I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for this truly intriguing novel.
Synopsis
Laura is happy and content, she has a new boyfriend and loves her job teaching primary school pupils in London. But when she inherits a rundown house from a stranger on her 30th birthday, memories of her prom night come flooding back, memories of a scary encounter and an antique mirror in the very same house.
Laura visits the house with all its secrets and as she unravels the clues she reveals the biggest secret of all: her own destiny. But how can you change the future if it’s already written in the past?
My review
At some time or other in our lives, we’ve all wanted to travel back in time and give a message to our younger selves in order to save ourselves considerable heartache in the future. In real life we can’t do that, but thankfully in novels anything is possible!
Reflected Destinies has an ingenious plot involving moving through time, thanks to a mysterious and ornate mirror in the property, Hampton Cottage, Laura inexplicably inherits on her thirtieth birthday. She’s baffled and somewhat alarmed when she finds out the house is hers, as she had an unnerving experience there when she was a teenager. She thought she’d seen a ghost, and it took her a long time to get over the fright. Now the ‘ghost’ is back, with protestations of love, but also dire warnings…
Florence Keeling is excellent at creating atmosphere. Initially we find Laura, now thirty, in a positive, happy, calm place. It’s easy to like Laura as she’s friendly, genuine and the sort of friend we’d all be happy to have. Her life in London is ordered and her boyfriend Jack seems t be just what she needed. However, when she goes to the Hampton Cottage to take possession of it and start renovations, the sense of menace begins to steadily grow in the background. Laura begins to doubt herself, and those around here. Objects take on great significance, not just the mirror but an antique cameo brooch and, although he’s not really an object, a well-fed ginger cat!
The paranormal element is subtly handled and, given Florence Keeling’s easy style of writing, seems perfectly normal in this novel, which has very realistic settings and convincing, modern characters and language. The plot is fabulous, and really does keep you on edge, but in a tingly excited way, right to the end.
In summary: an intriguing and immensely enjoyable read.
About the author
Florence Keeling adopted for her pen-name her Great Grandmother’s name, chosen because of the shared birthday of April Fool’s Day. She is married with two teenage chidren. Born and raised in Coventry, England she now lives just outside in Nuneaton. Reflected Destinies is her first novel.
Florence Keeling also writes for children under the name of Lily Mae Walters.
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