I’m always eager to try new authors, and this debut novel did not disappoint.

Grace Cavanaugh was a charming character. She was spirited, intelligent, and had a great sense of humour. Her great aunt, eighty-six year old Maggie Reilly, was also a quirky and likeable woman.

The title of this novel originates from the setting. Hungry Hill is a section of Springfield, Massachusetts. This is the neighbourhood where great aunt Maggie has lived her entire life. Grace moves from her home in Greenwich, Connecticut to help her.

This novel covered themes of loss, starting over, and the challenges that being a caregiver can present. I was a bit surprised at the amount of lust and sexual innuendo, but I got over that. Grace was trying to accept the loss of her husband and she found that her Aunt Maggie needed her – possibly as much as Grace needed a change of scene to move on from her loss.

Grace’s two dogs added some levity to the story (and some solace for Maggie). Dog lovers will be especially appreciative of this novel. Ellen was an gigantic Irish Wolfhound, and Stogie, was a small terrier/mutt who resembled a fat brown cigar.

Written with compassion and humour, this novel was an entertaining and compassionate read. Recommended!

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Kinsale Press via NetGalley UK.

ISBN: 9781736075210 – ASIN: ‎ ‎ ‎ B0953ZXXKG – 270 pages

Eileen Patricia Curran was born in Massachusetts and spent much of her childhood in Connecticut. She attended the University of Texas at Dallas (BA, Economics and Finance, summa cum laude), Boston College (MBA, Finance and Marketing), and The New York School of Interior Design. She currently resides in Florida, the land of weirdness, where she is perpetually amazed by the local headlines.

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