⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)
This novel had so much going for it—a dual timeline, a real historical figure, and a mystery rooted in the fate of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. I went in eager to learn more about Eleanor Dare, a woman I find absolutely fascinating. And while the premise had great potential, the execution didn’t quite live up to it.
The story follows Alice, a war widow, and her daughter, Penn, as they return to their family’s ancestral home in the 1940s. There, they begin to uncover secrets tied to their lineage and the legacy of Eleanor Dare. The emotional threads—grief, identity, forgiveness, and healing—are the strongest parts of the book. I especially liked the focus on the strength of women across generations. There were also some interesting historical nuggets, like Paul Revere references and insights into Jewish burial customs, that showed the author did her homework.
But the pacing lagged, and the storyline about Eleanor Dare didn’t come in soon enough—or go deep enough—to satisfy. It felt like a missed opportunity to bring a remarkable real woman to life.
Final verdict: an emotional, well-intentioned story with a few lovely moments, but don’t expect a deep historical dive.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a comp of this title. The opinions are my own.