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Illusions of Happiness
“A somber yet intriguing historical saga with a satisfying ending that will appeal to fans of Danielle Steel.” —Booklist
Madeleine Ingleton returns home from her Swiss finishing school to a whirlwind of social engagements and parties—and to Hamilton Bramwell, the wealthy and agreeable young man whom her parents are determined she marry. Instead, Madeleine’s eye is caught by a young milkman, and she experiences feelings that lead to disaster. She soon finds herself friendless and homeless, until a chance meeting offers her hope for the future. But she has a tough decision to make, which will change her life forever.
Madeleine Ingleton returns home from her Swiss finishing school to a whirlwind of social engagements and parties—and to Hamilton Bramwell, the wealthy and agreeable young man whom her parents are determined she marry. Instead, Madeleine’s eye is caught by a young milkman, and she experiences feelings that lead to disaster. She soon finds herself friendless and homeless, until a chance meeting offers her hope for the future. But she has a tough decision to make, which will change her life forever.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Lord
39 books13 followersFirst published with short stories, went on to writing novels, family sagas and historicals around 1980s. First novel published by Piatkus, London, in 1992. Since then there has been 22 novels published with one in the pipeline and one with my publishers Severn House.
You can check out my books avaialable on Audios and CDs
You can check out my books avaialable on Audios and CDs
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 2, 2014
How any book that includes "nether regions" and "rape-like" when describing the sexual interludes gets published is beyond me. Over looking that, the story is just bad and really has nothing to do with hardship and love as stated on the cover.
September 14, 2017
I abandoned this book at the 28% mark. Another Goodreads reviewer called this "a dark novel of near constant unhappiness" and that is a perfectly succinct description of how I felt about this novel. I've read books where bad things have happened to the heroine in the past or even in the first chapters of the book, but then there was a turnaround where her life improves. I kept waiting for that to happen with this book but it felt like it was never coming. I couldn't bring myself to keep devoting my limited reading time to this book when I had a romantic comedy waiting on my Kindle that was part of a series that has already proven to bring me joy.
February 28, 2015
A dark novel of near constant unhappiness. Though there is a somewhat "happy" ending, I've never disliked a protagonist as much as I did this one.
November 17, 2013
Madeleine Ingleton has returned home after the Swiss finishing school where has spent the last two years. Her wealthy parents expect her to marry Hamilton Bramwell, but Maddie has other plans. She chances to meet a young milk delivery boy and becomes involved in a romantic relationship. When she discovers she is pregnant, he refuses to marry her saying he has a finance. When her parents realize she is pregnant, they disown her and refuse to ever see her again after she has the baby in a home for unwed mothers. She manages to see the baby, a girl, before the baby is taken from her.
So begins the next phase of her life. She rents a shabby room and goes out one night with some girls from the same house and meets a wealthy older man, thirty-seven years older. His wife had died and he offers to marry Maddie for companionship for him and to provide for her. She falls in love with her husband's nephew and after several years finds herself pregnant. When he also refuses to accept the child and tells her she must procure an abortion, her world collapses.
World War I breaks out and the nephew enters the war, while Maddie and James continue their lives, she giving lavish parties and he working in the stock market.
A short, easy read that follows the life of one girl during the 1920s.
So begins the next phase of her life. She rents a shabby room and goes out one night with some girls from the same house and meets a wealthy older man, thirty-seven years older. His wife had died and he offers to marry Maddie for companionship for him and to provide for her. She falls in love with her husband's nephew and after several years finds herself pregnant. When he also refuses to accept the child and tells her she must procure an abortion, her world collapses.
World War I breaks out and the nephew enters the war, while Maddie and James continue their lives, she giving lavish parties and he working in the stock market.
A short, easy read that follows the life of one girl during the 1920s.
July 10, 2014
Gentle born Madeleine "Maddie" Ingleton returns home from finishing school to social engagements and parties. Her parents want her to marry a wealthy young man. Instead, Madeleine’s eye is caught by a young tradesman and her feelings for him lead to her being disowned. She manages to overcome this and other obstacles in her quest to find love.
Madeline fell into traps that many young women fall into - believing that sex equals love and that a man who only wants to have sex with you will tell you the truth.
This was a quick read.
Madeline fell into traps that many young women fall into - believing that sex equals love and that a man who only wants to have sex with you will tell you the truth.
This was a quick read.
July 8, 2014
A good, solid story that I would recommend to others.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews