The House on Harbor Hill by Shelly Stratton Published by Dafina Books on March 27th 2018
Pages: 368
Goodreads
Set in the past and present, The House on Harbor Hill is a murder mystery that tackles the issues of racial prejudice and spousal abuse in the lives of two very different women...
She's generous, kind, and compassionate--yet Delilah Grey will forever be an outcast in the small seaside town of Camden Beach, Maryland. She takes in women shattered by abuse, poverty, illness, or events beyond their control. But no matter how far she's come or how many she's helped find their way back, there is no safe place for Delilah. Acquitted of her rich husband's mysterious death decades ago, she lives in her beautiful mansion consumed by secrets--and mistakes she feels she can never atone for. . . . Until she takes in desperate mother Tracey Walters and her two young children.
Tracey won't say where she's from or what sent her into hiding. But her determination and refusal to give up reminds Delilah of the spirited, hopeful girl she once was--and the dreams she still cherishes. As Tracey takes tentative steps to rebuild her life, her unexpected attraction to Delilah's handsome, troubled caretaker inadvertently brings Delilah face to face with the past. And when Tracey's worst fears come brutally calling, both women must find even more strength to confront truths they can no longer ignore--and at last learn how to truly be free . . .
Resonant, moving, and unforgettable, The House on Harbor Hill paints an unforgettable portrait of two women struggling to forgive themselves, take a chance on change, and challenge each other to finally live. Praise for Between Lost and Found "Moving, thoughtful, and entirely original."--Taylor Jenkins Reid
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The House on Harbor Hill! I was immediately drawn to both the cover and the blurb for this book. It’s my pleasure to share my thoughts with you today.
The Good:
Setting – What’s not to love about a sprawling, old home overlooking the ocean?
Characters – All of the characters in this book are very complex. They all have bear the weight of a past they are struggling to recover from. I would normally be skeptical of the three main characters having this in common but it worked very well in this book. Delilah is clearly the star of the show. Despite all that she’s been through, or maybe because of it, she’s an incredibly kind and gracious woman. I found my self really wanting to protect her from her own inner struggles.
Writing – I really enjoyed Shelly Stratton’s writing style. I appreciated her ability to allow the characters actions and words speak for themselves.
Plot – This book has a lot going on but its multiple subplots were seamlessly woven in. This book deals with issues of racism, classism, and domestic abuse. It gives much for the reader to reflect upon.
Pacing – The pacing was steady throughout the book. Though it’s not an edge-of-seat thriller, there were definitely some tense moments.
The Bad:
Predictability – There were a few times I felt like I could see what was coming.
The Verdict:
Overall, I really enjoyed The House on Harbor Hill. It leaned slightly more toward the women’s fiction genre than I was anticipating but was smart and well-written enough for me to invest in.
3.75/5 stars
Don’t forget to check out the GIVEWAY for this book on my Instagram page.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Bar
Shelly Stratton
Connect with Shelly
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Many thanks to Dafina Book and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Certainly sounds like serious and heavy subject matter and from your description, agree that it might be more women’s fiction.
Thanks for being a part of the tour!
honestly, the setting along sounds wonderful, thrown in a bag of complex characters and oo sounds interesting!
Thanks, Lily. It was definitely a setting I loved!