This is a well written.then and now book about 5 friends who spend a wonderful summer together just as WWI is about to start. Two young women, three young men, good friends and siblings who enjoy their days knowing they are likely to end soon. Two of the three men enlist, one serves but not in combat and the girls do their best. One mourns her very good friends decision, the other mourns her new love who is a poet but now an Officer at the Front. Current times, a picture of best friends is found hidden in an old home along with a trunk of pictures and poetry. Penny, working on her doctorate thesis wants to learn more about the people in the photo and, wonders if the poetry will be useful and important. Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. I think it will be well received and was a very good book with much heart.

Burton’s latest historical mystery is an emotional and heartbreaking family story. Set near Cambridge, the story unfolds seamlessly over a dual timeline, alternating between the late 1990s and WWI. Both timelines were engaging and I enjoyed the little things that crossed both timelines- swimming, violins and a love of academia. Throughly well researched- both timelines came alive and I enjoyed all the 1990’s music and pop culture references and playlist at the end! Covering a range of difficult topics well- grief, PTSD, suffragettes, white feathers during the war, class and aristocracy and hidden homosexuality. The characters were engaging and I enjoyed meeting them all, the mystery kept the story moving nicely and I enjoyed seeing all the family secrets play out. Whilst the crumbling mansion Oakdene didn’t play as huge a role in this novel compared to some of her books it still tied the two storylines together nicely.

A dual time love story during WWI. It is easy to follow and has such a deep storyline. I was easily in love with the story. Well researched.

A beautifully told dual timeline story by the fantastic Rachel Burton!
Set in both 1914, before WW1 started, and in 1997, The House at River's Edge tells the story of a family and unearths secrets that rock and could shatter many.
In 1997, Barbara is helping her mother deal with her father's death and coming to terms with her own premature widowhood. They end up moving into her mother's ancestral home in Cambridge, and along with Barbara's daughter, Penny, they find subsidence that threatens to cut their stay short, and a trunk filled with paperwork that could prove all they know about their lives was built upon lies.
In 1914, we meet Grace, who is summering at her friend's house in Cambridge, not wanting to go back to France where her mother is continually trying to marry her off to one eligible bachelor or another. Here, she enjoys a blissful summer, filled with an innocence that is snatched away as the announcement of war is made.
The earlier story spans six years, and each section drips more information about Barbara and her mother's heritage as the more modern timeline entwines perfectly with the discoveries.
I was engrossed in this book and loved the subtle romances within.
Burton dealt with the way young people must have felt as they either signed up during the Great War, or if they were a person sat at home, anxiously waiting for news of a loved one who had been called up with great sensitivity.
Themes of sexuality, hiding your own self, and suicide feature within.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘌𝘥𝘨𝘦 is a beautiful dual timeline historical fiction set in 1914 and 1997.

In 1997 Barbara is living with her Mother in Oakdene, a family owned house in dire need of extensive renovations, while doing some soul searching about her plans for the future and what she really wants out of life.

When Barbara and her daughter Penny discover old photos and papers belonging to Barbara’s grandparents they are determined to unravel the mystery of Oakdene and the family secrets within.

In 1914 Grace is spending a summer in Cambridge at her friend’s family estate. The world is on the brink of war and soon everything will change.

I was intrigued by the different characters in both timelines, although my favourite was definitely Grace. The slow unraveling of her story kept me turning the page as I wanted to know about her life and how it affected the family in 1997.

The portrayal of war time Britain was interesting and included food shortages, the post war flu outbreak and soldiers returning home with shell shock. The depiction of how these young lives were forever changed was poignant to read but the romance storyline added some lighter moments to the narrative.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘙𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘌𝘥𝘨𝘦 is about secrets, family relationships and love and loss. It’s a beautifully written story about new beginnings after grief and allowing yourself to be open to new opportunities.

3.5 Stars.

The House at River's Edge is a historical fiction novel by Rachel Burton, with dual timelines, one set during WWI and one in 1997. Both timelines are set in the same location, a family-owned house located in England. In addition to being historical fiction, this novel has threads of family drama, mystery, and romance. The characters from both timelines are related ancestors, with more connections to be found through the course of the book. The overarching theme is Life and Loss.

Brief Plot Summary: (1997 Timeline) Reeling from the loss of her husband and her father, Barbara inherits some artifacts the imply previously unknown facts about her great-grandmother. Barbara joins her mother and daughter in an investigation of these artifacts and learn a great deal about their ancestors who lived during WWI. (1914 Timeline) We get an inside look at a group of friends whose lives are about to change with onset of WWI. Romance, drama, and secrets galore. Life brings both love and loss, and some losses might need to stay hidden forever.

My Impressions: This book reminded me of The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry, but with dual timelines and heavier personal and war-related themes like I would find in a Kristin Hannah book. The writing style was more plot-driven with less emphasis on atmosphere. The dialogue was simply written and straightforward, but the plot compelled me to keep turning pages. I had parts of the plot figured out early-on, but still enjoyed finishing the book to confirm my suspicions.

My favorite part of this book was the realistic picture of the challenges young people faced when heading into WWI. Their struggle during and after the war was very well depicted. Although not called PTSD at the time, it was clearly depicted as such. This isn't a feel-good lighthearted read, but a good reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought in WWI.

I did want more development of the romance in the early part of the book (it felt very rushed, no tension), and I wanted more development in the ending romance (also felt rushed). I personally didn't like the LGBT themes that were present in the book. I wouldn't have chosen to read this book if I knew those themes would be central to the plot.

Content Considerations: A few scant instances of light profanity, kisses and implied intimacy but completely closed door with no descriptive build-up, a few innuendoes, war related PTSD, some heavier LGBT themes, and a few other heavy themes that would be spoilers.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my own opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

A very easy 5 stars here.
I’ve read a lot by Rachel Burton and this may well be my favourite of hers. Her writing just gets better and better.
I loved the way that the two timelines (1914-1918, WWI and 1997) slotted today and we saw them overlap, and mirror each other.
It was full of emotion, both painful and hopeful, in both timelines.

Loved it. I enjoyed how the book alternates between Grace in 1914 and Barbara during 1997. I felt like I really got to know the characters and was right there with them. My favorite part was learning about Grace and the life she lived. It's a good thing Oakdene needed so much extensive work or Barbara and her family would have never discovered the trunk or the secrets the house has been hiding. Loved the mystery surrounding the trunk, Grace and Algernon. When there's a war happening, people seem to fall in love after a few short days. Then when the fighting is over and the person returns home, it's always different. Someone questions why they fell in love. I think that happened to Grace. She never planned to get married and wanted to continue with school. The man she married came home as a different person. Mostly due to the shock of the war, but did she really know him to begin with? It's 1914, would William's sister, friends and mom just accept him? I want to believe they would, but it doesn't seem likely. Winn had very good intentions and wanted Bertie to live his best life and not hide his true self. She was extremely judgmental and thinks she knows best. She's extremely hypocritical because she's off living the life she wants against her parents' wishes. Winn was Grace's best friend. and refused to talk to her, probably because she didn't agree with her choices. Loved how Allegra's response to her daughter was always oh, Barbara. She must have said it a dozen times. The violin in the trunk was the push Barbara needed to start playing again.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the story, characters and writing style. There were so many secrets, not sure how they were kept for so many years. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A beautiful, moving story that reveals a family's secrets from the era at the outbreak of World War I to the late 1990s.
The portrayal of young lives forever changed as war breaks out was particularly poignant and I felt such a deep connection to Grace, Winn & their families. There's a focus on the efforts at home rather than any battle scenes but the horrors that shaped these lives forever were still very apparent. I also loved the 90's storyline as three generations of women in Cambridge embark on changes following a death, but finally secrets from the past are unearthed during property renovations that will impact them all.
Tender, tragic and hopeful, The House at River's Edge transports you to life in different eras but with similar themes of grief, love and family.

This was a touching book about the effects of World War 1, and some secrets that were kept and unravelled in 1997. In 1914, we meet a group of friends, and then follow their progress through the war. There is a lot of sadness,and the post war issues of flu and shell shock create havoc. This is a story about acceptance and forgiveness and it is beautifully written. I enjoyed reading about the characters and the way that people learn to move on after life throws things into disarray. I hope to read more of this author. Thanks to NetGalley and BoldWood books for the chance to read this story.

I loved Rachel Burton’s new book which moved between modern day and the First World War and told the story of two women coming to terms with tragedy and learning to move on with their lives.
From the beginning I was pulled in to the worlds the author created and it was so interesting to see the common threads that linked, not only the two main characters but also the other family members, together.
I always enjoy Rachel Burton’s novels and The House at River’s Edge was no exception. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

1914: Anticipating a long summer of freedom at her friend's family estate in Cambridge, Grace Villiers is disappointed by an unexpected addition to their party. Then the new arrival offers to teach Grace to swim, and she is forced to see there is more to Algernon Lake than his reputation. But, with war brewing across Europe, this will be a summer that changes everything.

1997: Following her father’s sudden death, Barbara finds herself living with her mother in a house that is, literally, falling down around them. As she tries to put their new home in order, she discovers a photograph of her grandfather as a young man with his friend – two soldiers at the start of the First World War. Setting aside her grief, Barbara becomes determined to uncover their story, hoping it will bring her closer to the family she feels slipping away.

But when her search for answers opens up truths she isn’t prepared for, Barbara will come to realise, some secrets may be best left alone.

A wonderfully uplifting read… A lot of sparkle and mischief… The characters are fabulous… A very relaxing read!

I loved it! I’m sitting here with a big smile on my face!… Loved it!

This is the story of an English country house, during World War I and the late 20th century and the lives of the people whose fates were intertwined in a Great House