In 1920s California, two people in need of healing find strange refuge in a house with a mind of its own in an enthralling fantasy by the author of A Thousand Recipes for Revenge.

Grieving Hollywood writer Fayette Wynne arrives in Carmel-by-the-Sea in 1926 to finish her latest project in peace. All alone, save for the preternatural sourdough starter her family has nurtured for years, Fayette is also resentful. The proven healing powers of the bread made with her starter were insufficient to save her beloved mother. For Fayette, it’s time to try and push past the pain and anger and move on.

Then, during a violent storm, Fayette saves rising star Rex Hallstrom during a moment of crisis. Their shelter: a peculiar cliffside house, its door flung open as if beckoning them. Sentient, curious, and lonely, it recognizes in Fayette a unique magic even older than its own.

In the days that follow, as a friendship grows between Fayette and Rex, they discover local legends surrounding the isolated house: It appeared in the span of a single night, its cursed origins said to be Hell itself. But for two souls who need to move forward, it provides unexpected comfort and hope. In fact, Fayette and Rex have never felt more alive. Neither has the house, whose mysteries are unending and whose wicked history may be too powerful to ignore.

Fayette has fled to Carmel-by-theSea to finish a screenplay and escape her sadness over the death of her mother. Rex Hallstrom, Hollywood actor, is there as well avoiding a studio arranged marriage and looking for a way out of his dilemma, In one fateful moment Fayette and Rex meet and take shelter in a strange house that has secrets of its own.

Set in 1920s Californian, the story combines elements of the Hollywood morality push of that era along with magic and survivors - survivors of war, survivors of loss and survivors of loneliness.  Fayette mourns the loss of her family, her mother’s death leaving her alone in the world. Rex mourns his inability to be who he really is and love who he wants. We also have Fayette’s landlady in Carmel, Mrs Fitz, whose husband came home from World War I an empty shell and her search for a medium who will heal him. Then there is her mysterious maid, Heidi, found years earlier adrift in the sea, close to death. And we cannot forget the house who is sentient and as well as a magical sourdough starter called Mother.

This is a story about people, their losses and their ability to overcome their fears to find new beginnings and build new families. Well, not just people because the house also has suffered loss and wants, no needs, to rebuild a new family for itself. The characters are all well-fleshed out, even the house, and the story is both compelling and moving.  The story comes to a satisfying conclusion though I was also sorry to say good-bye to all of these characters. Highly recommended. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon

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