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Ghosts In Sunlight #1-2
Schaduwen in het zonlicht
Marian Barnard, in 1945 in Londen te vondeling gelegd en opgevoed in een weeshuis, ontmoet als jong meisje tijdens haar werk in een restaurant de jonge Amerikaanse beroepsmilitair Marc, afkomstig uit een wegestelde familie in Boston. Ze krijgen een zoon die ze Philippe noemen. Marc sneuvelt in Vietnam en bij dat verschrikkelijke nieuws overlijdt zijn vader aan een hartaanval, zonder zijn vrouw te vertellen over het bestaan van hun beider kleinzoon.
- GenresAmazon
383 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
21 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 24, 2018
Six stars
What a powerful story! An amazing plot covering three generations of a disjointed family. Love and vengeance are the themes here, and Gretta Curran Brown captured the total essence of both. I am in absolute awe of her writing.
A 16-year-old boy swears vengeance for the death of his beloved single mother by the unremorseful negligence of a stranger. His mother had just completed the manuscript of a book about his deceased father and herself that she had hopes of being published. The teen's obsession for vengeance is secondary to his vow to, one day, have her book published. The book is a work of true love.
Having intimate knowledge of the emotional shock, grief and rage at the loss of a loved one at the hands of someone who has no remorse, feels no guilt, is very personal and intimate for me. This author has captured that essence, those feelings, with remarkable accuracy. I was openly crying at 1 am this morning as I read on, unable to put the book down.
The story covers the years from 1940-1995 as it flashes back to the teen's grandparents, parents and his life. The characters live on the page and I was completely invested in their stories as they covered France, England, USA, VietNam, Sweden, Italy and Bali. I felt their emotions. I laughed so hard at the kangaroo analogy I had hiccups!!
Just amazing writing and a powerful, beautiful, intense, suspenseful and tragic story.
A six star read that I definitely recommend to readers of historical fiction and romance readers.
What a powerful story! An amazing plot covering three generations of a disjointed family. Love and vengeance are the themes here, and Gretta Curran Brown captured the total essence of both. I am in absolute awe of her writing.
A 16-year-old boy swears vengeance for the death of his beloved single mother by the unremorseful negligence of a stranger. His mother had just completed the manuscript of a book about his deceased father and herself that she had hopes of being published. The teen's obsession for vengeance is secondary to his vow to, one day, have her book published. The book is a work of true love.
Having intimate knowledge of the emotional shock, grief and rage at the loss of a loved one at the hands of someone who has no remorse, feels no guilt, is very personal and intimate for me. This author has captured that essence, those feelings, with remarkable accuracy. I was openly crying at 1 am this morning as I read on, unable to put the book down.
The story covers the years from 1940-1995 as it flashes back to the teen's grandparents, parents and his life. The characters live on the page and I was completely invested in their stories as they covered France, England, USA, VietNam, Sweden, Italy and Bali. I felt their emotions. I laughed so hard at the kangaroo analogy I had hiccups!!
Just amazing writing and a powerful, beautiful, intense, suspenseful and tragic story.
A six star read that I definitely recommend to readers of historical fiction and romance readers.
August 24, 2018
Reviewed by Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite
Also published on my website http://sarahstuartweb.wordpress.com
The Love We Gave by Gretta Curran Browne is an epic story that spans forty-four years, the class divide between an aristocratic family and a young woman brought up in an orphanage, and the countries of France, America, England, Vietnam, and Sweden. It is a story of obsession – passionate love of people and power, greed and immorality, and implacable, unforgiving hatred. It opens in Paris, a beautiful city despoiled by conquering Nazis, with the sixteen-year-old daughter of a wealthy jeweller, Philippe Castineau. Jacqueline, dressed as a boy and pretending idiocy, joins the French Resistance and kills without mercy. Married, she lives for her son, Marc, who she sees as a true Castineau. Marc lives on only in letters written to him in Vietnam by Marian – lover, mother, and widow – and the flashback memories of Nam veteran, Marc's friend, Jimmy Overman. Will Jacqueline meet her match in Marc and Marian’s son?
Steeped in literature as one might expect of writers and publishers, invaded by the music of each decade, and gloriously multicultural, The Love We Gave is the book out of countless thousands I have read that made me, like Phil, answer when asked how I wanted my coffee, say “in peace”. Time after time, I guessed what was coming, and sometimes I was right and sometimes shockingly wrong, but I had to know. The pace is unforgiving, every character strides through the pages alive, vivid, and believable, and the plot is flawless – a superbly written whole. This is an overpowering, sensual, love story, a political testimony that argues against American involvement in Vietnam, and an intense thriller. For Gretta Curran Browne’s The Love We Gave, "the only word is wow”.
Also published on my website http://sarahstuartweb.wordpress.com
The Love We Gave by Gretta Curran Browne is an epic story that spans forty-four years, the class divide between an aristocratic family and a young woman brought up in an orphanage, and the countries of France, America, England, Vietnam, and Sweden. It is a story of obsession – passionate love of people and power, greed and immorality, and implacable, unforgiving hatred. It opens in Paris, a beautiful city despoiled by conquering Nazis, with the sixteen-year-old daughter of a wealthy jeweller, Philippe Castineau. Jacqueline, dressed as a boy and pretending idiocy, joins the French Resistance and kills without mercy. Married, she lives for her son, Marc, who she sees as a true Castineau. Marc lives on only in letters written to him in Vietnam by Marian – lover, mother, and widow – and the flashback memories of Nam veteran, Marc's friend, Jimmy Overman. Will Jacqueline meet her match in Marc and Marian’s son?
Steeped in literature as one might expect of writers and publishers, invaded by the music of each decade, and gloriously multicultural, The Love We Gave is the book out of countless thousands I have read that made me, like Phil, answer when asked how I wanted my coffee, say “in peace”. Time after time, I guessed what was coming, and sometimes I was right and sometimes shockingly wrong, but I had to know. The pace is unforgiving, every character strides through the pages alive, vivid, and believable, and the plot is flawless – a superbly written whole. This is an overpowering, sensual, love story, a political testimony that argues against American involvement in Vietnam, and an intense thriller. For Gretta Curran Browne’s The Love We Gave, "the only word is wow”.
April 15, 2011
This one's not really recommended for young readers. Haha! I'm lucky enough to have the hard-bound copy of this novel. I think this one was published during 1999. However, I liked the flow of the story. This novel shows different kinds of moods, and the characters are relevant to the flow of the story.
January 17, 2014
I liked the first part of the book more than the last part. I gave it four stars because I like the way the author writes. I read another book by her and loved it
.
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August 12, 2013
Loved it! Not a ghost story at all. A story of love, passion and revenge. Well written and addictive.
December 29, 2023
An American soldier meets a British waitress and the two fall in love. He travels back and forth to visit her and when she finds herself pregnant, he travels home to his wealthy controlling mother to announce his engagement. The mother is enraged as she has plans for his future and they don't include an English waitress. She asks him to wait a year before marrying. Sadly, he is sent to Vietnam where he is killed in action. This book is filled with sad, unfortunate events that lead to a revenge seeking young man. This book was lengthy and a lot of it could have been left out. It needed a good editor. I found it ironic that a portion of the book is about a washed up author who tries to change his writing style but his book is declined by various publishers due in part to its length and boring content. There is a lesson here.
September 3, 2017
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
June 9, 2018
I loved every word of this story!
I loved this story to pieces! All i do is reeeeeead and this is truly one of the best stories I've ever read!!!
I loved this story to pieces! All i do is reeeeeead and this is truly one of the best stories I've ever read!!!
March 26, 2013
OUT OF PRINT
`This is a real page turner.’ Irish News.
`Part thriller, part love story, it’s hard to resist turning the pages.’ BELFAST TELEGRAPH
`“Ghosts in Sunlight” succeeds in combining the genres of thriller and romance into a fast-paced tale involving vast sums of money, immense power, women both wounded and wounding, and a variety of credible male characters from the traumatised Vietnam Veteran Jimmy Overman to the seedy publisher, James Duncan… an excellent book.’ IE BOOK REVIEW
`Ghosts in Sunlight takes you on a journey through the lives of a family cheated by life and history. A love story with plenty of suspense and drama. Very Enjoyable.' WOMAN’S WAY
`A modern thriller alternating love story with a tale of revenge. The story is a page turner and the author has two more books in the pipeline.’ MAYO NEWS
`This is a real page turner...’IRISH NEWS
`A seductive blend of thriller and love story.’ … EASON’S DIAMOND SELECTION
`Books are often described as page turners, but this is indeed very true of “Ghosts in Sunlight,” Once started, the reader will find it very hard to put down.’ SOUTHSIDE NEWS
`This is a real page turner.’ Irish News.
`Part thriller, part love story, it’s hard to resist turning the pages.’ BELFAST TELEGRAPH
`“Ghosts in Sunlight” succeeds in combining the genres of thriller and romance into a fast-paced tale involving vast sums of money, immense power, women both wounded and wounding, and a variety of credible male characters from the traumatised Vietnam Veteran Jimmy Overman to the seedy publisher, James Duncan… an excellent book.’ IE BOOK REVIEW
`Ghosts in Sunlight takes you on a journey through the lives of a family cheated by life and history. A love story with plenty of suspense and drama. Very Enjoyable.' WOMAN’S WAY
`A modern thriller alternating love story with a tale of revenge. The story is a page turner and the author has two more books in the pipeline.’ MAYO NEWS
`This is a real page turner...’IRISH NEWS
`A seductive blend of thriller and love story.’ … EASON’S DIAMOND SELECTION
`Books are often described as page turners, but this is indeed very true of “Ghosts in Sunlight,” Once started, the reader will find it very hard to put down.’ SOUTHSIDE NEWS
March 11, 2013
This edition is now OUT OF PRINT
******************************************************
`Part thriller, part love story, it’s hard to resist turning the pages.’ BELFAST TELEGRAPH
`A fast-paced tale involving vast sums of money, immense power, women both wounded and wounding, and a variety of credible male characters from the traumatised Vietnam Veteran Jimmy Overman to the seedy publisher, James Duncan… an excellent book.’ IE BOOK REVIEW
`A fast-paced tale involving vast sums of money, immense power, women wounded and wounding, and a variety of credible male characters from the traumatised Vietnam veteran Jimmy Overman to the seedy publisher, James Duncan … an excellent book.’ IE BOOK REVIEW
‘Once started the reader will find it very hard to put down.’
SOUTHSIDE NEWS
‘Plenty of suspense and drama … Very enjoyable.’ WOMAN'S WAY
‘Browne has a talent for drawing us into her characters and situations … this is a real page turner.’ IRISH NEWS
‘Add another name to the growing list of successful Dublin authors – Gretta Curran Browne. This story is a modern thriller … a page turner’.
MAYO NEWS
August 13, 2013
A combination love story/mystery...young couple, American GI and British waitress fall in love...she ends up pregnant ...he is very wealthy and buys an apartment for her and his son...his plan is to leave the Army and move to England to be with his family but his mother, a wealthy dowager, insists he stay in for two years. He ends up being sent to Vietnam where he dies.
The young woman brings the boy up and when he is a teenager, she is found murdered..he swears to find the culprit and get his revenge...
Good Read!
The young woman brings the boy up and when he is a teenager, she is found murdered..he swears to find the culprit and get his revenge...
Good Read!
September 3, 2016
5 sterren voor de eerste helft.... 2 voor de rest.
Genoten van de eerste helft en dacht een Parel te lezen...
Daarna verwonderd verder gelezen...
Is dit dezelfde schrijver... het kwam bij mij over dat iemand anders het boek even af gemaakt heeft..
Ligt het aan de vertaling??
Hoop dat iemand anders dit boek ook eens wil lezen... het leest best wel vlot weg trouwens.
Een boek wat zo mooi begint en me met een teleurstellend gevoel achter gelaten heeft.
Genoten van de eerste helft en dacht een Parel te lezen...
Daarna verwonderd verder gelezen...
Is dit dezelfde schrijver... het kwam bij mij over dat iemand anders het boek even af gemaakt heeft..
Ligt het aan de vertaling??
Hoop dat iemand anders dit boek ook eens wil lezen... het leest best wel vlot weg trouwens.
Een boek wat zo mooi begint en me met een teleurstellend gevoel achter gelaten heeft.
June 16, 2013
I normally stay well away from plots of revenge in a contemporary setting as it is not particularly a subject that I wish to spend my free time on. The writing was adequate enough to drag me to the end of the book but it was a close run thing. Unhappily, unable to recommend as most of the normal crew do not like revenge outings either.
August 21, 2013
I loved the beginning of this book. Loved the love story, and the time period and couldn't put it down... And loved part two: the love story of phil. But then it came to part three: all about revenge, and it lost me a bit. I have a hard time loving a character so much who is that full of hate and anger. I wanted him to overcome it.
June 5, 2014
Very good
I think this book is made to look like a crime thriller but it's not. it's a story of love, tragedy and vengeance. I fell in love with these characters. they are so well written that I felt real fear of what Jacqueline was going to do to people. Read this and you won't regret it.
I think this book is made to look like a crime thriller but it's not. it's a story of love, tragedy and vengeance. I fell in love with these characters. they are so well written that I felt real fear of what Jacqueline was going to do to people. Read this and you won't regret it.
August 13, 2011
A story that has a transition from past to present, I never thought that such wonderful novel exists. I just found a copy on a book sale, and didn't even think that it was good. If ever you found a copy, believe me, you should go and read it.
August 10, 2016
Although the story line was somewhat predictable, I enjoyed the book. I liked all the characters, especially Jimmy for some reason. Minor editor errors bugged me, but there were far less than in many other Bookbub books I've read.
November 22, 2015
151119-22 Ghosts in Sunlight by Gretta Curan Brown
Read great and intriguing story about the family of Phil Gaines and family and their struggles and successes in beautiful loving lives. Phil becomes his Grandmother's protégé and successor as vengeful and rich.
Read great and intriguing story about the family of Phil Gaines and family and their struggles and successes in beautiful loving lives. Phil becomes his Grandmother's protégé and successor as vengeful and rich.
June 17, 2024
Uma bela história que transcende o tempo!
November 16, 2015
A story spanning three generations, featuring love, loss and revenge.
September 21, 2013
Could not put it down! Wonderful characters!
November 1, 2013
More of a romance and less of a suspense, I gave up on this book at the 11% point and didn't finish it. This should not be a reflection on this book but more on my taste in books.
December 31, 2013
I couldn't put down this book.....not sure how the title played out after reading this book, but still I enjoyed the character development....
March 5, 2014
This is most unlikely, ridiculous piece of fiction ever. Read something else!
August 15, 2014
Read this for the fist time when I was about 14, still love it to this day.
November 29, 2017
AUTHOR's NOTE: This book is NOT paranormal: the only 'ghosts' in it are those people we once knew, who occasionally flit through our mind as a memory - GCB
July 11, 2015
I just love this book - it was my first book of complete 100% fiction and not based on true and actual events - apart from the authentic background of course.
In my historical novels I always feel I have a duty of honour to be absolutely true to the people whose life stories I am telling, and sometimes, as in the case of "Tread Softly On My Dreams" I spend so much time wishing I could write it all differently, but of course I can't, and at the end I was sitting at the keyboard with tears flowing down my face.
But as they say, "No tears from the writer, no tears from the reader" and true stories can have that effect.
But with GHOSTS IN SUNLIGHT I decided I would write it MY WAY and take the story wherever I wanted it to go - until a very short time into the book, the major characters took over the story and I was finding it very hard to keep up with all the twists and turns in their actions as well as their personalities.
Some people have said - "Oh, I've only read a few chapters and already I think I know who the killer is." - And I always reply with a smile - "You think so?"
Anyway, if you read it, I hope you enjoy it.
Gretta
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews