A DIFFERENT EDEN

by Katherine Sinclair, Joan Dial

For Eleanor destiny and desire were inextricably bound. From turn of the century Boston, where a railroad baron's twisted needs forced her to flee as a child with her English nanny, Charlotte, to the treacherous shadows of a rambling Welsh estate where jealousy and madness consumed all love ... Eleanor never surrendered her dreams.
The beauty of the child attracts the attention of an aristocratic artist, who has a dark secret and an ulterior motive. He persuades the near destitute Charlotte to accept a position as housekeeper to his uncle at their family estate in North Wales, where they find themselves at the mercy of the artist’s dangerously unbalanced wife and his reclusive uncle, a man feared and hated by servants and villagers.
But all is not as it seems. Charlotte is trapped in a web of passion and betrayal. Ultimately she will find redemption and lasting love in the steamy heat of monsoonal Ceylon.
Eleanor will grow to be the reigning beauty of the English stage, pursued by the Prince Regent and his sinister aide. She is adored and protected by a devoted suitor, but must find a way to escape the demons of the past haunting her before she can know true love... and find a different Eden.
Dramatic and captivating, a breathtaking epic saga that will sweep you away to the ends of the earth - the magnificent estates of nobles, the exotic mysteries of Ceylon, and the untamed wilderness of the America southwest. A soul-searching novel of love and dreams, people and places you will never forget.

522 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 1988

About the author

Also wrote under the names:
Katherine Kent
Amanda York
Joan Dial

Reviews

[J.S. Luxor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Different Eden got me hooked quickly. Joan Dial's pacing, series of conflicts, adventures and her skill with accents (Welsh, in particular) impressed me from the start. This novel moves the reader through a number of dramatic settings, psychological disorders, romantic encounters and moral dilemmas in a way that kept me intellectually stimulated and impressed.

My favorite characters were Charlotte, Evan and Owain because of their multifaceted personal strengths and weaknesses. Eleanor and Colonel Thane reminded me of Scarlett Ohara and Rhett Butler at times. Stephen Athmore's conflicted personality and artistic talent demonstrates Dial's insights into human nature. Zoe Athmore became the perfect foil for Charlotte and Evan. She demonstrates an intense level of psychological disturbance with her bipolar swings and antisocial personality tendencies (no conscience). I found her fascinating as well.

The book needs some additional editing work but those minor issues didn't distract me enough from the story to see it through to the end. The characters and their challenges in life, the range of exotic settings (from the wild west to Wales, Ceylon and London) and the resolution of moral dilemmas kept me entranced.

[Susan]

1890's story of a girl becoming an actress.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

was a lot but good

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

was alot. never boring!