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Evergreen #1
Evergreen Avenue: 1970s
Alternate cover edition for ISBN13 9781370844364
For 1970s housewife Penny McVee, the decision to move back up to the lush and idyllic Adelaide Hills was a tough one to make. With her devoted husband Russell and three beautiful kids by her side, she feels ready to embrace the hometown she had left behind so long ago. The long and lazy Summer stretches out before them, promising endless days filled with pool parties, friendship and chocolate fondue. Secrets however, have a way of revealing themselves. Way down deep beneath the murky depths of her subconscious, Penny hides a memory she’d rather forget. Determined to keep it together and mindful of the shaky ground she now finds herself standing on, Penny ignores the little voice telling her to tread carefully. Will those around her be content to ignore any past indiscretions or is Penny about to lose it all?
For 1970s housewife Penny McVee, the decision to move back up to the lush and idyllic Adelaide Hills was a tough one to make. With her devoted husband Russell and three beautiful kids by her side, she feels ready to embrace the hometown she had left behind so long ago. The long and lazy Summer stretches out before them, promising endless days filled with pool parties, friendship and chocolate fondue. Secrets however, have a way of revealing themselves. Way down deep beneath the murky depths of her subconscious, Penny hides a memory she’d rather forget. Determined to keep it together and mindful of the shaky ground she now finds herself standing on, Penny ignores the little voice telling her to tread carefully. Will those around her be content to ignore any past indiscretions or is Penny about to lose it all?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
201 pages, ebook
Published February 12, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 5, 2018
At the beginning it’s a bit challenging to keep up with all the different characters but once you acclimate yourself it’s quite a great and intriguing story. If you do get into it like I did then get ready to run and buy the next book as the end of this one will keep you twiddling your thumbs wanting to know what happens next.
Great solid characters and great writing.
Great solid characters and great writing.
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February 8, 2018Promoted as a women’s fiction with supernatural elements, this slow burning novel is full of mystery and family drama. Let this story take you back to the seventies.
The Story
Set in 1970's Australia, Penny and Russell McVee make their move back to Adelaide Hills along with their three children: Joel, Simone and Tildy. Their youngest of six years keeps having visions of a crying man. A man she later on discovers might actually be real. Meanwhile, her parents are meeting up with old friends and acquaintances, as they have moved back to their old neighbourhood. But it seems that Penny might be hiding a secret of her own. And everything might come to light during a housewarming party.
Tildy
The case of the sad man is subtly introduced in the first chapter and further expanded on in chapter two. It is considered to be one of the main story lines when reading the blurb. But there are many more secrets and personal issues handled within the stories featuring other characters. Also, not all issues that are touched upon are resolved by the end of the book.
The first few chapters take some getting used to the many points of views and the different characters that are introduced to the reader. For instance, the prologue introduces to us the dramatic setting of a psychiatric hospital, and our interests are stirred. We all wish to know what’s going on with the “weirdo” in room 201. Skipping forward a couple of years from the sixties to the seventies, the reader then follows the McVee family members, including reminiscences and flashbacks of these characters.
With many details that create ambiance and that depict the characters in physical detail in the reader’s mind, Amelia describes the feelings of the characters and their inner turmoil, rather than the events themselves. This book is more about the experiences of the people than the experiences itself and a perfect example of family drama - not just the McVee family but also other families from their neighbourhood.
Apart from the family history and drama, Amelia made use of intertwined plots. Secrets are sometimes shared between characters. The perfect front shown at the start of the tale makes place for a more realistic and imperfect family depiction.
Slow Burner
Although the story counts just 170 pages ( eBook format), it is a slow burner. The start will allow many introductions and everything ebbs gently towards the McVee’s party. from that point on, events start to unfold and become clear and the story takes up more speed. However, because many of the items that come forth in this book are revelations of secrets or character backgrounds, it’s hard to expand on these events without giving too much plot away in this review.
The story has been compared to Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere mixed with cult TV show This Is Us. Add some supernatural suspense and you have Evergreen Avenue. The emphasis lies on the family drama and history. If this has your interest, or if you’re charmed by any of the mentioned aspects of the story above, then this story is one for your list.
The Story
Set in 1970's Australia, Penny and Russell McVee make their move back to Adelaide Hills along with their three children: Joel, Simone and Tildy. Their youngest of six years keeps having visions of a crying man. A man she later on discovers might actually be real. Meanwhile, her parents are meeting up with old friends and acquaintances, as they have moved back to their old neighbourhood. But it seems that Penny might be hiding a secret of her own. And everything might come to light during a housewarming party.
Tildy
The case of the sad man is subtly introduced in the first chapter and further expanded on in chapter two. It is considered to be one of the main story lines when reading the blurb. But there are many more secrets and personal issues handled within the stories featuring other characters. Also, not all issues that are touched upon are resolved by the end of the book.
The first few chapters take some getting used to the many points of views and the different characters that are introduced to the reader. For instance, the prologue introduces to us the dramatic setting of a psychiatric hospital, and our interests are stirred. We all wish to know what’s going on with the “weirdo” in room 201. Skipping forward a couple of years from the sixties to the seventies, the reader then follows the McVee family members, including reminiscences and flashbacks of these characters.
With many details that create ambiance and that depict the characters in physical detail in the reader’s mind, Amelia describes the feelings of the characters and their inner turmoil, rather than the events themselves. This book is more about the experiences of the people than the experiences itself and a perfect example of family drama - not just the McVee family but also other families from their neighbourhood.
Apart from the family history and drama, Amelia made use of intertwined plots. Secrets are sometimes shared between characters. The perfect front shown at the start of the tale makes place for a more realistic and imperfect family depiction.
Slow Burner
Although the story counts just 170 pages ( eBook format), it is a slow burner. The start will allow many introductions and everything ebbs gently towards the McVee’s party. from that point on, events start to unfold and become clear and the story takes up more speed. However, because many of the items that come forth in this book are revelations of secrets or character backgrounds, it’s hard to expand on these events without giving too much plot away in this review.
The story has been compared to Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere mixed with cult TV show This Is Us. Add some supernatural suspense and you have Evergreen Avenue. The emphasis lies on the family drama and history. If this has your interest, or if you’re charmed by any of the mentioned aspects of the story above, then this story is one for your list.
June 26, 2017
A surprising 4.5 stars! This was very much my kind of story. I would classify it as literary fiction meets chick lit. Like a peeping Tom watching through the window, you watch these people’s lives unfold over the course of a month or so and it rockets you toward a shocking conclusion that I can honestly say, left me reeling: I was So. Surprised. by the ending.
Penny and Russell McVee have moved back to a familiar childhood neighborhood after living in the city for about 5 years or so. Being back home seems refreshing and just the change that their family needs right now. The McVees were good friends with another family, the Harrison’s, before leaving, and now that they have moved back to town the wives are eager to rekindle their friendship. The kids are friends and the parents are friends and on the surface it seems like a pretty perfect and ideal situation.
But there are secrets on Evergreen Avenue, not just in the McVee household, but other perfect houses on the perfect street that contain their own little mysteries as well. All of the secrets on Evergreen Avenue get twisted together without anyone knowing it except for you, dear reader, and come to an ugly head at their Christmas party.
I love these kinds of stories that are more about the characters than the actual events of the story itself. The author has a beautiful style of writing, and while it took me a few chapters to really get into the story, once it started to unfold I was glued. There are a lot of characters in this book, and each has their own little point of view, which in the beginning may seem a little confusing but by the end was so right for this story because you could see how everything finally came together.
This may have been a slow burner for me, but it was always interesting. I FELT like it was building toward something big at the end, and the author didn’t disappoint me in any way. About halfway halfway through the book, when the McVee’s throw their Christmas party, that is when the snowball really starts rolling away and you just can’t put it down until you get to the crazy ending. I was short and satisfying and I can’t wait to read the next one. The theme of the series is so cool, as in the next installment is the 80’s and then the 90’s.
Plus, just because I am so silly, but again, they are Australian, which is so awesome. Christmas but it’s summer and people calling each other mate. Plus it’s the 70’s so there is macrame and rotary phones and pool parties. This really was a win/win but you are the real winner because it’s FREE on smashwords
I got this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you Amelia Keldan for sharing your story with me!
Penny and Russell McVee have moved back to a familiar childhood neighborhood after living in the city for about 5 years or so. Being back home seems refreshing and just the change that their family needs right now. The McVees were good friends with another family, the Harrison’s, before leaving, and now that they have moved back to town the wives are eager to rekindle their friendship. The kids are friends and the parents are friends and on the surface it seems like a pretty perfect and ideal situation.
But there are secrets on Evergreen Avenue, not just in the McVee household, but other perfect houses on the perfect street that contain their own little mysteries as well. All of the secrets on Evergreen Avenue get twisted together without anyone knowing it except for you, dear reader, and come to an ugly head at their Christmas party.
I love these kinds of stories that are more about the characters than the actual events of the story itself. The author has a beautiful style of writing, and while it took me a few chapters to really get into the story, once it started to unfold I was glued. There are a lot of characters in this book, and each has their own little point of view, which in the beginning may seem a little confusing but by the end was so right for this story because you could see how everything finally came together.
This may have been a slow burner for me, but it was always interesting. I FELT like it was building toward something big at the end, and the author didn’t disappoint me in any way. About halfway halfway through the book, when the McVee’s throw their Christmas party, that is when the snowball really starts rolling away and you just can’t put it down until you get to the crazy ending. I was short and satisfying and I can’t wait to read the next one. The theme of the series is so cool, as in the next installment is the 80’s and then the 90’s.
Plus, just because I am so silly, but again, they are Australian, which is so awesome. Christmas but it’s summer and people calling each other mate. Plus it’s the 70’s so there is macrame and rotary phones and pool parties. This really was a win/win but you are the real winner because it’s FREE on smashwords
I got this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you Amelia Keldan for sharing your story with me!
November 17, 2017
I was pleasantly surprised by this quick novel set in 1970's Australia. The first third of the book was challenging to keep up with the rotating characters even within chapters but once each unique main characters were shown more in depth based off their own points of views, I was able to dive into the stories that culminated to one bigger picture. I was not anticipating other worldly/all-seeing types of avenues but it was played somewhat subtly up until the last few chapters where family secrets are revealed - yet still yielding suspense for the next 3 installments, each sequel taking place a decade after the former. I took to the youngest McVee children, Tildy, because of her innocence and curiosity with the adults, quickly taking on the mindset of one as she is faced with an interesting reality and experience. From what I can tell, this has the makings of a mini/limited series if it were to be adapted - I would choose to update some of the cheesy and unrealistic familial moments that occur early on in the story unless the idea was to use a facade of a perfect and loving family as we learn more about them and their secrets. There are some stories within that are not resolved or touched on much further that I would be interested to see how they fare!
Read Evergreen Avenue if you like the themes of:
Family Drama/History
Gifted Children
Intertwined Plots
Visions
Read Evergreen Avenue if you like the themes of:
Family Drama/History
Gifted Children
Intertwined Plots
Visions
January 23, 2018
I was given a free review copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Set in South Australia, Penny, Russell and their kids, simone, Tildy and Joel ,move back to their old area, and reconnect with old friends. But with secrets between Penny and her best friends husband Mitch, a party will bring things to a head where the truth will be uncovered, but then 6 year old Tildy goes missing. Claiming not to remember where she's been, Tildy may now know why she dreams of the sad man, maybe Helen is another truth to be uncovered. As for wife beater Todd, he's a nasty piece of work who's lurking round, watching, but Tildy can sense emotion and that sense is hot fear.
This was a great read, had me hooked in to see what was going to happen next. Definitely on to Evergreen Park book 2 of the Evergreen series.
This was a great read, had me hooked in to see what was going to happen next. Definitely on to Evergreen Park book 2 of the Evergreen series.
November 25, 2017
Definitely adding the other books in this series to my wishlist, it ends on such a cliff hanger you need to know what happens with Penny and you need to know so much more about Dr Green and Helen. This is definitely a thrilling read with such a charming flow, so many unanswered questions, how could you stop reading?
March 5, 2018
The descriptive phrases in this novel are wonderful. The voices of the characters are totally believable and engaging. The spousal abuse is upsetting. The ending came only too soon and left this reader looking forward to the next book.
May 4, 2018
The one great aspect this book has is its characterization.
Read full review in the 2018 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2018 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
April 28, 2018
I received this book free from the author at no cost to the author for an honest review. I liked this book a lot!!!! It takes place in Australia during the 1970s. This family move into a haunted house. It was great reading about a place and time period that I have never been to.
Read
July 7, 2018book was cute
April 7, 2018
Disclosure: I received this book for free through Voracious Readers for an honest review.
I rated this book as four stars as it was an enjoyable read. Evergreen Avenue follows the McVee family who have recently returned to the mum's small town Adelaide Hills (just outside Adelaide in Melbourne). I felt like the characters were well rounded and all had distinct and likeable personalities. I found the book compelling and wanted to keep reading until the end, needing to know what was going to happen at the all important party. I also liked that there was a bit of a supernatural tilt with Tildy's abilities.
One thing that did bug me about this book is that it is quite a cliffhanger ending and I felt like many of the plot points were not resolved by the conclusion of the book. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect everything to be completely explained by the end of book 1, what would be left for the rest of the series? But I prefer my books to have some kind of firm conclusions about part of the plot. Evergreen Avenue is one of a four book series which I do feel is unnecessary. I think that it is really one story whereby each book could be classified as a "part" and easily could be put together to create a four part novel. That being said, I did purchase the remainder of the series after reading this book because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. And given that I purchased the ebook version it ended up costing about $8 (Australian) which is extremely cheap for four books and fairly cheap for one book, so not the biggest deal.
Once again, I would like to thank the author and Voracious readers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review. It was enjoyable and given me another author to add to my "to be read" list.
I rated this book as four stars as it was an enjoyable read. Evergreen Avenue follows the McVee family who have recently returned to the mum's small town Adelaide Hills (just outside Adelaide in Melbourne). I felt like the characters were well rounded and all had distinct and likeable personalities. I found the book compelling and wanted to keep reading until the end, needing to know what was going to happen at the all important party. I also liked that there was a bit of a supernatural tilt with Tildy's abilities.
One thing that did bug me about this book is that it is quite a cliffhanger ending and I felt like many of the plot points were not resolved by the conclusion of the book. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect everything to be completely explained by the end of book 1, what would be left for the rest of the series? But I prefer my books to have some kind of firm conclusions about part of the plot. Evergreen Avenue is one of a four book series which I do feel is unnecessary. I think that it is really one story whereby each book could be classified as a "part" and easily could be put together to create a four part novel. That being said, I did purchase the remainder of the series after reading this book because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. And given that I purchased the ebook version it ended up costing about $8 (Australian) which is extremely cheap for four books and fairly cheap for one book, so not the biggest deal.
Once again, I would like to thank the author and Voracious readers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review. It was enjoyable and given me another author to add to my "to be read" list.
December 19, 2017
This is a very interesting book with a unique supernatural perspective. Unfortunately, it is obviously Book one in the series. Be prepared with the second book!
June 30, 2018
I received this book as a complete set from the author.
I enjoyed this quick read quite a bit, but taken out of the story by some of the editing issues. There are several instances where the characters are called the wrong name only to be called the right name a paragraph later. I wouldn’t mention it if it wasn’t such a frequent thing.
Some of the punctuation and words also bugged me; I’m not sure if this is how grammar is in Australia, but it bothered me.
I want more information about Tildy and the haunted house. Everyone mentioned the ghost but we never learned anything about him in this first book. I also am very curious about the Helena/Helen arc... who are these women and how are they connected?
On to book two...
I enjoyed this quick read quite a bit, but taken out of the story by some of the editing issues. There are several instances where the characters are called the wrong name only to be called the right name a paragraph later. I wouldn’t mention it if it wasn’t such a frequent thing.
Some of the punctuation and words also bugged me; I’m not sure if this is how grammar is in Australia, but it bothered me.
I want more information about Tildy and the haunted house. Everyone mentioned the ghost but we never learned anything about him in this first book. I also am very curious about the Helena/Helen arc... who are these women and how are they connected?
On to book two...
July 14, 2018
Only six years old and Tildy can sense things happening around her. She sees more than she should when her family move back to their hometown. Secrets are revealed that threaten to destroy all the lives around them.
This was a good read but that ending, what a cliffhanger. I'm issuing a warning to all readers that you'll want book 2 on standby cos this ends so abruptly, cleverly as well. The plot was fairly steady until right towards the end but interesting too. Tildy is a really interesting character and I look forward to learning more about her in book 2.
This was a good read but that ending, what a cliffhanger. I'm issuing a warning to all readers that you'll want book 2 on standby cos this ends so abruptly, cleverly as well. The plot was fairly steady until right towards the end but interesting too. Tildy is a really interesting character and I look forward to learning more about her in book 2.
September 4, 2018
This book took a little time to really get into - it was hard to keep up with the changing point of views - but once I got used to it, I enjoyed the story. My only complaint is that there were a few characters and scenes that I’m still not sure how they fit into the overall story. I guess I’ll have to read the rest of the series to answer all my questions. 🙂
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
February 25, 2018
I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I found it a little slow to start but then was pleasantly surprised There are some twists, (I had to keep reminding myself it is set in the 70s) and eventually you are left on a cliffhanger which definitely leaves you wanting to dig in to the next one. Very light easy reading. I would give it three and a half stars. 😊
September 1, 2018
I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest review. I loved it. It flows very well. The characters are real and the story is very compelling. However, it ends with a cliff hanger like on TV. I was a bit disappointed but hooked and can't wait for the next installment.
May 22, 2018
Evergreen Avenue is an interesting story. The characters are well rounded and engaging. I did feel that the plot was a bit muddy and the story ended too abruptly.
I received a complimentary copy from Voracious Readers in return for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy from Voracious Readers in return for an honest review.
July 30, 2018
I was a little confused at first with the switching of characters mid chapter but the further you got in to the book, the more it started to make sense. So it was not a bad read, whatsoever. It definitely kept my attention. I’m not a fan of the cliffhanger ending though.
August 22, 2018
I recieved a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only. It was a very fast, easy read. It was mostly a set up for the following books, it seems, as the last page is quite the cliffhanger. I'm heading over to Amazon right now to get the next book.
September 30, 2018
Great characters, family secrets , ghosts , intrigue and a cliffhanger ending. What more can you ask of a book except follow on books .
January 27, 2020
NICE BOOK,
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