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The Palace of Lost Dreams
Hyderabad, India. 1798.
Beatrice Sinclair, a grieving young widow facing financial destitution, has travelled from Hampshire to Hyderabad to visit her brother, an employee of the British East India Company. There, she is astonished to discover that he has married a beautiful Indian girl and lives with his wife's extended family in a dilapidated palace, the Jahanara Mahal - famed for the theft of a fabled diamond many years ago.
As an outsider in an unfamiliar world, Bee faces many challenges - not least of all building a new and meaningful life after the heartbreak she has endured. Meanwhile the French and British forces become locked in a battle over India's riches, and matters are complicated further by the presence of the dashing Harry Wyndam: a maverick ex-soldier and suspected spy.
With rebellion in the air, Bee must decide where her loyalties lie . . .
Beatrice Sinclair, a grieving young widow facing financial destitution, has travelled from Hampshire to Hyderabad to visit her brother, an employee of the British East India Company. There, she is astonished to discover that he has married a beautiful Indian girl and lives with his wife's extended family in a dilapidated palace, the Jahanara Mahal - famed for the theft of a fabled diamond many years ago.
As an outsider in an unfamiliar world, Bee faces many challenges - not least of all building a new and meaningful life after the heartbreak she has endured. Meanwhile the French and British forces become locked in a battle over India's riches, and matters are complicated further by the presence of the dashing Harry Wyndam: a maverick ex-soldier and suspected spy.
With rebellion in the air, Bee must decide where her loyalties lie . . .
368 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2018
About the author
Charlotte Betts
20 books183 followersCharlotte Betts discovered a passion for writing after her five children had grown up and left her in peace. Demanding careers in hotel design and property force her to be inventive in finding time to write but she has achieved seven novels in eight years. One of her short stories was published in Scribble and others short-listed by Writers’ News and Real Writers’. She has won first prize in five short story competitions and wrote a regular column on interior design for The Maidenhead Advertiser for two years. She is a member of WordWatchers http://www.wordwatchers.net/ and the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 21, 2026
What a wonderful story, I'd start reading it all over again now!!!
A story of rebirth and a love story. Personal and political intrigue inspired by real events and real people. A fascinating oriental setting, a large cast of well-drawn characters with their various facets, and a breathtaking ending with an unexpected and unpredictable twist.
I adored the protagonist and the young man of her dreams; I liked them completely, and the only thing that might take away from the score is that I would have liked their love story to be more prominent and more deeply described. If the kisses and love scenes had been just a little longer and more intense, the book would have been perfect for me, and I would have given it a 6th gold star!
Before analyzing every aspect of the novel, here is
THE PLOT IN BRIEF:
After the devastating loss of her husband and staring down the barrel of total financial ruin, young Beatrice Sinclair packed her bags and left Hampshire behind. Her destination? The vibrant, unfamiliar heat of Hyderabad, where her brother is stationed with the British East India Company.
But upon arrival, Bee finds her world tilted on its axis. Her brother hasn’t just adapted to life in India—he has fallen in love and married into a local family. She soon finds herself moving into the Jahanara Mahal, a crumbling, atmospheric palace that is whispered to be the site of a legendary diamond heist from decades past.
Trying to find her footing in such an exotic new home is hard enough, but Bee is also struggling to heal her own broken heart. As she navigates this whirlwind of new customs and family dynamics, the political waters start to boil. With the French and British empires locked in a fierce tug-of-war for India’s wealth, Bee’s life becomes even more tangled when she meets Harry Wyndam—a charming, unpredictable former soldier who is whispered to be a spy.
---- *********** ------MY THOUGHTS:
__ THE MAIN CHARACTERS AND THE LOVE STORY
Harry and Bee knew each other as children, when she and her brother also lived in India. The book begins with a scene back in time in which Bee, her younger brother Ralph, and Harry sneak into and explore the Palace of Jahanara Mahal, searching for the legendary stolen jewel, the Rose of Golconda, which Harry seems not only fascinated by, but almost obsessed with. The children's games already reveal a certain fondness and affection between Harry and Bee, but that very same day the two siblings are forcibly taken back to England by their mother, and our two favorites will meet again only 24 years later.
When they see each other again, despite her initial embarrassment, he speaks to her as if they had parted the day before. They both remember their childhood and their adventures; they like each other, but neither of them crosses the threshold of friendly intimacy.
THE MAIN CHARACTER : BEE _ The entire story is told in the first person by Bee, who throughout the narrative adds her thoughts, her disappointments and defeats, her fears, but also her hopes and new experiences that inevitably raise expectations.
We see her grow from passively accepting that there's nothing left for her to creating a future for herself in a new place, following her own ideas to fit into a context, not only doing her part, but creating a project whose realization will involve many other lives.
I like Bee because she's a positive character, but not perfect. We see her fragility, her weaknesses, but we also see her great willpower and how she tries to fight against adversity and the narrow-minded views of others.
We see how she opposes the male vision of the "weak and incapable woman" and we see how she is able to draw other Indian women, who until then had only known submission to their husbands' will, into this belief of strength.
Bee brings the modernity of controlling one's destiny through commitment and work. We see her suffer, get angry, and get back up after every fall, and despite everything, we never see her as presumptuous; she's simply a girl we can identify with.
HARRY _ An English father and a French mother, Harry seems to have blended perfectly into the Indian world since he was a child. Even as an adult, a young father and widower of a young Indian noblewoman, he collaborates with the British forces, but lives his personal life with his Indian family.
What I like about Harry is that, unlike Ralph, Bee's younger brother, he is open-minded and never places limits on women, nor does he judge them as incapable or stupid (unlike Ralph, who, despite being English, had the manners of the men of the time, whose wives were kept away from politics and business). Quite the opposite. He encourages Bee, lets her know he supports her ideas, and when he criticizes her, he does so constructively, helping her understand where she was going wrong in her relationships with women from a different culture.
Harry is also a tender and playful father, handsome and very adventurous, which makes him even more fascinating not only in Bee's eyes, but also in ours.
THEIR STORY made me fall in love because, although it unfolds in the book in just a few scenes, a few kisses, and a magical night of love, described in broad terms and very briefly, the tension of their falling in love is evident in Bee's stories. His intense gazes, her beating heart, her desire to be kissed, his stolen and impulsive kiss, her desire to see each other again as soon as possible during the days apart when he's on a mission, the scenes of family life they both share with his son and with other members of his and her brother's family... even before they've kissed, Harry and Bee, along with Jay, are already a family; even before they're together, Harry is always there to support her, watching her from afar, following her with his gaze, protecting her.
Bee has no experience with men except for her brief marriage to an older Englishman, but she doesn't need instructions... their hearts speak to each other through emotion, and despite the devious schemes of a rival, their love is stronger.
The ending is beautiful and sweet. I can't say more to avoid spoilers, but the ending is beautiful (though I repeat: I really wish the author had given it a few more pages and described it in more depth).
__ SIDE CHARACTERS:
If Bee and Harry make my heart skip a beat, know that Charlotte Betts has also done a monumental job with the secondary characters.
No one is there to simply be an extra; each is a crucial piece in understanding this complex world.
The most fascinating contrast is undoubtedly that between the women and men in the book. On the one hand, there's the almost irritating obtuseness of Ralph (Bee's brother): he perfectly embodies the British man of the time, convinced that women should not touch politics or business. On the other, we are overwhelmed by the impact of the female characters. There's the majestic power and strength of character of Jahanara Begum, the lady of the palace; the protective sweetness of Leela, who loves Ralph despite his flaws; and the combative and angry spirit of Lakshmi, which will keep you constantly on the edge of your seat.
And what about the embroidery workshop? The bickering, rivalries, and dynamics among the embroiderers provide a breathtaking glimpse into everyday life.
Balancing the tension are the spontaneity and overwhelming vivacity of little Jay, Harry's son, and the caring severity of his aunt Sangita, which imbue the novel with an intimate and sweet sense of "family."
—> There are many characters, and I admit I was a bit confused at first, especially because of the term "Begum" following the names of noble women (it actually meant "lady of high society or of the Nizam's court"). But once you get into the swing of things, you'll realize that every single character is essential to painting the chiaroscuro of late-18th-century Hyderabad.
A FASCINATING SETTING :
One thing that truly captivated me about this book is Charlotte Betts's extraordinary skill in depicting the setting and scenes through all the senses.
The author has an incredible ability to transport the reader to a place so distant in time and, in my case, so profoundly different from my own culture, given that I'm Italian.
As I read, I could almost sense the vibrant warmth of India, through the descriptions of the intense aromas of spices, the scents of oils, and the foul odors of muddy ditches, the vivid colors of the fabrics, their silky touch and lightness on the skin. I felt the allure of the architectural grandeur of luxurious palaces, rich with arabesque inlays and jewels embedded everywhere, in stark contrast to the cracks in the walls and the dust on the precious chandeliers.
That exotic and magnetic atmosphere, yet also full of contrasts and dangers, was matched by the contrasting climate: first scorching hot, muggy, and almost suffocating, then humid and dangerous with heavy monsoon rains.
I was enraptured by the Jahanara Mahal, with its decadent charm and its secrets, and it represents, in a certain sense, the third protagonist of the story, a truly magical character who witnessed the joys and sorrows of the colors that inhabit it.
If the Jahanara Mahal is a fictional place, the architectural beauties described by the author are real. I can confirm this by searching online for another palace mentioned, the majestic "Chowmahalla Palace", where Bee is invited by the wives of the Nizzam (ruler of the Muslim monarchs who ruled the State of Hyderabad from 1719 to 1948).
Another vivid and engaging description is that of the bazaar where Bee and Lakshmi repeatedly go to buy precious fabrics, haggling over the price with one of the vendors.
Please, don't think for a moment that all these vivid and detailed descriptions will weigh down the plot; on the contrary, they are what gave the scene its authenticity and made me feel truly involved in the entire story.
__HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS and REAL HISTORICAL FIGURES:
But the beauty of this novel also lies in the way fiction connects to real history. Against the backdrop of Bee's life, an immense and ruthless political chessboard unfolds. It's 1798, and India is a powder keg: the British and French empires are fighting tooth and nail for control and the riches of the territory, and the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad finds itself right in the middle of the storm.
The author is brilliant at weaving the plot by inserting real historical figures who are continually mentioned or who cross paths with our protagonists.
---> There's James Achilles Kirkpatrick, the British Resident, who finds himself managing a colossal network of espionage and diplomacy.
---> And then there's the charming and brilliant John Malcolm, who arrives like a hurricane to lend Kirkpatrick a helping hand and neutralize the French threat.
---> On the other side of the fence, tensions are sky-high: after the mysterious death of the beloved French general Raymond, Jean-Pierre Piron, a fervent Jacobin who hates the English and threatens to upset the balance of power, takes command.
All these intrigues, military camps, and spy games (like the extremely risky plan our Harry will be drawn into ) aren't fictional: they really happened that autumn of 1798! Even the secondary characters revolving around Bee and Ralph are multifaceted, and each of them helps you understand how complex and fascinating life was in that part of the world.
The historical notes at the end of the book and the glossary are truly helpful!
AUTHOR'S LITERARY LICENSES:
Historical novels often alter elements of reality to make the plot more romantic or mysterious, and through my online research, I discovered that the author drew inspiration for her characters from three real historical figures who lived a century earlier or almost a century later.
- Jahanara Begum was a princess who lived 100 years earlier.
- Laskmi, the soldier, is inspired by a warrior princess who fought on horseback.
- The real historical structure called "Jahanara Mahal" is located hundreds of kilometers away, inside the Agra Fort, and is the white marble pavilion that belonged to the Mughal princess.
IN CONCLUSION:
This perfect mix of historical reality and adventure, along with Bee's desire for redemption and her volatile love story with Harry, kept me glued to the pages until the very last second.
It's a novel I'd recommend to everyone, including young adults, because there's nothing inappropriate about it that might upset even the most sensitive souls.
On the contrary, it's a perfect blend of adventure and romance, written by a European author, but one that shows us things from the locals' point of view, despite the main characters being English.
The only people I feel like saying, "Wait, this isn't for you," are readers looking for passionate love stories where love and passion are the focus of the book...that's not the case here.
5 stars well deserved !!
( I'm in a sort of book hangover and I can't even start reading a new book yet )
A story of rebirth and a love story. Personal and political intrigue inspired by real events and real people. A fascinating oriental setting, a large cast of well-drawn characters with their various facets, and a breathtaking ending with an unexpected and unpredictable twist.
I adored the protagonist and the young man of her dreams; I liked them completely, and the only thing that might take away from the score is that I would have liked their love story to be more prominent and more deeply described. If the kisses and love scenes had been just a little longer and more intense, the book would have been perfect for me, and I would have given it a 6th gold star!
Before analyzing every aspect of the novel, here is
THE PLOT IN BRIEF:
After the devastating loss of her husband and staring down the barrel of total financial ruin, young Beatrice Sinclair packed her bags and left Hampshire behind. Her destination? The vibrant, unfamiliar heat of Hyderabad, where her brother is stationed with the British East India Company.
But upon arrival, Bee finds her world tilted on its axis. Her brother hasn’t just adapted to life in India—he has fallen in love and married into a local family. She soon finds herself moving into the Jahanara Mahal, a crumbling, atmospheric palace that is whispered to be the site of a legendary diamond heist from decades past.
Trying to find her footing in such an exotic new home is hard enough, but Bee is also struggling to heal her own broken heart. As she navigates this whirlwind of new customs and family dynamics, the political waters start to boil. With the French and British empires locked in a fierce tug-of-war for India’s wealth, Bee’s life becomes even more tangled when she meets Harry Wyndam—a charming, unpredictable former soldier who is whispered to be a spy.
---- *********** ------MY THOUGHTS:
__ THE MAIN CHARACTERS AND THE LOVE STORY
Harry and Bee knew each other as children, when she and her brother also lived in India. The book begins with a scene back in time in which Bee, her younger brother Ralph, and Harry sneak into and explore the Palace of Jahanara Mahal, searching for the legendary stolen jewel, the Rose of Golconda, which Harry seems not only fascinated by, but almost obsessed with. The children's games already reveal a certain fondness and affection between Harry and Bee, but that very same day the two siblings are forcibly taken back to England by their mother, and our two favorites will meet again only 24 years later.
When they see each other again, despite her initial embarrassment, he speaks to her as if they had parted the day before. They both remember their childhood and their adventures; they like each other, but neither of them crosses the threshold of friendly intimacy.
THE MAIN CHARACTER : BEE _ The entire story is told in the first person by Bee, who throughout the narrative adds her thoughts, her disappointments and defeats, her fears, but also her hopes and new experiences that inevitably raise expectations.
We see her grow from passively accepting that there's nothing left for her to creating a future for herself in a new place, following her own ideas to fit into a context, not only doing her part, but creating a project whose realization will involve many other lives.
I like Bee because she's a positive character, but not perfect. We see her fragility, her weaknesses, but we also see her great willpower and how she tries to fight against adversity and the narrow-minded views of others.
We see how she opposes the male vision of the "weak and incapable woman" and we see how she is able to draw other Indian women, who until then had only known submission to their husbands' will, into this belief of strength.
Bee brings the modernity of controlling one's destiny through commitment and work. We see her suffer, get angry, and get back up after every fall, and despite everything, we never see her as presumptuous; she's simply a girl we can identify with.
HARRY _ An English father and a French mother, Harry seems to have blended perfectly into the Indian world since he was a child. Even as an adult, a young father and widower of a young Indian noblewoman, he collaborates with the British forces, but lives his personal life with his Indian family.
What I like about Harry is that, unlike Ralph, Bee's younger brother, he is open-minded and never places limits on women, nor does he judge them as incapable or stupid (unlike Ralph, who, despite being English, had the manners of the men of the time, whose wives were kept away from politics and business). Quite the opposite. He encourages Bee, lets her know he supports her ideas, and when he criticizes her, he does so constructively, helping her understand where she was going wrong in her relationships with women from a different culture.
Harry is also a tender and playful father, handsome and very adventurous, which makes him even more fascinating not only in Bee's eyes, but also in ours.
THEIR STORY made me fall in love because, although it unfolds in the book in just a few scenes, a few kisses, and a magical night of love, described in broad terms and very briefly, the tension of their falling in love is evident in Bee's stories. His intense gazes, her beating heart, her desire to be kissed, his stolen and impulsive kiss, her desire to see each other again as soon as possible during the days apart when he's on a mission, the scenes of family life they both share with his son and with other members of his and her brother's family... even before they've kissed, Harry and Bee, along with Jay, are already a family; even before they're together, Harry is always there to support her, watching her from afar, following her with his gaze, protecting her.
Bee has no experience with men except for her brief marriage to an older Englishman, but she doesn't need instructions... their hearts speak to each other through emotion, and despite the devious schemes of a rival, their love is stronger.
The ending is beautiful and sweet. I can't say more to avoid spoilers, but the ending is beautiful (though I repeat: I really wish the author had given it a few more pages and described it in more depth).
__ SIDE CHARACTERS:
If Bee and Harry make my heart skip a beat, know that Charlotte Betts has also done a monumental job with the secondary characters.
No one is there to simply be an extra; each is a crucial piece in understanding this complex world.
The most fascinating contrast is undoubtedly that between the women and men in the book. On the one hand, there's the almost irritating obtuseness of Ralph (Bee's brother): he perfectly embodies the British man of the time, convinced that women should not touch politics or business. On the other, we are overwhelmed by the impact of the female characters. There's the majestic power and strength of character of Jahanara Begum, the lady of the palace; the protective sweetness of Leela, who loves Ralph despite his flaws; and the combative and angry spirit of Lakshmi, which will keep you constantly on the edge of your seat.
And what about the embroidery workshop? The bickering, rivalries, and dynamics among the embroiderers provide a breathtaking glimpse into everyday life.
Balancing the tension are the spontaneity and overwhelming vivacity of little Jay, Harry's son, and the caring severity of his aunt Sangita, which imbue the novel with an intimate and sweet sense of "family."
—> There are many characters, and I admit I was a bit confused at first, especially because of the term "Begum" following the names of noble women (it actually meant "lady of high society or of the Nizam's court"). But once you get into the swing of things, you'll realize that every single character is essential to painting the chiaroscuro of late-18th-century Hyderabad.
A FASCINATING SETTING :
One thing that truly captivated me about this book is Charlotte Betts's extraordinary skill in depicting the setting and scenes through all the senses.
The author has an incredible ability to transport the reader to a place so distant in time and, in my case, so profoundly different from my own culture, given that I'm Italian.
As I read, I could almost sense the vibrant warmth of India, through the descriptions of the intense aromas of spices, the scents of oils, and the foul odors of muddy ditches, the vivid colors of the fabrics, their silky touch and lightness on the skin. I felt the allure of the architectural grandeur of luxurious palaces, rich with arabesque inlays and jewels embedded everywhere, in stark contrast to the cracks in the walls and the dust on the precious chandeliers.
That exotic and magnetic atmosphere, yet also full of contrasts and dangers, was matched by the contrasting climate: first scorching hot, muggy, and almost suffocating, then humid and dangerous with heavy monsoon rains.
I was enraptured by the Jahanara Mahal, with its decadent charm and its secrets, and it represents, in a certain sense, the third protagonist of the story, a truly magical character who witnessed the joys and sorrows of the colors that inhabit it.
If the Jahanara Mahal is a fictional place, the architectural beauties described by the author are real. I can confirm this by searching online for another palace mentioned, the majestic "Chowmahalla Palace", where Bee is invited by the wives of the Nizzam (ruler of the Muslim monarchs who ruled the State of Hyderabad from 1719 to 1948).
Another vivid and engaging description is that of the bazaar where Bee and Lakshmi repeatedly go to buy precious fabrics, haggling over the price with one of the vendors.
Please, don't think for a moment that all these vivid and detailed descriptions will weigh down the plot; on the contrary, they are what gave the scene its authenticity and made me feel truly involved in the entire story.
__HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS and REAL HISTORICAL FIGURES:
But the beauty of this novel also lies in the way fiction connects to real history. Against the backdrop of Bee's life, an immense and ruthless political chessboard unfolds. It's 1798, and India is a powder keg: the British and French empires are fighting tooth and nail for control and the riches of the territory, and the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad finds itself right in the middle of the storm.
The author is brilliant at weaving the plot by inserting real historical figures who are continually mentioned or who cross paths with our protagonists.
---> There's James Achilles Kirkpatrick, the British Resident, who finds himself managing a colossal network of espionage and diplomacy.
---> And then there's the charming and brilliant John Malcolm, who arrives like a hurricane to lend Kirkpatrick a helping hand and neutralize the French threat.
---> On the other side of the fence, tensions are sky-high: after the mysterious death of the beloved French general Raymond, Jean-Pierre Piron, a fervent Jacobin who hates the English and threatens to upset the balance of power, takes command.
All these intrigues, military camps, and spy games (like the extremely risky plan our Harry will be drawn into ) aren't fictional: they really happened that autumn of 1798! Even the secondary characters revolving around Bee and Ralph are multifaceted, and each of them helps you understand how complex and fascinating life was in that part of the world.
The historical notes at the end of the book and the glossary are truly helpful!
AUTHOR'S LITERARY LICENSES:
Historical novels often alter elements of reality to make the plot more romantic or mysterious, and through my online research, I discovered that the author drew inspiration for her characters from three real historical figures who lived a century earlier or almost a century later.
- Jahanara Begum was a princess who lived 100 years earlier.
- Laskmi, the soldier, is inspired by a warrior princess who fought on horseback.
- The real historical structure called "Jahanara Mahal" is located hundreds of kilometers away, inside the Agra Fort, and is the white marble pavilion that belonged to the Mughal princess.
IN CONCLUSION:
This perfect mix of historical reality and adventure, along with Bee's desire for redemption and her volatile love story with Harry, kept me glued to the pages until the very last second.
It's a novel I'd recommend to everyone, including young adults, because there's nothing inappropriate about it that might upset even the most sensitive souls.
On the contrary, it's a perfect blend of adventure and romance, written by a European author, but one that shows us things from the locals' point of view, despite the main characters being English.
The only people I feel like saying, "Wait, this isn't for you," are readers looking for passionate love stories where love and passion are the focus of the book...that's not the case here.
5 stars well deserved !!
( I'm in a sort of book hangover and I can't even start reading a new book yet )
November 14, 2022
KNYGA IŠ BIBLIOTEKOS.
Beatrisė netekusi vyro ir kūdikio išvyksta atgal į Indiją, kur gyveno vaikystėje, pas savo brolį ir jo žmoną. Ten ji apgyvendinama zenanoje su kitomis moterimis. Netrukus ji susitinka su savo vaikystės draugu Hariu. Tačiau Jahanaros Mahalas ir jo gyventojai skendi skurde... tad Beatrisė sugalvoja kaip padidinti įplaukas: pardavinėti moterų siūtus ir siuvinėtus darbus, tačiau tam priešinasi jos brolis Ralfas. Bet Beatrisė pradeda darbus nepaisant brolio nepritarimo... Santykiai su Hariu vis kaista, tačiau jų laukia didelis siurprizas...
Pasikūriau smilkalų ir skaičiau šitą knygą pasinėręs į ją visa esybe, nes taip man ji patiko. Indija. 18 amžiaus pabaiga. Viskas kas man be proto patinka. O dar autorė taip vaizdžiai aprašė visas vietas ir aplinką, kad beliko tik gėrėtis ir pasinerti į knygą. Kadangi autorė pati lankiusi Indiją, matosi puikiai aprašytos vietos ir papročiai.
Knygoje daug rašoma apie siuvinius. Man tai labai patiko, nes pats daug siuvinėju ir siuvu. O autorės taip puikiai aprašyti darbai, kad be vargo juos įsivaizdavau galvoje ir gėrėjausi. Būtent tas mokėjimas aprašyti viską mane ir pakerėjo. Taip pat ir vertėja puikiai išvertė tekstą. Ateityje tikrai imsiu dar kitas autorės knygas į rankas. Na, o pabaiga labai netikėta ir nenuspėjama. Su gražia pabaiga.
Rekomenduoju visiems išsiilgusiems istorinių meilės romanų, egzotikos ir paslapčių.
Beatrisė netekusi vyro ir kūdikio išvyksta atgal į Indiją, kur gyveno vaikystėje, pas savo brolį ir jo žmoną. Ten ji apgyvendinama zenanoje su kitomis moterimis. Netrukus ji susitinka su savo vaikystės draugu Hariu. Tačiau Jahanaros Mahalas ir jo gyventojai skendi skurde... tad Beatrisė sugalvoja kaip padidinti įplaukas: pardavinėti moterų siūtus ir siuvinėtus darbus, tačiau tam priešinasi jos brolis Ralfas. Bet Beatrisė pradeda darbus nepaisant brolio nepritarimo... Santykiai su Hariu vis kaista, tačiau jų laukia didelis siurprizas...
Pasikūriau smilkalų ir skaičiau šitą knygą pasinėręs į ją visa esybe, nes taip man ji patiko. Indija. 18 amžiaus pabaiga. Viskas kas man be proto patinka. O dar autorė taip vaizdžiai aprašė visas vietas ir aplinką, kad beliko tik gėrėtis ir pasinerti į knygą. Kadangi autorė pati lankiusi Indiją, matosi puikiai aprašytos vietos ir papročiai.
Knygoje daug rašoma apie siuvinius. Man tai labai patiko, nes pats daug siuvinėju ir siuvu. O autorės taip puikiai aprašyti darbai, kad be vargo juos įsivaizdavau galvoje ir gėrėjausi. Būtent tas mokėjimas aprašyti viską mane ir pakerėjo. Taip pat ir vertėja puikiai išvertė tekstą. Ateityje tikrai imsiu dar kitas autorės knygas į rankas. Na, o pabaiga labai netikėta ir nenuspėjama. Su gražia pabaiga.
Rekomenduoju visiems išsiilgusiems istorinių meilės romanų, egzotikos ir paslapčių.
July 2, 2020
Charlotte Betts "Pamirštų svajonių rūmai"
Šios autorės knygų laukiu su dideliu nekantrumu! Visos, kuris skaičiau iki šios istorijos, tikrai patiko ir sužavėjo. Šios autorės talentas pasakoti nepaprastas istorijas neliko nepastebėtas. Šios autorės dėka, jau teko pabuvoti Anglijoje, Italijoje, o dabar keliaukime į Indiją...
XIX a. pradžios Indija, Haidarabadas. Jauna anglė Beatrisė Sinkler atvyksta pas brolį po tragiškų įvykių. Haidarabadas - vieta, kurioje prabėgo laimingiausios Bitės vaikystės dienos ir dabar, prabės daugeliui metų, ji tikisi šioje šalyje rasti ramybę. Gyvenimas nuostabaus grožio rūmuose Beatrisę išmoko būti stipria ir siekti savo svajonių.
Man tai knyga apie stiprias ir savo vertę žinančias moteris, kurios, kad ir kokios būtų skirtingos, gali susitelkti bendram tikslui. Ir kartu tai knyga apie labai įdomią ir pilną kontrastų šalį, kurią tuo metu valdė Britų imperija. Net nesupranti kaip prieš tavo vaizduotėje iškyla nuostabūs sodai ir uždaras moterų pasaulis, vietinio turgaus kvapai, prekės ir žmonės.
Autorė asmeninių patirčių ir istorinių žinių pagalba sukuria puikią, greitai įtraukiančią ir iki paskutinio knygos puslapio nepaleidžiančią istoriją! Man čia netrūno nei veiksmo, nei intrigos, nei jausmo. Perskaičiau greitai ir su malonumu!
Jei ieškote knygos atostogoms prie jūros arba jaukiomis akimirkoms prie mėgstamos kavos arba arbatos puodelio vasaros laikotarpiu nuoširdžiai rekomenduoju nors mintimis nukeliauti į XIX a. Indiją!
Šios autorės knygų laukiu su dideliu nekantrumu! Visos, kuris skaičiau iki šios istorijos, tikrai patiko ir sužavėjo. Šios autorės talentas pasakoti nepaprastas istorijas neliko nepastebėtas. Šios autorės dėka, jau teko pabuvoti Anglijoje, Italijoje, o dabar keliaukime į Indiją...
XIX a. pradžios Indija, Haidarabadas. Jauna anglė Beatrisė Sinkler atvyksta pas brolį po tragiškų įvykių. Haidarabadas - vieta, kurioje prabėgo laimingiausios Bitės vaikystės dienos ir dabar, prabės daugeliui metų, ji tikisi šioje šalyje rasti ramybę. Gyvenimas nuostabaus grožio rūmuose Beatrisę išmoko būti stipria ir siekti savo svajonių.
Man tai knyga apie stiprias ir savo vertę žinančias moteris, kurios, kad ir kokios būtų skirtingos, gali susitelkti bendram tikslui. Ir kartu tai knyga apie labai įdomią ir pilną kontrastų šalį, kurią tuo metu valdė Britų imperija. Net nesupranti kaip prieš tavo vaizduotėje iškyla nuostabūs sodai ir uždaras moterų pasaulis, vietinio turgaus kvapai, prekės ir žmonės.
Autorė asmeninių patirčių ir istorinių žinių pagalba sukuria puikią, greitai įtraukiančią ir iki paskutinio knygos puslapio nepaleidžiančią istoriją! Man čia netrūno nei veiksmo, nei intrigos, nei jausmo. Perskaičiau greitai ir su malonumu!
Jei ieškote knygos atostogoms prie jūros arba jaukiomis akimirkoms prie mėgstamos kavos arba arbatos puodelio vasaros laikotarpiu nuoširdžiai rekomenduoju nors mintimis nukeliauti į XIX a. Indiją!
January 21, 2022
Another exciting read from Charlotte Betts.
Set in 18th century India. Bee Sinclair has to cut a new path for herself, among new family after a devastating loss. Resourceful and determined to stand up for what she believes in; Bee works hard with the women of the Jahanara Mahal to protect a place and the people she has come to love.
Quite a mega plot twist at the end.
Kept me turning each page.
Interesting to learn more about the historical aspect about Britain & France’s involvement in India.
Little Jai is my favourite.
Set in 18th century India. Bee Sinclair has to cut a new path for herself, among new family after a devastating loss. Resourceful and determined to stand up for what she believes in; Bee works hard with the women of the Jahanara Mahal to protect a place and the people she has come to love.
Quite a mega plot twist at the end.
Kept me turning each page.
Interesting to learn more about the historical aspect about Britain & France’s involvement in India.
Little Jai is my favourite.
August 21, 2022
Deja, bet knygą turiu padėti į šalį tik ją įpusėjus. 😢 Šios 2 savaitės man yra kaip kančia, tad niekaip nepasistumiu į priekį, vos keli puslapiai per dieną ir kaltės jausmas, kad neįveikiu.
Nuobodi ir neįtraukianti. Liūdna, bet man ji pasirodė būtent tokia.
Nuobodi ir neįtraukianti. Liūdna, bet man ji pasirodė būtent tokia.
June 1, 2019
Vivid historical detail. Brilliant and thrilling
March 15, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and being transported to India in the 1798. Fascinating detail and intense plot twists. Read it in pretty much two sitting 😂
May 17, 2020
Nuostabi knyga, nors daugelį dalykų nuspėjau, labai patiko visa istorija, visi vaizdai, aprašymai apie Indiją ir gyvenimą joje.
January 18, 2019
Really enjoyable historical fiction covering a period I know little about. The main character is no swooning miss & I love how resourceful & determined she is. Would recommend this to others as its well written, easy to read & difficult to put down.
February 20, 2019
RECENSIONE DI GABRIELLA
VOTO:5,5
Quando ho deciso di leggere questo libro storico, non sapevo esattamente in cosa mi sarei imbattuta. La sinossi mi aveva incuriosito, ma il timore di ritrovarmi tra le mani un “mattone” era presente; paura del tutto infondata, visto che già dalle prime pagine sono stata rapita da una storia davvero ammaliante.
Beatrice, la nostra protagonista, nasce in India nella seconda metà del ’700 e vi trascorre i primi 8 anni di vita fin quando la madre, inspiegabilmente, decide di tornare in Inghilterra con lei e il fratellino di cinque anni Ralph, separandoli dal padre e dai luoghi da loro amati.
Gli anni a seguire sono tristi e bui: Beatrice è ben presto costretta a occuparsi di una madre malata e sempre insoddisfatta, e deve farlo da sola, visto che Ralph dopo gli studi ha deciso di tornare in India per fare carriera.
Dopo la morte della madre, la giovane donna ha la fortuna di trovare un uomo gentile, benché attempato, che la sposa, donandole un periodo di pace e la gioia di una gravidanza.
Ma questo periodo di serenità non è destinato a durare a lungo: purtroppo il marito muore all’improvviso e Beatrice perde il bambino poco dopo. Distrutta e senza speranze, decide di raggiungere Ralph in India, per tornare nei luoghi in cui un tempo è stata felice e spensierata e, chissà, forse ricominciare daccapo e ritrovare se stessa.
Giunta a destinazione, scopre che la dimora del fratello non è altro che il sontuoso palazzo in cui andavano a giocare da bambini, ora abitato da più famiglie; conosce la giovane sposa di Ralph, una ragazza indiana, bellissima e dolcissima, che la accoglie come una sorella e la fa sentire subito parte della famiglia.
Con sua sorpresa ritrova anche un vecchio compagno di giochi e amico d’infanzia, Harry, con il quale riallaccia subito la sintonia di allora, ma che ben presto guarderà con occhi diversi.
Superare il lutto non è facile, ma circondata da una nuova e amorevole famiglia e concentrata su reimparare a vivere in quei luoghi non più familiari e ad accettarne le usanze, Beatrice presto trova la forza e il coraggio di rinascere e, soprattutto, di liberarsi dalla costante presenza del ricordo della madre autoritaria e anaffettiva che sembra soffocarla.
Beatrice è un personaggio con una forza interiore incredibile, non solo è riuscita a sopravvivere a un’infanzia opprimente e a un lutto devastante, ma trova il coraggio di reagire e combattere; sicuramente, anche se la sua storia è ambientata in un’epoca ormai lontana, le sue vicissitudini e il suo modo di affrontarle portano a riflettere anche al giorno d’oggi.
Immaginare l’India attraverso i suoi occhi e le sue sensazioni, poi, è stato stupendo e incredibilmente intenso.
Le descrizioni sono così realistiche che tutti e cinque i sensi diventano ricettivi durante la lettura: i colori scintillanti delle stoffe, il gusto intenso dei cibi speziati, le varie sfumature di cui si tinge il cielo durante il giorno, gli odori inebrianti durante la visita al Bazar o una passeggiata in riva al fiume, i rumori della notte nella natura incontaminata o lo scrosciare delle piogge durante i monsoni. Tutto ciò ci travolgerà, durante questa lettura ricca di emozioni.
Affezionarsi a Bee verrà quasi spontaneo fin dalle prime pagine. Tutti i personaggi sono splendidamente caratterizzati.
La scrittura è scorrevole e accattivante, le ambientazioni meravigliose e descritte con minuzia, ma mai al punto da rendere pesante o noiosa la lettura, anzi utilissime a far sentire il lettore fisicamente presente in quei luoghi. La trama, poi, presenta anche un po’di suspense che spinge la curiosità alle stelle di pagina in pagina, e infine quel tocco di romanticismo che fa sperare fino all’ultimo per la felicità della nostra protagonista.
Come ho detto all’inizio, questa lettura mi ha incantata, se avete voglia di un’avventura ricca di colori e sentimento vi consiglio assolutamente questo libro.
https://tralebracciadiunlibro.blogspo...
VOTO:5,5
Quando ho deciso di leggere questo libro storico, non sapevo esattamente in cosa mi sarei imbattuta. La sinossi mi aveva incuriosito, ma il timore di ritrovarmi tra le mani un “mattone” era presente; paura del tutto infondata, visto che già dalle prime pagine sono stata rapita da una storia davvero ammaliante.
Beatrice, la nostra protagonista, nasce in India nella seconda metà del ’700 e vi trascorre i primi 8 anni di vita fin quando la madre, inspiegabilmente, decide di tornare in Inghilterra con lei e il fratellino di cinque anni Ralph, separandoli dal padre e dai luoghi da loro amati.
Gli anni a seguire sono tristi e bui: Beatrice è ben presto costretta a occuparsi di una madre malata e sempre insoddisfatta, e deve farlo da sola, visto che Ralph dopo gli studi ha deciso di tornare in India per fare carriera.
Dopo la morte della madre, la giovane donna ha la fortuna di trovare un uomo gentile, benché attempato, che la sposa, donandole un periodo di pace e la gioia di una gravidanza.
Ma questo periodo di serenità non è destinato a durare a lungo: purtroppo il marito muore all’improvviso e Beatrice perde il bambino poco dopo. Distrutta e senza speranze, decide di raggiungere Ralph in India, per tornare nei luoghi in cui un tempo è stata felice e spensierata e, chissà, forse ricominciare daccapo e ritrovare se stessa.
Giunta a destinazione, scopre che la dimora del fratello non è altro che il sontuoso palazzo in cui andavano a giocare da bambini, ora abitato da più famiglie; conosce la giovane sposa di Ralph, una ragazza indiana, bellissima e dolcissima, che la accoglie come una sorella e la fa sentire subito parte della famiglia.
Con sua sorpresa ritrova anche un vecchio compagno di giochi e amico d’infanzia, Harry, con il quale riallaccia subito la sintonia di allora, ma che ben presto guarderà con occhi diversi.
Superare il lutto non è facile, ma circondata da una nuova e amorevole famiglia e concentrata su reimparare a vivere in quei luoghi non più familiari e ad accettarne le usanze, Beatrice presto trova la forza e il coraggio di rinascere e, soprattutto, di liberarsi dalla costante presenza del ricordo della madre autoritaria e anaffettiva che sembra soffocarla.
Beatrice è un personaggio con una forza interiore incredibile, non solo è riuscita a sopravvivere a un’infanzia opprimente e a un lutto devastante, ma trova il coraggio di reagire e combattere; sicuramente, anche se la sua storia è ambientata in un’epoca ormai lontana, le sue vicissitudini e il suo modo di affrontarle portano a riflettere anche al giorno d’oggi.
Immaginare l’India attraverso i suoi occhi e le sue sensazioni, poi, è stato stupendo e incredibilmente intenso.
Le descrizioni sono così realistiche che tutti e cinque i sensi diventano ricettivi durante la lettura: i colori scintillanti delle stoffe, il gusto intenso dei cibi speziati, le varie sfumature di cui si tinge il cielo durante il giorno, gli odori inebrianti durante la visita al Bazar o una passeggiata in riva al fiume, i rumori della notte nella natura incontaminata o lo scrosciare delle piogge durante i monsoni. Tutto ciò ci travolgerà, durante questa lettura ricca di emozioni.
Affezionarsi a Bee verrà quasi spontaneo fin dalle prime pagine. Tutti i personaggi sono splendidamente caratterizzati.
La scrittura è scorrevole e accattivante, le ambientazioni meravigliose e descritte con minuzia, ma mai al punto da rendere pesante o noiosa la lettura, anzi utilissime a far sentire il lettore fisicamente presente in quei luoghi. La trama, poi, presenta anche un po’di suspense che spinge la curiosità alle stelle di pagina in pagina, e infine quel tocco di romanticismo che fa sperare fino all’ultimo per la felicità della nostra protagonista.
Come ho detto all’inizio, questa lettura mi ha incantata, se avete voglia di un’avventura ricca di colori e sentimento vi consiglio assolutamente questo libro.
https://tralebracciadiunlibro.blogspo...
April 6, 2019
http://www.esmeraldaviaggielibri.it/i...
Recensione a cura di Dannyella – Il palazzo dei sogni perduti di Charlotte Betts. Edito il 21.02.2019 da Newton Compton. Genere: romanzo storico. 384 pagine.
Facciamo la conoscenza con la protagonista di questo romanzo, Beatrice, detta Bee, quando ha soli sette anni e sta compiendo una maracchella in compagnia del fratello di cinque anni, Ralph, e del loro migliore amico Harry. Il tempo di tornare a casa e Bee e Ralph saranno letteralmente trascinati via dalla loro casa, dalla loro terribile madre che li porta via dall’India, per trasferirsi in Inghilterra, allontanandoli per sempre dal loro padre. Non ci sarà mai spiegata chiaramente la motivazione di questo gesto, ma appare ben presto evidente che la madre è una donna insensibile ed egoista. Non appena arrivati in Inghilterra, Ralph verrà spedito a studiare in collegio e la piccola Bee rimarrà, ormai separata da tuti, in compagnia dell’orribile genitrice. Trascorrono gli anni, Bee è ormai una donna di 34 anni che ha trascorso l’ultima parte della sua vita ad accudire la madre malata, rinunciando alla sua stessa vita. Quando la madre muore, Bee ormai non si aspetta nulla dalla vita se non trascorrere quello che le resta in solitudine, avendo ormai accantonato ogni velleità di un sogno romantico. Per questo, la proposta di matrimonio di George, un vedovo molto più grande di lei, arriva ancora più inaspettata. Nessuna scena romantica e nessuna proposta da sogno: un uomo che bussa alla sua porta dicendole di sentirsi solo e di avere bisogno di una donna che si prenda cura di lui. Bee accetta, sicura che quella sarà l’ultima occasione di felicità per lei e, in effetti, per un po’, una parvenza di felicità, fa capolino nella sua vita. Purtroppo non sarà duratura. George muore improvvisamente a seguito di un colpo apoplettico e Bee perde il bambino che aveva in grembo. Si ritrova di nuovo sola e per questo decide di partire e ricongiungersi al fratello, Ralph, che è ritornato in India dove si è sposato. È da qui che il romanzo ha inizio. Dopo aver visto Bee cadere dalla padella alla brace, vediamo una donna pronta al riscatto che, diciamocelo onestamente, si merita. Bee arriva in India e noi lettori veniamo travolti dal fascino di questa terra lontana, man mano che la protagonista sarà avvolta dalle tradizioni e usanze locali. Bee ritrova il fratellino ormai uomo, con il quale non avrà un rapporto sempre facile, conosce la cognata: la donna che Ralph ha scelto come sua compagna di vita è indiana e, inaspettatamente, incontra di nuovo quel piccolo Harry, compagno di mille avventure. Saranno tante le prove che Bee si troverà ad affrontare, tra le quali anche la sparizione di un gioiello di immenso valore, ritrovandosi anche a diventare una donna d’affari più che coraggiosa. Ma vi lascio scoprire tutto questo durante la lettura.
Quello che più mi ha affascinata è la descrizione delle donne indiane, dei loro vestiti, delle loro usanze: è stato davvero interessante vivere al loro fianco durante il lavoro di ricamo. Ma, al di là del fascino esotico che questo romanzo porta con sé, c’è qualcosa che manca: qualcosa che non mi ha mai fatto davvero appassionare alla storia completamente e credo si tratti di empatia: nessun personaggio, nemmeno Bee, mi ha mai convinta e coinvolta completamente. Questo ha fatto la differenza durante la mia lettura. Nessuna pecca da parte dell’autrice, forse, come dico sempre io, era il libro giusto al momento sbagliato.
Recensione a cura di Dannyella – Il palazzo dei sogni perduti di Charlotte Betts. Edito il 21.02.2019 da Newton Compton. Genere: romanzo storico. 384 pagine.
Facciamo la conoscenza con la protagonista di questo romanzo, Beatrice, detta Bee, quando ha soli sette anni e sta compiendo una maracchella in compagnia del fratello di cinque anni, Ralph, e del loro migliore amico Harry. Il tempo di tornare a casa e Bee e Ralph saranno letteralmente trascinati via dalla loro casa, dalla loro terribile madre che li porta via dall’India, per trasferirsi in Inghilterra, allontanandoli per sempre dal loro padre. Non ci sarà mai spiegata chiaramente la motivazione di questo gesto, ma appare ben presto evidente che la madre è una donna insensibile ed egoista. Non appena arrivati in Inghilterra, Ralph verrà spedito a studiare in collegio e la piccola Bee rimarrà, ormai separata da tuti, in compagnia dell’orribile genitrice. Trascorrono gli anni, Bee è ormai una donna di 34 anni che ha trascorso l’ultima parte della sua vita ad accudire la madre malata, rinunciando alla sua stessa vita. Quando la madre muore, Bee ormai non si aspetta nulla dalla vita se non trascorrere quello che le resta in solitudine, avendo ormai accantonato ogni velleità di un sogno romantico. Per questo, la proposta di matrimonio di George, un vedovo molto più grande di lei, arriva ancora più inaspettata. Nessuna scena romantica e nessuna proposta da sogno: un uomo che bussa alla sua porta dicendole di sentirsi solo e di avere bisogno di una donna che si prenda cura di lui. Bee accetta, sicura che quella sarà l’ultima occasione di felicità per lei e, in effetti, per un po’, una parvenza di felicità, fa capolino nella sua vita. Purtroppo non sarà duratura. George muore improvvisamente a seguito di un colpo apoplettico e Bee perde il bambino che aveva in grembo. Si ritrova di nuovo sola e per questo decide di partire e ricongiungersi al fratello, Ralph, che è ritornato in India dove si è sposato. È da qui che il romanzo ha inizio. Dopo aver visto Bee cadere dalla padella alla brace, vediamo una donna pronta al riscatto che, diciamocelo onestamente, si merita. Bee arriva in India e noi lettori veniamo travolti dal fascino di questa terra lontana, man mano che la protagonista sarà avvolta dalle tradizioni e usanze locali. Bee ritrova il fratellino ormai uomo, con il quale non avrà un rapporto sempre facile, conosce la cognata: la donna che Ralph ha scelto come sua compagna di vita è indiana e, inaspettatamente, incontra di nuovo quel piccolo Harry, compagno di mille avventure. Saranno tante le prove che Bee si troverà ad affrontare, tra le quali anche la sparizione di un gioiello di immenso valore, ritrovandosi anche a diventare una donna d’affari più che coraggiosa. Ma vi lascio scoprire tutto questo durante la lettura.
Quello che più mi ha affascinata è la descrizione delle donne indiane, dei loro vestiti, delle loro usanze: è stato davvero interessante vivere al loro fianco durante il lavoro di ricamo. Ma, al di là del fascino esotico che questo romanzo porta con sé, c’è qualcosa che manca: qualcosa che non mi ha mai fatto davvero appassionare alla storia completamente e credo si tratti di empatia: nessun personaggio, nemmeno Bee, mi ha mai convinta e coinvolta completamente. Questo ha fatto la differenza durante la mia lettura. Nessuna pecca da parte dell’autrice, forse, come dico sempre io, era il libro giusto al momento sbagliato.
November 18, 2018
The Palace Of Lost Dreams By Charlotte Betts
Part of a paragraph in this book describes this book perfectly - “ It's very different from Hampshire but it didn't take me long to fall in love with the palace and my new family. Not everything is perfect, but for the first time in my life, I'm discovering who I am. I'd always been my mother's daughter until, for a short while, I was Charles’ wife. Now I'm trying hard to forget sad Beatrice and become Bee again, the girl I left behind in India all those years ago “.
It's the late 1700s and a young English woman has just lost her husband and baby in tragic circumstances. Her spiteful stepdaughter who is the same age as herself makes life difficult for her so she travels to India where she was last as a young girl. After a rough journey she arrives to meet her brother who works for the British East India Company, and finds him married to a young Indian girl, she also meets Harry whom she last saw when they were children.
The Palace is not as she remembers it and needs much money spent on it before it crumbles away. Bee comes up with a plan to make the necessary money and the ladies of the zenana help her with the plans.
Bee works hard with the local women to make hard earned cash to do repairs but is everybody as friendly as she once thought and will she find love again.
This book is set in the times of Napoleon and Nelson in the years around 1798 when the British East India Company had been in India for two hundred years and is full of romance and romantic Palaces with the description of the local plants such as Jasmine and Rose petals to ignite your senses as you read it. Fans of historical romance fiction will love it.
Part of a paragraph in this book describes this book perfectly - “ It's very different from Hampshire but it didn't take me long to fall in love with the palace and my new family. Not everything is perfect, but for the first time in my life, I'm discovering who I am. I'd always been my mother's daughter until, for a short while, I was Charles’ wife. Now I'm trying hard to forget sad Beatrice and become Bee again, the girl I left behind in India all those years ago “.
It's the late 1700s and a young English woman has just lost her husband and baby in tragic circumstances. Her spiteful stepdaughter who is the same age as herself makes life difficult for her so she travels to India where she was last as a young girl. After a rough journey she arrives to meet her brother who works for the British East India Company, and finds him married to a young Indian girl, she also meets Harry whom she last saw when they were children.
The Palace is not as she remembers it and needs much money spent on it before it crumbles away. Bee comes up with a plan to make the necessary money and the ladies of the zenana help her with the plans.
Bee works hard with the local women to make hard earned cash to do repairs but is everybody as friendly as she once thought and will she find love again.
This book is set in the times of Napoleon and Nelson in the years around 1798 when the British East India Company had been in India for two hundred years and is full of romance and romantic Palaces with the description of the local plants such as Jasmine and Rose petals to ignite your senses as you read it. Fans of historical romance fiction will love it.
January 17, 2023
I was looking forward to reading this book as it is about India and I love learning about other cultures, but this story was not my cup of tea. The writing is beautiful though!
It's basically a rather feminist story about a woman who wants to show men, who treat women as stupid objects that only need to listen to what men say, that they can be strong and independent by opening up a business in India. However, she thinks that there's nothing more a woman could wish for but to have children (are you serious? Would you like to see my never ending list for some inspiration?). Also, she instantly falls in love with a guy who for years cannot forget his deceased wife whom he loved more than anything (that's cute!) but from the moment he meets the main girl when they're grown ups, he starts flirting with her making her believe she has a chance (throw a guy like that off a cliff if you care about women). A few rushed sentences of "I love you" and making it a "that other person lied about me not caring about you" at the end of the book doesn't save him. If he cared in the first place, he would have expressed his feelings of love before taking the woman to bed.
My morals clash with this type of understanding of love so I just couldn't understand what is so good and romantic about this type of story...
It's basically a rather feminist story about a woman who wants to show men, who treat women as stupid objects that only need to listen to what men say, that they can be strong and independent by opening up a business in India. However, she thinks that there's nothing more a woman could wish for but to have children (are you serious? Would you like to see my never ending list for some inspiration?). Also, she instantly falls in love with a guy who for years cannot forget his deceased wife whom he loved more than anything (that's cute!) but from the moment he meets the main girl when they're grown ups, he starts flirting with her making her believe she has a chance (throw a guy like that off a cliff if you care about women). A few rushed sentences of "I love you" and making it a "that other person lied about me not caring about you" at the end of the book doesn't save him. If he cared in the first place, he would have expressed his feelings of love before taking the woman to bed.
My morals clash with this type of understanding of love so I just couldn't understand what is so good and romantic about this type of story...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2018
The Palace of Lost Dreams is set in 18 Century India. Written by Charlotte Betts, this novel tells the story of Beatrice Sinclair, a young grieving widow who is financially destitute. She travels from Hampshire to Hyderabad in order to visit her brother who is employed by the British East India Company.
When she arrives in Hyderabad she is surprised to find that he has married a local girl and is live by in his wife’s extended family home, a dilapidated Palace, Jahanara Mahal. Beatrice has to contend with many challenges whilst also coming to terms with the loss of her husband.
As British and French forces go into battle over India’s wealth, Harry Wyndham, ex soldier, now a spy, adds to the complicated challenges which Bee has to cope with. She has to decide where her loyalties lie.
Set in a period of a globalising textile industry and the impact this will have upon the Indian industry this romance focuses on a strong female influence - the heroine and other women are all emotionally strong, determined not to rely upon men. Romantically realistic for this period there are bruised kisses and lots of misunderstandings.
I received this book via Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group in exchange for a honest review. #netgalley #ThePalaceOfLostDre
When she arrives in Hyderabad she is surprised to find that he has married a local girl and is live by in his wife’s extended family home, a dilapidated Palace, Jahanara Mahal. Beatrice has to contend with many challenges whilst also coming to terms with the loss of her husband.
As British and French forces go into battle over India’s wealth, Harry Wyndham, ex soldier, now a spy, adds to the complicated challenges which Bee has to cope with. She has to decide where her loyalties lie.
Set in a period of a globalising textile industry and the impact this will have upon the Indian industry this romance focuses on a strong female influence - the heroine and other women are all emotionally strong, determined not to rely upon men. Romantically realistic for this period there are bruised kisses and lots of misunderstandings.
I received this book via Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group in exchange for a honest review. #netgalley #ThePalaceOfLostDre
March 20, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed his beautifully written novel set mainly in 18th Century India. It is a family saga, an adventure and a love story set in a period when France and Britain are seeking to gain control of India. Bee Sinclair, after having spent part of her childhood in India, returns to it many years later following several unfortunate circumstances. Thanks to her brother, Harry, who is a fairly high-ranking employee for the British East India Company in India and who has married an Indian woman, she is able to live in the women’s section of the Jahanara Mahal, a palace that is slowly crumbling away. Bee’s attempts to help rejuvenate the Jahanara Mahal to its former glory set her on a difficult path in which she encounters resistance, betrayal and revenge but also, fortunately, friendship, unswerving loyalty, and, ultimately, deep love.
What helps lift ‘The Palace of Lost Dreams’ beyond similar tales is the author’s excellent attention to detail, most particularly when it comes to evoking the myriad sounds, sights and smells of India. This, and the author’s often beautiful use of language, makes for a wonderfully engrossing read.
‘The Palace of Lost Dreams’ is well recommended and I look forward to reading other works by the author.
What helps lift ‘The Palace of Lost Dreams’ beyond similar tales is the author’s excellent attention to detail, most particularly when it comes to evoking the myriad sounds, sights and smells of India. This, and the author’s often beautiful use of language, makes for a wonderfully engrossing read.
‘The Palace of Lost Dreams’ is well recommended and I look forward to reading other works by the author.
January 10, 2019
I am a real sucker for books set in exotic locations and this book set in Hyderabad fits the bill perfectly. I could really empathise with Beatrice as, through no fault of her own, she is forced to make a new life for herself far away from Hampshire after a heart-breaking reversal of fortune. Forced to live with her husband and his Indian wife in the beautiful but dilapidated palace, Beatrice finds she doesn’t really quite fit into life with the other British women nor the life of the women in the sheltered women’s quarters. Despite the many objections she manages to carve her own path and somehow bridge the two worlds.
Having never visited India, I loved how I could visit vicariously through the stunning descriptions of Charlotte Betts. The colours, scents and tastes jump off the page assaulting the readers’ senses. The beautiful descriptions coupled with an unforgettable story make this a book to remember. For anyone interested in history, India or just a page-turning story, I can thoroughly recommend it.
Having never visited India, I loved how I could visit vicariously through the stunning descriptions of Charlotte Betts. The colours, scents and tastes jump off the page assaulting the readers’ senses. The beautiful descriptions coupled with an unforgettable story make this a book to remember. For anyone interested in history, India or just a page-turning story, I can thoroughly recommend it.
September 3, 2019
Recently, I have inadvertently selected too many books which, after reading the first couple of chapters, I knew exactly where the plot was heading and how the story would end. The Palace of Lost Dreams was such a story. Apart from the exotic setting, and the plethora of Indian terminology, it was all too familiar, having little to offer in the way of originality or mystery. The characters are two-dimensional, the plot full of unbelievable coincidences and the love angle written like a fairytale. I even found the historical events, with both British and French armies vying to colonize India, written in such a dry style that they became tedious.
The happily-ever-after conclusion is over dramatic and unconvincing. A diamond worth a fortune fallen into some bushy ground and nobody bothers to search for it!!! Especially unbelievable since the entire plot centered around the idea of raising enough money to save the Palace of Lost Dreams of the title.
Very disappointing. I can’t believe how many readers gave it 4 or 5 stars.
The happily-ever-after conclusion is over dramatic and unconvincing. A diamond worth a fortune fallen into some bushy ground and nobody bothers to search for it!!! Especially unbelievable since the entire plot centered around the idea of raising enough money to save the Palace of Lost Dreams of the title.
Very disappointing. I can’t believe how many readers gave it 4 or 5 stars.
November 7, 2018
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It is based mostly in 1798 in Hyderabad India. Bee and Ralph lived in India until at the ages of 8 and 5 their Mother decided to return to England. Bee was most upset leaving her Dad behind, and also Ralph was sent away to school. Ralph returned to India leaving Bee to nurse their Mother until her passing. Bee then found an older husband Charles who she soon became pregnant to. After some unlucky events Bee finds herself alone. Ralph offered Bee a place in his home with himself and his wife, and Bee decides to take the opportunity to return to her beloved India. On arriving back in India, things aren’t quite like Bee had imagined they’d be. This book follows the ups and downs of Bee’s life. The way Charlotte has written the book it’s easy to be drawn into the exotic smells, sounds, and way of life back then. A charming look into history and a nice read.
April 17, 2019
Il palazzo dei sogni perduti
daCharlotte Betts.Quando ho deciso di leggere questo libro storico, non sapevo esattamente in cosa mi sarei imbattuta. La sinossi mi aveva incuriosito, India, 1798. A un passo dal coronare il sogno di una vita, Beatrice Sinclair, non più nel fiore degli anni, viene colta da un’atroce sventura e perde l’attempato marito e il figlio che le stava crescendo in grembo Scacciata dalla famiglia acquisita, si ritrova in una situazione disastrosa, ma il destino la mette davanti all’unica scelta possibile: abbandonare lo Hampshire e raggiungere suo fratello nell’India dove ha già trascorso l’infanzia.«Una storia meravigliosa che fa riflettere.» una giovane vedova arriva in India sull’onda della disperazione ma, nonostante le difficoltà, riuscirà a ritrovare se stessa. «Una scrittura fluida, piacevole e brillante.»
daCharlotte Betts.Quando ho deciso di leggere questo libro storico, non sapevo esattamente in cosa mi sarei imbattuta. La sinossi mi aveva incuriosito, India, 1798. A un passo dal coronare il sogno di una vita, Beatrice Sinclair, non più nel fiore degli anni, viene colta da un’atroce sventura e perde l’attempato marito e il figlio che le stava crescendo in grembo Scacciata dalla famiglia acquisita, si ritrova in una situazione disastrosa, ma il destino la mette davanti all’unica scelta possibile: abbandonare lo Hampshire e raggiungere suo fratello nell’India dove ha già trascorso l’infanzia.«Una storia meravigliosa che fa riflettere.» una giovane vedova arriva in India sull’onda della disperazione ma, nonostante le difficoltà, riuscirà a ritrovare se stessa. «Una scrittura fluida, piacevole e brillante.»
August 17, 2021
'The Palace of Lost Dreams' by Charlotte Betts was a lovely escapist read with a touch of romance and adventure set in the exotic India of 1798. We follow the fortunes (and tragedies) of Englishwoman Beatrice Sinclair as she struggles to find her place in the world in Hyderabad where her brother lives, after she is left on her own in England. I loved the descriptions of the Jahanara Mahal, the palace that has now fallen into disrepair but where she goes to live. The relationships she develops with the women who inhabit the palace are sensitively written. The romance is believeable. And the descriptions of the bazaar make you want to go there. There is unrest in the city as there are rumours the French will invade and this historical aspect of the story adds tension and reality. Curl up on the couch and read away - a good antidote to the Covid virus.
February 14, 2019
A light read but kept me interested. It's a bit of a love story, some interesting history of the start of England in India, one woman's fight against male perceptions of how little women can do.
Bee, her brother Ralph and Harry, a neighbour all play together as children. One day Ralph and Bee go home with their mother leaving their father behind. We rejoin Bee as a married woman expecting her first child - her husband's daughter is also expecting a child. They do not get on. Suddenly her life changes totally and she returns to India to live with her brother and his wife. A surprise awaits. Her new home is falling apart so can she do something to save it and the people living there?
Dinah Jefferies fans will also enjoy this book.
Bee, her brother Ralph and Harry, a neighbour all play together as children. One day Ralph and Bee go home with their mother leaving their father behind. We rejoin Bee as a married woman expecting her first child - her husband's daughter is also expecting a child. They do not get on. Suddenly her life changes totally and she returns to India to live with her brother and his wife. A surprise awaits. Her new home is falling apart so can she do something to save it and the people living there?
Dinah Jefferies fans will also enjoy this book.
July 24, 2018
Interesting to read about this period of history in a romance novel. In many ways, it could have been set 100 or 150 years later and still been the same. I most enjoyed our strong heroine, the women working together, and life for women in this time in India. Also interesting to base it on the early global commercialisation of textiles, which strangely didn't get a mention in the blurb. The romance elements were more traditional with bruising kisses and silly misunderstandings - not much of a spoiler to say she ends up with the right bloke.
October 18, 2020
The Palace of Lost Dreams is a sumptuous historical romance in the tradition of M M Kaye’s Indian tales. The setting was wonderfully vivid and I loved visiting the crumbling old palace vicariously – only wish I could go there for real now! I felt the heat, the humidity and the exotic scents as if I was there, and experienced the colourful bazaar. The heroine was so sympathetic and resourceful, you couldn’t help but root for her, and the hero delicious. A truly enjoyable story to immerse yourself in!
February 22, 2020
This is the first Charlotte Betts' book I have read but it certainly won't be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed this stirring tale set in late 18th-century India on the cusp of a new century and dramatic changes.
The setting of the wonderfully described crumbling grandeur of the palace was as much of a character as those inhabiting it. All the exquisite description added to the emotional intensity of this very rewarding historical romantic thriller. Highly recommended!
The setting of the wonderfully described crumbling grandeur of the palace was as much of a character as those inhabiting it. All the exquisite description added to the emotional intensity of this very rewarding historical romantic thriller. Highly recommended!
March 25, 2020
I loved this book! It was set in a time and country that fascinated me although I don’t normally read historical but I couldn’t put it down. I loved the fact that Bee was strong, independent and resourceful and was willing her to find the diamond from the beginning.
Amazing storytelling that literally transported me to India but without too many facts will which sometimes takes away from the story.
This is my first book from this author but certainly won’t be the last.
Amazing storytelling that literally transported me to India but without too many facts will which sometimes takes away from the story.
This is my first book from this author but certainly won’t be the last.
October 31, 2018
I don't usually pick romances but this interested me as I don't know much about that period of Indian history, and it seemed like the main character was a strong female character so I gave it a go. I was glad I did as I enjoyed the story, even though it was a bit predictable with traditional romance bruising kisses and misunderstandings.
January 1, 2019
I absolutely adore all of Charlotte's books and I usually devour one of her books in a week. I took a little longer with this one though as I found I got a little in this book with the Indian words and names.
It really was a lovely story and I'm so happy it ended the way it did. I wish Bee all the success & happiness she deserves.
I hope Swati and her puppies lived happily ever after too 🐶
It really was a lovely story and I'm so happy it ended the way it did. I wish Bee all the success & happiness she deserves.
I hope Swati and her puppies lived happily ever after too 🐶
July 12, 2022
Beatrice, detta Bee, fino all'età di otto anni è vissuta in India con suo fratello di cinque anni, divertendosi un sacco.
Un giorno la madre li prende e li porta in Inghilterra senza dar loro spigazioni e senza dar loro il tempo di salutare l'amata balia e l'amichetto Harry.
Descrizioni bellissime dell'India del 1798 e dei fatti storici che stavano avvenendo.
Un giorno la madre li prende e li porta in Inghilterra senza dar loro spigazioni e senza dar loro il tempo di salutare l'amata balia e l'amichetto Harry.
Descrizioni bellissime dell'India del 1798 e dei fatti storici che stavano avvenendo.
January 5, 2024
Graži knyga, apie Indiją, jos žmones, kvapus, papročius, politines intrigas, anglus Indijoje. Apie viską nugalinčią meilę, apie moters stiprybę ir sugebėjimą įrodyti sau ir visam pasauliui, kad gali būti stipresnė už visus vyrus. Gal vietomis šiek tiek per daug ištempta, tačiau labai mielai skaitėsi.
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