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Cutler #3
Twilight's Child
AS MRS. JAMES GARY LONGCHAMP, DAWN IS BLISSFULLY HAPPY. BUT A LEGACY OF DECEIT AND BETRAYAL STILL HAUNTS HER ...
At last, Dawn can create a haven of warmth and love for her beautiful baby girl, Christie, and her darling Jimmy. Dawn is a huge success as the new owner of the Cutler's Cove hotel and soon she and Jimmy will be blessed with a child of their own.
Yet Dawn cannot quell her forebodings of evil. She can sense Grandmother Cutler's presence everywhere ... can feel her bitter hatred as if the old lady plotted her vengeance from the grave. When Dawn discovers that her brother, Philip, still clings to his mad, shameful passion for her, she is heartstricken. Her spiteful, jealous sister, Clara, is far easier to ignore until the day Clara's childish rage explodes into violence, destroying Dawn's most cherished, precious dream.
Then Christie's father, debonair singing star Michael Sutton, returns. Now, as the heartaches and scandals of the past threaten to engulf her, Dawn must fight for her steadfast Jimmy ... for only with Jimmy's love can she find the rainbow at the end of the storm.
(back cover)
At last, Dawn can create a haven of warmth and love for her beautiful baby girl, Christie, and her darling Jimmy. Dawn is a huge success as the new owner of the Cutler's Cove hotel and soon she and Jimmy will be blessed with a child of their own.
Yet Dawn cannot quell her forebodings of evil. She can sense Grandmother Cutler's presence everywhere ... can feel her bitter hatred as if the old lady plotted her vengeance from the grave. When Dawn discovers that her brother, Philip, still clings to his mad, shameful passion for her, she is heartstricken. Her spiteful, jealous sister, Clara, is far easier to ignore until the day Clara's childish rage explodes into violence, destroying Dawn's most cherished, precious dream.
Then Christie's father, debonair singing star Michael Sutton, returns. Now, as the heartaches and scandals of the past threaten to engulf her, Dawn must fight for her steadfast Jimmy ... for only with Jimmy's love can she find the rainbow at the end of the storm.
(back cover)
410 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
161 people are currently reading
3721 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,095 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
October 23, 2025
This is the third book of a series. I recommend reading them in order. In this one Dawn has settled in as the manager of the hotel. Can she balance this responsibility with her family life or will she become the person she despises?
As you can tell by my rating this was not that great of a read. The "newer" books under this author's name are written by a ghost writer and it shows. Going into these books I expect over the top family melodrama that makes my family look like a bunch of saints. This novel never had that. Instead we had mundane drama that was on the boring side. I want drama that demands me to keep on reading. This demanded me to put the book down as I was bored most of the time. And I don't understand why either. We had the addition of new family characters and the return of characters that should have set up the drama. Instead character progression happened off screen or resolutions happened so quickly I was asking myself what was the purpose of it. The only reason I can come up with is that the author wanted closure for our main character and move on the next chapter. I am fine with this if it is exciting. Unfortunately it was not.
I didn't hate this book even though my review sounds like I did. Actually I was ambivalent about it as I really thought it was pointless. It does come across like a set up book for the next story arc for the Cutlers. I wish there was some drama driving force in this one also as we get to the next one in the series. I will eventually read the next one in the series but it will be a long time before I get to it. This did nothing to entice me for it.
As you can tell by my rating this was not that great of a read. The "newer" books under this author's name are written by a ghost writer and it shows. Going into these books I expect over the top family melodrama that makes my family look like a bunch of saints. This novel never had that. Instead we had mundane drama that was on the boring side. I want drama that demands me to keep on reading. This demanded me to put the book down as I was bored most of the time. And I don't understand why either. We had the addition of new family characters and the return of characters that should have set up the drama. Instead character progression happened off screen or resolutions happened so quickly I was asking myself what was the purpose of it. The only reason I can come up with is that the author wanted closure for our main character and move on the next chapter. I am fine with this if it is exciting. Unfortunately it was not.
I didn't hate this book even though my review sounds like I did. Actually I was ambivalent about it as I really thought it was pointless. It does come across like a set up book for the next story arc for the Cutlers. I wish there was some drama driving force in this one also as we get to the next one in the series. I will eventually read the next one in the series but it will be a long time before I get to it. This did nothing to entice me for it.
March 15, 2009
I think a more appropriate title should be, "I, the author, kill everyone off because I have no idea what to do with them". This book was pretty annoying from start to finish. Clara Sue causes some trouble, but is rarely seen during the book. Philip really just bugs; I honestly think his obsession with Dawn is way too played out. Making his wife dye her hair blond and wear Dawn's nightgown and perfume? Gimme a break. Fern gets on the last nerve and I can't think why she was even added to the story seeing as she does very little to drive the plot. Michael's abrupt return does appear to be very interesting at first, but he is dealt with in just one chapter. All in all, this book left me not caring very much what happened to any of the characters in it. If you'd like to read a VC Andrews series, read Heaven or Flowers in the Attic because anything written after those series is a sad attempt to recapture something good that was lost.
November 7, 2016
For me this series just kept going more downhill. This was by far the least entertaining of the books so far in the series. What lacked in writing skills was sadly not made up for in an entertaining plot. Unlike the first 2 books which was able to hide behind the obscene string of plots, this book was not. I did not enjoy this book and honestly wish the series didn't have to go here. I wish it was written differently or not written at all.
July 6, 2021
Dawn, Dawn, Dawn. How I love your rags-to-riches-complete-with-incest tale. This one definitely doesn't disappoint! Dawn has now taken Evil Dead Grandmother Cutler's place as head of the hotel, is married to the guy who she used to think was her brother, and has her baby that she had with her music teacher. But that's only the boring parts! Her half-brother/guy she used to think was her father goes crazy and dies on her wedding night of a broken heart (?), her half-brother-half-nephew is best man and pretends he's the one marrying this beauty. It's just how everyone remembers their wedding day. Isn't it?
Anyway, Dawn is beautiful and brilliant and makes the stupid hotel better than ever. Her half-sister-half-niece becomes a trashy ho and actually is only her half-sister because her mom had an affair with some dashing rich dude who she marries like 5 minutes after her husband dies. God, this book is confusing.
Dawn's music teacher returns, is a gross broke drunk who tries to blackmail her - but of course Dawn outsmarts him, as she is the most beautiful, brilliant woman ever. Dawn's half-sister dies immediately following this, giving Dawn a convenient reason to not tell her husband that she was meeting her daughter's father in secret...Whoops!
But what really happens in this book? Is Dawn only the most beautiful woman ever, as she seems? Is she constantly almost getting molested and/or sexually harassed by her half-brother-half-nephew? Is she making a bazillion dollars and have the most beautiful voice ever?
The answer, of course, is yes.
Anyway, Dawn is beautiful and brilliant and makes the stupid hotel better than ever. Her half-sister-half-niece becomes a trashy ho and actually is only her half-sister because her mom had an affair with some dashing rich dude who she marries like 5 minutes after her husband dies. God, this book is confusing.
Dawn's music teacher returns, is a gross broke drunk who tries to blackmail her - but of course Dawn outsmarts him, as she is the most beautiful, brilliant woman ever. Dawn's half-sister dies immediately following this, giving Dawn a convenient reason to not tell her husband that she was meeting her daughter's father in secret...Whoops!
But what really happens in this book? Is Dawn only the most beautiful woman ever, as she seems? Is she constantly almost getting molested and/or sexually harassed by her half-brother-half-nephew? Is she making a bazillion dollars and have the most beautiful voice ever?
The answer, of course, is yes.
September 30, 2011
FERNS CHARACTER WAS SO HORRIBLE, IF I WAS DAWN, I WOULD HAVE BELTED THE CRAP OUT OF HER AND SENT HER TO LIVE WITH MS.EMILY. I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE EACH ONE TORTURE THE OTHER. WHAT I DID NOT GET, IS WHY DID'NT DAWN JUST TELL MICHAEL TO F*@! OFF AND GO TO HELL. AND THEN TELL JIMMY TO HIRE A HIT MAN AND THROW HIM INTO A 4FT. DEEP POOL THAT IS HOSTING HUNGRY, ANGRY, PIRANAS. AND JUST BEFORE HE IS THROWN IN CUT A SMALL PEICE OF HIS PINKY AND LET THE BLOOD DROP IN. YEAH THATS HOW YOU DO IT, OR RATHER THATS HOW I WOULD.
December 27, 2023
I liked the previous books more as the plot was more cohesive. I still enjoyed this one, but instead of a main conflict, it was more like "the ghost of Grandmother Culter haunts everyone" when it didn't really. I wish we were told how old Dawn was at the end of the book because I lost track of time & how old the mom was. It's sad what happened with the mother; it seems like she has Alzheimer's like another reviewer said.
I wanted to finish this book yesterday, but my dad made me come upstairs to our hotel room to go to bed.
I wanted to finish this book yesterday, but my dad made me come upstairs to our hotel room to go to bed.
July 11, 2023
The Cutler series will always be a favorite of mine. I adore V.C Andrew's. This week with the release of the movie, it made me want to reread some of dawns story. This will be the third time I've read the series. Twilight's Child is my absolute favorite in the series!
February 18, 2023
SO MUCH HAPPENED IN THIS BOOK!
I still can’t believe how much drama happened. Before one thing could be resolved, the next big drama happened.
I’m really curious to see what happens in the next book, which is technically the last since the book after that is a prequel.
There are still some things that haven’t been resolved yet, such as the whole deal with Philip. In some ways I feel like this book resolved some big things way too fast. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my guilty pleasure again
I still can’t believe how much drama happened. Before one thing could be resolved, the next big drama happened.
I’m really curious to see what happens in the next book, which is technically the last since the book after that is a prequel.
There are still some things that haven’t been resolved yet, such as the whole deal with Philip. In some ways I feel like this book resolved some big things way too fast. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my guilty pleasure again
April 4, 2013
The third book in the Cutler saga and final volume with Dawn as narrator sees the heroine as a wife, mother and the owner of Cutler's Cove Hotel. Given Dawn's adolescence and continued family dramas it is no wonder that the heroine has become well, a little hard-hearted. The book is spoiled slightly by the sudden death of Clara Sue, but otherwise an interesting story well told.
October 19, 2023
Best YA books ever a true must read by all. I loved this series.
October 9, 2013
Review to come. This book was scandalous. Oh my word! *clutches pearls* :P
Edit: Gifs and snark.
I haven't read the first two books in the series, yet.
V.C Andrews still brings both the lolz and trashy goodness. She never fails me.
Me after every book of hers.
Dawn is very similiar to Cathy in the sense that they both have selfish mothers who only think for themselves.
Dawn had a baby out of wed-lock, and is raising it with her now-husband who she raised to believe is her brother. It's not V.C Andrews without pseudo-incest. :D
Alrighty, I guess, if it get's you off. lol
Dawn, in the previous books, was also dating her REAL brother who raped her, before they knew they were actually related. It's not V.C Andrews without incest AND rape. Also her brother was acting all creepy and stalking her. Actually attempted to rape her. He was just so CREEPY.
So creepy
Dawn's actual father is her mother's father-in-law. I'm not sure what to make of it. Damn, there's a lot of rape in this book. Or mentions of it.
:O
Dawn's sister cracked me up. She was such a parody of the rich bad girl, that it was just amusing. Every scene with her in it never failed to make me smile.
Yummeh drama.
Dawn was always scared of becoming like her grandmother, but she did have some of her good qualities, like a backbone, so it was pretty awesome.
YA is not what it used to be. I had a conversation with my mom the other day, and she read a lot of V.C Andrews in middle and high school and has fond memories of these books. I was a tad bit shocked. lol
Alright, mom! I have a cool mom. :P
Edit: Gifs and snark.
I haven't read the first two books in the series, yet.
V.C Andrews still brings both the lolz and trashy goodness. She never fails me.
Me after every book of hers.
Dawn is very similiar to Cathy in the sense that they both have selfish mothers who only think for themselves.
Dawn had a baby out of wed-lock, and is raising it with her now-husband who she raised to believe is her brother. It's not V.C Andrews without pseudo-incest. :D
Alrighty, I guess, if it get's you off. lol
Dawn, in the previous books, was also dating her REAL brother who raped her, before they knew they were actually related. It's not V.C Andrews without incest AND rape. Also her brother was acting all creepy and stalking her. Actually attempted to rape her. He was just so CREEPY.
So creepy
Dawn's actual father is her mother's father-in-law. I'm not sure what to make of it. Damn, there's a lot of rape in this book. Or mentions of it.
:O
Dawn's sister cracked me up. She was such a parody of the rich bad girl, that it was just amusing. Every scene with her in it never failed to make me smile.
Yummeh drama.
Dawn was always scared of becoming like her grandmother, but she did have some of her good qualities, like a backbone, so it was pretty awesome.
YA is not what it used to be. I had a conversation with my mom the other day, and she read a lot of V.C Andrews in middle and high school and has fond memories of these books. I was a tad bit shocked. lol
Alright, mom! I have a cool mom. :P
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2016
It must be nice being Andrew Neiderman. He gets to write crap books and V.C Andrews still gets the blame.
Twilights Child begins where the last book left off. Starting in the middle of the series was a bit daunting, but the author does a decent job of catching you up on all the latest consensual incest and teen pregnancy. Dawn and Jimmy arrange to find out what happened to Dawn's daughter Christie, who was given up for adoption by the evil Grandma Cutler. Thanks to the hotel lawyer, Dawn and Jimmy quickly get Christie back, as the adoption process was not legal. Dawn is capable of running a hotel and raising a child, despite lack of any business experience and the fact that she doesn’t even know what a mortgage is. Meanwhile, Dawn’s Stepfather/half brother(?) Randolph, is wandering around and talking to his dead mother. Dawn inquires about this to her mother who replies with “Oh that? yeah, he’ll get over it.”.
Twilights Child begins where the last book left off. Starting in the middle of the series was a bit daunting, but the author does a decent job of catching you up on all the latest consensual incest and teen pregnancy. Dawn and Jimmy arrange to find out what happened to Dawn's daughter Christie, who was given up for adoption by the evil Grandma Cutler. Thanks to the hotel lawyer, Dawn and Jimmy quickly get Christie back, as the adoption process was not legal. Dawn is capable of running a hotel and raising a child, despite lack of any business experience and the fact that she doesn’t even know what a mortgage is. Meanwhile, Dawn’s Stepfather/half brother(?) Randolph, is wandering around and talking to his dead mother. Dawn inquires about this to her mother who replies with “Oh that? yeah, he’ll get over it.”.
July 25, 2019
The third Cutler book is not as exciting as the others at the start. I got a little bored, ended up putting the book down during my lunch break and looking at Facebook instead. It does pick up during the second half though.
I don’t really understand why Dawn just didn't sell her share of the hotel. She chooses to stay there and for a while shares the same living space with Philip, who raped her! She always makes it easy for him to be around her and he never gets what he deserves.
Also why did she not have Clara Sue reported for what she did? She was a murderer! It’s not like Dawn has any loyalty to her real family so I failed to understand her actions.
I was so disappointed in Fern's character, I felt like she was made like that to basically replace Clara Sue. Like Dawn has to have someone against her for the plot to work.
Otherwise typical Andrews fare, if you are normally a fan of her work, you will like this. Its okay, just not the best.
I don’t really understand why Dawn just didn't sell her share of the hotel. She chooses to stay there and for a while shares the same living space with Philip, who raped her! She always makes it easy for him to be around her and he never gets what he deserves.
Also why did she not have Clara Sue reported for what she did? She was a murderer! It’s not like Dawn has any loyalty to her real family so I failed to understand her actions.
I was so disappointed in Fern's character, I felt like she was made like that to basically replace Clara Sue. Like Dawn has to have someone against her for the plot to work.
Otherwise typical Andrews fare, if you are normally a fan of her work, you will like this. Its okay, just not the best.
March 3, 2024
I am halfway through the Cutler saga & the way that characters are killed off, the incest, abuse & the way certain characters use manipulation. It's on par with the Game of Thrones saga! 😂
I was intrigued by how Clara was taken out around the similar time Fern was introduced as it would appear Dawn can only cope with one antagonist at a time. I'm curious to see how the final chapters will play out, although thoroughly enjoying being immersed in this families saga.
I was intrigued by how Clara was taken out around the similar time Fern was introduced as it would appear Dawn can only cope with one antagonist at a time. I'm curious to see how the final chapters will play out, although thoroughly enjoying being immersed in this families saga.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2024
So much weird shit and incest
June 10, 2024
I feel dirty reading these because it's literally books about how much trauma and turmoil can be thrown at one person 😂 it's like an episode of Maury, but it just doesn't stop.
January 3, 2023
Anything from V.C. Andrews is a nostalgic love of mine.
July 3, 2018
Plot & Pacing
The plot for this one started off super slow but once I was about 40% in, it started to get much more interesting. This is a re-read for me but I'd forgotten a lot of it because I can't even remember when I last read this. I did remember the truth about Clara Sue before it was revealed, even though I had forgotten about it for a while.
I liked how this book wrapped up some loose ends from previous books as well. The pacing was a little slow at times, especially in the first part. Time seemed to move a lot faster toward the end, so much I couldn't really keep up with exactly how many years had gone by but this is sometimes part of the VCA atmosphere regarding time.
Setting & World-Building
Most of the book is set at the hotel that Dawn has inherited and it was interesting seeing how that affected her and her family's life.
Characters & Development
I got to like Dawn a bit better, though she's definitely not one of my favorite VCA heroines. Still, I admired her strength and also for allowing herself to be real. There were situations I wish she had handled differently at times (Philip) but I do feel that she has come a long way since the first book. She's become a strong and mature person. I liked how she came to terms with Grandmother Cutler's attitude and how sometimes it was appropriate for certain times.
I liked Jimmy aside from the times in which he blamed Dawn for not getting pregnant when they were trying (takes two to tango, buddy), him yelling at her when she was depressed, and his blindness when it came to Fern (which I could somewhat understand but he definitely took it too far). Aside from that, he's one of the better VCA husbands and I've got to give him props for forgiving Dawn's affair from the last book and loving Christie as his own.
Philip continues to become creepier, though he had his moments. It was interesting seeing Laura Sue's transformation into a happier person and then a sad and confused one due to . Her actions are really narcissistic, though. Clara Sue gets worse. I found Fern's character interesting at first but after a while her actions got on my nerves. I wished that Jimmy and Dawn had made her go see someone because there's definitely something going on with her.
I liked how Mr. Updike and Mrs. Boston became more involved in Dawn's life now that she's in charge. Also liked the addition of Bronson Alcott, who seemed a little too good for Laura Sue IMO. Betty Ann was different than I remembered her being and I loved the introduction of Gavin. Christie was cute and I liked that she wasn't an angelic child despite being a "good baby." The twins seemed cuter than I remember them being when they get older.
It was great seeing how awful Michael Sutton's life has gotten. Karma!
I hated how poor Randolph was treated. VCA characters never seem to get the mental health they need but that is also a sign of their times I suppose. I felt sorry for him.
Character Relationships
I didn't love Jimmy and Dawn but I did like that their relationship wasn't perfect. Their relationship is complicated but at the end of the day, I liked them well enough.
I thought Fern's addition into the family made the relationships pretty interesting, too, especially between her and Dawn. I felt bad for Dawn because of how much she cared for Fern when she was a baby only to be hated for whatever reason (jealousy?).
Philip's relationship with Dawn and Betty Ann was pretty creepy. Even though I still think Bronson deserved better, I was happy that he finally got the woman he wanted, even if just for a short time.
I thought Dawn and Christie had a pretty good relationship.
Loved the budding relationship between Christie and Gavin. I'd forgotten they even met in this book.
Writing & Voice
The writing and voice was on par with the last book, though there were a few instances I rolled my eyes at. Didn't notice any cut and paste sex scenes for once but near the beginning some characters that had been introduced were introduced really strangely. But overall Dawn's voice read like someone her age.
Climax & Ending
I wasn't totally sure where the climax of this book was--it just seemed like one bad thing after another happened with some happier times in between. Maybe . I liked the ending with . The way things wrapped up was nice, though since I know what happens in the next book makes me really wish Dawn had done more regarding Philip.
Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars. It was better than I remembered, though it might also be that it's easier to relate to Dawn now than when I was in high school and college.
The plot for this one started off super slow but once I was about 40% in, it started to get much more interesting. This is a re-read for me but I'd forgotten a lot of it because I can't even remember when I last read this. I did remember the truth about Clara Sue before it was revealed, even though I had forgotten about it for a while.
I liked how this book wrapped up some loose ends from previous books as well. The pacing was a little slow at times, especially in the first part. Time seemed to move a lot faster toward the end, so much I couldn't really keep up with exactly how many years had gone by but this is sometimes part of the VCA atmosphere regarding time.
Setting & World-Building
Most of the book is set at the hotel that Dawn has inherited and it was interesting seeing how that affected her and her family's life.
Characters & Development
I got to like Dawn a bit better, though she's definitely not one of my favorite VCA heroines. Still, I admired her strength and also for allowing herself to be real. There were situations I wish she had handled differently at times (Philip) but I do feel that she has come a long way since the first book. She's become a strong and mature person. I liked how she came to terms with Grandmother Cutler's attitude and how sometimes it was appropriate for certain times.
I liked Jimmy aside from the times in which he blamed Dawn for not getting pregnant when they were trying (takes two to tango, buddy), him yelling at her when she was depressed, and his blindness when it came to Fern (which I could somewhat understand but he definitely took it too far). Aside from that, he's one of the better VCA husbands and I've got to give him props for forgiving Dawn's affair from the last book and loving Christie as his own.
Philip continues to become creepier, though he had his moments. It was interesting seeing Laura Sue's transformation into a happier person and then a sad and confused one due to . Her actions are really narcissistic, though. Clara Sue gets worse. I found Fern's character interesting at first but after a while her actions got on my nerves. I wished that Jimmy and Dawn had made her go see someone because there's definitely something going on with her.
I liked how Mr. Updike and Mrs. Boston became more involved in Dawn's life now that she's in charge. Also liked the addition of Bronson Alcott, who seemed a little too good for Laura Sue IMO. Betty Ann was different than I remembered her being and I loved the introduction of Gavin. Christie was cute and I liked that she wasn't an angelic child despite being a "good baby." The twins seemed cuter than I remember them being when they get older.
It was great seeing how awful Michael Sutton's life has gotten. Karma!
I hated how poor Randolph was treated. VCA characters never seem to get the mental health they need but that is also a sign of their times I suppose. I felt sorry for him.
Character Relationships
I didn't love Jimmy and Dawn but I did like that their relationship wasn't perfect. Their relationship is complicated but at the end of the day, I liked them well enough.
I thought Fern's addition into the family made the relationships pretty interesting, too, especially between her and Dawn. I felt bad for Dawn because of how much she cared for Fern when she was a baby only to be hated for whatever reason (jealousy?).
Philip's relationship with Dawn and Betty Ann was pretty creepy. Even though I still think Bronson deserved better, I was happy that he finally got the woman he wanted, even if just for a short time.
I thought Dawn and Christie had a pretty good relationship.
Loved the budding relationship between Christie and Gavin. I'd forgotten they even met in this book.
Writing & Voice
The writing and voice was on par with the last book, though there were a few instances I rolled my eyes at. Didn't notice any cut and paste sex scenes for once but near the beginning some characters that had been introduced were introduced really strangely. But overall Dawn's voice read like someone her age.
Climax & Ending
I wasn't totally sure where the climax of this book was--it just seemed like one bad thing after another happened with some happier times in between. Maybe . I liked the ending with . The way things wrapped up was nice, though since I know what happens in the next book makes me really wish Dawn had done more regarding Philip.
Overall, I'd give it 3.5 stars. It was better than I remembered, though it might also be that it's easier to relate to Dawn now than when I was in high school and college.
August 13, 2013
Summary: Dawn and Jimmy learn that Grandmother Cutler found some rich people she knew to secretly adopt Dawn's baby. She forged Dawn's signature on the papers and tried to do the same thing she did with Dawn.
They have a meeting with the people and their lawyers, a Judge and the people decide to give CHristie back without a fight once they realize it was a mistake. THey move back to the Hotel and Jimmy asks Dawn to marry him. She accepts and then Jimmy leaves for one last thing in the Army and they plan to have the wedding when he returns.
Dawn learns how to run the business and when Jimmy returns they have a beautiful wedding planned by Dawn's Mother Laura Sue. They go on their honeymoon only to have to return soon after because Randolph dies.
They have his funeral and soon Dawn's Mother is up and flirting with all the men at the Hotel. Philip gets engaged and then Dawn's Mother marry's Bronson Alcott and Dawn learns that Clara Sue (her half sister) is his daughter and not Randolphs.
Once Clara Sue returns home from being in trouble at school and finds that Dawn has moved her things to the Alcott Estate she goes into a rage and kicks Dawn in the stomach causing her to lose Jimmy's baby. Clara Sue is sent away to a Prep School and Philip gets married to a young woman named Betty.
Soon after they have twins and Dawn discovers that Philip still has romantic feelings for her. He went to the same place for his honeymoon that Dawn and Jimmy did and took one of her night gowns and perfume with them for Betty to wear.
Jimmy builds them a house of their own on the land of the Hotel and they move out. Dawn feels a little better about being away from the ghosts that haunt the resort. Jimmy hears that Daddy Longchamp has remarried and had a son named Gavin. He goes to visit them and when he's gone Philip gets drunk and tries to rape Dawn again.
Jimmy returns with news that Daddy Longchamp's friend from prison has located Fern. Dawn and Jimmy go to visit her and she claims that her stepfather molests her so they take her back to the Hotel with them.
Fern causes lots of trouble with her bad grades at school, stealing at the Hotel and bad attitude. Michael Sutton returns to try and blackmail Dawn for five thousand dollars but with the help of her lawyers Dawn threatens him and he goes away.
They find out that Fern was lying about her stepfather but decides to keep her anyway to try and help her become a better person.
Clara Sue is killed in a car accident with her boyfriend and Dawn's Mother is so crushed that she lets herself go and then gets delusional.
Dawn receives a call from Luther in the Meadows and he tells her that Miss Emily has died. Dawn and Jimmy go there to try and get things straight for the funeral.
Luther tells Dawn that Charlotte Booth is really not Miss Emily and Grandmother Cutler's sister, but the daughter of Grandmother Cutler. Their Father, Mr. Booth, raped Lilian Cutler (Grandmother Cutler) when she was about fourteen and she let her Mother pretend she had her instead.
Dawn then starts to realize why her Grandmother was as cruel and cold as she was. Dawn finds out that she's pregnant again with Jimmy's baby. Fern is still behaving badly, but they have hopes that all will work out somehow.
Thoughts: I always feel so terrible for the main characters of these books but the fact that they stay hopeful through out all their troubles is quite inspiring. No matter how above and beyond the circumstances may be it is a bit of a moral lesson? Or at least I think so.
They have a meeting with the people and their lawyers, a Judge and the people decide to give CHristie back without a fight once they realize it was a mistake. THey move back to the Hotel and Jimmy asks Dawn to marry him. She accepts and then Jimmy leaves for one last thing in the Army and they plan to have the wedding when he returns.
Dawn learns how to run the business and when Jimmy returns they have a beautiful wedding planned by Dawn's Mother Laura Sue. They go on their honeymoon only to have to return soon after because Randolph dies.
They have his funeral and soon Dawn's Mother is up and flirting with all the men at the Hotel. Philip gets engaged and then Dawn's Mother marry's Bronson Alcott and Dawn learns that Clara Sue (her half sister) is his daughter and not Randolphs.
Once Clara Sue returns home from being in trouble at school and finds that Dawn has moved her things to the Alcott Estate she goes into a rage and kicks Dawn in the stomach causing her to lose Jimmy's baby. Clara Sue is sent away to a Prep School and Philip gets married to a young woman named Betty.
Soon after they have twins and Dawn discovers that Philip still has romantic feelings for her. He went to the same place for his honeymoon that Dawn and Jimmy did and took one of her night gowns and perfume with them for Betty to wear.
Jimmy builds them a house of their own on the land of the Hotel and they move out. Dawn feels a little better about being away from the ghosts that haunt the resort. Jimmy hears that Daddy Longchamp has remarried and had a son named Gavin. He goes to visit them and when he's gone Philip gets drunk and tries to rape Dawn again.
Jimmy returns with news that Daddy Longchamp's friend from prison has located Fern. Dawn and Jimmy go to visit her and she claims that her stepfather molests her so they take her back to the Hotel with them.
Fern causes lots of trouble with her bad grades at school, stealing at the Hotel and bad attitude. Michael Sutton returns to try and blackmail Dawn for five thousand dollars but with the help of her lawyers Dawn threatens him and he goes away.
They find out that Fern was lying about her stepfather but decides to keep her anyway to try and help her become a better person.
Clara Sue is killed in a car accident with her boyfriend and Dawn's Mother is so crushed that she lets herself go and then gets delusional.
Dawn receives a call from Luther in the Meadows and he tells her that Miss Emily has died. Dawn and Jimmy go there to try and get things straight for the funeral.
Luther tells Dawn that Charlotte Booth is really not Miss Emily and Grandmother Cutler's sister, but the daughter of Grandmother Cutler. Their Father, Mr. Booth, raped Lilian Cutler (Grandmother Cutler) when she was about fourteen and she let her Mother pretend she had her instead.
Dawn then starts to realize why her Grandmother was as cruel and cold as she was. Dawn finds out that she's pregnant again with Jimmy's baby. Fern is still behaving badly, but they have hopes that all will work out somehow.
Thoughts: I always feel so terrible for the main characters of these books but the fact that they stay hopeful through out all their troubles is quite inspiring. No matter how above and beyond the circumstances may be it is a bit of a moral lesson? Or at least I think so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2009
This book was kind of aggravating to me. In the beginning, all is good. Jimmy and Dawn set out to get her daughter, Christie back and they do. Dawn then expertly runs the hotel, but notices changes in herself as she starts to become more controlling of the hotel and situations involving her family; much like her deceased evil grandmother. She is afraid of becoming just like the person she hated the most.
Dawn and Jimmy marry. Her half brother Philip is still obsessed with her, even going as far as to recite the marriage vows to her as he is standing up as Jimmy's best man. Philip does marry his love interest, but he makes it clear to Dawn that he chose someone so plain so he could pretend it was really her. He even steals one of Dawn's sheer nightgowns and perfume so he can leave his wife at night and go into another room in the hotel to sleep next to "Dawn."
Dawn and Jimmy move about a mile away from the hotel because Jimmy built a grand house on the hotel grounds. When Jimmy is away visiting his father and his new wife and baby, Philip arrives drunk and once again attempts to rape Dawn. He would've succeeded but her daughter Christie wakes up and interrupts things. It seems as though afterwords, Philip is extremely apologetic and there are no further incidents in this book involving his lust for Dawn.
Clara Sue unfortunately comes back in this book and while Dawn is pregnant with her and Jimmy's first child, attacks Dawn, kicking her in the stomach and causing a miscarriage. Dawn's step father Randolph, dies in this book because he cannot get over the death of his mother. Dawn's mother in turn, moves out of the hotel and in with an old flame, which she marries soon after Randolph's funeral. This man actually turns out to be Clara Sue's bio dad. Clara Sue's fate comes to an end as she runs off with a trucker who jacknives his tracker trailer and they are killed instantly. Good riddance, I hated the character.
another character I cannot tolerate is long lost Fern, the sister of jimmy. She is 10 yrs. old and is located in NYC. After accusing her adopted father of sexual abuse, she is brought back to the hotel. After stealing from the hotel, doing horribly in school, and trying to get Dawn's daughter and Jimmy's half-brother (when his father is visiting) to touch each other sexually, it is found out that she lied about being sexually molested; she read everything out of a romance novel. Jimmy and Dawn then crack the whip with her and she is always behaving for short periods of time, or back to her old self.
In the end, dawn's mother cannot recover from Clara Sue's death and starts to go mad. She doesn't recognize Dawn or anyone in the family most of the time, but at times has moments of clarity. Dawn and Jimmy finally get away from the hotel for a vacation where she finally becomes pregnant again with his child.
Miss Emily, the evil sister of the grandmother passes away in this book also. It is learned that her "sister" Charlotte, was actually the evil grandmother's daughter, from her father raping her. Dawn allows Charlotte and the caretaker to stay on the property called "The Meadows" for as long as they wish.
Also, should mention that Christie's father makes an appearance for 2 chapters. He comes back as a washed up drunk trying to extort money from Dawn. That situation is quickly dealt with.
An ok book. I'm looking forward to the next in the series and hoping it has happier times.
Dawn and Jimmy marry. Her half brother Philip is still obsessed with her, even going as far as to recite the marriage vows to her as he is standing up as Jimmy's best man. Philip does marry his love interest, but he makes it clear to Dawn that he chose someone so plain so he could pretend it was really her. He even steals one of Dawn's sheer nightgowns and perfume so he can leave his wife at night and go into another room in the hotel to sleep next to "Dawn."
Dawn and Jimmy move about a mile away from the hotel because Jimmy built a grand house on the hotel grounds. When Jimmy is away visiting his father and his new wife and baby, Philip arrives drunk and once again attempts to rape Dawn. He would've succeeded but her daughter Christie wakes up and interrupts things. It seems as though afterwords, Philip is extremely apologetic and there are no further incidents in this book involving his lust for Dawn.
Clara Sue unfortunately comes back in this book and while Dawn is pregnant with her and Jimmy's first child, attacks Dawn, kicking her in the stomach and causing a miscarriage. Dawn's step father Randolph, dies in this book because he cannot get over the death of his mother. Dawn's mother in turn, moves out of the hotel and in with an old flame, which she marries soon after Randolph's funeral. This man actually turns out to be Clara Sue's bio dad. Clara Sue's fate comes to an end as she runs off with a trucker who jacknives his tracker trailer and they are killed instantly. Good riddance, I hated the character.
another character I cannot tolerate is long lost Fern, the sister of jimmy. She is 10 yrs. old and is located in NYC. After accusing her adopted father of sexual abuse, she is brought back to the hotel. After stealing from the hotel, doing horribly in school, and trying to get Dawn's daughter and Jimmy's half-brother (when his father is visiting) to touch each other sexually, it is found out that she lied about being sexually molested; she read everything out of a romance novel. Jimmy and Dawn then crack the whip with her and she is always behaving for short periods of time, or back to her old self.
In the end, dawn's mother cannot recover from Clara Sue's death and starts to go mad. She doesn't recognize Dawn or anyone in the family most of the time, but at times has moments of clarity. Dawn and Jimmy finally get away from the hotel for a vacation where she finally becomes pregnant again with his child.
Miss Emily, the evil sister of the grandmother passes away in this book also. It is learned that her "sister" Charlotte, was actually the evil grandmother's daughter, from her father raping her. Dawn allows Charlotte and the caretaker to stay on the property called "The Meadows" for as long as they wish.
Also, should mention that Christie's father makes an appearance for 2 chapters. He comes back as a washed up drunk trying to extort money from Dawn. That situation is quickly dealt with.
An ok book. I'm looking forward to the next in the series and hoping it has happier times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2015
No puedo decir que el libro me haya gustado del todo, así que le doy dos estrellas, que es el equivalente a "it was okay". Ni bien ni rematadamente mal. Okay.
Igual lo que voy a decir no tiene sentido porque no he llegado a leer nada de VC Andrews, pero se nota mucho que esta serie de libros ha sido escrita por un escritor fantasma. VC Andrews tiene cierta fama de escribir unos libros súper geniales y éste ha sido como un culebrón malo de sobremesa: en serio, hay demasiadas cosas extrañas en esta familia y ha llegado un punto en que ciertas revelaciones me daban risa de lo absurdo que era. En plan "La despechada" de Aquí no hay quien viva.
Pero engancha. Como los culebrones. Así que no voy a tardar en pasar al Kindle el siguiente.
Y, señores que escribís las sinopsis de estos libros: hijos de p***. Hacéis referencias a cosas que no ocurren hasta muy avanzado el libro, una de ella en concreto no sucede hasta que llevaba ya el 84% de la novela leída, así que la sorpresa al cuerno. Spoileadores.
Igual lo que voy a decir no tiene sentido porque no he llegado a leer nada de VC Andrews, pero se nota mucho que esta serie de libros ha sido escrita por un escritor fantasma. VC Andrews tiene cierta fama de escribir unos libros súper geniales y éste ha sido como un culebrón malo de sobremesa: en serio, hay demasiadas cosas extrañas en esta familia y ha llegado un punto en que ciertas revelaciones me daban risa de lo absurdo que era. En plan "La despechada" de Aquí no hay quien viva.
Pero engancha. Como los culebrones. Así que no voy a tardar en pasar al Kindle el siguiente.
Y, señores que escribís las sinopsis de estos libros: hijos de p***. Hacéis referencias a cosas que no ocurren hasta muy avanzado el libro, una de ella en concreto no sucede hasta que llevaba ya el 84% de la novela leída, así que la sorpresa al cuerno. Spoileadores.
April 20, 2013
When Flowers in the Attic was first published in the UK, it was somewhere around 1989/1990 and I was addicted. Virginia's books couldn't come out quick enough - as soon as they were on the bookshelf in Tesco (I was a checkout chick on a Monday evening and Saturday), I would buy it.
Although her words were carried on after her death, it was never quite the same, but I still read this one again after many years. What seemed such a great story back then was not so much some 20 years later, but that's perhaps I have grown up and my reading tastes have matured. But still very much enjoyed the story :o)
Although her words were carried on after her death, it was never quite the same, but I still read this one again after many years. What seemed such a great story back then was not so much some 20 years later, but that's perhaps I have grown up and my reading tastes have matured. But still very much enjoyed the story :o)
May 12, 2022
This is the third book in the Cutler Series and Dawn has improved significantly. Finally, she isn't just some dumb female and matured a lot. My heart grew soft for Dawn's real mother in this book. This book sounds and is actually happier than the two previous books before this. This could have even been the ending of this series but of course, there is still the fourth and the fifth book. Overall, I enjoyed this book very much and as always, Jimmy is the best character ever written in this series.
July 14, 2012
VC Andrews has always been a favorite of mine since my childhood days. I have read (and re-read) all of her books, and although I am much older now and find that some of her work is better than others, I still enjoy the twists and turns, strangeness and mystery that continues to captivate my interest. (even some of the ghostwriter's work)
March 25, 2016
Not as great as "Secrets of the Morning" but still a great installment in the Cutler story. I feel like there was just so much in this book though and the pacing was definitely off. Everything sort of happens in the last half of this book instead of throughout. There was some closure with a few of the "issues" but there was also a few new doors open. Can't wait to read what happens next!
August 21, 2014
You can't help but wonder why the characters in Virginia Andrews books don't learn from past mistakes.
Why Dawn decided to stay at that hotel is beyond me. I'd have moved far away and started fresh with my little family.
It was great seeing Dawn mature and adjust to motherhood and other responsibilities.
Why Dawn decided to stay at that hotel is beyond me. I'd have moved far away and started fresh with my little family.
It was great seeing Dawn mature and adjust to motherhood and other responsibilities.
September 17, 2008
I think Dawn might have been the most tragic of all of V.C. Andrews's female characters. She just kept having bad stuff happen over and over, which I know happens to all of her characters, but Dawn really seemed to get it more.
Sorry for the bad review, it's been years since I read these books.
Sorry for the bad review, it's been years since I read these books.
April 28, 2010
During this series I grew tired of Virginia Andrews-this was everso similar to the original set of Flowers in the attic stories. I did buy them all and read them all but never did any of the following serials.
August 6, 2016
I didn't like the Cutler series as much as I liked the Casteel and Logan series, but this series isn't completely bad. I couldn't identify with the central female character like I tend to do in the other series, but this had a good plot and followed nicely in the series.
August 5, 2011
The cutler series is a wonderful drama series by vc andrews. she knows how to twist a tail of deception lies lust love drama sadness fear and many other emotions. you will know the main character as if she was you... quite enjoyable!
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