A page-turning saga that will have you hooked - The Pearl Locket

I gave it a5 star because it was beautifully written. I bit of history but, more about secrets which is what I was looking for. The ending surprised me as .... No I won't spoil it for you. Read the book as I think you will love it!

A good story that unites multi- generations in such a way that people can relate to at some
period in their own life in one way or another. Such a touching story. I couldn't help but shed a few tears.
but shed a few tears.

Ms. McGurl is from England where the book was apparently published. It wasn't translated into American English or at least missed the translation in many areas of the reading material. I had to stop and do word checks a few times to even have clarity in what was subject matter. Ms. McGurl has written other novels plus short stories I learned from her bio. I don't know how much was the translation issue but in my opinion the romance of the main characters seemed written in a somewhat childish way that left me often shaking my head. At a point it became very predictable, midway through I could have pretty much outlined the rest of the story. The romance took place during WWII and the war references were on a pretty simple and chopped up telling of that time in the story. Major ? Marks in regard to the greatest of a dysfunctional families, that of the Ghostly Joan... The ending was another Happy Ever After but for poor Joan. I can't recommend this book. Was so disappointed it's hard for me to even review the book. I Need another Five Star book. I'll continue reading and hope to write that review hopefully soon. I won't read anymore writings by this author.

This novel had a tinge of supernatural, but not enough to put it into a spooky classification. It kept me reading, to decide if there was any connection with certain characters, as I suspected, after reading several chapters. All in all, it was an interesting modern day story, interspersed with back flashes into the WW 2 era. I like the way the author tied them together. Definitely a good read.

The way the story came together was so awesome. To think that Joan's daughter lived next door to Betty! Whoa!
But oh,I so wish that Joan had waited for Jack.
The family dynamics and personalities-wow-like people I know. This writer who also wrote the Emerald Comb - I could see her understanding of families. She wrote so much better than the Emerald Comb.
I truly liked this book and I hope that my friends take my advice and read it also.

I love historical romance novels and love era romance novels … okay, I am a romantic at heart. The Pearl Locket was a delightful story of love under duress as young hearts fight against parental constraints that keep them apart during WWII.
After moving into her great aunt’s home that her mother had inherited that had been the family home that her grandmother had grown up in, Kelly found her perfect bedroom. When she discovers Joan love Jack” written on the wall of her room underneath some peeling wallpaper, she finds she is drawn more and more to finding who Joan and Jack are.
While never going through the mechanizations of what you would expect for a paranormal novel, there was no missing the experience of watching the 21th century young teenage girl falling under the influence of someone or something from the past. The storyline was well written, just like in real life, none of the family, nor did Kelly (the teenage girl) understand what was happening. Kelly only knew she had to find out who Joan was and what happened to her and Jack.
The novel was well crafted with the two storylines inter-twined and moving between WWII and current day as more was discovered about Joan and Jack and back to the past, as their love story progressed. The connection between the two was masterful and held my attention all the way to the end with a wonderful surprising ending.
The Pearl Lock cost me a night’s sleep, for I looked over and it was three in the morning and I forced myself to finish it the next day. The sentiment of the love story wrenched my heart time and again as I watched Joan and Jack struggle with finding a way to make life happen for themselves. I would rate this novel a full FOUR PLUS STARS. I highly recommend it to fans of historical romance or pararomance.

Inheriting the home of a great Aunt is the trigger for Ali and her family to move from rented accommodation into this, their new home. The move involves them undertaking lots of repairs and renovations and uncovering family history that they were previously totally unaware of. Love letters and photographs left in the cellar, writing on the wall and a pearl locket together help instigate the family into researching their past as it seems in danger of taking over the life of Ali’s daughter, Kelly.

Told in two time periods - the preset day and during the second World War, it is a tale of love found and lost, separated and reunited. It is a heartbreaking story, definitely different, that takes the reader into the family, encouraging them to share their experiences and emotions as stories from the part impact on the present and future for everyone concerned - including unexpected family and friends who help resolve and explain events. This is a mystery thriller that will keep the reader enthralled right to the very end!

Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Carina UK for giving me a chance to read this wonderful book.

First off, it's definitely correct when they say this is a book for Kate Morton fans. Spread over dual time periods of WWII forties and 2014, we meet our two families, the past yelling to be heard into the future. This book..is so SAD. I won't spoil what you haven't read yet like most people do, but it's tragic. The romance was beautiful and sweet and I believe with all my heart that Joan and Jack were meant to be, if not for their misfortune. I was devastated. The present set storyline was interesting, with a girl named Kelly becoming fascinated by Joan and Jack after finding a signature under peeling wallpaper, as well as mementos in the basement. I found myself more intrigued by the period setting than present, but both were written and weaved very well with each other.
but it's just HEARTBREAKING. I can't even...*sniff* it's a wonderfully written story of love and mystery and hardship and I'm happy I was chosen to read this book and I'm excited to read The Emerald Comb.

I would describe The Pearl Locket as a family saga, in a similar style to Ellie Dean or Lily Baxter. There's not a lot of the gory side of war depicted. It focusses more on the relationships between the characters. and that suits me But it does have a very poignant emotional story thread running through it. I have to admit I preferred the chapters set during WWII to the modern ones. But the whole novel was a good read.

Inheriting the home of a great Aunt is the trigger for Ali and her family to move from rented accommodation into this, their new home. The move involves them undertaking lots of repairs and renovations and uncovering family history that they were previously totally unaware of. Love letters and photographs left in the cellar, writing on the wall and a pearl locket together help instigate the family into researching their past as it seems in danger of taking over the life of Ali’s daughter, Kelly.

Told in two time periods - the preset day and during the second World War, it is a tale of love found and lost, separated and reunited. It is a heartbreaking story, definitely different, that takes the reader into the family, encouraging them to share their experiences and emotions as stories from the part impact on the present and future for everyone concerned - including unexpected family and friends who help resolve and explain events. This is a mystery thriller that will keep the reader enthralled right to the very end!

Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Carina UK for giving me a chance to read this wonderful book.

First off, it's definitely correct when they say this is a book for Kate Morton fans. Spread over dual time periods of WWII forties and 2014, we meet our two families, the past yelling to be heard into the future. This book..is so SAD. I won't spoil what you haven't read yet like most people do, but it's tragic. The romance was beautiful and sweet and I believe with all my heart that Joan and Jack were meant to be, if not for their misfortune. I was devastated. The present set storyline was interesting, with a girl named Kelly becoming fascinated by Joan and Jack after finding a signature under peeling wallpaper, as well as mementos in the basement. I found myself more intrigued by the period setting than present, but both were written and weaved very well with each other.
but it's just HEARTBREAKING. I can't even...*sniff* it's a wonderfully written story of love and mystery and hardship and I'm happy I was chosen to read this book and I'm excited to read The Emerald Comb.

I would describe The Pearl Locket as a family saga, in a similar style to Ellie Dean or Lily Baxter. There's not a lot of the gory side of war depicted. It focusses more on the relationships between the characters. and that suits me But it does have a very poignant emotional story thread running through it. I have to admit I preferred the chapters set during WWII to the modern ones. But the whole novel was a good read.