Book Review - The Man Across The Street by Marcie Steele

The Amazon Purchase link below is an Amazon Affiliate link.

Title: The Man Across The Street

Author: Marcie Steele

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Blood Red Books

Publication Date: 1st January 2020

Rating: 4 Stars

Maybe I’m scared to be happy…

Meet Hannah – she’s been her mum’s sole carer since she was eighteen. Now alone after Martha’s sudden death, Hannah feels lost in the only place she’s known as home, Hope Street. Coming up to a milestone birthday, she’s wondering what her purpose in life is.

Meet Doug – a workaholic, he’s in the office from dusk ’til dawn, and when he has a heart attack. Now on the mend, he needs to de-stress his life and focus on living it, to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Doug moves to Hope Street, number 35. Hannah lives at number 34, directly opposite. From the moment they meet, there’s a spark.

But there are secrets too. Hannah’s mum has been keeping something from her, her sister left over twenty years ago, and there can’t be such a simple reason why Doug has moved to Somerley. Can there?

The Man Across the Street feature a host of characters living on Hope Street in the market town of Somerley, also featured in The Somerley Series.

I really had no idea what to expect from my first book by Marcie Steele, and I'm really glad I gave this one a go. 

I really loved the setting of Hope Street, it seems like such a caring community, where you actually know your neighbours and everyone is happy to look out for each other.  

Hannah is really lost, for 20 years has been her mums sole carer, and now after her mum dies she really isn't sure what to do with her life. She is approaching the big four -oh, and only really knows Hope Street. She has a letter from her mum that she is terrified to open in case  it tears her apart, but equally suspects it must contain some sort of secret. 

Doug is an all around nice bloke who moves in opposite Hannah, he is a bit older, and as the book focuses on both characters you can tell he is hiding something, but what you really aren't sure.  It is clear that they like each other, but whether anything will be done is another matter! 

Once I was used to the writing style, I was able to happily lose myself between the pages for long periods of time, really enjoying what I was reading.   There are certainly revelations to be had, and its just a really lovely story to read.   

There is such a varied cast of characters all living on Hope Street, and Hannah's best friend Poppy is wonderful, and even a scene with the street drunk made me smile while feeling ill at the same time!   There are all manner of plot threads that keeps the book interesting. 

I'm already missing my Hope Street companions and hope to be back there again soon, or once the next book is written at least! 

Thanks to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,