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piratequeen's review against another edition
1.0
Deeply disappointing. There wasn't a single sympathetic character in the book, which surprised me, given how talented Willig is at creating likeable figures. Additionally, the writing felt a bit slapdash, and the setting wasn't engaging. I was excited for a story set in the 1920s, with all of the glitz and glamor and post-war desperation and excess, but there was very little to be found. It could have been set in any 20th-century era; there was no historical vibe to it at all. Fortunately, she's done better with her Pink Carnation series, which I never fail to enjoy.
mishale1's review against another edition
4.0
This book is told in two storylines.
In the 1920’s Addie is a young woman, she’s fallen in love with a very inconvenient man.
In the 1990’s Clemmie goes to see her Granny Addie for her 99th birthday. Her grandmother is slipping away. Clemmie regrets not making enough time for her grandmother. It’s been a long time since they’ve really talked.
Her mother and her aunt have a bit of a strained relationship. While arguing, they let something mysterious slip. This leads to the women admitting a huge family secret to Addie.
I don’t want them say much more and risk spoiling anything. I enjoyed this story. I lucked out and won this in a giveaway and I’m glad I did. This author writes a good, entertaining historical fiction.
In the 1920’s Addie is a young woman, she’s fallen in love with a very inconvenient man.
In the 1990’s Clemmie goes to see her Granny Addie for her 99th birthday. Her grandmother is slipping away. Clemmie regrets not making enough time for her grandmother. It’s been a long time since they’ve really talked.
Her mother and her aunt have a bit of a strained relationship. While arguing, they let something mysterious slip. This leads to the women admitting a huge family secret to Addie.
I don’t want them say much more and risk spoiling anything. I enjoyed this story. I lucked out and won this in a giveaway and I’m glad I did. This author writes a good, entertaining historical fiction.
hollie313's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
imbookingit's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed Lauren Willig's adventures outside the world of the Pink Carnation. It still has the split between current times and an earlier generation, but the links are much closer here.
I enjoyed reading about the characters and the links between them.
I enjoyed reading about the characters and the links between them.
riversong222's review against another edition
5.0
This was an excellent read. I never would have picked it up except that I saw that Susanna Kearsely (the reigning "Favorite Author") is also reading this.
This is a fast-paced, time-weaving historical romance novel, with fascinating characters (with actual flaws!), fantastic (and witty!) dialog, and some great twists and turns through modern times and just after WWI.
This is a stand-alone story by Willig, who has written a long series before this. I will have to check out those books as well.
This is a fast-paced, time-weaving historical romance novel, with fascinating characters (with actual flaws!), fantastic (and witty!) dialog, and some great twists and turns through modern times and just after WWI.
This is a stand-alone story by Willig, who has written a long series before this. I will have to check out those books as well.
robinwalter's review against another edition
It was just too boring, no characters I cared enough about to wade through the rest of the book
swellchel's review against another edition
3.0
I am a fan of the author's series (Secret History of the Pink Carnation) ... so I thought I would try this new book she released. It was good, but I had JUST finished "The Secret Keeper" by Kate Morton and it was VERY similar. Maybe if I had waited a few months to space them out I would of enjoyed it more. Both books jump around different periods of the past while following their main characters. They also follow the main characters' posterity in the present-day while they try to uncover mysteries about those ancestors. Not saying it's a bad book ... just too similar to me! I kept mixing up characters and storylines in my head! haha
cakt1991's review against another edition
5.0
Just perfect! I think I'm in love with this book even more than the Pink Carnation books (and those are pretty amazing).
I loved the premise, first of all. It really hit home for me, because like Clemmie, i too lost a grandmother whom I was close to, but started to realize I didn't know as much about her as I thought.
And the characterizations were so well done. I like how there wasn't really a "good guy" or "bad guy" in this...everyone was flawed. Even Beatrice, who was a bit of a shrew, is painted in a sympathetic light, because you read about her upbringing with her elitist parents who pushed her into an elitist marriage with a man who didn't love her. And Frederick, despite being the "hero" of the book, falls prey to Bea's charms, and is trapped in marriage with her for several years as a result.
I thought the modern storyline was interesting, because it really reflected how the family turned out due to what happened between Frederick, Bea, and Addie. There are a lot of unresolved issues between family members, and they come to understand each other only by learning about and discussing their ancestors' past.
I also loved how the author incorporated events of her personal life into the book, which is especially noticeable when you read the ending "news clipping" about the marriage of Clemmie and Jon. Fans of the author will know that she too recently married and a lot of the details mentioned in the clipping are similar to those mentioned in her own wedding announcement.
I loved the premise, first of all. It really hit home for me, because like Clemmie, i too lost a grandmother whom I was close to, but started to realize I didn't know as much about her as I thought.
And the characterizations were so well done. I like how there wasn't really a "good guy" or "bad guy" in this...everyone was flawed. Even Beatrice, who was a bit of a shrew, is painted in a sympathetic light, because you read about her upbringing with her elitist parents who pushed her into an elitist marriage with a man who didn't love her. And Frederick, despite being the "hero" of the book, falls prey to Bea's charms, and is trapped in marriage with her for several years as a result.
I thought the modern storyline was interesting, because it really reflected how the family turned out due to what happened between Frederick, Bea, and Addie. There are a lot of unresolved issues between family members, and they come to understand each other only by learning about and discussing their ancestors' past.
I also loved how the author incorporated events of her personal life into the book, which is especially noticeable when you read the ending "news clipping" about the marriage of Clemmie and Jon. Fans of the author will know that she too recently married and a lot of the details mentioned in the clipping are similar to those mentioned in her own wedding announcement.