I was given this book by #Netgalley for an honest review. Can love conquer hate and a curse mansion. This was truly a great gothic novel. I was slow getting into to it but by the end I could not put it down. If this is a first novel by #Rebecca James than I look forward to others. I would recommend this book to anyone.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of "The Woman in the Mirror."*

"The Woman in the Mirror" is "Jane Eyre"/"Rebecca" with a paranormal twist. The book definitely conveys a feeling of uneasiness that is so characteristic of Gothic literature. Jumping between two timelines (really three but that is a bit beside the point) and two main characters. The book follows the lives of two women and their time in Winterbourne and how they are haunted by the women that came before. 

Sarah Miller was brought to Winterbourne post WWII to serve as governess to the motherless 8 year-old twins of Captain De Grey. Decades later, Rachel inherits Winterbourne when her aunt Constance (one of the twins) passes away. 

I ended up giving the book 3 starts for a few reasons, first and foremost, it was a bit too scary for me. I have a hard time with books with a paranormal story line that plays out too closely to children. Additionally, I felt that both the the paranormal and normal storylines could have been fleshed out a bit more. Reading the book felt like dipping your toes into a much more intricate story, and indeed, the ending suggests the pattern of this story will continue. 

If you aren't as much of a scaredy cat as I am, you will love this book! 

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3125877570

“The future vibrated with nothing and everything, an empty, fearsome space, yet its promise was the closest she had held to her heart in as long as she could remember. Winterbourne would relinquish its secrets. And if it fought her, if it dared make her wait longer than she already had, she would force its mysteries to the surface through sheer dark grit. She was good at that.”

Goodness, this book. I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. This is one of the few books I’ve read recently that I want to buy a hard copy of so that I can relive it all over again. I can’t think of the last time I read a dual timeline historical fiction - this one was done very well, IMO.

Thoughts as I went + content notes from a Catholic perspective:

- Witches were a part of the story, but certainly not glorified 
-  The present day MC, Rachel, loves art and spoke of it as as boundary-less and of subjective beauty. I hate this idea, not that it lessened my enjoyment of the book or anything.
- Our past-timeline MC Alice is likeable and real. I didn’t like Rachel as much, probably because I’m sick of feminist-ish “Strong Female Characters” that permeate everything written today. 
- Talk of God and Church, faith losses, even the body of Christ is mentioned though from a presumably Anglican bent (not that anyone unfamiliar with English religious history would know either way, lol). It was nice to see this in a secular book!
- Did not like the way abortion was mentioned so casually but I was pleased no one went through with it. ONE SLIGHT SPOILER: At one point fornication was committed INSIDE A CHAPEL. So incredibly unnecessary to the story and offensive. I did not like how fornication was normalized throughout the book.
- The ending didn’t quite live up to the buildup for me, knocking off a star. 
- I love, love, LOVED the writing style. I would definitely read more from this author. 
- Most movie-worthy book I’ve read in six months.

Thank you to Netgalley for the E-ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Woman in the Mirror.

I have a weakness for gothic novels, particularly ones that involve hauntings and a mix of past and present. The Woman in the Mirror fits  perfectly. 

Told in alternating viewpoints between Alice in the 1940s, and Rachel in current day, we discover the tragedy of Winterbourne. I enjoyed all the spookiness and the eerie epilogue happily surprised me. Alice is an unreliable narrator and sadly, but unsurprisingly, not very likable. Honestly, there’s a lot of over the top reactions from both lead characters, and while Alice may be excused considering, Rachel just seems hateful to people for no reason. I did like her more as the story progressed, and feel like Jack brought out the best in her. I’m a bit disappointed in Aaron’s character, as I thought he might be somehow tied to the house as well, but alas, no. 

I did feel that Alice’s speech was a bit stifled, and didn’t fit with the 1940s. It felt like it was from an older time period and took me a while to adapt to. 

All in all, I enjoyed this book, and would definitely read more from Rebecca James.

"The Woman in the Mirror" is a very compelling Gothic thriller. It has absolutely everything you need to create the perfect storm of dread and fear - a Gothic manor perfectly placed cliffside in England with the foggy moors as a backdrop. The author creates palpable tension and unease from the beginning and manages to keep it going through the entire book. The story is set equally in the 1940s and present day but I found the transitions to be smooth and easy to follow. Overall a very atmospheric read - perfect for dark nights with a comfy blanket and cup of tea. 

#TheWomanInTheMirror #NetGalley

The Woman in the Mirror is a great gothic thriller with interesting characters and storyline. It is well written and I will read more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This will be available on March 17th, 2020.

Eerie and compelling, this is a perfect rainy day read. I had a hard time putting this book down; I was so completely immersed in the odd, spooky story of the Winterbourne women.

This book took place in two separate times, with the narrative switching easily back and forth. Alice went to the Winterbourne estate in 1947 to become a governess (why is it always a governess in spooky stories?), the previous governess having vacated the position abruptly. Alice immediately falls in love with everything about Winterbourne, from the two children she nannies to the widower who also lives there. However, all is not idyllic. Something is off, and things start to spiral out of control.

In many ways, this made me think of The Turn of the Screw. At times, I wasn’t sure whether Alice was the most trustworthy of narrators. As she descended into madness (or did she?), it became more and more difficult to discern what was really happening. The changeable nature of both the book and Alice were fascinating.

The other part of the narrative took place in present day and followed a woman named Rachel. She learns that she’s inherited Winterbourne, as well as a host of unanswered questions about who her relatives were. I didn’t connect with her character at all; in fact, she really annoyed me for a good chunk of time. I didn’t like that she was so wishy-washy. The parts with her in it were less interesting to me than the parts about Alice.

The atmosphere of the book was excellent. There was something about the way it was written that conveyed tension and a sense of wrongness, without ever overdoing it. Each word was placed with care and used to great effect.

My big quibble with the book is that the female characters had terrible taste in guys, every last one of them. I really couldn’t understand what the draw was to the widower, in particular. He was a world-class jerk. However, the rest of the book was excellent.

I highly recommend this one.

The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James is a gothic thriller and a book that will truly creep you out. Rachel is adopted and knows nothing about her biological family, until she receives a letter informing her that she has inherited Winterbourne, an estate in Cornwall. Rachel uses this opportunity to piece together where her mother came from and get answers about her family. She has no idea that she will unravel spirits and secrets that have plagued the women of Winterbourne for decades.

This book was haunting and gave you chills at times. The dual narrative builds up suspense and sets the stage for a gothic horror story. The characters were all unique and each played an important role. The story and ending were unique, and it was all tied together at the end. This would make an excellent movie.

A gothic novel at its best.All the elements it’s haunting chilling reminds me of Rebecca of Phyllis Whitney’s books.Stayed up way past my bedtime reading.Raced through the pages kept me guessing till the last page,Modern gothic at its best.#netgalley #st.Martinsbooks

I love a good gothic novel, but it's been a long time since I've read one that was good enough to recommend to others. This one checked all the boxes.
Suspenseful, couldn't put it down, fast-paced, kept me reading til the very end.

I haven’t read a good Gothic mystery in a while. A long while, now that I have had time to think about it. That was the main reason why I decided I wanted to read The Woman in the Mirror. I wanted to see if they were as good as I remembered. And guess what, they were!!!

The Woman in the Mirror had fast-moving storylines, which I enjoyed. I feel that if the storylines had been slower than the book would have dragged on. The flow of the book was good. There were no dropped storylines, but I did have a question about Alice’s pregnancy during WWII. I couldn’t quite place what happened (if she had the baby or not).

Speaking of Alice, I felt awful for her. She had some mental issues that followed her to Winterbourne. That alone made her chapters fun to read. I couldn’t tell if she was losing it because of that or if the house caused it. I loved it!!!

Rachel was a different story, though. She inherited Winterbourne from an unknown aunt (she was adopted). Rachel thought it would be a great way to see where her mother came from and see her roots. Of course, what she discovered was something way more sinister.

The paranormal/mystery was well written. I did have an issue with the whole reason why Winterbourne was cursed not being revealed until the end of the book. I also didn’t like how that storyline was resolved. It was a little too tidy. But other than that, both were wonderful. I don’t think I will look at gilded mirrors and murals the same again.

There was a small romance angle of the book. Honestly, I didn’t see it between Alice and the captain. It didn’t grab me. Mainly because of the way he treated her. Of course, that was explained away but still. It left me going, “Really?” I also didn’t see it between Jack and Rachel until the end. I could have gone without the romance, but I can see why the author wrote it in. It made what happened to Alice even more disturbing.

The end of The Woman in the Mirror was terrific. I loved how everything came together. And then there was the epilogue. I had to reread it. The way it was written and what was written!! Will there be a 2nd book?

a modern Gothic, The Woman in the Mirror is a fun and fast read, complete with dangerous cliffs and women driven insane by the spirit haunting the great castle of Winterbourne. Going back and forth in time between Alice and Rachel, James waits until almost the end to explain why...and then leaves us hanging at the end. I even felt a little creeped out sitting in my living room! Very well done.

P.S. Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was a great gothic novel; creepy, dark and eerie.  I liked this one right from the start, in 1806 when an unknown woman is running for the shore with a crowd chanting witch and chasing her down. a woman who thought she was loved and is so heartbroken, betrayed and angered.  Then we flash between 1946 as Alice takes a job as a governess at Winterbourne, an eerie, old estate on the cliff-side, looking after two precocious, creepy twins and the present, when Rachel, who was adopted discovers that an unknown great Aunt, Constance de Grey has left her an estate.  Rachel jumps at the chance to discover who she is and finds more than she bargained for.  

I felt for these women, in their struggles for a new life, they both seemed damaged and you cannot outrun yourself.  Alice was already a little broken inside, she just wants to feel loved and to belong, she feels accepted by the children and feels like the house wants her there; Rachel has always wanted to know who her family was; these womens lives are interlaced by a history that escapes definition.  Is Winterbourne cursed, is there a malevolent spirit involved, or is there something wring with the de Grey family?  How many lives will this tale cost and can things be put right?  

This book made me think of some great gothic mysteries, it has that feel, the type of book you think about when it's dark and when the fog rolls in.

The Woman in the Mirror reminded me of when I was a teenager, sneaking Barbara Cartland to read, while I pretend to be reading John Steinbeck. The novel has an atmosphere of spookiness, but it's not scary more like a setting that has an eerie ghostly feeling to it. I really enjoyed this one with the throwback feel of the novels from 1980's Mary Stewart era. It has a great plot and the main character is one where you want to root for her even though sometimes in the story you are thinking, "really".
Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review an E-arc copy of #TheWomanintheMirror.

This book reminded me so much of the old books by Phylis Whitney and Mary Stewart. It has that gothic feel to it.
It was a hard to put down book, it was spooky good!! I loved it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

This was a nice read.  Not very exciting and it was pretty obvious how it was all going to play out.  The author is a very good writer - her vocabulary is fabulous and she is very descriptive in her character and event development.  I actually enjoyed her use of language more than the story itself.   I would say give it a go because it is a pleasant way to pass some time on the beach or snuggled up on a couch during a winter evening.  I will definitely be interested in any future book by Rebecca James.

I loved The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James.  This is a classic Gothic Novel,  complete with Ghosts, Hauntings and a Mental Hospital!  The story switches back and forth from the past to the present in Winterborne Hall, a Mansion on the Cliffs.  I loved the book and look forward to more from this author.  Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is an eerie book switching from 1947 to present day.  The author describes the creepy gothic house with a flare that had me shivering and wanting a light turned on. The characters are quite dark and haunting, making the hair on my arms stand on end. While this book  seems like a story of obsession and  love it is actually a book of ghosts and possession. When Alice took the job as governess she saw it as a start of a new life but things quickly changed as unexplained things started to happen.  The story continues getting darker as Alice learns more about the women that have died in the house.  This book is well written and the story unfolds fluidly.   The book’s two timelines lend a welcome change as it may seem overwhelming if it stayed in the past. If you like creepy, eerie stories you will love this one, especially the ending. Thank you Net Galley, Rebecca James and St Martins Press for the chance to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
A really good gothic novel, I finished this book in a day, giving myself a headache...it was worth it!
Taking place in the present as well as 1947, the main character in the story is a mansion, Winterbourne, built in the 1800's in Cornwall.  
The De Grey family seems to be cursed, causing 2 suicides, an the incarceration of a governess in a mental hospital, all the while haunting the people who live in Winterbourne.  It also features beautiful twins, although they are quite creepy and seem determined to drive the servants mad.  A distant relative inherits the mansion and decides this is the place where she can discover her past.
It's quite an unnerving read, full of foreboding, which is why I couldn't stop reading!  Towards the end, as the truth is unveiled, I felt teary and the last chapters gave me chills.  A very good story which I recommend.

First gripping sentence:

𝑳𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏! 𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒊𝒕?

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 by Rebecca James is an unnerving gothic tale with an insidious creepy atmosphere that drew me in to the book very quickly. 

A dark tale told in several narrative’s, past and present, it centers around the Winterbourne mansion and those that lived there. In 1947, Alice Miller takes a governess position for Captain De Grey, looking after his twins. Winterbourne seems to feed on the grief and loneliness of its inhabitants, causing problems and a scandal for Alice who left under mysterious circumstances. Rachel, an orphan, inherits Winterbourne in present day and feels the echo of the women past and is drawn in to the mystery of Alice as she searches for answers about her mother and why she gave her up for adoption. 

This is a haunting tale, reminiscent of some of the Gothic classics and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It has all the ear-marks of what I look for in a good book; red-herrings that keep me guessing and characters that are flawed and sometimes unlikable. The ending gives satisfaction and surprise. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 is a fantastic read for any fan of the genre.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with this galley to read and review!