Review of To Turn Full Circle by Linda Mitchelmore

To Turn Full Circle is the first novel from Linda Mitchelmore. It follows heroine Emma Le Goff who finds herself orphaned at the age of fifteen after both her parents and her younger brother die in mysterious circumstances. Emma’s cruel landlord throws her out of Shingle Cottage, the only home she has ever known and burns virtually all of her possessions.

Mitchelmore gives the reader a vivid scene, making them feel that they’re there with the characters. The rugged Devon coastline also seems to enhance the isolation that Emma feels. Emma’s ex-landlord Reuben Jago, who owns a local fishing fleet, continues to cause problems especially with his two older sons. However, his younger son Seth seems to be different and appears to want to help Emma. Can she trust a Jago or are they all the same?

When a new owner turns Nase Head House into a hotel, Emma sees a way forward and longs to work there. She will need to battle against the prejudices that have risen around her to get a position. Will the hotel bring Emma the new life that she longs for?

As a heroine, Emma is independent and feisty, but at the same time very vulnerable. She definitely changes over the course of the book and grows up a lot. I am looking forward to seeing more of her character in the next novel.

I absolutely loved this book and found it to be gripping, well paced and full of emotion. I was so pleased to see that it is the first in the trilogy and can’t wait to read the next installment. I would highly recommend To Turn Full Circle to all fans of historical and romantic fiction.

Thank you to Choc Lit for sending me a copy to review.