Tuesday 22 August 2017

The Bones of Our Fathers by Elin Gregory - Review Tour





Length: 80,000 words approx

Publisher: Manifold Press

Cover Design: Michelle Peart

Blurb

Malcolm Bright, brand new museum curator in a small Welsh Border town, is a little lonely until – acting as emergency archaeological consultant on a new housing development – he crosses the path of Rob Escley, aka Dirty Rob, who makes Mal’s earth move in more ways than one.

Then Rob discovers something wonderful, and together they must combat greedy developers and a treasure hunter determined to get his hands on the find. Are desperate measures justified to save the bones of our fathers? Will Dirty Rob live up to his reputation? Do museum curators really do it meticulously?


Answers must be found for the sake of Mal’s future, his happiness and his heart.






Review

This book hit quite a few of my buttons. For starters it deals with archaeology, something which has always fascinated me. Then there’s the fact it features Mal and Rob, two utterly likeable yet totally realistic main characters who captured my imagination as soon as they were introduced. And, always important for me, the story scores rather low on the angst scale. Sure there is a dilemma the two men have to overcome but it, thankfully, doesn’t come with heart wrenching devastation.

So, those are the reasons why this book might well have been written to my personal requirements. They are not the only reasons this book struck a note with me though. I think I loved just about everything about this book. I loved the small town Mal has settled in and I had such a wonderful time getting to know his new home and the people who live there together with him. What’s not to adore about a community in which everybody knows everybody and they all look out for each other, even when separated by several centuries and while not always seeing eye to eye?

The historical aspect to the story was fascinating as was the archaeological angle. I smiled and sympathized when Mal had to explain that Time Team does not give a realistic portrayal of an archaeological dig. I can easily imagine this is something archaeologists have to do more than once in real life too. And the discovery itself was inspired; giving the story an extra level of intrigue.

But what touched me most was the care the people in this world took of each other, and Mal’s journey towards understanding that he’s no longer alone but has been included in a community that looks after its own.


In short, The Bones of Our Fathers is a wonderful, intriguing and uplifting story, filled with characters all of whom are diverse, original,and recognisable individuals I’d love to meet in real life. The writing is amazing and the story fascinating and sweet. I’m so glad this is the first book in a (much) longer series. I can’t wait for the next instalment; it’s going to be a delight to spend time with this fascinating cast of characters again and see others find their happily ever afters.

Author Bio

Elin Gregory lives in South Wales and works in a museum in a castle built on the edge of a Roman Fort! She reckons that's a pretty cool job.


Elin usually writes on historical subjects, and enjoys weaving the weird and wonderful facts she comes across in her research into her plots. She likes her heroes hard as nails but capable of tenderness when circumstances allow. Often they are in danger, frequently they have to make hard choices, but happy endings are always assured.


Current works in progress include one set during the Great War, another in WW2, one set in the Dark Ages and a series of contemporary romances set in a small town on the Welsh border.



@ElinGregory

Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions


No comments:

Post a Comment