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Easter at the Lakes
Falling in love with local businessman Gerald Styles, Mary, a gentle and shy librarian, accepts his invitation to accompany him to The Lakes, a luxurious mountain resort in rural England, where unexpected surprises and revelations change her life forever.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 18, 2017
The book jacket describes this book as being about a woman named Mary Styles who is invited to spend the Easter holiday at the Lakes, a beautiful hotel in a quaint English village. It states that unexpected things happen and Mary's life changes in ways that she would never expect.
This barely describes the book. There are a host of colorful characters, each with their own story and plot. You follow several of them through their Easter holiday and the consequences, both positive and negative, of the holiday weekend.
I loved this book. I thought the characters were great and the writing was a beautiful flowing style. I actually had to stop reading because I got so mad at a character that I needed a time out. It was that engrossing of a story. It had romance and drama and a lot of the English countryside. I can't wait to read another book by the same author.
This barely describes the book. There are a host of colorful characters, each with their own story and plot. You follow several of them through their Easter holiday and the consequences, both positive and negative, of the holiday weekend.
I loved this book. I thought the characters were great and the writing was a beautiful flowing style. I actually had to stop reading because I got so mad at a character that I needed a time out. It was that engrossing of a story. It had romance and drama and a lot of the English countryside. I can't wait to read another book by the same author.
May 25, 2022
I really enjoyed this book that focuses on a group of people who are spending a long Easter Weekend at The Lakes, a luxurious hotel in the Lake District of England. Among the guests are an ill suited newlywed couple, a mistress hoping her boss the MP will finally leave his wife, a librarian, an earl, a son who is tied to his odious mother. At the helm of the hotel is Anton, who makes sure the guests have a lovely time and will return to spend more time at the posh spot, being served and pampered. I always enjoy a book that plays out rather like a movie in my mind as I read the pages, this book did not disappoint. This book was published in 1999 and it looks as though Ms Hylton was a prolific writer so I will be looking for more books by this author.
August 1, 2022
The summary for this book is not entirely what this book is about. It's part of it, but not everything. Imagine "Love Actually" in book form, but centered around a hotel for a year and add a dash of tragedy.
You know how when you read a book you want to be excited about going through the reading process? I personally did not experience that feeling. The grammar and sudden point of view shifts drove me crazy, and I didn't care about how most of the characters' story would end.
That being said, Hylton does a very good job giving each character a unique personality and voice. I was never confused by who anyone was, just briefly disoriented when a POV shift happened without a transition. It really felt like these people were real and the events had actually happened. I hoped for Alison's happiness and was invested in Mary, which is what guided me to the end.
Along the same lines, I was fascinated by the hotel itself and thought we got enough description of it to help paint a picture, but also allow us readers to imagine it. Just like the book said, it's sort of a fairytale, and Hylton allows us to make it so.
The real reason for my 3/5 rating relies solely with the characterization strength and Mary's story. I would not particularly recommend this to anyone, but it is a great way to see how someone can perfectly individualize a large cast of characters.
You know how when you read a book you want to be excited about going through the reading process? I personally did not experience that feeling. The grammar and sudden point of view shifts drove me crazy, and I didn't care about how most of the characters' story would end.
That being said, Hylton does a very good job giving each character a unique personality and voice. I was never confused by who anyone was, just briefly disoriented when a POV shift happened without a transition. It really felt like these people were real and the events had actually happened. I hoped for Alison's happiness and was invested in Mary, which is what guided me to the end.
Along the same lines, I was fascinated by the hotel itself and thought we got enough description of it to help paint a picture, but also allow us readers to imagine it. Just like the book said, it's sort of a fairytale, and Hylton allows us to make it so.
The real reason for my 3/5 rating relies solely with the characterization strength and Mary's story. I would not particularly recommend this to anyone, but it is a great way to see how someone can perfectly individualize a large cast of characters.
August 2, 2018
An English romance novel that I picked up to read for something to do a few years ago - loved the cover plus it advertised a story about a librarian so it was a winner to begin with. It reminded me of Rosemunde Pilcher's novels with lengthy descriptions of the Lake District of England , clothing and tea! Delightful and kept me interested all through the reading.
May 9, 2022
I have been trying to read some seasonal books and this was one my library had with the word "EASTER" in the title. It seemed like the kind of romance I like and it did not disappoint. I loved the setting and I liked how romance was not just for the young.
May 24, 2017
I totally enjoyed this book. It reminded me quite a bit of Maeve Binchy's writing...lots and lots of characters who all find themselves together at "the Lakes".
May 1, 2020
This was a nice English countryside cozy read. The writing style reminded me a lot of Rosamund Pilcher.
November 9, 2020
Lots of colorful characters drinking tea and eating biscuits. Love, death, over bearing mother’s, what’s not to love?
July 18, 2015
So many characters and different story lines happening that at first I found it confusing. Pretty interesting once I finally got everyone sorted. There was one person that I really wanted to meet his waterloo but it was probably closer to reality that he didn't. About half of the action takes place at a luxury hotel "The Lakes". The rest of the story for the most part takes place in Mary's hometown. There is a HEA for most of the characters in this story. Read this on openlibrary.com
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews