The Storm Girl
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4.4 • 8 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
The gripping new historical novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Girl from Bletchley Park and The Forgotten Secret.
A heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for centuries.
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1784. When Esther Harris’s father hurts his back, she takes over his role helping smugglers hide contraband in the secret cellar in their pub. But when the free traders’ ships are trapped in the harbour, a battle between the smugglers and the revenue officers leads to murder and betrayal – and Esther is forced to choose between the love of her life and protecting her family…
Present day. Fresh from her divorce, Millie Galton moves into a former inn overlooking the harbour in Mudeford and plans to create her dream home. When a chance discovery behind an old fireplace reveals the house’s secret history as a haven for smugglers and the devastating story of its former residents, could the mystery of a disappearance from centuries ago finally be solved?
Sweeping historical fiction perfect for fans of Soraya Lane, Kathryn Hughes and Tracy Rees.
Readers LOVE The Storm Girl!
‘Amazing book… Both timelines were compulsive reading.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow. Excitement by the bucketful!… Read this in record time. Recommend it.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Just the most beautiful book… I haven't read anything quite as engaging as this in recent years!’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Highly enjoyable… A gripping read.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would gladly give them… This one is up there with the best.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Brilliant.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I really enjoyed this book… Well researched and very compelling.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I really loved how this story played out with all the suspense, mystery and drama within each timeline, it kept me wanting to keep on reading to see what would happen next.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A great story.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Highly recommended.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
About the author
Kathleen McGurl lives in Bournemouth with her husband. She has two sons who have both now left home. She always wanted to write, and for many years was waiting until she had the time. Eventually she came to the bitter realisation that no one would pay her for a year off work to write a book, so she sat down and started to write one anyway. Since then she has published several novels with HQ and self-published another. She has also sold dozens of short stories to women's magazines, and written three How To books for writers. After a long career in the IT industry she became a full-time writer in 2019. When she's not writing, she's often out running, slowly.
Customer Reviews
A Powerful Story of the Past!
What a triumphant inspirational dual time line story! It echoes beautifully with the truths of sacrifice, discovery, mystery, romance, danger and fulfilment. Yes, there are sad and horrific moments in the plot but also joyful and well-earned celebrations etched in the theme of forgiveness.
Friendships, courtships and family connections fill these pages. The characters (some created and others real figures) are memorable and well fleshed out. We really get to know who they are: their past experiences, their dreams, their failures, their hopes for the future. And in some cases, their sacrifices.
The Storm Girl begins with an excerpt from Rudyard Kipling’s ‘A Smuggler’s Song’— an apt quote suitable to the novel’s plot. The story is drawn from the fascinating town history of Mudeford. This quaint coastal village is set at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour in Dorset, England. The Quay saw many great battles between the bootleggers and Customs Officers of the time.
Chapter One takes us to the modern day thread where we meet Millie who has split from her husband (a mutual agreement) and has purchased an old house that she is seeking to renovate. When a potential builder arrives at her door, she blurts out that her cat and kittens are up inside the old closed up fireplace and she cannot reach them. So, Nick, the builder attempts to free them and, once doing so, a discovery is made that begins an amazing historical journey.
In the past timeline, we discover Esther, a hard-working, caring daughter. Her injured father relies on her assistance in the pub but she also must deal with the secret goings on of the smugglers. She is faced with many difficult decisions—including one that requires great sacrifice. Her steadfast love for one man is challenged and the undercurrents of troubles put her in a heartbreaking position. The smugglers’ war with the Custom’s Officers stirs up her life in ways she never expected: including a possible betrayal.
The Storm Girl is exquisitely crafted and had me racing through the pages to see what each character and timeline had to offer. This is a powerful story that sparkles with creative maturity, depth and unexpected outcomes. It contains some unpredicted character arc developments and personality reveals. The smuggling history is intriguing, too, and how the past and present merge. I loved The Storm Girl from start to finish and highly recommend this dual timeline masterpiece.