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Allie Cresswell
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The House in the Hollow: A Regency Family Saga (The Talbot Saga) Kindle Edition

by Allie Cresswell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 311 ratings
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**The new novel by the best-selling author Allie Cresswell** **A prequel to the award-winning Tall Chimneys** The Talbots are wealthy. But their wealth is from ‘trade’. With neither ancient lineage nor title, they struggle for entrance into elite Regency society. Finally, aided by an impecunious viscount, they gain access to the drawing rooms of England’s most illustrious houses. Mrs Talbot intends her daughter Jocelyn to marry well, to eliminate the stain of the family’s ignoble beginnings. But the young men Jocelyn meets are vacuous, seeing Jocelyn as merely a substantial dowry. Only Lieutenant Barnaby Willow sees the real Jocelyn, but he is deployed to war. The hypocrisy of fashionable society repulses Jocelyn—beneath the courtly manners she finds deceit, dissipation and vice. She stumbles upon and then is embroiled in a sordid scandal which threatens utter disgrace for the Talbot family. Humiliated and dishonoured, she is sent to a remote house hidden in a hollow of the Yorkshire moors, irrevocably separated from family, friends and any hope of hearing about the lieutenant’s fate.
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  1. Part of series
    The Talbot Saga
  2. Print length
    672 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    November 10, 2020
  6. File size
    888 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

I couldn't put this book down - for me, it is Cresswell's best yet.


I was seduced by this story from the very beginning, thanks to the calibre of Allie Cresswell's exquisite prose, which is almost poetic in its quality. I could feel the bitter cold. I shivered with trepidation at Jocelyn's plight and rejoiced in her small triumphs.


This is easily one of the best books I've read this year.


Allie Cresswell once more demonstrates her almost peerless ability to evoke place and period. I admired her exploration of class, privilege and gender in the early part of the nineteenth century - a politicised Jane Austen.


For lovers of historical fiction, I think Cresswell is up there with the best of them.



About the Author

Allie has been writing fiction since she could hold a pencil. She studied English Literature at Birmingham University and did an MA at Queen Mary College, London. She has been a print buyer, a pub landlady, a bookkeeper and the proprietor of a group of boutique holiday cottages, but now writes full time. She lives in Cumbria, NW of the UK

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08LHJLTQ6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Allie Cresswell (November 10, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 10, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 888 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 672 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 311 ratings

About the author

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Allie Cresswell

Allie Cresswell

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Allie Cresswell is the recipient of two coveted One Stop Fiction Five Star Awards and three Readers' Favorite Awards

Allie was born in Stockport, UK and began writing fiction as soon as she could hold a pencil.

Allie recalls: 'I was about 8 years old. Our teacher asked us to write about a family occasion and I launched into a detailed, harrowing and entirely fictional account of my grandfather's funeral. I think he died very soon after I was born; certainly I have no memory of him and definitely did not attend his funeral, but I got right into the details, making them up as I went along (I decided he had been a Vicar, which I spelled 'Vice'). My teacher obviously considered this outpouring very good bereavement therapy so she allowed me to continue with the story on several subsequent days, and I got out of maths and PE on a few occasions before I was rumbled.'

She went on to do a BA in English Literature at Birmingham University and an MA at Queen Mary College, London.

She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a book-keeper, run a B & B and a group of boutique holiday cottages. Nowadays Allie writes full time having retired from teaching literature to lifelong learners.

She has two grown-up children, two granddaughters and two grandsons, is married to Tim and lives in Cumbria.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
311 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Paul Talbot
5.0 out of 5 stars A well crafted saga
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
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I was put off a bit at first by the writing style, hailing back to an older time, but I found the story curious and then fulfilling. There are plenty of mysteries to endure and plot twists to encounter. I was attracted because of my surname. I was pleasantly surprised that my wife was retained by the prose (I was reading the story to her). A well crafted start to the trilogy.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars A unique story worth reading
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2023
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This book is well written. The complex plot unfolds slowly. There is much more going on than is evident, though the groundwork is laid for the development. The narration is well done and suits the story. I usually prefer stories driven by dialog, but this one needed to be told as it was. The descriptions give a clear image for the readers inner eye. I will read more by this author beginning right now. The reason for only 4 stars is that there were aspects of the story that were quite painful, though I thought they were important elements.
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PromptProse
5.0 out of 5 stars A perfectly wonderful Regency romance
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2020
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Jocelyn Talbot has rebelled against her mother and has flouted the norms of Regency society. Actions have consequences, and Jocelyn has been immured in an isolated house with only a small coterie of servants and an illegitimate baby for company.

In time, Jocelyn is able to come to terms with her exile, and crafts a life for herself.

I was seduced by this story from the very beginning, thanks to the calibre of Allie Cresswell’s exquisite prose, which is almost poetic in its quality. I could feel the bitter cold. I shivered with trepidation at Jocelyn’s plight and rejoiced in her small triumphs.

This is a story about people, and all of the main characters are carefully crafted and multi-dimensional. Jocelyn is believable, as is Agnes Orphan and the other individuals who populate the book.

Everything in this story fits together. There are no jagged edges. No loose ends. The writing is compelling (I read it from cover to cover in a single day), and the ending is perfect.

Lovers of Regency romance will adore this book. As for me, I’m hoping for a sequel.
One person found this helpful
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Sean Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Writing!
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
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Originally pulled in by the synopsis of the story, I found I could not put this book down! The author is an AMAZING writer! Having found Ms. Creswell, I now find that she may well bump up into my favorite top 3 writers. Not in a long time have I been surprised by the events that unfold in a book, yet every wonderful aspect of prose was not only present in this book, but plentiful!!! The story centers around a family who seem to have no conscious in regards to good decision making. Thus, the eldest daughter takes the brunt of the poor choices. However, what Jocelyn does with what she's been handed is simply awe-inspiring. Thanks for a fabulous book, Ms. Creswell! I'm halfway through part 2 and will not only be ordering part 3, but will plow the everything else you've written. Well done, madam, well done!
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Amy
5.0 out of 5 stars A modern day, Jane Austen, or Brontë!
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2023
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This is one of the best written most engrossing books I have read in a very long time! I stayed up several nights, late that is, to read this book. The authors use of words, style and settings are fantastic and draw you in to the story. I felt as though I was reading Jane Austen, or one of the Brontë sisters!
I am eagerly looking forward to reading more in this saga! Plus other books by this author!
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MaureenAB
4.0 out of 5 stars If you love Jane Austin, you will like this one
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2020
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A really charming story in the genre of Jane Austin. Would love to see these book adapted as a TV series.
One person found this helpful
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P. Berinstein
5.0 out of 5 stars Austen, the Brontes, and the early Philippa Gregory combined
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2022
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What a book, what a story! I came across this title by accident (a very happy one indeed) and I feel so fortunate. I absolutely could not put it down. The writing is exquisite without being precious and the story and characters compelling. Reading it felt like a vacation. If you enjoy Jane Austen, the Brontes, or Philippa Gregory’s Wideacre trilogy you will love this story.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, engrossing read.
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2022
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I loved this gem of a novel. The language is gorgeous, the plotting extraordinary. I loved her characters, fully fleshed out as they were. Read this lovely gem, it's hard to put down.
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Top reviews from other countries

Kay Esslemont
5.0 out of 5 stars New Author
Reviewed in Canada on February 18, 2023
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I have just read The House in the Hollow by Allie Cresswell, who is a new author to me. What a find!
I enjoyed this book very much, and see that I have many more books written by Ms Cresswell to read.
Thank you.
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veritevivante
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Reviewed in France on August 10, 2021
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I think I've read all of Allie Cresswell's books and enjoyed them especially the "Emma" trilogy which put other much more interesting characters besides Emma into the fore.
This book is a different animal, I found it intensely moving and the reasons the author gave for writing this are authentic, after all the different lockdowns we've had to endure. I can relate to the nuggets of pleasure during this time of the trill of a songbird or a call from someone loved but far away during these periods.
Coming back to the book, could any mother be so hard and cruel? Apparently and unfortunately so even in these modern times. But kindness exists too, in small and unexpected quarters and ways and that is what keeps us moving on in life.
I'm going to delve into the rest of the Talbot series now, and look forward to Allie Cresswell's future gems.
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Heather Gibbs
5.0 out of 5 stars The gift that keeps on giving
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 11, 2020
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I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent book which transports the reader to times gone by and is a reminder of how life has changed for the better. The central character, Jocelyn, is banished from society in disgrace to live in a bleak hideaway. Why? What on earth happened?

The author cleverly unravels the events leading up to her heroine’s semi-incarceration, weaving in the characters involved as the story unfolds and keeping the reader in suspense as to how Jocelyn came to be in her unfortunate situation. I have read several books by Allie Cresswell and enjoyed them all immensely. This novel is no exception - it is the gift that keeps on giving with all the twists, turns and surprises that make a great read.

Ms Cresswell has clearly done her research, portraying life in both the upper and lower echelons of society in great detail with all the judgemental attitudes and bombastic hierarchy of the era. For me the story highlights in particular, the appalling hardships and intimidation that women were subjected to both “upstairs and downstairs” and how many hurdles they had to overcome to survive in a society which favoured men. I believe this novel would translate into an excellent TV period drama. I understand it is the prequel to Tall Chimneys which I have not read but it is most certainly now on my lockdown reading list.

So, to summarise, if you love historical novels, if you loved Upstairs, Downstairs, if you love Jane Austen and if you want to enjoy a great story and learn something along the way, then this is a book for you!
2 people found this helpful
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TyndaFlat
5.0 out of 5 stars Draws you in
Reviewed in Australia on December 17, 2023
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Allie uses words in a way that places you in the setting. You can feel and hear what she is imparting. A very detailed story of life for women of all stations, even the lowliest servant.
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Wendy S McNeil
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, inspiring story!
Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2020
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Highly recommend to fans of historical fiction. I became a fan of Allie Cresswell after reading Tall Chimneys. I was so drawn in to both stories...her characters feel so profoundly real! Not a single dull moment - I finished the book in less than 24 hours! Looking forward to starting the Highbury Trilogy next!!
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