When your heart pulls you in different directions…

Synopsis

A broken heart, a shameful secret…

Wakefield, Yorkshire 1871

Loretta Chambers has spent her life working at her father’s boatyard down at the docks. She’s tried hard to keep the business afloat, but with the railways taking trade away every day, Lorrie fears for the worst.

The arrival of handsome Italian, Matteo Falcone brings a brief glimmer of hope and a yearning inside Lorrie for another life, away from the filthy grime of the dockside. But despite her feelings for Matteo, she could never travel to Italy with him, and leave her father alone.

But one reckless, impetuous moment leaves Lorrie with a secret she will struggle to hide. And when tragedy strikes at the boatyard, Lorrie is left feeling more alone than ever before.

Always a dutiful daughter, Lorrie now carries a shame that could ruin her life forever…

My review

The year is 1871, and Loretta Chambers is helping her father running the boatyard at the docks of Wakefield in Yorkshire.
Things aren’t easy, especially since the new partner is making changes Loretta doesn’t fully agree.
When Matteo Falcone arrives, it’s not only a link to the part of the family Lottie doesn’t know anything about, but his presence also ignites something in her Lottie never experienced before. And it makes her dream of a life away from the docks. But with one reckless moment, and tragedy strikes, Lottie has to fight for what her father has been building, even if she feels more alone than ever…

There is something about the past that always intrigues me. It amazes me how much has changed for people, especially women, in such a short time. And I know that this author doesn’t write easy stories, but always manages to capture the reality.

Lottie’s tale doesn’t start as a real sad one, even if her circumstances aren’t easy. She is living with her father, helps running the boatyard, even if the business is in bad papers. And the new partner her father has for sure made me raise my eyebrows, as his behaviour for sure isn’t 100% legal.
Normally for a woman it’s not that custom to be involved with the business, but I liked it how Lottie was perhaps a feminist before it was a thing.

I liked Lottie, because no matter if she is just a young woman, she has a clear opinion of her own, and she is smarter than many people in this story.
She knows what she is talking about and even has a good insight of business in general. She is also respected by the men at the boatyard, and that respect is returned.

When Matteo arrives on the scene, I could understand her interest in the man. Not only because Matteo is a handsome man but most important because he is a member of Lottie’s maternal family. A family that Lottie doesn’t know anything about.
So yes, her attraction to that man for sure is understandable. And also, Matteo for sure is a smooth talker…

Yet in the book it saddened me to read how not only Lottie, but also her father in a way, were taken advantage of. It shows how ugly the world can be, and how deceptive, selfish and nasty some people can be.
Because Lottie finds herself fighting against many things, also many prejudices and injustices. She also learns the hard way that even the people you thought would be on your side, can hurt you.

Nevertheless, no matter what Lottie is going through, she luckily also learns that there will always be people fighting along her, in her corner.
And that warmed my heart, to see how comfort and understanding could be found in unexpected corners.

It was a bit a pity to see that the blurb, the title and even the cover gave somewhat away what would be happening to Lottie, as this only happens rather late in the story. But that didn’t take away the pleasure I had in reading this book. Because just like at the start of the book, Lottie shows a strength and determination that even nowadays people can be envious of.
Lottie keeps on fighting, even against all odds to find her own happiness, and to protect what her father has been fighting for himself.

And that is the beauty of this book, as no matter what happens to Lottie, she never gives up. And perhaps her life didn’t go as she would have thought, yet she manages to make something out of it anyway. And that for sure works as an inspiration!