In her attempts to escape a past filled with bad memories Marlie moves to Masset where she hopes to find a much better life.
But hope is not always enough and other problems, some more serious than those she fled from, are tossed her way.
Anneli Purchase is very talented in writing about unforgettable settings. In reading Marlie I felt that I was visiting this fishing village alongside Marlie witnessing its rich aboriginal culture and beauty.
Masset is a small fishing village located on Graham Island – the largest of the more than 150 islands that comprise the archipelago of Haida Gwaii on the north coast of British Columbia in Canada.
Here, Marlie encounters harsh climate and living conditions that would make almost anyone hop on the next plane. In spite of the obstacles she encounters, she has many reasons to want to stay: her devotion towards her students caught in a web of poverty and neglect; the island’s pristine, untouched beauty which the author so fluidly and exquisitely describes; a man named Brent.
Anneli Purchase is a talented story-teller. Although the novel has a very strong setting, one which could stand on its own as a travel novel, it is also about a crime which the author handles with great skill and sensitivity. And it is a lovely romance.
Carol Balawyder 
Sounds really good. I always enjoy a novel where the setting is almost a character in and of itself.
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Thanks, Carrie. I hope you have a chance to read Marlie one day.
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Thank you so much for this lovely post, Carol. The video, too, brought back memories of so many fun times I had when I lived there, not knowing back then that I would write about the islands someday. I’m so glad you enjoyed the book and have shared your thoughts with your followers. I hope to have a chance soon to return the favour with a post about your novel The Longest Nine Months, which I enjoyed very much. Have a wonderful Christmas. All the best for the new year.
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Thank you, Anneli. I truly enjoyed your novel although there were some rough scenes but Marlie came through strong.
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Congratulations to Anneli for publishing this intriguing novel, and many thanks to you, Carol, for featuring it.
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Thank you, Jet. I’ve just found your blog and have clicked to follow it. I think we have many interests in common.
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Carol, this is a wonderful review and you make the books sound so tempting. Anneli the setting alone is incredible and with the mixture of such strong characters thrown into turmoil, a crime and romance you’ve achieved a winning formula here. Wishing lots of success with this book and I’m off to take a closer look. Wishing you both a very Merry Christmas.
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Thank you, Annika. I hope you’ve been convinced to read Marlie. Best of the season to you, too.
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This setting really appeals to me! And it sounds like a multilayered story with interesting characters. Thanks for sharing.
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Haida Gwaii is a lovely place to visit. Marlie’s experiences, though far from usual, are ones that any young woman might go through.
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Before I forget, I love your cover😊 I look forward to reading your book Anneli. If it’s half as good as your other ones, it will be a great read. Thank you Carol for that beautiful video. Living there so many years ago, I forgot how stunning the scenery is.
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This book will take you right back to those days of living on the Charlottes. Thanks for your comment, Lark.
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Congratulations to Anneli for publishing her novel, Marli. I enjoy Anneli’s writing as her works so truly evoke the places in which they take place, such as Haida Gwaii, where I visited Anneli a long time ago. Anneli’s sensitivity to and love of the natural world comes through so clearly in her writing.
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Thanks for your comments, Gina. I hope you have a chance to read Marlie. Her days in the classroom may remind you of some of your own.
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Thanks for sharing that post, Anneli. It certainly encourages me to get the book and begin reading! And thanks Carol for sharing the video. Haida Gwaii is beautiful indeed.
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Thanks for visiting this blog and commenting. I really enjoyed writing with Haida Gwaii as the setting of the novel.
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Thanks Anneli for sharing the blog. It encouraged me to buy the book and get reading! And thanks Carol for sharing the video of Haida Gwaii. It is a beautiful spot, although can be quite rugged.
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Rugged, yes! And Marlie finds out all about how dangerously rugged it can be. Hope you enjoy the read, Gladys.
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Thanks for the terrific review, Carol. I’ve got Marlie on my Kindle and I hope to read it very soon. 🙂
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Thanks for buying Marlie, Jill. I hope you like it.
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I haven’t read “Marlie” yet, but am looking forward to doing that very soon. The write up sounds very intriguing, and the video is simply beautiful. I have visited Haida Gwaii, and it truly is a relatively untouched paradise.
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That place is full of adventure and Marlie sure has her share, both good and bad. Thanks for visiting, Sonja.
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Marlie sounds like another great Purchase! Sorry, I couldn’t RESIST! I love Anneli’s writing, and this one intrigues me!
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Thanks, Luanne. Haha. You are too funny! But I hope it will be another great purchase for anyone willing to take the risk. 😉
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Hehehe.
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You make a book sound so intriguing Carol. And you know I always love your recommendations. Thanks for introducing me to this author and Haida Gwaii which I had never heard of in our own country.
Merry Christmas again my friend. And I’ll be featuring your book and my review on my blog this Sunday. ❤
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I’d never heard of Haida Gwaii as well and Anneli has the art of describing it so vividly that it made me google it. What a gorgeously beautiful country we have! ❤
Thank you, dear friend, for featuring my book this Sunday. ❤ 🙂 May you and your family be blessed during this holiday season.
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We have much to learn from one another. ❤ And my pleasure Carol. Wishing you a beautiful Christmas. ❤
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I love new settings, especially natural ones. This sounds like the location will be as interesting as the plot.
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The setting in the Charlottes definitely influences the action.
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I just received my copy of Marlie and looking forward to delving into this newest novel. Anneli has written several novels, over the years, and I’ve enjoyed each one. Her background research is so rich and one can almost feel the chill and smell the salt water. Looking forward to Marlie and her escapades. Your short video makes me want to plan a visit.
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Thanks, Dawn. I hope you enjoy reading about Marlie.
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Carol, this is a great review and thank you for introducing Anneli and her novel. Haida Gwaii is a place that I have always wanted to go, I hope my dream will come true one day. I wish you a Merry Christmas!
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You can go there on a virtual visit with Marlie…. See how you like it, and then buy your ticket for the real trip.
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I wrote it down, will get the book and I hope one day I will travel there, fingers cross if my dream will come true, but surely I would love to .
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Thank you, Juli. I hope you enjoy the book.
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Thank you Anneli. I hope you had a lovely Christmas with friends and families. Yes I have written down the title of the book, how I cannot wait to go find the book when life goes back to normal after the festivites. Have a wonderful day!
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Great. And I love it when life goes back to normal too, for so many reasons.
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wow – I agree reading over such wonderful novels with great principles and vision!!!
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Thanks for your comment and for visiting, Mihran.
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Thank you Carol for sharing news of Marlie by Anneli. It sounds lovely on so many levels. And thank you Anneli for taking us into a part of the world and life we may not experience otherwise. Blessings to you both.
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You are so right, Ann, about Anneli taking us into a part of a world we may never know. She does a fantastic job of it. ❤ All the best for this new year to you and your loved ones.
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