Marcie Steele was one of THE very first authors I reviewed on my blog back in 2016, and I am delighted to say that she is back with a new series! I have the pleasure of reviewing Marcie’s first book in her new series, ‘The Man Across The Street’ on my blog today. Many thanks to the author for my review copy, and to Sarah for the blog tour invite.
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 is the first of a new series by bestselling author, Marcie Steele. It features a host of characters living on Hope Street in the market town of Somerley, also featured in The Somerley Series. Each character will have their own standalone story in books to follow.
What does TWG think?
I was SO excited when the news hit that Marcie Steele was back! It’s been several years since this author has graced us with a new book, however fans of Mel Sherratt will understand why!!
When I started this book, I was a bit taken aback by the storyline, as I felt such a dark vibe emulating from the characters that i wasnt really expecting. I mean, the characters live on ‘Hope Street’! I was expecting a lot of hope, naturally, and that was something I felt I didn’t quite get.
Hannah has had her own fair share of upsetting circumstances. Doug, too, has had HIS own fair share of heartbreak. Other characters in the story were honest about the upset that they had also endured in their life. Now there clearly isnt anything wrong with honesty, but when I had so many characters around me with upsetting stories, I felt quite sad and in a little slump. I didn’t feel hopeful. I didn’t feel positive. Instead, I had a cloud hanging over my head.
The beauty of this book is that the author shows that even through dark times, there will always be a little ray of sunshine at some point in our lives, whether it be a weekly routine with a friend, a random joke, a little smile. So even though the storyline was ver uncertain, the author kept the entire book realistic in the vein that bad things do happen, and people still live their lives despite enduring various different heartbreaks. Reality isnt always sunshine and rainbows and I appreciated it. I really did.
I really enjoyed the sheer honesty behind the characters, and I loved how Marcie Steele has come back with a writing style that oozes strength, maturity, ambition and poise. Not that she didn’t have that before, because she did! She has just come back with a bang!
‘The Man Across the Street’ is a true representation of life and loss, friendships and relationships, good times and bad times. The vibe may have been uncertain to begin with, yet by the end of the book my heart was fit to burst with hope and warmth. This is such a feel good, enlightening story that will keep you cosy during these cold, winter nights.
The Writing Garnet 
Thanks Kaisha for being on the blog tour today and for your support. x
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