#BlogTour Search for the House of Dreams by Alison Burke

 
 It's my turn on the BlogTour Search for the House of Dreams by Alison Burke.

About the Author

'I was born in Lancashire and started my career by training as a State Registered general nurse. Later, I joined the army and became an officer in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps. On a posting to Malaya, now Malaysia, I found my true love. This was an ideal setting for a marriage with young children, and now my memories are a wonderfully rich source of material for my writing.' Follow on Facebook, on Instagram, Visit alisonburkefictionwriter.com

About the book

It is the year 1847 in the elegant city of Bath where 18yr old Genevre Stratton is treated more as a servant than a daughter in the elegant house where bills are not paid, and the rent is in arrears.          

Appalled by the dishonesty and overriding social ambition beneath her parents’ veneer of respectability, only her love for her younger brother and sisters keeps her there. Left to cope alone when their false world falls apart, she fights to keep her siblings together, until poverty forces her to yield them to the care of their half-brother, George Coleman.  

Handsome, wealthy and charismatic, he is the enemy who becomes her lover. To surrender all to her passionate desire for him, or to keep the independence of a new-found musical career on the London stage? This is her is her choice to make, until an unexpected call of duty takes her to Paris. Must the old, dark secrets she discovers there alter the course of her life forever?

Review

As far as Genevre is concerned she is part of a respectable story with paths mapped out for all of them, especially the children of the family, but the truth is far from rosy. Fractured family relationships, money problems and living a huge charade to keep up with everyone else - all to the detriment of said children.

Genevre has to learn some very harsh lessons and at some point she also has to take a moment to think twice about the woman her mother is now, as opposed to the woman she once was or was supposed to be. Everything is determined through her particular frame of reference, her own experiences, but it's easy to forget it's the same for others.

Although this can be read as a standalone novel I believe the end leaves this open for a sequel or to be part of a series. Where does Genevre go from here?

It's a family saga, historical fiction and a story defined by the societal rules of the time. About a woman who is forced to step up as the surrogate parent when her parents are incapable or just not willing to parent themselves. It's about love, support and disillusionment on a certain level. Looking for your place in society and family, whilst not being entirely sure what that is suppose to look like.

It's a heartfelt, moving and engaging read. Perfect historical escapism.

Buy Search for the House of Dreams at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎Lily Dale Press pub date 14 Jun. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.