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The End of Temperance Dare
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Haunting and atmospheric, The End of Temperance Dare is another thrilling page-turner from the author reviewers are calling the Queen of the Northern Gothic.
When Eleanor Harper becomes the director of a renowned artists’ retreat, she knows nothing of Cliffside Manor’s dark past as a tuberculosis sanatorium, a “waiting room for death.” After years of covering murder and vio ...more
When Eleanor Harper becomes the director of a renowned artists’ retreat, she knows nothing of Cliffside Manor’s dark past as a tuberculosis sanatorium, a “waiting room for death.” After years of covering murder and vio ...more
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Kindle Edition, 316 pages
Published
June 6th 2017
by Lake Union Publishing
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Start your review of The End of Temperance Dare
Mar 07, 2017
Chelsea Humphrey
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to Chelsea by:
Sarah Joint
Shelves:
from-publisher,
netgalley
When I first spied this book as a pre-order on my kindle, I knew I had to learn more about it. The description yelled READ ME and sounded so incredibly different than most anything I've read before published by Lake Union that I literally could not hit the request button fast enough on NetGalley. Fast forward to this week and I finally was able to carve out the time to read it. I was gripped from the very first chapter; I've not read a book by Webb before but I've heard from all over how well sh
...more
Many of us as readers have our guilty reading pleasure. For some it is lighter reads than we normally read, maybe bodice rippers, but or me it is ghost stories. Not so much cheaper horror but ghost stories set in spooky settings. This one fit the bill nicely. Set on the shores of Lake Superior in a building that at one time was a TB sanitarium, it is now an artist's retreat. In the past though it was a place where many died or were waiting to die. It was owned by the Dare family and in this boo
...more
Eleanor Harper has spent her life as a crime journalist facing some of the most horrifying incidences, so when she suddenly starts to have severe anxiety and fear it confuses her. No longer able to do her job, Eleanor is fired and applies for a position at Cliffside Manor as the new director of the renowned artist's retreat. Eleanor had once previously visited the manor to interview Penny Dare, the current director, about the death of her father and sister. Through out the years she felt drawn t
...more
A creepy and atmospheric tale. This is one to curl up with on a stormy night. You might want to keep a light on, though. You never know what's lurking about...
Eleanor Harper is ready for a change. She's spent most of her life as a crime reporter, but it's finally getting to her. She just doesn't have the heart for it anymore. When she learns of a tempting job opening, she's excited. A long-time director of a retreat for artists is finally retiring. It's quite a departure from her journalism, bu ...more
Eleanor Harper is ready for a change. She's spent most of her life as a crime reporter, but it's finally getting to her. She just doesn't have the heart for it anymore. When she learns of a tempting job opening, she's excited. A long-time director of a retreat for artists is finally retiring. It's quite a departure from her journalism, bu ...more
★★✰✰✰ 2 stars
I was hoping that this would be a 'guilty pleasure' of sorts or a cozy Gothic story...I wasn't prepared for such a cheesy and badly written story. This book was unintentionally funny.
The start of this novel was interesting enough, and the first few chapter showed potential.
Soon, however, I started to notice a few things that ruined any possibility of my liking this novel.
✎ THE WRITING
I don't like to be too critical about someone's writing skills but here there was an abundance of cr ...more
I was hoping that this would be a 'guilty pleasure' of sorts or a cozy Gothic story...I wasn't prepared for such a cheesy and badly written story. This book was unintentionally funny.
The start of this novel was interesting enough, and the first few chapter showed potential.
Soon, however, I started to notice a few things that ruined any possibility of my liking this novel.
✎ THE WRITING
I don't like to be too critical about someone's writing skills but here there was an abundance of cr ...more
As a BIG fan of haunted houses did The End of Temperance Dare really appeal to me. I mean an artist retreat that used to be a tuberculosis sanatorium? Count me in!
Now, this book isn't particularly scary, but it's interesting, atmospheric and well-written. I like that one really gets to know Eleanor Harper and that not everything happens too fast. It's not like the story is boring, the pacing is even, and we get to follow Eleanor as she learns the ropes of being the new director. She has hard ...more
Now, this book isn't particularly scary, but it's interesting, atmospheric and well-written. I like that one really gets to know Eleanor Harper and that not everything happens too fast. It's not like the story is boring, the pacing is even, and we get to follow Eleanor as she learns the ropes of being the new director. She has hard ...more
I feel like my life has sunk to a new low. This is one of those books that makes you question all your life choices. I feel like I was on a tall bridge, threatening suicide, and then someone said 'yes, kill yourself.' So I did and now I'm in the Hell of having read this POS.
I can't even think of one good thing to say. In this book, we get a stupid woman, insta love, triangle love, and everyone complimenting the stupid woman. She's 40 something and she's chasing after these two guys, who she spen ...more
I can't even think of one good thing to say. In this book, we get a stupid woman, insta love, triangle love, and everyone complimenting the stupid woman. She's 40 something and she's chasing after these two guys, who she spen ...more
DNF @ 35%
I was really looking forward to this one. It was classed as a mystery horror, doesn’t that sound just so perfect for me? Unfortunately there was too much wrong with this book for me to be interested in delving into it any further.
My first annoyance with this book was how clunky the writing was. Nothing flowed particularly well, and even though some of the descriptions were well done, it didn’t do anything to help the overall feel of the novel.
Eleanor Harper is a grown woman, yet she tal ...more
I was really looking forward to this one. It was classed as a mystery horror, doesn’t that sound just so perfect for me? Unfortunately there was too much wrong with this book for me to be interested in delving into it any further.
My first annoyance with this book was how clunky the writing was. Nothing flowed particularly well, and even though some of the descriptions were well done, it didn’t do anything to help the overall feel of the novel.
Eleanor Harper is a grown woman, yet she tal ...more
4 you-had-me-at-TB-sanatorium stars!
I love all things old and spooky. So a book about an old, creepy tuberculosis sanatorium turned artists' retreat? Yes, definitely. Sign me up!
The End of Temperance Dare is the story of Cliffside Manor. Eleanor Harper, former reporter, becomes the new director at Cliffside, where writers/painters/poets/etc. come for weeks at a time to enjoy a quiet, peaceful retreat to focus on their work. But, as you can image, being a former tuberculosis sanatorium, Cliffside ...more
I love all things old and spooky. So a book about an old, creepy tuberculosis sanatorium turned artists' retreat? Yes, definitely. Sign me up!
The End of Temperance Dare is the story of Cliffside Manor. Eleanor Harper, former reporter, becomes the new director at Cliffside, where writers/painters/poets/etc. come for weeks at a time to enjoy a quiet, peaceful retreat to focus on their work. But, as you can image, being a former tuberculosis sanatorium, Cliffside ...more
Picking this book off of the new shelf at the library just because of the cover, I am perplexed how to react, and more so how to rate it. At one time I had a dress just like the girl's and loved those style sleeves with the dip in the middle. This book??? It's fantasy? It's romance? It's neither? It's horror or a ghost story? What it is FOR SURE, is unreliable. And not only in the narrator.
People could easily rate this anywhere on the scale of 1 to 4 stars, IMHO. And I could understand why depen ...more
People could easily rate this anywhere on the scale of 1 to 4 stars, IMHO. And I could understand why depen ...more
5/5 Stars!
This may be my favorite Wendy Webb novel to date. It definitely had the most fleshed out plot and characters of her four books, and this one was WAY creepy. It was like Rose Red with possession. Eleanor was a fantastic narrator, and I loved figuring out the mystery of the Dare family and Cliffside Manor right there with her. I had a feeling about the story the whole time, but I had no idea such a crazy twist was coming! I recommend all of Webb's books, they really are fantastic, but th ...more
This may be my favorite Wendy Webb novel to date. It definitely had the most fleshed out plot and characters of her four books, and this one was WAY creepy. It was like Rose Red with possession. Eleanor was a fantastic narrator, and I loved figuring out the mystery of the Dare family and Cliffside Manor right there with her. I had a feeling about the story the whole time, but I had no idea such a crazy twist was coming! I recommend all of Webb's books, they really are fantastic, but th ...more
WOW! Just 100% knocked my socks off WOW!!!
I am really at a loss to explain how amazing this book was. Wendy Webb is a true magician weaving creepy ghost stories together. I've read all of her books and while I loved each and every one of them....this one by far is my favorite.
One of the best books I've ever read! ...more
I am really at a loss to explain how amazing this book was. Wendy Webb is a true magician weaving creepy ghost stories together. I've read all of her books and while I loved each and every one of them....this one by far is my favorite.
One of the best books I've ever read! ...more
I received this ARC from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.
Eleanor Harper is ready for a change; in her job and in her life. When she takes the job as the director of a renowned artists’ retreat, she knows nothing of Cliffside Manor’s dark past as a tuberculosis sanatorium, a “waiting room for death.”
A pretty good ghost story full of creative story twists without bloody grotesque language. It's all about your imagination and I can imagine myself sitting around a campfire in the great nort ...more
Eleanor Harper is ready for a change; in her job and in her life. When she takes the job as the director of a renowned artists’ retreat, she knows nothing of Cliffside Manor’s dark past as a tuberculosis sanatorium, a “waiting room for death.”
A pretty good ghost story full of creative story twists without bloody grotesque language. It's all about your imagination and I can imagine myself sitting around a campfire in the great nort ...more
I can't....I just can't read any more of this.
I've tried but this is just too much.
The main character Eleanor makes the most decisions I'm honestly surprised at that. She meets a total stranger in the middle of the night in a creepy place and all of a sudden she's in 'love'. She acts likes a total teenager.
The book itself is annoying. I'm honestly embarrassed to say I was excited to read this. ...more
I've tried but this is just too much.
The main character Eleanor makes the most decisions I'm honestly surprised at that. She meets a total stranger in the middle of the night in a creepy place and all of a sudden she's in 'love'. She acts likes a total teenager.
The book itself is annoying. I'm honestly embarrassed to say I was excited to read this. ...more
Oooo this was a PROPER old fashioned ghost story and i LOVED it. The beginning may have been a little slow but once the story got going, i just couldn’t put it down! There were some parts that gave me some serious chills - for example - “They just lay in the grass, lifeless as dolls, their limbs askew, their faces frozen” - p4.
And - “I was not prepared for what i found. It was a playroom. The cracked and chipping faces of at least a dozen dolls now antique... A tea set was placed on a small tab ...more
And - “I was not prepared for what i found. It was a playroom. The cracked and chipping faces of at least a dozen dolls now antique... A tea set was placed on a small tab ...more
3.5 stars.
Enjoyed this creepy ghost story. Love the setting!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars
Thank you Wendy Webb. ❤️
Your Gothic novels never disappoint!
Narrator Xe Sands did a very nice job.
Almost clean except for,
a few small words.
Thank you Wendy Webb. ❤️
Your Gothic novels never disappoint!
Narrator Xe Sands did a very nice job.
Almost clean except for,
a few small words.
I just can’t believe that I took so much effort to try to finish this book! It didn’t deserve my attention at all. I dnf this book right when a charactet admitted being a ghost! What a stupid idea! What a stupid plot! I couldn’t handle more craps from this book so I had to stop - I had to keep myself sane enough to read other much better books than this stupid book!
Okay, the main character - Eleanor Harper. According to the book, she was a very talented and experienced reporter who investigated ...more
This was a really gorgeous gothic / horror story, and I enjoyed it very much (despite the big twist being very predictable).
It was a rich, compelling read that was atmospheric and impossible to put down.
*****4.5*****
It was a rich, compelling read that was atmospheric and impossible to put down.
*****4.5*****
Deliciously creepy! I loved being scared by this book.
My book browsing came to a screeching halt when I found the description for The End of Temperance Dare: haunting and atmospheric? Set in a former Tuberculosis sanatorium with a dark past? Written by some woman who managed to achieve royal status by being called Queen of Northern Gothic? Of course, I had to read this! My book brain starts drooling immediately when reading anything about haunted whatever or gothic so-and-so.
And it all started quite alright: the prologue was creepy enough, the wea ...more
And it all started quite alright: the prologue was creepy enough, the wea ...more
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“Death lived within these walls; she could feel it hanging in the air, as tangible as the fog outside.”
Eleanor Harper, as fate would have it, has become the director of an artist’s retreat at Cliffside Manor. That the place and it’s grounds were once ‘a waiting room for death’ (a sanatorium housing adults and children infected with tuberculosis) may well be the reason this ‘peaceful manor’ is anything but. Is it possible suffering clings to the s ...more
“Death lived within these walls; she could feel it hanging in the air, as tangible as the fog outside.”
Eleanor Harper, as fate would have it, has become the director of an artist’s retreat at Cliffside Manor. That the place and it’s grounds were once ‘a waiting room for death’ (a sanatorium housing adults and children infected with tuberculosis) may well be the reason this ‘peaceful manor’ is anything but. Is it possible suffering clings to the s ...more
I absolutely loved The Tale of Halcyon Crane and The Fate of Mercy Alban, so when I saw there was a new book out I was very excited to read it. This book did not disappoint, there was the right amount of mystery, throw in some ghosts, a spooky house that was once a TB sanatorium and always seems to be foggy and a creepy girl who could kill people and you get a great read.
Eleanor is now the director of Cliffside, a retreat for Artists and Writers. On the same day she arrives, Penelope Dare, whom ...more
Eleanor is now the director of Cliffside, a retreat for Artists and Writers. On the same day she arrives, Penelope Dare, whom ...more
If you frighten easily at all, do not make my mistake and read this book in the dark in an unfamiliar house. Wendy Webb's latest Gothic style mystery is set in a repurposed tuberculosis sanitarium in the North Woods, where Eleanor Harper has just begun her new position as the director of Cliffside's artist retreat program. Very quickly, she finds herself out of her league as the new challenges of the position compete with a sense that something is very much so not-right at the house. The tension
...more
3.5 Stars There are a lot of strange happenings going on at Cliffside Manor when Eleanor Harper arrives there to take over the director's position. She notices strange things and feelings of impending doom and this is even before things start happening.
First off, the outgoing director commits suicide the night after Eleanor takes the reins. Her note, while strange leaves no doubt it was her decision. Then, other strange notes start appearing. There are noises, things moving - all the ghostly phe ...more
First off, the outgoing director commits suicide the night after Eleanor takes the reins. Her note, while strange leaves no doubt it was her decision. Then, other strange notes start appearing. There are noises, things moving - all the ghostly phe ...more
The setting in a TB sanitarium that was turned into an artist's retreat was suitably spooky. I remembered The Pines TB Sanitarium outside of Shreveport that had a pretty eery atmosphere, and I became curious about the "white plague" of tuberculosis that killed so many people prior to the discovery of streptomycin. I had no idea how many people died of TB before 1952.
Although the plot had promise, it deteriorated into silliness and the too long conclusion dragged. ...more
Although the plot had promise, it deteriorated into silliness and the too long conclusion dragged. ...more
Jul 11, 2017
Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
review-copy-provided-for-mmbbr
Wow, just wow. I adored this book. It was creepy and deep and brilliant and so Webb. She has such a way with building a sense of time and place. She knows how to bring out the creeps with such a stunning story. She can grab you, and engage you and make sure that the reader is left fully satisfied. You will have thrills, you will dream about the story and it will leave you craving more. Another brilliant read from a master of the Gothic tales.
DNF at 32%
I gave it a chance up and 'til Chapter 10. If a book hasn't caught a hold of me by then in some way, it's just not going to happen. I don't care about the MC, I don't care about the mystery, the romance is ridiculously far-fetched and unrealistic, there is zero of the eerie quality that this story deserves and the author is aiming for... It's a shame. Usually I enjoy Wendy Webb's stories. ...more
I gave it a chance up and 'til Chapter 10. If a book hasn't caught a hold of me by then in some way, it's just not going to happen. I don't care about the MC, I don't care about the mystery, the romance is ridiculously far-fetched and unrealistic, there is zero of the eerie quality that this story deserves and the author is aiming for... It's a shame. Usually I enjoy Wendy Webb's stories. ...more
Oct 31, 2017
Colleen
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
first-reads-giveaways
This was an awesome creepy book and so perfect for an October book. I was scared at times reading at night but so worth it. And the ending! I never suspected. I'll definitely be reading more of this author - she has a lot of talent.
...more
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WENDY WEBB's novels are mysteries about long-buried family secrets, set in big, old haunted houses on the Great Lakes.
THE END OF TEMPERANCE DARE (2017, Lake Union) is set in a former tuberculosis sanatorium on Lake Superior, now a renowned retreat for artists and writers. When Eleanor Harper takes the helm as its new director and her first batch of visiting artists arrives, she begins to suspect t ...more
THE END OF TEMPERANCE DARE (2017, Lake Union) is set in a former tuberculosis sanatorium on Lake Superior, now a renowned retreat for artists and writers. When Eleanor Harper takes the helm as its new director and her first batch of visiting artists arrives, she begins to suspect t ...more
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“But I will leave you with a word of warning. If ever a feeling of dread or foreboding overcomes you, and if ever you feel pulled to a place, inexplicably, the way I did, take heed. It may be trying to tell you—something wicked your way comes.”
—
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“He put his hands on my arms and squeezed. “Yes. And before the night is through, I’m afraid we’re going to come face to face with it. But I’ll promise you something. You—Eleanor Harper—will get out of this alive and unscathed. I am in this house now and I’m not going anywhere. There’s nothing in heaven or, more precisely, hell that will harm you while I am here. I would lay down my life to protect you.” His eyes twinkled. “Of course, that’s sort of an empty statement, considering.”
I managed a smile. “The thought’s nice, anyway.”
—
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I managed a smile. “The thought’s nice, anyway.”
