I literally just finished reading “The End of Temperance Dare” by Wendy Webb in two days. I couldn’t put it down. It was so creepy, but not in a way that would leave you with nightmares but in ways that you didn’t want to read it at night while you were home alone. I was so glad that my husband was home and I have a mini book light, because many times while reading this book in bed, I shot my leg out to touch his just to make sure that he was still there. That was the level of creepiness this book achieved.
Let’s talk a little about it. I received this book in one of my book subscription boxes. This one is the Once Upon a Book Club box. This is a service that sends you one book and three to five bookish gifts that actually apply to the story you are reading. As you read the story, there are post-it notes on certain pages that tell you to open the wrapped gift with a sticker designating that page in the book. For example in this book’s box, the main character Eleanor Harper is just about to take a bath using the retreats signature bath salts. When you open your gift for that page, you find a packet of the same bath salts in a package that is specific to the retreat in the book. It’s really cool. These items are just another way that this book subscription box brings the story to life for you. It’s around 29 dollars and month and in my opinion worth every penny.
Take a look a the description on Amazon.
Haunting and atmospheric, The End of Temperance Dare is another thrilling page-turner from the author reviewers are calling the Queen of the Northern Gothic.
When Eleanor Harper becomes the director of a renowned artists’ retreat, she knows nothing of Cliffside Manor’s dark past as a tuberculosis sanatorium, a “waiting room for death.” After years of covering murder and violence as a crime reporter, Eleanor hopes that being around artists and writers in this new job will be a peaceful retreat for her as much as for them.
But from her first fog-filled moments on the manor’s grounds, Eleanor is seized by a sense of impending doom and realizes there’s more to the institution than its reputation of being a haven for creativity. After the arrival of the new fellows―including the intriguing, handsome photographer Richard Banks―she begins to suspect that her predecessor chose the group with a dangerous purpose in mind. As the chilling mysteries of Cliffside Manor unravel and the eerie sins of the past are exposed, Eleanor must fight to save the fellows—and herself—from sinister forces.
As I read this description after I read the book I thought, wow this book is so much more than what is described here. I would whole heartedly give this book a five star rating except for one thing. Twice, not once but twice, the phrase “releasing the breath I didn’t know I was holding” was used in this book. Unfortunately, it pulled me out of the story long enough to groan and bitch about it. Yes, this statement is used in almost every book I read and it really puts me off. I can’t explain why, because there are many times, and even in this book, where the phrase is not only the perfect description but it fits the narrative. It just bugs me to holy hell and like I said, it pulls me from the story. This phrase should be outlawed. So in lieu of that, I have to give this book a 4 1/2 stars. I really did enjoy this book and I highly recommend it. The characters were believable, the story creepy as fuck, and the pacing was just perfect.
Just don’t read it alone at night, especially if its storming outside.
Cheers,
Laurie
PS: As always if you chose to buy the book from the link below, I will get a small stipend from the sale, at no extra cost to you. Even if you don’t get it from the link below, get it, it’s well worth the read.
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