Molly Thomas is a feisty, independent soul, born on the Winter Solstice. At every stage of her life she has faced troubles. As a young woman her family are evicted from their home at Christmas. Molly swears vengeance on the jealous neighbour and land agent responsible, Flann Montgomery. Then in 1896 her baby son is taken from his pram. Molly searches the streets for Oliver. The police are called but her baby is gone. Why does trouble seem to follow Molly? And will she ever find out what happened to her child?
December Girl is a tale of family bonds, love, revenge and murder.
Review
I would like to thank the author Nicola Cassidy, publisher Bombshell Books and blog tour organiser Sarah Hardy for the ARC of December Girl in return for an honest review.
When I read a historical novel, I want it to have atmosphere, reflect the time it is set in and be full of drama.
December Girl has all these.
It is a good piece of historical drama, with a feisty heroine I admired and understood. Driven, passionate and haunted, Molly’s life is in some way affected by her birth on the Winter Soltice. She embodies strong characterisation and you want her so much to overcomes all the trials and tribulation thrown at her. You also find yourself wanting to understand her mysterious connection to events in a time, where mysticism and religious belief, was darker and closely connected to the spirits in the natural world around her ancestors.
I also loved the historical backdrop to the novel. Ireland and its often troubled history have always fascinated me and December Girl brings this to the reader through Molly’s often troubled life. The abuse of Mollie and her family by the landlords and land agents whose greed and indifference affected so many with painful consequences is portrayed with clarity and passion. You can feel the troubles and will share Molly’s anger at how she and her family are treated.
The story keeps you gripped throughout and it’s a real page turner. The opening pages are set back in the mists of time and establish Molly’s connection to a past that in some way influences her life and the writer then pulls you forward to see how this plays out, sending tendrils into her present. She manages to draw you through the story with practised ease, time slips past without you being aware, as your sucked into Molly’s world. A good book makes you forget the world around you and December Girl certainly does that.
If your looking for a book to curl up with as winter settles in, then I recommend Molly and December girl as a good choice to do that with.
December Girl can be purchased from Amazon
Author Bio.
Nicola Cassidy is a writer and blogger from Co. Louth Ireland. She studied journalism at Dublin City University and worked in political PR before turning to a career in marketing. December Girl is her first novel.
Nicola Cassidy can be followed on her webpage, Facebook and Twitter.
booksaremycwtches 