#BookReview: Home to Cavendish by Antoinette Tyrrell @AntoinetteTyrr @PoolbegBooks #HomeToCavendish #BigHouseFiction #IrishFiction #Review

Available Now
Book length - 303 pages
Publisher - Poolbeg Press
Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com
Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk
Amazon US - www.amazon.com

I want to thank Caroline from poolbeg.com for providing me with a copy of this book for review.


ABOUT THIS BOOK
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The Irish Civil War is raging across County Cork, and sixteen-year-old Edith Cavendish, bored within the confines of her privileged life, embarks on a forbidden love affair with local rebel Tadgh Carey. But Edith is unaware of the dark secrets surrounding her, both outside Cavendish and within its walls, in the very rooms through which she walks. 

Eighty years have passed, and Elenore Stack has inherited her beloved childhood home, Cavendish Hall, from her recently deceased parents. Charming and magical, if in need of much loving and expensive care, Cavendish is woven into the tapestry of Elenore’s life. She must somehow find a way to ensure its survival while preserving its dignity. 

Then she meets and falls in love with Donnacha O’Callaghan, a property developer, and together they begin to work on changing Cavendish into the family guest house of her dreams. He, however, unbeknownst to her, has plans that will change the house beyond recognition and wipe away her precious childhood memories. 

As Donnacha’s past shady dealings surface and the prospect of losing Cavendish looms once more, Elenore’s life begins to unravel. Then a fateful discovery in a forgotten corner of the house links her to a young woman from Cavendish’s past – Edith Cavendish – and becomes her lifeline.

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MY REVIEW
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HOME TO CAVENDISH by Antoinette Tyrrell is as stunning a story inside as the cover is outside and I'm excited to read more from this new author.

A dual timeline story, the plot moves from past to present effortlessly with everything centred around the beautiful big house, Cavendish. Two very different women living in very different times, both love this old house that has meant something special to their families but while one young woman yearns to flee the constraints of her home even though she loves it, the other will do whatever it takes to preserve Cavendish so that she may live there forever. But these two characters also have a lot in common with a strength of spirit that may not always be obvious at first, and a determination to be who and what they really want to be.

I really loved both of the female characters in this book but I have to say that Edith fascinated me just a little bit more. Ireland's turbulent history is well-portrayed without being the centre of the story as such, and while at times it made my heart ache, it definitely hit its mark. There is drama, lies, secrecy, and strength portrayed throughout and I found myself completely enthralled from the very first page.

HOME TO CAVENDISH by Antoinette Tyrrell is a wonderful story with something for everyone and I highly recommend it to fiction fans everywhere.


AUTHOR BIO

Antoinette Tyrrell studied English and History at NUI Maynooth followed by a Higher Diploma in Communications. In her early career she worked as a journalist in local radio and for the last fifteen years has worked in public relations. She lives in rural County Kildare with her partner Ahmed. Home to Cavendish is her debut novel. 

For more information:
Website - www.antoinettetyrrell.ie
Twitter - twitter.com/AntoinetteTyrr