A gripping novel of enduring love, family secrets, and mysterious death from the bestselling author of Hello Love.Joe Arneson’s ordinary life is upended by troubling dreams of himself as a different man in another place and time. It isn’t until he visits his estranged grandmother, Pearl, in her Wisconsin hometown that a startling connection emerges.Drawn into his family’s past, Joe discovers … emerges.
Drawn into his family’s past, Joe discovers secrets weighing on the old woman’s soul: the tragic death of her sister Alice a half century ago and its ripple effect on all who loved her. Digging into the events of that summer in 1916, Joe is convinced that his recurrent visions relate to Alice’s untimely passing and to the beloved man she meant to marry. With the help of Kathleen, a local woman Joe’s fallen for, the puzzles of the past start falling into place.
As uncovered truths bring Joe and Kathleen closer together, they also reveal a new danger. For Joe’s dreams may be a warning–from one star-crossed couple to another.
more
I received an Advanced Readers Copy from NetGalley and the publisher an this is my fair and honest review.
I have never read any of Karen McQuestion’s book before so wasn’t really sure what to expect. Books set between two timelines isn’t one of my most favorite types of reads, but having said that overall I found this to be and overall very good read. I found it to be an unique read that was emotionally moving, the storyline was interesting and not like anything I have read before so in that instance I was very happy. Sometimes I wished it was a little quickly read, at times I found it to be slow reading. The pace did pick up more toward the middle to end of the storyline. I would recommend this book to others that enjoy books by this author, and enjoy her way of writing.
Interesting well written love story that takes place in dual time lines 1916 and 1983. Very well handled, wonderful characters and great plot. Giving 4 stars.
I received an copy of ARC from author, publisher and Netgalley. Opinions written are my own.
“I’ve long believed that no one should be judged on the worst thing they’ve ever done. And not on the best thing, either, for that matter.” “Human beings are much more complex than one event that happened on one day in a very long life.” Pearl has reached the end of her very long life and has lived with guilt, regrets, sorrow and pain. What secrets is she keeping and why is it so hard to reveal them?
The characters in the book are people that any of us could know and could relate to. They have emotions and traits that are individual in what makes their personalities. I loved John and Alice. Such caring, loving, and unselfish characters. I loved Joe and Katherine. Their story was one of an immediate attraction to each other but built as they worked to discover the connections from the past to the present. There were characters I disliked the whole book. Then there was Pearl. She had me on both ends of the likeable spectrum. I found myself despising her and then forgiving her. This worked so perfectly to create the story.
This book has suspense, drama, secrets, mystery, tragedy and foreboding. It also has compassion, devotion, forgiveness, hope and love. Love that can transcend time and space. The way it’s all brought together in the pages had me turning them, each chapter building, to find out how it was going to all end.
I have yet to pick up a Karen McQuestion book that I have not liked. This book is no exception. In fact, I loved it! It’s complex but written so adroitly that the plot and characters are easily followed and built up as the story goes. The uniqueness of the dual time lines and building the parallel stories until they merge is page turning anticipation. Karen McQuestion has created a book that is like the dovetail joints her title is named after. She takes each of the characters and designs them to perfectly fit with the characters they are joined to. Then she builds the story, chapter and event from 1916 to the parallel chapter and events in 1983. Each revealing more as to what really happened in 1916 that Pearl has held secret for all those years. The story starts to link together just as dovetail joints slip together to create a beautiful piece of work when it’s finished. “A dovetail joint can stand the test of time.”
This is a wonderfully detailed and crafted book. Written in such a wonderful way that the story unfolds in perfect synchronization. A novel that I thoroughly enjoyed from the beginning to the end. I want to thank the author, Karen McQuestion, for the honor of reading an ARC of this fantastic book. All opinions and thoughts are my heartfelt own. It is definitely a five star read for me.
This was a first for me by Karen mcquestion, this was a Arc that I absolutely loved I felt like I was right there in the story with Alice, and John. Pearl Frank.
And Joe and Kathleen.
This story goes from the year 19 16 – to 1983 back and forth in time to the Future but Alice taking care of her family after her mother dies her younger sisters and her father. A young man named John comes to help out on the farm Alice not knowing they would soon fall in love this young man has a background that back in those days was not lightly looked upon.. but I soon saw why Alice fell in love with John and he was such a giving caring guy..1916.. going into 1983 Joes dad and stepmom had put him into Trendale a place like psychic ward.. because Joe has nightmares and all it scared his family.. but Joe’s nightmares have a lot to do with things in this story this is a wonderful Story one that touched me deeply one that I will definitely read again. Will be recommending to everyone which I have already done I finished this book yesterday but I wanted to sit on it a while and then do my review I just can’t say enough about this book I absolutely love this book and if I could I would give it 10 Stars.
Thank netgally For this copy.
And also Thank Karen McQuestion.
For this Amazing Book.
Karen McQuestion, author of “Dovetail” has written a captivating, intriguing, intense, memorable, emotional and suspenseful novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Historical Romance. and Suspense. There are two timelines in the story and characters in the different timelines have something relatable and in common. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. There are deep secrets, mysteries, and murder.
Joe Arneson has very strange and tormenting dreams, that have gotten so bad that he has been committed for his mental health. A grandmother that he doesn’t remember or know, Pearl comes and arranges his discharge. Pearl is an old lady, and with her friend, encourages Joe to live in her house and offers him a job. Pearl and Joe’s father are estranged. Pearl is quirky, eccentric and narcissistic, and now is sick and wants to make amends for many things that happened in her life.
Joe seems to have triggers for those dreams, and it seems that he is living someone else’s life. Joe meets a friend Kathleen, who is very supportive. As Joe spends time with Pearl, he learns that his Aunt Alice had died when she was young. Joe is realizing certain places in the present were also in the past. How can these be related? Can history rewrite itself? What are Joe’s dreams really symbolizing? I would highly recommend this thought-provoking story for those readers who enjoy fiction, and Historical Romance.
Dovetail is not your ordinary romance. Its two stories interwined. The only connection between the two are Joe’s dreams. With twists and turns, the author keeps the reader engaged. Add a dash of suspence and Dovetail will keep you up past your bedtime.
****I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.****
I’ve only read a couple of books by this author but have loved every one of them. This one is no exception. The twists and turns this story takes kept me riveted to it. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the advance reader copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Amazing story,written with duel timelines and two stories.
One a beginning,
one an ending. Love,forgiveness, friendship and so much more. Another great book by Karen Mcquestion. I highly recommend it!
This is a beautifully written love story from the past and parallels into another love story in the present. Tragic love story in the past leads into finding family and forgiveness in the present. Another love story follows the past into the present but ends in happily ever after. 5 stars!
This story has a unique twist. It follows 2-parallel stories that eventually converge into one at the end. It is 1916 and we meet Alice, the oldest of 7 daughters who is managing the household after their mother has passed away. Alice manages this with grace and elegance, never complaining. One summer, John comes to stay with the family to help her father out in the mill. Life will never be the same for the family.
Fast forward to 1983 where we meet Joe Aronson, the grandson of Pearl, Alice’s younger sister. Joe is a troubled young man whom Pearl rescues from
an in-patient treatment facility. While working for Pearl, Joe meets Kathleen, a young woman with her own troubles. The two quickly become friends.
The two stories eventually converge together in an interesting twist at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Dovetail by Karen McQuestion
Just finished this amazing book and have to quell the tears! Such an emotional and wonderful read!
I love the way Karen weaves a tale that intertwines the past and the present like no one else quite can.
I enjoyed how the past effected the future and all the personal stories tied together in the end.
Have a box of tissues handy while reading this – you WILL need them.
A great read from a great author – highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Karen McQuestion for my advanced review copy.
#dovetail #netgalley
Dovetail by Kate McQuestion is a delightful read. I thoroughly enjoyed the two converging stories that took place in 1916 and 1983. As sisters, Pearl was a character you just shake your head at and Alice was one to be admired. I enjoyed the innocence of the relationships that developed in both eras and while you can see the similarities in the two stories and how they are converging, there is still mystery and details you are interested to discover. I would definitely recommend this book for those who like a good love story with some mystery and suspense.
Dovetail by Karen McQuestion
I loved this book! I am in an advanced readers group for this author and was provided an advance copy of Dovetail.
The timeline switches back and forth between 1916 and 1983. Joe Arneson is a young man in 1983. He is troubled by dreams that don’t really feel like dreams at all, but like he is really living in the life of someone else’s tragedy.
He finds himself living the life of someone who lived a lifetime ago. The dreams are very disturbing and he needs to find out why he is having them.
This book is a mix of modern day and historical fiction. Ms. McQuestion does a great job of describing the environment and the feel of 1916, He won’t be able to change history but maybe he can stop it from repeating itself.
If you love romance an historical fiction I am sure, like me, you will love this book! The release date is March 10, 2020, Make sure you mark it on your calendar so you don’t miss it!
I was fortunate to receive an ARC of Dovetail by Karen McQuestion.
Joe Arneson meets his grandmother for the first time in his early twenties and learns she is dying from cancer. She hires him to ready her house for sale, but finds his purpose there goes much deeper. Joe’s purpose brings the past to life and eventually heals old wounds and opens new doors for himself.
This book was an emotional roller coaster and when I finished the last page I did tear up with joy and happiness. I highly recommend this book.
“What’s done is done. You can’t unring the bell. I surely would, if given a chance.”
A wonderful story with dual timelines, one in 1916 and the other in 1983 with a linking thread that you just will not believe!
Joe has been bailed out of a psychiatric facility by a grandmother he had no idea existed!
Pearl ( Joe’s Grandma) needs help to clean her house up and out and who better than her grandson. She wants to know him while she has time and make things right.
There is a reason Joe has been in a facility.
He has reoccurring dreams that cause terrors. Dr’s cannot understand what or why these dreams continue to go on and certainly do not like that he is leaving the institution.
Part of this mission that Pearl has given Joe, is to pack up the furniture and items not wanted in her house and deliver them to the second hand shop in town.
The connections to the dreams and 1916 begin here.
This is one amazing novel and although I will admit I was confused in the beginning, keep with it as it all comes together as the chapters progress! I reread some pages again to grasp each new revelation that was discovered.
There are details upon details that truly kept me loving this book!
Excellent journey you will not want to miss!
Wow! I was drawn in so quickly to this book and couldn’t put it down! On the occasion I “had” to put it down, it stayed with me with my mind wondering what was coming next. It was actually the first book I read by Karen McQuestion and it definitely won’t be the last. Complex but not confusing and all about undying love and family ties. I highly recommend this stand alone read, it does not disappoint!
Nice characters. Predictable plot.
I think I would classify this as women’s fiction but with a good deal of romance.I must admit that I was hoping for a bit more about Pearls’ life but the book centers mainly about one particular event that she feels responsible for. She knows that she doesn’t have a long time to live and comes up with a plan to at least atone for part of her history.
The novel is told in a dual storyline, the past is the life Pearl lived when she was young, the second oldest of seven daughters to a newly widowed father. Alice is the oldest sister and most of the work of the household falls to her. She is sweet tempered and very maternal and does the cooking, cleaning, etc with the help of her sisters. Pearl at that age was very narcissistic and cared only about herself. She evaded work as much as she could and dreamt of being an actress and leaving their small Wisconsin town of Pullman. She wasn’t even happy when her sister Alice was at last finding some personal happiness and this is the point of the main plot of the story which I won’t divulge and spoil the novel for readers. It does however provide the romance for this time thread of the story.
The second story line is the present. Pearl sets out to retrieve her grandson, whom she has never met, from a mental institution where he has been because of recurring, extremely upsetting and vivid dreams. The dreams cause him to shout out and disturb his father and mother in law, along with his young sister Linda. Though they seem to have Joe’s best interests at heart he is sure that the therapy he is receiving isn’t helping. When he hears that his doctor has suggested electroconvulsive therapy he is adamant about leaving. Just when he is trying to decide how he will get out and where he will go he is told that his “grandmother” and her lawyer are waiting to check him out. At first he isn’t sure about this situation but goes along with it.
When we get into the story we find that Pearl has a plan for her grandson, she wants to hire him for the summer to get her family home ready for sale. There is much to go through in the house and barn and she is also hoping to get to know him. She and her only son, Joe’s father, have been estranged for many years.
During the course of the summer Joe meets Kathleen, a young woman fairly recently arrived to take over the resale and vintage shop that her aunt owned. It was left to her and she finds that she really enjoys the work and the people. Pearl had already set up an account with Kathleen so she was expecting all of the furniture, etc from the house. From this relationship grows the romance in this thread of the story. Joe also finds that his dreams are actually more like recreations of past events (this part of the story was the hardest for me to believe)
While I enjoyed the story I thought it was a bit slow moving and somewhat repetitive. I would have enjoyed hearing more about Pearl, perhaps explaining why she had been completely estranged from all of her sisters. I thought she would perhaps try to reach out to some of them or their children to make amends.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley. The novel is set to publish on March 10, 2020.
A beautiful dual timeline story that allows the past to be reflected into the present. The characters are warm – sometimes witty; sometimes infuriating. This authentic look at jealousy and secrets makes for a compelling read. Readers of historic romance and women’s fiction will enjoy this intriguing story.
What if your dreams were a conduit for lives lived years ago? Joe Arneson has four dreams that recur and cause him to upset his family to the point of institutionalizing him. His paternal grandmother comes to his rescue if he will help her get her home cleared out and ready to sell before she dies of cancer. The only thing is, his father never told Joe about his grandmother and Joe thought she was already dead. Going to a completely new town, clearing out his grandmother’s home, hearing about that side of the family and meeting new people let the dreams subside but will the same incidents that caused his grandmother to say she was indirectly responsible for a death happen to Joe and his new friend? Well drawn characters and an interesting plot figure into this good read.