A positive powerful story that I didn't want to stop reading. It's told so beautifully and it melted my heart.

Kate Hewitt writes in a masterful manner gifting the reader with a story that captures the heart and imagination completely.

The Bride’s Sister is a well crafted and beautifully written dual timeline story with well written characters and vivid descriptions that seamlessly transported me to another place and time. A perfect blend of contemporary and historical fiction, the storylines run somewhat parallel, stitching together a well layered story that slips back and forth between time periods effortlessly. The third book in the Goswell Quartet, this story was a bit darker and more depressing, it really pulled on my heart strings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity preview an advance digital copy of this story. This is my honest review and the opinions expressed are my own.

Kate Hewitt's latest novel set in Goswell features two timelines — present day and the 1860s. The modern story will hit close to home for many readers, because the angst and drama is quite realistic and heart-wrenching. Overall, the story dwells far too long in a dark, depressing manner, with some light shining only at the very end of both stories. A better balance would have served to make the novel brighter and less heavy on the soul. When Ellen Tyson's stepdaughter, Annabelle, comes to live with her family, it quickly becomes clear that Ellen and husband, Alex, don't have the close relationship she imagined. The household is quickly divided over Annabelle and her refusal to try to fit into the family. Trying to bond with the girl, Ellen tells her about a death certificate from 1872 that construction works recently found under the floor of the home, and asks for her help in researching the young woman who died. This is where the historical storyline of Sarah and her mute sister, Lucy, comes in. We are shown that the two endured much hardship during their lives, as their story begins to unravel.

Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley

In the early part of the book is the story of Sarah who cares for her younger sister Lucy after their parent have died. Sarah thinks her problems are solved when James Mills offers marriage, little does she know they are only beginning.
While renovating a room for her office Ellen Tyson discovers an old death certificate which intrigues her, so decides to try to uncover who it may be referring to! This is while trying to adapt to the arrival of her stepdaughter Annabelle who doesn’t make it easy for Ellen who has a tendency to overthink things, good job she has a close friend and neighbour in Jane Hatton.
While this is book three in the series they can be read alone, however I would advise reading them in order as it gives you a better background to some of the characters.

This book had you in a roller coaster of emotions there was happy moments but also sad moments. It makes you think how hard life was in those days.

Ellen is given and death certificate that was found in her house with renovations being done it is if Sarah Mills aged 22 in 1872. We see what happens in Sarah’s life and what hardship she went through. Ellen is having an hard time in her family with her step daughter. Will things improve for her. I liked the storyline of both woman.

I enjoyed the characters in the book.

Well written.

This one broke my heart a bit. Sarah's story is such a hard one with very little relief. I couldn't help but like her and sympathize with her as she struggles to make the best of her circumstances time and time again. While Ellen's circumstances are nowhere near as grim she does find herself in the middle of a tough transition with no support even when everything feels like it's falling apart. I really liked Ellen even though at times her attitude frustrated me a little. She's in a tough situation and isn't always behaving perfectly but at the same time is receiving very little support from her husband. This is the third book that takes place in the small town of Goswell and I was glad to see a few familiar characters though this is a true stand alone. Hewitt made the characters really come alive and they have stuck with me long after I finished the book.

I was really looking forward to this book as I loved the previous two, however sadly, I was left feeling disappointed. Don't get me wrong the book was still a good read it just didn't grip me like the previous 2

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Having read the first two books in this series, I was really looking forward to this one. However, it didn’t live up to the other two. I was truly hoping for more from this book. I loved the past timeline of this book as I haven’t read many books based in this time period. The family dynamics came to the forefront of the past timeline and didn’t feature as much romance as the other two books. This brought out the realities of many young women at the time by focusing more on family than romance. I truly appreciated the author taking this view and it kept me as invested as the other books in the series.

However, the modern timeline really fell short for me and I found myself struggling through the chapters which were based during this time. The plot of this part just didn’t capture my interest. I would have loved to have gotten more in depth focus on the past timeline rather than the modern one. However, I do recognise that this is merely personal preference more than anything.

Thank you once again to Bookouture for asking me on this book tour and I cannot wait to read more books from this author and publisher in the future.

The Bride’s Sister by Kate Hewitt is the third in the Goswell Quartet and another story told in two timelines. Ellen has a happy home until her husband’s daughter from his previous marriage has to come and live with them for a year. Things start going badly immediately. Annabelle is a teen with a bad attitude, not unusual for a seventeen year old, but Ellen takes it all much more seriously. She feels her daughter, Sophie, changing, and her husband pulling away. She is at her wit’s end. She had started researching a death certificate the workmen had found when they were redoing the attic room: Sarah Mills, who had died at age 22. Why had it been found beneath the floorboards? Was it there on purpose or by accident? She hoped Annabelle would become interested in the search for information as she loved history. Sarah’s story was a sad one. Some people never get a break. She was one of those.

This is a well-written and compelling story, suited to Hewitt’s talents. The characters were well done, both current and historic. People’s lives all contain problems and some of them are never apparent outside the home; some aren’t apparent in the home until it’s too late. Hewitt portrays that misery and regret supremely well. The storylines were both well done and appropriate to the time periods. They were both heart-breaking, in their own ways. The juxtaposition of the two stories was intriguing, as most genealogical research is within one’s own family, not stranger’s. Sadly the whole story can never be discovered completely. The relationship between the stories was tenuous, yet it did exist. This was a good story.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Bride’s Sister by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions were mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #KateHewitt #TheBridesSister

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

This is book three in the Goswell Quartet book, but it could easily be read as a stand alone book. I did not enjoy this book aas much as the second book, but it is still worth reading and that will definitely keep me reading onward in the series. This is a dual timeline book, set in 1860s, the story of Sarah, find herself without means, orphaned and the sole caretaker of her younger sister, Lucy. Sarah has no choice but to accept a marriage proposal that she hopes will help her, but she gets more than she bargained for and wonders if she made a mistake. The present storyline deals wit Ellen, who finds her step-daughter Annabelle suddenly moving in and upsetting her idyllic life. Ellen and Annabelle sooon find a mystery to solve regarding a death certificate for a woman named Sarah under the floorboards and they bond while solving the mystery that upsets everything that Ellen thought she knew..

This book was well written and I found most of the characters enjoyable, the scenery was well written and the descriptiveness was lovely. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

This was the third in the quartet and I only realized the significance of the
title towards the end of the book.

Told in two time frames the older story is a hard one to accept. Sarah and her
sister are left destitute after the death of their parents and seek shelter with
their Aunt in Goswell. Estranged from the family, the Aunt gives them a home, but
it is a physically hard, mentally challenging life. When the Aunt tragically dies,
the two girls areagain destitute. sarah accepts marriage as a means of escape, not realising
that her sister Lucy who is simple, is lookeddown by both her husband and his daughter
from a previous marriage.

Fast forward and Ellen's life is turned upside down by the arrival of a step daughter
who is rude, condescending and uncooperative. Rifts both in her marriage and with
her ten year old, previously sunny tempered daughter appear. Finding a death certificate
for Sarah Mills just 22 years of age sets Ellen trying to unravel the mystery and the
story unfolds.

The story is revealing in both segments. total helplessness of females if left unprovided
for by careless parenting and their exploitation by husbands who could be hard, bigoted
or just careless of their wives feelings. We then have the blendedfamilies, a phenomena
of present times and the difficulties faced by all in such situations.

The book was a bit hard for me to read as it seemed so unfair, but it typified social
history of the times.

Number three in the series and I think I enjoyed this one more than the first two. It takes us back to the Lake District again and this time the characters are darker and sad. Another dual time-line which I always enjoy. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Wow! In addition to being my favorite of the "Goswell" series so far, this story was a rollercoaster of emotions (love, hate, anger, joy, sadness, frustration) and I loved every minute of the ride. The similarities in the two timelines, the historical references, and the strong characters all made for a book that was difficult to put down. I am beyond excited to finish this wholesome series!

I want to give a huge thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again in this series there is a dual timeline in The Bride's Sister (The Goswell Quarter Book 3) by Kate Hewitt. However, this is a darker story for Sarah and her sister Lucy who lived in 1868. For characters Alex and Ellen, the parents in the contemporary time it is clear better late than never. As for the character James from Victorian times, it is better never late which of course he most certainly was. The ending made clear that he has regretted his actions, seeking to make restitution. Like Dickens’ Scrooge, this story implies that he did just that.

Some serious subjects in this book that were handled with genuine realism, also with regret, remorse, and forgiveness. This may not be my favorite of the series but it is one that is worth reading.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3 out 4 and, so far, the best of the lot! Although I really enjoyed the first 2
this one has more 'can't put it down' moments. Looking forward to starting no. 4.

England, 1868: Sarah is only eighteen years old when she becomes the sole guardian of her little sister Lucy. They have no place to live and no money. But Sarah promised to protect Lucy no matter what. She would do anything for Lucy and that includes marrying James Mills. He is an older man, and a widower, and marrying him is better than the alternative of countless hours in a workhouse. Present day: Ellen is living in the picturesque village of Goswell on the Cumbria coast. She loves her life and is extremely happy. But when her seventeen year old stepdaughter moves in, Ellen’s life comes crashing down. When they find a death certificate for a woman named Sarah, they bond together and begin to uncover the mystery. The story of Sarah impacts many lives and continues to unite family members so many years later.

This is the third installment in the amazing series of Goswell Quartet. This was such an emotional story and it was also an inspiring one. I was reaching for the Kleenex box a few times during this story. My emotions were running wild from the first page to the last. I found this book to be completely heartbreaking and captivating at the same time. This story of love, hope and second chances is one that I won’t forget any time soon. I loved this wonderful addition to this series. I definitely recommend this emotional story that can be read as part of the series or a stand-alone.

Thank you Kate Hewitt for such a phenomenal continuation to this amazing series, I loved it.

Blended family dual timeline tearjerker

The Bride's Sister is the third of a four-book series, reissued after almost 10 years and now available in Kindle format. However, it can be read as a stand-alone book with no loss of plot. I found it quite moving. It is another split timeline, about two blended families with real issues to solve. The historical timeline is about a pair of sisters, one of which seems to be autistic, who are left destitute after the death of parents and caretakers. The older sister ends up marrying to save them from the workhouse, but is no more than a domestic drudge to her older husband and his spoiled daughter. The attitude towards mental illness/autism/disabilities from the historical period is so heart-breaking. The modern timeline is about a blended family where the husband's daughter, an older teenage who has no real relationship with her father and has emotional issues, moves in when her mother moves for work, causing real upheaval to the blended family. Each story is gripping and moving in its own right, then the intersections and parallels make the reader really think. Well written and easy to read, with interesting characters and real depth of emotion, it is a great book to curl up with near your fire or in your warm kitchen.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

We return to Goswell, Cumbria for the third book in Kate Hewitt's Goswell Quartet. The first book, THE WIFE'S PROMISE, dealt with the difficulty of moving into an unfamiliar community and finding you fit wherever you are happy. In THE DAUGHTER"S GARDEN, the main characters work through their grief after each loses a loved one and how to make your own joy wherever you find yourself. The third book, THE BRIDE'S SISTER, takes inside two marriages, the first in 1868, the second one in current times. The wives in these stories face hard decisions and the consequences. These books are dual timeline. Each is written as a stand alone set in the Goswell community.

In 1868, a young woman must marry to provide a home for herself and her young sister. The circumstances facing her are harsh, marriage is her best option. But even her marriage is harsh. An older husband with a daughter not much younger than herself make sure she knows her "place". Four years later, her sister hides the young wife's death certificate under the floorboards of the home then disappears.
Current- When her step daughter moves into her home, she manages to disrupt everyone's life and is determined to be unhappy. When Ellen finds the hidden death certificate, she will ask her stepdaughter to help research how the death happened. As they find evidence of the unhappy life and death of Sarah and the fate of her sister, they will come to understand more about each other.

these books are all excellent reads. You will be drawn into the differences between the two timelines but also see similarities in the family conflicts. These books will make you "feel" connected to each character.

In the third dual timeline in the Goswell Quartet by Kate Hewitt this was the most emotional book in the series. Sarah and her dear sister have been left destitute and are facing life in the workhouse. To save both of them Sarah agrees to marry the much older widower James Mills. Life with James is very difficult for Sarah, but protecting Lucy is what matters most to Sarah.

During present day Ellen’s little family is about to experience upheaval when her step-daughter Annabelle moves in. After discovering a death certificate in the house, Ellen begins to research who it possibly belonged to. That death certificate actually brought Ellen and Annabelle closer together, but not before the family experiences some very serious issues. While the story was sad on many levels, filled with hopelessness and desolation it did turn into a remarkable story of second chances.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

England, 1868: Orphaned and penniless, 18-year-old Sarah is left the sole guardian of her beloved little sister Lucy who she’s vowed to protect at all costs. With nowhere left to turn, she is forced to accept mysterious widower James Mills’ proposal of marriage. She believes being his bride can’t possibly be as bad as the threat of the workhouse. But nothing prepares her for the darkness of her marriage, the shocking secrets of her new family and the lengths she will have to go to, to keep her sister safe.
Present Day: Living in the beautiful village of Goswell, Ellen believes her family life to be idyllic until her estranged seventeen-year-old stepdaughter Annabelle moves in and shatters the peace. Ellen fears they will never bond, until she finds a death certificate – for a woman named Sarah, from over a century earlier – hidden under the floorboards of their house, and Annabelle starts to help her unravel the mystery. Yet as Ellen and Annabelle dig deeper into Sarah’s life and death, shocking truths, both past and present, come to light which change everything Ellen thought she knew about Sarah’s family and the new addition to her own.
The third book in the quartet & my favourite so far, I loved the mystery surrounding Sarah & loved how Ellen dug into the past. Another dual timeline book, which had me engrossed from cover to cover. The characters were well portrayed & had depth whether I liked them or disliked them. An emotional read, which tugged at the heartstrings. A well written interesting read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read