Thank you NetGalley for approving me for this book. A good read that I definitely enjoyed and am glad to have been able to read.

Well this has been quite a story, which was set over three very different dual timelines and three generations, two set in the past and one in the present. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but there is a lot of detail and characters to keep track of, which usually I’m fine with and have no trouble keeping up, but for this book I did find it a little bit of the struggle. Sorry to say that I did scrim read some chapters nearer the end, just felt that some parts of the story were very drawn out in places.

But despite that, it was one hell of an entertaining tale, with a few shocking revelations throughout, some of them I had guessed about before they happened but some not. Not that it spoiled my enjoyment of the story in any way.

I love historical fiction set around the World War, but this one was pretty in-depth in that it got a little bit political in places, but overall it was captivating. There were plenty of emotion, drama, secrets, lies, mystery and intense moments.

I was absolutely hooked right from the first page, It is full of stunning detail and rich imagery, I felt like I was there and I really wanted to be

'The Moon Gate' is a beautifully crafted novel that seamlessly intertwines three timelines to tell the stories of three generations of women and their connection to a mysterious house in Tasmania. Like The Forgotten Garden, it explores themes of family, betrayal, and redemption that span over decades.
The novel's structure is cleverly crafted, allowing the reader to seamlessly transition from one timeline to another. Using objects, themes, and imagery to link each timeline is clever and well thought out. This connectedness of all the past and present timelines adds depth and poignancy to the story.
The characters are equally intriguing, and their stories are deftly interwoven. In the present-day timeline, the central character, Libby, tries to discover more about her past. Her grief and determination are palpable, and readers can easily empathise with her. The other two timelines follow Grace and Willow, two women with stories to tell. The development of the romance between Will and Ben is tinged with sadness, and the relationship between Grace and Daniel is heartwarming and utterly captivating.
As with The Forgotten Garden, the setting of each timeline is wonderfully captured, and the Tasmanian landscape is beautifully described. From the sprawling forests to the rugged coastlines and the bustling city streets of London, the imagery creates a vivid and memorable backdrop to the stories.
'The Moon Gate' is an excellent paranormal suspense book with twists and turns and a sense of adventure that keeps the pages turning. It's a skilful storyteller at work, and Amanda's writing style is easy to digest. The characters are compelling, and the story is thought-provoking and emotionally satisfying. It is highly recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of mystery and the supernatural.

Really lovely book set in great locations especially the Kerry references.Loved the mystery and intrigue of this book and the secret revealed near the end.Hope this author writes many more.She reminds me of Lucinda Rileys style of writing.

The story follows 3 timelines, Libby in 2004, her parents, Willow & Ben in 1974 & Grace & Rose in the 1040s, moving between London, Tasmania & Ireland.
It all revolves around the secrets of Towerhurst, a house on Tasmania’s west coast.
The author cleverly uses personal possessions, letters and photographs to link the timelines together and unearth clues to Towerhurst.
The book is beautifully written, a sweeping novel full of heartbreak, romance and friendship and it’s utterly captivating.
Thanks @amandageard @headlinepg & @netgalley for the eARC

The Moon Gate by Amanda Geard

1939 - Grace Grey lives in Grosvenor Place in London, with her mother Edeline who is a friend of the notorious Mosleys and wears the uniform of the Blackshirts. As war comes ever closer, Edeline makes the decision to send Grace and the housekeeper’s daughter Rose Munro to stay with her brother Marcus and his wife Olive in the north west coast of Tasmania. After an eight week voyage the girls are welcomed to Towerhurst, an unusual house with a whole tower where Uncle Marcus writes his poetry. Olive immediately takes to the beautiful Rose, but Marcus forms a bond with Grace over the poems of Banjo Patterson, an Australian ballad poet. Grace is reserved and shy, but is slowly coaxed out of her shell by Daniel McGillycuddy an Irish lad working at his aunt and uncle’s sawmill for Huron Pine. As war creeps ever nearer to their part of the Pacific there are dangerous emotional games at play between these young people with fall out that will extend over the rest of the century.

1975 - out of the blue Willow and Ben have been summoned to the north west of Tasmania because of a mysterious legacy. Willow has been left a house called Towerhurst, by an anonymous benefactor who placed it in trust. They decide it’s a great place for Ben to write and Willow to paint, but on their first visit Ben goes missing in the rainforest having fallen down an old mine shaft. What he finds there sends him on a quest that ends in London chasing a story about two young girls who lived at Towerhurst during WW2.

2004 - Libby has flown from Tasmania to London, wanting to claim the belongings of her father who died in the Moorgate Tube Station accident before she was born. Staying with her eccentric aunts in Grosvenor Square, she starts to follow the clues she finds in her father’s satchel: a publisher’s address, a book of ballads by poet D. McGillycuddy and the name Molly Munroe. Her quest will take her to a gentleman’s club, a narrow boat and eventually out to Ireland to solve a mystery that’s been laid buried for half a century.

I enjoyed Amanda Gerard’s first novel last year, so looked forward to reading her new one for a while. I was interested to see how her writing had developed over the last couple of years. To undertake a novel that takes in most of the 20th Century, three timelines and three different settings takes enormous confidence and she has definitely grown in confidence. This is a more complex novel, combining historical fiction with mystery and some romance too, but she pulls it off beautifully and I’ve absolutely loved it. From the historical perspective I learned a lot about living through WW2 in the Pacific Ocean, a completely different experience compared to Europe and the U.K. particularly. I thought Amanda beautifully captured how transient lives were at that time. This wasn’t just about the two English girls, Grace and Rose, uprooted from everything they knew and sent to the other side of the world. It was about the chaos of war, never knowing where your loved ones were, particularly if they were away fighting and whether they would ever come home again. For women that was especially difficult, left at home to wait but also left outside the experiences their men were having. Many women did their own war work, both to do their bit but also to feel a little closer to their men and as if they’re helping them to fight. War displaces people and there were huge shifts across the years of WW2 and afterwards as prisoners of war were slowly released and women who’d married a G.I. or perhaps a Polish airman travelled back to their native countries to start a new married life. It was a good time for people to disappear or slip away under the radar. I already knew a lot about the Blackshirts and their admiration of Hitler’s Nazi Party, but here I learned more about the women recruits and their activities. There was a breadth of research here, underpinning and enhancing the story across three different generations.

The main love story is so touching as the slightly awkward Grace is lured down to the beach by neighbour Daniel where he tries to kiss her. Sadly though it’s for a five shilling bet and as his mates turn up in a boat to witness her humiliation she runs away into the sea. It’s his friend Puds who has to rescue her, as she can’t swim and finds herself caught in an undertow. Daniel regrets his actions deeply, apologising the very next day and asking if Grace would perhaps share the book of ballads she’d been telling him about. They pass through the Moon Gate, a perfectly round doorway made of Atlantisite that leads to the waterfall and a small freshwater pool. Uncle Marcus claims that to pass through the gate is to become a new person and that certainly seems the case with Grace who not only forgives Daniel, but shares the ballad poems and agrees that he can teach her to swim. It’s so beautiful to watch them become close friends, but Grace knows that it’s Rose that Daniel finds attractive as everyone does at first. I felt for Grace deeply and I think a lot of other bookworms will too because she’s so uncomfortable in company, prefers solitude and loves words so much. My therapist side wanted to help her, because how does she learn to be herself and be confident in that, when even her own mother preferred Rose? When we’re not shown love from our parents, a child can’t understand that it’s a fault of the parent, so they learn there is something wrong with themselves. Grace is shocked by the help and affection she gets from Uncle Marcus, because her own mother is so austere and critical.

It was Rose who spent time with Edeline and became a member of the Blackshirts alongside her. Whereas Rose’s mother, the housekeeper Molly, can see something wonderful in Grace and so can her Uncle Marcus, it just needed to be coaxed out and nurtured. I was so invested in her feelings for Daniel and desperate for him to be clear about whether he had feelings for her. Rose is doing her bit in undermining and leading Grace to believe that Daniel only has eyes for her. She makes sure Grace knows when he writes from wherever he is in the world and if Grace shares news of her friend, Rose makes it clear she knew first. I’ve never wanted to slap a book character more! I wasn’t even sure that she genuinely loved Daniel, she’s just so used to getting one over on Grace that she hasn’t stopped to think it through. There are rumours in town about Rose and Uncle Marcus, she even winds Puds round her little finger but I wasn’t sure to what end? She certainly keeps her cards close to her chest, but when Rose takes up war work and isn’t around as much Grace can actually breathe. As I read I wasn’t sure what Rose was up to but I was certain there was something behind her manipulations and out of character support for the war effort. It’s a shock when her name comes up again in Libby’s investigations, was her father Ben simply interested in her fascist connections or is it something more personal?

There are definite echoes through the different time periods and motherhood is one of those themes that recurs. It’s an inter-generational trauma that starts with Edeline’s treatment of her daughter. Grace knows she isn’t her mother’s favourite, but is confused when this animosity seems to recur with her Aunt Olive. She asks a devastating question of her Uncle Marcus - ‘am I unloveable?’ because if her own mother can’t love her, why would anyone else? Willow has never known her birth parents, instead brought up with her two sisters who are twins. She never asked the question, even though she can see how different she is physically from her sisters. So when Towerhurst comes along, she starts to be intrigued by who created the trust and whether it could be one of her real parents. She finds out she’s pregnant alone, while Ben is over in London, but manages to tell him on the phone just before he is killed and they are both so happy in that moment. To then become a single parent, in such tragic circumstances must have been so difficult to come to terms with. Willow has never tried to collect Ben’s belongings despite knowing they were found and Libby clearly thinks her mother will disapprove of her choice to follow in his footsteps. Willow hasn’t been a terrible mother, just rather aloof and deeply engrossed in her work as a painter, where she demonstrates her terrible grief by only painting in black and white. She hasn’t grieved fully and I could see that Libby’s findings might bring those feelings to the surface. Luckily, Libby has had her eccentric aunts for support and it’s clear they adore her, but I hoped that Libby and Willow would have chance to talk and heal together.

As the mystery begins to unravel, there are revelations about these three generations that keep coming and a twist I truly didn’t expect. There are small disclosures, like the local police sergeant who helps the search for Ben is actually Puds, Daniel’s best friend who suffered a serious injury in the war and had to return home. How will he go about investigating what Ben finds in the mine shaft, when it might be better if they’d stayed buried? I was desperate to find the whereabouts of Rose, because all the hints are pointing to an answer I simply couldn’t bear! It seems possible that Grace never returned to England, but when Rose’s mother tells Ben she definitely saw Grace after the war he starts his search afresh. Could she have disappeared on this side of the world? I was constantly holding out a little bit of hope for the ending I wanted, so I had to keep reading - up till 2am again! There are so many layers to this story and often with dual timelines there’s a weaker section, but every timeline is intriguing, evocative and emotional. Tasmania sounds wild, dangerous, magical and atmospheric all at once. I loved the reference to the creature that lurks around the pool beyond the moon gate, could it be a shy Tasmanian devil? There’s such a massive difference between Tasmania and London, which feels more domestic than wild with very curated spaces like the old fashioned gentleman’s club and the minimalist narrow boat where Libby meets Sam. Then there’s Ireland, waiting like a promised land with all the answers and the beauty that Daniel shares with Grace right back at the beginning. We are left with an incredible tapestry of places and people full of colour, emotion and a yearning for home whether home is a place or a person.

I LOVED this book, it had so many twists and turns as soon as I thought I had something figured out new things would be thrown in that changed my mind. I’ve come to realize that I greatly enjoy historical fiction. I really liked how there were so many stories within the book that the author wove into one and in the end everything made sense. All the characters were really well developed, and the book had me going through all sorts of emotions. I would definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story. It was the sort of book I couldn't put down until I finished it. I've read Midnight House and loved that one too. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Captivating, Memorable, Magnificent.

I literally could not put this book down. I adore Amanda Geard's writing. Finishing this book makes me look forward to reading any and every future book by Amanda.

The twists and turns in this book make you want to turn the page and read the next chapter. I loved all the research that went into this book, it makes it incredibly special.

Libby is a lovely character, I feel incredibly proud of her and her journey. I have so many favourite parts of the book but I'm not going to give spoilers in my review

This is an incredible story. I highly recommend this book and also Midnight House, the author's first book.

It was an incredible five star read for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Headline Books, the publisher for a gifted copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I needed a physical copy of the book for my shelf so I picked up a copy in my local Bookstation.

⭐️BLOG TOUR⭐️
📖BOOK REVIEW📖

#TheMoonGate by @amandageard @headlinebooks

⏩for synopsis

Today is our stop on the book tour and I’ve been excited for this since page one where I knew I was absolutely going to love this book and people I did!

What an amazing complex story this is; set over three time periods - the plot is weaved to perfection, completely addictive and has real heart at its centre. Each part felt full and was interesting enough to be a book in its own right and with the quick timeline changes it kept up a wicked pace.

The characters are definitely the life blood here; Grace, Willow and Libby made excellent emotive narrators who were able to carry the plot forward with strength, relatability and feeling. The mystery was just that, a mystery and just when you thought you’d figured it out, it would all change again with the following chapter.

I have to mention the location descriptions of this story too. Tasmania and Ireland were described so beautifully I could feel the love this author has for these counties but also felt like I was there too. Just a joy to read in every way!

Thank you for my beautiful copy of this book and for inviting us on the #BlogTour ❤️

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

Thanks to the publisher for inviting me on this Blog Tour.

I was lucky enough to read Amanda’s debut The Midnight House and it was the first ever review I posted on my Blog so it makes it even more special that I get to review The Moon Gate and be on the Blog Tour.

The story hooked me in instantly, it was so cryptic and full of information but I didn’t know what I’d need the information for and what it meant for the rest of the book.

I was honestly so swept away by the three timelines each one painted a vivid picture of the landscapes in my mind, each had its own unique story and mystery, as I progressed through the book I learnt why you needed the three timelines and how they all connected and WOW I was shocked how it all fitted together like a puzzle.

My favourite characters had to be Libby and Grace I really connected to them and felt that they had similarities even though they lived in entirely different worlds.

I was engrossed in this book and Amanda’s first book and I can’t wait to see what comes next from this talented writer.

I’m always in awe of authors who manage to weave such beautiful stories between timelines to leave us with an emotional journey through the lives of such brilliant characters.
Amanda Geard writes so beautifully and I was completely immersed in the stories of Grace, Rose, Willow and Libby. Each timeline written in so much detail and care you end up hoping and wishing for each of the women to find their happiness.
I loved the sound of the house and gardens at Towerhurst and the Moon Gate sounded magical. The secrets of the house being part of the wonder and mystery of the story. Another masterpiece from Amanda Geard.

It goes without saying (since I’m reviewing this book, and I only review books I can recommend)that I loved this! For me, it’s a total mix of the unknown and the very familiar.
I didn’t know much about Tasmania (and still don’t know enough) so it was really interesting to read and learn so much. Simple things caught my attention, like the names of plants and creatures I’ve never heard of.
I’m a North Londoner, so the parts set around the houseboats of the Regent’s Park Canal are very familiar to me. Also, I worked in the West End of London from the mid 70s through to the late 1990s, and the Moorgate tube disaster ranks as one of the worst horrors of London public transport in my lifetime.
The mystery of who turned out to be whom, and the intricate discoveries made over the course of the novel, twist and twine like the plaits of rainbow threads that used to be found in little sewing repair kits. So long as you find the right thread, you can follow it through the entire plot, but if you try to grab too many? Entangled, and confused, and you have to sit and pick at the knots you’ve caused yourself. I felt proud to have guessed some of the end results, but oh, how wrong I was about others.
I thoroughly recommend this wonderful book, and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

1939: Fifteen-year-old heiress Grace Grey is evacuated from London to the other side of the world, in the company of her pretty chaperone Rose Munro, to spend the war with her uncle Marcus on the wild western coast of Tasmania. Shy and retiring, downtrodden by her cold, formidable mother Eveline, and constantly overshadowed by Rose, Grace has no idea of her own worth. It takes a long time for her to settle at Towerhurst, but encouraged by Marcus, and her new Irish friend Daniel, she begins to blossom. Grace discovers a passion for writing ballads inspired by the famous work of Australian poet, Banjo Paterson... and also for Daniel.

As Grace falls in love with Daniel, she keeps her affections a secret, afraid they will never be returned... until he confesses that he loves her too, in the anxious days before he must go to the frontline. The brief hours they have left together are treasured ones, but their hidden romance leads to heartbreak, and secrets that will ripple through time.

1975: Artist Willow, and her writer husband Ben, receive an unexpected windfall when a mystery benefactor leaves them a house on Tasmania's remote west coast. The secrecy behind the legacy makes them curious about Towerhurst's past, and as Ben delves into the stories about its previous owners, he becomes convinced that they might hold answers to questions about their own family history too.

2004: Libby travels to London to find out the truth about her father Ben's death in a tragic accident before she was born. Her mother Willow refuses to tell her what Ben was doing in London all those years ago, so far from their home in Tasmania, but Libby is determined to find out about the man she never knew. When she finds a faded photograph in his belongings, a childhood memory of a strange house in the forest comes back to her, and she sets out to complete the investigation her father started into the secrets of Towerhurst.

The story follows these three threads in the spectacular way that Amanda Geard has made her own, forming a framework in which she weaves a vibrant and evocative finished picture. Once again, I am in awe of how she wields multiple timelines with such skill, ensuring you are fully invested in each one.

While the action moves between London, Tasmania, and Ireland, everything revolves around the secrets of Towerhurst that begin in 1939 with Grace, Rose and Daniel. The themes of family ties, and romances tragically cut short, run throughout, and Geard builds layer upon beautiful layer as the novel progresses in each timeline - before she then deftly strips them back to reveal the answers you have been grasping for.

There is a beautifully contrived mystery element to the whole story, sparked by Libby's need to pick up the threads of her father's investigation into the secrets of Towerhurst. All three timelines hold clues to the truth, and as each piece of the puzzle fits into place through their parallel quests, you come to fully understand how the consequences of Grace and Daniel's love have echoed through time. As in Geard's wonderful debut, The Midnight House, she cleverly uses personal possessions, letters, and photographs to link the timelines together, and they bleed together wonderfully as your perception of events shifts with each new reveal. I love how she celebrates ballads and poetry in all their glory in this novel too.

There is so much I cannot go into for fear of spoilers, but I can say that each part this novel is rich in pitch perfect feelings of time and place, bringing history and environment alive, which is impressive given the very different settings that Geard conjures for her characters. I found myself going down many rabbit holes in the process of reading this book as a result. I especially enjoyed the way she explores the rise of fascism in Grace's story, through her mother Edeline, which is something I find horribly fascinating about this time period - touching on the role of the aristocracy and powerful women in spreading the poisonous political ideology of the British Union of Fascists. And I applaud the way Geard highlights the wartime history of Australia, and her homeland Tasmania, which is so often overshadowed by the events of the Western Front with which we are more familiar.

This book is stunning, and it shows that Geard has grown in confidence, honing her skills as a writer, since her debut. It is an ambitious and sweeping story, full of aching heartbreak, romance, love, and friendship, and she pulls it off with aplomb. I adored it, and it is a serious contender for my book of 2023!

Amanda Geard’s masterful writing seeps into every corner of this evocative, enveloping, and unforgettable mystery!

She quickly pulled me in and kept me spellbound for the entirety of her multi-timeline story (1939, 1975, and 2004) spanning three generations and set in three places dear to her heart; London, Tasmania, and County Kerry. I was in awe of how she continues to display her mastery of the triad of writing; setting, character, and plot. Each is fully developed and layered and I truly felt like I was exploring stately homes and wandering the rainforests or heather-covered hills with her characters. Libby, Grace, and Willow’s stories examined love, war, and sacrifice and were each seamlessly stitched together with soul-searching poetry and secrets.

If you haven’t experienced the thrill of reading Geard’s books, what are you waiting for? You’ve been forewarned: this book will take longer than usual to finish because you’ll be re-reading sections just to experience the magical pull of the prose.

There is no doubt that the author’s geology knowledge, love of poetry, and time spent at each location contributed to the success of this book. Geard’s technique and nuances, added to these three influences, take this story to the next level.

This twisty, atmospheric, and magical book needs to be front and center on your night table!

I was gifted this copy by Headline and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I was an Amanda Geard fan as soon as I read The Midnight House last year - and The Moon Gate has only served to confirm what a fabulous writer she is. She is the master of stories set over multiple timelines, skilfully woven together to create a truly compelling read.

Set over three timelines and from three points of view - Libby in 2004, her parents Willow and Ben in 1974 and Grace and Rose in the 1940s, we are taken on a journey from London to Ireland and to Tasmania. Libby sets out to find more about her father who died before she was born and in so doing begins to uncover secrets about a house on Tasmania’s rural west coast connected to her parents and where Grace and Rose were evacuated from England at the beginning of WW2.

With a fascinating cast of characters whose journey is compelling and settings that are truly brought to life as I found myself transported to the landscapes of Ireland and the glorious remoteness of Tasmania. Add in some poetry from real-life Australian poet Banjo Paterson, who I knew nothing about but went straight off to Google, and this is such an intriguing story about familial ties across generations.

Geard’s books truly capture my heart and have me absorbed from beginning to end - and I urge any historical fiction lover to add them to their TBR.

An epic story set over 3 timelines all mysteriously brought together in this beautifully written story by Amanda Geard.
In 1929 Grace Grey and her companion Rose Munro set off for Tasmania to stay with Grace's Uncle Marcus to escape the coming war. Once there Grace comes alive and learns all about Australian poets, but the threat if war is not too far off Australian shores and she's set to lose all she's grown to love
1974 and Willow and Ben discover they've inherited an historic house Towerhurst. With no idea why Ben attempts to discover the story behind the inheritance. His quest takes him to London and tragedy
2004 Libby finds her dad's old satchel and wants to gets some answers about him that her mother has never been able to give her. Following in his footsteps Libby rediscovers herself and uncovers a long lost tale.
I loved this story, all timelines are easily explained at the beginning of each chapter. All the characters, except maybe 2, were likeable and relatable. Historical fact merged seamlessly into the prose and I loved all the poetry and how it fitted into the story. A worthy tale for all lovers of historical fiction

'Amanda Geard's stories are so special and stand alone in a category of their own. Genuine, original and awe inspiring like a flock of swans transcending ordinary time as their wings lift us into extraordinary places. The Moon Gate is magical, mesmerising and moving. Rainforest inspiring moments, little breaths of captured air— now escaping like mist into the dawn as they become a tapestry of wishes and wonder. This novel hovers over the ancient while its leaves of memories are blown up into the sky by tumultuous winds to reveal its roots of age-old story telling. Just stunning! Poetic, powerful and transcending. Yes, war is part of its fabric: hearts will change I am sure. But the journey is already magnificent'.

These words above I wrote and posted on social media when I had only read a few chapters of The Moon Gate. I was so inspired by the magnificent opening of this book I had to say something. Now that I have completed it, my strong sentiments still stand. I am so glad I indulged in this wonderful escape to Tasmania and Ireland, through a story that all began in an intriguing house of secrets and mystery.

Amanda’s fascinating cast of characters certainly put my heart through the paces— stirring up every emotion imaginable! Warning: this is a complex multi-generational, secret-filled story that contains three timelines: 1939, 1975, 2004 which is a fair juggle of details and characters. So, you must sit up and pay attention. The descriptions of the landscapes are gorgeous as you would expect from Amanda Geard. Ireland glitters like the emerald jewel it is, and Tasmania sparkles through the mists and wildness of its location at the ends of the earth. I have been to both islands so Amanda’s exquisite details are spot on and true to my own recollections. But she has added another creative element to this story: she has sewn into the mix of this madness and mystery a very Australian icon. Not only do the island settings become an extension of the characters (particularly Grace) but so does poet Banjo Paterson’s poetry.

Everything is about timing with this novel. Even my reading of it. I read this one slowly to soak up all that I could from the text and to enjoy Banjo Paterson’s poetry which is featured in The Moon Gate in a unique and gorgeous way—particularly in the 1939 timeline. I had a few of his poems in my various Australian poetry collections but oddly not as many as I thought. So, I purchased a dedicated collection. Re-acquainting myself with a larger body of his work, added to The Moon Gate reading experience. It is always lovely to revisit The Man from Snowy River poem and the movies that inspired the world (I met the talented Tom Burlinson, star of the show) but to also read Paterson’s less-familiar poems is a wise move, too.

Amanda demonstrates wonderfully how Banjo’s poetry inspires English heiress Grace Grey to dream and write; to feel more connected to the landscape and culture and to help her deal with life’s disappointments. Even before being transported to Australia from England (on the eve of WW2), she did not have it easy. This delicate girl never had much support—particularly from her mother. Her uncle Marcus in Tasmania, though, is kind to her and she finds some comfort in his home. But his wife is quite another matter. Fortunately, she meets Daniel McGillycuddy, an Irish neighbour, and they become close friends and share her love of Banjo’s bush poems. Their experiences together and apart are quite tumultuous at times. But those beautiful moments behind the moon gate linger like an Australian floral perfume in the face of dark forces that frequently try to pull them apart: such as war and other jealous characters.

In the timeline of 1974, we meet artist Willow Hawkins and her husband Ben. They inherit the moody Towerhurst legacy home. It has been given to them by a mysterious benefactor. They are delightfully surprised (who wouldn’t be?!) but of course, curiosity sends them on a journey of trying to unveil the person’s identity. Is it an unknown relative or someone else? And if so, why have they been chosen? The only clue provided to them by the legal representative is that it is someone who appreciates the arts.

But wait! How did all this start? Chapter one begins with the timeline of 2004 where we meet Ben’s daughter Libby who has stumbled across a photograph that shakes free a childhood memory of a house with ‘a turret reaching to the sky.’ It is in many ways her story for she is the one who reaches into the past to uncover the secrets and mysteries surrounding her family— a quest her father started but was unable to complete before his death. Her search takes her to some interesting places, including Ireland and it is here where much truth is unveiled. But not before many twists and turns and surprises!

And Grace, of course, is the central figure: a most intriguing character. A few lines from a poem in the novel is quoted: ‘It’s her memory that haunts me/ Of a girl that time forgot decades long before…’ Hidden in these two lines of poetry are subtle clues and once you read the story it will all make sense. The war is on but there are less known battles happening behind closed doors in families. For Grace, there are many feuds: including some with Rose, the older girl who travelled with her to Towerhurst.

The second world war shaped and changed the world in a big way but also on a smaller scale—individuals’ lives. There was a lot of movement of people across waters seeking safety, change and relief but with all those journeys, a lot of personal events happened. Some returned to their former birth homes and some adopted their new ones. In all this fierce shifting of people and transporting of cultures, many secrets were buried, names were forgotten and identities changed. These things are part of the weave of this story. Like the sea in a storm when waves roll back and rocks underneath are exposed. Hidden threads surface and truth rises to the surface like messages in tossed bottles.

The story comes full circle. From the Prologue, when a letter arrives in Ireland addressed to Mrs McGillycuddy from a Libby Andrews wishing to know more about her husband Daniel, to their meeting on the last pages. All is revealed. I actually recommend once finishing the story to go back to the beginning and re-read the opening again. Even more gems will jump out at you: trinkets, memories, breadcrumbs that were carefully laid from the start that will carry you along the waves of change to the finish line. This giant sea swell will eventually unfurl from one shore to another—leaving its remnants and a full exciting climax on the sand.

Take a walk through The Moon Gate (a circular opening in a garden wall that provides a passageway— common in traditional Chinese gardens) and see the wonder of it all: the good, bad, ugly and beautiful. It’s all here in Amanda’s novel and see if your heart is not changed by the journey. Besides the jealousy, hatred and rage, love is here among the ruins and grief.

This is a great story about family: of sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. Some who’ve been kept apart by lost or hidden identities. Then there is the grandchild who tries to pull it all together. The call and wonder of ancestral memories speak loudly above the ocean’s roar. This family’s stories will linger in my mind for a very long time and continue to smart the edges of my heart forever. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Huge thank you to author Amanda Geard, her publisher Headline and Netgalley for my review copy.

Sorry this one wasn't for me. I found the Criss crossing timelines too cognitively challenging,and they prevented me from really getting to know the characters in any great depth