Cornwall, England. 1740.They say only the brave ride Bridles Lane at night. Vicar Richard Dodge speaks of ghosts and demons, conducting elaborate exorcisms in his churchyard overlooking the lane. And with the villagers sheltering in fear, local smugglers carry their haul up the road to be hidden in the safety of the church. Isaac and Scarlett Bailey have spent their lives hiding contraband in … spent their lives hiding contraband in Talland church. Forced into free trade by their father’s mistakes, they want nothing more than to escape the smuggling syndicate and build a life above the law.
On the other side of Bridles Lane, Flora Kelly has grown up in the shadow of her mother, the village charmer. Sceptical of her mother’s craft, Flora reopens her family’s tavern, determined that her life will not be one of fortune telling and herbal lore.
When a seemingly abandoned ship is wrecked in Talland Bay, it sparks a wave of hysteria among the superstitious villagers. Faith in the vicar wavers and Flora feels herself drawn to the controversial old ways of her mother. Among growing unrest, the mystery of the wrecked ship deepens, unearthing long-forgotten secrets that will tear a village- and a family- apart.
Inspired by true events, ‘Bridles Lane’ is the first book in the West Country Trilogy, from the author of ‘Forgotten Places’ and ‘The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’.
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Johanna Craven is one of my favorite historical fiction writers and I couldn’t be more excited about this newest release of hers! Her writing is always so vivid and powerful that it places you right in the middle of the action, where ships wreck and mysterious strangers are found amongst the debris; where curses seem to still have their power over people, and pirates’ treasures aren’t a fruit of one’s imagination. Scarlett was a wonderful central character – strong, willful, and determined; but secondary characters were just as interesting and real, starting with Scarlett’s brother Isaac – an unwilling smuggler, to Asher, who has his own secret agenda, and finally to Flora, who’s trying to rebuild her life after her husband’s death and come to terms with her true self. Reading this book was like watching a movie – that’s how masterfully the author paints the scenes before your eyes. Dark and haunting, this first book in the series is a true treat for all fans of the genre. And I already can’t wait for the second book in the series.
If the beautiful cover on this book attracts you – buy it! Black threatening skies, crashing waves, rocky shoreline and a mysterious young woman, probably where she shouldn’t be – that sums up the tone of the story based around the Cornish coastline, pretty well!
If you like historical fiction written in a way that draws you into the story so you see events unfolding as if you were there, then this is the book for you.
I loved the plot and characters and the eerie atmosphere of mistrust and ancient beliefs.
Craven has a distinctive style of writing that is engaging and with the minimum of words, she creates sights and sounds that bring her stories alive.
Recommend.
I’m so glad I discovered this author! This is a wonderful book, and I look forward to reading more in the series. The characters are interesting, realistic, and believable, and the setting of a small harbor town is mysterious and unique. I got hooked from the very beginning when I read about a woman who risked her own life to enter a shipwreck and pull out a wounded man. And that’s just the beginning. What follows is a well-crafted tale of contraband hidden in a church, superstitions, and complicated family relationships. The writing is tight, sharp, and compelling. Highly recommended!
As I was reading this story, so much of it sounded as if it had been something I’d read before, yet different as well. I think this is due to the fact I had read some historical accounts, perhaps even the ones the author used as the basis of this story. Even so, I found it completely engaging, with many surprises thrown in along the journey.
I was especially engrossed in the the mix of old and new beliefs (for the time period) that was so much of the background of this story–beliefs that made people behave the way they did. Even today, you can find places in this world that hold onto the old superstitions and pagan beliefs, while still adhering to more modern religious beliefs. The author has shown this mix of beliefs in a most believable way. I could feel the fear of the villagers and the anguish of the reverend as he tries to sway the people to his way of thinking.
A statement in the story summed this up well for me:
Asher sighs. “Mestoon are so terrified of new ideas. So afraid to see the world in a different light. I never underd why. But now I do. Now I see how your entire existence is upturned when you realise you’ve been believing a lie.”
But who is believing a lie in this story? Is it only the man pulled from the shipwreck? Or the entire village.
The story is well-written and completely engaging. I’m looking forward to the next book.