Glittering Fortunes Victoria Fox
ARC supplied by Netgalley.
I was in the mood for a simple romance, no spooks, no vamps, no hot steamy sex, just a romance that concentrated on the characters. So I decided this would fit – it took me a while to get into as there as several characters to mentally fix into my mind, where they go and how they fit in but they were all needed to make the story work. As it happened it wasn't the simple romance I expected, but one where I needed to focus and concentrate, and I got engrossed in the story and lost in the world of Underwood and its inhabitants. Olivia, her dad died when she was a young child, and she's been brought up by mum, a strong feminist and they've always lived in a caravan in the village. Olivia won a scholarship to the local “posh” school, where she was always a bit of an outcast for not being wealthy. She'd tag along with the boys, having a crush on Adrian Gold (Addy) which still continues. Then there's Cato and Charlie Lomaz, one a recluse almost in the ancestral estate, the other a Hollywood “A” lister...
Olivia snags a job helping with the gardening on the estate, working with Charlie but he's very short on words and long on rudeness....still its a job. Cato and his actress girlfriend stop at the estate for a while. He's a real piece of work, consummate flirt, typical “don't you know who I am?” actor, and though he has the money he keeps Usherwood short, Charlie struggles to keep the crumbling estate going, though he's slowly losing the battle. With a wave of his pen in the chequebook, Cato could sort it, but as the older son and heir to the title Lord he likes to keep Charlie in his place. There's no love lost between the brothers though we don't know what happened, it seems to pre-date their parents mysterious disappearance when they were children.
Anyway, working at the estate, still trying to get Addy to see her as a woman not jut good old Oli, Olivia slowly becomes enmeshed into the problems of Usherwood and its inhabitants. The plot is superb, slowly drawn out and revealing snippets bit by bit to whet our appetites. Just when I thought I’d worked out what was gong to happen next Victoria threw in a curve ball to put me right off track.
The characters are a wonderful mix, Olivia, strong in determination from her upbringing and confidence her mum instilled in her, but blinkered when it comes to Addy. Addy, drifting from career option to option, but too lazy to make a real effort, he's always looking for a short cut to fame and fortune. He's so vainglorious he thinks that’s his right, and opportunity will fall into his lap at the right moment so long as he ensures he's placed correctly, thus he cultivates people for what possibilities they provide. Despite good friend Beth trying to tell her again and again Olivia simply can't see that Addy is a user, only currently wants her as he thinks she's a way in to Underwood and Cato, and the acting career that’s his current obsession. Cato, surface charm but inner sneer, we see the man he is behind the scenes, and his actress girlfriend Susanna, wow – she plays the part of snobby bitch so well!! To me good romances need that contrast of bad, selfish, egotistical people in them, and Victoria has done that superbly with Cato and Susanna. Charlie, took some time before we could work him out as he's so reclusive, even on the pages of a kindle!! but slowly we and Olivia come to know and respect him for the man he is, not just the stories told about him. It made for a riveting read where there were mysteries, betrayals, seductions and an ultimate huge shock that affected everyone. It's a story I loved.
Its not a simple boy meets girl, and they lived happy ever after romance, but one that takes the reader on a journey of twists and turns, guesses and false trails and ultimately into a direction unexpected. Its in a way clear what will happen, and yet the way its done and the leads given make it very difficult to be sure you've guessed right. There is a HEA :) I need those, feel cheated when they don't happen....A book I loved.
Stars: five, cracking book, not a light read but one to concentrate on and one to read over and see what clues you missed first time round.