We are all moving toward death, but it's not easy to embrace this fact. I found the discussion in this novel compelling. I enjoyed the the evolution oWe are all moving toward death, but it's not easy to embrace this fact. I found the discussion in this novel compelling. I enjoyed the the evolution of Clover Brooks's life and her relationship to the men and women whose lives touch her and teach her about choices.
She is a flawed character, but understandably so given her family history. I appreciated watching her grow up and become the person who learns from the regrets, advice and lessons learned from her role as a death doula. Part of her evolution is learning to grieve and to love, to accept the risk involved in living and loving and to embody the lessons the dying have taught her.
I especially appreciated her relationship with her grandfather and her recognition of the gift of his presence in her life and the opportunities that tragedy sometimes gives you. In her case, it felt that both of of them learned to embrace the unexpected. It's always a gift to be able to learn from the past and create a new and different future....more
This was fun, a love story, Nora Robert’s that I’ve grown to understand/ expect. Two unlikely companions, artists, photographers who at first glance sThis was fun, a love story, Nora Robert’s that I’ve grown to understand/ expect. Two unlikely companions, artists, photographers who at first glance seem like opposites. But not really. I liked the use of the visual- lots of photography and visual imagery. I loved the look at America through summer experiences. If you’ve traveled across the country and explored it at its essence, or even if you haven’t, you get to experience the view. That is an enjoyable adventure filled with darkness and light, shadows and illusions....more
From the first story I read of the Lady Sherlock series, I was hooked. Charlotte Holmes is a modern woman in a historical setting. She defies mores anFrom the first story I read of the Lady Sherlock series, I was hooked. Charlotte Holmes is a modern woman in a historical setting. She defies mores and stands for justice which makes her a sympathetic heroine. She is bright, ambitious and a deep thinker, a consummate detective, who is seemingly disconnected from her emotions. Not until this story does she exhibit empathy and reconcile her relationship with Lord Ingram.
Although as in other stories, the seemingly varied subplots can pull you away from the essence of the story, the threads tie together. In the opening scene, Chief Inspector Talbot and Inspector Treadles have her in the cross hairs for Lord Bancroft's murder. Thomas uses that interrogation as bookends to the story.
Bancroft, although incarcerated for espionage, is doing his best to pull strings to better his position. As in past stories, he preys on vulnerabilities, such as Charlotte's devotion to her disabled sister Bernadine or his brother Ash's love of Charlotte and loyalties to family, friends and the Crown.
The story was fast paced and complex. It was an thoroughly enjoyable read. I was excited to win the giveaway from Berkley Marketing and look forward to the next story in the series....more
Family relationships can be messy, beautiful, disappointing and joyous. That is especially true in the depiction of the Padavonos, a tight Italian famFamily relationships can be messy, beautiful, disappointing and joyous. That is especially true in the depiction of the Padavonos, a tight Italian family of four sisters raised in Chicago. It is clearly a matriarchal home, but the glue of it is the love as embodied by the father, Charlie and the bond of the sisters. Each takes on roles in the family and each disappoints the others in different ways. But the essence of the family is love and a recognition that forgiveness is love at it finest level.
Julia thinks that she can control her destiny and sets her sights on a William Waters, a lonely and broken man whose first language was basketball. It is the one element of his life that gave him hope and meaning and yet he is misunderstood by the woman who sets her course for him and tries to make him into someone he isn't. It is a disaster which manifests itself in ways he could not have imagined.
She is offset by Sylvia, a dreamer, a woman whose notion of love was established through the written word. She is most happy in the library and living out her vision of possibilities through the family stories. Cecelia is the family artistic who sees the world through color and her twin Emeline serves to help keep each whole.
This family journey is one is a predictable as unpredictable. It is true that our greatest fears can be the opportunity for an opening and a new start. ...more
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