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Rochford Trilogy #1
The Chatelaine
Lovely Willow Telford was only seventeen when she married Lord Rowell Rochford and left America to become the chatelaine of Rochford Manor. Her happiness seemed complete when she was handed the keys of the Manor.
Gradually disillusion set in as Rowell proved to be cruel, unfaithful and greedy. She didn't know her dowry had saved the Rockford family from destitution or that the estate was ruled by the ruthless Grandmere who would stop at nothing to protect the family's reputation. This French matriarch, obsessed with past events, of which Willow is ignorant, wreaks fearful havoc on Willow's life.
Although bitterly disappointed with her life, Willow maintained her beauty and dignity as the years passed. The only thing she did know was that over the years, another man was touching her heart, a man who represented everything that her husband was not, stirring her soul, and arousing passions she could not deny....
This book is followed by The Wilderling.
Gradually disillusion set in as Rowell proved to be cruel, unfaithful and greedy. She didn't know her dowry had saved the Rockford family from destitution or that the estate was ruled by the ruthless Grandmere who would stop at nothing to protect the family's reputation. This French matriarch, obsessed with past events, of which Willow is ignorant, wreaks fearful havoc on Willow's life.
Although bitterly disappointed with her life, Willow maintained her beauty and dignity as the years passed. The only thing she did know was that over the years, another man was touching her heart, a man who represented everything that her husband was not, stirring her soul, and arousing passions she could not deny....
This book is followed by The Wilderling.
559 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1981
6 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Claire Lorrimer
53 books25 followersClaire Lorrimer began writing at the age of ten, encouraged by her mother who was the author Denise Robins. Her post as a sub editor on a woman's magazine gave her a close insight into the world of publishing, but it was during the Second World War that her writing career became established. She subsequently turned to historical fiction. These novels on an epic scale feature the lives of passionate and striking heroines set against a strongly drawn historical background, often highlighting the situation of women. Claire Lorrimer lives in rural Kent, and is currently busy writing her latest historical novel.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 11, 2020
Re-read for 2020 Challenge.
The review below is for the first time that I had read The Chatelaine, and I gave it a 4 1/2 stars.
Did I feel the same? I admit..not quite.
The ballroom/social scene again was boring and dragged out..did some skipping at that.
For some reason this time Willow's character really bugged me {shrugs}
Still loved the plot/story though..but dropping my review to a 4 star for this time.
I had trouble getting into the 2nd book back when I finished this one..so here goes..hoping it will work for me this time.
Still highly recommend "The Chatelaine" for the reasons stated below.
It's 1864, the story opens at the Rochford Estate in the nursery where a baby yet named, and her sister are dying from an unknown illness.
A distraught young Alice Rochford is beyond grief,with no help from a new young doctor.
Her formidable,autocratic mother-in-law who was displeased any ways with Alice for producing girls instead of boys gives no sympathy,and exclaims after their deaths "there must be no more sickly Rochford girls!"
A year later Rowell the first of the five healthy, lusty, Rochford boys is born, and on the 6th birthday of her son Francis, Alice dies giving birth not knowing it was a girl.
It is now 1889, and the Rochfords are holding a Gala ball in honor of Toby Rochford's 21st birthday. One of the guests there (but not allowed to attend) is 15 year old Willow, a beautiful child/woman who spends the summers with the family while her parents tour Europe.
She becomes fast friends with brothers Pelham and Toby ( they have more than friendship feelings for her) but Willow has only eyes for Rowell the oldest,who doesn't even know that she exists.
A few years pass and all of a sudden Rowell pays Willow's father a visit and asks for her hand in marriage.
It is known to Willow's father that the Rochford Estates are in despair due to Rowell's mis-management and debts.
But after much heart felt pleas from his daughter, he gives in with much misgivings, and little did they know her dowry had saved the estate and family from total destitution, or that the estate and family was ruled by the ruthless Grandmere who would stop at nothing and no one to protect the family's reputation.
On Willow's honeymoon she feels something is not quite right, but her young heart is so filled with love for her handsome husband, she ignores the warning signs and gives her heart and soul to him.
Upon returning to the Estate all is about to change for Willow and she will discover what her "hearts desire" has brought her.
CHARACTERS:
WILLOW: Beautiful, blond, voluptuous, she gives the best years of her life to a cold uncaring family..her life is forever changed by the brothers and Grandmere.
But despite all they do she remains steadfast to her marriage.
ROWELL: His marriage to Willow saves his family.
Cold, snobbish, unprincipled, he keeps a secret mistress and disregards his wife and her love.
TOBY: Rowell's brother, he falls in love with Willow the moment he sees her, unaware he is rousing her to feel the same for him.
PELHAM: Rowell's other brother, a handsome charmer, is also attracted to Willow and one day he must leave for he cannot face what he has done to her..and doesn't know what he has left behind
.
DODY: The young Rochford sister ,abandoned to a tower for her illness must never be allowed to disgrace the family..only Willow risks the wrath of the family to befriend her.
GRANDMERE: She rules the Rochford Estate with an iron will and a heart of pure stone.
SOPHIA: Willow's daughter, who is stolen from her at birth and raised first in an orphanage..then sent to a convent in France..how much more can this cruel family do to her?
If you love a family saga with heaps of drama, mystery, suspense, romance, this is a great first book into the lives of the Rochfords.
The only time the story dragged for me was all the "gala's & balls" the family had or attended..I just wanted to go from one drama to another..but that's just a personal thing for me, Id rather have less of the social scene.
But a great story! And looking forward to more of this family drama in book 2
The review below is for the first time that I had read The Chatelaine, and I gave it a 4 1/2 stars.
Did I feel the same? I admit..not quite.
The ballroom/social scene again was boring and dragged out..did some skipping at that.
For some reason this time Willow's character really bugged me {shrugs}
Still loved the plot/story though..but dropping my review to a 4 star for this time.
I had trouble getting into the 2nd book back when I finished this one..so here goes..hoping it will work for me this time.
Still highly recommend "The Chatelaine" for the reasons stated below.
It's 1864, the story opens at the Rochford Estate in the nursery where a baby yet named, and her sister are dying from an unknown illness.
A distraught young Alice Rochford is beyond grief,with no help from a new young doctor.
Her formidable,autocratic mother-in-law who was displeased any ways with Alice for producing girls instead of boys gives no sympathy,and exclaims after their deaths "there must be no more sickly Rochford girls!"
A year later Rowell the first of the five healthy, lusty, Rochford boys is born, and on the 6th birthday of her son Francis, Alice dies giving birth not knowing it was a girl.
It is now 1889, and the Rochfords are holding a Gala ball in honor of Toby Rochford's 21st birthday. One of the guests there (but not allowed to attend) is 15 year old Willow, a beautiful child/woman who spends the summers with the family while her parents tour Europe.
She becomes fast friends with brothers Pelham and Toby ( they have more than friendship feelings for her) but Willow has only eyes for Rowell the oldest,who doesn't even know that she exists.
A few years pass and all of a sudden Rowell pays Willow's father a visit and asks for her hand in marriage.
It is known to Willow's father that the Rochford Estates are in despair due to Rowell's mis-management and debts.
But after much heart felt pleas from his daughter, he gives in with much misgivings, and little did they know her dowry had saved the estate and family from total destitution, or that the estate and family was ruled by the ruthless Grandmere who would stop at nothing and no one to protect the family's reputation.
On Willow's honeymoon she feels something is not quite right, but her young heart is so filled with love for her handsome husband, she ignores the warning signs and gives her heart and soul to him.
Upon returning to the Estate all is about to change for Willow and she will discover what her "hearts desire" has brought her.
CHARACTERS:
WILLOW: Beautiful, blond, voluptuous, she gives the best years of her life to a cold uncaring family..her life is forever changed by the brothers and Grandmere.
But despite all they do she remains steadfast to her marriage.
ROWELL: His marriage to Willow saves his family.
Cold, snobbish, unprincipled, he keeps a secret mistress and disregards his wife and her love.
TOBY: Rowell's brother, he falls in love with Willow the moment he sees her, unaware he is rousing her to feel the same for him.
PELHAM: Rowell's other brother, a handsome charmer, is also attracted to Willow and one day he must leave for he cannot face what he has done to her..and doesn't know what he has left behind
.
DODY: The young Rochford sister ,abandoned to a tower for her illness must never be allowed to disgrace the family..only Willow risks the wrath of the family to befriend her.
GRANDMERE: She rules the Rochford Estate with an iron will and a heart of pure stone.
SOPHIA: Willow's daughter, who is stolen from her at birth and raised first in an orphanage..then sent to a convent in France..how much more can this cruel family do to her?
If you love a family saga with heaps of drama, mystery, suspense, romance, this is a great first book into the lives of the Rochfords.
The only time the story dragged for me was all the "gala's & balls" the family had or attended..I just wanted to go from one drama to another..but that's just a personal thing for me, Id rather have less of the social scene.
But a great story! And looking forward to more of this family drama in book 2
March 24, 2018
Standard 2-star DNF.
Nope, can't do it. Lorrimer's style bores me to tears. I managed to plod through the first 100+ pages; I then set it down to look at the beautiful night sky & five minutes later couldn't bring myself to pick it up again. The plot arcs therein are things that normally entertain me -- dysfunctional families, loveless marriages, manipulation, icy contempt, ill-fated love, & shameful lusts beneath the cool veneer o' Victorian respectability -- but the prose is just SO BORING & BLAND with no highs or lows. It's not a story so much as an endless trek with zero tension & a rainbow-farting Mary Sue. >___<
This is my second attempt at Lorrimer, & my second disappointment. Her books remind me of Jennifer Wilde's romances, so maybe if you like those...? *shrug* As for yours truly, I won't be trying this author again. Clearly my brain doesn't engage with her prose.
Nope, can't do it. Lorrimer's style bores me to tears. I managed to plod through the first 100+ pages; I then set it down to look at the beautiful night sky & five minutes later couldn't bring myself to pick it up again. The plot arcs therein are things that normally entertain me -- dysfunctional families, loveless marriages, manipulation, icy contempt, ill-fated love, & shameful lusts beneath the cool veneer o' Victorian respectability -- but the prose is just SO BORING & BLAND with no highs or lows. It's not a story so much as an endless trek with zero tension & a rainbow-farting Mary Sue. >___<
This is my second attempt at Lorrimer, & my second disappointment. Her books remind me of Jennifer Wilde's romances, so maybe if you like those...? *shrug* As for yours truly, I won't be trying this author again. Clearly my brain doesn't engage with her prose.
November 8, 2012
This golden oldie from the early eighties hit all of the right notes for me. Plenty of drama as young Willow Tetford marries into the Rochford family, and all of their secrets. You get five brothers, a malicious manipulative grandmama that would make even old Lady Grantham blanch a bit, mistresses, and even a mad person in the attics. Lots of historical details and people, but handled so well that it never became annoying, and plenty of details of life in late Victorian and Edwardian England and France. Worth the effort to find and a real pity that it went out of print. Four stars overall and recommended.
August 6, 2020
I knew I wasn't going to get the ending I wanted when I had about 50 pages left. Now I'm a little bit grumpy. And grumpier when I found out that the sequel is about Sophia. I don't like her! I want more Willow and Toby!
January 4, 2009
Willow was only seventeen when she married Rowell and left America to become the chatelaine of Rochford Manor. Her happiness seemed complete when she was handed the keys of the Manor, but gradually disillusion set in as Rowell proved to be cruel, unfaithful and greedy. His French grandmother, obsessed with past events, of which Willow is ignorant, wreaks fearful havoc on Willow's life. This is a moving novel of lust, lies, deceit and intrigue; of passions and perversions and, not least, of the powers and the dangers of love.
September 5, 2011
What a gem of a book - total page turner, romantic, well paced historical drama
May 30, 2012
Not a major work of fiction but an enjoyable enough book
June 10, 2014
I enjoyed it, but found it rather samey in places, which made me skip parts. On the whole, it was a good read.
April 20, 2013
a very slow start, but once the story lifts up, all the drama, love, empire, romance and every other thing is deep. going to buy the sequel soon
August 11, 2013
Great summer read. Don't have to think too hard, kind of soap-opera-ish but sometimes that's just what you need!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews