On tour with The Coffee Pot Book Club, Rebecca’s Choice by Heidi Gallache #BookReview #HistoricalFiction @HeidiGallacher @maryanneyarde

  I am so excited to introduce you to what could very well be one of my favourite authors, Heidi Gallacher. A huge thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club for giving me the opportunity to review Heidi's fabulous book!

Rebecca’s Choice

By Heidi Gallacher

‘Can Rebecca find the love and passion she craves within a Victorian world that seems to be conspiring against her?’

It is 1887 and Queen Victoria is on the throne. Businessman and meteorologist Geoffrey de Roussier is passionate about his weather station and railways, yet little of his passion seems to filter through to his shy, naïve young wife, Rebecca. 

Following his tragic demise, Rebecca discovers that Geoffrey’s railroad investments have failed, leaving her penniless. As the past threatens to engulf her, Rebecca realises she has to make a choice. Gwilym Llewellyn, Geoffrey’s trusted friend and advisor, has an emotional debt to repay to Geoffrey and meets Rebecca to offer her a solution. Meanwhile Rebecca has found passion in another direction … 

One man will save her from destitution, the other will offer her the love and excitement that she aches for. Whom will she choose?  

This book has a beautiful setting in Cardiff, South Wales. If you like a good mix of an evocative depiction of the Victorian era and a modern-thinking heroine then Rebecca’s Choice is the novel for you. 

This is Heidi Gallacher’s debut novel, a compelling historical Victorian romance. Pick up ‘Rebecca’s Choice’ today to lose yourself in this wonderful story! 

Praise for Rebecca’s Choice

Rebecca’s Choice was awarded 5 stars and is a Recommended Read by The Coffee Pot Book Club. The book was awarded a Bronze Medal for Debut Novel 2020 by The Coffee Pot Book Club.

‘This is a story that is utterly beguiling from the opening sentence to the very last full stop.’ - Author Mary Anne Yarde

‘The historical details are so skilfully woven in that the reader steps with ease into the late 19th century.’ - Author Liz Harris

Okay, I admit that cover really grabbed my attention and when I read the blurb, I was convinced that this was a novel that I had to read, and I am so glad I did! Let’s start this review with some top tips to get the most out of this novel:

• A couple of hours of uninterrupted reading.

(If you are like me and find it hard to read in the day because of little ones demanding your attention, I suggest your forego sleep to read this book - that’s what I did, well, sort of. I got up half an hour earlier than normal).

• Tea, copious amounts of tea.

• A cosy blanket.

But back to the review…

Rebecca is a rather, dare I say it, ordinary woman, there is nothing extraordinary about her, which I think is why I found her so appealing. She agrees to marry Geoffrey so that she can be financially secure, which is a theme that runs throughout the length of this novel. However, she soon realises that for a marriage to be truly successful, then one really needs to love the person you are married to. Unfortunately, Geoffrey will give Rebecca everything and anything, apart from his love, and Rebecca is resigned to the fact that she has made her bed, so she must lie in it. Rebecca is determined to make the best out of the situation, and she does live in a very beautiful house, which is enough for her until she discovers the infamous turret-room. Previous to this discovery, Rebecca thinks that her husband is incapable of love, which is not the case at all. Her husband chooses not to love because he never wants to put himself in any sort of emotional situation where he is vulnerable to hurt. I really felt for Rebecca when she discovered her husband’s secret past, but she hides her disappointment behind a calm facade.

The historical backdrop of this novel is wonderfully depicted. I was shocked to learn that it was more dangerous to give birth in a hospital back then, than it was to stay at home. You would think that doctors would know to wash their hands between patients, what were they thinking? Therefore there are some really distressing scenes in this book, but I think the author has really captured the very essences of this era.

A great deal happens within this novel, and I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but it suffices for me to say that this novel was unputdownable and is simply brilliant from beginning to end. Therefore, I am really looking forward to reading more books from this very talented author in the future.

I was given a copy of Rebecca's Choice by The Coffee Pot Book Club, but you can grab yours from Amazon UK or Amazon US (depending where you live)!

Heidi Gallacher was born in London in the Sixties. She grew up in Cardiff and Swansea, South Wales. She jumped at the chance to move to Paris in her twenties to learn a new language and culture. 

Following the arrival of her first son she moved to sunny Switzerland where she has lived ever since. 

She completed her Masters in Creative Writing in 2018 and her first short story Changing Places was published in September of that year. Rebecca's Choice is her first novel.

When not writing, Heidi writes and performs music, swims in Lake Zürich and fundraises for a school in Tanzania. 

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