Blog Tour: The Stone Arch Secret by K.D. Dowdall

I want to thank Reads and Reels Blog Tours for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Title: The Stone Arch Secret

Author: K.D. Dowdall

Rating:

To View or Buy via Amazon Click the Following Link: http://amzn.to/2D5HiDp

Check out this book on Goodreads: The Stone Arch Secret https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36606875-the-stone-arch-secret

***Readers who like books by Debra Burroughs and Melinda Leigh will like, The Stone Arch Secret.

Twenty-eight-year-old anthropologist, Lilly Allaire, receives a phone call telling her that Dax is dead. The cause of death is unknown.
At the age of fourteen, best friends, Lilly and Dax, experience a traumatic incident. After the incident, Dax is institutionalized in a psychiatric hospital in a catatonic state. For Dax, his memory loss is a subconscious act of self-preservation, a blocking out of all memories. Lilly still suffers a blocked memory of that day and has frequent nightmares.
After Dax’s funeral, Lilly decides to go back to Salmon Brook, her hometown, to find out the truth about the mysterious incident that destroyed Dax’s life. While searching for clues to the incident, Lilly has a chance meeting with a former high school classmate, Noah Hawthorne.
Noah remembers Lilly as his high school secret crush and offers to help her. Together, they try to unravel the mysterious incident that plagues Lilly’s dreams and turns them into nightmares. They soon realize that their hometown has a deadly secret and both their lives are now in danger. However, Noah has a secret of his own that puts Lilly in harm’s way.

I absolutely LOVED The Stone Arch Secret by K.D Dowdall! I have to be honest and say I was a bit sceptical when I saw it. I mean the premise sounded awesome but this was a new author for me. I am so glad I gave this book a shot! The story had a great mystery and a sweet romance without the freaky, freaky added to it which I enjoyed!

You guys know I love to add to my review when a book I have read can relate to my life. Well this one did in a couple ways but mainly what Dax and Lilly went through stuck out the most to me.

As some know, I was in and out of institutions growing up because of a severe mental illness caused by some severe trauma I went through as a child. Well Lilly still goes through blocked memories and nightmares. I have night terrors about every night and because of having D.I.D. I battle amnesia from different parts of my life.

The reason I could relate to what Dax webt through was because I was institutionalized atleast 3/4s of my life and I also went through catatonia for about a year. I couldn’t believe when I came to that I got to that point but I did.

The characterisation in this book was fantastic and the plot was great. Even though this was a light read, it was full of depth. I won’t soon forget The Stone Arch Secret by K.D Dowdall and I highly recommend this story!

Karen DeMers Dowdall (K. D. Dowdall), born in New England, has a Master’s degree in Nursing and a PhD in Nutrition, spent her elementary-grade school years in the small farming community of Salmon Brook, settled in 1680 by a stalwart group of Europeans. She grew up exploring its hauntingly dark forest preserve, swimming in Salmon Brook with a plethora of the unexplained, exploring Rock Fall Caves, and ice-skating on a “haunted” pond in winter.
Karen has also traveled abroad and has lived in the Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, and England. Karen’s new fiction, Garrett’s Bones, is a mystery, murder with with a dash of romance and the paranormal. Karen’s first novel, Delphi Altair Strange Beginnings, is a fantasy fiction adventure story. It is now available on Amazon October 2016. Visit her website at http://www.karendowdall.com

Responses

  1. If there is one thing I love about your reviews, besides the always incredibly fun and awesome gifs, and wonderful descriptions you include: it’s your bravery. The life you have had is not an easy one, but to talk and share things that are so very tough, is just something I have such amazing respect for. All the things you went through, more than some people have ever experienced, and despite all that: you stil are a constant source of optimism. Lady: you are an inspiration 😘
    Wonderful review, for what I think is an awesome read and that I have just literally added to my to read list 😀Thanks for such a personal post again. To say it in your own words: you rock ! 😘😘❤️❤️

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Thanks so much Michel!💖💖💖 That means so much to me! Thanks fir your love and support! You are such a great friend!😄📚💖💙💚💜💛

      Liked by 1 person

      1. So are you sweet Dani, never ever forget that 😘❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Dani, you never cease to amaze me. When you review a book like this and share the similarities in your life, it’s a reminder that these things happen to people in real life. While I didn’t go through what you did, I do have huge gaps in my memories of my childhood. I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not.😕

    Anyway, I was recently contacted by Karen, our fellow blogger, and she’s sending me her books including this one, so now I’m really psyched!🤗

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks so much Kim!!!! Your friendship and your support means the world to me!!!!💖💖💖💖 You are such an amazing lady and have such a big heart!💖💙💚💜💛 I’m so sorry that you went through trauma in your life as well!😓 It’s actually pretty common with people whom have been through traumatic experiences and abuse.😭 But on a lighter note, Yay for the books!📚💖📚💖📚💖

      Liked by 1 person

  3. I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this! You’re the best!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. You’re welcome sweetheart and thanks so much for this opportunity!📚😍🤗😘💛💚💜📚

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Dani, thank you for this very special and beautiful review, it deeply touched my heart. You are one incredible and very talented young woman. Thank you from my heart, Karen 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks so much, that means so much coming from you!💖💙💚💜💛 I’m so sorry that I was a lil late for the tour but I am so thankful for this experience!😄📚💖

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Dani, you are so wonderful and I am so thrilled that you loved my book. Thank you, Karen 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Dani, please make sure you send me your address, because I wish to send you a Print copy of my book with a note inside from me. Thank you so much for a fabulous review. I am so thrilled. Karen 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Sounds awesome Karen!😍 I am super excited! Yay!🙌🙌🙌

          Like

  5. Awesome review Dani. Your reviews offer insights into the books and to you as well. I love both aspects!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much! You really have no idea how much your supporr means to me!!!!😍😘🤗📚 You are so supportive, my friend!

      Liked by 1 person

  6. DANII ❤️❤️😍 so happy to be back on blog hopping and back to your wonderful posts AS WELL ! Its nice to see that you can relate to the book and moreover being brave about what happened in your pife :’) You are forever my hero ❤️❤️! Love this review !!😍😍

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much sweetheart!!!💖💖💖 Hopefully I can get better with blog hopping soon! I appreciate all your LOVE and support my friend!😍😘🤗📚

      Like

  7. Didi Oviatt - Author Avatar
    Didi Oviatt – Author

    Great review! I love Karen’s writting! You should check out Garretts Bones!! It’s an excellent book too!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much Didi!!!😄💖📚 Thank you so much for the recommendation!😀💚💜💛

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Didi Oviatt - Author Avatar
        Didi Oviatt – Author

        Absolutely! 😙

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Reading the synopsis, I had already guessed that this would resonate with you in many ways. Small wonder you enjoyed it so much. 😦 x
    Best wishes, Pete. x

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It resonated with me but not directly and I really can’t go into it but it didn’t trigger me thankfully. It was indirectish. It’s hard to explain without spoilers of course. Xoxoxoxo

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
    This post is a review of KD Dowdall’s The Stone Arch Secret! Please check out this excellent novel and Dani’s blogsite.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. *hug* For the past. I’ve never been institutionalised, but family members have. Scary.

    Great review! I wanna read this now. 😛 I had been in the fence about it, but you convinced me.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much for your support!!!😘🤗 It was the norm for me after awhile so there was some very scary moments but it was my norm, if that makes sense.

      Like

  11. Reblogged this on K. D. Dowdall and commented:
    Dani, *Touch My spine Book Reviews*, thank you for an incredibly beautiful review of The Stone Arch Secret and to add how it, how it touched you personally, touched my heart! Thank you, from my heart! K. D. Dowdall 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Always Dani, and thank you again, for that wonderful review of The Stone Arch Secret. Karen 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I LOVED it! So it’s more of a thank you Karen!

          Liked by 1 person

  12. What an incredible review, I now know a wee bit more about Karen and her beautiful writing…your page is full of magic and brightened a rather foggy morning!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much! Sorry I just saw this, WordPress hid a lot of my comments!😢 I absolutely loved her writing! Thanks for commenting on my blog!😍

      Liked by 1 person

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About the author

Sophia Bennett is an art historian and freelance writer with a passion for exploring the intersections between nature, symbolism, and artistic expression. With a background in Renaissance and modern art, Sophia enjoys uncovering the hidden meanings behind iconic works and sharing her insights with art lovers of all levels. When she’s not visiting museums or researching the latest trends in contemporary art, you can find her hiking in the countryside, always chasing the next rainbow.