Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Suttons #5

The Linden Walk

Rate this book
The new novel from the author of A SCENT OF LAVENDER and ONE SUMMER AT DEER'S LEAP follows the secrets and passions of the Sutton family as Britain tries to find its way following the end of World War 2. The war is over, but the battle for happiness has just begun ! After six long years the Second World War is finally finished. Rationing may remain, but hopes and dreams are in good supply. At Rowangarth, deep in the Yorkshire countryside, there is more good news for the Sutton family and wedding preparations are underway. Lyndis Carmichael has finally won the heart of Drew Sutton, the man she has secretly cherished for years. Still, Lyndis has doubts. Haunted by the memory of Drew's fiancee Kitty -- killed during the Blitz -- she wonders if she can ever take her place in Drew's heart, and if she truly belongs in the close-knit Sutton clan. And other ghosts still linger. Keth Purvis, back from France after a high-risk mission, is compelled to return overseas to search for the young girl who saved his life, Drew's mother has yet to reveal the shocking truth of his father's identity, and Tatiana wonders if she will ever meet her long-lost half-sister. With the country struggling to get back on its feet, can the Sutton family make peace with its past?

Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

9 people are currently reading
65 people want to read

About the author

Elizabeth Elgin

35 books27 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
65 (51%)
4 stars
37 (29%)
3 stars
21 (16%)
2 stars
3 (2%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Shreedevi Gurumurty.
1,027 reviews8 followers
June 30, 2022
After six long years the Second World War is finally finished. Rationing may remain, but hopes and dreams are in good supply.
At Rowangarth, deep in the Yorkshire countryside, there is more good news for the Sutton family and wedding preparations are underway. Lyndis Carmichael has finally won the heart of Drew Sutton, the man she has secretly cherished for years. Still, Lyndis has doubts. Haunted by the memory of Drew's fiancée Kitty – killed during the Blitz – she wonders if she can ever take her place in Drew's heart, and if she truly belongs in the close-knit Sutton clan.
And other ghosts still linger. Keth Purvis, back from France after a high-risk mission, is compelled to return overseas to search for the young girl who saved his life, Drew's mother has yet to reveal the shocking truth of his father's identity, and Tatiana wonders if she will ever meet her long-lost half-sister.With the country struggling to get back on its feet, can the Sutton family make peace with its past?
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees or bushes, native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The tree is known as linden for the European species, and basswood for North American species.
In Britain and Ireland they are commonly called lime trees, although they are not related to the citrus lime. The genus occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but the greatest species diversity is found in Asia.
“Lime” is probably a corruption of the word “lind”, which shares roots with other words that mean “flexible”.The linden tree holds a special sacred place in symbolism, representing love, affection and tenderness.
In both Greek and Roman mythology, linden is symbolic for marital love and fidelity.Linden is believed to neutralize negative energy.The Chinese believe that linden decreases forgetfulness, tames rebelliousness and gives soft energy, creating the sensation of warmth and peace.
Profile Image for Charlene Carabott.
138 reviews
March 25, 2019
I have not read the prequels but it was nice to read about happy endings for people who suffered so much during the war. However my rating is lower as at times the characters sounded really artificial repeating stuff that had been said already so many times!
Profile Image for Amanda Bennett.
193 reviews
September 16, 2021
I’ve really enjoyed reading this series of books about the Sutton clan. It starts before the Great War and finishes in 1950. There are goodies and baddies, with plenty of celebrations and tragedies. I am going to really miss the characters now I’ve read the last book.
Profile Image for Kate Millin.
1,828 reviews28 followers
August 1, 2023
I was interested in the extended family and the way they rebuilt their lives after the 2 wars. The only frustrating thing was the constant repetition of some facts
2,791 reviews9 followers
March 16, 2016
This novel is actually book 5 and the concluding volume of the "Suttons of Yorkshire."
Surprisingly for such a dramatic and sweeping saga that covers 5 volumes you need have no prior knowledge of the preceding books in the series.
It obviously helps as some things are referenced back to earlier events but nothing at all dire and detrimental to this story which is written in such a way that it is a complete novel and full story by itself.
Its set just after the war and the "clan" as it is called (a group of children who grew up together and were exceedingly close) have now reached adulthood and this story centres on their ensuing lives.
One of the clan, Kitty has died during a bomb blast just before the end of WWII and the love of her life was Drew who has been left devastated by her death though he eventually finds love again with the girl who had lived him for eight years even before he met Kitty, Lyndis Carmichael.
But Lyn has reservations and feels the spectre of Kitty is inherent in everything she does and the future though now married to Drew looks bleak in the extreme as she fears she will never live upto Kitty's memory and that Drew will never love her as much and that she is his back up choice.
The love story of Drew and Lyn is the pivotal storyline but a whole host of other characters including members of the "clan" all blend in wonderfully and interconnect seamlessly either by friendships, marriage or kinship and familial ties.
Daisy and Keth have just had their little girl Mary Natasha but something from the war haunts Keth and he cannot rest until it is resolved, then there is Bill and Tatty the half Russian with a whole wardrobe full of family skeletons that could blow up in her face and affect many of the characters lives.
Then in the background there are the numerous grandparents, aunts, uncles that are the lynch pins of the little family community of Rowangarth.
Will all the characters find happiness or will the evils and depredations of war cast too much of a shadow for them ever to recover and find peace?
Well written with hints of love flowing throughout this is a wonderful, feelgood novel that is a great read and will appeal to any historical / period fan.
Profile Image for Joanna Warrens.
488 reviews10 followers
August 8, 2014
I have read all of Elizabeth Elgin's WW2 novels and have been saving this one. It takes place after WW2 and completes the Sutton of Yorkshire series. I loved visiting the characters again but there is very little drama. Basically people get married, have babies and spend a whole lot of time talking about how lucky they are. It gets tiresome over 500 pages. The WW1 and WW2 books have enough background drama to carry a story but this one does not have that benefit. Ultimately I was glad to have one more Elgin to read.
Profile Image for Jackie White.
303 reviews2 followers
August 21, 2016
The last of a five book series about the Suttons through both world wars & beyond.
This book picks up at the end of WW2 - it took me a long time to get into it as the first quarter or so was just the characters reminiscing about the past - which I'd already read in books 1-4.
Once the story picked up, it was a good read but not enough actual events to warrant a whole book.
2 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2024
last in a line of Sutton family and friend books

Will miss the families, they have become very real. This is the third time I have read these books, and they still read like old friends.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.