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The Last Will And Testament Of Daphne Le Marche
Paris, 1956. Eighteen year old Daphné may be from a tiny French village, but she knows she's destined for more. Stepping off a bus into bustling Paris with a suitcase full of her home–made beauty products, she's ready to do whatever it takes to claim her stake in the world.London, 2016. Scandalous love affairs and an iconic cosmetics brand have kept Daphné Le Marche in spotlight – but her darkest secrets have never come to light. Now, in her London penthouse, enveloped in her rich signature scent, the Grande Dame of glamour has died.But not even those closest to her could have been prepared for what came next.The Last Will and Testament of Daphné Le Marche is a sweeping story of heartbreak, scandal and the importance of keeping it in all the family…
- GenresFiction
451 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 19, 2016
Uplifting, compelling, feel-good and impossible to resist, The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche is a gloriously enjoyable tale packed with emotion, secrets and scandal that is as delicious as expensive Belgian chocolates and as stylish as vintage Chanel.
Daphne has always believed that she was destined for greatness. Despite growing up in the fifties in a small French village, Daphne knows that away from the shackles of small town life lies a big world that could be hers for the taking and she is itching to become the mistress of her own destiny, make something of herself and make her own mark in the world. With her talent for making her own beauty products, Daphne is determined to claim her stake in the world and become a pioneer and a leading light of the cosmetics industry, so she packs her bags and gets on the first bus out of her tiny village with only a small suitcase and a cherished dream in her heart. Daphne vows to make it at all cost and she achieves her goal of creating a very successful cosmetics brand.
Daphne’s tumultuous love life, tempestuous relationships and her penchant for glamour and scandal have made her a firm favourite with the paparazzi and a regular of all the society columns. Interest in Daphne and her cosmetics company has never flagged, however, the beauty mogul has always kept her cards close to her chest and her deepest and darkest secrets firmly under lock and key. But even a legend like Daphne Le Marche is not eternal. When she passes in her grand London penthouse, Daphne shocks all her relatives by bypassing her elder son Robert and leaving her business to her two granddaughters Billie and Celeste.
The two girls couldn’t be more different, but when their grandmother’s will brings them together, neither one of them is prepared for all the challenges ahead of them – or for all the knowledge which they’ll gain about the business and about themselves.
A wonderfully indulgent tale that is perfect for losing oneself into, The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche is a sweeping saga of family strife, dangerous secrets, powerful emotion and the redeeming power of love that is addictive, engrossing and very hard to put down. Packed with fascinating characters, plenty of twists and turns, laughter and pathos, The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche is an outstanding and compelling family saga guaranteed to keep you up way past your bedtime.
A spellbinding and mesmerizing tale that ticks all the right boxes, The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche is a first class read that should be on everyone’s must buy list this autumn.
Daphne has always believed that she was destined for greatness. Despite growing up in the fifties in a small French village, Daphne knows that away from the shackles of small town life lies a big world that could be hers for the taking and she is itching to become the mistress of her own destiny, make something of herself and make her own mark in the world. With her talent for making her own beauty products, Daphne is determined to claim her stake in the world and become a pioneer and a leading light of the cosmetics industry, so she packs her bags and gets on the first bus out of her tiny village with only a small suitcase and a cherished dream in her heart. Daphne vows to make it at all cost and she achieves her goal of creating a very successful cosmetics brand.
Daphne’s tumultuous love life, tempestuous relationships and her penchant for glamour and scandal have made her a firm favourite with the paparazzi and a regular of all the society columns. Interest in Daphne and her cosmetics company has never flagged, however, the beauty mogul has always kept her cards close to her chest and her deepest and darkest secrets firmly under lock and key. But even a legend like Daphne Le Marche is not eternal. When she passes in her grand London penthouse, Daphne shocks all her relatives by bypassing her elder son Robert and leaving her business to her two granddaughters Billie and Celeste.
The two girls couldn’t be more different, but when their grandmother’s will brings them together, neither one of them is prepared for all the challenges ahead of them – or for all the knowledge which they’ll gain about the business and about themselves.
A wonderfully indulgent tale that is perfect for losing oneself into, The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche is a sweeping saga of family strife, dangerous secrets, powerful emotion and the redeeming power of love that is addictive, engrossing and very hard to put down. Packed with fascinating characters, plenty of twists and turns, laughter and pathos, The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche is an outstanding and compelling family saga guaranteed to keep you up way past your bedtime.
A spellbinding and mesmerizing tale that ticks all the right boxes, The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche is a first class read that should be on everyone’s must buy list this autumn.
September 5, 2016
Daphne La Marche is dying in the first chapter of the book and changing her will so that her son Robert does not inherit her company but her two granddaughters Celeste and Billie do as long as they run it together for a year and a day
Billie has never had anything to do with her family, her father Henri, Daphne's second son, died when she was young and so she was brought up by her mother in Australia who hated her husband's family and would have nothing to do with them - so the phone call out of the blue totally took her by surprise and to start off with she wanted nothing to do with the Le Marche family
Celeste has never really worked or stuck at anything, living on an allowance from her father she flits around doing nothing and so is unsure where to start running a high profile business - her flair though is for marketing and design so she soon finds out that it really complements Billie who is a chemist well.
The story alternates between timelines and characters so you find out how Daphne started the business in 1956 when she came to Paris to sell her hand creams made from her own recipe using goats milk and this works well filling in different back stories so that the reader gets the full picture.
A lovely family saga with some great characters and storylines - not all good - Robert doesn't really have any redeeming features! Definitely one to read and one that will stay on my bookshelf
Billie has never had anything to do with her family, her father Henri, Daphne's second son, died when she was young and so she was brought up by her mother in Australia who hated her husband's family and would have nothing to do with them - so the phone call out of the blue totally took her by surprise and to start off with she wanted nothing to do with the Le Marche family
Celeste has never really worked or stuck at anything, living on an allowance from her father she flits around doing nothing and so is unsure where to start running a high profile business - her flair though is for marketing and design so she soon finds out that it really complements Billie who is a chemist well.
The story alternates between timelines and characters so you find out how Daphne started the business in 1956 when she came to Paris to sell her hand creams made from her own recipe using goats milk and this works well filling in different back stories so that the reader gets the full picture.
A lovely family saga with some great characters and storylines - not all good - Robert doesn't really have any redeeming features! Definitely one to read and one that will stay on my bookshelf
November 3, 2016
The Last Will And Testament Of Daphne Le Marche by Kate Forster is both a contemporary and a historical novel, being set in 1956 and present day.
The novel follows the dynasty of the Le Marche family starting with the grandmother Daphne. It is a story of a family whose lives are built on lies, secrets and betrayals. As the novel progresses, more and more secrets come to light. The women are all strong characters who ruthlessly and with loose morals, get what they want. I found it hard to like any of them.
There is the theme of the sins of the past generations repeating themselves and the whole question of nature versus nurture in our characters. The lies and secrets have the power to make one bitter. To break the cycle, one needs to extend an olive branch of peace and forgive. "It is easy to be angry, but braver to forgive."
I found the basic plot a good and comprehensive one. However for me personally there were far too many bedroom scenes given in far too much detail. I skipped over huge chunks of the book as I had no wish to read that. I found the scenes added nothing to the story and could have done without it. I shall not be seeking out any Kate Forster books in the future.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The novel follows the dynasty of the Le Marche family starting with the grandmother Daphne. It is a story of a family whose lives are built on lies, secrets and betrayals. As the novel progresses, more and more secrets come to light. The women are all strong characters who ruthlessly and with loose morals, get what they want. I found it hard to like any of them.
There is the theme of the sins of the past generations repeating themselves and the whole question of nature versus nurture in our characters. The lies and secrets have the power to make one bitter. To break the cycle, one needs to extend an olive branch of peace and forgive. "It is easy to be angry, but braver to forgive."
I found the basic plot a good and comprehensive one. However for me personally there were far too many bedroom scenes given in far too much detail. I skipped over huge chunks of the book as I had no wish to read that. I found the scenes added nothing to the story and could have done without it. I shall not be seeking out any Kate Forster books in the future.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
December 20, 2016
Daphné Le Marche is a successful business owner who knows her time has come. Someone else has to take over her company. She started making cosmetics when she was very young and through hard work and determination she made something of her brand and of herself. The future of her work is in the hands of her family now. There are three contestants, Daphné's oldest son Robert, who proved to be a disaster running Le Marche, but wants to have the company more than anything he's ever wanted in his life. Daphné also has two granddaughters, Celeste and Sybilla, who might be more suitable to run a company, but they have no experience in that area. Celeste has never had a proper job, but she knows everything there is to know about glamour and society. Sybilla is a scientist. She doesn't care about her looks all that much, but she can create. Who will be the most capable? When Daphné dies family secrets are bound to come out, will her beloved company survive them?
The Last Will and Testament of Daphné Le Marche is an intriguing story about a fascinating family. The Le Marche family has plenty of secrets and I couldn't wait to find out what they were. The story gripped me from the start and I read this book in one sitting. I loved that it's set in several countries, that it's filled with strong female main characters and that there are many surprising twists and turns. I was captivated straight away and fell in love with Daphné's beautiful products. Kate Forster manages to bring so much of life into the Le Marche family members, the struggling Le Marche company and the love lives of her main characters, which is absolutely fantastic.
Celeste and Sybilla aren't alike in many ways and I loved that they each had a distinct personality. They both learn to fight for what they believe in. I like books about independent women and they're great examples of capable feminine main characters. Sybilla isn't used to living in luxury, she's down to earth and really smart. Celeste is glamour personified, she's stylish without much effort and even though she has her insecurities she knows what she wants and she isn't afraid to go after it. It was fun to read about both women as well as their mothers. Robert is another kind of person altogether. He's unkind, brooding and dark and he's angry about the past. His character is interesting and he brings a lot of unexpected commotion. The personalities of the main characters are carefully created and together they bring a wonderfully complete family history.
Kate Forster's writing style is easy to read. Her story is fast-paced and set in different times and countries. I enjoyed the variety, the whirlwind of emotions and the complex family relationships. Love is an important element of the story and Kate Forster manages to form some amazing connections. The Last Will and Testament of Daphné Le Marche is a terrific book filled with spectacular developments and shocking revelations. I had loads of fun reading this novel and highly recommend it.
The Last Will and Testament of Daphné Le Marche is an intriguing story about a fascinating family. The Le Marche family has plenty of secrets and I couldn't wait to find out what they were. The story gripped me from the start and I read this book in one sitting. I loved that it's set in several countries, that it's filled with strong female main characters and that there are many surprising twists and turns. I was captivated straight away and fell in love with Daphné's beautiful products. Kate Forster manages to bring so much of life into the Le Marche family members, the struggling Le Marche company and the love lives of her main characters, which is absolutely fantastic.
Celeste and Sybilla aren't alike in many ways and I loved that they each had a distinct personality. They both learn to fight for what they believe in. I like books about independent women and they're great examples of capable feminine main characters. Sybilla isn't used to living in luxury, she's down to earth and really smart. Celeste is glamour personified, she's stylish without much effort and even though she has her insecurities she knows what she wants and she isn't afraid to go after it. It was fun to read about both women as well as their mothers. Robert is another kind of person altogether. He's unkind, brooding and dark and he's angry about the past. His character is interesting and he brings a lot of unexpected commotion. The personalities of the main characters are carefully created and together they bring a wonderfully complete family history.
Kate Forster's writing style is easy to read. Her story is fast-paced and set in different times and countries. I enjoyed the variety, the whirlwind of emotions and the complex family relationships. Love is an important element of the story and Kate Forster manages to form some amazing connections. The Last Will and Testament of Daphné Le Marche is a terrific book filled with spectacular developments and shocking revelations. I had loads of fun reading this novel and highly recommend it.
September 7, 2016
This is one of the loveliest books I have read in a long while. It is a family saga, although everyone in the family are estranged and unhappy at the start of the book. It begins with Daphne Le Marche calling her solicitor Edward Badger to her home to amend her will. She has thought long and hard about what she needs to do, and although it will cause some problems for her family, she makes the changes she thinks are right. That night she dies, she had not taken her medication, deciding it was time to go.
She had begun a business making face creams for women, and it had become a huge business, making her a very wealthy woman, but her creams and potions were no longer used by the young and the business was in decline. She leaves the business to her two grand daughters, Celeste, who lives in France, and Sibylla (Billie), who lives in Australia and who she has not seen for many years. They must either work together for a year and a day, or if neither of them will do that the company must be dissolved. After the year and a day us up they can take possession of a formula, which is held in the bank. Celeste's father Robert, a very unpleasant man, had assumed that the business would be his, and he had already arranged to sell it, and the formula, and become a very rich man, living the life he thought was his right. He becomes extremely unpleasant, and vicious at losing out, and does everything he can to destroy the company as the book progresses.
Celeste and Billie have led very different lives, and initially neither want the company. Circumstances persuade them to change their minds. With the able guidance of Edward, who worked solely for their grandmother and her Company, their different skills work well together. I admit to guessing quite early on what the formula would be, and I was pretty much correct.
At the start both women (they are both around 30) are dissatisfied with their lives and running the company and finding out all the family skeletons helps them to re-evaluate and know what is important to them. It is quite a journey!
The book jumps about, telling the forward story and the history of the family, from Daphne's first visit to Paris to sell some of the face creams and make some money. At first that seems a bit confusing, but you read the parts of the history you need to continue with the problems of the present, so this approach quickly becomes quite natural.
Kate Forster makes you care for these initially brittle people, and cheer them on when they make the right decisions. Edward Badger is an absolute sweetheart, he provides the strength that both girls need to lean on at times. So well written! So very well worth reading. The ending made me cry, not many books can do that!
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are entirely my own.
She had begun a business making face creams for women, and it had become a huge business, making her a very wealthy woman, but her creams and potions were no longer used by the young and the business was in decline. She leaves the business to her two grand daughters, Celeste, who lives in France, and Sibylla (Billie), who lives in Australia and who she has not seen for many years. They must either work together for a year and a day, or if neither of them will do that the company must be dissolved. After the year and a day us up they can take possession of a formula, which is held in the bank. Celeste's father Robert, a very unpleasant man, had assumed that the business would be his, and he had already arranged to sell it, and the formula, and become a very rich man, living the life he thought was his right. He becomes extremely unpleasant, and vicious at losing out, and does everything he can to destroy the company as the book progresses.
Celeste and Billie have led very different lives, and initially neither want the company. Circumstances persuade them to change their minds. With the able guidance of Edward, who worked solely for their grandmother and her Company, their different skills work well together. I admit to guessing quite early on what the formula would be, and I was pretty much correct.
At the start both women (they are both around 30) are dissatisfied with their lives and running the company and finding out all the family skeletons helps them to re-evaluate and know what is important to them. It is quite a journey!
The book jumps about, telling the forward story and the history of the family, from Daphne's first visit to Paris to sell some of the face creams and make some money. At first that seems a bit confusing, but you read the parts of the history you need to continue with the problems of the present, so this approach quickly becomes quite natural.
Kate Forster makes you care for these initially brittle people, and cheer them on when they make the right decisions. Edward Badger is an absolute sweetheart, he provides the strength that both girls need to lean on at times. So well written! So very well worth reading. The ending made me cry, not many books can do that!
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are entirely my own.
August 14, 2016
Daphne has a skill with making beauty products, when a chance takes her to Paris in the mid 1950s, a young village girls dream becomes a reality and her dreams becomes reality.
Sixty years later and everyone knows the name Daphne Le Marche, through the products she has created as well as the actions and affairs of her children and grandchildren.
With her time now at an end Daphne is determined to bring a fractured family together and surprises everyone with her last will and testament. No one could have predicted what her last requests would have been especially her family.
From the corners of the globe, cousins, mothers, daughters and fathers are thrown together to continue the Le Marche name and brand. Will the future be able to hold onto the past or will they be able to build on it and move forward.
This is a story of how family secrets can destroy a family as well as bring them together. Forster has created some characters that you want to get behind and hope they get their happy ending, like Camille and Billie. But with balance she creates, obnoxious pig-headed arrogance in Robert who I could happily have strangled. Others may have had more patience than me.
I particularly liked the dual narrative in this book, when we taken to Paris in the 1950s as events unfolded in the present day, we were slowly filled in on the past of Daphne Le Marche and what made her the formidable woman that she was right up to the last will that she wrote.
A lovely example of Kate Forster's writing which draws you with the characters and the story, the only small confusion I had was struggling to pin down where the modern-day story was taking place, it seemed to flit between too many places within a few pages. However, the characters kept you reading.
An engaging read.
Sixty years later and everyone knows the name Daphne Le Marche, through the products she has created as well as the actions and affairs of her children and grandchildren.
With her time now at an end Daphne is determined to bring a fractured family together and surprises everyone with her last will and testament. No one could have predicted what her last requests would have been especially her family.
From the corners of the globe, cousins, mothers, daughters and fathers are thrown together to continue the Le Marche name and brand. Will the future be able to hold onto the past or will they be able to build on it and move forward.
This is a story of how family secrets can destroy a family as well as bring them together. Forster has created some characters that you want to get behind and hope they get their happy ending, like Camille and Billie. But with balance she creates, obnoxious pig-headed arrogance in Robert who I could happily have strangled. Others may have had more patience than me.
I particularly liked the dual narrative in this book, when we taken to Paris in the 1950s as events unfolded in the present day, we were slowly filled in on the past of Daphne Le Marche and what made her the formidable woman that she was right up to the last will that she wrote.
A lovely example of Kate Forster's writing which draws you with the characters and the story, the only small confusion I had was struggling to pin down where the modern-day story was taking place, it seemed to flit between too many places within a few pages. However, the characters kept you reading.
An engaging read.
September 9, 2016
The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche is the first book I have read by Kate Forster and it proved quite a surprisingly entertaining read. The blurb sounded just up my street as I love books that have a dual time frame with secrets galore abounding. This book is set between London 2016 and Paris and Switzerland in the late 1950's and is a story of heartbreak, scandal and the importance of keeping it in the family. Well so says the tag-line but the more I read the more I agreed with that statement. The one problem I had straight from the start with this book was the cover, it really is in my opinion totally misleading as to the story inside and I think people who enjoy this genre would miss out on a really good story.
On first glance of the cover one would think this was the usual run of the mill chick-lit as you see the girl walking along with the Eiffel Tower in the background and you would be forgiven it's the normal boy meets girl, fall in love, problems and miscommunication ensue and then they get back together but that couldn't be further from what actually happens. I think the story deserves a better cover more in fitting with the themes of the story. It might be in keeping with the other covers from this author but with something different more people would be inclined to pick this book up. It would be such a shame if people missed out because they mistook this book for something else as within a few chapters I was gripped to the story and was pleasantly surprised by the events unfolding really was a story that I hadn't expected and I love discovering a new author to me that can write the way Kate Forster did throughout this book. It had a bit of everything the historical element, glamour, secrets, intrigue, rivalry, hatred, misunderstandings and romance. At times there was a slight swaying into what I would call the bonkbuster genre but it wasn't too in your face, I think the author realised that wasn't the overall tone she wanted to achieve with the book and pulled back a bit.
The prologue opens in 2016 as matriarch of the Le Marche family 80year old Daphne is counting down her last hours in her London apartment. She calls her trusted advisor/personal solicitor Edward Badger into the her room and adds a codicil to her will. This addition will affect all her family members and will cause jealousy, rivalry and upset along the way as some family members fight and show their true side while others work together to achieve one goal. After Daphne passes away the family presume the will will be straight forward and her son Robert will inherit the Le Marche cosmetics business but Daphne was a wise old woman and knowing all the secrets from the past she throws a spanner in the works. She leaves the business to her granddaughters Celeste and Sybilla (Billie) with a condition they must run the business for a year and a day together without any mention of selling. After that period the girls can discover a secret formula discovered by Daphne which could be revolutionary. The only problem is the Le Marche family have become so disjointed, there is a complete lack of unity and some family members are just out for themselves. Some are more evil than others but at the end of the day love, friendship and trust may just have the strength to prevail. I did think initially there were quite a lot of characters to get to know and to work out who you should be really focusing on but as the story developed they were all essential to the plot and if any had been left out the story would have been lacking in some small way.
Celeste is the daughter of Robert and grand daughter of Daphne. She lives in Paris and likes interior design but lacks any real focus in life and has the air of a party girl about her. Her love life recently has caused some national scandal and she is adrift and lacks focus in her life. She struck me initially as kind of an airhead (I hate using that word but that's how she came across) she had been pandered to all her life and could buy whatever she wanted. Yet behind this exterior is a girl who had been affected by events in her childhood and of course the separation of her parents. Celeste was definitely the character who underwent the biggest transformation throughout the book and I liked her by end whereas in the beginning she just seemed someone who breezed easily though life. Presented with the challenge by her grandmother it saw her stepping up and taking control of things and developing her business side alongside some surprising romance.
Billie lives in Australia and works in a lab and harbours a secret crush on a work mate. She has been estranged from her father's side of the family along with her mother Elisabeth for as long as she can remember. Her beloved father Henri left behind secrets and an impression of a man who deeply loved his family but was clearly tormented. I loved Billie she was strong and steady and although she battled initially with the news of her inheritance deep inside her she knew at the end of the day that family is family and no matter how much water has flowed under the bridge that family should stick together. I did think sparks would continuously fly between Celeste and Billie as they were poles apart from each other in every way. It was nice to see a bit of friction and tension as nothing should run smoothly when faced with obstacles and tangled webs from the past rearing their ugly heads. It was nice to see the development between the two girls as the story progressed.
I can't fail to mention the main female character as mentioned in the title Daphne, although she passes away very early on in the book her influence and power is felt throughout the story. But we also go back in time to the 1950's and discover how she went from a poor humble background in the French countryside to a woman who had a cosmetics empire. I loved dipping back in time in between reading of Billie and Celeste's efforts in the present to keep the company going despite Robert's evil ways. He really was the most repulsive, bitter most messed up character and his actions were horrible, deceitful and mean. Reading how Daphne went from nothing to success was interesting and the events ongoing in the past were just as twisted as those in the present. There were so many things that you thought were fact but then the author threw a spanner in the works and kept the reader on their toes and guessing. I felt around just past the halfway mark the story lost it's way slightly as if the author had done all the ground work but wasn't quite prepared to put the scenes in motion that would lead us to the climax of the story. I felt there needed to a bit more emphasis on Billie and Celeste's efforts to find ways to keep the company going instead there seemed to be a mish mash of scenes regarding hidden love and I never knew who was with you. Thankfully the slump passed and we began to race towards an exciting conclusion where everyone's final hand was revealed.
The question remains does the business continue and just what was the secret formula discovered by Daphne that promised so much? Do pick up this book up if you get the chance Kate Forster is a talented writer who I feel hit high and low notes with this book and has proved there is even better things to come from her in the future. Overall I really enjoyed The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche, there is a good solid storyline that keeps you guessing and characters that are not perfect but flawed and never dull. You wouldn't go wrong spending an afternoon in the company of the Le Merche family and I was so glad I gave this book a go.
On first glance of the cover one would think this was the usual run of the mill chick-lit as you see the girl walking along with the Eiffel Tower in the background and you would be forgiven it's the normal boy meets girl, fall in love, problems and miscommunication ensue and then they get back together but that couldn't be further from what actually happens. I think the story deserves a better cover more in fitting with the themes of the story. It might be in keeping with the other covers from this author but with something different more people would be inclined to pick this book up. It would be such a shame if people missed out because they mistook this book for something else as within a few chapters I was gripped to the story and was pleasantly surprised by the events unfolding really was a story that I hadn't expected and I love discovering a new author to me that can write the way Kate Forster did throughout this book. It had a bit of everything the historical element, glamour, secrets, intrigue, rivalry, hatred, misunderstandings and romance. At times there was a slight swaying into what I would call the bonkbuster genre but it wasn't too in your face, I think the author realised that wasn't the overall tone she wanted to achieve with the book and pulled back a bit.
The prologue opens in 2016 as matriarch of the Le Marche family 80year old Daphne is counting down her last hours in her London apartment. She calls her trusted advisor/personal solicitor Edward Badger into the her room and adds a codicil to her will. This addition will affect all her family members and will cause jealousy, rivalry and upset along the way as some family members fight and show their true side while others work together to achieve one goal. After Daphne passes away the family presume the will will be straight forward and her son Robert will inherit the Le Marche cosmetics business but Daphne was a wise old woman and knowing all the secrets from the past she throws a spanner in the works. She leaves the business to her granddaughters Celeste and Sybilla (Billie) with a condition they must run the business for a year and a day together without any mention of selling. After that period the girls can discover a secret formula discovered by Daphne which could be revolutionary. The only problem is the Le Marche family have become so disjointed, there is a complete lack of unity and some family members are just out for themselves. Some are more evil than others but at the end of the day love, friendship and trust may just have the strength to prevail. I did think initially there were quite a lot of characters to get to know and to work out who you should be really focusing on but as the story developed they were all essential to the plot and if any had been left out the story would have been lacking in some small way.
Celeste is the daughter of Robert and grand daughter of Daphne. She lives in Paris and likes interior design but lacks any real focus in life and has the air of a party girl about her. Her love life recently has caused some national scandal and she is adrift and lacks focus in her life. She struck me initially as kind of an airhead (I hate using that word but that's how she came across) she had been pandered to all her life and could buy whatever she wanted. Yet behind this exterior is a girl who had been affected by events in her childhood and of course the separation of her parents. Celeste was definitely the character who underwent the biggest transformation throughout the book and I liked her by end whereas in the beginning she just seemed someone who breezed easily though life. Presented with the challenge by her grandmother it saw her stepping up and taking control of things and developing her business side alongside some surprising romance.
Billie lives in Australia and works in a lab and harbours a secret crush on a work mate. She has been estranged from her father's side of the family along with her mother Elisabeth for as long as she can remember. Her beloved father Henri left behind secrets and an impression of a man who deeply loved his family but was clearly tormented. I loved Billie she was strong and steady and although she battled initially with the news of her inheritance deep inside her she knew at the end of the day that family is family and no matter how much water has flowed under the bridge that family should stick together. I did think sparks would continuously fly between Celeste and Billie as they were poles apart from each other in every way. It was nice to see a bit of friction and tension as nothing should run smoothly when faced with obstacles and tangled webs from the past rearing their ugly heads. It was nice to see the development between the two girls as the story progressed.
I can't fail to mention the main female character as mentioned in the title Daphne, although she passes away very early on in the book her influence and power is felt throughout the story. But we also go back in time to the 1950's and discover how she went from a poor humble background in the French countryside to a woman who had a cosmetics empire. I loved dipping back in time in between reading of Billie and Celeste's efforts in the present to keep the company going despite Robert's evil ways. He really was the most repulsive, bitter most messed up character and his actions were horrible, deceitful and mean. Reading how Daphne went from nothing to success was interesting and the events ongoing in the past were just as twisted as those in the present. There were so many things that you thought were fact but then the author threw a spanner in the works and kept the reader on their toes and guessing. I felt around just past the halfway mark the story lost it's way slightly as if the author had done all the ground work but wasn't quite prepared to put the scenes in motion that would lead us to the climax of the story. I felt there needed to a bit more emphasis on Billie and Celeste's efforts to find ways to keep the company going instead there seemed to be a mish mash of scenes regarding hidden love and I never knew who was with you. Thankfully the slump passed and we began to race towards an exciting conclusion where everyone's final hand was revealed.
The question remains does the business continue and just what was the secret formula discovered by Daphne that promised so much? Do pick up this book up if you get the chance Kate Forster is a talented writer who I feel hit high and low notes with this book and has proved there is even better things to come from her in the future. Overall I really enjoyed The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche, there is a good solid storyline that keeps you guessing and characters that are not perfect but flawed and never dull. You wouldn't go wrong spending an afternoon in the company of the Le Merche family and I was so glad I gave this book a go.
February 1, 2022
I enjoyed this book but it was definitely not a 5 star read. While I liked the character of Celeste and her story arc, Billie was extremely annoying and completely unlikeable. Her romance with her co-worker was entirely pointless, there was no tension, no mystery, nothing. I guess it’s realistic in the sense that many people have a romance where they have zero conflicts at the start, but in a novel it’s boring. The strange thing is that this romance could easily have had some conflict added, e.g. they could have begun dating before Billie found out about her family, and then had to deal with everything, etc. But no, it didn’t happen like that and I hated everything about this. Another problem was the supposed antagonist Robert, who read like a cartoon super-villain with no redeeming features, which was a shame as he had a lot to be angry about and could have easily been made more sympathetic while still being an arse… Finally, Daphne’s first lover was completely inconsistent. In good storytelling, it should be hinted at and foreshadowed if a character is not who they appear to be. This can be very subtle, of course, so that the reader is as surprised as the other characters when it comes out, but there should be some indication. There is none here. He is wonderful and generous and then turns around and is the worst of the worst with zero explanation…
So, all in all, I liked about half the story. I liked Celeste and her whole story arc. Even in the initial scenes, where she is seen as a flighty, shallow air-head, there are hints that there is more to her. Which goes to show that the author can do the foreshadowing that I described above but has chosen not to for some characters. The other part that I really liked was the romance between the young guy and the older woman (their names escape me for the moment…). Again, really well done. We can tell from the start that there is more to these two characters than initially meets the eye.
So, overall a fun read, but not too deep. Even with the problems I described above, it was enjoyable (apart from Billie, whom I really, really hated, but fortunately there was plenty of action that did not involve her).
So, all in all, I liked about half the story. I liked Celeste and her whole story arc. Even in the initial scenes, where she is seen as a flighty, shallow air-head, there are hints that there is more to her. Which goes to show that the author can do the foreshadowing that I described above but has chosen not to for some characters. The other part that I really liked was the romance between the young guy and the older woman (their names escape me for the moment…). Again, really well done. We can tell from the start that there is more to these two characters than initially meets the eye.
So, overall a fun read, but not too deep. Even with the problems I described above, it was enjoyable (apart from Billie, whom I really, really hated, but fortunately there was plenty of action that did not involve her).
September 28, 2017
Daphne le Marche, founder of a European cosmetics empire, dies in the first chapter of the book, and shocks everyone by leaving control of her company to her two granddaughters. The girls are strangers to each other, and neither is excited about the prospect of running the company. Can they work together and create a successful enterprise? Of will family baggage doom them to failure?
The story alternates between the past and the present, telling the story of Daphne's rise to prominence as well as the modern day tale of the granddaughters. I thought the shifts were well done, and each story enhanced the other, although I found Daphne's story to be more interesting than the modern day tale. There is a character for everyone here - the good, the bad, the (very) ugly, the lost, and the redeemable. It lost one star for the implausibility of some of the plot twists, but I found it worthwhile overall. I recommend this, and look forward to reading another book by this author.
The story alternates between the past and the present, telling the story of Daphne's rise to prominence as well as the modern day tale of the granddaughters. I thought the shifts were well done, and each story enhanced the other, although I found Daphne's story to be more interesting than the modern day tale. There is a character for everyone here - the good, the bad, the (very) ugly, the lost, and the redeemable. It lost one star for the implausibility of some of the plot twists, but I found it worthwhile overall. I recommend this, and look forward to reading another book by this author.
November 17, 2020
Daphne le Marche, matriach of an international cosmetics concern, is dying and needs to finalise her will. Much to the dismay of her greedy son, she leaves her business, assets, the bulk of her fortune, and most importantly, a secret formula, to her granddaughters. This creates a family row like no other.
This is a wonderful, fun and easy to read venture with elements of fashion, romance, mystery and family drama. The story switches between Daphne's past, and the present lives of the grandchildren Billie and Celeste. It's a wonderful light read, and a good edition to my holiday collection.
This is a wonderful, fun and easy to read venture with elements of fashion, romance, mystery and family drama. The story switches between Daphne's past, and the present lives of the grandchildren Billie and Celeste. It's a wonderful light read, and a good edition to my holiday collection.
May 17, 2025
Too many characters with far too many perspective changes. Waaaaaay too much smut for what I’m sure is meant to be considered a family drama? The insta-love from everyone, the lack of depth in any of the characters, the stilted dialogue. The cartoonishly villains (Giles and Robert) and then in the end there’s a paragraph on how Robert decides to be a decent father after reading ONE LETTER from his mother? Give me a break. It’s like this book wanted to make a comment on nature vs nurture but gave up. A very strange book that had no idea what it wanted to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 2, 2025Reminded me of the sex and shopping sagas of the 1980s. It has all the ingredients to make a great tv mini-series. Beauty, youth, rivalry ,love affairs, scandals and power dynamics.
The world knew Daphne Le Marche as the enigmatic head of a cosmetics empire; they didn’t know how she began and what her success has cost her. Now her heirs are about to find out far more than they expected. Kept me guessing!
The world knew Daphne Le Marche as the enigmatic head of a cosmetics empire; they didn’t know how she began and what her success has cost her. Now her heirs are about to find out far more than they expected. Kept me guessing!
August 15, 2020
Enjoyable read
I really enjoyed this book.
While it was full of all the normal things that you might find in a romantic novel, happy endings etcetera, it also had an interesting, no a really interesting, back story. This made it definitely a step up from the normal romantic novel.
The characters are believable.
I would definitely read this author again.
I really enjoyed this book.
While it was full of all the normal things that you might find in a romantic novel, happy endings etcetera, it also had an interesting, no a really interesting, back story. This made it definitely a step up from the normal romantic novel.
The characters are believable.
I would definitely read this author again.
June 14, 2020
Amazing.
Twists and turns. A book about how secrets can turn a family against each other and how loving someone and being loved can help mend cracks and fissures. Touching to the end and yes, I shed a tear.
Twists and turns. A book about how secrets can turn a family against each other and how loving someone and being loved can help mend cracks and fissures. Touching to the end and yes, I shed a tear.
July 7, 2023
this was so... it was.......... i cant even put into words.. if ur gonna read one of this authors books (idk why u would) read the OTHER ONE - the sisters. also strange also weird also predictable also just like what and how did this get published...
October 26, 2024
Well that was unexpected. A thoroughly enjoyable romp with romance, intrigue, and loads of family drama. While the ending was not unexpected, the journey there was, you will never guess! A fun read that will bring a smile and a few sentimental tears.
November 22, 2016
This was an entertaining read. Fast-paced, a good story, and well-written. An excellent escapist read, I'll be looking out for more of Ms Forster's books.
September 29, 2017
Did not finish- seemed to be very promising, until very graphic sex scenes started cropping up. Didn't add to the book in any way.
June 30, 2020
Felt way too rushed towards the end, very soap opera like. Loved the first half not so much the second!
August 19, 2020
Happy Ever After
The review said it was based on coco Chanel. Which makes me wonder who wrote the review 🥱
Easy read. Sunbed and sangria
The review said it was based on coco Chanel. Which makes me wonder who wrote the review 🥱
Easy read. Sunbed and sangria
April 9, 2021
Interesting
This book was a scrubby to start with but once used to how it was written it became more appealing. In the end I throughly enjoyed the book
This book was a scrubby to start with but once used to how it was written it became more appealing. In the end I throughly enjoyed the book
April 25, 2021
Predictable but beautiful. A great weekend read.
January 7, 2024
The complexities of family relationships are explored within the context of money, power, secrecy and sex. My rating would have been 4 stars were it not for the sex scenes.
May 3, 2025
Really enjoyed this book, nice easy ready.
September 12, 2016
"The Last Will and Testament of Daphne le Marche" is only my second book by Kate Forster - I've read and absolutely adored her "The Perfect Retreat". However, it is already some time ago that I've read this book so I went into her new release like I usually go for debut novels - without expectations but with great hopes. And let me tell you all, guys, that the book has everything that I am looking for in books and I loved every single page of it - it was a great read!
The story moves between the present and the past, but it is done in a very seamless, effortless way, and the more we got into the past, the more secrets were coming to the light - secrets that were able to destroy the whole family unless the family was strong enough to face the problems and the hidden sceletons. I loved both the past, and the present, it was incredibly great to see what happened and what made Daphne Le Marche the woman she became. The way the story alternated between Daphne's past life and the present worked brilliantly for this story.
Kate Forster has created some unforgettable characters in this story, characters that you loved or loved to hate and I truly had moments that I wanted to not only slap Robert, but perhaps strangle him. There were plenty of characters in the book but there was not a single moment that I felt confused or didn't know who is who. So we have Daphne, grandmother and mother, the head of the family; we have her two sons, Robert and Henri, both married and/or divorced, so there were also their wives, Matilde and Elisabeth, and their children Camille (who's dead), Celeste and Sibylla - Billie. Many of them but really, I felt immediately at home in their company. And yes, many of them, so there were many secrets and problems among them, many understatements and inaccuracies. The characters were so different to each other, they had so different personalities and led totally different lives and it was absolutely thrilling to see how they are brought together again and what happened next.
Daphne was such a wise woman and it broke my heart more than once seeing what she experienced in her life, but also I wanted to cheer her on and present her with a standing ovation seeing how she went from nothing to being a woman with a cosmetic empire. Her granddaughters proved that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The family become disjointed throughout the years and Daphne wanted to bring them together again - though it was not so easy! Celeste is the daughter of Robert and she is probably the one who underwent the biggest transformation in the story - at the beginning, to say that she was a bit unlikeable, would be an understatement, but I absolutely loved how she has changed. Billie lives in Australia, works in the lab and she adores her life, so moving to London because of her grandmother's will is not in her to - do list. However, Billie was not the one to give up easily, and I liked her from the very beginning, her being so strong and her standing firmly on her two feet. There couldn't be more difference between those two girls, suddenly thrown together into the family business, but it added so much spice to the story and made it even more colourful and not so predictable! You couldn't be sure if the girls go for the challenge in Daphne's will, and you couldn't be sure of the things running smoothly for them - the author has took care and added a twist and turn here and there and a friction of tension.
This book is brilliantly written, it just draws you in and I didn't want to put it down for a single moment, so immersed was I in the characters' lives, all the twists, turns and curveballs. It was an engaging story of heartbreak, secrets, scandals and family relationships. There was much more depth and darkness to it than I expected but it only made the reading much more thrilling and interesting to me. The author couldn't made my day in a better way as with this perfect blend of history, scandals, glamour, intrigue and wonderful romances. A story about challenges and overcoming problems and showing that at the end of the day it is a family that counts. The book has a very solid plot and it's very complex, it introduces us to characters full of flaws, but characters that are incredibly vivid, colourful and leading interesting lives. If you are in a need of a brilliant family saga, then do not hesitate, do not look further and treat yourself to "The Last Will and Testament of Daphne Le Marche" - I guarantee you are for a few hours of pure joy.
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
October 16, 2016
This book had me in the moment I started reading it. The characters came alive and I found myself cheering and weeping with them, celebrating and commiserating their achievements and decisions.
A great read that I can't recommend highly enough!!
A great read that I can't recommend highly enough!!
August 15, 2016
This book was an absolute delight. I don't know why but I expected something more light-hearted, chick-lit, probably because of the cover, but it was much more than that, set over the lifetime of the Daphne of the title, and her family - mainly her two grand-daughters - once she had died. The minute I started reading it I knew it was going to be one of those books that just drew you into the story immediately.
To set the scene, as it took me a little while to get my head around the relationships; Daphne is the matriarch who has just died and she had two sons - Robert and Henri. Robert was married to Matilde (now divorced) and had two daughters - Camille (now deceased) and Celeste. Henri (now deceased) was married to Elisabeth (now remarried to Gordon) and had one daughter, Sibylla - known as Billie.
Daphne decided to leave her skincare company to Celeste (who lived in France) and Billie (who lived in Australia), bypassing her remaining son Robert whom she had fallen out with, on the proviso that they both moved to London and ran her company together for a year and a day before they could even think about selling it.
This was obviously a shock to both girls, especially Billie. She had no real recollection of her Father's family as her Mother had nothing to do with them once he died, hating them and poisoning her daughter's feelings for them, and she changed their name from Le Marche to just March. Billie knew nothing about this and so it was all a big shock realising who her Father's family, and her family, was.
Celeste was a spoiled brat who had everything handed to her all her life, didn't work and was having an affair with a married man, whilst Billie worked hard for everything she got so throwing them both together to run the company was interesting!
The story alternated between Daphne's life and the current storyline after her death and worked really well. Billie was 'normal' anyway, but Celeste's character certainly developed for the better as the story went on and she realised she needed to take responsibility for her life and stop playing around. There were a few trials and tribulations to sort out as the story went on, mainly involving Robert - horrible man - and a few skeletons came out of the closet involving the family too.
This was one of those books that I didn't want to put down as I kept wanting to know what happened next, the storyline just drew you in and it never flagged at all throughout the whole book. One of my favourite books this year.
To set the scene, as it took me a little while to get my head around the relationships; Daphne is the matriarch who has just died and she had two sons - Robert and Henri. Robert was married to Matilde (now divorced) and had two daughters - Camille (now deceased) and Celeste. Henri (now deceased) was married to Elisabeth (now remarried to Gordon) and had one daughter, Sibylla - known as Billie.
Daphne decided to leave her skincare company to Celeste (who lived in France) and Billie (who lived in Australia), bypassing her remaining son Robert whom she had fallen out with, on the proviso that they both moved to London and ran her company together for a year and a day before they could even think about selling it.
This was obviously a shock to both girls, especially Billie. She had no real recollection of her Father's family as her Mother had nothing to do with them once he died, hating them and poisoning her daughter's feelings for them, and she changed their name from Le Marche to just March. Billie knew nothing about this and so it was all a big shock realising who her Father's family, and her family, was.
Celeste was a spoiled brat who had everything handed to her all her life, didn't work and was having an affair with a married man, whilst Billie worked hard for everything she got so throwing them both together to run the company was interesting!
The story alternated between Daphne's life and the current storyline after her death and worked really well. Billie was 'normal' anyway, but Celeste's character certainly developed for the better as the story went on and she realised she needed to take responsibility for her life and stop playing around. There were a few trials and tribulations to sort out as the story went on, mainly involving Robert - horrible man - and a few skeletons came out of the closet involving the family too.
This was one of those books that I didn't want to put down as I kept wanting to know what happened next, the storyline just drew you in and it never flagged at all throughout the whole book. One of my favourite books this year.
October 4, 2016
I will admit that the great cover and an intriguing title was the initial draw with this book but thankfully it also had the content to match. It's a great family saga of unspoken secrets, family jealousies and a cast of characters that are a mix of like-able and sympathetic, versus the spoilt and detestable via a couple that are redeemable.
The starting point for the story is Daphne Le Marche, matriarch and head of renowned Le Marche cosmetics, making amendments to her will. Amendments that will have dramatic repercussions as she by-passes her son Robert to bequeath the company to her grand-daughters. The magnitude of this action and the reasoning behind it becomes apparent as the family history is gradually laid bare.
The story is told in alternating time frames revealing the story of Daphne's rise to fame from country herbalist to Parisian Grande Dame. Interspersed we have the modern day machinations of the detestable Robert to regain his inheritance from his spoilt and initially unpleasant daughter Celeste and her somewhat gauche cousin Billie (Sybilla).
If I'm honest I enjoyed Daphne's story the most. She was strong, determined, capable and like-able, qualities which Robert failed to inherit. Her story had me hooked and kept me intrigued when I occasionally lost patience with the contemporary world of wealth and privilege. However as the scandals and secrets tumbled out of the (very large) closet it was impossible not to be hooked. It was never clear whether the past would totally fracture the newly emerging relationships and friendships or whether it would destroy them forever.
The book offered far more than the cover might suggest, it had a depth I hadn't foreseen and was at times quite dark and unpleasant (or more precisely several of the men were). It was also good to see realistic female characters that responded positively to life changing challenges.
Overall an engaging family saga ideal for curling up with.
I received a review copy via NetGalley in return for an honest review
The starting point for the story is Daphne Le Marche, matriarch and head of renowned Le Marche cosmetics, making amendments to her will. Amendments that will have dramatic repercussions as she by-passes her son Robert to bequeath the company to her grand-daughters. The magnitude of this action and the reasoning behind it becomes apparent as the family history is gradually laid bare.
The story is told in alternating time frames revealing the story of Daphne's rise to fame from country herbalist to Parisian Grande Dame. Interspersed we have the modern day machinations of the detestable Robert to regain his inheritance from his spoilt and initially unpleasant daughter Celeste and her somewhat gauche cousin Billie (Sybilla).
If I'm honest I enjoyed Daphne's story the most. She was strong, determined, capable and like-able, qualities which Robert failed to inherit. Her story had me hooked and kept me intrigued when I occasionally lost patience with the contemporary world of wealth and privilege. However as the scandals and secrets tumbled out of the (very large) closet it was impossible not to be hooked. It was never clear whether the past would totally fracture the newly emerging relationships and friendships or whether it would destroy them forever.
The book offered far more than the cover might suggest, it had a depth I hadn't foreseen and was at times quite dark and unpleasant (or more precisely several of the men were). It was also good to see realistic female characters that responded positively to life changing challenges.
Overall an engaging family saga ideal for curling up with.
I received a review copy via NetGalley in return for an honest review
September 5, 2016
It is 2016 in London and Daphne Le Marche, surrounded by the splendour of her years of hard work, is dying. Having built up her cosmetic business from nothing, Daphne knows the meaning of hard work. But she didn't achieve her goals without sacrifice and great loss, and because she knows her time is near, she is determined to try and fix her fragmented family - her bitter and angry son Robert, her fragile and vulnerable granddaughter Celeste, her estranged granddaughter Sibylla in Australia, and both of her daughter-in-laws. And when her last will and testament is read out by her trusted young solicitor, Edward, their lives will never be the same again. Can two young women, with plenty of baggage and heartache, find a way to work together and make the Le Marche name great again? And when the sins of the past become known, can a family that has been torn apart by secrets, find their way through the hurt, to find love and the true meaning of family?
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF DAPHNE LE MARCHE by Kate Forster is one of those books that sucks you in from the very first sentence and keeps you hooked to the very end. Switching from the past to present, we get to learn everything about the Le Marche family and empire, and I really enjoyed seeing their lives through different eyes. The characters are rich in detail, and there is no stone left unturned, with regards to their wants, hopes, dreams, and fears. This is a family that is fractured and vicious at times, with Robert determined to bring down his daughter and niece. But through it all, there is always the possibility of love and happiness, if everyone is willing to take a chance. THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF DAPHNE LE MARCHE by Kate Forster is a beautifully written, emotional romance about life, love, regrets and family, and I highly recommend it to fiction fans everywhere.
*Book received from Netgalley.com
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF DAPHNE LE MARCHE by Kate Forster is one of those books that sucks you in from the very first sentence and keeps you hooked to the very end. Switching from the past to present, we get to learn everything about the Le Marche family and empire, and I really enjoyed seeing their lives through different eyes. The characters are rich in detail, and there is no stone left unturned, with regards to their wants, hopes, dreams, and fears. This is a family that is fractured and vicious at times, with Robert determined to bring down his daughter and niece. But through it all, there is always the possibility of love and happiness, if everyone is willing to take a chance. THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF DAPHNE LE MARCHE by Kate Forster is a beautifully written, emotional romance about life, love, regrets and family, and I highly recommend it to fiction fans everywhere.
*Book received from Netgalley.com
September 20, 2016
Firstly thank you to HQ for providing me with a review copy of this title via Netgalley. This is the first book of Kate's that I've read and when better to start than on a ten hour flight to Las Vegas. This kept me hooked for the first 3-4 hours of the flight. I was so engrossed that I didn't stop until I'd turned the last (ebook) page.
The story is all about Daphne and her family. She's the head of her family and her family's business but as the title would suggest she is ready to hand the business over to someone else. In a twist that no one in the family expected, estranged cousins Cecile and Billy are brought back together.
The story flips between Daphne's younger years and how life goes on in the aftermath of her passing. The different family members all have their turn at narrating the story which really gives you a feel for how different they all are as individuals and how differently they view their own and others places and roles within the family. The two cousins, Ceclie and Billy are reluctant to follow their grandmother's chosen paths for them, and Cecile's father, Robert, is even less happy with their new path than the girls.
Robert is one of those characters that you just hate from start to finish. In all honesty he deserved exactly what happened to him in the novel and I was glad even Daphne could see her son was the way he was. When more is revealed throughout the story you begin to understand exactly where Robert takes his nature and character from.
The story is all about issues families face in their day to day life. Rivalries and bitterness, companionship and love. Each chapter of this novel revealed something different about the family keeping you on your toes until the very end. I will definitely be reading more of Kate's novels in the future!
The story is all about Daphne and her family. She's the head of her family and her family's business but as the title would suggest she is ready to hand the business over to someone else. In a twist that no one in the family expected, estranged cousins Cecile and Billy are brought back together.
The story flips between Daphne's younger years and how life goes on in the aftermath of her passing. The different family members all have their turn at narrating the story which really gives you a feel for how different they all are as individuals and how differently they view their own and others places and roles within the family. The two cousins, Ceclie and Billy are reluctant to follow their grandmother's chosen paths for them, and Cecile's father, Robert, is even less happy with their new path than the girls.
Robert is one of those characters that you just hate from start to finish. In all honesty he deserved exactly what happened to him in the novel and I was glad even Daphne could see her son was the way he was. When more is revealed throughout the story you begin to understand exactly where Robert takes his nature and character from.
The story is all about issues families face in their day to day life. Rivalries and bitterness, companionship and love. Each chapter of this novel revealed something different about the family keeping you on your toes until the very end. I will definitely be reading more of Kate's novels in the future!
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