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The Deverells #4.5
Pumpymuckles
Ever Greene was just six years-old when she vanished into thin air from the end of Cromer Pier.
Four months later, she reappeared, safe and sound, on the doorstep of her parents' house, more than eighty miles away. The child had no recollection of where she had been or with whom she had spent the time, but in her hand she clasped a silver and enamel brooch intricately fashioned in the image of a seahorse...
* * * *
Ever Greene's childhood was haunted by nightmares and plagued by mysterious events. Now, as a grown woman, she hopes to put all that behind her and lead a purposeful life. She answers an advertisement for the post of governess— a perfectly respectable position for the dignified Edwardian lady.
This attempt to lead an ordinary life seems destined for chaos, however, when she finds herself working for an extraordinary bachelor. Gabriel Hart wants her, not to teach those sweet-faced children she'd envisioned as her pupils, but to transform him into a proper gentleman. A task of no little undertaking and far from what she'd anticipated.
And then Ever’s troubled life takes an infinitely more disturbing turn when the monster she called Pumpymuckles, who once chased her through those childhood nightmares, now stalks her waking hours instead.
But Ever Greene isn't that little girl afraid of the dark anymore.
Indeed, the darkness should be afraid of her.
Four months later, she reappeared, safe and sound, on the doorstep of her parents' house, more than eighty miles away. The child had no recollection of where she had been or with whom she had spent the time, but in her hand she clasped a silver and enamel brooch intricately fashioned in the image of a seahorse...
* * * *
Ever Greene's childhood was haunted by nightmares and plagued by mysterious events. Now, as a grown woman, she hopes to put all that behind her and lead a purposeful life. She answers an advertisement for the post of governess— a perfectly respectable position for the dignified Edwardian lady.
This attempt to lead an ordinary life seems destined for chaos, however, when she finds herself working for an extraordinary bachelor. Gabriel Hart wants her, not to teach those sweet-faced children she'd envisioned as her pupils, but to transform him into a proper gentleman. A task of no little undertaking and far from what she'd anticipated.
And then Ever’s troubled life takes an infinitely more disturbing turn when the monster she called Pumpymuckles, who once chased her through those childhood nightmares, now stalks her waking hours instead.
But Ever Greene isn't that little girl afraid of the dark anymore.
Indeed, the darkness should be afraid of her.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2016
9 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 26, 2017
Well, wow, I am all astonishment. This isn't exactly my kind of romance and I wasn't expecting to like it, it being a bit too fanciful for my reading taste. And yet...it was a really beautiful love story. Even made me a bit teary-eyed at the end. It's a bit paranormal, a bit metaphysical, a bit metapsychological, a bit mind-boggling, but mainly it's a lovely Edwardian romance, believe it or not.
I love the hero here, Gabriel Hart, an unsophisticated former boxing champion (and great grandson of True Deverell) who is all bark and no bite, sexy as can be, and rich enough to be retired at the age of 35, living in a mansion by the sea in Cromer. Ever Greene, our 24-year-old heroine, has never led a "normal" life, especially since an episode at Cromer's pier when she was only 4 years old, an episode she does not remember with clarity, only through nightmares. And talk about two people "destined" to be with each other.
Can't tell you too much more than that. Ever responds to a newspaper advert placed by Gabriel, who's looking for a governess. When she arrives at his home in Cromer, she finds no children, only Gabriel, who wants her to teach him social niceties. Gabriel is uninhibited. Ever is trying to cut loose from the bonds of her strict upbringing and worried mother, a woman who wasn't comfortable with even taking her shoes off at the beach. Thinks Ever: "But what was life about except to get one's shoes marked to pieces? They didn't give you points in heaven for unmarked shoes."
You can feel the love here. When Gabriel is asked whether he will become bored living in one place and loving one woman, he replies: "A man is never in the same place when he looks out at the sea each day. And when I have Ever at my side it is the same as looking out on the sea. She is the sea." Well, sigh. There's more of that. Read to savor the romance.
This is a surprising story and definitely at least a 4-star one for me. Fresina, like some other talented HR authors such as Sherry Thomas, apparently likes to stretch herself and has really done so here. She may have stretched too much for some readers, but I appreciated this effort. Won't give it 5 stars, however. More proofreading was needed. Spelling, grammar and vocabulary errors that didn't need to be there. Published in a rush, perhaps?
I love the hero here, Gabriel Hart, an unsophisticated former boxing champion (and great grandson of True Deverell) who is all bark and no bite, sexy as can be, and rich enough to be retired at the age of 35, living in a mansion by the sea in Cromer. Ever Greene, our 24-year-old heroine, has never led a "normal" life, especially since an episode at Cromer's pier when she was only 4 years old, an episode she does not remember with clarity, only through nightmares. And talk about two people "destined" to be with each other.
Can't tell you too much more than that. Ever responds to a newspaper advert placed by Gabriel, who's looking for a governess. When she arrives at his home in Cromer, she finds no children, only Gabriel, who wants her to teach him social niceties. Gabriel is uninhibited. Ever is trying to cut loose from the bonds of her strict upbringing and worried mother, a woman who wasn't comfortable with even taking her shoes off at the beach. Thinks Ever: "But what was life about except to get one's shoes marked to pieces? They didn't give you points in heaven for unmarked shoes."
You can feel the love here. When Gabriel is asked whether he will become bored living in one place and loving one woman, he replies: "A man is never in the same place when he looks out at the sea each day. And when I have Ever at my side it is the same as looking out on the sea. She is the sea." Well, sigh. There's more of that. Read to savor the romance.
This is a surprising story and definitely at least a 4-star one for me. Fresina, like some other talented HR authors such as Sherry Thomas, apparently likes to stretch herself and has really done so here. She may have stretched too much for some readers, but I appreciated this effort. Won't give it 5 stars, however. More proofreading was needed. Spelling, grammar and vocabulary errors that didn't need to be there. Published in a rush, perhaps?
October 13, 2020
2.5 to 3 stars, maybe? This book was a little too odd for me. It's kind of a spin-off from the Deverells series (which I recently read and enjoyed), but the link is fairly tenuous, and it's pretty much a standalone book.
There is a big mystery in the book, which isn't resolved till the very end. Not my usual kind of read. There was definitely a clear romance element, but too much was based around the mystery, which isn't really my preferred type of read.
There was also a strong paranormal or supernatural element in the book, and it's not the style of book I'm used to reading - HR/mystery combined wth paranormal.
I was left a little confused at the end of the book. The solution to the mystery left me unclear as what exactly had happened. Without spoilers, I did kind of get it but felt a little foggy on some of the details. An interesting idea and a complete surprise to me. Maybe I would appreciate the whole thing more on a second read.
So this one wasn't really a winner for me. Still, I will definitely read more by this author.
There is a big mystery in the book, which isn't resolved till the very end. Not my usual kind of read. There was definitely a clear romance element, but too much was based around the mystery, which isn't really my preferred type of read.
There was also a strong paranormal or supernatural element in the book, and it's not the style of book I'm used to reading - HR/mystery combined wth paranormal.
I was left a little confused at the end of the book. The solution to the mystery left me unclear as what exactly had happened. Without spoilers, I did kind of get it but felt a little foggy on some of the details. An interesting idea and a complete surprise to me. Maybe I would appreciate the whole thing more on a second read.
So this one wasn't really a winner for me. Still, I will definitely read more by this author.
November 3, 2020
I was expecting something more from JF...
It was a voluntarily confusing book where you don't know what is real and what is not.
Still I didn't enjoy that the things that got happening to not fit. I'll explain it in spoiler, because otherwise I couldn't and I don't want to uncover too much of the story... so here it is: read it or not - you choose!
So, you see... I've read many time-travel novels with a much better explanation of how the time-travel occurred!
Still it is not to be rejected totally! The writing is very good and the dialogue and MCs are interesting and feel real.
So, do read it if what in my spoiler doesn't disturb you as much as it did me! :)
It was a voluntarily confusing book where you don't know what is real and what is not.
Still I didn't enjoy that the things that got happening to not fit. I'll explain it in spoiler, because otherwise I couldn't and I don't want to uncover too much of the story... so here it is: read it or not - you choose!
So, you see... I've read many time-travel novels with a much better explanation of how the time-travel occurred!
Still it is not to be rejected totally! The writing is very good and the dialogue and MCs are interesting and feel real.
So, do read it if what in my spoiler doesn't disturb you as much as it did me! :)
October 6, 2020
A very lovely story that triggered memories of my yearning, romantic daydreams as a teenager and was was both heartbreaking and hopeful. Jayne Fresina’s lyrical, evocative language fills the senses and the character of Ever was richly developed. I will be thinking about, discussing and puzzling out this story for many more days. It will join other favorites (like Portrait of Jenny and Green Mansions) on my virtual keeper shelf.
November 11, 2020
Loved this whimsical book. It is very loosely attached to the Devereaux clan, but it was a very interesting read. Enjoyed the concept and it kept me guessing.
April 26, 2023
What can I say? I loved this book so much. I had finished The Snow Birds not too long before starting this one so recognized Gabriel, although he only played a small part in that story. Ever and Gabe’s love story is just so lovely and haunting. With each book, Jayne Fresina continues to astound me.
July 5, 2022
More mystery
January 12, 2017
A curious story. I'm not sure what to think. I love Fresina's writing as usual but maybe it was too short? Maybe I just wanted more of Ever.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews