Author: J.C. Grey
ISBN: 9781489220509
RRP: $29.99
Lost Girl is the second novel I have read by J.C. Grey, though the first was quite a while ago when Southern Star was released early in 2014.
I have had a huge couple of weeks which have left me super tired and drained, thereby leaving me in need of a nice easy read…. Lost Girl was not it. The time line jumps from the present day to periods over the last couple of years allowing past and present to slowly come together and paint a complete picture of the lead character and the events that lead her to where she ends up. It was beautifully written and hauntingly put together, a heartbreaking story that is sure to have an impact on readers, but it wasn’t one that you could just escape into for some light relief or one that needed little concentration.
Emerald Reed-McAllister seems to have it all but when things get too hard to handle she runs, it’s what she’s always done. It doesn’t take long to discover that running is her survival mechanism, this time she ran with no destination in mind and it was purely by chance that she ended up at Lammermoor House. A dilapidated old house that seems welcoming; even though it seems to be fading away into the overgrown gardens and retreating from the world it offers a sense of sanctuary to Em.
Time is what Em needs most, to heal and to move forward and to find herself in the wake of the disaster that tore down the walls of her Sydney life. It isn’t until late in the book that we discover what the disaster was though there are hints from much earlier. Let me just say that reading the chapters about what happened to make Em run was very hard for me, it was absolutely heartbreaking but it all fit perfectly with the story and was extremely well written.
Lammermoor House has a disturbing reputation and Em finds herself strongly urged to leave every time she heads into town, but she won’t be swayed. Lammermoor House offers her the safety and comfort she needs to heal and in return she finds a spark of creativity to build upon and bring the life back into the house.
Em is a complicated character, running is her default position when things get tough. It’s something she’s been doing since long before she met and married Marc. The past she ran from is something that we know very little about until late in the story but we can form some educated guesses early on.
The history of the house is fascinating and the way Grey unveils the information is captivating.
I think the dynamic that touched me the most was the one between Em and her husband Marc, who she has run from in the wake of tragedy. He is a wealthy businessman with an upperclass family and a mother who does not approve of Em, which does not help when Em is already feeling like the whole relationship is a mistake. She’s just waiting for the day that Marc comes to the same realisation, not feeling worthy of him so not recognising that Marc sees her much differently to the way she sees herself.
Lost Girl is a captivating and beautiful story of finding yourself when you feel like all is lost and in the process finding the things you never really knew you had. The characters were realistic and well drawn and the house was just fascinating. This is definitely a book I would recommend, the suspense was mild but the slow unfolding of past and present events to form a cohesive story was well paced and beautifully done. Just be warned that there is heartbreak and an empathetic person will not walk away untouched.
J.C. Grey can be found on Facebook.
Lost Girl is published by Harlequin and is available now from Angus & Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Harlequin 20 of our Beauty and Lace club members will be reading Lost Girl so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
I found this book slow to start and get into but once I had gotten past a few chapters the story line started to intrigue me. Jumping from past to present gives us some in depths moments in the character and her life. The house , Marc and herself and her thoughts. Even though she may have everything one could want her life was certainly far from perfect.
I think the back and forth from present to past gave us some depth into the story and I very much enjoyed the authors imaginery along the way. You could almost smell the mint and the surroundings and even see what she was describing. I love this in a story ! Such vivid details ..
Emerald is a character with demons, so to speak , so this can come across as a hauntingly insight read into her reasons and why she feels the way she does. . How it helps her along the way , its more then just a house its a means to Emerald and finding herself so to speak.
There are some deep moments within the story so if your the kind of person that gets teary eyed this may pull at your heart strings.
Overall, was an ok read for me. I was intrigued enough to read it to the very end and was happy with the delivery of the end of the story as it gave us some closure and answers.
The writing was well delivered, keeping the reader intrigued, initially at first a slow start, but as inquisitive reader it did grab me enough to want to find out all about the house, Emerald and her relationship with Marc .. .. her moments and thoughts and her progress with the house.
The characters were like able enough and the story line and prose interesting.
Wow, what an amazing read. Ended up reading the second half of this book in one session just because I really wanted to see what would happen in the end.
The story follows the story of Em who through circumstances finds herself at Lammermoor House which is an abandoned mansion that hides it’s own secrets. Through a story that switches between the present and the past we find out Emerald’s story and the tragedy that led to her running off into the countryside.
Reading her back story you wonder how she ended up at Lammermoor as her devoted husband Marc is a successful rich businessman and can offer her everything she could ever need. But her own past makes her feel unworthy of the love he dotes on her.
Once she arrives at Lammermore House she seems to find herself again and it’s good to see her become a stronger women. Meanwhile the town tries to stop her from living in the house but she won’t be deterred.
It’s an enjoyable novel and my heart was breaking for her at times. But it’s definitely not a novel I would consider light reading as it draws you into this house full of mysteries.
Lost Girl is not a book that grabs you from the start. The 2 page prologue hints at something intriguing but then the first chapter is written in such a different style that had I not been reviewing the book I probably wouldn’t have continued. In the end I’m glad I did persevere because as the story unfolded it became hauntingly captivating.
The story is written from the perspective of Em (Emerald) Reed-McAllister, recently married to Marc McAllister, a wealthy funds manager who as well as being brilliant in his field comes from a wealthy family. Em’s background is hidden for much of the book, although early on we learn she has spent much of her life running away from pretty much everything, and whenever things get too much her response it to run.
Marc’s family, particularly his mother, are not impressed with his choice of wife. For someone who has such a low level of self confidence as Em, this reinforces her belief that she is not good enough for Marc and her expectation is that one day Marc will wake up and realise the mistake he has made in marrying her. Predictably she does what she does best, and runs before she is pushed.
The story flips between the present and the past, at times quite confusingly, as we discover that Em meets Marc at an art show where she is the subject of the photographs taken by her friend Brendan. Fleetingly her fashion student housemate Claire is referenced before we are treated to the lust filled intensity as Marc and Em meet.
Those parts of the chapters that reference the past allow us to learn slowly where Em has come from, the development of her relationship with Marc and the tragedy that causes her to leave her home and life with Marc and run again. The parts of the chapters that deal with the present and recent present see Em developing a relationship with the small town of Lammermoor, it’s people and particularly Lammermoor house, a deserted and desolate place where she finds herself as she seeks sanctuary.
But Lammermoor house has a past, the townsfolk won’t talk about it, yet they all keep warning Em not to stay there, that if she stays something bad will happen. However Em feels that the house is healing her, despite the feeling that she is not alone there, and slowly the house begins to yield up its secrets.
At the end I enjoyed this book, although I found some parts of it quite disquieting. For those with an empathetic nature parts of this book will touch deeply, while those who dismiss the spiritual may find this aspect of the book to be unbelievable.
Overall not an easy book to read, but once it grabs you it is hard to put down.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review Beauty and Lace and Harlequin Books.
Lost Girl by J C Grey is a very thought provoking read.
Emeradl Reed-McAllister(Em) the main character is a high profile model who does not want anyone to see the real her, not even her husband Marc really knows the real Em.
Emerald has everything that she could dream of, especially her doting husband, but she runs away from it all. When you are about half way through the book you find out what has happened and why Em is questioning herself and her thoughts. When she leaves she has no plans as to where she is headed but ends up accidently at Lammermoor House, a house which has been unoccupied for years. Here she takes comfort in the house and tries to work through her life and where and what to do from here. Marc has stayed in Sydney to try and give her the space she wants but he is hurting to. The towns people do try to stop her from living in the house but she will not be deterred.
The chapters are of past and present and tell the whole story of Em’s life and this flowed really well. A great tale of a woman with much sadness after a tragic situation who learns how to forgive herself and others and find happiness in her life again.
Not the lightest of reads, but I must say that I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen at the end. A great read and highly recommended.
‘Lost Girl’ by J C Grey was an absolutely fantastic read. In fact, I would go as far as to say that it’s been my favourite book so far this year – and I’ve read quite a few! The storyline really spoke to me, especially when Emerald arrived at Lammermoor House and made contact with her special little friend there. That part of the storyline I was not expecting at all. It was something different that made this book stand out from all of the other books that I’ve read this year.
The characters were relatable, although I don’t know how Emerald’s husband, Marc, put up with her. He must have loved her very much and had so much faith in her. Emerald’s difficulties with pregnancy were a subject that I think a lot of women will be very familiar with. It was so nice that it all worked out in the end, for everyone.
This is a book that is difficult to put down, so only start it if you have plenty of time.
Thank you Beauty and Lace for another great book to review >:o)
What a great book!
Allebout Em and her “perfect life” married to Marc and everything is rosy… so it seems.
After a tradgedy, Em runs away as this is how she has always coped with things that don’t go right.
She finds an old house with the hope of getting directions, but realizes it is empty and decides to stay the night….this house turns out to be be a safe place in her mind where she can take time to think.
As the story goes from her past to her present and back many times, youreally get to know Em.
It definitely is a book I would recommend, loved it!!
Give me a bottle of wine and some snacks and I would have finished this cover to cover in one sitting. It is so beautifully written – such vivid descriptions of the characters and house.. It’s one of those stories you never want to end and feel a sense of loss when it does. This book will be a best seller, I can’t recommend it enough.
Things are never as they seem, and for Emerald who has the enviable life; the husband, career, friends and status these are all a cover for the secrets she carries with her.
Running away from her problems, Em seeks refuge in a small town to try and focus herself and ends up on a path of discovery. The neglected and abandoned manor Em finds herself drawn to almost mirrors her life; beautiful ruins with well kept secrets and ghosts from their past. Em is not deterred when she is warned about the house as she begins to form a deeper connection with the Lammermoor House. As Em starts to unravel the secrets of the house, she reflects on her own past and realises she and Lammermoor House have a lot in common.
Lost Girl is at first glance a mystery novel set in a decrepit and rundown manor which is a shadow of what it once was. But the story delves a lot deeper than haunted houses and the occupants who once resided there. This is also a story about facing the heartache and sorrow from the past and accepting in order to move on. Em has never felt worthy of the life she has built with her perfect husband. She has reservations as to when this will all be taken away from her, so her impulse is to run. We are given snapshots of Em’s life in conjuction with the present over the course of the novel; this reveals allows the puzzle to start to be pieced together as to why Em is so impulsive.
This book takes a little time to get used to as it jumps around the timeline of the narrator Em’s story. As the book progresses we are given the two versions of Em’s character; the one she portrays to people and the one she hides inside. The impression that Lammermoor House has within the book is more of a character than a location. The exaggerated I loved the descriptions of the house and what it came to meant to Em as she got to know the house better. The drama of Em’s life combined with the dark secrets lurking within Lammermoor’s walls made Lost Girl a compelling read.
Lost Girl is a mystery novel set in a decrepit and rundown manor which is a shadow of what it once was. But the story goes a lot deeper than haunted houses and who once resided there. This is also a story about facing the heartache and sorrow from the past . Em has never felt worthy of the life she has built with her perfect husband. She has reservations as to when this will all be taken away from her, so her impulse is to run. We are given snapshots of Em’s life in conjuction with the present over the course of the novel; this reveals allows the puzzle to start to be pieced together as to why Em is so impulsive.
This book jumps around the timeline of the narrator Em’s story. as you progresses you are given the two versions of Em’s character; the one she portrays to people and the one she hides inside. The impression that the drama of Em’s life combined with the dark secrets lurking within Lammermoor’s walls made Lost Girl a compelling read.