Cover Image: The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare

The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare

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Member Reviews

Beautiful, stunning and an addictive story. 16 generations, a mystery from the 1500’s, a mother/daughter story. A gorgeous historical southern fiction novel, and so much more. Immerse yourself in this one!

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This story is an epic journey beginning in with the Lost Colony of Roanoke, sweeping through the ancestors of the family of Eleanor Dare to the 1940s. Alice and her daughter Penn are feeling lost and they return to Evertell, near Savannah, the family farm handed down through generations. It is nearing the end of the war, and they are searching for the lost book of Eleanor Dare that is supposed to be the story of centuries of their female ancestors. But they are also searching for a way forward after their lives have been changed.

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The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare by Kimerly Brock is a dreamy, tangled saga about the descendants of the mother of Virginia Dare of the Lost Colony. Told from different points of view and in languid detail, this book made me feel like I was in the suffocating heat of summer along with the characters.

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I found this book to be very enjoyable!.. Everyone questions about the fate of Virginia Dare, but no wonders about her parents. I had never heard of the Dare stones. Eleanor was a fascinating person. The book has me searching for clues. It also gave an idea about life at this time in other places. I always forget the French and Spanish Were here.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are completely my own. Thank you Harper Muse and NetGalley.

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I was eager to read this, thinking it would be more about the history of Jamestown colony or some of the history of the Dare family, however the book never really found it's footing. Instead, it read more like a middle grades book, as it sometimes followed the daughter's perspective. I thought it was a children's book until the narrator finds herself having feelings for the caretaker of the house.

Nothing really happens in the book, and there is a lot of discussion over whether or not to sell the house, but very little by way of magic or history.

I did not connect with this book unfortunately.

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I didn't know what to expect when i picked this book but i sure know i didn't expect to love it the way i did. The writing was so easy to fall into even if you're in a rush for something to read. With it's beautiful story and plot. You'll keep reading till the last chapter. I would definitely recommend this book looking for their next read. This book deserves a spot in your never-ending tbr list.

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I've always been fascinated by the lost colony of Roanoke since I was in elementary school so, of course, I couldn't wait to read The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare.

Alice was set to receive the Lost Book of Eleanor Dare when her mother's death upended her world and the book was left behind when Alice moved from Evertell, her family home. Now years later, Alice must return to Evertell to settle her father's estate and she brings along her daughter Penn for the journey. They are both still struggling following the death of Penn's father/Alice's husband during World War II and Alice hopes to bring some of the spark back into Penn's eyes with a change of scenery. Penn falls in love with Evertell and her family's history as descendants of Eleanor Dare, spending hours pouring over all of the writings in the Lost Book, but unbeknownst to her, Alice has kept some of the pages for herself in hopes of resolving the conflict from her own childhood.

While I enjoyed this book, I was hoping for more narrative about Roanoke, but the book is well written and the characters are captivating. The setting is so well depicted that you can truly envision roaming Evertell yourself. I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare is an interesting story that may or may not be true. While it is set during World War II, the main focus is the mother-daughter duo and the lost book of Eleanor Dare.

My mother taught me that a story matters, not because it's true, but because it's been told.

The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare had a slow start, and there were times when I got lost. It was hard to see where the book was going, and at times I wished it would just get "there." There are multiple storylines, points of view, and a dual timeline to keep up with. However, I am glad that I persevered and finished the book.

The redeeming qualities of the book were Alice and Penn building a stronger, healthier mother-daughter relationship, figuring out who they each were, and figuring out who each other was. Also, the talk on forgiving others, being brave, and seeing the character growth in all the main characters.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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The old adage of "don't judge a book by its cover" is so true. I wasn't expecting a story about relationships, trauma, and perseverance. It's definitely a slow burn. I felt the book dragged in sections and was desperate to find out the connection to the lost colony of Roanoke. I got more family drama than mystery. Not my cup of tea, but all-around well written.

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Just marvellous!
The writing style, the sentences they way they just clicked the end.
The writing was a bit off putting at the start but it develops on as the story gradually moves forward.
4 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare by Kimberly Brock is a fun and interesting story about a young girl learning about a long lost city and the women to whom she descends from. It is an adventure from page one and I unfortunately was unable to finish the story in the allotted time but what I read was very enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it to any reader of fiction. Brock’s writing was inviting and kept me interested through each page that I read and I’m looking forward to finishing the tale.

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I love dual storylines and the mystery of Roanoke Island, so The Lost Book Of Eleanor Dare seemed like the perfect book. The beginning storyline has a mother-daughter story post WW 2 and the passing on of the family storyline which includes Eleanor of Roanoke legacy.
I had trouble getting into the more recent storyline and was disappointed that the Roanoke storyline didn't start earlier. I will look for another book by Kimberly Brock in the future, though.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Net Galley, but all opinions are my own.

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This is an unusual story - a mother and daughter return to their ancestral farmland, Evertell in New England, in the throes of the Second World War. There they rediscover their family history and their descent from Eleanor Dare, one of the first settlers from England. Eleanor Dare has her own mystique as one of the lost Roanoke colonists. This isn't the story you might expect - much of the focus is on the present day story with Eleanor's tale as a secondary strand and it's not always clear how they support each other. I am glad I stuck with it because both strands are well told but think I would have preferred it to be more about Eleanor and less about her descendants.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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This book was not for me. I was hoping for more about Eleanor Dare and the lost colony of Roanoke and while they are mentioned, it is only in passing and not really in a historical exploration way (kind of like The Lost Apothecary or any other historical fiction that has come out recently). This is a coming of age story and about learning how to accept who you are and the people just happen to be descendants of Eleanor Dare. I did not finish this book because I couldn't get through it. Nothing happens.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

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This book reminded me, at least in theme, of some other books I have read recently: a character - usually female - returns home reluctantly to settle an estate or an old score and exorcise some ghosts in their past, which will either result in a happy ending, or at least a resolution and a new path in life. What makes this book different is that our characters Alice and Penn are direct descendants of Eleanor Dare and the author brings her life into the plot, as well, and I'm here for it.

What captured me right away was the author's descriptive language. It's been awhile since I hung on words describing sunsets. I could see the colors in my mind, could hear the peacocks and smell the candles and the herbs Penn was using. Kimberly Brock really understands how to bring more than just characters to life.

This is a spellbinding, beautiful story of redemption and family and forgiveness and new beginnings. It deserves to be loved by everyone. I can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions given are mine, and given freely.

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After Alice Young’s father passed away in 1945, Alice decided to return to Evertell, the mansion the family had owned for many years. There was a story in the family that they were direct descendants of Eleanor Dare, evidenced by the original Dare Stone, found on the property, and by the commonplace book, a history of all the women in the family. Alice’s 13-year-old daughter Penn was enchanted by Evertell and the story of Eleanor Dare and the family’s connection, a welcome change after her father was killed in Italy during World War II. When Alice and Penn arrived at Evertell, Alice was surprised to find Sonder and Doris still there, and she hoped she could learn more about her mother Claire, who had died in a mental hospital years earlier.

I had high hopes for this book, based on the topic and the title, but I just wasn’t able to connect with either Alice or Penn. I remember reading about Roanoke, and Eleanor Dare, and was fascinated by the mystery. While I appreciated the author’s speculation on Eleanor’s life, this was essentially the story of Alice and Penn finding themselves after great heartache. The title is also misleading as the book itself was never lost, but had been handed down from generation to generation. Overall, I was a bit disappointed with this read.

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I wanted to love this, the premise sounded amazing but I really struggled to get into it. The story felt slow and laboured and the historical setting more of an ‘add-on” rather than something that was integral to the story. Not for me I’m afraid.

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I was really looking forward to the premise of The Lost Book of Eleanor Dare but in reality I found it quite difficult to get into. I felt like I was trudging through chapters but not really getting anywhere and the result was that I would read a bit and then put the book back down. I can't remember the last time it took me so long to read a book. I wasn't sure if this said more about me than the book but I have seen many other similar reviews.

I wanted more of the Eleanor Dare story but that felt like it was just sandwiched in and wasn't really expanded upon. Instead this was much more about Penn and Alice and I found Alice infuriating as a character.

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There is so much to love about THE LOST BOOK OF ELEANOR DARE by Kimberly Brock! Growing up in the South, I have always been fascinated with the mystery of what happened to the colony on Roanoke Island. That alone would have landed it on my TBR, but then Brock added a twist with Dare stones (how did I miss hearing about these?) and a book, passed from mother to daughter, full of stories, recipes, and common-sense information.
Brock tells the story of mothers and daughters, strong women who have survived, and had the book and a little something more passed down to them, until Alice and a convergence of things left her without the book, her mother, and her birthright. The events leading up to her mother’s death were so traumatic, Alice had no desire to return to Evertell, until her father passes away and she finds that she still owns the property. What better way to provide for her daughter’s than to sell the property and put the money away? Plus, her daughter hasn’t been the same since her father died in the War.
Returning isn’t quite what she expected and Evertell works its magic on both mother and daughter as long held secrets are revealed as they both work on their journey, together and separately. Not only does Brock explore this beautifully, but she also adds in Eleanor Dare’s story, weaving it in seamlessly, and it fits the narrative perfectly.
Pick this one up and give yourself plenty of time to bask in Brock’s prose because once you start, you won’t want to put it down.
Thanks to the publisher and Kate Rock Book Tours for the chance to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#TheLostBookofEleanorDare #KimberlyBrock #HarperMuse #KateRockBookTours

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This book felt less like historical fiction and more like a novel that used an historical event as a plot device. I didn't feel a strong connection to the Lost Colony here, nor did it seem like the author has a firm grasp on the contextual historic events. Thinly drawn characters, and a weak sense of place. Additionally, the writing level skewed more YA. Two stars for the premise and title, but sorely lacking in execution.

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