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The House on Harbor Hill
Set in the past and present, The House on Harbor Hill is a murder mystery that tackles the issues of racial prejudice and spousal abuse in the lives of two very different women...
She's generous, kind, and compassionate--yet Delilah Grey will forever be an outcast in the small seaside town of Camden Beach, Maryland. She takes in women shattered by abuse, poverty, illness, or events beyond their control. But no matter how far she's come or how many she's helped find their way back, there is no safe place for Delilah. Acquitted of her rich husband's mysterious death decades ago, she lives in her beautiful mansion consumed by secrets--and mistakes she feels she can never atone for. . . . Until she takes in desperate mother Tracey Walters and her two young children.
Tracey won't say where she's from or what sent her into hiding. But her determination and refusal to give up reminds Delilah of the spirited, hopeful girl she once was--and the dreams she still cherishes. As Tracey takes tentative steps to rebuild her life, her unexpected attraction to Delilah's handsome, troubled caretaker inadvertently brings Delilah face to face with the past. And when Tracey's worst fears come brutally calling, both women must find even more strength to confront truths they can no longer ignore--and at last learn how to truly be
free . . .
Resonant, moving, and unforgettable, The House on Harbor Hill paints an unforgettable portrait of two women struggling to forgive themselves, take a chance on change, and challenge each other to finally live.
Praise for Between Lost and Found
"Moving, thoughtful, and entirely original."--Taylor Jenkins Reid
She's generous, kind, and compassionate--yet Delilah Grey will forever be an outcast in the small seaside town of Camden Beach, Maryland. She takes in women shattered by abuse, poverty, illness, or events beyond their control. But no matter how far she's come or how many she's helped find their way back, there is no safe place for Delilah. Acquitted of her rich husband's mysterious death decades ago, she lives in her beautiful mansion consumed by secrets--and mistakes she feels she can never atone for. . . . Until she takes in desperate mother Tracey Walters and her two young children.
Tracey won't say where she's from or what sent her into hiding. But her determination and refusal to give up reminds Delilah of the spirited, hopeful girl she once was--and the dreams she still cherishes. As Tracey takes tentative steps to rebuild her life, her unexpected attraction to Delilah's handsome, troubled caretaker inadvertently brings Delilah face to face with the past. And when Tracey's worst fears come brutally calling, both women must find even more strength to confront truths they can no longer ignore--and at last learn how to truly be
free . . .
Resonant, moving, and unforgettable, The House on Harbor Hill paints an unforgettable portrait of two women struggling to forgive themselves, take a chance on change, and challenge each other to finally live.
Praise for Between Lost and Found
"Moving, thoughtful, and entirely original."--Taylor Jenkins Reid
358 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2018
28 people are currently reading
1508 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Stratton
3 books198 followersShelly Stratton is the penname of an award-nominated author who has published almost a dozen books under another pseudonym.
She is married and lives in Maryland with her husband and their daughter. Visit her at her web site www.shellystrattonbooks.com to learn more about her work.
She is married and lives in Maryland with her husband and their daughter. Visit her at her web site www.shellystrattonbooks.com to learn more about her work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 28, 2018
This is one of those books that’s tricky to categorize, it doesn’t really fit neatly into any specific genre but rather it dips it’s toes into several. Parts are set in the sixties and parts in the current day so you get a historical fiction vibe and some of the writing is so beautifully poetic you think maybe it’s literary fiction. Then at times it reads like a straight up contemporary novel, but at the end of the day it all comes together and works really well regardless of the genre.
Delilah and Tracey are the main characters and while Tracey was likable enough, Delilah is the true star of the show. Her past is shrouded in mystery and in the present day she’s a spunky little firecracker, I just adored her. She has a habit of taking women into her home who are down on their luck and this is just one of her eccentricities that made me like her. Tracey’s children were also adorable and added some mischief and light to the tale.
This tackled racial issues in the sixties and unfortunately similar issues that are still happening today giving the reader much to reflect on and I can see it sparking discussion for a book club as well. Recommended for when you want a read but aren’t in the mood for anything specific, it has a little bit of everything and is extremely well written.
The House on Harbor Hill in three words: Eloquent, Moving and Character-driven.
Delilah and Tracey are the main characters and while Tracey was likable enough, Delilah is the true star of the show. Her past is shrouded in mystery and in the present day she’s a spunky little firecracker, I just adored her. She has a habit of taking women into her home who are down on their luck and this is just one of her eccentricities that made me like her. Tracey’s children were also adorable and added some mischief and light to the tale.
This tackled racial issues in the sixties and unfortunately similar issues that are still happening today giving the reader much to reflect on and I can see it sparking discussion for a book club as well. Recommended for when you want a read but aren’t in the mood for anything specific, it has a little bit of everything and is extremely well written.
The House on Harbor Hill in three words: Eloquent, Moving and Character-driven.
September 29, 2021
Desperate and destitute, Tracey and her two young children, Caleb and Maggie, luck out when generous Delilah (Dee) takes them under her wing and into her home. What will they discover about each other? And will their pasts catch up with all of them?
Alternating between 2016 and 1968, this story was part contemporary, part historical fiction, and part mystery. From the very first pages, I was drawn into the story and eager to discover why Tracey was running and what Delilah was hiding. I enjoyed the author's writing style very much and would definitely read more by this author.
Location: Camden Beach, Maryland
Once Upon a Book Club - April 2018
Alternating between 2016 and 1968, this story was part contemporary, part historical fiction, and part mystery. From the very first pages, I was drawn into the story and eager to discover why Tracey was running and what Delilah was hiding. I enjoyed the author's writing style very much and would definitely read more by this author.
Location: Camden Beach, Maryland
Once Upon a Book Club - April 2018
March 26, 2018
From the cover to the blurb, to the story inside, The House on Harbor Hill is my TOTAL Literary Fiction catnip from an author that I adore and always trust to take me on an emotional journey. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, and after begging to read this book, then being granted an advance copy from NetGalley, I devoured it in just a couple of days.
I never know what to say in reviews... I'm not auditioning for the NYT book review here. I don't want to rehash the blurb, nor go through all the events of the book, not because I am lazy but because I like it best when I can discover the nuances and nooks and crannies of a story myself.
This was... simply a good read. A mix of a murder mystery from the past and a current tale of a woman in between the stages of her life, who takes a helping hand when she really needs it... and how that benefitted her and her children immensely.
Secondary characters filter through and fill out this story so well. I loved Delilah's fellow maids. That part of the story scratched my historical fiction itch.
There's so much to take in, when reading this novel. One thing that stands out is that a) sometimes no one understands what you've been through except those who've been through it to and b) History repeats itself, and like hindsight, you recognize things because you've seen it before.
I highly encourage everyone to grab this book, put it on your list, and then sit back and relax and enjoy the read. This isn't a fast paced wham-bam-zoom storyline. This is a beautifully drawn-out tale that's finally able to be told.
Enjoy!
I never know what to say in reviews... I'm not auditioning for the NYT book review here. I don't want to rehash the blurb, nor go through all the events of the book, not because I am lazy but because I like it best when I can discover the nuances and nooks and crannies of a story myself.
This was... simply a good read. A mix of a murder mystery from the past and a current tale of a woman in between the stages of her life, who takes a helping hand when she really needs it... and how that benefitted her and her children immensely.
Secondary characters filter through and fill out this story so well. I loved Delilah's fellow maids. That part of the story scratched my historical fiction itch.
There's so much to take in, when reading this novel. One thing that stands out is that a) sometimes no one understands what you've been through except those who've been through it to and b) History repeats itself, and like hindsight, you recognize things because you've seen it before.
I highly encourage everyone to grab this book, put it on your list, and then sit back and relax and enjoy the read. This isn't a fast paced wham-bam-zoom storyline. This is a beautifully drawn-out tale that's finally able to be told.
Enjoy!
April 15, 2019
This story had many wonderful parts and many heart wrenching parts. I'm glad I read it. Delilah is a wonderful main character. When the book ended, I wanted there to be more.
I bought this last year in a monthly subscription box and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.
I bought this last year in a monthly subscription box and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.
May 4, 2018
received this book in a Once Upon A book club subscription box.
This was a decent book that dealt with themes of domestic violence and racism, though it's really not the kind of story that I really get into. Written well enough with a smooth plot, just wasn't my cup of tea. Would be good for fans of emotional stories about contemporary women.
This was a decent book that dealt with themes of domestic violence and racism, though it's really not the kind of story that I really get into. Written well enough with a smooth plot, just wasn't my cup of tea. Would be good for fans of emotional stories about contemporary women.
April 4, 2018
I think I fell a bit in love with Delilah and The House on Harbor Hill. It's the story of a friendship, of a brave woman helping other women and has some historical fiction aspects and a touch of romance. It also hits on some tough issues--domestic violence, racism and bigotry, and it successfully combines two eras--the late 1960s and present day. Shelly Stratton manages to weave it all together into a story that crawls into your heart and stays there.
Delilah Grey grew up wanting more than what the other black women she knew in Camden Beach, Maryland had--but unfortunately that desire to escape the boundaries of her world led her into an abusive relationship with the wealthy brother of her employer. When she becomes pregnant, he marries her (to the dismay of his high-society family for the shame of a biracial relationship in that era) and when he dies shortly after, she is blamed. Although she's eventually acquitted, Delilah spends decades enduring the gossip and notoriety that life in a small town brings. She spends her time taking in women in need and giving them shelter in Harbor Hill, the house her husband left for her--both trying to make up for the past and to experience the family life she never had. Tracey Walters is on the run from her abusive husband and struggling to make a better life for her two young children when Delilah offers her sanctuary. Both Delilah and Tracey are great characters--although Delilah is the one I most wanted to spend time with, both to uncover the mysteries that surround her and to bask in her care.
The story is told from both characters' points of view with Tracey's in the present day and Delilah's going back and forth through past and present. Rather than chapter-by-chapter, the switch in time is separated in five parts with several chapters in each section, and I liked how this made the story flow and avoided the choppiness that alternating times and POVs can often cause. The supporting characters are well-written, although the villains are pretty clear and some of what happens is fairly easy to predict. But, even guessing part of the outcome didn't take away from the beauty of the story. If you like women's fiction with strong female characters, growth, and friendships, add The House on Harbor Hill to your Spring TBR stack.
You can see my review, a recipe inspired by the book and enter to win a copy (through 4/10/18--U.S. only) on my blog post here: https://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2...
Note: A review copy of "The House on Harbor Hill" was provided to me by the author and the publisher, via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Delilah Grey grew up wanting more than what the other black women she knew in Camden Beach, Maryland had--but unfortunately that desire to escape the boundaries of her world led her into an abusive relationship with the wealthy brother of her employer. When she becomes pregnant, he marries her (to the dismay of his high-society family for the shame of a biracial relationship in that era) and when he dies shortly after, she is blamed. Although she's eventually acquitted, Delilah spends decades enduring the gossip and notoriety that life in a small town brings. She spends her time taking in women in need and giving them shelter in Harbor Hill, the house her husband left for her--both trying to make up for the past and to experience the family life she never had. Tracey Walters is on the run from her abusive husband and struggling to make a better life for her two young children when Delilah offers her sanctuary. Both Delilah and Tracey are great characters--although Delilah is the one I most wanted to spend time with, both to uncover the mysteries that surround her and to bask in her care.
The story is told from both characters' points of view with Tracey's in the present day and Delilah's going back and forth through past and present. Rather than chapter-by-chapter, the switch in time is separated in five parts with several chapters in each section, and I liked how this made the story flow and avoided the choppiness that alternating times and POVs can often cause. The supporting characters are well-written, although the villains are pretty clear and some of what happens is fairly easy to predict. But, even guessing part of the outcome didn't take away from the beauty of the story. If you like women's fiction with strong female characters, growth, and friendships, add The House on Harbor Hill to your Spring TBR stack.
You can see my review, a recipe inspired by the book and enter to win a copy (through 4/10/18--U.S. only) on my blog post here: https://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2...
Note: A review copy of "The House on Harbor Hill" was provided to me by the author and the publisher, via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 6, 2018
Set in the past and present, The House on Harbor Hill is a murder mystery that tackles the issues of racial prejudice and spousal abuse in the lives of two very different women...
I started this book with only the above information from the blurb and found that the book was way more than just the story of two women. Yes, it is about abuse and prejudice but it is also about two women who learn to be strong and live again after going through these issues. To me, the main character was Delilah. She was a 70ish black woman who owned Harbor Hill. She took in women, one at a time, that were down on their luck and needed help. She took an exception with Tracy because there were also 2 kids involved. Tracy was on the run from an abusive husband and trying to protect her children when Delilah asked her to live at Harbor Hill. Will Delilah's helping hand be able to pull Tracy to a better place in her life and will she be able to protect her from her abusive husband?
This novel has a dual time line. One is present day and one is the 60s when Delilah is a maid and has to live through the prejudice of that time period as a maid to a very rich family. Through the story of the 60s, we learn why Delilah has become the person who opens her home to other women in need.
This was a fantastic book about love and family - not just the family we were born with but the friends we learn to love as we go through our lives.
I started this book with only the above information from the blurb and found that the book was way more than just the story of two women. Yes, it is about abuse and prejudice but it is also about two women who learn to be strong and live again after going through these issues. To me, the main character was Delilah. She was a 70ish black woman who owned Harbor Hill. She took in women, one at a time, that were down on their luck and needed help. She took an exception with Tracy because there were also 2 kids involved. Tracy was on the run from an abusive husband and trying to protect her children when Delilah asked her to live at Harbor Hill. Will Delilah's helping hand be able to pull Tracy to a better place in her life and will she be able to protect her from her abusive husband?
This novel has a dual time line. One is present day and one is the 60s when Delilah is a maid and has to live through the prejudice of that time period as a maid to a very rich family. Through the story of the 60s, we learn why Delilah has become the person who opens her home to other women in need.
This was a fantastic book about love and family - not just the family we were born with but the friends we learn to love as we go through our lives.
April 23, 2021
This book was very well written. It shines a light on domestic violence from a interracial and multigenerational perspective. Much of the story takes place in the titular house on Harbor Hill, ana we get to follow the lives of women who are trying to rebuild their lives. We also gain some pert from a groundskeeper working through mistakes from his past. I will say that I though the story would’ve been scarier, but it was actually touching in a way I didn’t expect - I really connected with the owner of the home, Delilah. All in all it was a great story, but I did feel that the admission at the end could’ve been stretched out and focused on with greater detail (I especially would’ve loved to see the reaction of the ghosts to the reveal). But, it was still great. 4.5 stars rounded up!
May 16, 2018
The House on Harbor Hill by Shelly Stratton is set in Camden Beach, Maryland in September of 2016. Delilah Grey offers help to those who she believes needs it. Tracey Walters arrives home to find an invitation on her door from Delilah that states her door is always open. Tracey and her two kids left her abusive husband, Paul after he hit Caleb and she worries that Paul will track them down. When Tracey is given one month to vacate her apartment and with no other options, she takes Delilah up on her offer. Delilah helps others to help alleviate her guilt. She has secrets that have haunted her all these years (in more than one way). A man keeps showing up offering to buy Harbor Hill, but Delilah has no intention of selling (despite the man’s outrageous offers). Aidan Dominguez grew up at Harbor Hill thanks to the generosity of Delilah. He returned four years ago and now works as the handyman/landscaper. Aidan is not prepared for his attraction to the newest resident. He came to Harbor Hill to escape his own troubles and is not ready to love again. Tracey settles in to the new home and starts to move forward, but then the past comes knocking. Unfortunately, that is not the only threat to the residents of Harbor Hill. What will happen to Aidan, Tracey and Delilah?
The House on Harbor Hill sounded like a great book. Mystery, intrigue, suspense, romance, a cute kid and some heartfelt moments. It is a story about people finding forgiveness and peace, so they can have a second chance at life. The writing was satisfactory, but the pacing was varied. There are three different stories happening in The House on Harbor Hill. It switches between them throughout the story, so we get the backstory on all three characters. We go from 2016 to 1968 to get Delilah’s story (my favorite character in the book). Delilah has the voice of her dead husband talking to her (criticizing, taunting). I was never sure if it was a ghost or just in her head. The House on Harbor Hill ended predictably. I knew how their stories would play out after reading just a small part of the book. I did feel that The House on Harbor Hill needed an epilogue to adequately wrap up the book. I was left with a few unanswered questions at the end of the book. The House on Harbor Hill addresses some sensitive issues (domestic violence and racism). I felt that the author handled them well, but I did feel the racism was overdone (mentioned quite often). There is a reading group guide at the end of the book. I do want to let readers know that the book contains violence and foul language (the language was completely unnecessary). I am giving The House on Harbor Hill 3 out of 5 stars (It was okay). This book was just not for me.
The House on Harbor Hill sounded like a great book. Mystery, intrigue, suspense, romance, a cute kid and some heartfelt moments. It is a story about people finding forgiveness and peace, so they can have a second chance at life. The writing was satisfactory, but the pacing was varied. There are three different stories happening in The House on Harbor Hill. It switches between them throughout the story, so we get the backstory on all three characters. We go from 2016 to 1968 to get Delilah’s story (my favorite character in the book). Delilah has the voice of her dead husband talking to her (criticizing, taunting). I was never sure if it was a ghost or just in her head. The House on Harbor Hill ended predictably. I knew how their stories would play out after reading just a small part of the book. I did feel that The House on Harbor Hill needed an epilogue to adequately wrap up the book. I was left with a few unanswered questions at the end of the book. The House on Harbor Hill addresses some sensitive issues (domestic violence and racism). I felt that the author handled them well, but I did feel the racism was overdone (mentioned quite often). There is a reading group guide at the end of the book. I do want to let readers know that the book contains violence and foul language (the language was completely unnecessary). I am giving The House on Harbor Hill 3 out of 5 stars (It was okay). This book was just not for me.
March 26, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised with this book, and part of the reason why is because I loved Delilah's character so much. She's smart, kind, giving, and she has excellent taste in literature (of course I must mention that little tidbit). Delilah's mysterious backstory is told via flashback. It's the 1960s, and she's working as a maid. Unfortunately for her, she falls for the wrong man and it has nothing to do with his race. It's a common trope: smart girl falls in love with dishonest man who wore a mask in the beginning, full of romance and charm, only to turn into his monstrous true-self once he's manipulated her into falling for him. Delilah's husband Chauncey is so abusive over the slightest things. His rules are ridiculous, and his wrath is quick: He bruises her because the soup is overly salted, and he punches her in the mouth when she wakes him up late at night when his not-very-delightful sister Mindy calls. It doesn't take much to set him off.
The rest of the narrative takes place in the present: Delilah runs a shelter for women and children who need a safe haven. She can relate to the abused women and minister to them on a level that most can't as she's experienced spousal abuse herself. Tracey's story mirrors Delilah's although she doesn't divulge much about her history. However, Delilah's history is fodder for gossip, and Tracey questions whether or not it's a good idea to allow her children to stay with a women who was accused of murder. Tracey decides to move into Harbor Hill, and she begins to blossom, especially in the eyes of Aidan the caretaker's eyes. She even feels secure enough to re-enroll in college and finish the last few credits towards her degree. I love Aidan's character, too. He has a tragic past and needs healing like many of the women who've stayed at Harbor Hill.
Although I correctly anticipated several plot points, there are unexpected surprises in the narrative that I don't want to spoil for you. I do highly recommend this book not only because of the wonderful characters, but because I liked the pace; there isn't a single boring scene. Plus the ending is very satisfying! This is the first book I've read by Shelly Stratton, and I'll definitely read more of her books. If you like Menna van Praag (The House at the End of Hope Street), Elizabeth Berg (Open House) and Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret Life of Bees), you'll enjoy The House on Harbor Hill. Put it on your spring reading list!
Disclosure:
I received a copy of The House on Harbor Hill from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The rest of the narrative takes place in the present: Delilah runs a shelter for women and children who need a safe haven. She can relate to the abused women and minister to them on a level that most can't as she's experienced spousal abuse herself. Tracey's story mirrors Delilah's although she doesn't divulge much about her history. However, Delilah's history is fodder for gossip, and Tracey questions whether or not it's a good idea to allow her children to stay with a women who was accused of murder. Tracey decides to move into Harbor Hill, and she begins to blossom, especially in the eyes of Aidan the caretaker's eyes. She even feels secure enough to re-enroll in college and finish the last few credits towards her degree. I love Aidan's character, too. He has a tragic past and needs healing like many of the women who've stayed at Harbor Hill.
Although I correctly anticipated several plot points, there are unexpected surprises in the narrative that I don't want to spoil for you. I do highly recommend this book not only because of the wonderful characters, but because I liked the pace; there isn't a single boring scene. Plus the ending is very satisfying! This is the first book I've read by Shelly Stratton, and I'll definitely read more of her books. If you like Menna van Praag (The House at the End of Hope Street), Elizabeth Berg (Open House) and Sue Monk Kidd (The Secret Life of Bees), you'll enjoy The House on Harbor Hill. Put it on your spring reading list!
Disclosure:
I received a copy of The House on Harbor Hill from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
May 8, 2018
*Spoil-dee-dee, spoil-dee-dum, don't read this unless you want your read ruined. Shit. That didn't rhyme. This book went swimming in several different genres, skimmed the surface of multiple AMAZING potential story lines in the pursuit of what it eventually became, and ultimately belly flopped in the shallow end. Sorry. That was the last water reference, I promise. Delilah owns a beautiful beachfront home deeded to her after the (untimely and homicidal) death of her husband, which she was ultimately blamed for. A young, beautiful black girl (18 YO is not a woman), and a total POS wealthy white guy who rapes her into marriage after charming her into his car with conversations about books make up a portion of this dual timeline novel. Delilah does time in the 60s for the murder of her husband, is let out (this is never explained either) after a few years and decides to devote her life to helping other young women in whose eyes she can see the panic of desperation. Enter Tracey, current day. Also married to a wealthy, abusive POS, she escapes and evades him for a year and one bad turn after another takes Dee up on her kindness and moves in rent free. There she meets Aidan, the obvious new love interest who has known Dee since he was a kid and who has spent the last 5 years getting over his own tragedy, having something to do with his wife and kid. *Spoiler alert again, they're dead. I'm torn on this guy, because while the author takes the time, over and over ad nauseum to make sure we all know he could instantly tell which ladies only needed his "special kind of love" and would never get dragged into true heart feelings, him sticking it to a bunch of vulnerable women over that 5 year period that he stayed there as the grounds guy just feels super gross, manipulative and exploitative. I mean, did he have a crystal ball that told him which ladies could handle having some guy move in on them when they were at their most vulnerable? Because everywhere else in the book he's beating himself up over and over again about how NOT observant he was about a woman he actually lived with for years. So....yea. I guess I'm supposed to love that love story but I just don't. This story has racism, rape, domestic violence, drug use, mental health issues, fraud, murder, it's got it all! And in the doing, didn't do any of it justice. Apparently not my cup of tea. I probably wouldn't have been so irked if I couldn't tell this is a damn talented author, but merging all of this into one book took away from the potential. And I don't like Aidan. Blech. *Edited - for like the 5th time to add - this book also needs a(n) (better) editor. It's missing entire words from sentences and has misspellings in multiple places which is really distracting in a professionally published novel.
May 16, 2018
From beginning to end, this book was absolutely beautiful. Part historical fiction, part domestic suspense, and part romantic women's fiction, it served as a perfect example of how to write dual timeline, multi-POV stories with plenty of page-turning conflict. Utterly unique and unputdownable!
April 4, 2019
This book was wonderful. The intertwined stories flowed seamlessly. Each character was so complex and engaging. Outstanding book.
May 28, 2018
I’m not going to go into a long review..... I will give this 3.5/5
Some things just didn’t click for me.
Info:
It tells about two different stories- Tracey with her two children on the run from her abusive husband and Delilah who lives on Harbor Hill in a huge house. A woman known for taking in women who are on the run or have other issues. Tracey ends up moving in with her two kids. She becomes close with Delilah. Delilah has a grounds keeper named Aidan who is becoming close with Tracey. Each person has their own demons. Throughout this you discover Delilah’s past and then Aidan’s. They all essentially help each other.
I was really interested in Delilah’s story- i just wasn’t clicking with Tracey or even Aidan. It just fell short for me.
Tracey was very blah- and I get it you’re on the run. It just seemed like she didn’t even have a personality. I was really bored. I’m sorry I tried lol
Some things just didn’t click for me.
Info:
It tells about two different stories- Tracey with her two children on the run from her abusive husband and Delilah who lives on Harbor Hill in a huge house. A woman known for taking in women who are on the run or have other issues. Tracey ends up moving in with her two kids. She becomes close with Delilah. Delilah has a grounds keeper named Aidan who is becoming close with Tracey. Each person has their own demons. Throughout this you discover Delilah’s past and then Aidan’s. They all essentially help each other.
I was really interested in Delilah’s story- i just wasn’t clicking with Tracey or even Aidan. It just fell short for me.
Tracey was very blah- and I get it you’re on the run. It just seemed like she didn’t even have a personality. I was really bored. I’m sorry I tried lol
June 23, 2018
3.5/4 Stars! Basically an engaging story, but a little too shallow, for me, considering the subject matter.
May 30, 2018
The House on Harbor Hill by Shelly Stratton
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 5/5 stars
I had half a review written when I realized it wasn’t anywhere close to expressing how I feel about this book. Here’s the breakdown:
Plot #1: The House on Harbor Hill opens with an aging Delilah Grey doing what she has spent the vast majority of her life doing, extending a helping hand to a woman in need. Delilah’s own past has made her keenly aware of the women around her who need her help, and once she’s spotted someone, she extends an invitation to her home. Delilah genuinely wants to help these women and once they have come to her home, they are welcome to stay for as long as they need. To many, Delilah is a good Samaritan, a selfless woman always willing to give more than she receives, but to those with long memories, Delilah is something quite different.
Plot #2: Tracey is a woman on the run, a very scared woman whose purpose in life is to survive and protect her children. After a year on the run, Tracey is out of money and desperate for help. She’s heard the rumors about Delilah Grey, but sanctuary is what Delilah is offering and Tracey is desperate. Delilah’s home is spacious, beautiful, and most importantly, safe. There is space for her kids, a room of her own, and the opportunity for Tracey to find her feet, heal, and make plans for she and her kids’ future. Delilah asks for little in return and Tracey and her children quickly settle in and become a part of life at the house on Harbor Hill.
Characters: This book is full of rich, developed characters who run the gamut of qualities and characteristics. From the truly vile and reprehensible to the selfless and kind, this book has someone for everyone. What nearly every character has in common, is being broken to some greater or lesser degree. The brokenness of each character informs his or her actions, and some of those actions are magnificent in their level of awful. The degree of brokenness also deepens and enriches each character which always makes for a better read.
Transitions and Pacing: The House on Harbor Hill opens in the present with Delilah taking in Tracey and her children. As with so many things in life, the past informs the present, and to understand Delilah and her desire to help women in danger, you have to understand her own miserable past. As such, after an extensive opening section, the book transitions to the past which helps the reader understand how Delilah came to be the woman she is today. The entire book unfolds at a steady pace, but has moments, very dramatic and scary moments when the scenes unfold at breakneck speed. There aren’t any slow spots, only steady pacing broken up by crazy moments.
The Bottom Line: I can’t say I loved this book because it deals with some very serious and horrifying issues, but I do love how those issues are handled. The House on Harbor Hill is a purely fictional read, but it deals with real-world issues we are, sadly far too familiar with in this day and age. Stratton has created a cast of characters, especially the women who are, at times, weak and vulnerable, and, ultimately, strong and determined. There is excellent evolution of character, especially in Delilah and Tracey whose stories are so very similar though separated by decades. The transitions from the past to the present is one of my favorite writing devices and only served to enhance this story. The pacing is perfect for the story, and I was involved and interested from start to finish.
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 5/5 stars
I had half a review written when I realized it wasn’t anywhere close to expressing how I feel about this book. Here’s the breakdown:
Plot #1: The House on Harbor Hill opens with an aging Delilah Grey doing what she has spent the vast majority of her life doing, extending a helping hand to a woman in need. Delilah’s own past has made her keenly aware of the women around her who need her help, and once she’s spotted someone, she extends an invitation to her home. Delilah genuinely wants to help these women and once they have come to her home, they are welcome to stay for as long as they need. To many, Delilah is a good Samaritan, a selfless woman always willing to give more than she receives, but to those with long memories, Delilah is something quite different.
Plot #2: Tracey is a woman on the run, a very scared woman whose purpose in life is to survive and protect her children. After a year on the run, Tracey is out of money and desperate for help. She’s heard the rumors about Delilah Grey, but sanctuary is what Delilah is offering and Tracey is desperate. Delilah’s home is spacious, beautiful, and most importantly, safe. There is space for her kids, a room of her own, and the opportunity for Tracey to find her feet, heal, and make plans for she and her kids’ future. Delilah asks for little in return and Tracey and her children quickly settle in and become a part of life at the house on Harbor Hill.
Characters: This book is full of rich, developed characters who run the gamut of qualities and characteristics. From the truly vile and reprehensible to the selfless and kind, this book has someone for everyone. What nearly every character has in common, is being broken to some greater or lesser degree. The brokenness of each character informs his or her actions, and some of those actions are magnificent in their level of awful. The degree of brokenness also deepens and enriches each character which always makes for a better read.
Transitions and Pacing: The House on Harbor Hill opens in the present with Delilah taking in Tracey and her children. As with so many things in life, the past informs the present, and to understand Delilah and her desire to help women in danger, you have to understand her own miserable past. As such, after an extensive opening section, the book transitions to the past which helps the reader understand how Delilah came to be the woman she is today. The entire book unfolds at a steady pace, but has moments, very dramatic and scary moments when the scenes unfold at breakneck speed. There aren’t any slow spots, only steady pacing broken up by crazy moments.
The Bottom Line: I can’t say I loved this book because it deals with some very serious and horrifying issues, but I do love how those issues are handled. The House on Harbor Hill is a purely fictional read, but it deals with real-world issues we are, sadly far too familiar with in this day and age. Stratton has created a cast of characters, especially the women who are, at times, weak and vulnerable, and, ultimately, strong and determined. There is excellent evolution of character, especially in Delilah and Tracey whose stories are so very similar though separated by decades. The transitions from the past to the present is one of my favorite writing devices and only served to enhance this story. The pacing is perfect for the story, and I was involved and interested from start to finish.
April 23, 2018
An interesting use of past and present with multiple viewpoints to create a story worth reading and passing on to others.
Set in two different eras and with two different women going through similar struggles, Delilah Grey owns Harbor Hill and uses the large house to help others in need. She sees women going through abuse or struggles and brings them into her home in the only way she knows how to help. Even though she was acquitted of her husband’s mysterious death many decades ago, she still isn’t sure if it was her fault or not and doesn’t know if she will ever know the truth. When she takes in Tracey Walters and her two children she hopes to help this woman not knowing how desperate Tracey is for the help. She has gone into hiding from her abusive husband and has no-where else to turn to. When she arrives at Harbor Hill, she hopes to save some money and finally and have a fresh start with her kids. Between Tracey and Delilah, there is enough scar tissue deep down that neither might every feel truly free unless they work together to face their fears and past to move on to a brighter future.
One of the points that worked best in this novel that is unusual is the back and forth from past to present. Usually jumps like that tend to take a reader out of a story and can stop the flow from progressing, but not here, I enjoyed the way Stratton used both timelines and point of views to fully tell the story. It wouldn’t have worked any other way. Each part tied all the others together with both characterization and the projection of the story line in a way that is rarely done these days. I enjoyed the back and forth between Delialah and Aiden; even though they were not related, it was obvious they cared for each other and had the other’s best interest at heart, even if it wasn’t coming across at times. Aiden took a little bit to get to like, and just when I did, his actions had me questioning if he was a character I wanted to cheer for or not. Tracey’s story couldn’t have played out better. The ending had the tension at an insane level, and without any crazy stuff that would normally be required to get the tension that high. Overall I thought this story played our very well, there was some adult language that makes this not suitable for a younger audience. With that being said, it would be a great read for anyone looking for a great story fueled by racial tension and social issues.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Set in two different eras and with two different women going through similar struggles, Delilah Grey owns Harbor Hill and uses the large house to help others in need. She sees women going through abuse or struggles and brings them into her home in the only way she knows how to help. Even though she was acquitted of her husband’s mysterious death many decades ago, she still isn’t sure if it was her fault or not and doesn’t know if she will ever know the truth. When she takes in Tracey Walters and her two children she hopes to help this woman not knowing how desperate Tracey is for the help. She has gone into hiding from her abusive husband and has no-where else to turn to. When she arrives at Harbor Hill, she hopes to save some money and finally and have a fresh start with her kids. Between Tracey and Delilah, there is enough scar tissue deep down that neither might every feel truly free unless they work together to face their fears and past to move on to a brighter future.
One of the points that worked best in this novel that is unusual is the back and forth from past to present. Usually jumps like that tend to take a reader out of a story and can stop the flow from progressing, but not here, I enjoyed the way Stratton used both timelines and point of views to fully tell the story. It wouldn’t have worked any other way. Each part tied all the others together with both characterization and the projection of the story line in a way that is rarely done these days. I enjoyed the back and forth between Delialah and Aiden; even though they were not related, it was obvious they cared for each other and had the other’s best interest at heart, even if it wasn’t coming across at times. Aiden took a little bit to get to like, and just when I did, his actions had me questioning if he was a character I wanted to cheer for or not. Tracey’s story couldn’t have played out better. The ending had the tension at an insane level, and without any crazy stuff that would normally be required to get the tension that high. Overall I thought this story played our very well, there was some adult language that makes this not suitable for a younger audience. With that being said, it would be a great read for anyone looking for a great story fueled by racial tension and social issues.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
May 23, 2018
The House on Harbor Hill by author Shelly Stratton is filled with emotions ranging from first crush love, disappointments, spousal violence, mental abuse, and fear. It is written very carefully so the reader is not overwhelmed. The Harbor House scenes are set in Camden Beach, Maryland in two different time periods, 1968-1970 and the present day. Delilah Grey who is in her 70's, opens her home on Harbor Hill to 'strays', as Aidan calls them. Delilah knows what it is like to be afraid with no one to turn to for help. Now in her later years, she feels an intense loneliness when the house is empty, and she wants to help women who are broken in spirit to have a reprieve so they may heal and start a new life with hope.
Aiden lived there as a child when his mother needed a place of refuge. As the years passed Aiden became a successful lawyer with a beautiful wife and child. Now he hides himself away as he helps Delilah with the grounds and upkeep of the big old house. He is hiding from the world until he is able to heal from his regrets and sorrows.
Tracey Walters has a secret which she must guard with her life. In fact, staying hidden could mean the difference in life and death for her if Paul were to ever find her and the two children. She lived in fear and hid her bruises waiting for the right time to make her escape. It was not easy, but she would do whatever it took to keep her children safe. But Tracey is tired, out of money and needs help.
I don't want to post spoilers but as I finished the book, I had some questions. The author had written Cee as being really in love with Delilah. Would Delilah and Cee have been a happy couple if Delilah had gone with her real feelings for Cee before he lost patience and took advantage of her? If she had told him the truth about the money for Mindy, could things have been different for them? Or was it a character flaw in the Williams family which cause them to lash out in cruel ways even to the people they loved?
These questions are the result of a successful author writing a good story which leaves you wanting to talk about the characters. After I completed reading the book, I was still thinking about the characters!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Aiden lived there as a child when his mother needed a place of refuge. As the years passed Aiden became a successful lawyer with a beautiful wife and child. Now he hides himself away as he helps Delilah with the grounds and upkeep of the big old house. He is hiding from the world until he is able to heal from his regrets and sorrows.
Tracey Walters has a secret which she must guard with her life. In fact, staying hidden could mean the difference in life and death for her if Paul were to ever find her and the two children. She lived in fear and hid her bruises waiting for the right time to make her escape. It was not easy, but she would do whatever it took to keep her children safe. But Tracey is tired, out of money and needs help.
I don't want to post spoilers but as I finished the book, I had some questions. The author had written Cee as being really in love with Delilah. Would Delilah and Cee have been a happy couple if Delilah had gone with her real feelings for Cee before he lost patience and took advantage of her? If she had told him the truth about the money for Mindy, could things have been different for them? Or was it a character flaw in the Williams family which cause them to lash out in cruel ways even to the people they loved?
These questions are the result of a successful author writing a good story which leaves you wanting to talk about the characters. After I completed reading the book, I was still thinking about the characters!
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 27, 2018
Delilah lives in her big house with her memories and the ghosts of her past. She has been living in the house for many years and in the course of that time she has been taking in women who need help; women who are trying to escape abusive situations. She knows from personal experience how debilitating it can be. The only other permanent resident of Harbor Hill is a groundskeeper and he is the son of one of her women. He has his own issues to deal with and he is perhaps in hiding.
Delilah spies Tracey in town and just knows that she needs help. Tracey is reluctant to accept help as she wants to care for herself and her children on her own. She is hiding from an abusive husband but is having trouble keeping things together. Just when all seems lost Delilah’s offer of free housing seems to be the answer she needs but people in town warn her that Delilah may not bee as nice as she seems. She might even have committed a murder.
As Tracey’s story unfolds in the present, Delilah’s takes the reader back to a past where women of color were there to serve, not to be the lady of the manor. But even the life of that lady can be one of servitude. As Delilah’s story comes forward, Tracey’s past comes in with all of the force of a gut punch.
It’s hard to say you “enjoyed” a book that deals with such difficult subject matter as race relations, abuse and some really poor decision making in regards to women. But Ms. Stratton has created a very real world with well developed, very human characters that drew me in and kept me thinking about them long after I turned the last page.
I felt quite involved in their stories and wanted to see them through to the end. This is my only mild complaint about the book – it ended and story lines wrapped up satisfactorily. But if you are the type of reader (like me) who wants more detail in regards to things you will not be fully satisfied. I still have questions. But I still have questions about Gone with the Wind so….
All in all a good book dealing with complicated issues in a beautiful setting.
Delilah spies Tracey in town and just knows that she needs help. Tracey is reluctant to accept help as she wants to care for herself and her children on her own. She is hiding from an abusive husband but is having trouble keeping things together. Just when all seems lost Delilah’s offer of free housing seems to be the answer she needs but people in town warn her that Delilah may not bee as nice as she seems. She might even have committed a murder.
As Tracey’s story unfolds in the present, Delilah’s takes the reader back to a past where women of color were there to serve, not to be the lady of the manor. But even the life of that lady can be one of servitude. As Delilah’s story comes forward, Tracey’s past comes in with all of the force of a gut punch.
It’s hard to say you “enjoyed” a book that deals with such difficult subject matter as race relations, abuse and some really poor decision making in regards to women. But Ms. Stratton has created a very real world with well developed, very human characters that drew me in and kept me thinking about them long after I turned the last page.
I felt quite involved in their stories and wanted to see them through to the end. This is my only mild complaint about the book – it ended and story lines wrapped up satisfactorily. But if you are the type of reader (like me) who wants more detail in regards to things you will not be fully satisfied. I still have questions. But I still have questions about Gone with the Wind so….
All in all a good book dealing with complicated issues in a beautiful setting.
March 30, 2018
The House on Harbor Hill was pure historical fiction with unsuspected twists and turns that made me stay up all night to get to the bottom of things.
My Thoughts
Book cover-the book cover is pleasing to the eyes. The neutral colors, the symbolism of the suitcase and steps leading up to the white door is calming. It convinces you to turn the book over and read the synopsis, which I did.
Plot/Structure-the structure of the book was split into four parts switching back and forth from 2016 to 1968. This helped me understand why the main character acted the way she did and helped in learning all the characters personalities. The plot was consistent in moving these characters lives forward making it easy to follow.
Characters-These characters kept me up late anticipating their next moves. In 2016, I received the strong, compassionate and caring Delilah Grey, who is a widower. In 1968, I received a timid, shy, not yet coming into her own Delilah Grey, who had to accept what life offered her. I fell in love with her character. Tracey is a mother trying to hide from her husband, Paul. She is struggling until she meets Delilah. Aidan keeps his hurt and pain well-hidden but something in him changes once he meets Tracey and her children.
The remaining characters frustrated me and some got under my skin but it was worth it. I want to tell you all about them but I can’t give away anything, so to learn more you need to read the book.
Message-my take away from this book is your blessings are not always for you but for someone else, with patience the truth will finally be revealed and running away never solves anything.
This was a wonderful page turner of suspense and murder mystery with powerful characters wrapped within a strong story line. After finishing it, I wanted to read it all over again and that never happens, so you know this book is good.
5 Stars=Non-Stop Page Turner
My Thoughts
Book cover-the book cover is pleasing to the eyes. The neutral colors, the symbolism of the suitcase and steps leading up to the white door is calming. It convinces you to turn the book over and read the synopsis, which I did.
Plot/Structure-the structure of the book was split into four parts switching back and forth from 2016 to 1968. This helped me understand why the main character acted the way she did and helped in learning all the characters personalities. The plot was consistent in moving these characters lives forward making it easy to follow.
Characters-These characters kept me up late anticipating their next moves. In 2016, I received the strong, compassionate and caring Delilah Grey, who is a widower. In 1968, I received a timid, shy, not yet coming into her own Delilah Grey, who had to accept what life offered her. I fell in love with her character. Tracey is a mother trying to hide from her husband, Paul. She is struggling until she meets Delilah. Aidan keeps his hurt and pain well-hidden but something in him changes once he meets Tracey and her children.
The remaining characters frustrated me and some got under my skin but it was worth it. I want to tell you all about them but I can’t give away anything, so to learn more you need to read the book.
Message-my take away from this book is your blessings are not always for you but for someone else, with patience the truth will finally be revealed and running away never solves anything.
This was a wonderful page turner of suspense and murder mystery with powerful characters wrapped within a strong story line. After finishing it, I wanted to read it all over again and that never happens, so you know this book is good.
5 Stars=Non-Stop Page Turner
May 14, 2018
Wow, such an interesting book, with the premise of Delilah helping women who need a home for a while, for whatever reason, to try to atone for her own past, mixed in with Tracey's story, as well as Aidan's story, each chapter rotating back and forth between those three characters, along with sections devoted entirely to Delilah's past, helping us to understand her and her back story, with both the present and the past finally resolving at the end.
I was drawn into this book right from the beginning, into each of the characters' lives and their stories. The setting of Camden Beach sounded beautiful, as well as the house on Harbor Hill. My heart ached for Tracey as she was working to start a life for herself after running away with her children from her husband to escape his abuse yet being reluctant to accept the refuge Delilah offered after hearing the awful rumors surrounding Delilah's past. Aidan's backstory isn't revealed until much later in the book, but there are some subtle hints as to what it is leading up to that point. There were tie-ins to the present as well hinting to Delilah's tragic story that were revealed both in the present and in the chapters set in her youth. While the author tied everything so well together and the writing was very well done (and I try not to mention this in my reviews, but it was enough to be very noticeable this time), there were several editing errors that interrupted the flow of the story for me. However, I absolutely enjoyed this book and the writing kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen in the house on Harbor Hill for Tracey, Caleb, Maggie, Aidan, and Delilah so that they could all be at peace with their pasts, as well as looking forward to reading more of her books.
Content: Editing errors that I felt shouldn't have been missed, along with strong language at times.
***Spoilers for Once Upon a Book Club Box***
I received this book as part of my subscription to Once Upon a Book Club, which includes gifts to be opened as you come upon certain spots throughout the book. For this book, the gifts were as follows:
p. 10 - letter on printed notepaper in a yellow envelope, exactly as described in the book, from Delilah to Tracey.
p. 46 - fuzzy pink slippers, like Delilah wore to the store
p. 138 - a OUABCB exclusive edition of Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, like Delilah's copy that Cee returned to her at the bus stop
p. 348 - a scarf, like the one Miss Mindy has wrapped around her head
Printed Quote: "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." - Edith Wharton
I was drawn into this book right from the beginning, into each of the characters' lives and their stories. The setting of Camden Beach sounded beautiful, as well as the house on Harbor Hill. My heart ached for Tracey as she was working to start a life for herself after running away with her children from her husband to escape his abuse yet being reluctant to accept the refuge Delilah offered after hearing the awful rumors surrounding Delilah's past. Aidan's backstory isn't revealed until much later in the book, but there are some subtle hints as to what it is leading up to that point. There were tie-ins to the present as well hinting to Delilah's tragic story that were revealed both in the present and in the chapters set in her youth. While the author tied everything so well together and the writing was very well done (and I try not to mention this in my reviews, but it was enough to be very noticeable this time), there were several editing errors that interrupted the flow of the story for me. However, I absolutely enjoyed this book and the writing kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen in the house on Harbor Hill for Tracey, Caleb, Maggie, Aidan, and Delilah so that they could all be at peace with their pasts, as well as looking forward to reading more of her books.
Content: Editing errors that I felt shouldn't have been missed, along with strong language at times.
***Spoilers for Once Upon a Book Club Box***
I received this book as part of my subscription to Once Upon a Book Club, which includes gifts to be opened as you come upon certain spots throughout the book. For this book, the gifts were as follows:
p. 10 - letter on printed notepaper in a yellow envelope, exactly as described in the book, from Delilah to Tracey.
p. 46 - fuzzy pink slippers, like Delilah wore to the store
p. 138 - a OUABCB exclusive edition of Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence, like Delilah's copy that Cee returned to her at the bus stop
p. 348 - a scarf, like the one Miss Mindy has wrapped around her head
Printed Quote: "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." - Edith Wharton
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2018
The House on Harbor Hill tells two stories. Delilah Gray lives in a beautiful and mysterious beach house in Camden Beach, Maryland. Her personal background leads her to help young women who are escaping abusive marriages. That is how she meets Tracey Walters. Tracey is a young mother with a little boy and a baby girl. She comes to Harbor Hill to stay with Delilah. While she is there, rebuilding her life, she also meets Harbor Hill's handsome caretaker, who is wrestling with memories of his own past.
This is such a unique book! It is a dual storyline, told in the present and also in 1968, so there is an element of historical fiction. It is women's fiction, but it also is a mystery, as the pasts of Delilah and revealed bit by bit. There is a mystery in Delilah's past that she has struggled with her whole adult life, and she is able to solve that mystery at last.
The 1968 period details were particularly well done and the story of racial prejudice was powerful and moving. Shelly Stratton does a wonderful job at evoking a time and place. I could visualize Harbor Hill and Camden Beach from her descriptions in this book.
The characters, though, are the real stars. Delilah is one of my favorite characters that I have met through reading this year. She is warm and vulnerable, but also so strong and compassionate. What she does for Tracey, and what she has done for many other women in trouble, is a real gift.
I loved the storytelling and the way the narrative revealed itself in bits here and there as the reader learns about the past, and especially Delilah's story and the mystery of what happened the fateful night that changed her life.
I recommend The House on Harbor Hill for fans of women's fiction, mysteries, and historical fiction. It is a beautifully told and engrossing read.
This is such a unique book! It is a dual storyline, told in the present and also in 1968, so there is an element of historical fiction. It is women's fiction, but it also is a mystery, as the pasts of Delilah and revealed bit by bit. There is a mystery in Delilah's past that she has struggled with her whole adult life, and she is able to solve that mystery at last.
The 1968 period details were particularly well done and the story of racial prejudice was powerful and moving. Shelly Stratton does a wonderful job at evoking a time and place. I could visualize Harbor Hill and Camden Beach from her descriptions in this book.
The characters, though, are the real stars. Delilah is one of my favorite characters that I have met through reading this year. She is warm and vulnerable, but also so strong and compassionate. What she does for Tracey, and what she has done for many other women in trouble, is a real gift.
I loved the storytelling and the way the narrative revealed itself in bits here and there as the reader learns about the past, and especially Delilah's story and the mystery of what happened the fateful night that changed her life.
I recommend The House on Harbor Hill for fans of women's fiction, mysteries, and historical fiction. It is a beautifully told and engrossing read.
May 21, 2018
This book was just so...eh. It's not TERRIBLE, but there are so many minorly bad elements and not many -amazing- parts that it just ends up being....eh. It's the story of two very damaged women but also for some reason feels the need to have a third of the story told from the POV of the very damaged man one of them falls in love with. Aidan is probably my least favorite part of the book because he's not a likeable character at all, and even when his troubled past is revealed and you're supposed to feel some sort of sympathy....he is still just not likeable at all. Also at one point, Tracey is described (from Aidan's POV) in that super annoying way where it's like "she could be beautiful if she tried", and that is just the worst trope. I'm not sure if it's suppose to be the author making Aidan seem annoying or if the author herself was just being annoying, but I have a sneaky suspicion that its the author.
There's a sprinkling of other "eh" things throughout. A time jump with a POV change (third person to first person); a very obvious mystery element, characters explaining their backstories to characters that should have already known their backstory and didn't need it explained to them, and just some poorly written moments. And while there are some very heavy topics throughout the novel (racism, rape, domestic violence), it seems like the author was trying to play it safe and not make anyone too uncomfortable when describing these scenes, which just seemed to make them lose their power.
All in all, not a very spectacular novel. Most of them time when reading it, it just felt like, "...yep. This is a book."
There's a sprinkling of other "eh" things throughout. A time jump with a POV change (third person to first person); a very obvious mystery element, characters explaining their backstories to characters that should have already known their backstory and didn't need it explained to them, and just some poorly written moments. And while there are some very heavy topics throughout the novel (racism, rape, domestic violence), it seems like the author was trying to play it safe and not make anyone too uncomfortable when describing these scenes, which just seemed to make them lose their power.
All in all, not a very spectacular novel. Most of them time when reading it, it just felt like, "...yep. This is a book."
April 3, 2018
Delilah stayed at Harbor Hill not because it was her burden or penance as she suggested but , because she earned the right. From the offset she was mistreated by the Buford Family. Mistreated in Mindy Buford Williams employment, mistreated by Chauncey and scorned by their mother.
With all of the abuse she suffered, no assistance from the police, false conviction, having served time, and the whispers and scorn from the community, she EARNED Harbor Hill!
Did she love Chauncey? Somewhat. But she feared him more.
This was a deep and exciting novel. Just as "Between Lost and Found," I read it at a slower pace than the novels written as Shelly Ellis. This novel is thought provoking and did extract some anger from me based on the cruelty that both Delilah and Tracey suffered. Aidan had lingering emotional issues from his childhood and marriage that he had to conquer. Just as Delilah said, "He's not there yet."
In many ways, each of the characters Delilah, Aidan, Tracey and Caleb conquered a challenge.
Delilah was correct in confronting Mindy and was even correct in the "Gift" she bequeath her.
With all of the abuse she suffered, no assistance from the police, false conviction, having served time, and the whispers and scorn from the community, she EARNED Harbor Hill!
Did she love Chauncey? Somewhat. But she feared him more.
This was a deep and exciting novel. Just as "Between Lost and Found," I read it at a slower pace than the novels written as Shelly Ellis. This novel is thought provoking and did extract some anger from me based on the cruelty that both Delilah and Tracey suffered. Aidan had lingering emotional issues from his childhood and marriage that he had to conquer. Just as Delilah said, "He's not there yet."
In many ways, each of the characters Delilah, Aidan, Tracey and Caleb conquered a challenge.
Delilah was correct in confronting Mindy and was even correct in the "Gift" she bequeath her.
March 11, 2018
This is a very moving novel revolving around spousal abuse and the affects it has on two women years apart in age but close in their horrifying experiences. The harshness, brutality and fear of Delilah Buford and Tracey Walters are hard to read yet alone picture and written in such a manner that portrays their reality and that the reader can comprehend the brutality as it happened or occurs.
Delilah has made her home, Harbor Hill, a sanctuary for women needing security and a chance to rebuild their lives. Delilah tends to one woman at a time, offering her support, kindness and understanding along with room and board at no cost. Tracey is a woman hiding out from her abusive husband, always on the run when he finds her.
The beauty of the novel is the relationships formed by Delilah, Tracey, Tracey’s two small children and Aiden. Aiden lived at Harbor Hill when he was a young boy and returned as an adult when his world imploded. They all find something that they need in each other: healing, comfort, acceptance, and love.
Delilah has made her home, Harbor Hill, a sanctuary for women needing security and a chance to rebuild their lives. Delilah tends to one woman at a time, offering her support, kindness and understanding along with room and board at no cost. Tracey is a woman hiding out from her abusive husband, always on the run when he finds her.
The beauty of the novel is the relationships formed by Delilah, Tracey, Tracey’s two small children and Aiden. Aiden lived at Harbor Hill when he was a young boy and returned as an adult when his world imploded. They all find something that they need in each other: healing, comfort, acceptance, and love.
May 27, 2018
So even though I’m giving this book 3 stars, I still felt like it was a pretty nice read. The only reason I won’t rate it higher is it felt very predictable to me. The entire plot, all the characters, I felt like I knew exactly what would happen ... and it all happened exactly how I thought. With that being said, the story is still a very heartfelt story about forgiveness, redemption, and finding peace where you least expected it to! This book hit home with some very important topics that are sadly still relevant today (i.e. spousal abuse and racial prejudice). I loved the main character Delilah, her point of view were my favorite parts from the book! I would still recommend this to others, it’s a good quick read, covering some deep topics but still allowing for the satisfaction of closer at the end!
April 19, 2018
I liked this book OK -- not wonderfully well, but OK. I found it to be mostly sad, with Delilah Gray trying to mend her life by taking in strays. Lots of what happened in 1968, which I don't like, but maybe it's too much of a challenge to just tell a story from the beginning. Not being an author, I can't really speak to that. Most of them use that method, so I guess it's widely accepted. Aiden was hiding from his feelings and guilt, Tracey was scared to death -- by the end of the book, I was pretty much sick of all of them. Delilah was the best of the bunch, but she also had her moments. Lots of references to racism, which was certainly true of the times. Again -- not great, but OK.
May 1, 2018
I thought this book was incredible; started it and finished it in the one day.
It's a tale of a lady (Delilah) whoes self-imposed mission in life is to save lost souls in order to repent for her own haunting past. She comes across one lost soul (Tracey) and her two young kids on the run from her abusive Husband, a tale so very similar to Delilah's own story as the reader discovers, as it is weaved through the flash back chapters.
The tale hits on many human failings including racisim, domestic violence and the curruption of excessive wealth, but also highlights the beauty of human strength, endurance and the surprising resilience of children, as well as the peace forgiveness and love can bring.
Five out of five stars.
It's a tale of a lady (Delilah) whoes self-imposed mission in life is to save lost souls in order to repent for her own haunting past. She comes across one lost soul (Tracey) and her two young kids on the run from her abusive Husband, a tale so very similar to Delilah's own story as the reader discovers, as it is weaved through the flash back chapters.
The tale hits on many human failings including racisim, domestic violence and the curruption of excessive wealth, but also highlights the beauty of human strength, endurance and the surprising resilience of children, as well as the peace forgiveness and love can bring.
Five out of five stars.
May 23, 2018
I appreciated the story that was told in this book, and it kept me reading late into the night. The one issue I had is that a lot of things that happened didn't seem to make a lot of sense. At one point, the main character calls the police from her cell phone and the dispatcher asks for her address. The phone gets disconnected before she can give the address, so in the story, the police never show up. The setting of this story is 2017, and if you dial the police from a cell phone, they will know where you are calling from without you having to give an address. I found these little things took away from an overall good book.
September 9, 2018
I was going to just read one more chapter in this book last night not knowing that I was just about to reach the climax of the story. Then boom . . . I suddenly found myself on a thrilling roller coaster ride and I couldn't put the book down. I ended up finishing the book off in one sitting. There are definitely some characters that you will detest while reading this book. Reading about domestic abuse is never easy but Stratton shows readers that it is possible for women to rise again and regain their strength. I received this book in a Kensington giveaway. All thoughts expressed in this review are my honest opinions of the book.
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