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Quint Chronicles
The Secret Life of Winnie Cox
1910, South America. A time of racial tension and poverty. A time where forbidden love must remain a secret.
Winnie Cox lives a privileged life of dances and dresses on her father’s sugar cane plantation. Life is sweet in the kingdom of sugar and Winnie along with her sister Johanna, have neither worries nor responsibilities, they are birds of paradise, protected from the poverty in the world around them.
But everything can change in a heartbeat ...
When Winnie falls in love with George Quint, the post-office boy, a ‘darkie’ from the other side, she soon finds herself slipping into a double life. And as she withdraws from her family, she discovers a shocking secret about those whom are closest to her. Now, more than ever, Winnie is determined to prove her love for George, whatever price she must pay and however tragic the consequences might be.
A breath-taking love story of two people fighting to be together, in a world determined to break them apart.
Acclaim for Sharon Maas:
'A terrific writer.’ - Barbara Erskine
'A page-turning story, full of humanity, crossing cultures and continents, reminiscent of Andrea Levy.’ - Katie Fforde
'A beautiful story about tragic love and ultimately about forgiveness ... with powerful messages about love, life and learning to let things go in order to be happy.’
- Life With Joy
'Rich in detail and emotion and has the most beautiful and real description of loss I have ever read.’ - Shaz’s Book blog
'Wow what a very touching story that was filled with super characters and important real-life issues ...’
- AJ Book Review Club
'If you are fond of family dramas that span generations, continents, and cultures, you will find this to be a worthwhile read. I found the shift in attitudes toward gender and ethnicity across generations and cultures to be particularly interesting.' - janetursel.com
Winnie Cox lives a privileged life of dances and dresses on her father’s sugar cane plantation. Life is sweet in the kingdom of sugar and Winnie along with her sister Johanna, have neither worries nor responsibilities, they are birds of paradise, protected from the poverty in the world around them.
But everything can change in a heartbeat ...
When Winnie falls in love with George Quint, the post-office boy, a ‘darkie’ from the other side, she soon finds herself slipping into a double life. And as she withdraws from her family, she discovers a shocking secret about those whom are closest to her. Now, more than ever, Winnie is determined to prove her love for George, whatever price she must pay and however tragic the consequences might be.
A breath-taking love story of two people fighting to be together, in a world determined to break them apart.
Acclaim for Sharon Maas:
'A terrific writer.’ - Barbara Erskine
'A page-turning story, full of humanity, crossing cultures and continents, reminiscent of Andrea Levy.’ - Katie Fforde
'A beautiful story about tragic love and ultimately about forgiveness ... with powerful messages about love, life and learning to let things go in order to be happy.’
- Life With Joy
'Rich in detail and emotion and has the most beautiful and real description of loss I have ever read.’ - Shaz’s Book blog
'Wow what a very touching story that was filled with super characters and important real-life issues ...’
- AJ Book Review Club
'If you are fond of family dramas that span generations, continents, and cultures, you will find this to be a worthwhile read. I found the shift in attitudes toward gender and ethnicity across generations and cultures to be particularly interesting.' - janetursel.com
471 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
283 people are currently reading
929 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Maas
21 books334 followersSharon Maas was born in Georgetown, Guyana in 1951, and a sense of adventure has followed her around the world. In 1971 she spent a year backpacking around South America, followed by a few months with pioneering friends in the Guyana rainforest, followed by an overland trip to India, followed by a year in a Hindu Ashram.
She settled in Germany where she married, studied, worked, and raised children.
Officially retired, she continues to write from her new home in Ireland.
Her first novel was published by HarperCollins in 1999, followed by two more in 2001 and 2002. At present, she has 10 published works with the digital publisher Bookouture.
She has one self-published work, a retelling of the magnificent Indian epic Mahabharata: a project of love that took her over 30 years to "get right", written under the pen name S. Aruna.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 30, 2022
If you enjoyed The Help or The Secret Life Of Bees, I'm you will enjoy this book!
Meet Winne, 16, naïve, a dreamer and incredibly frustrating, but as much as she annoyed the hell out of me I couldn't help but love her!
Winnie is a sugar princess, born into privilege, her future certain, or is it? Falling in love with George, a Black boy, changes everything.
This is part of a series and I will be reading the rest to see how this all unfolds.
At time of posting this book is available on Kindle Unlimited.
Meet Winne, 16, naïve, a dreamer and incredibly frustrating, but as much as she annoyed the hell out of me I couldn't help but love her!
Winnie is a sugar princess, born into privilege, her future certain, or is it? Falling in love with George, a Black boy, changes everything.
This is part of a series and I will be reading the rest to see how this all unfolds.
At time of posting this book is available on Kindle Unlimited.
January 10, 2016
If I’m completely honest, I was slightly apprehensive about this book. I absolutely love the front cover. One of my favourite covers this year. It evoked so much emotion in me, that I feared the book itself would be a disappointment. I’m really pleased to announce that I also loved the beautifully written story behind the cover.
This is both a sad and beautiful tale of forbidden love. I felt Winnie’s excitement and my heart ached for George in the way I imagined Winnie’s did. The struggles they faced were heart-breaking, and made me realise how lucky we are in modern day Britain to have the freedom to love who we choose, regardless of class and colour.
This book made me cry at times. I read it with a heavy heart, as I was taken deep into a world that must have been awful for the African and Indian people. It is always sad to hear things about conditions like this on the news or in a history lesson, but a novel makes you become a part of that world. You are no longer just a witness to past events, but living and feeling those events each time you pick up that book.
It’s funny how I didn’t enjoy history at school, and chose to do geography instead of history for GCSE, yet I often gravitate towards historical fiction. I’ve probably learnt more about history through historical fiction than school or documentaries. Mind you, I’m not sure what that says about my historical knowledge. I feel this book has opened my eyes and heart to something I knew very little about before.
I had a hunger to know more, and the desire to delve deeper into the story, so would have enjoyed a little more focus on the story being told from the point of view of the workers. Perhaps I’ll discover more in the future books.
I'm probably most like Winnie, and could definitely see my younger sisters in Yoyo, as they’ve always been more outgoing and confident than me. I did sometimes get irritated by Winnie’s reckless behaviour, but I think that just acted as a reminder of her young age and lack of worldly wisdom.
I had mixed feeling about Winnie’s mother. She grew on me as I read more of her diary, but I still have conflicting feelings about her not being there for her daughters.
Although I read this story with a heavy heart, I have been left with a feeling of hope. I thought it was a good ending despite it being the first in a trilogy. I had no idea it was part of a trilogy until the last page, so I was a little surprised, but also relieved, as I felt the story had more to give. I can’t wait to read the second book next year.
I would like to thank the publisher, Bookouture for allowing me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is both a sad and beautiful tale of forbidden love. I felt Winnie’s excitement and my heart ached for George in the way I imagined Winnie’s did. The struggles they faced were heart-breaking, and made me realise how lucky we are in modern day Britain to have the freedom to love who we choose, regardless of class and colour.
This book made me cry at times. I read it with a heavy heart, as I was taken deep into a world that must have been awful for the African and Indian people. It is always sad to hear things about conditions like this on the news or in a history lesson, but a novel makes you become a part of that world. You are no longer just a witness to past events, but living and feeling those events each time you pick up that book.
It’s funny how I didn’t enjoy history at school, and chose to do geography instead of history for GCSE, yet I often gravitate towards historical fiction. I’ve probably learnt more about history through historical fiction than school or documentaries. Mind you, I’m not sure what that says about my historical knowledge. I feel this book has opened my eyes and heart to something I knew very little about before.
I had a hunger to know more, and the desire to delve deeper into the story, so would have enjoyed a little more focus on the story being told from the point of view of the workers. Perhaps I’ll discover more in the future books.
I'm probably most like Winnie, and could definitely see my younger sisters in Yoyo, as they’ve always been more outgoing and confident than me. I did sometimes get irritated by Winnie’s reckless behaviour, but I think that just acted as a reminder of her young age and lack of worldly wisdom.
I had mixed feeling about Winnie’s mother. She grew on me as I read more of her diary, but I still have conflicting feelings about her not being there for her daughters.
Although I read this story with a heavy heart, I have been left with a feeling of hope. I thought it was a good ending despite it being the first in a trilogy. I had no idea it was part of a trilogy until the last page, so I was a little surprised, but also relieved, as I felt the story had more to give. I can’t wait to read the second book next year.
I would like to thank the publisher, Bookouture for allowing me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2015
Via invitation.
Description: 1910, South American: Winnie Cox lives a privileged life of dances and dresses on her father’s sugar cane plantation. Life is sweet in the kingdom of sugar and Winnie along with her sister Johanna, have neither worries nor responsibilities, they are birds of paradise, protected from the poverty in the world around them. But everything can change in a heartbeat...
When Winnie falls in love with George Quint, the post-office boy, a ‘darkie’ from the other side, she soon finds herself slipping into a double life. And as she withdraws from her family, she discovers a shocking secret about those whom are closest to her. Now, more than ever, Winnie is determined to prove her love for George, whatever price she must pay and however tragic the consequences might be.
Opening: A telegram! There it sat, in its innocence and its power, staring at us in silence from a silver platter on the hall sideboard.
The death of 'nanny', Yashoda Gopal, in squalid surroundings startles two young women, sisters, out of their blinkered and pampered lives.
Courantyne River3* The Secret Life of Winnie Cox
3* The Small Fortune of Dorothea Q
January 18, 2016
“I understood now what I had done. I realised now that I had ventured onto treacherous land. I had plunged headfirst and eyes closed into a world of which I knew nothing, following only my passions and my headstrong will, without regard for the silent invisible currents of taboo and prejudice; I had broken rules built up over centuries, fiddled with an edifice of convention that at any moment could come toppling down on my head. I vowed to be more careful in future”
The Secret Life of Winnie Cox is the first book in the Quint Family trilogy by Guyanese-born author, Sharon Maas. In 1910 British Guiana, Winnie Cox and her younger sister, Yoyo live the lives of Sugar Princesses. Their Papa, the Hon. Archie Cox, manages the family’s Plantation Promised Land, and they want for almost nothing. If her Mama were not in Europe with Winnie’s elder sister, Kathleen, life would be quite perfect. But then, within a very short time, everything changes.
Winnie is shocked to learn about the treatment of the plantation’s coolies; her father is not the wonderful, upright man she had always believed him to be; Winnie has fallen in love with a darkie; and the one person she could turn to for advice, her mother, is away for the foreseeable future.
Those she can confide in all warn her to give up her love for the post-office boy, George Quint: life will be far too hard for a couple from such diverse backgrounds. Winnie knows what she feels is more than infatuation, but is she strong enough?
Maas uses Winnie’s first-person narration to tell this tale of forbidden love, of racial tensions, of slavery, of dreams and disillusionment, of heartache and happiness. Entries from her Mama’s diary provide background and supplement Winnie’s telling.
Maas renders early twentieth century British Guiana with consummate ease: her first-hand experience with the country is apparent in the lush descriptive passages. Maas gives the reader an interesting and original plot that features a twist or two and characters who are not always what they first seem. A wealth of information about British Guiana is provided in an easily assimilable form.
This is another brilliant read from the author of Of Marriageable Age, and readers will be pleased to know that there is a wonderful book that features Winnie Cox in her later years as a support character: The Small Fortune of Dorothea Q. Fans will not be disappointed with this first book of the trilogy, and readers new to this author are bound to seek out more of her work. A marvellous read.
The Secret Life of Winnie Cox is the first book in the Quint Family trilogy by Guyanese-born author, Sharon Maas. In 1910 British Guiana, Winnie Cox and her younger sister, Yoyo live the lives of Sugar Princesses. Their Papa, the Hon. Archie Cox, manages the family’s Plantation Promised Land, and they want for almost nothing. If her Mama were not in Europe with Winnie’s elder sister, Kathleen, life would be quite perfect. But then, within a very short time, everything changes.
Winnie is shocked to learn about the treatment of the plantation’s coolies; her father is not the wonderful, upright man she had always believed him to be; Winnie has fallen in love with a darkie; and the one person she could turn to for advice, her mother, is away for the foreseeable future.
Those she can confide in all warn her to give up her love for the post-office boy, George Quint: life will be far too hard for a couple from such diverse backgrounds. Winnie knows what she feels is more than infatuation, but is she strong enough?
Maas uses Winnie’s first-person narration to tell this tale of forbidden love, of racial tensions, of slavery, of dreams and disillusionment, of heartache and happiness. Entries from her Mama’s diary provide background and supplement Winnie’s telling.
Maas renders early twentieth century British Guiana with consummate ease: her first-hand experience with the country is apparent in the lush descriptive passages. Maas gives the reader an interesting and original plot that features a twist or two and characters who are not always what they first seem. A wealth of information about British Guiana is provided in an easily assimilable form.
This is another brilliant read from the author of Of Marriageable Age, and readers will be pleased to know that there is a wonderful book that features Winnie Cox in her later years as a support character: The Small Fortune of Dorothea Q. Fans will not be disappointed with this first book of the trilogy, and readers new to this author are bound to seek out more of her work. A marvellous read.
September 17, 2015
Another beautiful, spellbinding story by Sharon Maas that wrapped itself around my heart. Winnie is an absolutely spectacular character, an incredibly likeable heroine. I rooted for her from the beginning of this amazing tale to the end, and cannot wait to read more of her story. So pleased that there are more books to come which will continue her story. Loved George and Yoyo and Auntie Dolly and Uncle Jim. Sharon Maas effortlessly paints for us a picture of the troubled time in the history of British Guyana during which this story is set. A wonderful story, fabulously and evocatively told. I especially loved the epilogue. Beautiful book. One of those I'm sad to have finished, one I will reread.
January 2, 2024
#ReadAroundTheWorld. #Guyana
The Secret Life of Winnie Cox is the first book in the Quint Family trilogy by Guyanese author Sharon Maas. It is set in 1910 in British Guiana (now Guyana).
Winnie Cox and her sister Yoyo are Sugar Princesses, growing up to a life of privilege on their father’s sugar plantation, Promised Land. The plantation runs off the labour of Black house servants and Indian indentured labourers, living in horrific conditions. One day the girls see the awful conditions the workers are living under and their innocence is torn away. Winnie finds herself on a journey as she questions everything she held dear about her father and as she begins falling for Black postman George Quint. The story also shifts back to her mother’s diaries set in the 1880s, and gradually exposes some family secrets and dark truths.
This is a pleasant enjoyable story which gives some insight into life on the plantations, the conditions, colonialism and racial tensions. I did find Winnie’s naivety and stubborn ignorance somewhat annoying and wanted to shake her at times. I think this is the author’s choice to portray her like this however, and she does grow and develop throughout the story. I also struggled to believe Winnie could have lived sixteen years on a plantation with no idea of what went on, but there you go. I found myself wanting to hear more of her mother’s story. 3.5 stars
The Secret Life of Winnie Cox is the first book in the Quint Family trilogy by Guyanese author Sharon Maas. It is set in 1910 in British Guiana (now Guyana).
Winnie Cox and her sister Yoyo are Sugar Princesses, growing up to a life of privilege on their father’s sugar plantation, Promised Land. The plantation runs off the labour of Black house servants and Indian indentured labourers, living in horrific conditions. One day the girls see the awful conditions the workers are living under and their innocence is torn away. Winnie finds herself on a journey as she questions everything she held dear about her father and as she begins falling for Black postman George Quint. The story also shifts back to her mother’s diaries set in the 1880s, and gradually exposes some family secrets and dark truths.
This is a pleasant enjoyable story which gives some insight into life on the plantations, the conditions, colonialism and racial tensions. I did find Winnie’s naivety and stubborn ignorance somewhat annoying and wanted to shake her at times. I think this is the author’s choice to portray her like this however, and she does grow and develop throughout the story. I also struggled to believe Winnie could have lived sixteen years on a plantation with no idea of what went on, but there you go. I found myself wanting to hear more of her mother’s story. 3.5 stars
October 20, 2015
It's 1910 in British Guiana and white sisters Winnie and Yoyo live a life of luxury as the daughters of a wealthy sugar plantation owner. Learning their old Indian nanny is dying, the girls venture into the off-limits plantation labourers' camps to say goodbye to her and are horrified by the cramped, filthy, fly infested slums they live in. Convinced their beloved papa can't know about such squalor, the girls vow to tell him about it with a view to change, but before they get the chance the labourers congregate by the mansion gates demanding better pay and working conditions. Watching from the windows, the girls are appalled to see their father beat an Indian labourer almost to death. Realising the terrible truth about the plantation, Winnie becomes determined to help the workers.
Writing to her overseas mother of her horror, Winnie visits the post office and meets George, the new black postie. It's love at first sight for both of them and Winnie dreams of a happy ever after. But George knows their romance can never be, and fearing Winnie will be ostracised, isolated and disowned, he leaves. He hasn't counted on Winnie's determination though, and she vows to find him.
If the author has chosen to make Winnie older than 16 this book would have had so much more impact and intensity as she and George battle for their love in a racially hostile world. As it was, the teenage Winnie came over as an obsessed fan of the latest boyband, 'I love him, I love him, I LOVE him' and I lost interest in their relationship, I couldn't take her seriously.
The best part for me - although 'best' is hardly the right word given the circumstances - was learning about the 'coolies' and 'darkies' and their desperate struggles as the world slowly begins to change. To think that slavery in all but name was still there only 100 years ago under British rule is shocking. I also enjoyed Winnie's mother's diary extracts from her early life, charting her arrival in British Guiana with her new husband and her gradual realisation of the racial atrocities.
This would have been 4 stars had Winnie been older and more relevant.
Writing to her overseas mother of her horror, Winnie visits the post office and meets George, the new black postie. It's love at first sight for both of them and Winnie dreams of a happy ever after. But George knows their romance can never be, and fearing Winnie will be ostracised, isolated and disowned, he leaves. He hasn't counted on Winnie's determination though, and she vows to find him.
If the author has chosen to make Winnie older than 16 this book would have had so much more impact and intensity as she and George battle for their love in a racially hostile world. As it was, the teenage Winnie came over as an obsessed fan of the latest boyband, 'I love him, I love him, I LOVE him' and I lost interest in their relationship, I couldn't take her seriously.
The best part for me - although 'best' is hardly the right word given the circumstances - was learning about the 'coolies' and 'darkies' and their desperate struggles as the world slowly begins to change. To think that slavery in all but name was still there only 100 years ago under British rule is shocking. I also enjoyed Winnie's mother's diary extracts from her early life, charting her arrival in British Guiana with her new husband and her gradual realisation of the racial atrocities.
This would have been 4 stars had Winnie been older and more relevant.
April 14, 2016
Great cover! It speaks volumes. The Secret Life of Winnie Cox has great descriptions of British Guiana’s plantation from the viewpoints of the owner and slaves. It also includes politics and young forbidden love. Highly recommend if you like thought provoking historical fiction.
October 6, 2015
I read Sharon Maas' The Small Fortune of Dorothea Q earlier this year and absolutely loved it. So I jumped at the chance to read this new book and I wasn't disappointed. Winnie Cox is the privileged daughter of a plantation owner in British Guiana at a turbulent time in that country's history. When she falls in love with George Quint, a black Post Office worker, it seems that there is no future for them. But Winnie is determined to fight for her man, even though it may mean alienating the rest of her family.
What Sharon does so well in her writing is paint such a vivid picture of her settings that you feel you are right there. Her vibrant descriptions and attention to detail means you can easily visualise the beautiful gardens, imagine the sound of the birds and the scent of the exotic blooms. She has a beautiful, elegant style of writing which can equally well describe the dreadful living conditions of the workers on the plantations - the squalor, the cramped conditions, the filth. The yawning gap between the 'darkies', the 'coolies' and the rich white people is clear to see.
Sharon also has a knack of creating great characters. Winnie, of course, is central to the story and over the course of the novel she matured from a naïve cossetted young girl living a sheltered life, into a strong woman with an understanding of the unfairness of the society she has been born into and a determination to change things. I enjoyed how her character developed from believing that love could conquer all to realising that it wouldn't be that easy and that she may need to fight for that love. As Winnie herself said, "I was an older, wiser being now; a woman who knew that even a beloved father can have a dark side". Auntie Dolly was a wonderful character - so wise and compassionate. The use of Winnie's mother's diary at the end of most of the chapters was a excellent way to find out about her, as she was not in Winnie's life for most of the story. Through the diary, we realise that Winnie and her mother are rather similar people.
I really enjoyed The Secret Life of Winnie Cox and was pleased to read at the end that it is the first in a planned trilogy. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next for Winnie and for George and all the other characters. A beautifully written story of love against all the odds.
What Sharon does so well in her writing is paint such a vivid picture of her settings that you feel you are right there. Her vibrant descriptions and attention to detail means you can easily visualise the beautiful gardens, imagine the sound of the birds and the scent of the exotic blooms. She has a beautiful, elegant style of writing which can equally well describe the dreadful living conditions of the workers on the plantations - the squalor, the cramped conditions, the filth. The yawning gap between the 'darkies', the 'coolies' and the rich white people is clear to see.
Sharon also has a knack of creating great characters. Winnie, of course, is central to the story and over the course of the novel she matured from a naïve cossetted young girl living a sheltered life, into a strong woman with an understanding of the unfairness of the society she has been born into and a determination to change things. I enjoyed how her character developed from believing that love could conquer all to realising that it wouldn't be that easy and that she may need to fight for that love. As Winnie herself said, "I was an older, wiser being now; a woman who knew that even a beloved father can have a dark side". Auntie Dolly was a wonderful character - so wise and compassionate. The use of Winnie's mother's diary at the end of most of the chapters was a excellent way to find out about her, as she was not in Winnie's life for most of the story. Through the diary, we realise that Winnie and her mother are rather similar people.
I really enjoyed The Secret Life of Winnie Cox and was pleased to read at the end that it is the first in a planned trilogy. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next for Winnie and for George and all the other characters. A beautifully written story of love against all the odds.
March 21, 2016
Set in British Guyana at the end of the 19th century, the Secret Life of Winnie Cox provides an insight into the gilded life of the families on the plantations and the struggles and torrid conditions of those who worked for them.
Absolutely enchanting book full of the struggle between right and wrong, childhood rebellion and family relationships. Sharon Maas has always been one of my stand-out authors; with The Secret Life of Winnie Cox, she is at her finest.
A reminder of how far the world has evolved - and yet still has to do, in order for true equality to exist.
Strongly recommended. 5******
Absolutely enchanting book full of the struggle between right and wrong, childhood rebellion and family relationships. Sharon Maas has always been one of my stand-out authors; with The Secret Life of Winnie Cox, she is at her finest.
A reminder of how far the world has evolved - and yet still has to do, in order for true equality to exist.
Strongly recommended. 5******
January 17, 2016
***** 3.5-4 Cranky Stars *****
The eponymous Winnie Cox lives a life of privilege as a sugar princess at the turn of the 20th Century in British Guiana. She is a member of the British gentry, her grandfather an earl, and her father is the owner of the plantation, Promised Land.
As events unfold, privilege and innocence is something reserved for the rich and white. People of color are afforded no such privileges.
After a primal scene, where Winnie is introduced to the living conditions of workers and former workers of her family’s plantation, the veil begins to drop and a seed is sown.
Winnie’s crucial growth is when she meets George, a black postal worker, and they fall in love. It is a thunderclap, love at first sight, and given the times and politics, forbidden.
She begins to see her place in the world through the history of her people and colonialism. This is not just racial, but also, familial. Her father and family are key stakeholders in preserving the status quo, confident that their race, class, and privilege will protect them.
Winnie discovers the lessons her mother, Ruth, learned the hard way. On the surface, Ruth’s absence can be attributed to depression and then neglect, but it houses a mystery, which is revealed through her diary expositions.
This is a book with big aspirations and important themes. The descriptions are vivid and beautiful. It transports the reader right to the time and place. The lines and intersectionality between race, class, and gender are clearly marked. Oft times, synonymous with one another.
To cross the boundaries is social suicide, as evidenced by the character of Uncle Jim. Worse. They are dangerous and can get you killed, a fact Winnie refuses to acknowledge, but George is only too aware.
It gets to the point in the story that Winnie’s personal growth is less heroic and more reckless. In fact, I became somewhat annoyed with her in that her status would protect her from life threatening consequences, but not people she encountered in her social awareness.
George, was an object in this story, rather than a subject. It is something Winnie acknowledges later on in the book. Clearly, their feelings were deep and true, but I had little sense of George. At fifty percent of the book, it became awkward and uncomfortable.
I would have liked more interaction between the characters, rather than just Winnie’s reflections on her feelings. There is a tendency toward melodrama and sentimentality in the writing. Also, the overuse of exclamation points became distracting. I understood Winnie was young and perhaps this was a stylistic choice, but as the book continued, it felt as if the author did not trust the reader to understand the emotions of the exchanges and importance of matters under discussion.
In saying that, I enjoyed this book and will continue on with the series.
The eponymous Winnie Cox lives a life of privilege as a sugar princess at the turn of the 20th Century in British Guiana. She is a member of the British gentry, her grandfather an earl, and her father is the owner of the plantation, Promised Land.
As events unfold, privilege and innocence is something reserved for the rich and white. People of color are afforded no such privileges.
After a primal scene, where Winnie is introduced to the living conditions of workers and former workers of her family’s plantation, the veil begins to drop and a seed is sown.
Winnie’s crucial growth is when she meets George, a black postal worker, and they fall in love. It is a thunderclap, love at first sight, and given the times and politics, forbidden.
She begins to see her place in the world through the history of her people and colonialism. This is not just racial, but also, familial. Her father and family are key stakeholders in preserving the status quo, confident that their race, class, and privilege will protect them.
Winnie discovers the lessons her mother, Ruth, learned the hard way. On the surface, Ruth’s absence can be attributed to depression and then neglect, but it houses a mystery, which is revealed through her diary expositions.
This is a book with big aspirations and important themes. The descriptions are vivid and beautiful. It transports the reader right to the time and place. The lines and intersectionality between race, class, and gender are clearly marked. Oft times, synonymous with one another.
To cross the boundaries is social suicide, as evidenced by the character of Uncle Jim. Worse. They are dangerous and can get you killed, a fact Winnie refuses to acknowledge, but George is only too aware.
It gets to the point in the story that Winnie’s personal growth is less heroic and more reckless. In fact, I became somewhat annoyed with her in that her status would protect her from life threatening consequences, but not people she encountered in her social awareness.
George, was an object in this story, rather than a subject. It is something Winnie acknowledges later on in the book. Clearly, their feelings were deep and true, but I had little sense of George. At fifty percent of the book, it became awkward and uncomfortable.
I would have liked more interaction between the characters, rather than just Winnie’s reflections on her feelings. There is a tendency toward melodrama and sentimentality in the writing. Also, the overuse of exclamation points became distracting. I understood Winnie was young and perhaps this was a stylistic choice, but as the book continued, it felt as if the author did not trust the reader to understand the emotions of the exchanges and importance of matters under discussion.
In saying that, I enjoyed this book and will continue on with the series.
January 20, 2016
It is 1910, South America. Winnie Cox is living a privileged life as the daughter of sugarcane plantation owner.
Winnie and her sister want for nothing. Everything they want is there for them. Servants at their beck and call, they don't even realise the inequalities that exist around them. She gets small glimpses of a life very different to theirs however things come to a head when she meets George, a young man who does not fit the bill by any standards for someone like Winnie. George is a post office boy, a 'darkie'. Winnie face to face with a reality that until then had been unknown to her. Not just that, she discovers the truth about people close to her. The people she had considered blameless had a side completely unknown to her.
The story follows the Winnie's story at a time and place where racial prejudice and social inequality reigned. When falling in love with someone inappropriate would mean the end of you. The tale of two people bound by love, separated by society. How far is Winnie willing to go?
The story is not just about Winnie, it is about that time in history when things where literally 'black and white', when breaking social boundaries meant ostracism and heart break.
A beautifully written book, one which transports you to the place it is set in - which I absolutely love, as most of you who read me must know. As with all of Sharon Maas' books, they evoke such strong imagery of the settings. I've learnt so much of British Guyana since I've started reading her. It captivated me so much that I've even gone and read up about it. I love it when books do that to you, when the place the story is set in, is more than just a setting, it's so vibrantly described that it is a character in its own right.
My Rating: A 4.5/5 read for me. The story, the plot, the twist, the setting, everything was perfect. I can't wait to pick up the next Sharon Maas book.
Winnie and her sister want for nothing. Everything they want is there for them. Servants at their beck and call, they don't even realise the inequalities that exist around them. She gets small glimpses of a life very different to theirs however things come to a head when she meets George, a young man who does not fit the bill by any standards for someone like Winnie. George is a post office boy, a 'darkie'. Winnie face to face with a reality that until then had been unknown to her. Not just that, she discovers the truth about people close to her. The people she had considered blameless had a side completely unknown to her.
The story follows the Winnie's story at a time and place where racial prejudice and social inequality reigned. When falling in love with someone inappropriate would mean the end of you. The tale of two people bound by love, separated by society. How far is Winnie willing to go?
The story is not just about Winnie, it is about that time in history when things where literally 'black and white', when breaking social boundaries meant ostracism and heart break.
A beautifully written book, one which transports you to the place it is set in - which I absolutely love, as most of you who read me must know. As with all of Sharon Maas' books, they evoke such strong imagery of the settings. I've learnt so much of British Guyana since I've started reading her. It captivated me so much that I've even gone and read up about it. I love it when books do that to you, when the place the story is set in, is more than just a setting, it's so vibrantly described that it is a character in its own right.
My Rating: A 4.5/5 read for me. The story, the plot, the twist, the setting, everything was perfect. I can't wait to pick up the next Sharon Maas book.
October 1, 2015
I absolutely loved The Small Fortune of Dorothea Q and was really looking forward to reading this new book. The cover was really striking and would make me choose it based purely on that!
Winnie lived on her father’s sugar cane plantation in South America. She was leading a privileged life. She is a wonderful character and you take her to your heart immediately. I absolutely love Sharon Maas writing style- you can just picture the setting and the relationships between the characters in such a vivid world.
Winnie is made aware of the poverty surrounding her and wants to help but there are tensions in the local area. She also meets George who unfortunately doesn’t fit into the role expected of a suitor for a young lady in her position. So she is determined to make it work. George is also a wonderful character.
I love books that help to educate you on certain eras in history and loved reading about British Guyana and also the world around the sugar cane plantations at the time and about issues surrounding slavery.
We will be returning to learn more about these characters and I can’t wait.
With many thanks to Bookoutre and Net Galley for the chance to read this book in exchange for a review.
Winnie lived on her father’s sugar cane plantation in South America. She was leading a privileged life. She is a wonderful character and you take her to your heart immediately. I absolutely love Sharon Maas writing style- you can just picture the setting and the relationships between the characters in such a vivid world.
Winnie is made aware of the poverty surrounding her and wants to help but there are tensions in the local area. She also meets George who unfortunately doesn’t fit into the role expected of a suitor for a young lady in her position. So she is determined to make it work. George is also a wonderful character.
I love books that help to educate you on certain eras in history and loved reading about British Guyana and also the world around the sugar cane plantations at the time and about issues surrounding slavery.
We will be returning to learn more about these characters and I can’t wait.
With many thanks to Bookoutre and Net Galley for the chance to read this book in exchange for a review.
January 16, 2016
I absolutely loved everything about this book it is beautifully and evocatively written with some fantastic characters who I cannot wait to meet again. Sharon Maas shows us how the perfection of life as a pampered sugar princess at the turn of the 20th century was turned on its head by a shock visit to the home of her former nanny and the subsequent series of events.
This is a wonderful 'coming of age' novel, but so much more; Sharon Maas sweeps us along with Winnie as she transforms herself from a naive and cossetted "Miss" into a socially aware young woman dealing with the anguish of her impossible love. Set in the midst of the the racism and horrors of indentured servitude in British Guiana and told with the aid of her beloved mother's journal, this is a definite 'can't put it down' read.
I was transported hook line and sinker into Winnie's world to the point that I resented real life obligations and the need to sleep interrupting my reading! I literally cannot wait for the next installment - 5 Stars.
Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.
This is a wonderful 'coming of age' novel, but so much more; Sharon Maas sweeps us along with Winnie as she transforms herself from a naive and cossetted "Miss" into a socially aware young woman dealing with the anguish of her impossible love. Set in the midst of the the racism and horrors of indentured servitude in British Guiana and told with the aid of her beloved mother's journal, this is a definite 'can't put it down' read.
I was transported hook line and sinker into Winnie's world to the point that I resented real life obligations and the need to sleep interrupting my reading! I literally cannot wait for the next installment - 5 Stars.
Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.
September 29, 2015
This was one amazing book. I'm not usually a fan of anything other than contemporary fiction but the premise of this one meant I just had to read it. And I was not disappointed! Sharon Maas' poetic descriptions of Promised Land and the area Winnie and Yoyo lived in were just beautiful. A tense plot set in turbulent times of slavery and race divide had me turning the pages eager for more of this story. I adored the relationship between Winnie and George and I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. Heart-wrenching and emotional. Highly recommended.
November 16, 2015
First a delicious warning - you will stand in a glorious rainstorm reading this book, for Sharon Maas' vivid and wonderful writing takes you right there. To British Guiana - 1900's. You will smell it. Feel it. Live it. And yes - stand in a rainstorm with the fabulous, feisty heroine. A terrific story of forbidden love - beautifully told. The first in a trilogy. Loved it.
October 2, 2015
The Secret Life of Winnie Cox is a prequel of sorts to the brilliant The Small Fortune of Dorothea Q released last year by Sharon Maas. I reviewed that book on the blog and can say it was a surprising highlight amongst all the 2014 releases. A year later Sharon is back in what is the first in a planned trilogy set once again in British Guyana but this time back in 1910. The cover for this new book is very simple but portrays a clear, stark, powerful message that leaves the reader in no doubt that they are in for a mighty story that will expose a time in history that some wish was brushed firmly under the carpet. Right from the outset the writing in this book is beyond beautiful and resonates such a chord. There were endless quotes that you would want to write down and frame. I was blown away by the fact that an author could have love as the focus and main theme of her novel but find so many ways to describe that love. The descriptions of the plantation and the island in general were just so stunning and evocative that it didn't take much to make you feel like you were right back there on the island over 100 years ago. The writing was just so fluid and descriptive and it went a long way into making this book what it was. A deeply satisfying read of love, loss and determination.
Our main protagonist Winnie Cox (16) lives on a sugar plantation deep within British Guyana with her father Archibald and sister Yoyo (14). Her mother Ruth and elder sister Kathleen have left supposedly for the British season in order to find Kathleen a suitable husband. Winnie describes herself and Yoyo as 'Sugar Princesses in a magical realm, a sunlit, wind blown, bubble of sweetness. Sugar was our livelihood, sugar determined the seasons, sugar was our world'. With that quote alone you would be forgiven the plantation is a utopia where everything runs smoothly and as much sugar cane is produced as possible. But that is not the case.Winnie in the beginning of the book was as naïve as could be, she had everything she could possibly want and yet couldn't see the bigger picture at all nor what was going on around her. The luxuries and happy childhood she was afforded came at a price.
Her father was not as strong and perfect as she believed him to be and the author did an excellent job of building Archie up to be a certain character until his true nature was revealed. Archie's storyline was superb and tied in so well with the overall plot. Although I can't say I cared for him at all after the revelations come out. Soon enough Winnie and Yoyo are exposed to what exactly hides beneath the outer façade of the plantation, in fact it had been going on for years but they were so cosseted and lost in their own worlds they could barely see what was right before their eyes. They had never questioned anything until now but with the departure of their mother and events islandwide taking a different turn Winnie finally begins to ask those questions. Each girls reaction is different and sets the course for how they will act over the remainder of the novel. We do focus on Winnie more and I fully understand this book was about Winnie's journey from teenager to young woman but just that little bit more of Yoyo's view point would have been nice.
What struck me initially about this story was that I had read Sarah Larks series of books set on a plantation and thought this book would be too similar but this is a later period yet the same issues still existed and the plot lines were handled very differently. Slavery was supposed to have been abolished but really the African slaves had been replaced by those from India and now known as coolies. The same poor living and working conditions existed and workers did not have the wages they should have been entitled to. But times were a changing and the workers were about to exercise their rights in a peaceful a way as possible even though the plantation owners didn't agree. The girls idolise their father and believe he can do nothing wrong but when they see how he treats the coolies they have to reassess their opinions. It saddens me that just over 100 years ago which is nothing in terms of history that slavery still existed but Sharon Maas does an incredible job of outlining all sides of the story.
So what of this secret life Winnie embarks upon as suggested in the title and through the cover picture? An encounter with replacement postman for the local area - George Quint changes absolutely everything Winnie knew about love and life. Her whole mindset and beliefs are thrown into disarray and the reader can see she took one huge step from a teenager straight through to a woman. A woman who has fallen so deeply in love, that there is nothing at all she can do about it.Why in the first place should she have do something about? Well George Theodore Quint is from the other side 'a darkie' -forbidden, not to be talked about or engaged with. But when love comes calling nothing will stop it and Winnie shows us just what she is made of. Gone is the innocence, purity and naivety instead her persona changes to that of a woman who knows what she wants in life despite the barriers and divides and she will go through hell and back to be with her one true love George.
Winnie was evidently a woman going against the norms of the time and not adhering to the conventions of society but she has to be admired for following her heart although the ride is anything but plain sailing. This quote just sums that instant electricity between George and Winnie and there are so many more like this. 'His long fingers curled around mine and it was as if a current ran between us, passing from one to the other as if for those few moments we were joined, one entity, and my eyes met his again an I knew that he knew'. Once the pair lock eyes the story really picked up pace but I didn't get the ending I wanted in spite of the numerous twists and turns. So much happens but yet it seemed as if the author was holding back just that little bit as she knew there were two more books to come in the series. As they say the path of true love never runs smooth and this couldn't be more true for Winnie and George. There were far greater forces at work in opposition to their love and I loved reading how it all played out. Amongst everything that was going on there were diary extracts from Ruth going back to the time she first sets eyes on Archie. Again I found myself questioning their value or necessity in the story and again I was proved decisively wrong. The diary entries proved explosive in their overall usefulness whilst helping Winnie come to some of her own conclusions whereas if she had not read them the story may have turned out very differently.
Undoubtedly Sharon Maas has done herself proud with this fantastic novel but I sense this is just a brief taster for what is to come in the next two books. The later chapters of the book did venture somewhat into slow territory with a stalemate a such but boy did the epilogue alone redeem itself, ending on such a cliff hanger that I was left disappointed and almost angry in a way that we are left dangling and eager to see what happens next. But that is just the reader in me wanting all the answers straight away. This a coming of age story with a compelling, forceful message that deserves to be read by a wide audience. Winnie is a character who gets under your skin with her persistence in the face of adversity and oppression so that you can't help but care what happens to her and some members of her family. In the author acknowledgements Sharon Maas says 'this is a story that came from my heart' and I can see it really did. I hope many people will pick up this book and see just what magnificent writing and storytelling abilities Sharon has. I'm sorry this book had to end and have my fingers crossed Sharon doesn't leave me waiting too long for the next instalment.
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for a copy of the book to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
Our main protagonist Winnie Cox (16) lives on a sugar plantation deep within British Guyana with her father Archibald and sister Yoyo (14). Her mother Ruth and elder sister Kathleen have left supposedly for the British season in order to find Kathleen a suitable husband. Winnie describes herself and Yoyo as 'Sugar Princesses in a magical realm, a sunlit, wind blown, bubble of sweetness. Sugar was our livelihood, sugar determined the seasons, sugar was our world'. With that quote alone you would be forgiven the plantation is a utopia where everything runs smoothly and as much sugar cane is produced as possible. But that is not the case.Winnie in the beginning of the book was as naïve as could be, she had everything she could possibly want and yet couldn't see the bigger picture at all nor what was going on around her. The luxuries and happy childhood she was afforded came at a price.
Her father was not as strong and perfect as she believed him to be and the author did an excellent job of building Archie up to be a certain character until his true nature was revealed. Archie's storyline was superb and tied in so well with the overall plot. Although I can't say I cared for him at all after the revelations come out. Soon enough Winnie and Yoyo are exposed to what exactly hides beneath the outer façade of the plantation, in fact it had been going on for years but they were so cosseted and lost in their own worlds they could barely see what was right before their eyes. They had never questioned anything until now but with the departure of their mother and events islandwide taking a different turn Winnie finally begins to ask those questions. Each girls reaction is different and sets the course for how they will act over the remainder of the novel. We do focus on Winnie more and I fully understand this book was about Winnie's journey from teenager to young woman but just that little bit more of Yoyo's view point would have been nice.
What struck me initially about this story was that I had read Sarah Larks series of books set on a plantation and thought this book would be too similar but this is a later period yet the same issues still existed and the plot lines were handled very differently. Slavery was supposed to have been abolished but really the African slaves had been replaced by those from India and now known as coolies. The same poor living and working conditions existed and workers did not have the wages they should have been entitled to. But times were a changing and the workers were about to exercise their rights in a peaceful a way as possible even though the plantation owners didn't agree. The girls idolise their father and believe he can do nothing wrong but when they see how he treats the coolies they have to reassess their opinions. It saddens me that just over 100 years ago which is nothing in terms of history that slavery still existed but Sharon Maas does an incredible job of outlining all sides of the story.
So what of this secret life Winnie embarks upon as suggested in the title and through the cover picture? An encounter with replacement postman for the local area - George Quint changes absolutely everything Winnie knew about love and life. Her whole mindset and beliefs are thrown into disarray and the reader can see she took one huge step from a teenager straight through to a woman. A woman who has fallen so deeply in love, that there is nothing at all she can do about it.Why in the first place should she have do something about? Well George Theodore Quint is from the other side 'a darkie' -forbidden, not to be talked about or engaged with. But when love comes calling nothing will stop it and Winnie shows us just what she is made of. Gone is the innocence, purity and naivety instead her persona changes to that of a woman who knows what she wants in life despite the barriers and divides and she will go through hell and back to be with her one true love George.
Winnie was evidently a woman going against the norms of the time and not adhering to the conventions of society but she has to be admired for following her heart although the ride is anything but plain sailing. This quote just sums that instant electricity between George and Winnie and there are so many more like this. 'His long fingers curled around mine and it was as if a current ran between us, passing from one to the other as if for those few moments we were joined, one entity, and my eyes met his again an I knew that he knew'. Once the pair lock eyes the story really picked up pace but I didn't get the ending I wanted in spite of the numerous twists and turns. So much happens but yet it seemed as if the author was holding back just that little bit as she knew there were two more books to come in the series. As they say the path of true love never runs smooth and this couldn't be more true for Winnie and George. There were far greater forces at work in opposition to their love and I loved reading how it all played out. Amongst everything that was going on there were diary extracts from Ruth going back to the time she first sets eyes on Archie. Again I found myself questioning their value or necessity in the story and again I was proved decisively wrong. The diary entries proved explosive in their overall usefulness whilst helping Winnie come to some of her own conclusions whereas if she had not read them the story may have turned out very differently.
Undoubtedly Sharon Maas has done herself proud with this fantastic novel but I sense this is just a brief taster for what is to come in the next two books. The later chapters of the book did venture somewhat into slow territory with a stalemate a such but boy did the epilogue alone redeem itself, ending on such a cliff hanger that I was left disappointed and almost angry in a way that we are left dangling and eager to see what happens next. But that is just the reader in me wanting all the answers straight away. This a coming of age story with a compelling, forceful message that deserves to be read by a wide audience. Winnie is a character who gets under your skin with her persistence in the face of adversity and oppression so that you can't help but care what happens to her and some members of her family. In the author acknowledgements Sharon Maas says 'this is a story that came from my heart' and I can see it really did. I hope many people will pick up this book and see just what magnificent writing and storytelling abilities Sharon has. I'm sorry this book had to end and have my fingers crossed Sharon doesn't leave me waiting too long for the next instalment.
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for a copy of the book to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
September 18, 2021
This was my read the world selection for Guyana.
Winnie and her two sisters are Sugar Princesses in 1910, growing up on her father’s sugar plantation in British Guiana (Guyana). When her mother and her older sister are sent to England to find her sister a husband, sixteen year old Winnie and her younger sister Yoyo are left with their father.
When she accidentally discovers how her father’s Indian indentured servants are living and then falls in love with a black post office worker, Winnie’s life as she knew it, completely falls apart and she questions everything about her family and their role in society. She doesn’t like what she sees, but to do anything about it requires courage and making extremely difficult choices that will completely change her life.
I really enjoyed this book that I felt was a great choice for Guyana, as I felt I learned quite a bit about its history and landscape from this book. The story was very thought provoking and I particularly liked that it highlighted racism from different perspectives and showed that even if you do not hold racism in your heart, your words and actions can still demonstrate your privilege. I will add that the author is mixed race: African/Amerindian/Dutch/British, so it is not written from the perspective of a white person.
I loved the character of Winnie - she is both courageous and innocently naive, but is determined to do the right thing by herself and others, despite not always making the best choices and acting very impulsively. I think the author did a wonderful job of conveying the vast division of the races and what it would mean to defy them.
This book is the first in a trilogy and I’m putting the other two books on my wishlist. A thought provoking story that I’m so glad I came across! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Winnie and her two sisters are Sugar Princesses in 1910, growing up on her father’s sugar plantation in British Guiana (Guyana). When her mother and her older sister are sent to England to find her sister a husband, sixteen year old Winnie and her younger sister Yoyo are left with their father.
When she accidentally discovers how her father’s Indian indentured servants are living and then falls in love with a black post office worker, Winnie’s life as she knew it, completely falls apart and she questions everything about her family and their role in society. She doesn’t like what she sees, but to do anything about it requires courage and making extremely difficult choices that will completely change her life.
I really enjoyed this book that I felt was a great choice for Guyana, as I felt I learned quite a bit about its history and landscape from this book. The story was very thought provoking and I particularly liked that it highlighted racism from different perspectives and showed that even if you do not hold racism in your heart, your words and actions can still demonstrate your privilege. I will add that the author is mixed race: African/Amerindian/Dutch/British, so it is not written from the perspective of a white person.
I loved the character of Winnie - she is both courageous and innocently naive, but is determined to do the right thing by herself and others, despite not always making the best choices and acting very impulsively. I think the author did a wonderful job of conveying the vast division of the races and what it would mean to defy them.
This book is the first in a trilogy and I’m putting the other two books on my wishlist. A thought provoking story that I’m so glad I came across! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
January 15, 2016
This book was utterly captivating and stunning. I have never read a book that was set in what was known as British Guiana, now Guyana, and not only did I learn some things about the colonial history of that country but also a little bit of what life was like for all stratas of society. It shocked me a little, I have to say. Words like "coolie" and "darkie" being bandied about quite casually in the beginning of the book made me cringe but it put me in that point in history, which was the idea.
The story was about Winnie, a white, privileged girl living on a sugar plantation at the turn of the last century. It was also about love, about societal norms, about changes that had to happen. It was a coming-of-age story as well, and a very powerful one. There were times that I just wanted to SHAKE Winnie, for being so naive and so entitled.....but then, slowly, as she started to realise that HER reality was not actually very real at all, I started liking her more and more. She had the courage of her convictions and she did what she had to do.
I highly recommend that people read this book for themselves, if only to realise how far we, as a society have come, since that time, but also how far we still have to go. It was a beautifully written book, an unusual setting, and a heroine who has great potential. I was happy to know that this is just the first book in a trilogy - looking forward to reading the next one!
This is an honest review, in exchange for an ARC via NetGalley. I would also like to thank Sharon Maas for writing this amazing book and the members of THE Book Club for their company whilst reading it.
The story was about Winnie, a white, privileged girl living on a sugar plantation at the turn of the last century. It was also about love, about societal norms, about changes that had to happen. It was a coming-of-age story as well, and a very powerful one. There were times that I just wanted to SHAKE Winnie, for being so naive and so entitled.....but then, slowly, as she started to realise that HER reality was not actually very real at all, I started liking her more and more. She had the courage of her convictions and she did what she had to do.
I highly recommend that people read this book for themselves, if only to realise how far we, as a society have come, since that time, but also how far we still have to go. It was a beautifully written book, an unusual setting, and a heroine who has great potential. I was happy to know that this is just the first book in a trilogy - looking forward to reading the next one!
This is an honest review, in exchange for an ARC via NetGalley. I would also like to thank Sharon Maas for writing this amazing book and the members of THE Book Club for their company whilst reading it.
October 1, 2015
I received a copy of this via NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.
This is one of those books that gently sweeps you along as you learn of Winnie's life on a plantation in British Guyana and it is often quite difficult to read as you are told of life for the 'darkies' and 'coolies' that Winnie and her sister are completely unaware of until they get a little older and go and visit their old nanny who they hear is dying. They are shocked by what they see going on, Winnie especially and she can't believe her father could let this kind of thing happen. It is an awakening for her and she soon discovers a different life when she meets George from the Post Office and falls in love which is immediately frowned up by most because of the colour of his skin. She also discovers a much darker side to her father which is quite brutal to read about and you can hear her heartbreaking as she witnesses certain events.
Interesting twist on this book is the appearance of excerpts from their mothers diary which is fascinating and really adds depth to the feelings of how outsiders see life on Plantations and the obvious racist way of living. An extremely well written book and I'm looking forward to reading more of this series
This is one of those books that gently sweeps you along as you learn of Winnie's life on a plantation in British Guyana and it is often quite difficult to read as you are told of life for the 'darkies' and 'coolies' that Winnie and her sister are completely unaware of until they get a little older and go and visit their old nanny who they hear is dying. They are shocked by what they see going on, Winnie especially and she can't believe her father could let this kind of thing happen. It is an awakening for her and she soon discovers a different life when she meets George from the Post Office and falls in love which is immediately frowned up by most because of the colour of his skin. She also discovers a much darker side to her father which is quite brutal to read about and you can hear her heartbreaking as she witnesses certain events.
Interesting twist on this book is the appearance of excerpts from their mothers diary which is fascinating and really adds depth to the feelings of how outsiders see life on Plantations and the obvious racist way of living. An extremely well written book and I'm looking forward to reading more of this series
January 24, 2016
The author writes so descriptively about the life and times of early British Guyana, the sugar plantations and the people who owned them and the people who worked them. It's a hard book to read at times, especially when it describes the treatment of the workers and how they lived. It's interesting how naïve Winnie and her sister were even though they had been brought up on the sugar plantation. The slow realisation that their father who was so loving to them could also be an entirely different person when dealing with his workers on the plantation. The story of forbidden love, and the struggles they face, between George and Winnie is described very well through the eyes of 16 year old Winnie. The diary entries from Winnie's mother spread throughout the story are very emotional, from when she first meets Archie and falls in love. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more. I received a copy of this book through TBC on Facebook in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2015
The Secret Life of Winnie Cox by Sharon Maas
The novel begins in 1910 in Guiana South America where racial tensions were running high. Sugar plantations were dependent on indentured servants from India (called coolies) who were kept, by the plantation owners, in the worst kind of slums. It took me awhile to get into but yet was disappointed when it ended. The good news is that this is the first of a trilogy and the next books will tell us how life continues for Winnie. The sugar princess; Ruth, Winnie’s mother who had been broken by life on the plantation and went to live in England; George, educated coolie who Winnie loved; Yoyo, Winnie’s younger sister determined yet misguided and the fate of Winnie’s father, Archie. Another interesting note is that Winnie plays the grandmother in The Small Fortune of Dorthea Q. There is a bigger story here and can’t wait to read the next two books.
The novel begins in 1910 in Guiana South America where racial tensions were running high. Sugar plantations were dependent on indentured servants from India (called coolies) who were kept, by the plantation owners, in the worst kind of slums. It took me awhile to get into but yet was disappointed when it ended. The good news is that this is the first of a trilogy and the next books will tell us how life continues for Winnie. The sugar princess; Ruth, Winnie’s mother who had been broken by life on the plantation and went to live in England; George, educated coolie who Winnie loved; Yoyo, Winnie’s younger sister determined yet misguided and the fate of Winnie’s father, Archie. Another interesting note is that Winnie plays the grandmother in The Small Fortune of Dorthea Q. There is a bigger story here and can’t wait to read the next two books.
November 24, 2015
I have always enjoyed a good story set in a unique place and time. The Secret Life of Winnie Cox by Sharon Maas is unique in that it takes us to British Guiana in the early 1900s where Black vs Indian vs White continue to unsettle the population and prejudice runs rampant. Winnie Cox is a compelling character who falls in love with an Indian man who runs the local post office. As the story progresses and their clandestine love affair blossoms, Winnie learns of his political affiliations and struggles to be with the man she loves despite their love is forbidden.
This rich story grabbed me from the start! It is powerful, fulfilling, thought-provoking and a whole lot more. Definitely a must read! Totally engrossing!
Thank you to the author and publisher. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This rich story grabbed me from the start! It is powerful, fulfilling, thought-provoking and a whole lot more. Definitely a must read! Totally engrossing!
Thank you to the author and publisher. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2016
First I'd like to thank TBC for giving me an ARC of this book to review for an honest review.
This isn't normally the type of book that I read, but I jumped at the chance because I've heard some great things about this book. It is a story of forbidden love between the teenage daughter of a wealthy sugar plantation's master and a black teenager who works at the post office. It captured me from the beginning. I won't lie, I found it difficult to read at times with the treatment of the workers... slaves in everything but name... working and living conditions, the cruelty they endured.. It's very eye opening and thought provoking, to think what it would be like to live in that world. I think it takes a great writer to be able to bring you into their story, feel what the characters feel.. and Sharon Maas does just that.
This isn't normally the type of book that I read, but I jumped at the chance because I've heard some great things about this book. It is a story of forbidden love between the teenage daughter of a wealthy sugar plantation's master and a black teenager who works at the post office. It captured me from the beginning. I won't lie, I found it difficult to read at times with the treatment of the workers... slaves in everything but name... working and living conditions, the cruelty they endured.. It's very eye opening and thought provoking, to think what it would be like to live in that world. I think it takes a great writer to be able to bring you into their story, feel what the characters feel.. and Sharon Maas does just that.
January 12, 2016
I was given a free copy of the book from TBC in exchange for an honest review.
For me this was definitely a book of two halves. The pace of the first half was so slow that i really had to persevere to carry on and read to the end. Then about halfway through the quality of the wonderfully descriptive narrative and the story picked up and I was keen to keep reading.
Overall It is a well written story with warm, rich characters. The author handles the history side of the book and the racial issues very delicately and it is both interesting and slightly horrific. The love story between Winnie and George is very touching. The characters - good or bad- are well developed.
A 3 and a half star read for me.
For me this was definitely a book of two halves. The pace of the first half was so slow that i really had to persevere to carry on and read to the end. Then about halfway through the quality of the wonderfully descriptive narrative and the story picked up and I was keen to keep reading.
Overall It is a well written story with warm, rich characters. The author handles the history side of the book and the racial issues very delicately and it is both interesting and slightly horrific. The love story between Winnie and George is very touching. The characters - good or bad- are well developed.
A 3 and a half star read for me.
January 28, 2016
A heart-warming but also heartbreaking story of forbidden love which is set in British Guyana at the beginning of the 20th century. I loved the way the story of Winnie was entwined with the story of her mothers early married life.Slavery had been abolished but it seems that nobody had told the rich plantation owners who treated their workers appallingly. Winnie and her sister saw at first had the cruelty that their father was capable of and vowed to do what ever they could to put a stop to it. There is so much to this story, a secret kept for many years is revealed at the end of the book which leaves you wanting more so I was happy to find that the book is the first in a trilogy. Thank you for the ARC
January 25, 2016
I was extremely fortunate to receive a ARC of this book from TBC.
Wow, where to start! It is very rarely that a book has me captured from the first page. This was such a book as well as a great cover.
The story is about forbidden love and the prejudices faced by many in the past. Running through the book is her mother's diary entries which also speaks of other prejudices. The characters were beautifully brought to life.
I genuinely didn't want this book to end although we delighted to read at the end about further books coming to continue Winnie's story.
If you do nothing else in 2016, read this book!!!
Wow, where to start! It is very rarely that a book has me captured from the first page. This was such a book as well as a great cover.
The story is about forbidden love and the prejudices faced by many in the past. Running through the book is her mother's diary entries which also speaks of other prejudices. The characters were beautifully brought to life.
I genuinely didn't want this book to end although we delighted to read at the end about further books coming to continue Winnie's story.
If you do nothing else in 2016, read this book!!!
November 4, 2016
A white privileged girl of sixteen living on a sugar plantation in British Guyana in the early 1900s where she sees the local postman and they both fall madly in love. Notwithstanding this guy is a well educated and clever, there is still social stigma of inter relationships at this time in a British conscious society. The author claims that Winnie goes through several life changing moments but she is still a sixteen year old who is very immature and I needed to slap her soundly on every step of her mad ideas. I kept waiting for something.....anything....to happen. I get to the end of the book and am left hanging for a book sequel. Horrible, horrible, horrible.
July 21, 2016
This is the third book of Sharon Maas's that I have read and my favourite. For those looking for a unique historical setting (British Guiana, early 20th Century) and a compelling storyline, look no further. This novel revolves around the early life of Winnie Cox who lives on a sugar plantation run by her Father. We follow her fortunes and often painful journey into adulthood as she falls in love for the first time with the "wrong man" and everything that she knows and understands threatens to crumble as the reality of her father's wealth slowly reveals itself to her.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
October 2, 2015
I really loved this novel and the writer was able to draw me into this world so completely with her beautiful prose and imagery. One could tell that this was written from the heart.
It was for me an emotional roller coaster; I cried, I laughed, I got angry, I was sad, and at times blown away by the 'silly' notions of life that Winnie had. I was so relieved that she, in the end, started realising that the world she lived in, was all a facade created to hide the ugly, harsh realities of the world that really was.
It was for me an emotional roller coaster; I cried, I laughed, I got angry, I was sad, and at times blown away by the 'silly' notions of life that Winnie had. I was so relieved that she, in the end, started realising that the world she lived in, was all a facade created to hide the ugly, harsh realities of the world that really was.
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