The Locket

I loved Elizabeth she is a heroine who is not afraid to step up, step in and get her feet dirty. I also found the battle and troop scenes very well done and detailed. The two aspects of this story are beautifully woven together.

A wonderful thrilling read! This book has it all , thrilling events during the Russian Civil war ,, great characters, and non stop thrills. I enjoyed the strong story line and plot that moves at a fast pace while rendering the reader unable to put the book down! Well Done.

This review will appear on the link below approx 23rd November

When Elizabeth Clarke gave her brother Jeremy the locket as he headed off to war in 1917, she had no idea of the significance it would have in her life. Containing a small black and white photo of Elizabeth, Jeremy kept it close – rubbing it for luck; gazing at Elizabeth’s face while he was trapped in the trenches. His close friend Captain Robert Rainey also found meaning in the locket – he was intrigued by the vision of Jeremy’s sister and how much the locket raised his spirits.

With Jeremy once again on home soil in the US, Elizabeth continued to run Clarke Steel, the family mill which she’d run since her father Jonathan went missing in Russia back in 1917. He hadn’t been heard of for two years, when suddenly a stranger arrived at their home and announced Jonathan was alive. He needed rescue from Russia and instructed that because he also had a valuable package with him, a Mission of secrecy was to be organised, with Jeremy in charge to extract him – and Russia was in the middle of a violent and cruel Civil War.

As the preparation for their Mission drew them closer to departure, Elizabeth was uneasy. But the two hundred highly trained men, ammunition and other paraphernalia were ready – shrouded in secrecy they headed into the unknown. When tragedy struck in the port after their arrival, a grief stricken Elizabeth took over; her meeting with Captain Rainey was fortuitous as his knowledge and integrity was beyond doubt. They slowly and torturously made their way across Russia on horseback, encountering danger in all forms. But the knowledge that there was a possible traitor amongst the men shattered Elizabeth. Would they reach Jonathan Clarke? And what would they find if they did? What was this mysterious package that no one knew about?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Locket by B.G.Cousins which is the author’s debut novel. An excellent blending of the power of belief, love and the atrocities of war, The Locket kept me enthralled until the very last page. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this book to all, especially to lovers of historical fiction.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

Very surprised. At first I thought I would not care for the story because of the subject, War. I thought it to be more suited to a male reader. I changed my mind. The story is well written and very interesting. There is some clean romance, history and I actually learned quite a bit while reading the book. The story is rather long but held my interest the entire time. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys, history, war, romance and a good book.

Loved this book. A must read.

The Locket, a good luck charm, passes between brother,sister and friend. Its aura of protection cannot be denied. Elizabeth Clarke runs the operation of Clarke Steel. She is taken out of her element when asked to aid her brother Jeremy on a mission to rescue their missing father . What ensues is a taut historically based mystery. Part love story, the many twists and turns will keep the reader guessing!

This was an enjoyable work of historical fiction; 4.5 stars. The author does a good job of describing the turmoil and confusion of the post-WWI world, especially the turmoil and civil war engulfing Russia. I liked that Trosky and Stalin made brief appearances in the book. I thought the author did a good of describing the horror and confusion of battle/war and how being in battle/war changes a person. The author does a good job of foreshadowing some future world events. The story is engaging with plenty of mystery and twists and turns (some quite surprising twists), as well as a love story. The characters are well-developed, especially Elizabeth Clarke, who is both a strong, independent, willful woman, capable of running a corporation and fitting in with a militia unit, but also kindhearted, gentle, and loving when appropriate.

The Locket takes you on a mysterious , dangerous adventure into Stalinist Russia. Elizabeth Clark has been left to run her father's company in the US while her brother Jeremy is fighting in the war. John Clark has disappeared. Jeremy returns home a changed man, and when an intelligence officer, Charles Appleton lands on their doorway with a mission for Jeremy, his offer is eagerly accepted.Elizabeth will not be left behind and goes with her brother's company, meeting his war buddies for the first time and winning their respect. Robert Rainey was a Canadian, attached to Jeremy's group during the war, and he joins their expedition under the worst conditions when they arrive in Europe. Who is after them, who wants them dead and why? Is one of their own betraying them at every step? This was a good story with a little bit of everything.