Review of 'Aunt Violet's Locket' by Kristin Harper

Review of 'Aunt Violet's Locket' by Kristin Harper

Release date: March 12, 2024

Publisher: Bookouture

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REVIEW

Oh my, what a beautiful heart-melting uplifting story by Kristin Harper! It was like sliding into a pair of warm cosy slippers: welcoming and reassuring. It was both comforting and invigorating with memorable characters, exquisite scenes, exciting surprises and a terrific ending. It brought to the surface many familiar feelings, observances and longings. Who wouldn’t want to escape to Dune Island and live in an inherited cottage by the sea?

This novel focuses on family and a fascinating mystery. Paige is a nurse at a stressful job in the city and she has come through a difficult romantic relationship. When she discovers her aunt has left her a cottage on Dune island, she is shocked as she did not really know her. But when she sets foot on the island, she begins to unravel the life of a woman who was thought by her family to be fairly odd. The truth, though, is quite different from what everyone imagined.

While Paige attempts to get the cottage ready to sell, and her family eagerly waits for a share of the proceeds, Paige stumbles across some unexpected information. She originally had no intentions of staying on the island, but after meeting the locals and particularly a man from a rival family near her Aunt Violet’s cottage, she begins to see life in quite a different light. Will the island do its magic on her and change her mind about selling the cottage?

A real tug of war begins with her family (and in her own heart) as she consults them while providing updates on her aunt’s history. They, of course, are not so interested in the woman they never knew and want Paige to get on with disposing the old cottage to fund their own indulgences. But with all that Paige encounters on the island, it causes her to slow down and take everything into consideration. She begins to discover the real story behind her aunt, her gifts, courage, strength and a romance that nobody knew about. Well, almost nobody. And as she starts to see things she did not notice before, her heart transforms. She finds answers for her own life, the more she uncovers of her aunt’s. Seth Hathaway, is part of that process, too, as he is quite a different man than she originally thought.

This is such a delicious feast filled with love, mystery, new starts, historical secrets, beautiful scenery, fascinating memorabilia, expressive art, lovely islanders, and wonderful life changing connections. I enjoyed all the exploration and discoveries that helped Paige make all the right choices in the end. I love stories that delve into families and their pasts. This one uncovers some moving surprises and highlights the jewel moments of a woman’s life. In doing so, Paige has honoured her Aunt’s memory. The cottage, the old tree, the locket and a few other surprise items (I won’t mention as I don’t want to spoil anyone’s reading experience) create a perfect patchwork story of this woman’s life. These treasures all bring Paige closer to the truth. And the gorgeous old tree that has weathered many storms will forever stand like a ghost beacon to the past—even after it has been uprooted. For it has seen romance, heartbreak, rivalry and ruin. This island icon is a subtle symbol that quietly exudes atmosphere and purpose. I could easily picture it on the horizon—season after season weathering the changes. It is a reflection of Aunt Violet’s life in many ways but also carries a delicate WW2 connection that ties in with the mystery that surrounds her.

I loved everything about Aunt Violet’s Locket. It really captured my heart and made me feel so many emotions. This is an exceptionally delivered family drama that will stay with me a long, long time. An absolute Must-Read. 5 Heartfelt Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my review copy.