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ashc123's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
teeners444's review against another edition
4.0
Read this as part of the North Carolina Reads program through NC Humanities and WF Historical Museum book club. The author paints such a vivid picture of the setting (Biltmore Estate) and characters. There was mystery, murder, heartache, and love all wrapped into a fantastical story set in 1895 as the last touches were being put on the Biltmore Estate.
trisha_thomas's review
2.0
1.5 stars rounded up. I'm so sad I didn't love this one. I knew from the beginning and the info dump that this was going to be a struggle for me. It might have been the writing style just not being for me or that I struggled to keep it all straight since I didn't feel pulled in. Either way, this one just didn't work for me.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
alliepeduto's review against another edition
2.0
It’s probably not the best sign when my favorite part of the book was the historical notes at the end. Though to be fair, I only picked this up because I had the great good fortune to visit Biltmore in person last weekend. So while I loved the descriptions of the house, it didn’t heighten my enjoyment of the story beyond wanting to look at my pictures.
The story was just ok convoluted to follow. I liked the history and how the author tried to tie it all together, but it didn’t really work for me. But I still find the era fascinating and I appreciated the historical research!
The story was just ok convoluted to follow. I liked the history and how the author tried to tie it all together, but it didn’t really work for me. But I still find the era fascinating and I appreciated the historical research!
wells140's review
4.0
This is an engaging mystery. I picked this book because I recently visited the Biltmore. It was easy to imagine the house and grounds given that experience. It is still very fictional so it is a unique read.
margardenlady's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This story about imagined happenings at the biltmore estate outside of Asheville NC gives us a window into the lives of Appalachian families and their juxtaposition among the ultra wealthy new neighbors. Our protagonist is an educated young woman who comes home to tend her dying father. She is ready to cheer for and her twin siblings are pretty adorable too.
sadiereadthat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This is the story of a murder, a mansion, and a very poor family in the backwoods of North Carolina. The setting is the brand new Vanderbilt mansion just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. George Vanderbilt is buying up all of the properties around the mansion, and pushing out the poor farming families. He has brought his friends to the area to help open the building, but their arrival is tarnished by the murder of a Jewish reporter there ti investigate one of his friends. The poor daughter of the neighbor helps to find the murder.
Even though there were a few threads going through this book, it was really fun to read. It was part historical fiction, part mystery, part love story and it was great. I couldn't read it fast enough.
This is the story of a murder, a mansion, and a very poor family in the backwoods of North Carolina. The setting is the brand new Vanderbilt mansion just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. George Vanderbilt is buying up all of the properties around the mansion, and pushing out the poor farming families. He has brought his friends to the area to help open the building, but their arrival is tarnished by the murder of a Jewish reporter there ti investigate one of his friends. The poor daughter of the neighbor helps to find the murder.
Even though there were a few threads going through this book, it was really fun to read. It was part historical fiction, part mystery, part love story and it was great. I couldn't read it fast enough.
sandyyeahyeah's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
janiebin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Interesting historical information about Biltmore and the Blue Ridge mountains.
autismreading_mom's review against another edition
5.0
Took a bit of work to get into this book, seemed quite like " one flew over the cuckoo's nest" at first? Once the timeslip happens it get better, but too much at the front war talk...imo . But reading how she adapted to medic life in ww1 was fascinating! Was also confused with her switching between times...I would like to read another from the author!