I fell in love with Summer at Carrick Park last year, which as it turned out, was the first in Kirsty Ferry’s new Tempest Sisters series. Then later in the year, both this novella, and her Christmas offering Watch For Me At Christmas both received a mention in my Top Reads of 2018 post, having narrowly missed out on being selected as one of my top five books. I was, therefore, very excited to be offered the opportunity to read Spring at Taigh Fallon. My thanks go to the publishers Choc Lit for providing an ebook.
When Angel Tempest joins her friend, Zac Fallon at his newly inherited family mansion, Taigh Fallon, she feels instantly connected to the house. When his Canadian cousin, Kyle, arrives unexpectedly, she takes an instant dislike to him. It seems however, that the house has secrets to reveal to them….
When I started reading Spring at Taigh Fallon it felt completely different to the other novels I have read by the author, and as I was in search of happiness after a particularly tough read, I wasn’t sure if I liked it at first! However, the darker style is in perfect keeping with the main character, Angel Tempest. Quirky and goth-like, she is fully deserving of a novel which explores romance in a darker and more passionate light.
Once my initial expectations faded, I was completely won over by the wonderfully atmospheric setting of Taigh Fallon. I love how the author is so in tune with the beautiful old buildings she writes about: she breathes life into bricks and mortar, their character oozing out through the narrative. Her ‘characterisation’ of Taigh Fallon is just gorgeous, and is my favourite to date.
The story itself is fabulous. It is a dual time line narrative, which I’m always a sucker for, while stylistically it is a hybrid of Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice. It honours the wild and gothic landscape of the former, whilst the characters of Angel and Kyle do justice to the latter. I love how there is magic and mysticism and a touch of the fairytale element woven throughout too, whilst the intrigue and tragedy of the late 1800s marries perfectly with the overall tone of the book.
My only criticism is the cover. As lovely as it is, it really doesn’t seem to reflect the content and style of the novel. Something a little more gothic and atmospheric would have been much more fitting. When reading I got serious autumnal vibes throughout, it just didn’t feel very spring-like. A very minor quibble though because otherwise I loved it!
Another incredibly enjoyable offering from Kirsty Ferry. I’m looking forward to book three in the Tempest Sister series already!
Synopsis
When Angel Tempest finds out that her best friend Zac has inherited a Scottish mansion, Taigh Fallon, from his great aunt, she immediately offers to go and visit it with him. It will mean closing up her jet jewellery shop in Whitby for a few days but the prospect of a spring trip to the Scottish Highlands is too tempting.
Then Kyle, Zac’s estranged and slightly grumpy Canadian cousin, unexpectedly turns up at Taigh Fallon, and events take a strange turn as the long-kept secrets of the old house begin to reveal themselves …
*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this novel. The decision to read was my own, and this review forms my honest opinion.
Emma R. 
4 thoughts on “Spring at Taigh Fallon by Kirsty Ferry”