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English Ivy #3
Sweet Violet
In her silk sari and bare feet, Violet Rosse is anything but a proper English miss. Born in England but raised in India, Violet has fallen passionately in love with the flora and fauna of her adopted country. So when her father makes plans to ship her back to England to marry, Violet will do everything in her power to keep the only home she's ever known.
In desperation, Violet's father convinces frustrated missionary Edmund Sherbourne to find Violet and escort her back to England. Little does Edmund realize what it will mean to capture Violet and transplant her to foreign soil.
As Edmund and Violet cross paths in pursuit of impossible dreams, they embark on an adventure that will change their lives forever.
In desperation, Violet's father convinces frustrated missionary Edmund Sherbourne to find Violet and escort her back to England. Little does Edmund realize what it will mean to capture Violet and transplant her to foreign soil.
As Edmund and Violet cross paths in pursuit of impossible dreams, they embark on an adventure that will change their lives forever.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Palmer
83 books287 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. Cathy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published over 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award, the highest honor in Christian fiction. In 2004, she was given the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Romance by "Romantic Times" magazine. More than 2 million copies of Catherine's novels are currently in print. The Author's Work With her compelling characters and strong message of Christian faith, Catherine is known for writing fiction that "touches the hearts and souls of readers." Her many collections include A Town Called Hope, Treasures of the Heart, Finders Keepers, English Ivy, and the Miss Pickworth series. Catherine also recently coauthored the Four Seasons fiction series with Gary Chapman, the "New York Times" best-selling author of "The Five Love Languages."
Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. Cathy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published over 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award, the highest honor in Christian fiction. In 2004, she was given the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Romance by "Romantic Times" magazine. More than 2 million copies of Catherine's novels are currently in print. The Author's Work With her compelling characters and strong message of Christian faith, Catherine is known for writing fiction that "touches the hearts and souls of readers." Her many collections include A Town Called Hope, Treasures of the Heart, Finders Keepers, English Ivy, and the Miss Pickworth series. Catherine also recently coauthored the Four Seasons fiction series with Gary Chapman, the "New York Times" best-selling author of "The Five Love Languages."
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 24, 2016
Review to follow.
January 17, 2015
Okay, maybe it deserves at 2.5.
Some Christian fiction can be annoyingly preachy. But, the most interesting element of this story was the conversion process of Violet, the main character, to Christianity. As an individual, I found her rather irritating, but the process was interesting to follow. Watching the incremental steps of coming to believe in Christ was worth having to endure various doctrinal points that I personally consider incorrect. However, right at the clincher, the author cutaway and let the nitty-gritty of the conversion happen in a briefly mentioned three week period.
The other protagonist, Edmund, was a character of depth. The changes that occurred in him were realistic. The power of perception was life altering. But, it was disappointing how the entire book leads up to getting the two characters together with the same faith and in the right place and then everything all of a sudden neatly falls into place. It was like eating whipped cream that has no sugar in it. Blah.
Some Christian fiction can be annoyingly preachy. But, the most interesting element of this story was the conversion process of Violet, the main character, to Christianity. As an individual, I found her rather irritating, but the process was interesting to follow. Watching the incremental steps of coming to believe in Christ was worth having to endure various doctrinal points that I personally consider incorrect. However, right at the clincher, the author cutaway and let the nitty-gritty of the conversion happen in a briefly mentioned three week period.
The other protagonist, Edmund, was a character of depth. The changes that occurred in him were realistic. The power of perception was life altering. But, it was disappointing how the entire book leads up to getting the two characters together with the same faith and in the right place and then everything all of a sudden neatly falls into place. It was like eating whipped cream that has no sugar in it. Blah.
September 1, 2013
While the first two books in this series take place in Yorkshire, England, this installment drops the reader into the heart of Calcutta, India and the surrounding terrain for more than half of the book, while our female protagonist makes repeatedly ill-advised escape attempts to avoid being relocated to...you guessed it, Yorkshire, England. I have to admit that I was greatly looking forward to the high adrenaline, pulse pounding, action adventure along the way, as many references to tigers, cobras, etc. were helpfully inserted within the dialogue, ostensibly for the purpose of reminding the reader of the dangers inherent in this part of the world. Unfortunately, "Survivor: British India 1816" never fully got off the ground for me, though, to be fair, this is not marketed as a survivalist story and I sometimes suffer from unrealistic expectations. That being said, the strongest selling point of this book, for me, is the setting: it is better utilized than in the first two books, and yet, I am still finding something wanting.
October 3, 2025
Violet is quite the riot…and she lands smack in the middle of Edmund’s staid English habits.
There’s not much Edmund can do about it when she runs off with his heartstrings too, though he does his best to ignore how he feels about her.
I really liked the setting and characters and would have given it five stars if not for the “three weeks later” trick near the end of the story. I wanted to watch/experience those things, after all the buildup, and not simply to be told about them! It felt like there was no room left and the author was trying to summarize to get to the end of the story, but I’d have been happy for the book to be longer. I’d have preferred an epilogue, too!
There’s not much Edmund can do about it when she runs off with his heartstrings too, though he does his best to ignore how he feels about her.
I really liked the setting and characters and would have given it five stars if not for the “three weeks later” trick near the end of the story. I wanted to watch/experience those things, after all the buildup, and not simply to be told about them! It felt like there was no room left and the author was trying to summarize to get to the end of the story, but I’d have been happy for the book to be longer. I’d have preferred an epilogue, too!
April 26, 2019
Mixed feelings. I wanted to like it more because of the Indian setting and I did appreciate that we weren't in (lovely) Yorkshire again with gowns and teas and the like for most of the story. Palmer aptly demonstrated how culture shock goes both ways, when it is expected of someone and unexpected. For me though, Edmund just seemed so... desperate. Desperate for converts, desperate for a wife. It made him rather a dull hero. Even with danger and death around nearly every turn - life in India itself, a long sea voyage, even in jolly old England - I wasn't swept away by the book.
August 17, 2017
BORING! That about sums it up. He loves God, she loves India and complains non-stop about being sent to England because they don't have her favorite flower. They have the same boring conversation over and over again.
The characters are boring and poorly developed and I kept wishing the book would just be over! The only reason i finished it was because it bothers me not to finish a book once i start it. Take my advice... don't start it!
The characters are boring and poorly developed and I kept wishing the book would just be over! The only reason i finished it was because it bothers me not to finish a book once i start it. Take my advice... don't start it!
November 3, 2020
Good read. The first two chapters were a bit slow but after that, it read very quickly
May 5, 2022
I normally like Catherine Palmer's books, but this one was hard to get through. It was pretty slow. Violet was pretty immature feeling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2024
I didn’t get bored with this book. I liked the characters and the plot and pace.
December 18, 2015
Another wonderful story by Catherine Palmer! I love the way this third book in the series ties in the characters from the first & second books. I'm very excited to read the last book in this series! I enjoyed the lessons this book teaches on surrendering ourselves to Christ, Violet's willfullness & disobedience are attributes we all struggle with. And, how very important is Edmund's transformation from being legalistic & traditional in his views of remaining a proper Englishman to finally accepting & relating to the Indians ways in an attempt to gain souls for Christ's glory! I also really enjoyed the Indian setting, you can almost smell the spices, feel the oppressive heat & see all the bright jewel toned saris! Maybe my favorite book of the series! :)
December 21, 2012
This wasn't bad. I just realized it is the last in the series so I plan to check out the preceding novels. It took a little while for me to get into it. I wasn't fond of the characters at first. I feel like the book really picked up after Edmund rescues her from Krishnangar. After that, I enjoyed it.
March 22, 2010
Although this was not my favorite Catherine Palmer novel, I did like how she used the experience of being in a foreign country to parallel how Christians sometimes feel in today's world. (1 John 4:4-6.)
June 18, 2013
It feels like there was a bunch of doctrine then some action and then some more preaching then some action. The action didn't fit the preaching. It should have been a love story OR a conversion story. It wasn't either one. The writing was good but jumpy. So I think Meh.
September 5, 2014
What a fabulous look at Indian culture and the difficulty of teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. As well as the difficulty of leaving one culture to adjust to another very different one. Very fascinating read. Totally unexpected plot line for a Romance novel. Very interesting.
September 18, 2015
I liked the consistency in Violet being headstrong and stubborn.
The Christian concepts discussed throughout the book is easy to relate with and the author's afterwords struck as a good personal message to me.
The Christian concepts discussed throughout the book is easy to relate with and the author's afterwords struck as a good personal message to me.
February 24, 2008
Set in India, a girl who is raised there comes to the real meaning of what being “Christian” means and finds she can’t run away from God, especially not while being accompanied by a minister.
August 2, 2008
One of my favourites so far! I couldn't put this one down.
June 7, 2010
It was ok. Not as good as the others in the series.
July 28, 2014
Book 3 of 3
August 29, 2015
My favorite of all her books - mainly because it deals with India and a strong female character.
May 31, 2016
Love this book the most out of the three books! Love how the setting is in India. So common to believe white English speaking people are Christians but that is not the case, even now.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews