Winning Through

Chadwick Family #3

by Marcia Willett

It's nearly thirty years since the Chadwick siblings arrived from Kenya at The Keep in Devon to live with their grandmother Freddy. And while much has altered since in their lives, The Keep remains a sanctuary for the whole family; warm, unchanging, filled with love.

Now mistress of The Keep, Fliss finds it hard to fill the place of her beloved grandmother, especially when she has so many doubts in her life. Mole has settled into his second family, the Navy. And Susanna, always the baby, is now a wife and mother herself. But whatever challenges they face, the family know that the house will always be ready to welcome them home.

Genres: British Literature, Family, 20th Century, Romance, Fiction

502 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Marcia Willett began her career as a novelist when she was fifty years old. Since that first novel Marcia has written twenty more under her own name as well as a number of short stories. She has also written four books under the pseudonym "Willa Marsh", and is published in more than sixteen countries.
Marcia Willett's early life was devoted to the ballet, but her dreams of becoming a ballerina ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. She had always loved books, and a family crisis made her take up a new career as a novelist - a decision she had never regretted.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chadwick Family have captured my heart! This may be my new favorite family saga. The final entry gives us closure on a number of storylines and ends with a lovely twist on the next generation of the family. This will be a series I am going to return to again and again.

[Deirdre Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chadwick Family Chronicles

I loved every minute of every three books and really wish I could carry on reading about The Chadwick Family Please let us know what happens to them all

[Kathryn Bashaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in a gentle, warm family saga, not the kind of thing I usually read. It's kind of like oatmeal. It's very good steel-cut oats with cream and brown sugar and fresh fruit, but still oatmeal where I usually like reading that is more like steak. In these books, the great drama usually takes place "off stage." The murder of 3 members of the Chadwick family by Mau-Maus takes place before the first book begins, for example. The book starts with a kindly grandmother worrying about how she can raise the 3 remaining children. I have nothing against kindly grandmothers, but marauding Mau-Maus are way more interesting. I don't need to see the blood and gore, but let me see the sharpened machetes. Let me see the father trying to protect the mother and the mother trying to protect the teenage son. Nevertheless, even a literary steak-eater enjoys a nice bowl of oatmeal now and then, so I deliberately saved the last book in this series to read while I was recovering from my recent surgery, and that was a good call. Lying on the couch bundled up in a blanket, reading for while and then dozing for a while, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and felt like I was in The Keep with the Chadwicks, sharing their challenges and their love and their slow-paced life in their beautiful Devon setting. And the Chadwicks and such appealing characters: loving and warm, with lots of integrity and strength. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this kind of gentle reading, and even to those who usually want stronger stuff but occasionally need a break from it.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my idea of a good book. There was poor control over vocabulary at times, too many plot devices to move the story where the author wanted. No real depth in the characters or relationships. The central notion that it is good to have a family home as respite and refuge which inspires individuals to grow was a good one. Could have been a really good book. Descriptions of the English countryside were well drawn and evocative.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sorry to be at the end of this series. I love Marcia Willett's stories. And I get myself attached to the people in them. I also love that she puts familiar characters from other books into new stories.

[Meenehansgmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third in the series and just as good as the first two. I have now found a fourth and will be reading it next. Wonderful books.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was probably my favourite of the three I’ve read so far; ‘The Prodigal Wife’ will be next. There were a larger number of major complications than in the past two books, which made the story both exciting and tragic.

I appreciated the pace at which these events unfolded, giving me time to come to terms with the latest tragedy before the next one occurred. It would happen at just the right moment that I could not possibly be bored.

I was able to feel more connected to the characters this way, as I shared in their pain and became overjoyed for them when they eventually found their way again. Most of the traumatic events of this story made sense and were somewhat expected. However the death of Mole was incredibly shocking to me.

I was equally suprised by Miles’ stroke, but considering Mole’s past of nightmares, loneliness and “black dog”, his passing was simply unbelievable. Occurring at the end of a ‘book’, his death was seemingly swept under the rug, so as to avoid the complete devastation of the rest of the Chadwick family. This made it seem all the more dark and disturbing. Even at the end of the book, meeting his son, I still am not quite over it.

I am assuming that the newest book, ‘The Prodigal Wife’ will not be up to the same standards as the previous books as even the front cover seems so modernised, but I will read it with an open mind. Overall, ‘Winning Through’ has been my favourite so far and I genuinely enjoyed this book.

[Natalie Durr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

I've just finished all three the Chadwick books and what a joy they've been. I thoroughly enjoyed them, not only a great story but characters which are so life like and easy to connect with. Her descriptions of nature sketches such clear pictures and Theo's wisdom was like a silver thread running through all the books. The same reading pleasure as can be derived from Rosamunde Pilcher's books as well. Loved it!!!

[Donna Mcnab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third and final book of the Chadwick series was the perfect ending to the stories of the family members of all the generations that have taken part in the books. I found each book in the series better than the previous ones. These are the kind of books that I will have to read again at sometime in the future.

[Ann Slaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read.

An excellent trilogy. Well written, encompasses family joys and tragedies interwoven with family relationships over the generations. Chick Lit with a sad and feel good factor. Very easy read.

[Katie Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great rounding off to the trilogy. Or is it?!

[Hrlena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice number 3

[Quentin Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Again I have loved every word. The author deals with an uncomfortable subject for me but didn't try and change my mind. I have a great respect for Marcia Willett.

[Kathy Spann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last one of the Chadwick books. Hal and Fliss are still in love.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several tragedies, but so many positive events in this family.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nederlandse titel: Met open armen

[Carinya Kappler · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Winning Through” is the third in a trilogy of 3 novels in a family saga about the “Chadwicks” of “The Keep”. This is the only book of the trilogy I have read.
Even with the handicap of starting at the final episode in the lives of the Chadwick family I found myself enjoying this uncomplicated poetically written novel. The family is steeped in decency, loyalty, duty, achievement and tragedy. This combination, when coupled with a happy ending, and riding on a wave of beautifully developed family oriented characters, is irresistible to romantically inclined readers.
Having read and enjoyed this final novel in the series I would recommend the reader begin with “Looking Forward” and “Holding On” if they are likely to enjoy this type of fiction.
Unfortunately it is hard to believe that any family could live up to the strict code of morals and ethics espoused by the author. This lack of credibility does make for vast enjoyment for those of us who want to live in a fantasy of ethereal honour for a few hours.
I thoroughly enjoyed this old fashioned dissertation and would recommend it to others who love to read about a world of gentle unselfish family members.
Carinya

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third - originally last - in the Chadwick Family series. This novel is beautifully written and emotive, with tragedy and delight clearly interwoven.

The characters are delightful, and although many of the events are not memorable, there are one or two shocking incidents. On re-reading, I found I remembered one or two incidents, half-remembered more, and had entirely forgotten the majority. So I liked it all the more, and should probably re-read more often.

'Winning Through' is best read after the first two in the series (Looking Forward and Holding On).

Latest longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fliss and the bumptious Miles finally come to terms with their relationship, winning a peace of sorts, but Hal's marriage with the volatile Maria finally drags to a close. The troubled Mole is killed in a terrorist incident, but unexpectedly leaves a mysterious legacy behind. Once again, the Navy background and the lovely Devon countryside ground the story of love and hatred, faithfulness and betrayal. The well-developed trilogy comes to an end, though I understand that _The Prodigal Wife_ continues the story. Read _Looking Forward_ and _Holding On_ first--it's worth your while.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful summer project to reread this trilogy (there are two later books that were added to the series but the original three are my favorites). This book opens thirty years since the Chadwick siblings arrived at The Keep in Devon to live with their grandmother. There is such a deep love and respect that this family shares; it was a joy to revisit them. I’m grateful that Marcia Willett books are being shared more on bookish social media.

[Muff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect airplane book. Not too demanding, but kept my attention. I liked catching up with the characters I'd encountered in previous books. This volume in the quartet didn't have too much drama, although there were some sad moments. I've already requested the next one from library.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this trilogy. I was engrossed in the Chadwick family from the first page of Looking Forward to the final page of Winning Through. I cried, laughed and sighed through all three books and I know that I will read them again.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I read this series. It was a satisfying summer read!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading books by Marcia Willet. They are good stories, with quite a lot of homely wisdom, believable plots and well rounded characters.

[Deborah Sigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of her Trilogy-Excellent!

[Giuseppina Di Iorio]

I loved the Chadwick family trilogy and I am now finishing the Prodigal Wife, such lovely human stories!