The Last Party at Silverton Hall

Isobel sees her chance to start her life over when she inherits her grandmother’s home in Silverton Bay, but as she settles in, she discovers her a photograph of her grandmother at one of the glamorous parties at Silverton Hall in the 1950s. Vivien had always told her granddaughter that she never went to the Hall, that she wanted nothing to do with it. So how does Isobel square this photo with what her grandmother told her? Told in alternating story time lines with dual narrators, this was an enjoyable, evocative Great House story

I enjoyed this story set in two different time periods. A woman inherits her grandmother's home by the sea, a place that she had she spent happier times at. Circumstances change and she returns to sort out her grandmother's belongings and discovers secrets about her grandparents and a town that held their secrets. Highly enjoyable, I will recommend to my friends.

The Last Party at Silverton Hall is a delight from start to finish. Most of the story is set in the fictional Norfolk coastal village of Silverton but is based on Old Hunstanton which I have many happy childhood memories of, the other is historical 50's London during the Great Smog.
Rachel does a fantastic job of seamlessly blending the dual timeline stories of Vivien in the 50's post-war era and modern day Isobel, her granddaughter who returns to Silverton after Vivien's death.
Inevitably, whilst sorting out her grandmother's dilapidated house, secrets and memories of the past of many kinds are unearthed, some more welcome than others. The grand hall overlooking the bay of the village is newly renovated but it's history holds the key to so much of both Isobel's and Vivien's own past. This is Isobel's second chance at happiness, if she can figure out exactly where her heart lies.
I found this a warm and captivating story with perfect settings and enchanting characters all nestled within a beautiful second-chance romance.

The Last Party at Silverton Hall by Rachel Burton

A wonderful dual timeline story . We have Vivian in 1952 and Isobel in more present day.
Isobel has inherited Silverton Hall from her grandmother and decided to go there and begin sorting through her grandmother's and the Hall's secrets.
What will she discover and how will the secrets effect Isobels life now ?
Great characters and the author really managed to capture the atmosphere of both times.
Very enjoyable.

I read a lot of books in the mystery genre, but I also enjoy historical fiction, and more recently, I have been enjoying time-slip novels by authors like Nicola Cornick and Kate Morton. From the description, I thought this book sounded like something similar to these, which was why it sparked my interest. The cover design also appealed to me - I think the illustration and the colours are beautiful.

I did like this book a lot. From the beginning, I thought the writing was elegant but simplistic. Not overly descriptive, or telling the reader too much all at once. As I continued reading, I found that parts of the story tugged at my heartstrings. I could relate to Isobel and identify with some elements of her personality, and one of the other characters, Nick, reminded me of someone I knew. As a reader, when you realise that a character reminds you of yourself, or someone else, the characters and the story can feel more real to you.

Another thing that I loved about this was how comforting it felt, like a book that I would choose to escape in. I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction or time-slip novels, and I would probably be interested in reading some more books by this author. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a free copy to review.

Hauntingly beautiful story about family secrets. Set both in the 1950’s and 2019, we meet Vivien a young and naive woman who marries handsome and secretive Max, and in 2019 we meet Isobel who is grieving her grandmother Vivien. As Isobel tries to cope with her grief and the daunting task of restoring her grandmother’s house, helped by Nick, she stumbles across some photographs that seem to suggest that her Mother and Grandmother have lied to her about the past.
Beautifully written, intriguing characters, lost loves, betrayal and lies. This book captivated me and I read it in two sittings, eager to uncover the truth at the end. Fabulous and highly recommended. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An engaging and slightly mysterious dual timeline story. Isobel's grandmother dies and leaves her seaside home to her grand-daughter. This starts Isobel's investigation into her grandmother's life and it soon becomes clear that there is lots that Isobel did not know about her grandmother. Set in the 1950s and the modern day, this is a warm and engaging story with a sense of mystery threaded through it. With characters that you can really warm to, I find myself reading on keen to find out how the story would be resolved. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

THE LAST PARTY AT SILVERTON HALL is an intriguing and satisfying dual timeline novel. Whereas dual timelines can sometimes be tricky as one storyline lags behind the other, Rachel Burton did a great job with this one. Both Isobel's (roughly) present-day story and Vivien's 1950s story are equally interesting.

I also enjoyed how the houses, particularly Silverton Hall (now a hotel) and Little Clarion (the house Isobel inherits from her grandmother) play a role in the story. The seaside village is such a lovely and charming location.

It's also clever how Vivien is dealing with disappointment as a newlywed and Isobel is reconnecting with a friend from her girlhood.

Isobel's mother, Gina, was interesting, but we don't really get to know her until the end of the book.

Both Isobel and Nick have secrets they're hiding from each other, and they're learning how to deal with life's disappointments. In many ways, this becomes a theme of the novel: how to cope with life's twists and turns.

I think the novel was a little on the long side, and some parts felt a little repetitive. This minor quibble aside, I definitely recommend THE LAST PARTY AT SILVERTON HALL for fans of historical fiction. I look forward to digging into this author's backlist.

Well written with a compelling storyline set over a dual timeline with a dual narrative and a fantastic setting and well developed character. A great immersive read.

A really well told tale mixing the past of Vivien and her life and what appeared to be glorious days with Isobel. We unwind the Ruth of Vivian’s life and the drip feeding of the truth is well done and kept me hanging on, torn between racing ahead to sort face from fiction, and savouring the suspense.

This was a beautifully written story about grief, regret, missed opportunities and a sense of failure. I loved the intertwining of the past and present and felt a connection with both women. I don't want to spoil anything, all I can say it's a must read

I love to see this book its a good story. It goes between two stories between the girl Isobel main character and her grandmother back in the day and she inherits her grandmothers old house. Everything is rotting in there and old. I loved the seaside village it sounds quaint and nice.
It was a great read and the story was really good i loved the mysteries.

I love Rachel Burton's story telling - the soothing narrative makes for easy reading and the chapters whizz past; causing it's own issues as I want to make the story last as long as possible whilst simultaneously being unputdownable!

An intriguing tale which keeps you guessing about what the long hidden secret is, whilst still absorbing your attention in the activity in the present day.

Would definitely recommend.

The dual timeline made this book so much richer. I really enjoyed Vivian’s tale set in the smog of London and the crisp fresh air of the Norfolk coast. I would have liked to have read more about Isobel and Vivien’s relationship and less about how Isobel felt about Nick. Yes, we knew she still had feelings for him, it wasn’t necessary to point it out every time they set eyes on each. And he was just as bad.
Having a little less of that repetition would have made way for more back story and family drama. Maybe some more on Gina and Vivien’s relationship. Also take us back to the summer of 2000 and let us experience Isobel and Nick’s burgeoning romance.
It was a good read and the setting was wonderfully written. I loved Rachel Burton’s last book and look forward to reading her next one.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Rachel Burton crafts a quaint and thought provoking story in "The Last Party at Silverton Hall." Touching on issues of class, gender, and social expectations, this story moves back and forth in time with ease and sincerity. A great read for anyone who is looking for a heartwarming story or anyone who is feeling a bit lost themselves.

I raced through this book - always a good sign. I've not read anything by this author before but I really enjoyed it. Loved the combination of romance and mystery - it kept me guessing. Loved the seaside setting too and the dual timeline. I'd definitely read more by this author. Thanks for the ARC.

Nice plot,good use of describing the surrounding area and people.
Definitely a book to come up to during the winter months.

The grand estate, Silverton Hall, and the beautiful Silverton Bay setting may be fictional but the truths held here are applicable across time and place. Burton has set this story in a unique part of world history and bookended it by the war on one side and the swinging 60s on the other.

She has chosen to showcase this story through dual timelines and one doesn’t have to read too far before realizing that, in doing so, she’s shown that this is when a dual timeline shines! As Burton enlightens readers on the Great Smog of December 1952 it also serves to provide perfect juxtaposition for the fresh, salty air of seaside Norfolk. This contrast is also mirrored in the second chances; both for the languishing estate and for Isobel.

Like the author, I often look at old homes and think about the voice of the past. If you are with me, you’ll often hear me say, “...if only those walls could talk…the secrets they’d share!” This was a special book about an estate home and the secrets held within its walls. No matter how much we wish the past could remain hidden, we need to face the fact that the ripple effects of events still affect us many years later.

The author explores secrets, fresh starts and the burden of duty alongside family legacy in this tale involving two women, two centuries and one life changing night.

What happened during the last party at Silverton Hall? You’ll have to read to find out what secrets and mysteries the grand old lady is hiding.

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

A wonderfully crafted dual timeline story set by the sea.

In the historical part of the story, we get to learn Vivien's story set in 1950's London where she meets a man in the great smog and their romance ensues. And soon they marry and she moves to their new home on the coast.

In the current day part, we meet Isobel, Vivien's granddaughter, who has just inherited the estate after Vivien passes. In the midst of her life going crazy, she packs up and moves to the coast to renovate her grandmother's home. There she finds mystery, love, and questions about her family's history.

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

I was really impressed with the way that the author began the story, it drew me in pretty much straight away not only with the main story of the grandmother but also the mystery surrounding the characters back stories. I found that there was a perfect balance of things being revealed throughout the book that made for an extremely satisfying read.

I thought that the way the book flashed between the past and the present was really well done, sometimes I feel like flashbacks can detract from the main story but this book managed to pull it off seamlessly. Really really impressed with this author and I will be reading more.

Set between 1952 and 2019. It tells the story of Isobel and her grandmother Vivien. Lots of mysteries and puzzles.

An enjoyable dual timeline novel to savor. In the 1950s, Vivian meets a man in smog-filled London and they move to Silverton Bay. Years later in present day, her granddaughter Isobel inherits Vivian's house and in sorting through things discovers that Vivian and her mother Gina may have been keeping secrets about the past. The "secrets" are not exactly mind blowing but lend a mild air of suspense as you read through this sumptuous novel.

Though the story is majorly told through Rachel's POV, it feels like Vivien's story more than anything. Vivien's story is unfortunately not a happy one, and as a result, there is an undercurrent of angst, or sadness, through the entire book. Vivien is beautifully written, and I liked her character best, even though her story is heart-wrenching.
In comparison, Nick and Isobel have an ordinary, kinda straightforward and sweet love story. Some of the interactions between Nick and Isobel feel immature at times, even given their respective traumatic histories, but all's well that ends well!

All in all, this is a great read. The writing is genuinely good and flows well, the alternating past and current storylines gel together well without feeling clunky or annoying. Isobel and Nick do have a decent level of chemistry. Nick is very crush-worthy. Most of the characters, including secondary ones have quite a bit of trauma, which the book only partially resolves, which is fair, since these are not issues that can ever be fully resolved, realistically speaking.

I wish Max Chambers had died in the smog before he met Vivien.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC!

3.5 stars. This was a good read, BUT just didn’t hit the mark for me. I think I was expecting a different story and that is why it wasn’t as good for me as the other reviews said. Sometimes I get into my head that a book is going to go one way and then it doesn’t and that, unfortunately, really hurts my opinion of the book. This is what happened with this book.
Go into this book with a clear head and I am sure that you will love it.
Thank you the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow I loved this book I just brought myself more of her books I loved the dual time line Vivien the grandma had died her story is a heart wrenching tale it got lots of twists as you read it as flashs back from past to present it so good how it was done .Vivien what was she hiding a what secrets are kept in the home she left isobel what bring the story to light it the secrets. isobel was a strong character it had fantastic settings I could see it all in my mind isobel was a wonderful character I felt she was lost did you ?. Nick was a great characters as well I liked there relationship it was set out so well both he a past I like the twist and suspense.i felt for the whole family it a good read
It so well written I just loved it I recommend to you I really enjoy the dual time line books
I recommend to you all great

Finding yourself after a hard few years takes a lot of work and some great friends. Finding the love of your life after a number of years apart is magic. Lovely story!

The Last Party at Silverton Hall is a beautifully written and engaging story by a new-to-me author. It tells the story of Isobel and her grandmother Vivien who live in a seaside town in the UK and when Vivien dies, she leaves her home to Isobel. During the renovations of the home, Isobel learns of secrets in her family (through a dual timeline that features Vivien during the time after WWII) and works on mending the rift between herself and her mother. There's more to the story than that but no spoilers - just a recommendation to read. The book offers likeable characters and the happy ending I love so much. My only complaint is that once I reached the end of the novel, I would have liked just one more chapter as it ended kind of abrubtly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, especially the dual timelines. The actual plot came to play when Isobel discovered the photograph of her grandmother. Though the story was entertaining right till the end the mystery part of it was obvious right from the middle which made the pace slow

This is a story of missed opportunities, buried secrets, manipulation and wrong decisions.
A story of families that could not connect because of wrong decisions, words unspoken and truths denied.
When Isobel inherits her Grandmothers estate in Silverton Bay it comes at a low time in Isobel’s life. Finding old photographs and memories, not to mention an old flame help Isobel to to find a purpose in life and reconnect with her mother.
A heart warming story which kept me enthralled on a long journey.

I received a free copy of, The Last Party at Silverton Hall, by Rachel Burton, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book goes back and forth between 1952 and 2019, and some years in between, Isobel finds her Grandmothers diary, she finds out a lot of secrets she did not know. I enjoyed this read, going back to Vivien and then Isobel, a really nice read.

There were many things I liked about this book.

Vivien is a young woman who marries in the 1950’s. She moves to a large home, in a small town by the sea. She has never been away from London. She lives in the small town for the rest of her life. She learns to love the sea and also becomes happy in her small town.

Gina is Vivien’s daughter. She gets away from the small town and her mother as quickly as she can. She and her husband live in the States in New York City. After the terror attack on 9 / 11, Gina never flies again. But, she also uses that as an excuse to not visit her mother.

Isobel is Gina’s daughter. She lived most of her life with Vivien, her grandmother. She loved the small town and the sea. She returns to start a new life when her grandmother dies and leaves her the house and some money.

The story goes from the 1950’s and Vivien’s life to 2019 and Isobel’s life.

One of the things I liked, Ms Burton made it clear where we were in time. I liked that very much.

Ms Burton writes beautifully. Her descriptions and atmosphere are quite lovely. She creates characters who are fully formed. And since I am a character driven reader, that is a wonderful thing to me.

I wanted Vivien, Gina and Isobel to be stronger women at times. I understood that Vivien was out of her element for a time, but then disappointed when she became so submissive? Her husband was a distant and cold person and that had a lot to do with Vivien’s way of life.

Women in the 1950’s were not as powerful as women are today. I am not familiar with the situations in England at the time, but it sounds like a very difficult period for women.

At times, Gina was not confident about life in general and her life in particular. Gina led a very privileged life. She carried a great deal of resentment toward her mother. Forgiveness was not her strong suit.

I liked Isobel very much. She gradually pulls herself up and gets on the path to a new life. She works hard to become the person she had dreamed she would be.

This is a book about family relationships. This is a book about learning to love yourself. This is a book about how family history is sometimes surprising and always interesting.

And most of all this is a book about learning to love family even when they are not lovable.

I received the book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

I don’t usually like books with dual time lines but this worked really well. Families can be complicated and often solutions to problems arrive too late due to miscommunication.

I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first half as this is where a family mystery comes to light. The characters are likeable, the setting of the book is very descriptive and it is certainly a book I would recommend

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set in 2 time periods we read the split story of Vivien and Max, and Isobel and Nick.

Vivien dies and leaves Isobel her 5 bedroom Victorian house in Norfolk. She also leaves her money to do the place up with a stipulation that she cannot sell it for 13 months.

In the past Vivien is walking through a very smog filled London, her hat blows off, and she bumps into Max.

Both of these women are linked by their pasts, but also by their secrets, and Isobel begins to investigate whats going on and how it all fits together.

I love these kind of historical fiction/split timeline/family secret books. Kate Morton is the master, but The Last Party at Silverton Hall is an excellent entry into the category.

Isobel inherits her grandmother Vivien's house in Silverton Bay. When sorting through the house, she finds an old photograph of Vivien at one of the famous parties at Silverton Hall. Isobel questions how much she really knows about her beloved grandmother and what sorts of secrets she's kept to herself all along....

This was the perfect read for a cozy weekend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Isabel is excited about inheriting her late aunts house. When Isabel finds a picture of her aunt attending a party at a place she said she never went, Isabel decided she needs answers. The more she learns, the more questions she has. Thus book wasxa quick read.

What a brilliant book.
It was such a good read. I loved how it dipped through many histories and kept it flipping seamlessly through many peoples histories.
Isobel has returned home to her Grandparents house by the sea. Her enigmatic Grandmother has died and left her the house and her estate. It’s looking in a tatty state.she’s overwhelmed both with sadness and the amount to do.
Her mother won’t travel from fear after 9/11 and so it’s left sown to her.
The stories of her mother and father interwoven through history and also others are really interesting.
I loved this book.

Thankyou netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

A book about family and finding out about what lies beneath the surface of a person. An interesting read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

A great family story told in two different time periods. The characters were all well developed and very relatable. The plot told from the 1950's and 2019, transitioned smoothly from scene to scene and the story slowly build. The center plot is focused on the mystery behind the secrets of her grandmother's life. Truly an enjoyable read. Highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

We follow a young woman, Isobel, in 2019 as she moves back to the home she once lived in with her grandmother. Dual-timelining is the early 1950s and her grandmother, Vivien, who is a young bride to a man who has something he's hiding. There is a secret to Isobel's past that Vivien took with her to the grave. As Isobel slowly works on restoring her home, she meets an old friend who is also working through his recent past.

This book was a character-driven drama with a touch of mystery. It was not a thriller nor something with a huge surprise. But the setting and interactions of the story worked for me and I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend it as a pleasant read, not edge-of-your-seat interesting, but not boring at all. It was just the right type of story to read a bit at night before bed.

I would read another book by this author.

Wow! This book is toll from two different points of view one is Isabel she is Vivian‘s granddaughter the other POV. When we meet Isabell she just learned that she inherited her grandmother‘s beloved Victorian although she is sad at its crumbling state and the mice that have taken up residence she wearily decides she’ll fix it up. Plus there was a stipulation in her grandmother’s will that she must live in the home for at least 13 months before selling it. The other stipulation is that she must get the elderly antiques owner Spencer to go through the house with her for valuables and to help
With any extras. So on her last morning staying at The Silverton hall hotel A worker name Ella engages Isabell in conversation and when she finds out Vivian was her grandmother, Ella is more than excited to tell her how much they loved her grandmother and her visits she made to the hotel. Ella also tells her oh by the way she also donated some photographs from the 50s in the hotels hey-day. And then I asked Isabell if she would like to see them. This is all new information to her because whenever she would ask her grandmother if she wanted to eat lunch there her grandmother would blow her off and Isabell never thought twice about it but now she’s rethinking everything. It seems Vivian had a whole life Isabell knew nothing about. In Vivians chapters we learn how she met Max the handsome banker who she would go on to marry and have a beautiful daughter but ultimately there was something that was shadow Vivian‘s view on things and almost ruined her whole life. When Isabell goes to the antique dealer to ask Spencer to help her go through the big house she is shocked to see Spencer‘s grandson there who she shared a moment with 18 summers before when he starts helping her fix up the house they both start feeling that same old feeling they had back then. I really enjoyed these books and loved Vivian‘s chapters and I really liked her character. It seems Isabell didn’t know her grandmother at all. I love a book that uncovers family secrets that was the last party at Silverton hall and what a party it was. I love this book and highly recommend it this is such a great mystery that is a definite solid four-star read! I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my reviewgg

Told in alternating time-lines, the early 1950s and 2019, this family saga is enticing, mysterious, and mesmerising. The town of Silverton Bay may be fictional, but it sure feels like a real place.
The book is really well-written, and the character development, and world-building is commendable. I loved all the characters, but I think my favourites must be Vivien and Spencer. Vivien has the makings of the strong, opinionated matriarch that features in a lot of family sagas, but she is also loving, and caring. Isobel is the perfect female protagonist: strong, persistent. I also loved Nick, with all his charms, allure, and mystery. Nick's grandfather, Spencer, is just as lovely, and I adored their entire dynamic.
The element of the story that kept me most spellbound was the secret. In my experience, family secrets can make or break a relationship, and I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to find out what happens with this secret.

2 timelines. Second chances. Old houses with a story to tell . Broken Dreams, hidden secrets and the strength to carry on. I liked this book, but I hoped it would pull on my heartstrings a little more. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

A dual time line novel following the stories of Isobel in 2019 and her grandmother Vivian in 1952. Isobel has inherited Silverton after Vivian's death and now she's sorting through all the things Vivian abandoned there. It's near been clear what happened and Isobel, estranged from her mother Gina, looks for answers. It's very much a novel of family and second chances with good atmospherics and a thoughtful bent. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good storytelling makes this a good read.

The Last Party at Sliverton Hall first came to my attention when it was featured on Sarah Bennett's Facebook page. Instantly I knew I needed to read it and I'm so glad I requested it.

Set on the beautiful Norfolk coast as well as London, this tells the story of Vivien, Isabel and Nick - a grandmother, granddaughter plus her love interest. Isabel is a girl who is heartbroken when her beloved grandmother dies. When she learns she has been left the house in Sliverton Bay, its her way of finally going home.

But there is two major problems: the house is in badly need of renovation work plus the fact that Vivien doesn't want the house sold for thirteen months. I was engrossed in this book from the moment I picked it up with its twisted and turns. The discovery of a picture opens a can of worms that send Isabel on a journey to unlock the secrets of her history including her late grandfather, Max.

I loved that the booked kept on moving from the past to the present, keeping me glued as I tried to find out the answers to the questions. Rachel has written such a brilliant book: one filled with twists and turns.

And the ending? I wanted to throw my kindle across the room! How could you do that to me Rachel? There better be a sequel because it feels there's more story to tell especially with Gina.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this wonderful book.

An enjoyable story written over two timelines. Isobel inherits her grandmother's house, a place she called home herself for many years when she was growing up, and a house that will unlock hidden family secrets. A well written story with intrigue & mystery, love & loss & best of all a little sprinkling of romance.

I loved the dual pov throughout this book, going between the present day and the 1950s.

Isobel inherits Silverton Hall from her grandmother. After finding old photographs of her grandmother she realises she might not know her grandmother as well as she thought she did and sets out to find the answers to all her questions.

Such a wonderful story and well worth the read!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is a dual time line story which, in the 2019 is about Isobel in and the Vivian’s story is set in 1952.

Silverton Hall now belongs to Isobel, after the death of Vivian and she is trying to clear out what’s not needed that her grandmother left behind.

Isobel has never known what happened between her grandmother and estranged and as mother, Gina, But now, she wants to find out.

I highly recommend this book.

Two timelines, exploring love and second chances. A lovely thoughtful story with characters that I was invested in. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion.

I had not read any books by this author before so it was great to read something different.
It was a dual timeline story which of course has been done before but this was well done and not at all annoying or confusing as some books like this can be.

I found that the book kept my interest and though in some ways the storyline was predictable, it had some twists and turns I hadn't expected.
I did find some of the characters frustrating - I had never thought of the implications for some of 9/11 for instance but it kept be interested enough to want to know what happened and why.

However some of the story was sad - stigma and illegitimacy in the 1950s seems so odd these days - even for us oldies.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable book for which I will not supply any spoilers

Thank you again

This book is set on two timelines from 1952 and 2019, which is really interesting. Revolving around the family line from Vivien in the 50’s to Isobel in the ‘present day’
Isobel is drifting and not really enjoying life in Cambridge when her beloved grandmother dies and leaves her the house on the coast of Norfolk, could this be a new beginning that can relight her passion for painting and drawing? There is so much to discover is the old house that hasn’t been renovated or even redecorated in over 60 years.
Evocative and atmospheric, heartening yet also sad, great love, loss and emptiness. This is interesting from the first page to the last!
Only 4 stars as I felt it was very repetitive in places, and stuck in places, don’t know if this was written in lockdown which would explain it. Nevertheless a great read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria books for the early read.

Loved it!! I was hooked from the start and had to know what Vivien's husband told her after the party. Max definitely seemed too good to be true when Vivien bumped into him in the fog. Vivien didn't love Max when she married him, but believed she could grow to love him. She saw Max as a means to get away from her current life, although she didn't realize what she was really giving up. Max didn't love Vivien, but she was exactly what he needed for his plans to work. Max had so many secrets and I couldn't wait until everything was finally revealed. Loved the dual timeline. Isobel and Nick were perfect for each other. Both of them were living lives they never expected. Nick was supposed to be a doctor and Isobel was supposed to be an artist. Sometimes life gets in the way and dreams get changed or side railed.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the story, characters and writing style. There were so many secrets, not sure how they were kept for so many years. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Aria & Aries through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book has dual timelines, from 1952 and 2019, but it works and flows smoothly. I thought it added to the story.
Isobel inherits her grandmothers home, when she passes away, When she gets there and sees how bad the house is in, she isn't sure what to do. She realizes someone she once was close to had moved back, and his grandfather is the only one she is allowed to ask to help her.
This story captured my attention from the start and kept it until the end. It was enjoyable reading about today with all that was going on, and at the same time, sliding back into the past like looking at memories. I thought it was going to be more questions than answers, but that isn't the case. It blended together, slowly, but at a good pace. We learn, the secrets, the times when things were so different back in 1952, As Isobel found photographs that didn't add up, she decided to search for the answers. She finally decided to talk to her mother, which her mother didn't want to talk about, but her father called her back. She decided to continue to look for the answers.
When she discovered that she had kept a diary, she decided to fly to America to see her parents, because she thought her mother should read it first. When she got there, she and her mother talked, and her mother hadn't been home in years and Isobel wanted her to come home and go to the party and Silverton Hall. Her mother hasn't flown since 2011 and said she never would again. Isobel's father talked her into going over by boat, and her mother wanted to go home now that she understood things. There was one more question that they wondered about, and the night of the party, that question was answered.
I received an ARC from Aria through NetGalley.

This story's poignant mystery begins in the 1950s but isn't solved until 2019. It's a tale of betrayal, family, friendships and forgiveness but most of all, love and second chances. Isobel inherits the house she has always loved from Vivien, her grandmother. The house on the Norfolk coast has a wealth of memories but is rundown, like Isobel's life.

Set in dual timelines, the reader learns the secrets of Isobel's family and how they shaped the lives of three generations of women. The setting is lyrically described, and the characterisation of the three women makes this so compelling. The character and emotional development are believable, and the naivety of Vivien in the misogynist 1950s is portrayed well. The pacing is good, and the storytelling is engaging in this uplifting read.

I like the characterisation, the setting and the storytelling.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Compelling family saga👍

Three generations of women and a well-plotted tale of the secrets that affected their relationships with each other. This story of Isobel, Vivien and Gina, told by alternating between past and present, kept me fully engaged. I had to and fully wanted to keep reading to confirm the roots of their hidden truths and how they shaped Vivien's marriage and her troubled relationship with her only child.

Isobel is floored by the family secrets she uncovers after her beloved grandmother Vivien's death when she inherits her Vivien's large, old house on the Norfolk coast. Isobel's return to Norfolk transforms from an escape from her unhappy life in London to a new start both professionally and personally, including a chance to reconnect with her teenage love and friends she abandoned.

I found the 9/11 connection in the story an interesting twist and the modern, closed door romance between Isobel and Nick juxtaposed nicely with Vivien's experience with Max.

I thoroughly enjoyed the novel plot, pace, characterizations and writing style. I would definitely be inclined to read more by Rachel Burton.

Thanks to Aria and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This is a really beautiful feel good read.
A duel timeline story set in the 1950,s and 2019 surrounding the lives of Vivien and her granddaughter Isobel.
Isobel has always thought that the grandmother that she loved had secrets in her past that she was not happy to give up.
When her grandmother dies and leaves her house to Isobel she starts on a journey that will reveal these secrets and so much more that will change her life for ever.

I felt throughout this book that it was somewhat similar to author's book The Secrets of Summer House. Both are told over two time periods, both involve questions about the main characters' parents, both have a rich guy/middle class woman romance, etc. Although there were those similarities the actual stories are very different. I found Vivien's story to be both sad and optimistic. Even though she ended up in a very unhappy marriage, she did create a life that she loved once that ended. Isobel and Nick's second chance love story is really well crafted. They had both gone through traumas and lost their way, and although they were a good support system for one another their full recovery wasn't dependent on one another. Rachel Burton also does a very good job of alternating between the two timelines/storylines - in large part because both stories are so interesting. I'm not always a big fan of the drawn out reveal, but I didn't mind it here at all.

Thank you to Amy Watson of Aria Fiction (Head of Zeus) for your invitation to join the blog tour for The Last Party at Silverton Hall by Rachel Burton, and a gorgeous copy of the book to review.

I throughly enjoyed this dual timeline book. Isobel has inherited her grandmothers house in 2019 and finds herself puzzled about why her grandmother avoided visiting nearby Silverton Hall, after seeing photos of her there at a party.

The reader knows that Vivien was at Silverton Hall and that a secret was shared after a party in 1953. A secret that has haunted a family for two generations and kept them apart.

In addition to the mystery surrounding Vivien, Isobel finds herself spending time with Nick, a friend from the past – will they be able to become friends again after the events of September 2021 changed their original plans.

Rachel Burton brings the characters and the house to life in this book.

When Isobel inherits her grandmother's house in Silverton Bay she hope she can make a fresh start in the house she grew up in. She hadn't realised however the house was in desparate need of an upgrade and help with that comes from her old friend Nick.

Because staying at her house is initially not ideal, Isobal spends a couple of nights at Silverton Hall. Here she discovers a photograph of a party with her grandmother in attendance. However, Isobel is sure her grandmother Vivien always told her she had a big dislike for Silverton Hall.

The book is written in a dual timeline, where Vivien is swept of her feet by Max in 1952, and Isobel's quest for answers and reconnecting with Nick in 2019.

I absolutely loved this book. Rachel Burton has a way of weaving these stories together. Her description both of Silverton Bay today and in the 1950s make for a wonderfully paced story with lovely, likeable characters.

Another 5 star read by Racher Burton!

"The Last Party at Silverton Hall" is a novel told in two distinct timelines: 1952 and 2019. The storyline was predictable at times but overall an engaging read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Isobel has inherited 'Little Clarion' from her grandmother Vivien. The house is in Silverton Bay in Norfolk, where Isobel spent most of her childhood when her parents moved to New York. She has many happy memories there & the main one being Nick, her childhood friend. After a difficult few years, she needs a new start in life & this is it!
The area starts to show her secrets that she had no idea about & life becomes so complicated, added by the return of Nick.

I love a Rachel Burton book. Her writing is so enticing & takes you to the eras with her descriptive writing. I was walking London In the smog & swimming in the sea, I was walking around Little Clarion looking at the changes I would make.

I read it in two sittings & wanted more, perhaps a sequel? Recommended read, enjoy!

Absolutely loved this dual timeline story.
Isobel has inherited her grandmother Vivien’s Norfolk house, Little Clarion, a place where she grew up. Seeing it as a new start, she arrives back in the village of Silverton Bay to discover Nick, her first love of 18 years ago, has also returned . Both have had their fair share of disappointments and bad luck, but whereas Isobel has her eyes set on a new future, Nick is adrift. No longer working as a doctor, he currently lives with his grandfather Spencer, while refurbishing houses.
After the discovery of a puzzling photograph, we follow Isobel as she begins to unravel unanswered questions about her grandmother’s past. Vivien and Isobel’s lives weave seamlessly between 1953 and present day. I loved that step back in time and was saddened that Vivien’s happy ever after with her husband Max wasn’t destined to be. What happened to them both had an impact on both Isobel and her mother Gina.
It’s a lovely, atmospheric novel full of interesting characters, intrigue and surprises. It’s also clear that Isobel and Nick are perfect for each other, but will they get their opportunity for a second chance?

Beautifully written, I loved the unexpected twist at the end. A definite five stars from me.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Rachel Burton and Head of Zeus for an ARC of The Last Party at Silverton Hall in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Historical Fiction


Review:
This is a beautiful story, told over a dual time line, one set in the present and one that starts just after WII and finishes in the sixties, an interested but turbulent time period. The characters two strong women each with their own problems but there are also many similarities in their struggles. The book shows that the past tends to haunt us if we don’t deal with things properly; secrets are never a good thing.

The book is very well written, vivid and with great attention to detail. The story flows well and the dual time line is nicely interwoven in the story adding an extra layer of mystery and suspense, it allows the story to slowly unfold. The characters are well developed; enough background information is given in order for the characters to have an authentic feel.


Overall:
A well written and captivating story with great character development and the right amount of mystery and suspense.

A dual timeline story about family, secreats and memories. I enjoyed it and liked the setting. The plot flows but some twists were easy to guess.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

A wonderful tale of love, family and so much more!

Isobel has inherited her grandmother's house and she is looking forward to forging a new life for herself in the house she has spent a big chunk of her life. She thinks she knew Vivien really well but when she finds an old photo of her Nana enjoying herself at a party in Silverton Hall, she realises there is an awful lot she doesn't know. As we follow both Vivien in the 1950's and Isobel in the present day, we begin to understand their relationship.

I've read a few novels by this author but, in my opinion, this is easily the best of them. A gorgeously woven tale of family and so very much more. Beautifully written with cleverly crafted characters, I absolutely loved everything about this one; it's both interesting and rather compelling and I have no hesitation in recommending it. Perfectly finished off, and worth all five stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

A beautiful story told over the two timelines. A story of family, secrets and missed connections. I loved the idea of the old photos providing the link for Isobel as she uncovers the truth about Vivien and Little Clarion. Able to make a fresh start herself, the house and the memories of living with her grandmother are a useful distraction for Isabel and I loved her rekindling relationship with Nick and
Spencer. Such a heartwarming story which I devoured in one sitting.

The publishers describe The Last Party at Silverton Hall as ‘Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore, Lorna Cook and Kathryn Hughes’. I haven’t read any of those authors’ books so I can’t say whether that’s a fair comparison or not but what I can say is that, despite my mixed history with dual-time novels and the fact there is a romantic storyline, I really enjoyed it.

The book moves between the present day story of Isobel, returning to Silverton Bay after a period of eighteen years, and her grandmother Vivien’s story starting in 1952.

Viven’s story is one of young woman swept off her feet by the handsome Max and whisked away from her humdrum job, as well as from her family and smog-filled London, to a new life in a grand house by the sea. Suddenly there are little luxuries she could only have dreamed of and glamorous parties to attend at nearby Silverton Hall. True, Max is often absent but, after all, he has an important job in London. If you’re thinking it all sounds too good to be true, then you’d be right because as the teasing opening chapter shows there is something important that Max has kept from Vivien, something that touches upon social attitudes at the time. In fact, there’s more than one thing he’s kept from her, as she will only discover much later. Max could come across as the one-dimensional villain of the piece except for a little nugget of information towards the end of the book that, if not excusing his actions, does give a different perspective on them.

The present day storyline sees Isobel grieving the death of her grandmother with whom she spent much of her childhood and rather overwhelmed by inheriting Little Clarion, her grandmother’s house. That feeling of being overwhelmed only increases when she sees the dilapidated state of the house. Fortunately, also recently returned to Silverton Bay is Nick who is helping in his grandfather Spencer’s shop. Eighteen years before Isobel and Nick were close friends, and on the verge of getting romantically involved, until events got in the way and their lives took separate paths in September 2001. The intervening years have, in different ways, been traumatic for each of them, as the reader will discover. What hasn’t changed is that, for both of them, the other has always been ‘the one that got away’. But is it too late? Has too much water passed under the bridge? Will they still feel the same way about each other once they know the emotional baggage they carry?

Alongside delving into the secrets of her grandmother’s life, the renovation of Little Clarion gives Isobel the project she needs to distract her from disappointments in her life. It helps that Nick is on hand to provide practical assistance and to nudge Isobel into recognising the house can incorporate modern elements without stripping it of the essence of her grandmother. The restoration of the house in a way mirrors both Isobel’s and Nick’s psychological “renovation” as they each discover there is still a chance for them to pursue the things they’ve always wanted to do, rather than the things they were expected to do.

The Last Party at Silverton Hall is an absorbing story of family secrets with a romantic storyline that, for me, remained just the right side of sentimentality. I thought the story flowed beautifully and I liked the way the author adopted a subtly different style for the sections revealing, bit by bit, Vivien’s story. There are some touching moments in the book and those who love a feelgood ending won’t be disappointed.

I was hooked on this book practically from the first paragraph. It is the story of three generations of women in one dysfunctional family told in flashbacks to the 1950s to present day.

After Vivienne dies her granddaughter, Isobel, returns to her childhood home which has been left to her by her grandmother. The house is in need of major repair and Isobel reconnects with the boy she fell in love with as a teen, right before they both left for college in September 2001, her to art school in New York and him on the path to becoming a doctor.

The book was hard to put down. The story of granddaughter and grandmother plus the story of daughter and mother looks at the dynamics of keeping secrets and how damaging they can be.in a family. Add on to that Gina being unable to get on a plane and come visit her mother after 9/11 really brought a sense of realism to the book.

A really good story with a very satisfying ending. It was one of my favorites of this year.

#RachelBurton #TheLastPartyAtSilvertonHall #Romance #HeadOfZeusLimited #BloomsburyPublishingLLC #Aria #FamilyDynamics

In 1952, on the foggiest night in London’s history, Vivien bumps into Max, after a whirlwind romance, Max proposes and Vivien accepts. Max is a banker, he comes from a wealthy family, he sweeps Vivien off her feet and before she knows it their getting married. After the wedding, they move to the Norfolk coast, Max has bought an old house and he calls it Little Clarion.

Vivien loves living in Norfolk and by the sea and she begins her day swimming in the waters of Silverton Bay. The nearby estate Silverton Hall is about to be sold, the last heir Lord Harrington has passed away and an American buyer is going to turn it into a hotel. One last party is held at Silverton Hall, Max and Vivien are invited, she's not prepared for what Max tells her afterwards, it changes her life and their marriage.

In 2019, Isobel is upset when her grandmother Vivien passes away, she left Little Clarion to Isobel and not to her daughter. Gina is Vivien and Max’s only child, she lives in America and with her husband. Isobel resigns from her job as an art teacher, leaves London, she drives to Norfolk and she needs a sea change. She’s shocked by how rundown the house is, it’s been invaded by mice and the electrical wiring and plumbing hasn’t been updated.

Spencer Hargreaves owns an antiques shop in the village called Odds & Ends, he was a good friend of Vivien’s, he’s going to help Isobel with sorting through her grans furniture and his grandson Nick renovates and restores old houses. Eighteen years ago, Nick and Isobel spent a summer together, a teenage Isobel had to leave suddenly and nothing in her life went as planned afterwards. While cleaning out her grandmother’s years of clutter, Isobel discovers an old photograph, it was taken at the last party at Silverton Hall and it makes her question how well she knew her grandmother!!

The story is told from the two main characters points of view, Vivien and Isobel’s and it has a dual timeline that’s easy to follow and the narrative is written seven decades apart.

I received a copy of The Last Party at Silverton Hall by Rachel Burton from NetGalley and Aria & Aries in exchange for an honest review. The narratives main focus is on Isobel trying to discover what happened to her grandmother in the 1950’s, why did Vivien say she had never been to Silverton Hall, when clearly she had and more than once. For Isobel to discover the truth about her grandmother, she needs find out more about her grandfather Max and it's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle that's missing a few pieces.

Isobel eventually uncovers the hidden facts, her grandmother and others were deceived, betrayed, tricked and it affected relationships within the entire family. I enjoyed reading the authors notes at the end, with Isobel’s and Nick’s play list of music, they had great taste in bands and I have read and liked Ms. Burton’s previous book, The Secrets of Summer House. The Last Party at Silverton Hall, is a perfect choice for readers who enjoy dual timeline historical fiction stories, based around an old houses and debt ridden English family estates, with hidden secrets and four and a half stars from me.

The title of this book was what drew me in at first. I imagined a majestic building sitting on a windswept bank overlooking a grey wintery sea. Add to this the romanticism of the 1950's and I was hooked. I was not disappointed.
The setting was an important part of this story and gave it a sense of history, isolation and mystery. The author based Silverton Bay on an actual place, Old Hunstanton on the Norfolk North Coast. The Hall was inspired by The Caley Hall Hotel, both of which I now want to visit.

Told via a dual timeline with Isobel in 2019 and her Grandmother, Vivien in 1952-4 the mystery of Silverton Hall is revealed bit by bit, igniting the imagination but never quite answering all the questions you have. It is similar to the tide receding to expose the shore then just when you think you can see it all, the sea comes rushing back in to hide more secrets, appearing as hazy shapes under the surface.
In this way this story is very captivating, maintaining a steady flow of information but always providing more mystery to keep the reader engrossed.
The time setting of this book in 2019 and it's references to 2001 made it very relatable. September 11 and the lasting affects of the events of that day give this story a grounding and a sense of reality, despite the characters being totally fictional. I did love the playlist the author has included as many of the songs formed the soundtrack to my teenaged years and beyond.
The characters were well developed and easy to like. Both the MCs thought themselves to have failed in life. But this story shows that measuring yourself up against others is not the right way to determine success. Everyone has a dream, a goal and a purpose, you just have to do what is right for you, follow your own dream, not the one someone else has for you.
My favourite characters were the house, Little Clarion and Silverton Hall as well as Spencer. Silverton Bay sounds like a wonderful place to live.

In short, this is a very atmospheric and well written story. It presents a tantalising and glamourus mystery with just a sweet touch of romance. It is a charming and delightful story.

“Life never works out the way we tihink it will when we're young. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be proud of what we achieve.”

The Last Party at Silverton Hall is another great book by Rachel Burton.

The dual time novel follows three generations of women in the same family. Vivien (the grandmother) Gina (the daughter) and Isobel (the grandaughter). The story opens with Isobel inheriting her grandmother’s house on the Norfolk coast. Isobel has fond memories of Silverton the town where she spent her summers and pre-university years when her parents moved to New York.. The house is in need of some serious TLC and Isobel feels overwhelmed and out of her depth. Her grandmother had a codicil in her will that Isobel has to live in the house for 13 months before she could sell it, enter Nick, Isobel’s teen love that got away, He renovates old houses and flips them and offers to help Isobel renovate her grandmother’s house. While renovating the house Isobel finds a strange photograph of her grandmother the date on the back is from when she would have been pregnant with Isobel’s mother, however in the photograph, Vivien is obviously not pregnant. Then there are the photographs of Vivien and her husband Max at dance parties at Silverton Hall, a place that Vivien always refused to go to and seemed to dislike immensely. Isobel knows very little of her grandfather Max and sets out to find out what the secrets are that Vivien kept from Isobel and Gina. With the assistance of Nick and a diary, Isobel learns the sercrets that Vivien and Max took to their graves.

I really enjoyed the dual time period of this novel. The descriptions of the town and the house were compelling and I enjoyed the renewal of love between Nick and Isobel. I would recommend this novel to fans of Rosamunde Pilcher or Erica James. This was a lovely family drama with a mystery thrown in.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Aria & Aries and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

The Last Party at Silverton Hall by Rachel Burton.
I would like to thank Head of Zeus publishing for the E ARC of this book. It was published on the 2nd of March 2023.
This book is a dual timeline story, which I really enjoyed.
We meet Vivien in 1952, she works as a secretary in a lawyer’s office and wishes there was more to her life. One day she bumps into Max, during a particularly bad episode of the London smog. They become friends, enjoy each other’s company and she agrees to marry him. He then takes her to Norfolk where he has a house and they live there.
In 2019 we meet Isobel who has inherited her Grandmother Vivien’s home in Norfolk. Isobel loves the house and intends to live there once she has brought it up to date. She also meets Nick, he is the Grandson of a friend of her grandmothers, whom she met and fell in love with when she lived with her Gran. Whilst sorting through her Grans possessions, she finds a painting of her Gran at Silverton Hall – a place her Gran swore she was never at. The more she searches for answers the more she discovers about her Gran and her family.
I liked the sense of connection Isobel had to her Gran and the house. It was good getting both stories as the plot developed. I enjoyed seeing Vivien as a young woman and dealing with all she had to cope with. As more was revealed you understood why Isobel’s mother was shut off from Norfolk and why she wouldn’t come back. I enjoyed the village atmosphere there was to the story and how people wanted to help Isobel and how she reconnected with friends she had there.
This was a very enjoyable read, enjoyable plot line and good characters.

I discovered Rachel’s books a couple of years ago and fell in love with characters and small towns they depict. I have been enjoying her move from a modern setting and romance into more historical fiction and have been eagerly awaiting this one’s release- it didn’t disappoint.

Told in a dual timeline we get to know both Isobel and her grandmother Vivien as a younger woman. Both were interesting women and I enjoyed seeing their stories play out. I did find myself more drawn to Isobel’s character as she made a fresh start, had a second chance at romance and found her way again.

You could see the amount of research Burton did of 1950s London and loved seeing references to VE Day, the Queen’s coronation and the pea soupers. The mystery element of Vivien’s life provided for both an engaging read but brought both timelines together nicely as all the secrets were revealed.

I love a story about a grand old house and enjoyed the descriptions of both the village of Silverton and Silverton Hall. The grand parties sounded amazing and I could image in the grand ballroom and everyone in their finery. I could picture Isobel’s house and its crumbling interior and I loved the side characters introduced to help her renovate. The authors note and playlist at the end added a nice touch to a well crafted novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the eARC

A story of love, grief and secrets told in two different times. Vivien in the 1950s and modern day with her granddaughter Isobel. After she inherits the house Isobel is about to learn why her family is the way it is.

This is such a heartfelt story. It has some beautiful moments interspersed with some truly heart breaking one's. I loved the dual timelines and how we slowly learn about the past. It's a slow burn but it's needed for the story. The ending was really done. This does mention an event in recent history that could be a trigger to some readers. I liked Isobel and that she is ready to communicate. The writing ie descriptive and tugs at you. A brilliant read.

I loved this book, it has a dual timeline which is well written and well developed. It was an engaging and interesting read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

The Last Party at Silverton Hall is a compelling story with a bit of romance, a lot of mystery, and perhaps equally a bit of history to pull us through the two timelines of Vivian and her granddaughter, Isobel.

This is one of those stories that I don’t want to delve too deeply into information about the story. There are so many secrets here, so much unsaid in both generations, that it almost leaves the heart aching for what remained for these characters. It’s possible to see one character as a bit of a villain, but really, I couldn’t do that. Probably because of the differences between generations, I could fault Max for some things but not everything that happened.

Isabel gets a second chance in many ways when she discovers her grandmother left her home in Isabel’s care and when the man that got away so many years ago for reasons they’d both agreed on comes back into her life now. During the renovation of her grandmother’s home, there will be secrets revealed and mysteries unearthed.

I enjoyed the dual timelines; they made sense of what was happening in some ways and clouded reasons in other ways. As I said, to go too deeply into the storyline would be to spoil it for other readers, and I don’t want to do that.

I’ll simply say that I enjoyed The Last Party at Silverton Hall on so many levels. It’s full of intriguing people, mysteries that need to have answers, and secrets that need to come into the light of day. This is a story that stayed with me as I’d think back and wonder why I didn’t see something or a point was made that I’d almost missed. I love a good puzzle, and that is what this story is in many ways… one that doesn’t always give the expected picture at the ending.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Such an adorable book, the author has a new fan!

The dual timeline was perfect, I thoroughly enjoyed both era’s and was completely sweep along with both Isobel and Vivien’s stories. The settings were so well written I could visualise it all!

A must for historical fiction fans.

Lovely book, with a dual time line which makes for a more indepth read of past times. Well researched and written.

1952: A fateful meeting in the smog-filled streets of London brings Vivien and Max together. City girl Vivien has never met anyone like upper-class artist Max before, and although she is not sure about the differences between the kinds of life they lead, she accepts his marriage proposal after a whirlwind romance. The happy couple then settle down in apparent marital bliss in a little village on the Norfolk coast.

2019: Isobel is unhappy with her life and disappointed in love, so when she inherits her beloved grandmother Vivien's house in Silverton Bay this seems like the chance for a brand new start. The house where Isobel lived as a child needs a lot of work, but she finds an unexpected helpmate in the form of someone she has not seen for eighteen years: Nick, the grandson of Vivien's old friend Spencer, who she has never forgotten.

As Isobel begins to pick up the threads of a life she never thought she would go back to, she comes across a photograph of Vivien at a party at Silverton Hall, where infamous parties were held in the 1950s. The Hall is now a hotel and Isobel is surprised to find that there is a mystery about Vivien's connection to its past. As family secrets are uncovered, Isobel begins to wonder how much she really knows about her own family...

The Last Party at Silverton Hall is an engrossing time-slip novel that flips back and forth between the 1950s from the point of view of Vivien, and the present from that of her granddaughter Isobel when she returns to Silverton Bay. The terms of Vivien's will tie Isobel to the house she has inherited for thirteen months, during which her grandmother hoped her granddaughter would be able to find happiness again - but she did not bank on Isobel's quick attention being drawn to some things abut her family's past that do not quite add up.

Through Vivien's part of the story you follow the history of her early romance with Max, and the halcyon days when they settle down to married life in Silverton Bay. However, things take a turn when Vivien discovers Max has been hiding something from her, on the night of a glamorous party at Silverton Hall - and the secret that he confesses has consequences that ripple through time.

In the present, Isobel is hit with a mass of conflicted feelings about being back in Silverton Bay. Although she has always wanted to return here, and now is the right time for her to make a new start, the addition of Nick to the equation knocks her for six. She has not seen Nick for eighteen years, and yet she has never forgotten the blissful summer they spent together - or the night of the kiss that no one else has been able to measure up to.

The story is a delightful mix of historical fiction, compelling family drama, intriguing mystery, and suspenseful romance. Evocative scenes from the 1950s onwards bleed beautifully into the present, and the threads of both storylines are rich in themes of disappointed love, the difficulty of living up to the expectations of others, complex relationships, and shattered illusions, which are balanced elegantly against more hopeful elements of family ties, new starts, reconciliation, and true love. I adored how Burton also echoes the importance of a single night for both Vivien and Isobel.

I read this book in one highly enjoyable sitting, unable to tear myself away from the stories of Vivien and Isobel. This novel really holds you fast, all the way to a lovely twist of an ending that warms the cockles of your heart. Just the ticket for the perfect escapist read. Rachel Burton, you have a new fan!

A dual timeline with plenty of secrets and not just personal but the town knows them as well. Must be read to learn more and enjoy this well written book. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book as I was starting it but as I started reading this book I found myself enjoying it. It was a great read. I had basically said i’m reading you please don’t disappoint me. Well the ending disappointed me a little bit but the rest of the story was very well written

This book is told over two timelines as we follow Isobel in 2019 and Vivien in 1952, I was fully engrossed in both these women stories and felt for them. This book is about family, secrets, history and fresh starts, the characters are likeable and well developed and moving between the two timelines works perfectly.

Nick, an old friend of Isobel's reappears into her life and helps with renovating the much loved house that she has inherited from her Grandmother, Vivien. As Isobel is sorting through her grandmother things, family secrets start to come to light and Isobel embarks on a journey to find out the truth. As the story unfolds, pieces of the mystery are revealed but you are still left asking more questions and I was desperate to know what had happened and how the secret affected the family. I liked Vivien's story and how strong she was, I loved the historical element and I enjoyed reading about the different relationships in families and how people see themselves.

This was my first Rachel Burton book and it certainly won't be my last.

Things are not always as they seem, as Isobel finds out when she inherits her grandmother’s house in Silverton Bay. She has wonderful memories of living there before, but as she sorts through the house and her past, she finds secrets. In the other timeline in 1952 is her grandmother Vivian’s story. A little bit of history, a little romance and secrets uncovered.

The Last Party at Silverton Hall by Rachel Burton is a beautiful dual timeline story. It is a story of secrets and lies, of fresh starts and second chances. The story jumps between Vivien’s story in 1952 and her granddaughter Isobel’s story, set in 2019.

In Vivien’s story, she is swept off her feet in a whirlwind of not quite romance by wealthy banker Max. She’s not in love with him but believes love can grow between them. Vivien appears to have everything she wants, but things are not quite as they seem.

In Isobel’s story, she inherits Vivien’s home following her death, and heads to the beloved house in Silverton Bay to strive for a fresh start. She has had a difficult 18 years since she left her grandmother’s home to go to study art, and feels like a failure because she gave up on her dreams of being an artist, and became a teacher instead, and has stopped painting. When she returns to Silverton Bay after 18 years, her summer romance from when she was 18 years old, Nick, has also recently returned, but it appears that he is no longer a doctor as he’d planned before they went to university.

Isobel begins to feel that there are secrets hanging over the family that link to Vivien and so she tries to find out what they are. Add into this a romance that ended with a kiss when she was 18, that neither she nor Nick have ever forgotten, and sparks are sure to start flying. I loved the connection that Nick and Isobel had, in particular the fact that they had both spent the previous 18 years unable to forget one another.

There was a peace and tranquility about the setting of the book, which ran through the entire novel like soft waves against the shore.

The Last Party at Silverton Hall is an exquisitely written dual timeline novel about secrets and fresh starts, that will have you craving to attend a glamorous party in the 50s, and swim in the sea!

I really enjoyed The Last Party at Silverton Hall. It is a dual timeline story of a granddaughter in modern times and her grandmother, mostly in the 1950s in England. In present day, the grandmother has just died, leaving her large country house to the granddaughter, who is excited to move back to the town where she spent time as a child, and of course her teenage romance has appeared there too. The book reads like historical fiction, but it's not exactly about some big historical point in time, except for a couple of references to the war. It is just a really nice book to read, very well written, likable characters and a bit of a family mystery. I would recommend this one.

The Last Party at Silverton Hall is the eighth book by Rachel Burton. Set in the fictional village of Silverton Bay on England’s Norfolk coast, this is a dual timeline story of Vivien Burke Chambers beginning in the 1950s and her granddaughter Isobel Malone in 2019, soon after Vivien’s death. Rather than leaving her beloved home to her daughter Gina, who lives in New York, the estate is left to her granddaughter. Isobel had lived with her grandmother for several years rather that attending boarding school after her parents had relocated from London. But Isobel had always loved coming to the little village by the sea to visit and was thrilled by her grandmother’s offer.

Isobel’s last summer in Silverton Bay, she met the grandson of the antique store owner, Spencer Hargreaves. Nick was off to medical school at the end of the summer and Isobel was going to art school. They became inseparable over the summer, sharing an intense kiss the day before he left. Isobel put off her schooling when the next day the terrorists flew planes into the Twin Towers as her mother watched from her apartment. Instead, Isobel took a gap year to be with her mother after such a traumatic event.
Now, Isobel has returned to Silverton Bay to accept her legacy. However, she never expected Nick to have also returned, nor did she expect to find clues to a secret long held by both her grandmother and mother.

This is such a good story! As the reader is introduced to Vivien, it’s also an introduction to a different time and the history of this time. As the secret is revealed and the mystery solved, the reader will be surprised til the final paragraph. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!