EXCERPT: 'I've inherited my great-aunt's cottage?' Paige Taylor repeated incredulously, pressing the phone against her ear. 'Are you sure?'
'Yes, you're the sole beneficiary of Violet Atkin's entire estate,' the attorney, Steve Reagan, confirmed. His voice was level and soft, but it did little to calm Paige's reaction.
'How can that be? I've never even met her. I've never been to Dune Island either.'
Frankly, Paige had never wanted to visit the popular summer destination. Located off the Massachusetts coast, the island may have been renowned for its stunning views, pristine beaches and picturesque historic charm. But she'd grown up hearing stories about what a sad, secluded life her great-aunt had lived there. So Paige felt conflicted about inheriting the cottage and property, and she couldn't quite believe the attorney had the facts straight.
'My grandfather and my mother are deceased, which means my aunt Sherry is my great-aunt's closest surviving relative,' she informed him. 'I also have a brother, as well as three cousins on that side of my family. So why would Violet name me as the sole beneficiary?'
'She didn't name you, specifically, as her sole beneficiary,' Steve pointedly corrected her error. 'She bequeathed the property to her 'eldest single female descendent who isn't married or engaged to be married'. In your family, that happens to be you.'

ABOUT 'AUNT VIOLET'S LOCKET': The long, tarnished chain and heart-shaped pendant is heavy in Paige’s hand. Carefully prying it open she can just make out the tiny engraving inside. What she reads will change everything she ever believed about her great-aunt Violet, and their family history…When newly single and heartbroken Paige inherits an isolated cottage facing out to the wild sea on Dune Island from her great-aunt Violet, she is shocked. Paige never even met Violet, and she’s heard family stories about how a terrible incident involving the wealthy neighboring Hathaway family during World War Two led Violet to withdraw from everyone. But why would Violet leave everything to her? Determined to clear out the cottage and sell it as quickly as possible, when Paige bumps into Seth Hathaway as he walks back from the beach, at first she’s guarded. But Seth’s easy smile makes her think that maybe the Hathaways can be trusted after all…Then Paige finds an old envelope containing her aunt’s only piece of jewelry. The romantic message inscribed inside brings tears to her eyes, and Seth shows her how the initials match those carved with a heart into an ancient beech tree on her aunt’s property. Did Violet live her whole life yearning for the person who gave her the locket? As Paige and Seth grow closer, she starts to wonder if she could find happiness right here on Dune Island. And if Paige discovers the identity of Violet’s lost love, can she finally clear her aunt’s name—or in this tight-knit island community, should some secrets be left in the past forever?

MY THOUGHTS: Aunt Violet's Locket is Kristin Harper at her best. A mix of historical and contemporary fiction, the prologue begins in 1943 then moves to current times as Paige inherits the cottage. But it is an inheritance that comes with strings; strings that Paige is certain that she does not want to be bound by. It is as she is preparing the cottage for sale that she begins to make discoveries about her aunt; discoveries that tug at her heartstrings (and tugged at mine!) and make her wonder if her original decision is the right one.

I would love to inherit a seaside cottage, but that's unlikely to happen. I was rooting for Paige to wake up to herself, to acknowledge the stress she was under, due not only to her career but the pressure from family and a recently failed relationship, and to stay on the island. If I could have jumped right into that book I would have! Paige's stress levels and trust issues cause her to make some very questionable 'in the heat of the moment' statements, and cause confusion and mistrust. But I did like that she was strong enough to apologise once she cooled down.

The setting of Dune Island is just beautiful, and I wanted to move there. The characters are skillfully depicted with an over-anxious, extremely wealthy bride-to-be causing havoc, a handsome landscaper with a dog called Blossom, a family feud, and some family members more concerned about what they will get out of the sale of the cottage than with helping Paige. Kristin Harper has perfectly depicted the family dynamics and has penned a beautiful and heart wrenching backstory for Aunt Violet that is far more intriguing than I first thought possible.

While there is romance in Aunt Violet's Locket, it is only one part of this wonderful read an doesn't overshadow the mystery surrounding Aunt Violet.

Although this is #6 in the Dune Island series, Aunt Violet's Locket is a complete story and easily able to be read as a stand-alone.

TW: An antique sewing machine is harmed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.1

#AuntVioletsLocket #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Kristin Harper grew up in New England, and has lived in various places across the US, including the West Coast and Washington, D.C. She's now happily back in Massachusetts, just a stone's throw from Cape Cod--the source of inspiration for the setting of her Dune Island series.

​DISCLOSURE: Thank you Bookouture via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Aunt Violet's Locket for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Aunt Violet's Locket was published March 12, 2024.

What a wonderful, amazing and enjoyable read. I loved learning about Paige, the main character, and her family and the family dynamics. This is a story that takes me into a world so different than my own and I felt for Paige. It is a story that flowed and built as you turned the pages.

I enjoyed this book and not realising it was a book that was part of a series didn't hamper my perception and enjoyment of it. Now I just need to find more books by this author and in this series

Thank you NetGalley adn Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I loved the description of this and was excited to get a copy. The story itself is wonderful! Our main character Paige was lovely and I felt quite sorry for her throughout. Her family was terrible and selfish and that became hard to read at some points. Otherwise a decent read

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an early acc in return for a honest review and my apologies for being late.

Although I didn't manage to finish the book before the deadline,it was a very light hearted and wholesome story,full of simple descriptive language and a protagonist that you can't help but love.She is determined to throw light in her aunt's backstory and discover the truth behind a family scandal that ruined her life.Paige is a doctor,a heartbroken woman trying to face every one of her problems alone since her family is pretty much ignorant.

Thats probably the only thing that I didnt like-how insufferable all of her family was,caring only about themselves and the money they could earn from selling the cottage.Maybe they had a change of heart by the end of the book,but for the first half they are annoying at best.

The love interest took a while to capture my attention and seems very flat at first.In the end,though,he ends up being a sweatheart that I couldnt help but root for.It had a lot of heartwarming moments,like the friendship between Paige and old man Hathaway.

This book is the best if you want to relax and enjoy a story with some mild mystery or an islandic aesthetic.I really wish I have a chance to finish to one day.

This is book 6 in the Dune island series but you do not need to read the previous books to enjoy this story. The location is the binding tie for the series, not the characters. Paige is shocked to learn that she has inherited a house from an aunt she never met. She is required to live there for a year to inherit permanently. As Paige starts cleaning out the cottage she finds her Aunt's locket and after reading in tiny inscription it changed Paige's outlook. Neighbor Seth helps her uncover the mystery of Violet's past. Wonderful engaging love story in two timelines.

Aunt Ivy’s Locket, the latest novel by talented author Kristen Harper, sheds light on the sacrifices made by people for their families.

The story introduces Paige, who, heartbroken, inherits a cottage in Hope Haven. Her plan is to renovate and sell it. However, Aunt Ivy’s will requires her to either reside in the property or share the sale proceeds with her family. This raises the questions as to why she inherited it. While preparing the cottage, she encounters Seth Hathaway and after learning about her family’s history with the Hathaways during WWII, she considers staying away. Can she resist the connection?

The characters are endearing and relatable; and the vivid descriptions of Hope Haven make it a place you’ll want to visit. The captivating storyline kept me engaged from start to finish! I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy soon

This is a book in the Dune Island Series, but it is a standalone novel - no need to read the others first, you can dive right in on this one. I really liked the ma.in character and her story, and I enjoyed seeing her get to know the island and more about Aunt Violet. The one thing that might have taken my rating up to a 5 star would have been to spend a little more time with the characters at the end.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this one. I felt bad for Paige. She was thrown into having to decide what to do with a house from an aunt that she didn’t even know. Her family was very selfish and she seemed to be the only one that wasn’t. I loved that she wanted to learn more about her aunt, and really experience the cottage and beach. And of course there’s a little bit of romance, but past and present. I really want to read more of Ms. Harper’s books now.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book.

Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “Aunt Violet’s Locket” by Kristen Harper. This is my first book by her, but it won’t be my last!
I’ve fallen hard for Paige and her world. Paige inherits her Aunt Violet’s house, which is strange because she has never even met her! Paige decides to sell the house. When she starts cleaning, she finds a locket with a romantic message inside. Paige goes on a journey to find out who Aunt Violet really was and finds out more about her own family. I loved every word of this.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#AuntVioletsLocket #KristenHarper #NetGalley #Bookouture #BookLove #Series #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks

I liked the sound of this book from its description. When I first started reading, I thought about what it might mean to be given a locket, particularly a heart-shaped locket. It piqued my curiosity, and I wondered about the possibility of a love affair that was cut short or concealed, if the two involved could not be together.

The protagonist was Paige, who inherited her great aunt Violet's cottage, and I liked the idea of this cottage as a backdrop for the main story. For me, somewhere like a cottage has connotations of peace and beauty, and escape. So I appreciated the author's efforts to work with that setting and bring it to life, and I did feel there was some beautiful imagery.

I never fully warmed to Paige as a protagonist, or connected with her, though I still tried to follow her journey. I did feel slightly emotional when she eventually discovered the truth about Aunt Violet and the locket.

This book is part of a series - the Dune Island series, and I haven't read any of the previous books. Maybe if I had, I would have enjoyed this one a little more. It was a fairly pleasant, easy read, and it did provide an escape, but I didn't feel as invested in the story as I would have liked.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

I definitely got more than I expected from this book. The beautiful story of aunt Violet’s locket and all the misconceptions behind the story, from all sides. The story leads you into the background behind the beliefs from all quarters that Violet is either a strange recluse who caused upset to one of the richest families (Hathaway)on Dune island. That she ostracised herself from her family.
When Violet’s Will is read Paige discovers that the cottage has been left to her, as eldest, unmarried niece, which her brother and cousins aren’t too happy about.
I loved the descriptions of the island, buildings, especially the Hathaway estate. Place names (Highland Hills)
I could just picture Tara, woo! My favourite character aside from Paige was Joseph (down to earth)

This was my first by this author, I’ll definitely be looking out for more.

Another great book in the Dune Island series. I've enjoyed all the ones I've read.

A fantastic local, great characters and an interesting storyline. Kind of a dual timeline - there is a little slip back in the past as we learn about Aunt Violet's history, but it's mostly in current time with her great niece, Paige. Paige inherits the island cottage because she's the eldest, unmarried girl in the family. She decides to sell the cottage and split the funds with her brothers and cousin - their characters left a lot to be desired, as does the aunt, too. Paige is there to look into the upkeep and making the place more sellable. But in the meantime, she meets the neighbors and learns their history with her family. And learns a lot whole more about Violet's life than her family knew.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This is a wonderfully beautiful book. There are so many fulfilling elements that Harper has within this book. There’s the family dynamic between Violet’s family and the Hathaways, there’s the historical aspect, the family history aspect, family dynamics within the same family, and then there’s also a bit of romance.

I loved the ying and yang of the two families, how completely opposite they were. However, Seth did seem to be less of a true Hathaway and that was nice to see. I also really liked learning some history without it being too overwhelming and in your face. It was done in the right way.

Most authors that write books about a family member in the past will write alternating chapters of in the present and in the past. I LOVED that this book stayed in the present throughout the whole book. I appreciated Paige’s desire to learn about her Aunt Violet, and the steps she took to learn more about her and her life on the island. The way that the author was able to tell Violet’s story without having to make “past” chapters was amazing. It made me appreciate the book that much more. This is really the best part of the book.

There’s two romances that happen in the book: Violet’s and Paige’s. Both are not the center of the book, but provide the reader to feel happiness knowing that these characters had someone love them and take care of them.

There’s so much good here, and I could go on and on. I think you should just read the book.

Paige Turner inherits her great-aunt’s cottage in Hope Haven, Massachusetts. As she cleans and repairs the cottage before putting it on the market, she discovers clues that help unravel secrets from the past including the loathed Hathaway family next door. I really enjoyed this book. It was a clean read full of great characters, nostalgia, mystery, and family drama. I liked the relationship between Paige and Seth Hathaway. They were perfect for each other. It was also interesting to learn more US history during WWII along the East Coast. It made me want to find my own cottage on Martha’s Vineyard and relax while enjoying the ocean breezes. If you enjoy a charming read, this is a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have ever read by this author, but it definitely won't be my last. I loved this book so much!

I have enjoyed the previous books in the Dune Island series and was looking forward to antoher enjoyable story and that is exactly what I got. I really enjoyed this story and I especially liked Paige. She is a wonderful woman. I love the way she digs in not only to fix up the cottage, but in her quest to find out as much as she can about her Aunt Violet. She doesn't just believe everything she is told, but searches for the truth, or at least what truth she can find. Then there is Seth Hathaway. There has been bad blood between the Hathaways and Paige's family, but Seth is different from what she expected, at least once she gives him a chance. He is handsome, helpful, caring, loves his dog and surfing and is attracted to Paige. The beauty and serenity of Dune Island made me want to visit and spend time at the cottage. Paige's brother and cousins were not my favourite people at all. They were selfish and very self-centered, not only did they not come and help Paige, but they were constantly pressuring her. I enjoyed the story of what happened to Violet so many years ago and how Paige solved the puzzle. With the help of a locket, a man who remembers Violet as a teenager and a hidden letter, she pieces things together. This is a story of secrets, finding what you really want out of life, romance, trusting yourself and following your own path. I really enjoyed this story and it is a wonderful addition to the book in the Dune Island series.

I first just want to say that the minute this author Kristin brings out a new book, straight away it goes to top of my to be read list, as I always enjoy reading books by this author. So Aunt’s Violet Locket is Kristin Harper’s sixth book and yet I’ve read them all.

Just like her other books, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, it was beautiful, heartfelt and emotional in places. Plenty of drama going on also, especially with the Cousin Tara and just a little bit with neighbour Lexie too. I did love getting to know all of the characters though, even those with only little parts to play, learning each of their stories and seeing them all interact with each other.

The story was very well written I thought and the characters were wonderfully developed and so very real, they almost felt like real people at times, not just characters.

And last but not least, the setting of Dune Island sounded soo truly picturesque and idyllic, would loved to have been experiencing it myself for real.

I enjoyed the premise of this book a lot and enjoyed the storyline of Paige trying to figure out what happened to her Aunt VIolet, but I found Paige quite a hard character to like, she seemed to get quite angry at the wrong people, though I would say she was a lot more likeable than her family members and it was getting quite tedious hearing about her Niece's engagement party!

I loved hearing how Aunt VIolet's story developed though and how it wasn't what we first thought, the letter was a great way to illustrate this. I am glad that the story went the way it did and was really pleased with the ending, but it was a shame that I just didn't click with the characters as much as i wanted to.

This is a enchanting beautifully told women's fiction story that will touch your heart. The author has created a wonderful island setting that is written so atmospheric you will hear the waves and feel the beauty around the characters. It is a charming story of starting over, lost over through the ages and family secrets. I was entranced and read it cover to cover unable to part with the story until conclusion. Its a lovely escape for every women's fiction reader.

This is book six in the series unknown to me when I requested it and was pleased it can be read as a stand alone.

Thank you for the ARC to the author, the publisher and to Net Galley. I highly recommend this enchanting book .

Aunt Violet's Locket by Kristin Harper

Heart-warming, page-turning and a mixture of emotion read.

Paige who suddenly was told to inherit a cottage in Dune Island from her great-grand aunt Violet. Paige was shocked because she had never met her. Now Paige just wanted to fix the cottage and sell it. Until she found a locket which belonged to her aunt and with a romantic message.

The story led us to some family drama, romantic scene and secrets. Among all the characters, I like Paige very much in the book. She’s determined while she was finding the story behind the locket. She’s caring and lovely.

Even the book is the Book 6 of Dune Island, still it can be read as a stand alone.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for my copy.

Pub date: March 12, 2024