Release date: 20th August 2018
From Pearl Harbor to the shores of Sydney, a family secret that spans generations could unite a family – or destroy it.
Honolulu, Hawaii 1941. On the evening of her sixteenth birthday party, Catherine McGarrie wants nothing more than for the night to be over, even though the opulence of the ballroom befits the daughter of a US Navy Rear Admiral. Then she meets Charlie, a navy officer from the other side of the tracks, a man her parents would never approve of. As rumours of war threaten their tropical paradise, Catherine and Charlie fall in love. But the bombing of Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941 changes their lives forever.
Seventy–five years later, addled by age and painkillers, Catherine tells her granddaughter Kit her story and reveals the tale of a long–lost treasure. Can Kit uncover the secret and reunite her family? Or will the truth tear them apart?
ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review
The Lost Peal is a sweeping sago of love, loss and secrets spanning 75 years.
Set in 1941 Hawaii and 2016 Sydney, The Lost Pearl is mostly Catherine /Kitty's story of lost love and the secrets that she has kept from her family all her life.
I am in a bit of a historical phase at the moment, and having been to Pearl Harbour, I thoroughly enjoyed the Hawaiian setting - even though things are a lot different in the book than when I wa there. However, having been there it did help me understand the setting and the feeling of the book a little better.
Ms Madden paints a vivid picture of pre-war Hawaii that I could feel myself being drawn in to.
Having so many plotlines set in so many time periods, The Lost Pearl could have found itself in a bit of a confusing mess, however Ms Madden has written this story so well that this was not the case at all.
I did feel that that character of Kit was a little less rounded out than that of Kitty and her family and friends in 1941. It was hard at to figure out her justifications for delving so hard into finding her grandmothers secrets, however as we did learn more of Kit it did become more clear. Also, this could just be me.
I did feel for Kit as the story progressed and we learned more of her past.
I enjoyed being taken along both Catherine and Kit's journeys, their loves, their losses.
The Lost Pearl is an epic love story that will sweep you away with the characters. I did shed a few tears as I was reading, and I am sure you will too.
Beautifully written, wonderful characters, this story would make a great movie.
I can't wait to see what Ms Madden brings us next.
