Land of Opportunity by Linda Dooks
Release: 19th June 2023
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Blossom Spring Publishing
Source: Zooloos Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle
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1897, North Yorkshire. Rose Watson, a sixteen-year-old girl, bereft after her mother’s death, finds herself working long and hard hours on the family farm.
Treated badly by her uncaring father and a brother who is making unwanted advances on her, she knows she must escape this torturous life. When the opportunity arises, Rose flees the farm at last and heads for Liverpool where she boards a ship to New York.
She meets a budding singer, Agnes, who unwittingly draws her into the underworld she so often frequents. Rose soon discovers that New York is not paved with gold but is notorious for dail running battles of gang warfare and street crime.
But Thomas Blackwood, an American whom she met travelling from England to America is her saviour and love soon blossoms.
Rose must strive hard to make it in a new and dangerous land so very far away from home
Author Bio:
I was born and raised in North Yorkshire and worked for the Local Council for many years. I have always been a keen reader. My favourite author is Agatha Christie. Now retired, I live at home with my husband and family.
Since retirement, I joined our local writers group “Stockton Scribblers. I have contributed stories to their book “Zig Zags.” Through them, they have encouraged me to write many short stories. Land of Opportunity is my first novel. I have also has poems published in our local paper.
My daughter and I volunteer at our local hospital radio station, playing music, where I read my short stories. In addition, I enjoy the theatre, walking, swimming, watching my son play golf and shopping with my daughter.
Land of Opportunity Review:
This book was an absolute whirlwind of emotions and events! While the story starts with Rose’s journey, the author skillfully introduces a diverse cast of characters who become just as engaging as the main protagonist, like Agnes, Veronica, Paul Kelly, and Katrien. The story is a rollercoaster, filled with heartwarming family moments on the one hand and shocking incidents that even lead to unexpected deaths on the other.
Moreover, there’s never a dull moment in this book. The author adds so much storyline in each chapter, and her attention to detail keeps you on your toes. It’s a fast-paced read that demands your full attention, but it’s worth it. You’ve got to read closely to catch every twist and turn. Some notable highlights for me were Abel’s return to Rose’s life and the intense moments involving Jack. Even Annie was a formidable character! Similarly, Agnes and Veronica were just the cherry on top, enriching Rose’s life beautifully.
And let’s not forget the romance between Rose and Thomas—it’s heartwarming and adds so much depth to the story. Also, those Christmas scenes where the family gathers were pure magic. The author has a knack for writing heartwarming scenes that make you smile.
However, there were times when I thought that there was too much going on. Looking back, the author could have trimmed some scenes to polish the bigger picture. And while the story was incredible, the ending left me feeling a tad melancholic and worried for the characters instead of giving me that full-satisfaction ending I was hoping for.
But overall, “Land Of Opportunity” was a joy to read, especially if you’re a fan of family sagas like me. The ups and downs were worth the ride!
Book Tour Schedule
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Land of Opportunity by Linda Dooks Blog Tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
Hello Rajiv. Thank you so much for your lovely review of my first novel “Land of Opportunity.” I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you so much for taking part in the tour x