Review/Book Giveaway: The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young

About the Book

Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Putnam's Sons
Release Date: September 2015



Synopsis from Goodreads...

From a unique new talent comes a fast-paced debut, introducing a heroine whose dark visions bring to light secrets that will heal or destroy those around her . . .
When New York journalist and recently bereaved mother Charlotte “Charlie” Cates begins to experience vivid dreams about children she’s sure that she’s lost her mind. Yet these are not the nightmares of a grieving parent, she soon realizes. They are messages and warnings that will help Charlie and the children she sees, if only she can make sense of them.

After a little boy in a boat appears in Charlie’s dreams asking for her help, Charlie finds herself entangled in a thirty-year-old missing-child case that has never ceased to haunt Louisiana’s prestigious Deveau family. Armed with an invitation to Evangeline, the family’s sprawling estate, Charlie heads south, where new friendships and an unlikely romance bring healing. But as she uncovers long-buried secrets of love, money, betrayal, and murder, the facts begin to implicate those she most wants to trust—and her visions reveal an evil closer than she could’ve imagined.A Southern Gothic mystery debut that combines literary suspense and romance with a mystical twist, THE GATES OF EVANGELINE is a story that readers of Gillian Flynn, Kate Atkinson, and Alice Sebold won't be able to put down.

My Review

A journalist from New York, Charlotte “Charlie” Cates, is reeling after the death of her young son. She begins to have dreams that appear to be premonitions of children in danger. She’s not sure what it all means, but when she is offered the opportunity to investigate a thirty-year old unsolved missing child case, she accepts.

Charlie’s assignment takes her to Louisiana where she meets the wealthy, not to mention eccentric, Deveau family. It’s the Deveau’s youngest son who went missing all those years ago and his twin sisters want answers (not to mention publicity).

Along the way, Charlie meets the Deveau’s landscaper. She tries to keep her distance from the mystery man, but she can’t fight her attraction to the handsome man. However, it’s not long before she realizes this is a man with deep secrets.

Charlie’s investigation leads her to the Deveau family’s secrets, betrayals, lies and murder. As her premonitions get stronger, so does the danger and more questions arise. Charlie is no longer sure who she can trust. One thing is for sure, nothing is as it seems and danger lurks the grounds of Evangeline.

There were sympathetic and not so sympathetic characters. I grew to love Charlie and feel for everything she went through. Each character is portrayed realistically. They come to life with each page.

What an amazing gothic novel this is! It’s filled with mystery, romance, drama and a huge mansion filled with a very strange family. There were so many twists, turns and red herrings. I started to guess at some of the mysteries, but there were so many others that kept me guessing until the very end. I was completely taken by surprise at the outcome. I love when that happens.

It has all the ingredients for a captivating gothic mystery. I even thought about this story when I wasn’t reading. For a book to stick with me like that, it would definitely earn a spot on my keeper shelf, if I still had one. This is a book that will touch your heart.



For reading challenges:

2015 NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge
Where are you reading? challenge (Louisiana)

FTC Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!

Here's your chance to win a print copy of The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young? Thanks to Katie at G.P. Putnam's Sons, I have two print copies to giveaway to two lucky winners.

Just a few simple rules...

1) You must fill out the rafflecopter form below.

2) Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old

3) US Residents Only

4) For one extra entry: Tweet about this giveaway.

5) For one extra entry: Leave a comment for the author.

6) For one extra entry:  Follow this blog...old followers, too!  Just let us know how you follow and under what name.

7) For one extra entry: Follow me on Twitter.

8) For one extra entry: Follow or friend me on Goodreads

No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited.

The giveaway begins on August 28th (midnight est) and ends on September 4th (midnight est).

The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter. The winner will be notified by email and has 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. I will announce the winner here on my blog.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway