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Echo of Another Time
Celie Marlow begins working in the Latimers' kitchen when she is only ten, learning her art from Mrs Harper. By the age of 18 she has become a talented cook. But when she falls in love with a Latimer, all their lives change with frightening swiftness.Driven from her home, Celie finds unexpected success in a new venture with her old boss - then loses everything once more. Thrown on to the streets of Liverpool, penniless and desperate, she will have to find her own way.'Her thousands of fans recognise the artistry of a true storyteller' Lancashire Life
608 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
5 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Howard
61 books51 followersAudrey Howard was born on 1929 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK, and grew up in St Annes on Sea, Lancashire, where she lives in her childhood home.
Before she began to write she had a variety of jobs, among them hairdresser, model, shop assistant, cleaner and civil servant. In 1981, while living in Australia, she wrote the first of her bestselling novels published since 1984. In 1988, her novel The Juniper Bush won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Before she began to write she had a variety of jobs, among them hairdresser, model, shop assistant, cleaner and civil servant. In 1981, while living in Australia, she wrote the first of her bestselling novels published since 1984. In 1988, her novel The Juniper Bush won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 27, 2013
Review taken from my Blog Post #117 in May 2011, after borrowing the book from the local library.
In last year of Queen Victoria's reign, Celie Marlow first begins working for the Latimer family as a kitchen maid. Determined to be the best cook in Liverpool at worst, she's taken under the wing of the Cook, Jess Harper who recognises her talent.
Shortly after that a young Swedish Boy is taken into the Latimers', he speaks no English and he and Celie form a special bond to one another. Not knowing what his real name is, or being able to pronounce it when they do find out, he is called Dan Smith.
Celie eventually becomes Cooks' assistant, and after the sad demise of Celie's Father, Dan becomes Head Gardener for the Latimers'. She also forms an attachment to one of the Latimer girls, Prudence, who is cast out of the family for falling deeply in love with the wrong man.
However, the eldest son, Captain Richard Latimer has fallen in love with Celie, and at the wedding of one of the Latimer girls there is a terrible fight, and both Dan and Celie are dismissed. Cook, who has been struggling for some time to continue, also walks out, taking with her another maid Kate.
Jess Harper uses money she has put aside to start a Tea Rooms, and eventually they also steal quite a lot more of the Latimer staff.
What of Richard and his love for Celie though? You will simply have to read this 4 **** Star read to find out, but it was a totally enchanting tale.
In last year of Queen Victoria's reign, Celie Marlow first begins working for the Latimer family as a kitchen maid. Determined to be the best cook in Liverpool at worst, she's taken under the wing of the Cook, Jess Harper who recognises her talent.
Shortly after that a young Swedish Boy is taken into the Latimers', he speaks no English and he and Celie form a special bond to one another. Not knowing what his real name is, or being able to pronounce it when they do find out, he is called Dan Smith.
Celie eventually becomes Cooks' assistant, and after the sad demise of Celie's Father, Dan becomes Head Gardener for the Latimers'. She also forms an attachment to one of the Latimer girls, Prudence, who is cast out of the family for falling deeply in love with the wrong man.
However, the eldest son, Captain Richard Latimer has fallen in love with Celie, and at the wedding of one of the Latimer girls there is a terrible fight, and both Dan and Celie are dismissed. Cook, who has been struggling for some time to continue, also walks out, taking with her another maid Kate.
Jess Harper uses money she has put aside to start a Tea Rooms, and eventually they also steal quite a lot more of the Latimer staff.
What of Richard and his love for Celie though? You will simply have to read this 4 **** Star read to find out, but it was a totally enchanting tale.
November 7, 2018
As the first chapter of the sample ordered for this novel had grabbed my interest, I decided to purchase the kindle version.
I liked the introduction to Kitchen Maid, Celie Marlow and Anders Sigbjorn, who was later renamed Dan Smith - both of them had lost their parents through different means.
Midway through the book, I did get a bit frustrated with the author's style of writing extremely, long sentences that sometimes confused the gist of what she was trying to portray.
However, although the long sentences continued throughout, as the story progressed, the plots became very intriguing. In particular the start of the long-term friendship between Prudence Latimer and Ceile and the fight between the Latimer brothers and Dan over her. This consequently lead to both Celie and Dan getting the sack and leaving the Latimer household with the treasured Cook, Mrs Harper, and cunning Parlour Maid, Kate in tow.
Cook's finances launched the profitable business called "Harpers" that they all laboured in relentlessly, whilst love blossomed on a "hush" scale between Richard Latimer and Ceile, whose creativity and good business head lead to the success of "Harpers".
There were some very gripping, heart wrenching scenes as the story progressed. For example, when Dan unexpectedly inherited "Harpers" instead of Ceile upon Cook's death; Kate's marriage to Dan under false pretenses, which led to her becoming Ceile's boss, and later Ceile's mission to rescue young Maude and Belle from the claws of Kate.
When Richard and Celie became intimate, followed by a rushed engagement minutes before he went off to war, the years between were very hard emotionally for Ceile, and the notification of Dan's death (her childhood love), during his service in the Boer War added to her grief.
The final chapter where war-injured Richard left the Latimer household in search of Ceile, after he had stood up triumphantly to his mum was really great, especially as his mum had done everything in her power to keep them apart,
It would have been nice if Dan Smith had been able to locate his parents and sibling before he died in the War. After they had been swindled of their travel tickets in Liverpool, his poor parents were forced to sail off to USA on another ship, leaving him behind to fend for himself, with the aim of being reunited in the near future.
Overall this is a very good novel and despite the long sentences, well worthy of a five star rating.
I liked the introduction to Kitchen Maid, Celie Marlow and Anders Sigbjorn, who was later renamed Dan Smith - both of them had lost their parents through different means.
Midway through the book, I did get a bit frustrated with the author's style of writing extremely, long sentences that sometimes confused the gist of what she was trying to portray.
However, although the long sentences continued throughout, as the story progressed, the plots became very intriguing. In particular the start of the long-term friendship between Prudence Latimer and Ceile and the fight between the Latimer brothers and Dan over her. This consequently lead to both Celie and Dan getting the sack and leaving the Latimer household with the treasured Cook, Mrs Harper, and cunning Parlour Maid, Kate in tow.
Cook's finances launched the profitable business called "Harpers" that they all laboured in relentlessly, whilst love blossomed on a "hush" scale between Richard Latimer and Ceile, whose creativity and good business head lead to the success of "Harpers".
There were some very gripping, heart wrenching scenes as the story progressed. For example, when Dan unexpectedly inherited "Harpers" instead of Ceile upon Cook's death; Kate's marriage to Dan under false pretenses, which led to her becoming Ceile's boss, and later Ceile's mission to rescue young Maude and Belle from the claws of Kate.
When Richard and Celie became intimate, followed by a rushed engagement minutes before he went off to war, the years between were very hard emotionally for Ceile, and the notification of Dan's death (her childhood love), during his service in the Boer War added to her grief.
The final chapter where war-injured Richard left the Latimer household in search of Ceile, after he had stood up triumphantly to his mum was really great, especially as his mum had done everything in her power to keep them apart,
It would have been nice if Dan Smith had been able to locate his parents and sibling before he died in the War. After they had been swindled of their travel tickets in Liverpool, his poor parents were forced to sail off to USA on another ship, leaving him behind to fend for himself, with the aim of being reunited in the near future.
Overall this is a very good novel and despite the long sentences, well worthy of a five star rating.
July 13, 2024
Reading this book was an ordeal, to say the least. How does it have such high reviews is a wonder.
Almost halfway through the book and nothing particularly worth reading has happened of yet. There was so many useless and unnecessary details I was lost for words.
Everything from the meals prepared by the cook, to the methods employed in doing so, to every single flowers, plants, bush and even soil tended by the gardeners, every single items of clothing was described in great details.
The book is a collection of informations about the house, gardens and every flowers, bushes, grass, the earth, skies, meals cooked in the kitchen, clothing, etc…
Very little was said however for the most important part of the story itself.
What of Richard Latimer’s life as a soldier? His constant struggle between love and status and the reasons behind his cruel treatment of Celie Marlow? Each time he came back to her, no explanation was offered, no conversation on the matter was shown in the book. What a silly author!
Richard Latimer came in and out of Celie Marlow’s life, ignored her for years at a time then came back out of the blue with no explanation whatsoever. Instead the author thought it best to write every oh! so very exciting details on the scrubbing of pots and pans. How very cleaver!
I am even more concerned of any individual who read this book and rated it above 2 stars? Did y’all got paid or something?
I wouldn’t recommend for i think the book is more frustrating than it is enjoyable.
Almost halfway through the book and nothing particularly worth reading has happened of yet. There was so many useless and unnecessary details I was lost for words.
Everything from the meals prepared by the cook, to the methods employed in doing so, to every single flowers, plants, bush and even soil tended by the gardeners, every single items of clothing was described in great details.
The book is a collection of informations about the house, gardens and every flowers, bushes, grass, the earth, skies, meals cooked in the kitchen, clothing, etc…
Very little was said however for the most important part of the story itself.
What of Richard Latimer’s life as a soldier? His constant struggle between love and status and the reasons behind his cruel treatment of Celie Marlow? Each time he came back to her, no explanation was offered, no conversation on the matter was shown in the book. What a silly author!
Richard Latimer came in and out of Celie Marlow’s life, ignored her for years at a time then came back out of the blue with no explanation whatsoever. Instead the author thought it best to write every oh! so very exciting details on the scrubbing of pots and pans. How very cleaver!
I am even more concerned of any individual who read this book and rated it above 2 stars? Did y’all got paid or something?
I wouldn’t recommend for i think the book is more frustrating than it is enjoyable.
November 26, 2017
Never having read any of Audrey Howard novels before I thought I would try this as a starter. The story was quite good and well written but what put me off slightly was the great long winded detail of certain things - the blooms in the garden, for example -which I thought unnecessary and would I feel only be appreciated by someone who recognised the names. Perhaps I expected too much from this book but I shall look for another by this author and hope I will enjoy it more.
April 19, 2021
Didn’t finish it. I’ve read a lot of Audrey Howard’s books, most of them I enjoyed, but I just couldn’t get into this one. Nearly Halfway through the book and still nothing of interest happened. Maybe if more time was spent on the story instead of describing every little point in minute detail, it may have kept my interest.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews