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Memories Wait Alone
It is 1885 and Cecil Sherbowe has everything he could ever want in life. He has led a privileged childhood, raised in a large estate nestled in the plains of the English countryside. He is in line to inherit his family’s property. That is, if he can fulfill his father’s archaic wishes. Under the watchful eye of his cantankerous caretaker Ananias, Cecil is ordered to spend several months working in the poverty-stricken village of The Deverills. Intending to break him of his vanity and pride, instead his months at The Deverills introduce Cecil to a new infatuation - a beautiful village woman named Natalie. When he is forced to choose between her and his freedom, Cecil spends years chasing after his lost love, from the Boer War of Africa to the speakeasies of 1920’s New York City. In order to reunite with the woman he loves, Cecil may have to lose everything along the way.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
150 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2014
290 people want to read
About the author
Erin Ritch
10 books58 followersA storyteller since a child, Erin Ritch holds Associates degrees in both English Literature and Broadcasting. She graduated with honors in Film Production from Vancouver Film School, where her script "Neighborhood Watch" was chosen for production.
In 2015, Erin started a writer's blog titled "There are No Wyverns in this Story." The name was in reference to her penchant for writing fantasy (though her stories had an intentional lack of dragon-like Wyverns.) The blog developed into No Wyverns Publishing, a small press dedicated to all things indie.
Erin has written for two local newspapers with a focus on non-profits, small businesses, resources for women and children, and local history. Her essays have appeared in Oregon Home Magazine and The Manifest Station.
She lives in a rural town of 600 people with her husband, two small daughters, and an Irish Terrier named Arthur Pendragon.
In 2015, Erin started a writer's blog titled "There are No Wyverns in this Story." The name was in reference to her penchant for writing fantasy (though her stories had an intentional lack of dragon-like Wyverns.) The blog developed into No Wyverns Publishing, a small press dedicated to all things indie.
Erin has written for two local newspapers with a focus on non-profits, small businesses, resources for women and children, and local history. Her essays have appeared in Oregon Home Magazine and The Manifest Station.
She lives in a rural town of 600 people with her husband, two small daughters, and an Irish Terrier named Arthur Pendragon.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 1, 2016
Love can be so lonely
It is 1885 and Cecil Sherbowe has everything he could ever want in life. He has led a privileged childhood, raised in a large estate nestled in the plains of the English countryside. He is in line to inherit his family’s property. His father is a heavy drinker and is determined to make a man of Cecil. He had done the same with Cecil’s older brother, who left home a spoiled young man, but returned very serious and different. If he doesn’t want to be disowned, Cecil has to spend several months working as a laborer in the poverty stricken village of the Deverills. Cecil leaves with only one set of rough clothing and at the last moment his brother asks him to take a note to give to a certain woman, if he finds her. One that he had been in love with.
Cecil is met by a big man named Wilk and Cecil is introduced to everyone as Cecil Wilk, a nephew of the big man. The idea is to break Cecil of his vanity and pride. The small farmhouse where Cecil stays is just the bare bones and Cecil has to share a bedroom with the two boys in the house. He finally learns that the woman his brother loved, is married to a much older man and is actually the mistress of the house where he is living. The woman cried and cried when she read the note and said that she had waited years and years and after hearing nothing, believed he had forgotten her and so she married this older man in order to be supported.
Cecil’s job is to shepherd a few sheep and make sure that he doesn’t lose any as it is the farmer’s livelihood. At first Cecil is negligent and bored, but as time passes Cecil learns to grow up and be responsible. He meets a beautiful young village girl named Natalie. He wants to marry her, but can’t get up the nerve to ask her and is always so aloof with her that she usually is angry with him.
Cecil’s father dies and Cecil inherits his share of the estate and has to choose between her and his freedom, Cecil spends years chasing from the Boer War of Africa to the speakeasies of 1920’s New York City. Finally Cecil returns to Deverills and manages to entice Natalie to go with him when she is just about ready to marry another. Cecil loves her so much and wants to be only with her so buys some land and builds a small house on it. Each day he cuts down a tree and splits enough wood for their daily needs for cooking and heat. They are very happy together, but then life changes for them. It is a beautiful love story with a twist at the end. The author does a fine job of catching the emotions of the different people. The ending leaves the reader with sweetness of love and how twists of fate can change everything in a minute.
I was given a free e-book for an honest review.
It is 1885 and Cecil Sherbowe has everything he could ever want in life. He has led a privileged childhood, raised in a large estate nestled in the plains of the English countryside. He is in line to inherit his family’s property. His father is a heavy drinker and is determined to make a man of Cecil. He had done the same with Cecil’s older brother, who left home a spoiled young man, but returned very serious and different. If he doesn’t want to be disowned, Cecil has to spend several months working as a laborer in the poverty stricken village of the Deverills. Cecil leaves with only one set of rough clothing and at the last moment his brother asks him to take a note to give to a certain woman, if he finds her. One that he had been in love with.
Cecil is met by a big man named Wilk and Cecil is introduced to everyone as Cecil Wilk, a nephew of the big man. The idea is to break Cecil of his vanity and pride. The small farmhouse where Cecil stays is just the bare bones and Cecil has to share a bedroom with the two boys in the house. He finally learns that the woman his brother loved, is married to a much older man and is actually the mistress of the house where he is living. The woman cried and cried when she read the note and said that she had waited years and years and after hearing nothing, believed he had forgotten her and so she married this older man in order to be supported.
Cecil’s job is to shepherd a few sheep and make sure that he doesn’t lose any as it is the farmer’s livelihood. At first Cecil is negligent and bored, but as time passes Cecil learns to grow up and be responsible. He meets a beautiful young village girl named Natalie. He wants to marry her, but can’t get up the nerve to ask her and is always so aloof with her that she usually is angry with him.
Cecil’s father dies and Cecil inherits his share of the estate and has to choose between her and his freedom, Cecil spends years chasing from the Boer War of Africa to the speakeasies of 1920’s New York City. Finally Cecil returns to Deverills and manages to entice Natalie to go with him when she is just about ready to marry another. Cecil loves her so much and wants to be only with her so buys some land and builds a small house on it. Each day he cuts down a tree and splits enough wood for their daily needs for cooking and heat. They are very happy together, but then life changes for them. It is a beautiful love story with a twist at the end. The author does a fine job of catching the emotions of the different people. The ending leaves the reader with sweetness of love and how twists of fate can change everything in a minute.
I was given a free e-book for an honest review.
May 7, 2016
I found Memories Wait Alone to be a very interesting story. It starts out with Cecil Sherbowe as an elderly man bemusing the fact that the past is gone and he is left alone with his memories. Not all of them good. With good looks, money and fame he was definitely on top of the world.
In 1885, in England, Cecil is a very young man, aged 17,told by his father that in order to inherit Sherbowe Estate, he needs to prove his worth by living as a villager in the village of The Deverills. He asks what happens if he doesn't go and is told that he will be disinherited. So thinking that this is a means of freedom, he goes.
While there he meets a girl named Natalie, he is instantly attracted to this aloof girl and uses all of his skills that he thinks he has when wooing the girls. A misspoken word in anger leaves him devasted and searching for her all of his life. He does very well in his life in the village and even comes to like it. When his time is over he goes back to Sherbowe Estate to find that all is not as he left it. He spends his entire life searching for what he lost and when he finds it, fate conspires against him and he loses all again.
The book ends with Cecil an old man in 1957 with shadows in his soul and truly finding that memories do indeed wait alone. Written with a sadness that kept me turning the pages hoping that there would be a happy ending, but we all know that life does not always give us what we want or desire.
In 1885, in England, Cecil is a very young man, aged 17,told by his father that in order to inherit Sherbowe Estate, he needs to prove his worth by living as a villager in the village of The Deverills. He asks what happens if he doesn't go and is told that he will be disinherited. So thinking that this is a means of freedom, he goes.
While there he meets a girl named Natalie, he is instantly attracted to this aloof girl and uses all of his skills that he thinks he has when wooing the girls. A misspoken word in anger leaves him devasted and searching for her all of his life. He does very well in his life in the village and even comes to like it. When his time is over he goes back to Sherbowe Estate to find that all is not as he left it. He spends his entire life searching for what he lost and when he finds it, fate conspires against him and he loses all again.
The book ends with Cecil an old man in 1957 with shadows in his soul and truly finding that memories do indeed wait alone. Written with a sadness that kept me turning the pages hoping that there would be a happy ending, but we all know that life does not always give us what we want or desire.
February 24, 2016
This is the story of a young man who is forced to go out into the world in order to grow up. This has been a tradition for Sherbowe men, and in the past it has resulted in their recognizing many great truths about themselves. This is no different for Cecil. He feels entitled, yet he desperately wishes to escape the boundaries imposed on him by the stature of his family. He is absolutely thrilled with the opportunity to see the world as an ordinary citizen; until he realizes this freedom comes at a cost.
Cecil is expected to do manual labor, and associate with commoners; something he has never done before and is uncomfortable with. And through it all he learns many lessons about himself and the world around him. He finds love and then loses it, due to his immaturity and arrogance. But he never gives up hope, and works to right the wrongs he has made in his journey.
Cecil is expected to do manual labor, and associate with commoners; something he has never done before and is uncomfortable with. And through it all he learns many lessons about himself and the world around him. He finds love and then loses it, due to his immaturity and arrogance. But he never gives up hope, and works to right the wrongs he has made in his journey.
February 7, 2016
A well-written book that is full of heavy emotions. I love Cecil's character and throughout the book, I involuntarily read his lines in a modern manner. His views were a lot more modern then the era. Personally, I enjoy a good book whose setting is in the early 1900's. There is something about the past+love that is stronger than any modern Romance writing. And I say that as an author of 2 Romance novels! The only thing that confused me were the vast numbers of different Characters. But, they are all necessary to make the story come together. I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews