face painful childhood memories and the daughter may discover the story of generations that came before her. We are promised a story about the lost colony of Roanoke, but little is delivered on that front.

The story reads like a two-lane highway through the plains states - slow and with a story arc that is somewhat less than arc-shaped. I kept going because I kept thinking it would deliver some lovely surprise, but it never materialized. I should have DNF'd it. Life is too short. Find a better book.

Loved this book. I was flipping the pages like crazy to find out all the secrets.
It was a beautiful story about coming to terms with your past, the relationship between mother and daughter...with a little bit of magic thrown in.

Will recommend this!

Great premise but the execution leaved much to be desired. Again editing would have helped raise the rating. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

I enjoy this for most of the book but there where some part that just lag for me, but other then that it was a good read.

While I loved the story and all the characters, it was not an easy book to read. I struggled for the first half of the book, finding the prose to be labored and too “wordy”. Once the story got into the accounting of Eleanor Dare, it was easier to read. It’s a good story that would have been given a 5 star if it had gotten to the point a bit earlier in the story.