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Amends
England, 1867
Trapped in a wretched slum, Sarah Ward feels powerless to keep her son away from a charismatic crime lord, whom she believes is responsible for her husband’s death. A lost letter offers her a chance to flee to her rural childhood home, away from the pounding factories and soot-filled skies. Yet escape means seeing Markham Litton again, her first love and the man who shattered her heart. She had been too infatuated to understand that he would never tarnish his wealthy family’s honor by marrying a lowly stone mason’s daughter. He had cast her aside, never learning about their child growing in her belly.
Consumed by the loss of his eldest child, widowed Markham struggles to be a good father to his remaining son. The only solace he finds is drifting in the memories of Sarah. In the late hours, he revisits the tender parts of their romance, like her gentle kisses, but not the tears she cried when he left her.
When old lovers reunite, Markham has a chance to show her that he’s changed. He can finally admit the feelings he had kept hidden for so long and try to heal old wounds. But Sarah has changed too. She isn’t the trusting, naïve young woman she once was. She knows from painful experience that some wounds can never be healed, and some secrets must never be told, especially ones that could rip her small family apart.
Trapped in a wretched slum, Sarah Ward feels powerless to keep her son away from a charismatic crime lord, whom she believes is responsible for her husband’s death. A lost letter offers her a chance to flee to her rural childhood home, away from the pounding factories and soot-filled skies. Yet escape means seeing Markham Litton again, her first love and the man who shattered her heart. She had been too infatuated to understand that he would never tarnish his wealthy family’s honor by marrying a lowly stone mason’s daughter. He had cast her aside, never learning about their child growing in her belly.
Consumed by the loss of his eldest child, widowed Markham struggles to be a good father to his remaining son. The only solace he finds is drifting in the memories of Sarah. In the late hours, he revisits the tender parts of their romance, like her gentle kisses, but not the tears she cried when he left her.
When old lovers reunite, Markham has a chance to show her that he’s changed. He can finally admit the feelings he had kept hidden for so long and try to heal old wounds. But Sarah has changed too. She isn’t the trusting, naïve young woman she once was. She knows from painful experience that some wounds can never be healed, and some secrets must never be told, especially ones that could rip her small family apart.
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First published January 1, 2022
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June 19, 2023I’m not sure if it’s my jaded heart speaking, but what I really appreciated about this book is its refreshing honesty in letting its hero, Markham, behave like a man of his time.
An aristocrat would absolutely have seduced and then abandoned a country bumpkin from his ancestral home, Sarah, without a second thought, proceeded to enjoy family life after marrying a woman of his own class, and only shown remorse for what he’d done after life had taught him the meaning of hardship.
Given such a heavy premise, I was curious to see if the author would go full dark romance or historical realism, and I wasn’t disappointed with the execution in the latter vein. The character dynamics were all quite complex and compelling, while the historical background was, as far I could tell, well-researched and believable.
I was immediately hooked on the MC’s thorny history together, and enjoyed myself immensely for the first 2/3 of the book while the hero struggled to make amends and both he and the heroine fought their own demons as well as societal constraints.
The only criticism I have is with the resolution, which I found a little too neat and deus ex machina, but the HEA certainly felt deserved after all the heartbreak and sorrow. Recommended to all HR readers who would like to read something grittier and more dramatic than the usual fare.
An aristocrat would absolutely have seduced and then abandoned a country bumpkin from his ancestral home, Sarah, without a second thought, proceeded to enjoy family life after marrying a woman of his own class, and only shown remorse for what he’d done after life had taught him the meaning of hardship.
Given such a heavy premise, I was curious to see if the author would go full dark romance or historical realism, and I wasn’t disappointed with the execution in the latter vein. The character dynamics were all quite complex and compelling, while the historical background was, as far I could tell, well-researched and believable.
I was immediately hooked on the MC’s thorny history together, and enjoyed myself immensely for the first 2/3 of the book while the hero struggled to make amends and both he and the heroine fought their own demons as well as societal constraints.
The only criticism I have is with the resolution, which I found a little too neat and deus ex machina, but the HEA certainly felt deserved after all the heartbreak and sorrow. Recommended to all HR readers who would like to read something grittier and more dramatic than the usual fare.
June 23, 2023
Read: 6/20/23
A very well written book! The h was fantastic! When she was 17, she fell in love with Markham. He cruelly broke of their relationship. This left Sarah pregnant and kicked out of her home. While working at a tavern, she meets her husband, who was kind enough to adopt her son. Unfortunately, he ran with criminals and started drinking. He later dies in prison for murder. Now, the crime boss wants Sarah, but hope comes in the form of a letter. Now that her father has died, she can move back home. She's desperate to escape the slums and the crime boss. Sarah just wants to give her children a good life. She never gives up. The author did an incredible job of making her relatable. I felt her struggles deeply. I even shed a tear or two.
Now, Markham? He lost his eldest son recently, and his family and friends talk him into going to his summer home. At the train station, he sees a boy who is identical to his dead son. He figures out quickly that this his son with Sarah. Sarah is someone he has loved for years. Can he reconcile with Sarah and his son?
The author did a great job of easing the characters together. An example is the children playing together, giving him an excuse to see her. I honestly wondered how these two people from different classes could be together or how Sarah could forgive him? The author kept me questioning til the end.
I have to say that the children were very well written! Each child had their own personalities. I enjoyed their interactions. Jose, the 2 year old, stole the book. But I loved them all!
All in all, i could have continued Sarah's story. I empathized with her. I wish the book had an epilogue that showed the family together.
This is a book that I highly recommend! Though this is book, I wouldn't read again. I was too emotional invested.
A very well written book! The h was fantastic! When she was 17, she fell in love with Markham. He cruelly broke of their relationship. This left Sarah pregnant and kicked out of her home. While working at a tavern, she meets her husband, who was kind enough to adopt her son. Unfortunately, he ran with criminals and started drinking. He later dies in prison for murder. Now, the crime boss wants Sarah, but hope comes in the form of a letter. Now that her father has died, she can move back home. She's desperate to escape the slums and the crime boss. Sarah just wants to give her children a good life. She never gives up. The author did an incredible job of making her relatable. I felt her struggles deeply. I even shed a tear or two.
Now, Markham? He lost his eldest son recently, and his family and friends talk him into going to his summer home. At the train station, he sees a boy who is identical to his dead son. He figures out quickly that this his son with Sarah. Sarah is someone he has loved for years. Can he reconcile with Sarah and his son?
The author did a great job of easing the characters together. An example is the children playing together, giving him an excuse to see her. I honestly wondered how these two people from different classes could be together or how Sarah could forgive him? The author kept me questioning til the end.
I have to say that the children were very well written! Each child had their own personalities. I enjoyed their interactions. Jose, the 2 year old, stole the book. But I loved them all!
All in all, i could have continued Sarah's story. I empathized with her. I wish the book had an epilogue that showed the family together.
This is a book that I highly recommend! Though this is book, I wouldn't read again. I was too emotional invested.
November 14, 2022
I received this copy for free from Booksirens, and my thoughts and opinions are my own.
It's a super tricky thing for a reader to empathise with a hero who debauches the young virginal heroine for a wager, leaves her to fend for herself without a thought for her fate and gets himself hitched to a woman of quality. Years later, they meet up again, and him trying to make amends for his past behaviour towards the heroine. This is basically the premise of the story. The story opens in a rather pensive and gloomy atmosphere.
The author didn't quite hit the mark with the hero, Markham. Markham is a country squire; the heroine, Sarah, is a stonemason's daughter. Markham's father has drilled it in him to find a lady of quality for a wife (he married a marquess's daughter). He was pressured to debauch Sarah by his best friend, Simon. Years later, he lost his wife to childbirth. He also lost his first son due to a fever. During the interim, Sarah was thrown out of her house after her father found out she was pregnant. She had to go to the north to see some relatives. She worked as a barmaid and got married. The marriage turned sour when the husband became a drunk. She also caught the attention of a crime lord. 2 years after her husband's passing; she had a letter from the vicar in the village that her father had passed, so she returned home to be with her mother. Markham also returned to his estate with his son and a couple of family friends. That's how their path crossed once again. Markham didn't know about the existence of his illegitimate son, Nicolas, who was an exact twin of his dead son, Tristan.
I didn't buy into Markham's redemption. He sounded contrite, but I believe action speaks louder than words. He didn't fight for Sarah the second time around (he was even going to marry his longtime friend, Lady Hester, believing that friendship and companionship would suffice with her even though realising he loved Sarah). It's hard to achieve a satisfying grovel with this sort of storyline. I even devised a moniker for him, 'cowardly Markham'.
Sarah is simply the star of the story. I always have a soft spot for the 'down-on-her-luck' type of heroine. She did everything she could think of to protect her children. Her decisions sometimes could have been better, but she didn't have much choice (women rarely do). First love is hard to forget, but I thought her still loving him was hard to believe after his deplorable actions (him laughing at her when she said she loved him, telling her about the wager and calling her a whore, leaving her high and dry).
Children are very much the centre of the story. This might put you off if you're not into children in the storyline. There is also a side story with the crime lord and the Irish rebellion, so that was a nice touch by the author to make the story richer.
The pacing is excellent, with no dull moments. It was a page-turner and a tearjerker for me. Ms. Ives is a competent writer, and I am interested to read her other works. I commend the author for making the story different from your run-of-the-mill historical romance. Not a perfect book per se, but it was definitely a satisfying read.
It's a super tricky thing for a reader to empathise with a hero who debauches the young virginal heroine for a wager, leaves her to fend for herself without a thought for her fate and gets himself hitched to a woman of quality. Years later, they meet up again, and him trying to make amends for his past behaviour towards the heroine. This is basically the premise of the story. The story opens in a rather pensive and gloomy atmosphere.
The author didn't quite hit the mark with the hero, Markham. Markham is a country squire; the heroine, Sarah, is a stonemason's daughter. Markham's father has drilled it in him to find a lady of quality for a wife (he married a marquess's daughter). He was pressured to debauch Sarah by his best friend, Simon. Years later, he lost his wife to childbirth. He also lost his first son due to a fever. During the interim, Sarah was thrown out of her house after her father found out she was pregnant. She had to go to the north to see some relatives. She worked as a barmaid and got married. The marriage turned sour when the husband became a drunk. She also caught the attention of a crime lord. 2 years after her husband's passing; she had a letter from the vicar in the village that her father had passed, so she returned home to be with her mother. Markham also returned to his estate with his son and a couple of family friends. That's how their path crossed once again. Markham didn't know about the existence of his illegitimate son, Nicolas, who was an exact twin of his dead son, Tristan.
I didn't buy into Markham's redemption. He sounded contrite, but I believe action speaks louder than words. He didn't fight for Sarah the second time around (he was even going to marry his longtime friend, Lady Hester, believing that friendship and companionship would suffice with her even though realising he loved Sarah). It's hard to achieve a satisfying grovel with this sort of storyline. I even devised a moniker for him, 'cowardly Markham'.
Sarah is simply the star of the story. I always have a soft spot for the 'down-on-her-luck' type of heroine. She did everything she could think of to protect her children. Her decisions sometimes could have been better, but she didn't have much choice (women rarely do). First love is hard to forget, but I thought her still loving him was hard to believe after his deplorable actions (him laughing at her when she said she loved him, telling her about the wager and calling her a whore, leaving her high and dry).
Children are very much the centre of the story. This might put you off if you're not into children in the storyline. There is also a side story with the crime lord and the Irish rebellion, so that was a nice touch by the author to make the story richer.
The pacing is excellent, with no dull moments. It was a page-turner and a tearjerker for me. Ms. Ives is a competent writer, and I am interested to read her other works. I commend the author for making the story different from your run-of-the-mill historical romance. Not a perfect book per se, but it was definitely a satisfying read.
July 26, 2023
4.5/5. This is one for the more mature readers - a well-written story about love and loss, broken dreams and broken hearts, and a second chance for happiness.
Sarah was cruelly abandoned by the man she loved, thrown out of her family home and left to fend for herself and her baby. Against all odds, she has managed to forge an existence for herself and her children in the slum of industrial Manchester. Now her greatest challenge is to keep her son from being lured into a life of crime. An unexpected opportunity to return to her childhood home seems to be the answer to all her prayers but home brings with it relics from the past best forgotten and buried. She and her children now face a challenge of a different kind, no less threatening.
Deeply grieving following the twin losses of his wife and beloved son, Markham returns to his rural estate to escape the bleakness of his melancholy and to be a more present father to his remaining son. Instead the ghost of his older son follows him everywhere and more so when he encounters Sarah, his lost love, and her son.
The author did an amazing job in describing Markham's heartache, how a person can almost go mad with grief. In fact, Ives's writing was most impressive throughout, from portraying Sarah's fierce motherly instinct to protect her children, to Nicholas's need for a father figure, to little Ethan who craves some softness in his life. The road to happiness did not come easily for these people but Ives made me care for them and want to root for their HEA.
Sarah was cruelly abandoned by the man she loved, thrown out of her family home and left to fend for herself and her baby. Against all odds, she has managed to forge an existence for herself and her children in the slum of industrial Manchester. Now her greatest challenge is to keep her son from being lured into a life of crime. An unexpected opportunity to return to her childhood home seems to be the answer to all her prayers but home brings with it relics from the past best forgotten and buried. She and her children now face a challenge of a different kind, no less threatening.
Deeply grieving following the twin losses of his wife and beloved son, Markham returns to his rural estate to escape the bleakness of his melancholy and to be a more present father to his remaining son. Instead the ghost of his older son follows him everywhere and more so when he encounters Sarah, his lost love, and her son.
The author did an amazing job in describing Markham's heartache, how a person can almost go mad with grief. In fact, Ives's writing was most impressive throughout, from portraying Sarah's fierce motherly instinct to protect her children, to Nicholas's need for a father figure, to little Ethan who craves some softness in his life. The road to happiness did not come easily for these people but Ives made me care for them and want to root for their HEA.
June 1, 2023
06/01/2023 re-read.
I am moving this back to 5 stars because I was drunk when I wrote my first review. I must have been PMS'ing, mad at my husband or hating men in general, because I do NOT agree with my first review. However, I am leaving it up as a reminder to sit with my feelings next time before posting a ranting review. The Hero of this book DID do a good job groveling, crying and breaking down in front of the heroine. He never denied his love for her- after seeing her again. He DID break her heart years before the story takes place, but he was young and being influenced. Not an excuse, but we all make poor choices when young. He tried to make up for his hurt, but the lovely heroine was too damaged. I think my frustration for the book came from all the freaking angst in this story. OMG, I grew so frustrated by all of the tension and hurt feelings, BUT it was realistic and I was simply impatient for lovely people to get their happiness.
This was a love/hate read for me. A lot of mixed feelings, but overall, I went with 4 stars because Susanna Ives is a very talented writer and deserves the praise. The problem, for me, came from the characters, not the plot. No one in this book was very likeable and I never saw any great redemption from anyone.
I’m not a fan of books featuring children, but I must say, the children in the book was the glue that held it together. They were lovely little characters that I enjoyed very much. All the other supporting characters, whether they were “good” or “bad” annoyed me like a fly buzzing around. I really wanted to solely focus on the MCs of the book and their growth, but the outside drama from the supporting characters kept interrupting.
Now onto my biggest issue of the book, the Hero. I didn’t hate him but didn’t like him. He didn’t give me protector vibes, even at the end of the book when he “saves” our heroine. He was selfish and did things strictly for himself. He shit all over the heroine, was terrible to her, but never reeeeeeeeally made “amends” like the book title made us believe. His past didn’t bother me. I like bully heroes, but it’s not fun when they don’t grovel. I want them on their knees begging for the heroine. I want them crying with snot running down their face!
It sounds like I didn’t like this book, but I read it in one day and couldn’t put it down, so it must have been doing something right. And when I think about it, I believe it was the authenticity of it. Our hero fell in love with a young woman beneath his station in life. He made love to her and left her because his life dictated that he could never have her. It’s shitty- and us romance readers don’t like to imagine our heroes being anything less than, well, heroic. But wasn’t that the reality of life? Titled men didn’t marry the poor girl in town. I understand how unlikeable it made the hero, but it really didn’t bother me because it started an incredible journey for our heroine. A sad, but incredible journey.
P.S. Susanna also has some of my favorite covers.
I am moving this back to 5 stars because I was drunk when I wrote my first review. I must have been PMS'ing, mad at my husband or hating men in general, because I do NOT agree with my first review. However, I am leaving it up as a reminder to sit with my feelings next time before posting a ranting review. The Hero of this book DID do a good job groveling, crying and breaking down in front of the heroine. He never denied his love for her- after seeing her again. He DID break her heart years before the story takes place, but he was young and being influenced. Not an excuse, but we all make poor choices when young. He tried to make up for his hurt, but the lovely heroine was too damaged. I think my frustration for the book came from all the freaking angst in this story. OMG, I grew so frustrated by all of the tension and hurt feelings, BUT it was realistic and I was simply impatient for lovely people to get their happiness.
This was a love/hate read for me. A lot of mixed feelings, but overall, I went with 4 stars because Susanna Ives is a very talented writer and deserves the praise. The problem, for me, came from the characters, not the plot. No one in this book was very likeable and I never saw any great redemption from anyone.
I’m not a fan of books featuring children, but I must say, the children in the book was the glue that held it together. They were lovely little characters that I enjoyed very much. All the other supporting characters, whether they were “good” or “bad” annoyed me like a fly buzzing around. I really wanted to solely focus on the MCs of the book and their growth, but the outside drama from the supporting characters kept interrupting.
Now onto my biggest issue of the book, the Hero. I didn’t hate him but didn’t like him. He didn’t give me protector vibes, even at the end of the book when he “saves” our heroine. He was selfish and did things strictly for himself. He shit all over the heroine, was terrible to her, but never reeeeeeeeally made “amends” like the book title made us believe. His past didn’t bother me. I like bully heroes, but it’s not fun when they don’t grovel. I want them on their knees begging for the heroine. I want them crying with snot running down their face!
It sounds like I didn’t like this book, but I read it in one day and couldn’t put it down, so it must have been doing something right. And when I think about it, I believe it was the authenticity of it. Our hero fell in love with a young woman beneath his station in life. He made love to her and left her because his life dictated that he could never have her. It’s shitty- and us romance readers don’t like to imagine our heroes being anything less than, well, heroic. But wasn’t that the reality of life? Titled men didn’t marry the poor girl in town. I understand how unlikeable it made the hero, but it really didn’t bother me because it started an incredible journey for our heroine. A sad, but incredible journey.
P.S. Susanna also has some of my favorite covers.
July 1, 2023
I wished that there were more romantic scenes between the H/h, but given their history and current situations, I can understand that it is more realistic for things to occur the way they did.
I thought the book was going to have more angst. One heart-wrenching scene as well as one of my favorite scenes is the train scene in Chapter 3. I would love to see that scene in live-action.
I felt sorry for Sarah. She has had a hard life, surviving and being the strong one for her children. I'm glad she won't have to do it all on her own anymore. She deserves her HEA.
I thought the book was going to have more angst. One heart-wrenching scene as well as one of my favorite scenes is the train scene in Chapter 3. I would love to see that scene in live-action.
I felt sorry for Sarah. She has had a hard life, surviving and being the strong one for her children. I'm glad she won't have to do it all on her own anymore. She deserves her HEA.
October 30, 2022
4 1/2 stars. I have to admit I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. The cover makes it seem that it might be a rather dry, old-school historical romance. However, this is a suspenseful, compelling read, with the perfect level of steam, and the plot pulled me in to the point I didn't want to put my Kindle down. The MFC, Sarah, and her friends and family, are wonderfully developed characters, and you root for her even as her life take dark turns time after time. I am generally not of fan of the "lost baby" trope, but became so enmeshed in the characters and the storyline here that my only issues really only came up toward the end.
The book is set during the 1860's, in the middle of the unrest between England and the Fenians, and begins with a conversation between the MMC--Markham--and his sister Alice and best friend Simon. Markham is still deep in mourning over his late son, after having lost his wife in childbirth years before, but Alice and Simon are determined to have him return to Yearley Park, where he spent childhood. The plan has been for him to propose to Simon's sister, Hester, but there are hints that Markham is guilty not only over his son's death, but the way his relationship with Sarah ended.
When the POV shifts to Sarah, the plot truly takes off. She is a young woman who has been through tragedy and despair, but she has continued to try to do her best for her young children. She lives in the Manchester slums, barely eking out a livelihood with her widowed friend and their family members, and is under the protection of the leader of an Irish gang. Her late husband was implicated in killing a man before he hung himself in prison, and she was betrayed years before by Markham, the father of her son Nicholas. She has done her best to move on after being denounced by her father, Markham's stonemason, and kicked out of Yearley Park, but now her aging mother has reached out to her and is pleading for her to return home.
Sarah's life and the people around her are described so well and the narrative just flows. You understand her deep fear for pre-adolescent Nicholas, and her baby daughter Josie is heartbreakingly sweet. When Sarah meets Markham's son, affection-starved Ethan, later in the book, their relationship is also beautifully written. Sometimes children in novels serve to be only part of the backdrop or are plot machinations, but these children are characters in their own right.
I also have to give the author credit for Guy O'Keefe, the Irishman who has kept Sarah and her family under his protection. He is by turns commendable and terrifying, with a personal code of morality honed by the roughness of his decimated homeland and his awful childhood in the slums. At times you hate him, but you understand him. He could have been just another stock villain, but is expertly shaded and comes to life on the pages.
This is very close to being a 5 stars book for me, but I do have a few caveats:
--minor usage/repetition/anachronism issues here and there
--I wanted Markham to have more backbone, give Simon and Alice an ultimatum, and have his mind made up about declaring himself to Sarah earlier. (He's really not fair to poor Hester, either.) He looks down on Sarah's former fiance for being self-absorbed and too concerned about his personal honor, but Markham has been the exact same way for years. I also didn't like the fact that he is happy to make love to Sarah without any kind of discussion about preventing another pregnancy (the fact that she doesn't bring it up is kind of surprising, really).
--You are supposed to forgive Simon at the end, because Sarah does, but I wasn't ready to. He was truly loathsome toward her. From the wager to his language and comportment as an adult, he showed her not a modicum of respect until the very end. His sister Hester was a well-shaded character throughout; why not him?
--Along those lines, whatever happened to the thoroughly nasty Alice? She should have continued to be an obstacle to the HEA, but mysteriously disappears.
--Poor Nicholas. This is where the "hidden baby" trope always hits me hard. Yes, he has his HEA, but that kid has been trough so much.
Overall, this is one of the most compelling historical romances I've read in a long time. It's well worth reading. I haven't read a book by this author before, but I will definitely seek out more books by her.
I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Book Sirens for this opportunity.
The book is set during the 1860's, in the middle of the unrest between England and the Fenians, and begins with a conversation between the MMC--Markham--and his sister Alice and best friend Simon. Markham is still deep in mourning over his late son, after having lost his wife in childbirth years before, but Alice and Simon are determined to have him return to Yearley Park, where he spent childhood. The plan has been for him to propose to Simon's sister, Hester, but there are hints that Markham is guilty not only over his son's death, but the way his relationship with Sarah ended.
When the POV shifts to Sarah, the plot truly takes off. She is a young woman who has been through tragedy and despair, but she has continued to try to do her best for her young children. She lives in the Manchester slums, barely eking out a livelihood with her widowed friend and their family members, and is under the protection of the leader of an Irish gang. Her late husband was implicated in killing a man before he hung himself in prison, and she was betrayed years before by Markham, the father of her son Nicholas. She has done her best to move on after being denounced by her father, Markham's stonemason, and kicked out of Yearley Park, but now her aging mother has reached out to her and is pleading for her to return home.
Sarah's life and the people around her are described so well and the narrative just flows. You understand her deep fear for pre-adolescent Nicholas, and her baby daughter Josie is heartbreakingly sweet. When Sarah meets Markham's son, affection-starved Ethan, later in the book, their relationship is also beautifully written. Sometimes children in novels serve to be only part of the backdrop or are plot machinations, but these children are characters in their own right.
I also have to give the author credit for Guy O'Keefe, the Irishman who has kept Sarah and her family under his protection. He is by turns commendable and terrifying, with a personal code of morality honed by the roughness of his decimated homeland and his awful childhood in the slums. At times you hate him, but you understand him. He could have been just another stock villain, but is expertly shaded and comes to life on the pages.
This is very close to being a 5 stars book for me, but I do have a few caveats:
--minor usage/repetition/anachronism issues here and there
--I wanted Markham to have more backbone, give Simon and Alice an ultimatum, and have his mind made up about declaring himself to Sarah earlier. (He's really not fair to poor Hester, either.) He looks down on Sarah's former fiance for being self-absorbed and too concerned about his personal honor, but Markham has been the exact same way for years. I also didn't like the fact that he is happy to make love to Sarah without any kind of discussion about preventing another pregnancy (the fact that she doesn't bring it up is kind of surprising, really).
--You are supposed to forgive Simon at the end, because Sarah does, but I wasn't ready to. He was truly loathsome toward her. From the wager to his language and comportment as an adult, he showed her not a modicum of respect until the very end. His sister Hester was a well-shaded character throughout; why not him?
--Along those lines, whatever happened to the thoroughly nasty Alice? She should have continued to be an obstacle to the HEA, but mysteriously disappears.
--Poor Nicholas. This is where the "hidden baby" trope always hits me hard. Yes, he has his HEA, but that kid has been trough so much.
Overall, this is one of the most compelling historical romances I've read in a long time. It's well worth reading. I haven't read a book by this author before, but I will definitely seek out more books by her.
I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Book Sirens for this opportunity.
June 20, 2023
Definitely one of my all-time favorites.
This book has a great story, well written and self absorbing. The story tells the life of Markham and Sarah, he a noble character from a wealthy family, she a poor mason's daughter. They fell in love when they were younger, but society's restrictions tore them apart. The fact that the writer chose this kind of approach was amazing and very realistic and this is totally different from the usual HR and I like that.
Of course, stories like this must have happened time and time again, certainly most marriages in British society didn't end well in a cozy happily ever after, and yes, love doesn't conquer all. Girls like Sarah torn apart with a child in her arms also happened a lot, for sure.
I loved the way the writer let us into the minds of the two main characters and their sufferings. The lives of the two characters were hard, full of regrets, both had a sad life, each one for different reasons, but both suffer anyway. Sarah is a strong, caring and caring woman despite everything she's been through, but she's reached the end of her strength... Markham loses his eldest son and his life is torn apart, he doesn't know how to live again and be happy again . They meet again?! Go and read to find out!
Ahhh, the kids are a great addition to the story.
This book has a great story, well written and self absorbing. The story tells the life of Markham and Sarah, he a noble character from a wealthy family, she a poor mason's daughter. They fell in love when they were younger, but society's restrictions tore them apart. The fact that the writer chose this kind of approach was amazing and very realistic and this is totally different from the usual HR and I like that.
Of course, stories like this must have happened time and time again, certainly most marriages in British society didn't end well in a cozy happily ever after, and yes, love doesn't conquer all. Girls like Sarah torn apart with a child in her arms also happened a lot, for sure.
I loved the way the writer let us into the minds of the two main characters and their sufferings. The lives of the two characters were hard, full of regrets, both had a sad life, each one for different reasons, but both suffer anyway. Sarah is a strong, caring and caring woman despite everything she's been through, but she's reached the end of her strength... Markham loses his eldest son and his life is torn apart, he doesn't know how to live again and be happy again . They meet again?! Go and read to find out!
Ahhh, the kids are a great addition to the story.
July 1, 2023
This was really a 3.5 star book but I’m rounding up to 4. What I did like; the overall story, Sarah’s growth as a woman, Lady Hester.
Sarah becomes pregnant at 17 with Markham’s child after Simon dares him to bed her. He then calls her all sorts of terrible things and leaves her heartbroken and facing the wrath of her father. Her life just doesn’t get better from there. After she learns of her fathers death she returns home and of course meets up with Markham who, as soon as he sees the child, recognizes that Nicholas is his son.
Things I wasn’t impressed by… Markham. He was not repentant enough for me. Sarah was still too smitten with him and, in my opinion, forgave him rather too quickly. I liked her character but she was just way TOO forgiving. No thank you! I really hated that Markham judges Hollingsworth so quickly and called him a coward when what he did was so much worse! Lady Hester was the only character who seemed like a genuinely nice person. I felt bad for her getting the wrong end of the stick. I’m hoping this author writes her story and gives her a great storyline. Simon ended up being okay in the end but what a shmuck! I guess those were the times though. The rich men have no consequences for their actions!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sarah becomes pregnant at 17 with Markham’s child after Simon dares him to bed her. He then calls her all sorts of terrible things and leaves her heartbroken and facing the wrath of her father. Her life just doesn’t get better from there. After she learns of her fathers death she returns home and of course meets up with Markham who, as soon as he sees the child, recognizes that Nicholas is his son.
Things I wasn’t impressed by… Markham. He was not repentant enough for me. Sarah was still too smitten with him and, in my opinion, forgave him rather too quickly. I liked her character but she was just way TOO forgiving. No thank you! I really hated that Markham judges Hollingsworth so quickly and called him a coward when what he did was so much worse! Lady Hester was the only character who seemed like a genuinely nice person. I felt bad for her getting the wrong end of the stick. I’m hoping this author writes her story and gives her a great storyline. Simon ended up being okay in the end but what a shmuck! I guess those were the times though. The rich men have no consequences for their actions!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 31, 2023
I gave it 2 stars for writing but the actual story was pure horse...............manure. Seriously, the last 100 pages had me actually checking the beginning of the story to make sure the H had balls. Like, a man. I'm still not sure he did, but I can tell you this went so far into la la land by the end that he could've been a pink unicorn and I wouldn't have noticed. I'm out, I don't rec this thing, but it you do read it, please tell me what you thought of the last 80-100 pages, 'cause I still don't believe it.
June 4, 2023
I adored this, but I would have chosen Guy O’Keefe. 😊
October 23, 2022
A story of secrets and lies, and of love lost and found.
Sarah, a country girl, with herbalist skills, finds herself a widow, and living in a Manchester slum with her two children. Life is hard, as well as dangerous, as she strives to keep her family safe from the gangs who wander the streets looking for trouble.
Markham, Squire and landowner of Sarah’s home village, is grieving heavily for his oldest son, who died from a fever a year ago, and only finds solace in his memories of Sarah, his first love.
Events conspire to bring them together again, but Sarah has secrets, and a lot of pain and hurt to overcome, before she can consider getting involved with anyone again.
This story had me counting my blessings that my life is so much easier than Sarah’s. She is strong, but outside influences muddy the waters of her good intentions, as well as Markham’s.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book,and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Sarah, a country girl, with herbalist skills, finds herself a widow, and living in a Manchester slum with her two children. Life is hard, as well as dangerous, as she strives to keep her family safe from the gangs who wander the streets looking for trouble.
Markham, Squire and landowner of Sarah’s home village, is grieving heavily for his oldest son, who died from a fever a year ago, and only finds solace in his memories of Sarah, his first love.
Events conspire to bring them together again, but Sarah has secrets, and a lot of pain and hurt to overcome, before she can consider getting involved with anyone again.
This story had me counting my blessings that my life is so much easier than Sarah’s. She is strong, but outside influences muddy the waters of her good intentions, as well as Markham’s.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book,and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
November 8, 2022
I received a copy of this from Booksirens and this is my freely given opinion.
This is a rather slow burn second chance romance set during the Victorian era between Manchester and the British countryside, with a very strong theme of different classes. This story is set during the industrial age, and during the time of the conflict with the Fenians.
The story opens with one of the main characters, Markham Litton at his vast manor and estate in Essex. He is an untitled, but wealthy landowner, about 30 and suffering a great depression and guilt. He is a widower and father of two boys, and recently buried his eldest son who died while away at Eton from fever. Markham has isolated himself from Society after the death of Tristan, and falls into a cycle of regret and guilt - over his son's death, over his unsatisfactory relationship with his wife, over his treatment of a past love whom he cannot quite forget. His close friend Simon and sister persuade him to travel to another country estate with their collective families for a vacation, to draw him from his depression, and to advance in his courtship of Simon's sister. She is a widowed marchioness, and as they are friends who care greatly for each other, and the family is expecting a betrothal between the two of them. Markham agrees as he does feel he is failing his youngest son, and perhaps going to Yearley Park will help his relationships, and at least help him reminisce about the childhood joys he and Simon experienced there.
Then we go to Angel Meadow in the rough manufacturing town, Manchester, to a vastly different scenario. In a crowded tenement Sarah Ward is living with her toddler and young son, in a flat with her friend Maisie, and her children. They eke out a living sewing, and Sarah helps to care for Caroline, one of the children who has chronic lung problems because of the fibers inhaled working in the cotton mills. Sarah has had a hardscrabble life after being kicked out of her home by her abusive father when she became pregnant, then marrying Joe Ward, an Irishman who fell hard into drink, becoming abusive towards her and her son... then being stained by the notoriety of his murder charge and death in prison. Sarah no longer has faith in men, and feels quite trapped trying to raise her children and keep them innocent in such a rough area. To add to her challenge, the local crime lord, Guy O'Keeffe has set his eyes on her and her family, charming her children, drawing her son Nicholas into his lifestyle, and pressuring Sarah into marrying him.
Then she gets a life line in the form of a letter from the vicar from her old village. Her father had died and her mother has found out that he had been keeping Sarah's letters from her, and is hoping that Sarah will reach out to her. Leaving Manchester behind to return to Sulling will give Sarah and her family a fresh start, and take them away from the dangerous influences of the gangs and O'Keeffe.
Markham travels via rail with his extended family, and ends up playing and chasing his son and nephews through the train station near Sulling. He is stunned when he sees a boy who would be the mirror image of Tristan, if Tristan were a couple of years older. He realizes the consequences of his past when he finds out that Sarah is the father of the boy, Nicholas. Sarah was a local tradesman's daughter who was infatuated with youthful love for Markham and followed him with puppy-like devotion, and in a wager with Simon, Markham took her innocence, then callously broke her heart, and left for London, never realizing that he left her pregnant.
The story is a give and take between Markham and Sarah as he realizes after all he wants to know his son, and know Sarah again, but she fights for her independence, to keep her family together, and safe. It is quite heart breaking as she has lost so much of her innocence and trust in people. Markham fights to win her trust and the trust and regard of Nicholas, while trying to appreciate how much responsibility he had in her suffering after he left. He is further conflicted by his own family obligations and expectations. Sarah strives to be a good mother and build a safe life for her family, but is terribly conflicted in knowing that she could be denying her son opportunities that Markham, with his wealth and social standing. But she is also fearful of losing her son and no longer being in his life.
Things come to a head when Sarah is faced with her past and finds that she cannot escape the O'Keeffe, and must make sacrifices to keep her family safe.
I found this to be a beautifully written story with a lot of emotional depth. Many of the characters are richly written and characterized with a lot of depth and empathy. I want to despise Simon for his interference in trying to influence Markham's life and how he treats Sarah, but the author writes him, and his interactions in such a way that it does invoke a lot of sadness and empathy for him as well. Same with O'Keeffe; he is not quite a flat, straight out villain. I did find a couple of the characters were a bit flat, but they really were background fodder, such as the nieces/daughters, and Alice, and the farmer/suitor. There is such a melancholy air to the story, that it does bring me down a lot - past regret, abuse, hardship, death of a child. It seemed a bit overwhelming at times. That is not to say there is not humour and joy - but there is a pervasive air of melancholy that taints it, like the ghosts of the past, and those lost in the past are always there.
Ultimately, there is a happy ending. I thought it may have been a bit rushed towards the end, and I was left with some questions. I wish there was a bit of an epilogue to weave some ends in - such as what happens with Hester and Simon; does their friendship with Markham survive. How are Markham and Sarah surviving - does Society or the local society accept them, and their family, (especially if there is gossip); does Alice get over her prejudices about Sarah and her children. What about Maisie and her children, does Caroline get better? Even O'Keeffe, does he get the respectability and success that he wants, despite not getting the girl.
But I guess that is a measure of how well the characters were written that I really became invested and cared about what happened to them!
4.75 stars out of 5
This is a rather slow burn second chance romance set during the Victorian era between Manchester and the British countryside, with a very strong theme of different classes. This story is set during the industrial age, and during the time of the conflict with the Fenians.
The story opens with one of the main characters, Markham Litton at his vast manor and estate in Essex. He is an untitled, but wealthy landowner, about 30 and suffering a great depression and guilt. He is a widower and father of two boys, and recently buried his eldest son who died while away at Eton from fever. Markham has isolated himself from Society after the death of Tristan, and falls into a cycle of regret and guilt - over his son's death, over his unsatisfactory relationship with his wife, over his treatment of a past love whom he cannot quite forget. His close friend Simon and sister persuade him to travel to another country estate with their collective families for a vacation, to draw him from his depression, and to advance in his courtship of Simon's sister. She is a widowed marchioness, and as they are friends who care greatly for each other, and the family is expecting a betrothal between the two of them. Markham agrees as he does feel he is failing his youngest son, and perhaps going to Yearley Park will help his relationships, and at least help him reminisce about the childhood joys he and Simon experienced there.
Then we go to Angel Meadow in the rough manufacturing town, Manchester, to a vastly different scenario. In a crowded tenement Sarah Ward is living with her toddler and young son, in a flat with her friend Maisie, and her children. They eke out a living sewing, and Sarah helps to care for Caroline, one of the children who has chronic lung problems because of the fibers inhaled working in the cotton mills. Sarah has had a hardscrabble life after being kicked out of her home by her abusive father when she became pregnant, then marrying Joe Ward, an Irishman who fell hard into drink, becoming abusive towards her and her son... then being stained by the notoriety of his murder charge and death in prison. Sarah no longer has faith in men, and feels quite trapped trying to raise her children and keep them innocent in such a rough area. To add to her challenge, the local crime lord, Guy O'Keeffe has set his eyes on her and her family, charming her children, drawing her son Nicholas into his lifestyle, and pressuring Sarah into marrying him.
Then she gets a life line in the form of a letter from the vicar from her old village. Her father had died and her mother has found out that he had been keeping Sarah's letters from her, and is hoping that Sarah will reach out to her. Leaving Manchester behind to return to Sulling will give Sarah and her family a fresh start, and take them away from the dangerous influences of the gangs and O'Keeffe.
Markham travels via rail with his extended family, and ends up playing and chasing his son and nephews through the train station near Sulling. He is stunned when he sees a boy who would be the mirror image of Tristan, if Tristan were a couple of years older. He realizes the consequences of his past when he finds out that Sarah is the father of the boy, Nicholas. Sarah was a local tradesman's daughter who was infatuated with youthful love for Markham and followed him with puppy-like devotion, and in a wager with Simon, Markham took her innocence, then callously broke her heart, and left for London, never realizing that he left her pregnant.
The story is a give and take between Markham and Sarah as he realizes after all he wants to know his son, and know Sarah again, but she fights for her independence, to keep her family together, and safe. It is quite heart breaking as she has lost so much of her innocence and trust in people. Markham fights to win her trust and the trust and regard of Nicholas, while trying to appreciate how much responsibility he had in her suffering after he left. He is further conflicted by his own family obligations and expectations. Sarah strives to be a good mother and build a safe life for her family, but is terribly conflicted in knowing that she could be denying her son opportunities that Markham, with his wealth and social standing. But she is also fearful of losing her son and no longer being in his life.
Things come to a head when Sarah is faced with her past and finds that she cannot escape the O'Keeffe, and must make sacrifices to keep her family safe.
I found this to be a beautifully written story with a lot of emotional depth. Many of the characters are richly written and characterized with a lot of depth and empathy. I want to despise Simon for his interference in trying to influence Markham's life and how he treats Sarah, but the author writes him, and his interactions in such a way that it does invoke a lot of sadness and empathy for him as well. Same with O'Keeffe; he is not quite a flat, straight out villain. I did find a couple of the characters were a bit flat, but they really were background fodder, such as the nieces/daughters, and Alice, and the farmer/suitor. There is such a melancholy air to the story, that it does bring me down a lot - past regret, abuse, hardship, death of a child. It seemed a bit overwhelming at times. That is not to say there is not humour and joy - but there is a pervasive air of melancholy that taints it, like the ghosts of the past, and those lost in the past are always there.
Ultimately, there is a happy ending. I thought it may have been a bit rushed towards the end, and I was left with some questions. I wish there was a bit of an epilogue to weave some ends in - such as what happens with Hester and Simon; does their friendship with Markham survive. How are Markham and Sarah surviving - does Society or the local society accept them, and their family, (especially if there is gossip); does Alice get over her prejudices about Sarah and her children. What about Maisie and her children, does Caroline get better? Even O'Keeffe, does he get the respectability and success that he wants, despite not getting the girl.
But I guess that is a measure of how well the characters were written that I really became invested and cared about what happened to them!
4.75 stars out of 5
October 31, 2024
Read this book if you enjoy feeling miserable!
This is one of the more agonizing books I've read, in that it's very sad for a lot and very effective at being sad. It made me cry so much I could only read a little bit at a time.
The point of view is very interesting, our FL is the daughter of a laborer on the estate of the (not titled but significantly familied and rich) ML. 12 years ago when she was very young (17 if I understood properly), she had a relationship with the ML and was convinced he would pick her because they were in love regardless of the mismatched statuses. The FL was not only wrong, but the ML said some very cruel things to her to bring about their "breakup" when he went off to London to live the life of a young rich man. She found out she was pregnant, was tossed out of the house by her cruel father and went to Manchester. She married a man there shortly after her son was born (so the child is illegitimate) and lived in a very poor Irish area with him. Her husband became abusive, she lived very badly and he eventually died in prison under suspicious circumstances.
She seizes an opportunity to "go back home" after she receives a letter her (illiterate) mother worked with someone to write, informing her that her father has died. She takes the children and runs back to the area she grew up in to find a better situation and escape a dangerous man, planning to bring some people she knows in Manchester along to live with them all later.
At the same time, the ML is horribly, horribly depressed after the death of his elder son and cannot move on properly. ML is sad all the time and does not connect very well with his younger son, who is very lonely. He does not live on the estate he grew up on, but rather one that was owned by his deceased (very noble, daughter of a marquess) wife. His wife has been dead for several years, and he is looking to remarry to a very long time family friend who is also a widow. She is very in love with him, and the sister of his best friend since childhood. He dreams about FL every night (or enough nights that it's notable) and thinks of her more often than his deceased wife.
The ML, his best friend and his prospective betrothed go up to the former estate as a group, including the ML's sister and her children to "think of the better times". He encounters FL and can't really stay out of her business, though she tells him to leave her be. ML figures out very quickly that her son is also his son because his appearance is very similar to his dead son's. ML's younger son immediately takes to FL and her family and wants to spend a lot of time with them, though she is uncomfortable with this.
After this there is a LOT of pain and drama and working through things both individually and mutually to get to the happy ending. I'm not going to go into it all because other than the big sad feelings it goes into plot point minutiae you should just discover while reading. It really is an "horrific sniffle fest" in the best way, the FL goes through a lot and is trying to just live on her own feet after being through awful poverty in Manchester.
I did feel that the events leading up to and the happy ending itself were a bit contrived and did not feel as genuine as the very sad feelings, but very much earned. Just rung a bit false and kept things from being a five star affair.
This is one of the more agonizing books I've read, in that it's very sad for a lot and very effective at being sad. It made me cry so much I could only read a little bit at a time.
The point of view is very interesting, our FL is the daughter of a laborer on the estate of the (not titled but significantly familied and rich) ML. 12 years ago when she was very young (17 if I understood properly), she had a relationship with the ML and was convinced he would pick her because they were in love regardless of the mismatched statuses. The FL was not only wrong, but the ML said some very cruel things to her to bring about their "breakup" when he went off to London to live the life of a young rich man. She found out she was pregnant, was tossed out of the house by her cruel father and went to Manchester. She married a man there shortly after her son was born (so the child is illegitimate) and lived in a very poor Irish area with him. Her husband became abusive, she lived very badly and he eventually died in prison under suspicious circumstances.
She seizes an opportunity to "go back home" after she receives a letter her (illiterate) mother worked with someone to write, informing her that her father has died. She takes the children and runs back to the area she grew up in to find a better situation and escape a dangerous man, planning to bring some people she knows in Manchester along to live with them all later.
At the same time, the ML is horribly, horribly depressed after the death of his elder son and cannot move on properly. ML is sad all the time and does not connect very well with his younger son, who is very lonely. He does not live on the estate he grew up on, but rather one that was owned by his deceased (very noble, daughter of a marquess) wife. His wife has been dead for several years, and he is looking to remarry to a very long time family friend who is also a widow. She is very in love with him, and the sister of his best friend since childhood. He dreams about FL every night (or enough nights that it's notable) and thinks of her more often than his deceased wife.
The ML, his best friend and his prospective betrothed go up to the former estate as a group, including the ML's sister and her children to "think of the better times". He encounters FL and can't really stay out of her business, though she tells him to leave her be. ML figures out very quickly that her son is also his son because his appearance is very similar to his dead son's. ML's younger son immediately takes to FL and her family and wants to spend a lot of time with them, though she is uncomfortable with this.
After this there is a LOT of pain and drama and working through things both individually and mutually to get to the happy ending. I'm not going to go into it all because other than the big sad feelings it goes into plot point minutiae you should just discover while reading. It really is an "horrific sniffle fest" in the best way, the FL goes through a lot and is trying to just live on her own feet after being through awful poverty in Manchester.
I did feel that the events leading up to and the happy ending itself were a bit contrived and did not feel as genuine as the very sad feelings, but very much earned. Just rung a bit false and kept things from being a five star affair.
July 1, 2025
This books should be more popular! I can’t believe this only has few reviews on this app. This is a five star read. A lovely book that just makes you feel things. Makes you angry, smile and cry.
I love how the author writes these characters. No black and white here, just written to be pure human with actual human emotions and feelings. The supporting characters are also written in such a way that allows me to understand and picture them as real beings.
Sarah is definitely the star of this book right alongside her son, Nicholas. The things that she went through!!! She is really put into a wringer. But I really like reading about a heroine who tries and tries to rise above and improve her situation, no matter how hard it is to do. These kinds of heroines you just genuinely want to cheer on. The best thing about Sarah though is that she is such a selfless character. A good daughter. Good friend and most definitely a good mother not only to Nicholas and Josie but to Ethan as well. I love how the author spends time building a relationship between Ethan and Sarah. I am glad that he wasn’t a mere afterthought. Just… I love the three children. Nicholas, Ethan and Josie and I love Sarah’s love for them.
Nicholas, oh my dear boy! Reading about him just hurts me. The way he just wants to have a stable home and a good man to guide him. He deserves so much goodness!
Markham, I wouldn’t add to my favorite hero any time soon and I was frustrated with how much time it took to break his engagement with the OW. I was mad with how much he is letting his friend control his life. He was just not a very alpha kinda guy. He is a mopey one that lets life move him along. But! He really did try his best to be a better person. I could not deny that he is also a good father. And reading about his grief for his son just moved me as well and made me want to see him happy.
Also, I wouldn’t have mind at all if Sarah had married Guy in the end. My inner teenage self wants the heroine to end up with the bad guy. There is just something sad and most definitely charismatic about him that makes me wish he has his own book following this one.
But ofc, I am still happy the main characters ended up together. The author just made me care so much about their happy ending. Not only theirs, but also the children as well.
I love how the author writes these characters. No black and white here, just written to be pure human with actual human emotions and feelings. The supporting characters are also written in such a way that allows me to understand and picture them as real beings.
Sarah is definitely the star of this book right alongside her son, Nicholas. The things that she went through!!! She is really put into a wringer. But I really like reading about a heroine who tries and tries to rise above and improve her situation, no matter how hard it is to do. These kinds of heroines you just genuinely want to cheer on. The best thing about Sarah though is that she is such a selfless character. A good daughter. Good friend and most definitely a good mother not only to Nicholas and Josie but to Ethan as well. I love how the author spends time building a relationship between Ethan and Sarah. I am glad that he wasn’t a mere afterthought. Just… I love the three children. Nicholas, Ethan and Josie and I love Sarah’s love for them.
Nicholas, oh my dear boy! Reading about him just hurts me. The way he just wants to have a stable home and a good man to guide him. He deserves so much goodness!
Markham, I wouldn’t add to my favorite hero any time soon and I was frustrated with how much time it took to break his engagement with the OW. I was mad with how much he is letting his friend control his life. He was just not a very alpha kinda guy. He is a mopey one that lets life move him along. But! He really did try his best to be a better person. I could not deny that he is also a good father. And reading about his grief for his son just moved me as well and made me want to see him happy.
Also, I wouldn’t have mind at all if Sarah had married Guy in the end. My inner teenage self wants the heroine to end up with the bad guy. There is just something sad and most definitely charismatic about him that makes me wish he has his own book following this one.
But ofc, I am still happy the main characters ended up together. The author just made me care so much about their happy ending. Not only theirs, but also the children as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I loved this book, I wanted to start this review by saying that. But some clarifications for you to enjoy the book more, this book makes you want to cry, it takes you so deep into the reality of those characters that you feel the pain of both on each page, their difficulties, struggles and agonies in each chapter. The story of Sarah and her love for her children is, for me, the best part of the story, it shows us the story of a woman who is willing to sacrifice herself so that her children have a better life, throughout the story as we see how her life unfolds, you become her biggest cheerleader, you want with all your heart that she and her loved ones know a better life. For Markham, the story is different, at first it can make you angry to know how he was in the past, but after life shows him, rather painfully, what is most important, and the writer shows how he not only makes empty promises but also makes the sacrifices to keep them, like how in the end he is willing to sacrifice his social status, the reader start to like him more. This story does something magnificent in that there are no real “villains”, it shows us the harsh reality of people and how we can all have some redeeming quality, even whit the secondary characters we understand their intentions, they act logically throughout the story. The conclusion of the story, while realistic about the difficulties of the future, is a beacon of hope for a better future. Did I mention that I loved this book???? I read it in two days, give it a chance, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I loved this book, I wanted to start this review by saying that. But some clarifications for you to enjoy the book more, this book makes you want to cry, it takes you so deep into the reality of those characters that you feel the pain of both on each page, their difficulties, struggles and agonies in each chapter. The story of Sarah and her love for her children is, for me, the best part of the story, it shows us the story of a woman who is willing to sacrifice herself so that her children have a better life, throughout the story as we see how her life unfolds, you become her biggest cheerleader, you want with all your heart that she and her loved ones know a better life. For Markham, the story is different, at first it can make you angry to know how he was in the past, but after life shows him, rather painfully, what is most important, and the writer shows how he not only makes empty promises but also makes the sacrifices to keep them, like how in the end he is willing to sacrifice his social status, the reader start to like him more. This story does something magnificent in that there are no real “villains”, it shows us the harsh reality of people and how we can all have some redeeming quality, even whit the secondary characters we understand their intentions, they act logically throughout the story. The conclusion of the story, while realistic about the difficulties of the future, is a beacon of hope for a better future. Did I mention that I loved this book???? I read it in two days, give it a chance, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
November 16, 2022
I have not read anything from Susanna Ives and after reading the synopsis I decided to get this book and am so very glad I did. It is such an interesting novel with so many layers to the main characters and the way Susanna describes these people, you're right there in the story. You feel their pain, struggles, hopes, fear as well as love and loss so very keenly.
We meet Sarah in the slums of Manchester where she is struggling to make a living for her son and daughter. You feel her anxiety when her 12-year-old son, begins looking up to the neighbourhood hoodlum as a role model who is "training him" on the way things work in their world while at the same time, trying desperately to convince Sarah that she belongs with him!
The other main character and Sarah's first / lost love, Markham Litton who lived in the big house and was the neighbourhood rich boy. He is grieving the loss of his elder son as to a lesser extent his wife. Imagine his shock when a chance meeting between Sarah's son Nicholas, newly arrived home with his mum and sister to stay with his grandmother (Sarah's mum), when he realises Nicholas is his son.
I would definitely recommend this book as your next read. It's a page turner, thrilling, heart-breaking, rewarding, etc. Loved every minute of it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We meet Sarah in the slums of Manchester where she is struggling to make a living for her son and daughter. You feel her anxiety when her 12-year-old son, begins looking up to the neighbourhood hoodlum as a role model who is "training him" on the way things work in their world while at the same time, trying desperately to convince Sarah that she belongs with him!
The other main character and Sarah's first / lost love, Markham Litton who lived in the big house and was the neighbourhood rich boy. He is grieving the loss of his elder son as to a lesser extent his wife. Imagine his shock when a chance meeting between Sarah's son Nicholas, newly arrived home with his mum and sister to stay with his grandmother (Sarah's mum), when he realises Nicholas is his son.
I would definitely recommend this book as your next read. It's a page turner, thrilling, heart-breaking, rewarding, etc. Loved every minute of it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 18, 2024
I'm always super happy when I find a historical romance that centers the working classes and poorer people who have so much gumph just to get by. The heroine in this one is such a wonderful, kind person who struggles so hard to raise her kids well and to maintain her dignity and self-worth.
I appreciated how we the reader are pulled along on her emotional road of discovery - how through her we get to re-know a man I truly wanted to hate with all my heart, and learn that people are tricky, difficult, complex and layered beings - not one dimensional cut-outs of either good or bad.
My only gripe is I wish the author took a little more time to explain to us the reader why the hero acted as he did when he was a younger man. We get a very brief 'I was scared' blurted out and that is that. I get he was immature, selfish, and embarrassed by her - that he was of the 'Quality' and she the daughter of a stonemason so 'they couldn't be' - but I'm still rather baffled as to why he decided to let he go in such an all out devastatingly nasty way - why not just drop her? Or ask her to be his mistress? Or tell he 'it cannot be' - for a man who professed to love her I really do struggle to get why he broke it off with an extremely long, drawn-out, cruel speech.
That said - it was WONDERFUL - I could read all day about this lot building a hen house.
I appreciated how we the reader are pulled along on her emotional road of discovery - how through her we get to re-know a man I truly wanted to hate with all my heart, and learn that people are tricky, difficult, complex and layered beings - not one dimensional cut-outs of either good or bad.
My only gripe is I wish the author took a little more time to explain to us the reader why the hero acted as he did when he was a younger man. We get a very brief 'I was scared' blurted out and that is that. I get he was immature, selfish, and embarrassed by her - that he was of the 'Quality' and she the daughter of a stonemason so 'they couldn't be' - but I'm still rather baffled as to why he decided to let he go in such an all out devastatingly nasty way - why not just drop her? Or ask her to be his mistress? Or tell he 'it cannot be' - for a man who professed to love her I really do struggle to get why he broke it off with an extremely long, drawn-out, cruel speech.
That said - it was WONDERFUL - I could read all day about this lot building a hen house.
July 31, 2023
This is perhaps the most realistic romance between two MCs of different social classes that I have read. Not, of course, 100% realistic, because then we wouldn't have the happy ending this book supplies, but it comes close for 80-90% of the book to show us how very difficult such a mesalliance would be. There is also excellent representation of loss and grief and suffering here that came close to bringing me to tears at several moments.
I've read, several years ago, perhaps three HRs by Susanna Ives. If memory serves (but often doesn't for me anymore), they were well written and enjoyable to read. But this Amends and, also, Frail are more recent work of hers and are far superior to what she has written in the past.
I'm grateful to several friends I have here on GR for their reviews of this book. I had seen it offered on Amazon and wasn't sure if I wanted to read it but their reviews were so favorable that I decided to try it out. So many thanks to reviewers Jultri, Meg, Nabilah, and Lauren for their reviews of this book.
I've read, several years ago, perhaps three HRs by Susanna Ives. If memory serves (but often doesn't for me anymore), they were well written and enjoyable to read. But this Amends and, also, Frail are more recent work of hers and are far superior to what she has written in the past.
I'm grateful to several friends I have here on GR for their reviews of this book. I had seen it offered on Amazon and wasn't sure if I wanted to read it but their reviews were so favorable that I decided to try it out. So many thanks to reviewers Jultri, Meg, Nabilah, and Lauren for their reviews of this book.
November 3, 2022
This is a powerful story of a stonemason's daughter and the son from the big house. They fall in love, and he acts like a fool. His father tells him she is not worthy because she is poor, and he needs a title.
She gets pregnant and is thrown from her home. There starts her life of hardship. While Markham Litton goes on to marry a lady with a title and has two sons. His wife dies in childbirth and his son dies of a fever. He is devastated and engulfed in sadness. Sarah comes home and she has two children, Nicholas, and Josie. So much happens to these two wonderful people. There is a crime lord, murders, death, and intimidation.
Their life is described so well you feel as if you are there going through it with them.
So many twists and such great sadness. The book is engaging and keeps your interest. The novel is almost impossible to put down. A great novel, it is worth your time to read.
I received this ARC from Book Sirens and voluntarily reviewed it.
She gets pregnant and is thrown from her home. There starts her life of hardship. While Markham Litton goes on to marry a lady with a title and has two sons. His wife dies in childbirth and his son dies of a fever. He is devastated and engulfed in sadness. Sarah comes home and she has two children, Nicholas, and Josie. So much happens to these two wonderful people. There is a crime lord, murders, death, and intimidation.
Their life is described so well you feel as if you are there going through it with them.
So many twists and such great sadness. The book is engaging and keeps your interest. The novel is almost impossible to put down. A great novel, it is worth your time to read.
I received this ARC from Book Sirens and voluntarily reviewed it.
March 22, 2024
I'm feeling melancholy because I've now read all of SI's books. I saved this one for last, and I have to admit it tore me apart. Initially I had such a hard time forgiving Markham, and I had no empathy for him at all. However, SI is incredibly able to tease out the character traits of every person, not one is a caricature and they all have their pluses and minuses. No cliched villains here.
Sarah was incredible - I wanted anyone who insulted her to be beaten to a pulp. That would have been at least one thing I'd like to have seen Markham do instead of holding back. Although I understand why SI wrote it that way.
And the children! Oh my, I don't know any author who can describe children as realistically and endearingly as Ms. Ives. They were the relief between the angst.
Sarah was incredible - I wanted anyone who insulted her to be beaten to a pulp. That would have been at least one thing I'd like to have seen Markham do instead of holding back. Although I understand why SI wrote it that way.
And the children! Oh my, I don't know any author who can describe children as realistically and endearingly as Ms. Ives. They were the relief between the angst.
November 17, 2022
Refreshingly different from the ubiquitous dukes and ballrooms among historical romance novels, starting in the slums surrounded by gangs to the seemingly safe countryside. I found this a gripping story which had me turning the pages. It had me anxious for the safety of Sarah and her little family. There are a number of coincidences where the paths of the characters intersect, but are significant for the story development.
Sarah is a strong character, determined to overcome the difficulties she comes up against. Markham is rather weak, and allows himself to be manipulated by his sister Alice and his childhood friend Simon. I would have liked to give Alice a good set down and toss her from the house!
A very well told story. 4.5 stars rounded to 5.
A possible trigger: Markham is still grieving the death of his young son.
I read a free advance copy and am posting this review voluntarily.
Sarah is a strong character, determined to overcome the difficulties she comes up against. Markham is rather weak, and allows himself to be manipulated by his sister Alice and his childhood friend Simon. I would have liked to give Alice a good set down and toss her from the house!
A very well told story. 4.5 stars rounded to 5.
A possible trigger: Markham is still grieving the death of his young son.
I read a free advance copy and am posting this review voluntarily.
November 10, 2022
I really enjoyed this sweet and yet emotional book, I couldn't help but she'd a tear or two because of what Sarah had to go through after being rejected by Markham.
The characters are so interesting that you become one with them feeling their emotions. A well written book, can't wait to read the next book by Susanna.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters are so interesting that you become one with them feeling their emotions. A well written book, can't wait to read the next book by Susanna.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 27, 2023
Started out well, but eventually got too messy. There were too many characters without resolution. Guy felt like he should really have been the hero of this story, and Simon was too villainous. The reasoning wasn’t good enough and frankly trite. Simon calling Sarah a whore felt out of character and Sarah claiming markham Was just tricking her felt forced.
Also, Jesus Christ, it’s hanged. *Hanged* not hung.
Also, Jesus Christ, it’s hanged. *Hanged* not hung.
November 17, 2022
A second chance romance story with light shades o tragic heroine suffering hardships due to Boeing born a poor low girl who fall in love
in a rich guy ,just to be abandoned after ,maybe inspirated in some of female characters of Thomas Hardy's books. Good.
in a rich guy ,just to be abandoned after ,maybe inspirated in some of female characters of Thomas Hardy's books. Good.
January 2, 2024
2.5ish stars. I liked the concept (a wealthy man seduces a lower-class neighbor - who he is secretly in love with - to impress his mean friend) but the writing didn't pull this off. I wish there would have been some scenes in the past between the lead MCs.
November 28, 2022
Another great book!
My only wish is that she would write series and not just stand alones. I always want to learn more about her characters. It would be great if Simon got a book.
My only wish is that she would write series and not just stand alones. I always want to learn more about her characters. It would be great if Simon got a book.
October 8, 2025
wonderful intricate plotting, twists and turns making a fascinating drama. lots of lovable and memorable characters. what a take on a rake trope, a must read for historical romance aficionados
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