The Wings of Poppy Pendleton + Giveaway

In this compelling new time-slip mystery, a little girl goes missing from her family’s castle in the Thousand Islands of New York. Eighty-five years later, a journalist teams up with a woman living on Koster Isle to find out what happened to Poppy, once and for all.

1907. On the eve of her fifth birthday, Poppy Pendleton is tucked safely in her bed, listening to her parents entertain New York’s gilded society in their Thousand Islands castle; the next morning, she is gone, and her father is found dead in his smoking room.

1992. Though Chloe Ridell lives in the shadows of Poppy’s castle, now in ruins, she has little interest in the mystery that still captivates tourists and locals alike. She is focused on preserving the island she inherited from her grandparents and reviving their vintage candy shop. Until the day a girl named Emma shows up on Chloe’s doorstep, with few possessions, save a tattered scrapbook that connects her to the Pendleton family. When a reporter arrives at Chloe’s store, asking questions about her grandfather, Chloe decides to help him dig into a past she’d thought best left buried. The haunting truth about Poppy, they soon discover, could save Emma’s life, so Chloe and Logan must work together to investigate exactly what happened long ago on Koster Isle.

My Review:

It’s been a week since I finished listening to this book and I’m still deep in a stupefied bibliophile state. Epically struck dumb and blown away and…well, gobsmacked! So, I beg forgiveness ahead of time for my incoherent ramblings.

Random thoughts:

Astonishing! Just when I thought I had something figured out, I didn’t and there are so many ‘aha’ moments!

Which brings me to pacing. The tension between the two timelines is expertly drawn out. We slip seamlessly back and forth from past to present and back again, almost gently at first but, as the story progresses, the pacing picks up and the pressure increases until I was so wired up I wanted to rush to the end. (Of course, I didn’t because I am not the kind of reader who reads the last page first…no offence meant to anyone who is, of course. You read you, and I’ll read me. lol)

And the way the mystery of Poppy’s disappearance is developed in both timelines — brilliantly executed. Kept me on edge all the way through. The author is very clever in the way she teases hints without full reveals until the exact perfect time. Made the read that much more excruciatingly wonderful.

The setting gave me all kinds of thrills. My family vacationed around the Thousand Island area when I was a kid. No private island mansions for me, though every year we toured the islands and visited Bolt Castle and I imagined what it would have been like to live in my own island castle. 🙂 It’s not often that I get to read about a place I’ve actually visited so that was loads of fun.

I could say a whole lot more, but I don’t want to fall into spoiler territory. There is some romance which always makes me happy. And found family themes. There’s heartbreak — some almost too much to bear. At one point I wasn’t sure if I could go on but reading some reviews soothed my jangled nerves and I persisted and am so glad I did! Ecstatic, actually.

I listened to the audible edition of The Wings of Poppy Pendleton and Nancy Peterson’s narration paired with Melanie Dobson’s storytelling kept me captivated right to the very end.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Wings of Poppy Pendleton, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 14, 2023

38 thoughts on “The Wings of Poppy Pendleton + Giveaway”

  1. I’m really falling in love with dual-timelines (in fact reading Carrie Turansky’s newest one now & have Jaime Jo Wright’s newest in ebook on hold) and this was a title from our last Reader’s Choice week…another want-to-read book!

    I just don’t know how authors pull off this genre so well! 😊

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  2. This book has been on my radar for a while. I’d love to win a copy, even more so after reading your awesome review! I love Melanie Dobson’s books!
    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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  6. This has been on my wishlist (like forever) & I went to Amazon to buy it & I got sidetracked. I probably went to different booksellers to compare prices. Bwahahahaha But what made me forget about it is what I’m forgetting. 😂 What an awesome, exciting review BTW!

    dianalflowers at aol dot com

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  7. Dual time lines have become my favorite genre. I have this on my must read list. Thank you for sharing your wonderful review my book twin. leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  10. Fabulous cover on an amazing sounding story. Then there’s the dual time line factor that I absolutely LOVE. Wonderful review from you which is the icing on the cake meaning this book is on my TBR list. I’m all gobsmacked as I wait with great anticipation for the opportunity read this book!

    Thank you for the fabulous chance to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  12. I love all of Melanie’s books and can’t wait to read this one😍it sounds just as awesome as all her other books😍
    sarahdar0801ATgmailDOTcom

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  13. When I see Melanie Dobson has a new book coming out it automatically goes on my want to read list. It doesn’t even matter what it’s about. I know it will be good. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of The Wings of Poppy Pendleton.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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  14. If you’re a dual timeline reader, then Melanie Dobson should be at the top of your list! I’ve been hoping that my local library will get a paper copy but so far only an e-book…..sigh. I’ll eventually get to read it. I’m also in love with the cover. It’s quite unique!

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  15. Kav, this one was already on my radar, but your review has me moving up higher on my want-to-read list 🙂 When you’re gobsmacked, I’m definitely hooked 🙂 Count me all kinds of in! 🙂

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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