Book Review: New York Miracle by Margo Laurie

Please join me in welcoming Margo Laurie to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novella, New York Miracle.

A sweet, Christmas ghost story with a dash of romance

Ellie Peach travels to Manhattan for a fan-making apprenticeship.

While staying at a historic boarding house, she meets the charming James Denny. He claims to be a Broadway actor waiting for his lost love. When Ellie offers to help search for her, it leads to old secrets and adventure…

*****

When Ellie Peach arrives in Manhattan to begin an internship with her Great-Aunt, she can’t help but marvel at the amazing city she has idolized and can’t wait to get to know her American relatives. She arrives at her boarding house, St Teresa’s Lodge with optimism. Then she meets James, and her visit takes an unexpected turn.

The premise for this novel intrigued me greatly and I knew it was going to be a unique read. I was delighted therefore to be invited onto the blog tour for New York Miracle.

First, how beautiful is this cover! I love it. It has a whimsical, 1930’s feeling to it, which, when you come to read the novella, which I hope you do, will make a lot more sense.

New York is also one of my favourite places and where I went on my own December honeymoon so to be able to revisit it around Christmas time, even if it was only in a novel was magical to me.

Ellie Peach is a sweet, loveable character whose enthusiasm, energy and joy is infectious, and I couldn’t help but warm to her. I also loved Bernice. I could imagine her so clearly – her clothes, how she carried herself. She felt so fabulous.

James starts off as a mysterious entity and I loved finding out more about him as the story progressed. The rest of the supporting cast were also great. The three ladies on the top floor could have their own story. I want to know more about them.

Even the boarding house, St Teresa’s Lodge felt alive. Does that make sense? By the description, it bought to mind the building from Thoroughly Modern Mille (if you don’t know what movie I’m talking about, it’s a sweet film starring Julie Andrews.) I just got the feeling that if the walls could talk in this building, they would have a lot to say.

The history of this novel appealed to me too and it’s got me wanting to know more about that time.

This festive ghost story went in directions I did not expect. It had lovely moments that brimmed with romance along with bittersweet ones that told the story of lost love and opportunities. I wanted this novel to be longer if I’m honest and I hope we get to catch up with these characters again.

At roughly 154 pages, this is a quick read that had me smiling, made me feel festive and had a huge touch of magic.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. 

About Margo Laurie –

Margo Laurie studied history at university and is a member of the RNA’s New Writers’ Scheme.

She is the author of the Christmas ghost story New York Miracle and the 1920s historical fiction novella The Anarchist’s Wife. She lives in the North West.

Say hello to Margo on Twitter, Instagram, Bookbub and Goodreads. 

Click to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.