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Cavendon Hall #4
Secrets of Cavendon
Secrets of Cavendon (Cavendon Hall 4) [Paperback] Bradford, Barbara Taylor
400 pages, Paperback
First published November 21, 2017
674 people are currently reading
2185 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Taylor Bradford
267 books1,935 followersBarbara Taylor Bradford was a British-American best-selling novelist. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and sold over 30 million copies worldwide. She wrote 40 novels, all bestsellers in the United Kingdom and the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
March 7, 2018
You know the conversation you have with a 4 year old at a “tea party”? This whole book was written that way. It was boring and not a single character with anything interesting going on. Gave up half way through.
Unless you’re already seriously invested in this author or storyline, don’t bother.
Unless you’re already seriously invested in this author or storyline, don’t bother.
December 17, 2017
If you’ve read others in the series, definitely make time for this one. More family drama and secrets of the Swann’s & Inghams
November 12, 2017
Enjoyed the previous books in the series but this one seemed to be trying to hard to hold my attention. I gave up.
September 19, 2017
This is my first review for an ARC received through Netgalley and I was very excited to read the book. I remember reading the author's books a couple of years back and I recollect them as feel good romance novels. I was expecting a similar kind of experience from this book as well.
Even though I haven't read the other books in this series, it was easy to get into the details and figure out most of the characters within the first couple of chapters. Though the story is set immediately after WWII, most of the characters are women from the English upper class who are working in various different professions and fairly independent for the time period; this was the best part of the book. However, the book doesn't offer much in terms of plot or conflict. Everyone is gorgeous and good looking, most of them are very good people, most of the romances are love at first sight, all problems get solved by applying the first idea that comes to the character's minds. Even the suspense and murder mystery was quite expected. Everything just feels too easy.
On the whole, this book is good for a breezy read when you have no expectations or for anyone who likes the Cavendon Hall series. It just wasn't for me.
Even though I haven't read the other books in this series, it was easy to get into the details and figure out most of the characters within the first couple of chapters. Though the story is set immediately after WWII, most of the characters are women from the English upper class who are working in various different professions and fairly independent for the time period; this was the best part of the book. However, the book doesn't offer much in terms of plot or conflict. Everyone is gorgeous and good looking, most of them are very good people, most of the romances are love at first sight, all problems get solved by applying the first idea that comes to the character's minds. Even the suspense and murder mystery was quite expected. Everything just feels too easy.
On the whole, this book is good for a breezy read when you have no expectations or for anyone who likes the Cavendon Hall series. It just wasn't for me.
November 25, 2017
I have read and loved Barbara Taylor Bradford for years. So this book took me by surprise and not it a good way. I'm not sure if it was me, this book, or if we've just come to the end of a long friendship, but I just didn't care for this book at all.
There were too many characters to keep track of and most of them, try as they might otherwise, came across as bland and aloof. Their many stories didn't interest me. Everything just seemed forced or fake to me.
Again, this could be all on my shoulders, but I spent far more hours than I should have reading this book, hoping the old spark and grace of BTB's skill would enthrall me again. It never did.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the privilege of reading one of their e-ARCs. I wish it had worked out better for both of us!!
There were too many characters to keep track of and most of them, try as they might otherwise, came across as bland and aloof. Their many stories didn't interest me. Everything just seemed forced or fake to me.
Again, this could be all on my shoulders, but I spent far more hours than I should have reading this book, hoping the old spark and grace of BTB's skill would enthrall me again. It never did.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me the privilege of reading one of their e-ARCs. I wish it had worked out better for both of us!!
November 24, 2017
I love reading Barbara Taylor Bradford's books. She is just a tremendous author.
Cavendon Hall has it's many secrets that's for sure. The Swanns and the Ingrams have very high family values and bonds that keeps the family together and tight-knit. When tragedy strikes, in the death of a beloved aunt due to a con artist trying to incorporate himself into the family, the family just becomes closer.
The Swanns and the Ingrams of Cavendon do all in their power to maintain their status quo in society.
I won this ARC copy through the Goodreads giveaway.
I know you will enjoy this book.
Cavendon Hall has it's many secrets that's for sure. The Swanns and the Ingrams have very high family values and bonds that keeps the family together and tight-knit. When tragedy strikes, in the death of a beloved aunt due to a con artist trying to incorporate himself into the family, the family just becomes closer.
The Swanns and the Ingrams of Cavendon do all in their power to maintain their status quo in society.
I won this ARC copy through the Goodreads giveaway.
I know you will enjoy this book.
November 29, 2017
My Review of “Secrets of Cavendon” by Barbara Taylor Bradford, St. Martins Press, November 2017
“Secrets of Cavendon” by Barbara Taylor Bradford is an engaging and entertaining novel. The genres for this book are Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. This is a book that is part of The Cavendon Chronicles( part of a series), but I was able to keep up with the story and characters. This series involves the Inghams and the Swanns, their friendship, and marriages. The blurb says,””The Secrets of Cavendon picks up in the summer of 1949, with a new generation of the estate at the forefront of the scandal and intrigue.”
The author describes the characters as complex, and complicated. Some are strong, and courageous, and loyal, and there are secrets, betrayals and danger . My favorite character is Cecily, who is motivated to keep Cavendon running smoothly. Cavendon is an opulent and gorgeous estate with gardens and beautiful exquisite architecture. Cavendon provides the perfect landscape for creative endeavors. Cecily realizes that between the taxes and the cost of keeping Cavendon, something must be done. Another character that I admire is Aunt Charlotte who seems to provide wonderful advice and has the means to implement them. The women are hardworking and capable. I love seeing how the women in the family bond together.
There are secrets of both the Inghams and Swanns recorded in diaries and books throughout the history of the Cavendon. Is this enough of a reason for betrayal or even murder?
I love that the author shows the importance of family, loyalty, love, faith, hope and determination. I also find that the “sisterhood ” of women helping support one another through various crisis is admirable. I would highly recommend this book for readers of Women’s fiction. I would also suggest reading the other books in the proper order. I would like to thank Barbara Taylor Bradford, and St. Martins Press and for an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.
“Secrets of Cavendon” by Barbara Taylor Bradford is an engaging and entertaining novel. The genres for this book are Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. This is a book that is part of The Cavendon Chronicles( part of a series), but I was able to keep up with the story and characters. This series involves the Inghams and the Swanns, their friendship, and marriages. The blurb says,””The Secrets of Cavendon picks up in the summer of 1949, with a new generation of the estate at the forefront of the scandal and intrigue.”
The author describes the characters as complex, and complicated. Some are strong, and courageous, and loyal, and there are secrets, betrayals and danger . My favorite character is Cecily, who is motivated to keep Cavendon running smoothly. Cavendon is an opulent and gorgeous estate with gardens and beautiful exquisite architecture. Cavendon provides the perfect landscape for creative endeavors. Cecily realizes that between the taxes and the cost of keeping Cavendon, something must be done. Another character that I admire is Aunt Charlotte who seems to provide wonderful advice and has the means to implement them. The women are hardworking and capable. I love seeing how the women in the family bond together.
There are secrets of both the Inghams and Swanns recorded in diaries and books throughout the history of the Cavendon. Is this enough of a reason for betrayal or even murder?
I love that the author shows the importance of family, loyalty, love, faith, hope and determination. I also find that the “sisterhood ” of women helping support one another through various crisis is admirable. I would highly recommend this book for readers of Women’s fiction. I would also suggest reading the other books in the proper order. I would like to thank Barbara Taylor Bradford, and St. Martins Press and for an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.
October 20, 2017
Although I have not read anything previously by Barbara Taylor Bradford, I am aware that she has written many books and series. This particular book, Secrets of Cavendon, is the fourth in the Cavendon Hall series, and I have not read the first three. That having been admitted, I accepted that there were many names of characters in the book that I did not know -- which I might have known had I read the first three books in the series - or if I had read even ONE of the first three books.
Nevertheless, the main characters in Secrets of Cavendon were fairly easy to follow in the plot: Victoria and Alicia. Other main characters from previous books were presented in such ways as to be obvious they were important. So the reader does not have any difficulty reading and enjoying the book. At least, I found it to be an easy and fast read and not complicated in the least.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Nevertheless, the main characters in Secrets of Cavendon were fairly easy to follow in the plot: Victoria and Alicia. Other main characters from previous books were presented in such ways as to be obvious they were important. So the reader does not have any difficulty reading and enjoying the book. At least, I found it to be an easy and fast read and not complicated in the least.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
February 19, 2022
Beautiful
November 19, 2017
A good historical romance always makes for a good read- and reading the blurb The Secrets of Cavendon, that was exactly was it promised. Packed with everything from romance and the history of the Ingham and Swann families on the Cavendon estate to the realities of being an aristocratic family in the lean times following World War Two, I picked it up with enthusiasm.
What I got back was a mixed bag. Confession: I have never read any of Barbara Taylor Bradford's other Cavendon books, but they cover the time between the early Edwardian period to World War Two, charting the lives of the Ingham and Swann families living at Cavendon, the Ingham's ancestral stately home. It's easy to tell that this book is part of a series, as it frequently mentions the history of the families, dropping lots of tantalising details about the lives of Cavendon's occupants and the effect that their past, and now-dead characters such as DeLacy Ingham- which piqued my interest no end and added to the Downton Abbey-esque feel of the book- it also goes even further back, exploring the intertwined histories of the two families who make up the main part of the book.
Though that was interesting enough, it did affect the plot slightly- and that was where this book, for me, started to lose interest. Though Barbara Taylor Bradford does a great job in exploring the complexities of life in the post-war period, charting Cecily Ingham's attempts to keep Cavendon afloat in an era of heavy taxation and a diminished aristocracy, nothing much happens in this story until a shocking murder- which is more than a third of the way into the book.
That would be fine if the characters in themselves were exciting enough to carry the story. Unfortunately, with the exception of Cecily, the protagonist of previous novels, they're not. Plot points that should be important, like Alicia, the young actress and niece of Cecily, brutally splitting from the man she's having an affair with, are brushed over in a few sentences, and I never felt the characters had distinct personalities of their own: to me, at least, they all appeared to look the same (gorgeous) and act the same (extremely polite and supportive of their other family members). It's a shame, because this story does have some very interesting bones, and if some more effort had been investing into building up the characters and giving them believable personalities then I would have been hooked.
Overall, then, this book was a bit disappointing. Though it's true that perhaps reading Barbara Taylor Bradford's other novels first would have set me up better, and invested me more in the storyline and people in it, I felt that the characters themselves let down what could have been a great book. Hopefully next time the story will be a bit more exciting!
What I got back was a mixed bag. Confession: I have never read any of Barbara Taylor Bradford's other Cavendon books, but they cover the time between the early Edwardian period to World War Two, charting the lives of the Ingham and Swann families living at Cavendon, the Ingham's ancestral stately home. It's easy to tell that this book is part of a series, as it frequently mentions the history of the families, dropping lots of tantalising details about the lives of Cavendon's occupants and the effect that their past, and now-dead characters such as DeLacy Ingham- which piqued my interest no end and added to the Downton Abbey-esque feel of the book- it also goes even further back, exploring the intertwined histories of the two families who make up the main part of the book.
Though that was interesting enough, it did affect the plot slightly- and that was where this book, for me, started to lose interest. Though Barbara Taylor Bradford does a great job in exploring the complexities of life in the post-war period, charting Cecily Ingham's attempts to keep Cavendon afloat in an era of heavy taxation and a diminished aristocracy, nothing much happens in this story until a shocking murder- which is more than a third of the way into the book.
That would be fine if the characters in themselves were exciting enough to carry the story. Unfortunately, with the exception of Cecily, the protagonist of previous novels, they're not. Plot points that should be important, like Alicia, the young actress and niece of Cecily, brutally splitting from the man she's having an affair with, are brushed over in a few sentences, and I never felt the characters had distinct personalities of their own: to me, at least, they all appeared to look the same (gorgeous) and act the same (extremely polite and supportive of their other family members). It's a shame, because this story does have some very interesting bones, and if some more effort had been investing into building up the characters and giving them believable personalities then I would have been hooked.
Overall, then, this book was a bit disappointing. Though it's true that perhaps reading Barbara Taylor Bradford's other novels first would have set me up better, and invested me more in the storyline and people in it, I felt that the characters themselves let down what could have been a great book. Hopefully next time the story will be a bit more exciting!
December 24, 2018
SERIE CAVENDON HALL n. 4
Ecco finalmente ci siamo. Questo libro mi è proprio piaciuto. Un bel mix tra vecchi e nuovi personaggi.
Questa saga familiare, mi sta entrando nel cuore, nonostante sia così esageratemnte romantica, e volte un pò superficiale. Però mi piace proprio per questo. Non è pretenziosa. E' dolce e nonostante ciò tratta argomenti molto forti.
Siamo partiti dal 1913 per arrivare agli anni 50. I ragazzini dei primi libri sono cresciuti, sposati e adesso sono alle prese con nipoti e crisi del dopoguerra.
A parte l'inizio che ho trovato un pò noiosetto, in quanto ha dovuto introdurre appunto nipoti, ormai cresciuti e nuovi personaggi, questo libro mi è proprio piaciuto.
Ho adorato Miles e Cecily. E tutte le storie hanno avuto un bell'intreccio. C'è stato anche un piccolo giallo da risolvere...più o meno, che mi ha tenuto incollata alle pagine. Gli ultimi capitoli si divorano!
Conclusione dolce amara. Adesso voglio subito il prossimo.
Sono proprio contenta di aver iniziato questa serie. anche se all'iniozi la trovato troppo tanto fumo e niente arrosto, devo dire che mi ha conquistato. C'è sempre stata la voglia di sapere come andava a finire.
Per le romantiche e per chi ha voglia di evadere. E' uno stacca cervello perfetto ambientato a Londra e nei dintorni. Tra conti, duchi e servitori che ormai sono decaduti, ma che mantengono la loro dignità e si adeguano ai tempi che stanno cambiando.
Ecco finalmente ci siamo. Questo libro mi è proprio piaciuto. Un bel mix tra vecchi e nuovi personaggi.
Questa saga familiare, mi sta entrando nel cuore, nonostante sia così esageratemnte romantica, e volte un pò superficiale. Però mi piace proprio per questo. Non è pretenziosa. E' dolce e nonostante ciò tratta argomenti molto forti.
Siamo partiti dal 1913 per arrivare agli anni 50. I ragazzini dei primi libri sono cresciuti, sposati e adesso sono alle prese con nipoti e crisi del dopoguerra.
A parte l'inizio che ho trovato un pò noiosetto, in quanto ha dovuto introdurre appunto nipoti, ormai cresciuti e nuovi personaggi, questo libro mi è proprio piaciuto.
Ho adorato Miles e Cecily. E tutte le storie hanno avuto un bell'intreccio. C'è stato anche un piccolo giallo da risolvere...più o meno, che mi ha tenuto incollata alle pagine. Gli ultimi capitoli si divorano!
Conclusione dolce amara. Adesso voglio subito il prossimo.
Sono proprio contenta di aver iniziato questa serie. anche se all'iniozi la trovato troppo tanto fumo e niente arrosto, devo dire che mi ha conquistato. C'è sempre stata la voglia di sapere come andava a finire.
Per le romantiche e per chi ha voglia di evadere. E' uno stacca cervello perfetto ambientato a Londra e nei dintorni. Tra conti, duchi e servitori che ormai sono decaduti, ma che mantengono la loro dignità e si adeguano ai tempi che stanno cambiando.
November 4, 2017
I received Secrets of Cavendon as a Goodreads giveaway. The book was the fourth one in a series. Since I had not read the other three books, it seemed like a lot of characters were being introduced-this may be a challenge for some readers to keep up with. In addition, I found the story did not get interesting until about halfway through the novel.
The author, Barbara Taylor Bradford, did a good job describing the financial woes for the English elite trying to maintain their large country estates, particularly after WWII. I also appreciated how well the two families who lived at Cavendon Hall supported one another emotionally and financially.
The author, Barbara Taylor Bradford, did a good job describing the financial woes for the English elite trying to maintain their large country estates, particularly after WWII. I also appreciated how well the two families who lived at Cavendon Hall supported one another emotionally and financially.
March 5, 2018
Finally finished. Took a while to get into it. Slow pace. Lots of characters, many I had forgotten about from the preceding installment. last half of book better. I enjoyed the finish. Several loose threads at the end, e.g Security of the Swann records. A new "secret" at the end that will likely be a big part of the next book.
November 27, 2018
J'ai trouvé ce quatrième tome un peu trop étriqué. Beaucoup de personnage, beaucoup d'histoire dans lesquelles on ne va pas assez en profondeur. Chaque événement n'était abordé qu'en surface quand j'aurais aimé en savoir plus. C'est le livre que j'ai moins aimé de la série.
December 15, 2019
Really I would give this book 3.5. I so wish that Good Reads would allow this.
It certainly improved in the third book in the series but, in my opinion, failed as it completely airbrushed out most of the original characters, in particular the 3 remaining Dees.
It certainly improved in the third book in the series but, in my opinion, failed as it completely airbrushed out most of the original characters, in particular the 3 remaining Dees.
February 1, 2019
A sweeping story of two families bound by loyalty and friendship struggling to adapt to the myriad changes England is undergoing in the years following World War II. A satisfying conclusion to the Cavendon series.
November 11, 2017
Thanks to Goodreads and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.
I'm a big fan of her books and have read all but Cavendon Luck which is #3 in this series. I wished I would have read Cavendon Luck. A whole chunk was missing for me and why it's better to read them in order.
I enjoyed this family generational book but it wasn't as good as the first two in my opinion. Not much going on except for a murder.
I'm a big fan of her books and have read all but Cavendon Luck which is #3 in this series. I wished I would have read Cavendon Luck. A whole chunk was missing for me and why it's better to read them in order.
I enjoyed this family generational book but it wasn't as good as the first two in my opinion. Not much going on except for a murder.
January 19, 2018
Thank you to the lovely Lori at Get Red Pr for sending me Secrets of Cavendon for review! And also to St. Martin's Press for the gorgeous hardcover (you know the way to my heart). There's nothing better than giant hardcover!
I was quite excited to receive this novel since I absolutely obsess over historical fiction novels but was a little apprehensive that since it's from a series, I wouldn't know what was a going on. Fortunately, Bradford revisits story lines and summarizes previous happenings so it wasn't a struggle to figure out what was going on. This book takes place right after WWII and revolves around the Ingham and Swann families and the Cavendon estate and honestly seems like a recipe made just for me.
The first 130 odd pages read like a tedious story being told to you by your posh great Aunt who wears mink stoles even in Summer. When I say 'story' I mean more of an overview of her ancestry spanning decades and decades. It took an entire day for me to get into the story and then to top it off, there are what feels like 100 different story lines going at one time (more like 25) and there's no real plot line to follow. A quick note on Cecily Swann Ingham our main storyline for this section of the book: she is literally the most boring character I've ever read. I could not get invested in her story at all.
In part three, it starts to get a bit more interesting with the arrival of Adam Fennell, a movie producer who is incredibly creepy and conniving, so we get a bit of action when he starts his process of securing Alicia Stanton as his wife so he can be a part of Cavendon. Finally something interesting! And then soon after, we meet Christopher Longdon, a wounded war hero who falls in love with the talented Victoria when she is assigned to photograph him for a spread in a magazine. If this was the entire novel, it would have been much more enjoyable, but so much of this 388 page tome is weighed down by the family secrets that have NO importance on any storyline.
All in all, this book is all over the place (which is why my review is all over the place! I cannot collect my thoughts.). It is a the equivalent of trying to stuff your sleeping bag back into the original case. There was no plot, no tension, no conflict to resolve. When there was a conflict with Adam Fennell, no one took care of it. Despite (SPOILER ALERT) knowing he was a murderer, his name wasn't really Adam Fennell, and he tried to rape Alicia after she broke off their engagement, and yet, no one did a thing. He was later shot by some random person in the mob weeks after they had any contact with him. (And Alicia's brother KNEW he tried to rape her and didn't go back in the house and beat the tar out of him. Instead they paid him $4,000 so he wouldn't tell people Alicia was conceived out of wedlock and their father isn't her biological father.)
A few more disjointed thoughts:
The characters were all bland and one dimensional.
Too much of the story was told through tedious dialogue.
Most of the story seemed overly forced and rushed and any conflict was solved immediately with no downtime or repercussions.
Perhaps if you are accustomed to BTB and her Cavendon tales or you like slow every day life soap operas, you might enjoy this.
My rating 2/5.
I was quite excited to receive this novel since I absolutely obsess over historical fiction novels but was a little apprehensive that since it's from a series, I wouldn't know what was a going on. Fortunately, Bradford revisits story lines and summarizes previous happenings so it wasn't a struggle to figure out what was going on. This book takes place right after WWII and revolves around the Ingham and Swann families and the Cavendon estate and honestly seems like a recipe made just for me.
The first 130 odd pages read like a tedious story being told to you by your posh great Aunt who wears mink stoles even in Summer. When I say 'story' I mean more of an overview of her ancestry spanning decades and decades. It took an entire day for me to get into the story and then to top it off, there are what feels like 100 different story lines going at one time (more like 25) and there's no real plot line to follow. A quick note on Cecily Swann Ingham our main storyline for this section of the book: she is literally the most boring character I've ever read. I could not get invested in her story at all.
In part three, it starts to get a bit more interesting with the arrival of Adam Fennell, a movie producer who is incredibly creepy and conniving, so we get a bit of action when he starts his process of securing Alicia Stanton as his wife so he can be a part of Cavendon. Finally something interesting! And then soon after, we meet Christopher Longdon, a wounded war hero who falls in love with the talented Victoria when she is assigned to photograph him for a spread in a magazine. If this was the entire novel, it would have been much more enjoyable, but so much of this 388 page tome is weighed down by the family secrets that have NO importance on any storyline.
All in all, this book is all over the place (which is why my review is all over the place! I cannot collect my thoughts.). It is a the equivalent of trying to stuff your sleeping bag back into the original case. There was no plot, no tension, no conflict to resolve. When there was a conflict with Adam Fennell, no one took care of it. Despite (SPOILER ALERT) knowing he was a murderer, his name wasn't really Adam Fennell, and he tried to rape Alicia after she broke off their engagement, and yet, no one did a thing. He was later shot by some random person in the mob weeks after they had any contact with him. (And Alicia's brother KNEW he tried to rape her and didn't go back in the house and beat the tar out of him. Instead they paid him $4,000 so he wouldn't tell people Alicia was conceived out of wedlock and their father isn't her biological father.)
A few more disjointed thoughts:
The characters were all bland and one dimensional.
Too much of the story was told through tedious dialogue.
Most of the story seemed overly forced and rushed and any conflict was solved immediately with no downtime or repercussions.
Perhaps if you are accustomed to BTB and her Cavendon tales or you like slow every day life soap operas, you might enjoy this.
My rating 2/5.
December 28, 2017
I have read all of the books in the Cavendon series and I really enjoyed 2 of them. The 3rd book in the series, however, I was seriously disappointed in. The writing was terrible. Now I'm on the 4th book, page 64 to be exact and I'm not sure I'm going to keep reading it because it's like reading something a 15 year old wrote. There are constant references to the past in every single conversation. Someone always reminding someone else of what happened with a smile slapped on their face. I also now find it annoying that every one is so perfectly talented and beautiful and rich. Also, just as I predicted, everyone seems to have a magical solution to all the finciacial problems and everyone is so positive about pitching in. It's just ridiculous. I can count on one hand the number of times I haven't finish a book. This book is about to be one of them because I can't take how bad the writing is.
March 10, 2018
This is the fourth edition in the Ingham-Swann saga. Cecily Swann Ingham is fighting to save both Cavendon and her couture business. The family has been funneling money into the Hall for years, but it looks like a losing battle. So Cecily uses her business acumen to devise clever ways to increase their income to keep the family home, such as public tours, much to the dismay of her sister-in-law. This alone would be an interesting plot, but then the book veers off to the story of her niece, movie actress Alicia Stanton, who becomes involved with an opportunist movie producer who brings tragedy to the family while plotting to insert himself into the nobility. I have read all of the books in this series, and this one was the hardest to get through. It was interesting enough for me to keep going, but it seemed to take forever. I think this series may have "jumped the shark."
December 30, 2017
I do so love reading Barbara Taylor Bradford's books. Secrets is great! Leading to another one coming with the new babies!
March 3, 2018
Can I claim this book as “read” if I threw in the towel 3/4 of the way? Snoozerama from an author I like.
June 28, 2018
Originally posted on rightupyouraleigh.wordpress.com
I went through several stages with Secrets of Cavendon by Barbara Taylor Bradford. At first I was a little unsure, but I was excited to read a historical fiction book. Recently I have been really into post-war England, and since this took place in 1949 it was perfect. I probably had too high hopes for this book, and when it fell short I was severely disappointed.
Most of the problems can be explained away by the fact that this is the third book in a series, and not a stand-alone novel apparently. This is the third time that this has happened to me. Honestly if something has "a novel" on the cover, I am going to think it is a novel, not part of a series. Evidently I haven't read the other books in the series to see if they have the same characters and storyline, but one of the biggest problems I had were the characters. There were just so many of them. All of these names that I had to keep up and the relationships they had with the main family. I did like the characters. I loved the attention paid to the stories of the women and how they had interesting jobs such as photographer and journalist. Additionally, the history of the family was interesting, so the book was good on that front, but along with the many characters came the many point-of-view switches. There were just way too many and I didn't like it because the points of view weren't limited to the family (which was already large enough) but also people outside of the family.
I also had problems with the actual story. The biggest problem was that it didn't feel historical. Yes, the war was mentioned a lot, but the setting didn't seem like Britain in the 1950's. There was nothing that really distinguished the time. The writing could also seem awkward at times, which I mostly noticed towards the beginning. Towards the end I either became accustomed to it or the writing wasn't as awkward. There were also large chunks of time that were just skipped over. The characters mentioned what happened, but I would have much rather seen those missing parts then some of the parts that weren't skipped over. The plot also didn't seem that involved. There was a murder, but even that seemed sort of glanced over. Nothing much was happening until the end, and then everything just seemed rushed and explained away. I guess this is a historical romance book due to the content, but I would have liked the book to focus more on the depression Elise felt, for example, then explaining it away as she just needs a man.
I did enjoy the quotes that separated different sections in the book. I don't really understand what they had to do with the books, and the titles of the different sections also didn't make that much sense, but the quotes were enjoyable.
Overall, I don't see how this book is a best-seller. It was just plain ok. I wasn't very impressed at all.
I went through several stages with Secrets of Cavendon by Barbara Taylor Bradford. At first I was a little unsure, but I was excited to read a historical fiction book. Recently I have been really into post-war England, and since this took place in 1949 it was perfect. I probably had too high hopes for this book, and when it fell short I was severely disappointed.
Most of the problems can be explained away by the fact that this is the third book in a series, and not a stand-alone novel apparently. This is the third time that this has happened to me. Honestly if something has "a novel" on the cover, I am going to think it is a novel, not part of a series. Evidently I haven't read the other books in the series to see if they have the same characters and storyline, but one of the biggest problems I had were the characters. There were just so many of them. All of these names that I had to keep up and the relationships they had with the main family. I did like the characters. I loved the attention paid to the stories of the women and how they had interesting jobs such as photographer and journalist. Additionally, the history of the family was interesting, so the book was good on that front, but along with the many characters came the many point-of-view switches. There were just way too many and I didn't like it because the points of view weren't limited to the family (which was already large enough) but also people outside of the family.
I also had problems with the actual story. The biggest problem was that it didn't feel historical. Yes, the war was mentioned a lot, but the setting didn't seem like Britain in the 1950's. There was nothing that really distinguished the time. The writing could also seem awkward at times, which I mostly noticed towards the beginning. Towards the end I either became accustomed to it or the writing wasn't as awkward. There were also large chunks of time that were just skipped over. The characters mentioned what happened, but I would have much rather seen those missing parts then some of the parts that weren't skipped over. The plot also didn't seem that involved. There was a murder, but even that seemed sort of glanced over. Nothing much was happening until the end, and then everything just seemed rushed and explained away. I guess this is a historical romance book due to the content, but I would have liked the book to focus more on the depression Elise felt, for example, then explaining it away as she just needs a man.
I did enjoy the quotes that separated different sections in the book. I don't really understand what they had to do with the books, and the titles of the different sections also didn't make that much sense, but the quotes were enjoyable.
Overall, I don't see how this book is a best-seller. It was just plain ok. I wasn't very impressed at all.
November 22, 2017
1949
Cecily Swann Ingham, the Seventh Countess of Mowbray, loves Cavendon Hall but wonders if they will be able to continue to support it. Cecily is married to Miles, the love of her life and the Earl of mowbray. Her brother, Harry, is the estate manager. The first Earl was Humphrey Ingham and he and his friend, James Swann, were business partners. Together, they made Cavendon Hall the glorious place it is today.
Now that the war is over, Cavendon and the entire country is facing loss due to a lack of money. Some members of the family have opened some commercial shops and offer house tours which has brought in much needed money. Cecily’s sister-in-law, Daphne, does not agree with her or her own sisters about this. Daphne wants the place to stay as it has always been. The family is also concerned that Daphne might be ill with Parkinson’s Disease.
More responsibility falls on Cecily’s shoulders and as the Countess, she needs to spend more time at Cavendon and not at her exclusive clothing shop in London. But she has plans to update her summer collection and call it a garden collection. This will hopefully make her designs more modern.
The story follows more new characters that are a part of the large Cavendon clan and their adventures in life.
This is the fourth novel in the Cavendon saga and I must say that it’s time to end it. The first book was delightful and that should have been the end of it. Unfortunately, as with many series, they become boring as they drag out more events with characters. I find it a shame when that happens. It’s like a TV series that has "stayed too long at the fair” and becomes embarrassingly boring. The author is a great talent, but I hope she will now begin a whole new story and put paid to this one.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Cecily Swann Ingham, the Seventh Countess of Mowbray, loves Cavendon Hall but wonders if they will be able to continue to support it. Cecily is married to Miles, the love of her life and the Earl of mowbray. Her brother, Harry, is the estate manager. The first Earl was Humphrey Ingham and he and his friend, James Swann, were business partners. Together, they made Cavendon Hall the glorious place it is today.
Now that the war is over, Cavendon and the entire country is facing loss due to a lack of money. Some members of the family have opened some commercial shops and offer house tours which has brought in much needed money. Cecily’s sister-in-law, Daphne, does not agree with her or her own sisters about this. Daphne wants the place to stay as it has always been. The family is also concerned that Daphne might be ill with Parkinson’s Disease.
More responsibility falls on Cecily’s shoulders and as the Countess, she needs to spend more time at Cavendon and not at her exclusive clothing shop in London. But she has plans to update her summer collection and call it a garden collection. This will hopefully make her designs more modern.
The story follows more new characters that are a part of the large Cavendon clan and their adventures in life.
This is the fourth novel in the Cavendon saga and I must say that it’s time to end it. The first book was delightful and that should have been the end of it. Unfortunately, as with many series, they become boring as they drag out more events with characters. I find it a shame when that happens. It’s like a TV series that has "stayed too long at the fair” and becomes embarrassingly boring. The author is a great talent, but I hope she will now begin a whole new story and put paid to this one.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 15, 2018
Reading this book made me wish that I had read the first three in the series. Not because I was lost though. Bradford does an exquisite job of weaving in the detailed relationship histories between the characters so that I never felt lost. I wish I had read the first three books because I enjoyed this one so much.
Everything is beautiful in this book: the people, the places, the clothes. Anyone who enjoyed the Downton Abbey television series would be enthralled by a book such as this with its complex family ties and attempts to save a crumbling family estate. I found the concept of the Ingrams and the Swanns very interesting as well.
I’ve seen reviews that mention there are too many characters. I’m not sure how the earlier Cavendon books were but I felt that it had about the normal amount of characters for a historical saga series, such as something you might see from Ken Follett.
There are pieces of the book though that were wanting. The dialogue could be a bit stuffy at times. I understand the time period and all but these are family members, which would breed a bit of familiarity. Also, the major conflict of the book (a murder) happens in the last third of the book without much action happening before then. Maybe if one of the romances had been a bit more touch-and-go, that could have added some movement to the storyline. I also would have loved some more cultural context to the story, some back-and-forth between younger and older generations about how times are changing. That also could have been a good source of conflict.
All in all, I enjoyed the read. Who doesn’t love a happy romantic ending?
Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin’s Press, and the author Barbara Taylor Bradford of the opportunity to do so.
Everything is beautiful in this book: the people, the places, the clothes. Anyone who enjoyed the Downton Abbey television series would be enthralled by a book such as this with its complex family ties and attempts to save a crumbling family estate. I found the concept of the Ingrams and the Swanns very interesting as well.
I’ve seen reviews that mention there are too many characters. I’m not sure how the earlier Cavendon books were but I felt that it had about the normal amount of characters for a historical saga series, such as something you might see from Ken Follett.
There are pieces of the book though that were wanting. The dialogue could be a bit stuffy at times. I understand the time period and all but these are family members, which would breed a bit of familiarity. Also, the major conflict of the book (a murder) happens in the last third of the book without much action happening before then. Maybe if one of the romances had been a bit more touch-and-go, that could have added some movement to the storyline. I also would have loved some more cultural context to the story, some back-and-forth between younger and older generations about how times are changing. That also could have been a good source of conflict.
All in all, I enjoyed the read. Who doesn’t love a happy romantic ending?
Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin’s Press, and the author Barbara Taylor Bradford of the opportunity to do so.
February 2, 2018
The book is set in Cavendon Hall just after World War II and the estate is in financial difficulties, struggling to survive in the current climate. In addition there is scandal afoot. The aristocratic family are the Inghams but the Swanns have lived on the estate for many generations and their family histories have become firmly entwined. In these times of adversity they need to pull together to save both the estate and their reputations. Think Downton Abbey and you will get the general idea of where this book is coming from.
There are secrets, mysteries and rivalries aplenty, many of them hidden in the depths of the families’ histories. There is even a murder. What more can you ask for? I thought the characters were, on the whole, interesting and were certainly diverse enough to keep my attention.
My only slight niggle was that there are a daunting number of characters who threaten to overwhelm the reader just on account of their sheer volume. The book was the fourth in a series and I hadn’t read the first three. Although the book works perfectly well as a stand-alone novel, I suspect I would have found it easier to identify and differentiate the individual people if I was already familiar with them from the previous books. Most of the time it doesn’t really matter who’s who and who’s related to who so it’s easier just to gloss over the names and get on with the story. Sometimes it does matter though.
Although I have been aware of the author’s name for years I have never actually read one of her books. I thought this was a really good read and would certainly read another one if I was looking for a fairly unchallenging, but very enjoyable book (which I often am).
There are secrets, mysteries and rivalries aplenty, many of them hidden in the depths of the families’ histories. There is even a murder. What more can you ask for? I thought the characters were, on the whole, interesting and were certainly diverse enough to keep my attention.
My only slight niggle was that there are a daunting number of characters who threaten to overwhelm the reader just on account of their sheer volume. The book was the fourth in a series and I hadn’t read the first three. Although the book works perfectly well as a stand-alone novel, I suspect I would have found it easier to identify and differentiate the individual people if I was already familiar with them from the previous books. Most of the time it doesn’t really matter who’s who and who’s related to who so it’s easier just to gloss over the names and get on with the story. Sometimes it does matter though.
Although I have been aware of the author’s name for years I have never actually read one of her books. I thought this was a really good read and would certainly read another one if I was looking for a fairly unchallenging, but very enjoyable book (which I often am).
December 4, 2017
Secrets of Cavendon by Barbara Taylor Bradford is fourth book in Cavendon Chronicles Series. It is June in 1949 at Cavendon Hall. Countess Cecily Swann Ingham is working to make the property profitable and for them to be able to pay the upcoming taxes. Lady Daphne objects to how commercial Cavendon Hall is becoming and decamps with her husband to Switzerland. Lady Cecily must now stay on at Cavendon Hall full time while managing her business, Cecily Swann Couture long-distance which has been struggling since the war ended. Lady Cecily decides to create a new collection using the gardens at Cavendon Hall as inspiration. Alicia Ingham Stanton is starting a new film and is taken by Adam Fennell, the associate producer. Can Adam be the love of her life? Victoria is busy doing photo shoots and is intrigued by her latest subject, Christopher Langdon. Lady Daphne’s family is worried about her health, but she is evading their questions. Life is never dull for the Swann and Ingham families. Come see how they are faring in Secrets of Cavendon.
Secrets of Cavendon did not feel as if it was written by Barbara Taylor Bradford. It lacked focus and jumped around from character to character (and kept introducing more people). The last 15% of the book was the most interesting. I was never pulled into the story the way I was with other works by this author (A Woman of Substance for example). Before embarking on Secrets of Cavendon, you need to have read the first three books in the Cavendon Chronicles Series (or you will be utterly lost in the beginning). The story dwells on Lady Cecily trying to keep the estate afloat. There is a lack of action until the end of the book when a murder occurs. Most of the characters lack depth, and they are all very similar (and felt fake). Many of them are superficial and do not add to the story. It is easy to predict how the book will turn out (it is expected). I found many of the same details repeated throughout the story (like filler) along with information from the previous books in the series. I do feel that Barbara Taylor Bradford accurately portrayed the financial woes that befell many great estates after World War II. Otherwise, I was not impressed with Secrets of Cavendon. I will hesitate before picking up another book by this author (she used to be one of my favorites).
Secrets of Cavendon did not feel as if it was written by Barbara Taylor Bradford. It lacked focus and jumped around from character to character (and kept introducing more people). The last 15% of the book was the most interesting. I was never pulled into the story the way I was with other works by this author (A Woman of Substance for example). Before embarking on Secrets of Cavendon, you need to have read the first three books in the Cavendon Chronicles Series (or you will be utterly lost in the beginning). The story dwells on Lady Cecily trying to keep the estate afloat. There is a lack of action until the end of the book when a murder occurs. Most of the characters lack depth, and they are all very similar (and felt fake). Many of them are superficial and do not add to the story. It is easy to predict how the book will turn out (it is expected). I found many of the same details repeated throughout the story (like filler) along with information from the previous books in the series. I do feel that Barbara Taylor Bradford accurately portrayed the financial woes that befell many great estates after World War II. Otherwise, I was not impressed with Secrets of Cavendon. I will hesitate before picking up another book by this author (she used to be one of my favorites).
January 10, 2018
Secrets of Cavendon by Barbara Taylor Bradford is an engaging historical read. It's similar to Downton Abbey. A big enormous place that is getting harder to keep up with...and families that have poured their money into keeping it alive. Then, there's the secrets and history that are revealed. Plus, it too is set after the war. I enjoyed reading this novel.
As with all wars, things change. Drastic changes affect the Ingham and the Swann families. Finding ways to manage the finances and ways of the heart intrigued my attention. There was a lot of backstory and made this hard to get into quickly. I couldn't move between pages that fast, because I needed to learn what was going on and who was involved with what.
The history of Cavendon is explored on these pages. Major themes of betrayal, romance, and heartbreak are incorporated into the tale. Some characters I enjoyed following more so than others. One of the ones I loved was Aunt Charlotte. She and Cecily Ingham had personalities that just drew me more into the plot. But others were not as captivating as them. There is a bit of mystery to follow here. Other than that it's mostly a drama novel. So much drama within this book.
Overall, I was intrigued but bored. It has a historical slash women's fiction genre to it. The strong characters were the females. The males seemed to be left behind mostly in the background of the story. Secrets of the Cavendon is good, but could have been better.
I received this copy from St. Martin's Press. This is my voluntary review.
As with all wars, things change. Drastic changes affect the Ingham and the Swann families. Finding ways to manage the finances and ways of the heart intrigued my attention. There was a lot of backstory and made this hard to get into quickly. I couldn't move between pages that fast, because I needed to learn what was going on and who was involved with what.
The history of Cavendon is explored on these pages. Major themes of betrayal, romance, and heartbreak are incorporated into the tale. Some characters I enjoyed following more so than others. One of the ones I loved was Aunt Charlotte. She and Cecily Ingham had personalities that just drew me more into the plot. But others were not as captivating as them. There is a bit of mystery to follow here. Other than that it's mostly a drama novel. So much drama within this book.
Overall, I was intrigued but bored. It has a historical slash women's fiction genre to it. The strong characters were the females. The males seemed to be left behind mostly in the background of the story. Secrets of the Cavendon is good, but could have been better.
I received this copy from St. Martin's Press. This is my voluntary review.
July 24, 2024
This is the fourth and final book in the Cavendon Hall series that covers the intrigues of the aristocratic Ingham family and the Swanns that have served them for generations. This novel opens in the summer of 1949. Things at Cavendon have changed since the end of World War II. A new generation has taken the reins and with it comes romance, heartbreak, and intrigue.
For readers who have enjoyed the earlier installments in this series, this is a great way to round out the series and learn more about the fates and lives of the Ingham and Swann families. I did appreciate, for example, getting to see the final years of Daphne, who was a major character in the first book. It was also interesting to see Cavendon Hall change with the times and how the family solved the problem of how to support such a grand estate as times changed.
However, the writing in this is just poor. The dialogue is particularly stilted in nature and the author awkwardly shoehorns information the reader needs into the dialogue rather than more naturally including it in the story. I also felt like the plot felt particularly thin in this one, especially compared to the great crisis of Daphne's storyline in book one. This felt plodding and forced, and not like the author's heart was really in it or that she particularly had more to share, but just felt like she ought to carry on with the story. I'm glad I finished this series and was gratified to see how the characters' stories ended up, but this was not a stellar or particularly memorable read.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
For readers who have enjoyed the earlier installments in this series, this is a great way to round out the series and learn more about the fates and lives of the Ingham and Swann families. I did appreciate, for example, getting to see the final years of Daphne, who was a major character in the first book. It was also interesting to see Cavendon Hall change with the times and how the family solved the problem of how to support such a grand estate as times changed.
However, the writing in this is just poor. The dialogue is particularly stilted in nature and the author awkwardly shoehorns information the reader needs into the dialogue rather than more naturally including it in the story. I also felt like the plot felt particularly thin in this one, especially compared to the great crisis of Daphne's storyline in book one. This felt plodding and forced, and not like the author's heart was really in it or that she particularly had more to share, but just felt like she ought to carry on with the story. I'm glad I finished this series and was gratified to see how the characters' stories ended up, but this was not a stellar or particularly memorable read.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
December 20, 2017
The Secrets of Cavendon is the perfect title for the fourth book in this series. In this book there are so many secrets revealed. As each secret is revealed the story falls together more and more. The reasons for different characters reactions, positions in the family, and reasons for living as they do start to make sense as the readers learn more and more about this amazing family.
I have read the first three books and found that while not necessary it did help to understand that characters better. I liked that this book featured Victoria and Alicia. The Secrets of Cavendon is these two amazing ladies story. They both are strong, faithful, family women who have grown up knowing that they have to stand up for themselves but have amazing family support behind them also.
There were times that all the characters, especially those who were not prominently featured in this book, were hard to keep track of. I am not sure I know exactly who is who, who was married to whom, and who’s children where who’s. But the current characters were easy to follow and enjoy their stories.
I must mention the cover. It is elegant, beautiful, and perfect for the Cavendon family. The cover portrays everything that the family is. While you can pick up any of the 4 books in this series and enjoy them I would recommend picking them up in order and enjoying getting to know this family.
I have read the first three books and found that while not necessary it did help to understand that characters better. I liked that this book featured Victoria and Alicia. The Secrets of Cavendon is these two amazing ladies story. They both are strong, faithful, family women who have grown up knowing that they have to stand up for themselves but have amazing family support behind them also.
There were times that all the characters, especially those who were not prominently featured in this book, were hard to keep track of. I am not sure I know exactly who is who, who was married to whom, and who’s children where who’s. But the current characters were easy to follow and enjoy their stories.
I must mention the cover. It is elegant, beautiful, and perfect for the Cavendon family. The cover portrays everything that the family is. While you can pick up any of the 4 books in this series and enjoy them I would recommend picking them up in order and enjoying getting to know this family.
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