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The Snow Rose
The Snow Rose is the gripping story of a woman on the run from her past by Lulu Taylor, author of The Winter Folly.
I suppose Rory and I will divorce at some point, when I've got the time to think about it and the strength to tackle the dreary admin it will involve. The house. The division of money and belongings. What will happen to Heather.
He's not taking her away from me. It's what he wants. It's what they all want.
I know they think I'm not fit to look after her. My mother thinks it. That's why I won't see her either, or my sister. They're in cahoots with Rory, all of them scheming how to get her away from me. That's why I have to escape them while I can, while I still have the opportunity . . .
Kate is on the run with her daughter, her identity hidden and her destination unknown to her husband and family. She's found a place where she and Heather can be alone and safe, a huge old house full of empty rooms. But it turns out she's not alone. There are the strange old ladies in the cottage next door, Matty and her blind sister Sissy. How long can Kate hide Heather's presence from them? And then the newcomers arrive, the band of eccentrics led by the charming and charismatic Archer. Kate begins to realize that she is involved in something strange and dangerous, and the past she's so desperate to escape is about to find her . . .
I suppose Rory and I will divorce at some point, when I've got the time to think about it and the strength to tackle the dreary admin it will involve. The house. The division of money and belongings. What will happen to Heather.
He's not taking her away from me. It's what he wants. It's what they all want.
I know they think I'm not fit to look after her. My mother thinks it. That's why I won't see her either, or my sister. They're in cahoots with Rory, all of them scheming how to get her away from me. That's why I have to escape them while I can, while I still have the opportunity . . .
Kate is on the run with her daughter, her identity hidden and her destination unknown to her husband and family. She's found a place where she and Heather can be alone and safe, a huge old house full of empty rooms. But it turns out she's not alone. There are the strange old ladies in the cottage next door, Matty and her blind sister Sissy. How long can Kate hide Heather's presence from them? And then the newcomers arrive, the band of eccentrics led by the charming and charismatic Archer. Kate begins to realize that she is involved in something strange and dangerous, and the past she's so desperate to escape is about to find her . . .
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2016
53 people are currently reading
656 people want to read
About the author
Lulu Taylor
28 books206 followersLulu was brought up in the Oxfordshire countryside, attended a girls’ school and then went to Oxford University, where she read English Literature. After university, she worked in publishing for several years, before becoming a novelist.
Lulu says of her books: ‘I’ve always adored stories of the rich and reckless at play, everything from The Great Gatsby to the brilliant blockbuster novels of the 80s. It’s fantastic escapism, and I’ve always loved creating my own stories of adventure, romance and luxury. My heroines are often very privileged and blessed with great looks and good health – but that doesn’t mean their lives are simple – far from it. They go through plenty of drama and suffering before everything is finally resolved.
‘Sex, love, beauty and money have always entranced us, and one way or another are the basis for just about every story ever written. There’s plenty of all of that in my novels, along with high fashion, which I love. What’s more, writing about fashion means I can go virtual shopping, dressing my heroines in all the wonderful clothes I adore – the racks of Marchesa ball gowns, the shelves of Louboutins, mountains of Chanel bags and acres of Dior dresses... it’s lots of fun. The stories can also get quite racy at times. It’s all about entertaining and amusing the reader, and enjoying being inside my characters’ glamorous, rarefied existence. ‘I’m always thrilled when someone enjoys reading my book as much I enjoyed writing it.’
Lulu now lives in West Dorset near the Somerset border, with her husband and two children.
Lulu says of her books: ‘I’ve always adored stories of the rich and reckless at play, everything from The Great Gatsby to the brilliant blockbuster novels of the 80s. It’s fantastic escapism, and I’ve always loved creating my own stories of adventure, romance and luxury. My heroines are often very privileged and blessed with great looks and good health – but that doesn’t mean their lives are simple – far from it. They go through plenty of drama and suffering before everything is finally resolved.
‘Sex, love, beauty and money have always entranced us, and one way or another are the basis for just about every story ever written. There’s plenty of all of that in my novels, along with high fashion, which I love. What’s more, writing about fashion means I can go virtual shopping, dressing my heroines in all the wonderful clothes I adore – the racks of Marchesa ball gowns, the shelves of Louboutins, mountains of Chanel bags and acres of Dior dresses... it’s lots of fun. The stories can also get quite racy at times. It’s all about entertaining and amusing the reader, and enjoying being inside my characters’ glamorous, rarefied existence. ‘I’m always thrilled when someone enjoys reading my book as much I enjoyed writing it.’
Lulu now lives in West Dorset near the Somerset border, with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
July 29, 2017
DNF at 14%.
I HATE leaving books unfinished, especially this early which is almost unheard of for me. But it got too much with the quick POV change with no explanations (it was in 3rd person at least, as opposed to the usual 1st person POV) but I was just done at that point.
A small list of likes though:
- The creepy Gothic house. There was a lot of mystery surrounding it which I thought might help the story along.
- The main character really cared about her daughter.
- Her daughter liked to read. Starting out young.
- The first encounter with the neighbours seemed a bit mysterious and intriguing.
There may be more but can't think of them. Here are my dislikes:
- The first few chapters were a lot of description. A lot of info dumping. A lot of things I didn't really care about.
- I understand the main character was running away and had to be secretive, but it became over-the-top rudeness in some cases.
- The Gothic house was literally practically the only interesting thing in the 59 pages I read.
The book showed promise in some ways, but I was just so bored. I didn't really care why the main character had to go on the run. I did care about the daughter because she was so young, but even then, I was focused a lot more on the new house. How a six year old (?) girl can be made a background character to a HOUSE for me I have no idea, but there we are.
My mum also read this book and finished it, though she didn't like the ending much. I asked her for a quick summary and honestly, I'm glad I stopped when I did. There are events that go on surrounding the house and people nearby that are really creepy. And not in a good way.
Just when I decide to be an adult for once and read an adult targeted book, it disappoints me in a big way. This is why I stick to YA/NA, where the characters feel real and have actual issues to sort through. A lot more adult-like than their 'adult' big siblings on the other shop shelves.
I HATE leaving books unfinished, especially this early which is almost unheard of for me. But it got too much with the quick POV change with no explanations (it was in 3rd person at least, as opposed to the usual 1st person POV) but I was just done at that point.
A small list of likes though:
- The creepy Gothic house. There was a lot of mystery surrounding it which I thought might help the story along.
- The main character really cared about her daughter.
- Her daughter liked to read. Starting out young.
- The first encounter with the neighbours seemed a bit mysterious and intriguing.
There may be more but can't think of them. Here are my dislikes:
- The first few chapters were a lot of description. A lot of info dumping. A lot of things I didn't really care about.
- I understand the main character was running away and had to be secretive, but it became over-the-top rudeness in some cases.
- The Gothic house was literally practically the only interesting thing in the 59 pages I read.
The book showed promise in some ways, but I was just so bored. I didn't really care why the main character had to go on the run. I did care about the daughter because she was so young, but even then, I was focused a lot more on the new house. How a six year old (?) girl can be made a background character to a HOUSE for me I have no idea, but there we are.
My mum also read this book and finished it, though she didn't like the ending much. I asked her for a quick summary and honestly, I'm glad I stopped when I did. There are events that go on surrounding the house and people nearby that are really creepy. And not in a good way.
Just when I decide to be an adult for once and read an adult targeted book, it disappoints me in a big way. This is why I stick to YA/NA, where the characters feel real and have actual issues to sort through. A lot more adult-like than their 'adult' big siblings on the other shop shelves.
May 11, 2020
Lulu Taylor has this style of writing that just keeps me wanting to pick up more and more of her books!
In this story, we follow Kate, who believes that her husband (they are separated) was going to take her daughter away from her, as she takes her daughter away into hiding. They go to stay at a large estate. Kate is not only there to hide away. She is there to look after the estate and map out what is wrong with it, for a company who had hired her to do that. As expected, things aren't what they seem and Kate soon realises that she is on a downward spiral in more ways than one. We also follow the story of the house in the past and what had happened to lead to the estate being abandoned.
I just could not stop reading this book. I had to know what was going to happen next. There were certainly quite a lot of twists and turns that kept me on my toes. Some of them I had already guessed but the major plot twists that come nearer the end of the story took me completely by surprise.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
In this story, we follow Kate, who believes that her husband (they are separated) was going to take her daughter away from her, as she takes her daughter away into hiding. They go to stay at a large estate. Kate is not only there to hide away. She is there to look after the estate and map out what is wrong with it, for a company who had hired her to do that. As expected, things aren't what they seem and Kate soon realises that she is on a downward spiral in more ways than one. We also follow the story of the house in the past and what had happened to lead to the estate being abandoned.
I just could not stop reading this book. I had to know what was going to happen next. There were certainly quite a lot of twists and turns that kept me on my toes. Some of them I had already guessed but the major plot twists that come nearer the end of the story took me completely by surprise.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
July 22, 2019
از صفحه ۳۵۰ به بعد دلم میخواست زودتر تموم بشه،در عین حال از این صفحه به بعد داستان محبوب گیراتر از داستان کیت و هیتر بود.
اما نحوه اتصال دو داستان به هم خیلی خوب بود.
در کل با در نظر گرفتن ترجمه عالی و حجم بالای کتاب و مضمون مذهبی کتاب میتونم بگم کتاب متوسط رو به بالایی بود که اگر از حوصلتون خارج نیست خوندنش خالی از لطف نیست چون باعث میشه بدونید چجوری یک آدم یا آدم ها میتونن به اسم مذهب عقل و زندگی شما رو ازتون بگیرند. (چیزی که از زندگی امروز ما هم دور نیست)
اما نحوه اتصال دو داستان به هم خیلی خوب بود.
در کل با در نظر گرفتن ترجمه عالی و حجم بالای کتاب و مضمون مذهبی کتاب میتونم بگم کتاب متوسط رو به بالایی بود که اگر از حوصلتون خارج نیست خوندنش خالی از لطف نیست چون باعث میشه بدونید چجوری یک آدم یا آدم ها میتونن به اسم مذهب عقل و زندگی شما رو ازتون بگیرند. (چیزی که از زندگی امروز ما هم دور نیست)
December 30, 2016
This is my second Lulu Taylor book having previously read 'The Winter Folly' which I really enjoyed. I thought this was an ok read but nothing near the previous one I read. The beginning was ok with Kate running away from her husband and taking on the house. Odd how she treated her daughter Heather but that will be revealed later.
The 'cult' side of the story was quite 'same old same old' of what cults are meant to be. Safe to say that if you are a mastermind at lying and a sex maniac then you will fit right in!
Kate's overall story was ok. However it could have been told in half the time without the cult part which really added nothing to the tale. I would not pay any money for this book new and maybe pick it up cheap from charity shop.
The 'cult' side of the story was quite 'same old same old' of what cults are meant to be. Safe to say that if you are a mastermind at lying and a sex maniac then you will fit right in!
Kate's overall story was ok. However it could have been told in half the time without the cult part which really added nothing to the tale. I would not pay any money for this book new and maybe pick it up cheap from charity shop.
December 18, 2016
I received a copy of this title from PanMacmillan Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Kate has done all she can to escape with her daughter from a turbulent home life. When strangers start to move in to the big old property in which Kate is living as the caretaker, her carefully constructed new life may be torn to pieces.
What an absorbing book I found this to be! The story turned out to be little of what I expected, but better than my expectations nonetheless. The first thing you should know about The Snow Rose is that it is not one story, but two (possibly even three, depending on how you look at it) related but separate stories. The first plotline features Kate, who has run away with her daughter for reasons that are only hinted at in the beginning, but become clear further down the track. The second, related storyline features past residents of the house, whose experience appears to be repeating itself with its new residents. As well as those two main storylines, there are also segues into moments in the present that look to be history repeating, and some focus on the people that Kate left behind when she left. All in all, this isn’t a basic relationship/finding-oneself type novel, as I expected it might be, but a complex, intricately woven combination of historical fiction and contemporary fiction with a hint of speculative fiction and the briefest of nods toward the paranormal thrown in.
The thing that I found most appealing about The Snow Rose was the fact that Kate, as the main character, seemed to be constantly evolving in her understanding of her bizarre situation and how it came to pass. At no point was I able to predict how her story would turn out because she is, in some senses, unreliable in her insight into her motivations and the outcomes that she is chasing. The old ladies that she meets while caretaking at the Big House, Sissy and Matty, provide a balance to Kate’s chaotic mind but also throw in new factors to complicate matters – Are they who they say they are? What do they actually know about the house’s history? Can they help Kate find her feet?
I loved the historical sections of the book. Apart from being an abrupt change of pace from the contemporary sections featuring Kate, the characters in the historical section were so vivid and the events so surprising that I was happy to keep coming back to this time period to see what might happen next. Like Kate, the main character in the historical plot line, Letty, is also going through some turbulent personal growth.
I suppose there may be some readers of this story who dislike the more bizarre, unexpected elements of it, given that these elements are quite unlikely, but these are exactly what lifted the story above your typical tortured soul story in my view. Kate’s story isn’t predictable. It is quite unlikely. There are elements throughout that will have the reader questioning what is real and what is not. And it’s these characteristics that had me totally absorbed in the lives of the characters.
I’d highly recommend this for readers who want to lose themselves in someone else’s life, because in the coiling plotlines of The Snow Rose, there is plenty of opportunity to do so.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Kate has done all she can to escape with her daughter from a turbulent home life. When strangers start to move in to the big old property in which Kate is living as the caretaker, her carefully constructed new life may be torn to pieces.
What an absorbing book I found this to be! The story turned out to be little of what I expected, but better than my expectations nonetheless. The first thing you should know about The Snow Rose is that it is not one story, but two (possibly even three, depending on how you look at it) related but separate stories. The first plotline features Kate, who has run away with her daughter for reasons that are only hinted at in the beginning, but become clear further down the track. The second, related storyline features past residents of the house, whose experience appears to be repeating itself with its new residents. As well as those two main storylines, there are also segues into moments in the present that look to be history repeating, and some focus on the people that Kate left behind when she left. All in all, this isn’t a basic relationship/finding-oneself type novel, as I expected it might be, but a complex, intricately woven combination of historical fiction and contemporary fiction with a hint of speculative fiction and the briefest of nods toward the paranormal thrown in.
The thing that I found most appealing about The Snow Rose was the fact that Kate, as the main character, seemed to be constantly evolving in her understanding of her bizarre situation and how it came to pass. At no point was I able to predict how her story would turn out because she is, in some senses, unreliable in her insight into her motivations and the outcomes that she is chasing. The old ladies that she meets while caretaking at the Big House, Sissy and Matty, provide a balance to Kate’s chaotic mind but also throw in new factors to complicate matters – Are they who they say they are? What do they actually know about the house’s history? Can they help Kate find her feet?
I loved the historical sections of the book. Apart from being an abrupt change of pace from the contemporary sections featuring Kate, the characters in the historical section were so vivid and the events so surprising that I was happy to keep coming back to this time period to see what might happen next. Like Kate, the main character in the historical plot line, Letty, is also going through some turbulent personal growth.
I suppose there may be some readers of this story who dislike the more bizarre, unexpected elements of it, given that these elements are quite unlikely, but these are exactly what lifted the story above your typical tortured soul story in my view. Kate’s story isn’t predictable. It is quite unlikely. There are elements throughout that will have the reader questioning what is real and what is not. And it’s these characteristics that had me totally absorbed in the lives of the characters.
I’d highly recommend this for readers who want to lose themselves in someone else’s life, because in the coiling plotlines of The Snow Rose, there is plenty of opportunity to do so.
August 28, 2018
"بچه ها خوش بین و ساده دل هستند. اطمینان کامل دارند که باید در این دنیا باشند و از دنیا و آنچه برایشان در نظر گرفته است، بسیار ذوق زده اند. چگونه می توانیم حقیقت تلخ را به آنها بگوییم؟ چگونه می توانیم به آنها بگوییم که هیچ چیز نمی تواند تا ابد همانطور باقی بماند، مصون و در امنیت."(رز برفی- لولو تیلور)
November 16, 2018
A lovely book. Really enjoyed it. Probably 9/10.
April 19, 2019
دوستی کتاب راهدیه آورد..یکساعته تمامش کردم باوجودحجم بالا.دوستاره هم زیادش بود.
I do not like it ! I finished it in an hour.
I do not like it ! I finished it in an hour.
November 3, 2017
Oddly compulsive, every time I tried to put this book down, it called to me to continue reading. Not that it was a chore to carry on with the story, as I was completely absorbed and interested in the multitude of storylines that were unfurling.
The book is split into four parts and just as you think you have got to grips with what is going on, the next part comes along and you are left reeling about various things, or a slight perspective change allows you to try and piece things together even faster.
There is very little I can say about the story but yet so much I want to comment on, but daren't due to spoilers. The book opens with a mum on the run with her young child, she is desperate not to be found and take on guardianship of a large old house, in a fake name and has left a false trails all over herself.
You get hints as to her current mental state and the feeling something isn't quite right and that is the first of the hooks into the story, as I had to find out more about Rachel and Hattie. The lengths she goes to, to hide Hattie's existence are very strong, and she hates that the house she has found isn't as remote as first thought.
Even more confusing are the sisters who are nearby neighbours hinting that history is about to repeat itself.
Let's just say the history of the house was fascinating and worrying at the same time. There were elements of it that I was slightly uncomfortable with due to my own beliefs, and I did stay skeptical for a large part of the book, but even so I still wanted to know what was going to happen next.
The action flits between past and present in the chapters, and in two main stories. All of which I was utterly hooked on. The Snow Rose crept under mys skin and hasn't left yet, I was enchanted and gripped by this addictive tale.
The book is split into four parts and just as you think you have got to grips with what is going on, the next part comes along and you are left reeling about various things, or a slight perspective change allows you to try and piece things together even faster.
There is very little I can say about the story but yet so much I want to comment on, but daren't due to spoilers. The book opens with a mum on the run with her young child, she is desperate not to be found and take on guardianship of a large old house, in a fake name and has left a false trails all over herself.
You get hints as to her current mental state and the feeling something isn't quite right and that is the first of the hooks into the story, as I had to find out more about Rachel and Hattie. The lengths she goes to, to hide Hattie's existence are very strong, and she hates that the house she has found isn't as remote as first thought.
Even more confusing are the sisters who are nearby neighbours hinting that history is about to repeat itself.
Let's just say the history of the house was fascinating and worrying at the same time. There were elements of it that I was slightly uncomfortable with due to my own beliefs, and I did stay skeptical for a large part of the book, but even so I still wanted to know what was going to happen next.
The action flits between past and present in the chapters, and in two main stories. All of which I was utterly hooked on. The Snow Rose crept under mys skin and hasn't left yet, I was enchanted and gripped by this addictive tale.
June 3, 2017
Really enjoyed this book
Completely different to what I thought it was going to be.
Good book
Completely different to what I thought it was going to be.
Good book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down in fact and had a bad case of ‘just one more chapter’ before I went to sleep for a few nights.
October 26, 2022
Page turner. Interesting parallels drawn at the end, although not sure I agreed!
March 19, 2018
This book was an ok read for me, but the story became extremely predictable and I found myself already knowing what was going to happen next.
The lead character Kate, has suffered a major trauma in her life, that sends her spiralling into depression. However she is at times rather annoying and rather unbelievable. As her story develops we get to know the cause of the trauma and some of the back story before the major event.
There is also another story being told, about an event in history which, is nothing to do with Kate but is linked to the house and two old ladies who live in the cottage nearby. I loved the characters of the two old ladies and to be honest would of liked a little bit more history about them.
The book flits between the present, the past of the house and Kate’s past in a rather chaotic manner, which also lets the book down some what.
Altogether it was a quick read, which kept me interested, but not hooked and the predictability and the chaotic structure severely let it down. Hence the two stars.
The lead character Kate, has suffered a major trauma in her life, that sends her spiralling into depression. However she is at times rather annoying and rather unbelievable. As her story develops we get to know the cause of the trauma and some of the back story before the major event.
There is also another story being told, about an event in history which, is nothing to do with Kate but is linked to the house and two old ladies who live in the cottage nearby. I loved the characters of the two old ladies and to be honest would of liked a little bit more history about them.
The book flits between the present, the past of the house and Kate’s past in a rather chaotic manner, which also lets the book down some what.
Altogether it was a quick read, which kept me interested, but not hooked and the predictability and the chaotic structure severely let it down. Hence the two stars.
September 3, 2017
Ok...so I managed 265 pages! Tried my best to persevere as I enjoyed the parts that related to the current day...but it was flitting back to the past that I struggled with! Too much!
May 12, 2020
Didn't finish... read 200 pages... not sure if it's just me or what but I was confused and bored most of the way through this, still waiting for something to happen.
December 18, 2017
*2.5 stars*
This book is a dual narrative telling the stories of the inhabitants of Paradise House, a rural manor house. Kate, in the present time, takes on an assumed identity and leaves her old life and husband behind, absconding with their young daughter. She accepts an offer to be a caretaker of Paradise House where she and her daughter go into hiding while she comes to terms with the events which caused her to flee. A couple of generations earlier sees the story of Letty, daughter of the house, and her two sisters. As Kate’s and Letty’s stories unfold, there come to light disturbing similarities between events associated with the house.
While this was a fun and often compelling read, I didn’t love the book. I like my fiction to be grounded in reality (unless it’s Fantasy or Science Fiction) and this book ventured further into the ridiculous the more I read. By the time I neared the end, I was almost rolling my eyes over the implausibility of it all. This was a disappointment because the writing was engaging and I initially found the story very interesting. Too bad. Still it was a bit of fun between more serious novels.
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and the publishers for providing me this copy.
This book is a dual narrative telling the stories of the inhabitants of Paradise House, a rural manor house. Kate, in the present time, takes on an assumed identity and leaves her old life and husband behind, absconding with their young daughter. She accepts an offer to be a caretaker of Paradise House where she and her daughter go into hiding while she comes to terms with the events which caused her to flee. A couple of generations earlier sees the story of Letty, daughter of the house, and her two sisters. As Kate’s and Letty’s stories unfold, there come to light disturbing similarities between events associated with the house.
While this was a fun and often compelling read, I didn’t love the book. I like my fiction to be grounded in reality (unless it’s Fantasy or Science Fiction) and this book ventured further into the ridiculous the more I read. By the time I neared the end, I was almost rolling my eyes over the implausibility of it all. This was a disappointment because the writing was engaging and I initially found the story very interesting. Too bad. Still it was a bit of fun between more serious novels.
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and the publishers for providing me this copy.
June 23, 2023
Драматична історія про те, як одне невеличке непорозуміння в сім'ї може призвести до великої трагедії. Книга про біль утрати і пошук тієї основи, яка допоможе жити далі.
⠀
Враження від прочитання дуже суперечливі. Перша третина книги, в якій авторка лише натякає на те, що сталося у головної героїні Кейт, мені дуже сподобалась. Старовинний будинок, де прихована не одна таємниця, дивні сусідки, що бачать те, чого немає, загадкова атмосфера обіцяли щось захоплююче. Втім, коли завісу таємничості посунули, оповідь перетворилася на пшик. Авторка починає описувати секти кінця 20-х років минулого століття і нинішні, як дорослі розумні люди йшли за своїм духовним наставником і виконували усі його забаганки. І якщо у минулому були тендітні квіточки, то у теперішньому зійшли отруйні ягідки.
⠀
Можливо, тема не моя, можливо, письменниця її не до кінця розкрила, але книга не вразила. Дочитала лише тому, що цікаво було дізнатися, що стало причиною драми у житті Кейт та чим закінчилася її історія.
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Враження від прочитання дуже суперечливі. Перша третина книги, в якій авторка лише натякає на те, що сталося у головної героїні Кейт, мені дуже сподобалась. Старовинний будинок, де прихована не одна таємниця, дивні сусідки, що бачать те, чого немає, загадкова атмосфера обіцяли щось захоплююче. Втім, коли завісу таємничості посунули, оповідь перетворилася на пшик. Авторка починає описувати секти кінця 20-х років минулого століття і нинішні, як дорослі розумні люди йшли за своїм духовним наставником і виконували усі його забаганки. І якщо у минулому були тендітні квіточки, то у теперішньому зійшли отруйні ягідки.
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Можливо, тема не моя, можливо, письменниця її не до кінця розкрила, але книга не вразила. Дочитала лише тому, що цікаво було дізнатися, що стало причиною драми у житті Кейт та чим закінчилася її історія.
November 12, 2017
Please visit Ember Book Reviews for my full review! :)
The Snow Rose poses as a traditional English ghost story…until it’s not. Kate has a secret tragic past and flees with her daughter to a rundown English estate that she has signed on, using an alias and hiding the presence of her daughter, to be the caretaker of. As they begin to settle in to life at the estate, they are interrupted by two elderly sisters who live in a cottage behind the garden; one is overly nosy and makes Kate feel uncomfortable, and the other seems able to see more than she should be able to considering she is blind. Then noises begin sounding from the basement, and Kate is sure someone is locked away in the cellar that she’s been instructed very strictly not to go into.
Just when things start unravelling for Kate, the plot shifts back in time nearly one hundred years to the previous owners of Paradise House: three sisters, one of which is a raving religious fanatic enraptured by the prophecies of a man known as The Beloved. The elder sister has declared her mad, but soon the youngest, Lettice, is enthralled as well and Paradise House becomes a commune for The Beloved and his followers, mainly female. The plot soon begins to shift back and forth between Lettice and Kate, then Kate’s friend Caz, as parallels in their storylines begin to emerge and it’s revealed that this is not a ghost story at all, but a tale of madness and fanatic belief in the face of the disappointment of life.
I finished this novel wondering what on Earth I had just read. It was enjoyable…but much more so when I believed I was reading a ghost story. The introduction of Lettice and the religious fanaticism plot line confused the story’s rhythm and from that point onwards, the novel felt like the two different stories were constantly interrupting each other. On its own, Lettice’s plot was actually the more enjoyable one. Kate’s story became weird and muddled when her past trauma is revealed. It became hard for me to keep reading the book, but I wanted to know what happened to Lettice. Disappointingly, her storyline isn’t satisfactorily resolved–instead it’s sort of left hanging and the loose ends are wrapped up during a conversation with Matty, Sissy, and Kate at the end of the novel. This novel was all right but it just wasn’t for me.
The Snow Rose poses as a traditional English ghost story…until it’s not. Kate has a secret tragic past and flees with her daughter to a rundown English estate that she has signed on, using an alias and hiding the presence of her daughter, to be the caretaker of. As they begin to settle in to life at the estate, they are interrupted by two elderly sisters who live in a cottage behind the garden; one is overly nosy and makes Kate feel uncomfortable, and the other seems able to see more than she should be able to considering she is blind. Then noises begin sounding from the basement, and Kate is sure someone is locked away in the cellar that she’s been instructed very strictly not to go into.
Just when things start unravelling for Kate, the plot shifts back in time nearly one hundred years to the previous owners of Paradise House: three sisters, one of which is a raving religious fanatic enraptured by the prophecies of a man known as The Beloved. The elder sister has declared her mad, but soon the youngest, Lettice, is enthralled as well and Paradise House becomes a commune for The Beloved and his followers, mainly female. The plot soon begins to shift back and forth between Lettice and Kate, then Kate’s friend Caz, as parallels in their storylines begin to emerge and it’s revealed that this is not a ghost story at all, but a tale of madness and fanatic belief in the face of the disappointment of life.
I finished this novel wondering what on Earth I had just read. It was enjoyable…but much more so when I believed I was reading a ghost story. The introduction of Lettice and the religious fanaticism plot line confused the story’s rhythm and from that point onwards, the novel felt like the two different stories were constantly interrupting each other. On its own, Lettice’s plot was actually the more enjoyable one. Kate’s story became weird and muddled when her past trauma is revealed. It became hard for me to keep reading the book, but I wanted to know what happened to Lettice. Disappointingly, her storyline isn’t satisfactorily resolved–instead it’s sort of left hanging and the loose ends are wrapped up during a conversation with Matty, Sissy, and Kate at the end of the novel. This novel was all right but it just wasn’t for me.
January 18, 2021
I seemed to go through a cycle of emotions with this book. I love it, I dislike it, i like it.
It started off really well, the need to know what was happening with kate/rachel, urging me on. In the middle I started to get slightly bored, losing interest in the story. There were too many people and too many storylines.
At the end it gripped my attention again, the need to know what happened urging me on.
The ending was an average ending which is why it's got three stars.
The whole book could have been written better, as it was it's pretty average. I'd maybe read another by her, but it's nothing to shout about.
It started off really well, the need to know what was happening with kate/rachel, urging me on. In the middle I started to get slightly bored, losing interest in the story. There were too many people and too many storylines.
At the end it gripped my attention again, the need to know what happened urging me on.
The ending was an average ending which is why it's got three stars.
The whole book could have been written better, as it was it's pretty average. I'd maybe read another by her, but it's nothing to shout about.
October 16, 2019
This book is in four parts. It’s two timelines, the present and 1926. In both timelines, vulnerable people are taken advantage of by a religious fanatic who is a charlatan. The first part of the book I really enjoyed. The second and third part were so boring and I found myself skip reading. I almost gave up. The final part of the story did redeem itself a bit. It’s not my favourite Lulu Taylor book.
April 9, 2018
Absolutely loved this book
December 3, 2017
Picked this up because I liked the cover. Good read.
November 6, 2017
Really enjoyed the first quarter of the novel but then it took an unexpected turn. Switching between past and present became a little confusing too.
April 25, 2019
This didn't go where I was expecting it to, in fact it was on a another level. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Also thought the ending was a bit rushed.
August 21, 2017
Kate sets up a false identity and vanishes, her plan to take her daughter Heather and disappear into oblivion. No-one knows her whereabouts as she takes up a role at an empty house. Her only contacts, the rep of the company who own the house and her friend Cas who has just a pay-as-you-go phone number for her.
Although the work was well-written I wasn't keen on the way the story-line suddenly switched from modern day to 1926 and first to third person. At that point I almost decided not to read further. Also I thought the cult element a bit far-fetched, but then I reconsidered.
Kate only gets caught up in the sect by accident and no doubt a novel about grieving, loss and adjustment doesn't need extras. However, the cult aspect is about brain-washing, which is so relevant in today's society. A charismatic figure swaying followers into accepting dangerous beliefs and then acting on them cannot be dismissed as unlikely these days. But of course to make it acceptable in fiction it is no doubt more 'politically correct' for the author to make the cult leader a pseudo Christian who twists Christian teachings for their own ends.
Although the work was well-written I wasn't keen on the way the story-line suddenly switched from modern day to 1926 and first to third person. At that point I almost decided not to read further. Also I thought the cult element a bit far-fetched, but then I reconsidered.
Kate only gets caught up in the sect by accident and no doubt a novel about grieving, loss and adjustment doesn't need extras. However, the cult aspect is about brain-washing, which is so relevant in today's society. A charismatic figure swaying followers into accepting dangerous beliefs and then acting on them cannot be dismissed as unlikely these days. But of course to make it acceptable in fiction it is no doubt more 'politically correct' for the author to make the cult leader a pseudo Christian who twists Christian teachings for their own ends.
December 27, 2016
Excellent, tantalising story that keeps you guessing what has happened right from the beginning. Whilst reading this I was constantly thinking of what I thought had happened. My thoughts about the characters and their parts in events and the 'how and why' changed as the story progressed. It is an absorbing read with believable tragic events that gradually unfold. I am looking forward to reading another book by Lulu Taylor.
September 19, 2017
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Kate believes she has escaped her difficult life with husband, and has now found sanctuary for her and her daughter. But circumstances may not make this possible. The writing of this book is interesting in that it is told from at least 3 points of view, and the historical detail is well presented.
Kate believes she has escaped her difficult life with husband, and has now found sanctuary for her and her daughter. But circumstances may not make this possible. The writing of this book is interesting in that it is told from at least 3 points of view, and the historical detail is well presented.
May 5, 2017
A good read. Slightly disjointed in places, that left me wanting to know more about some of the characters.
May 17, 2017
A clear and easy to read mystery/thriller, which swept me along, despite the triple narrative. I was reading this when tired, and yet kept track of everything.
September 6, 2017
I found this book an unusual storyline. Sometimes I wasn't sure what was going on. It was a bit confusing. Bit as the story goes on it becomes clearer & clearer.
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