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Two Silver Crosses
"Not to be missed" - Elizabeth Buchan, bestselling author of The New Mrs Clifton
A big, poignant and heartwarming story of war, flight, a divided family . . . and the power of love to change lives.
In 1926 the Holborn twins, Ginny and her blind sister Emily, disappear from their comfortable home in Wolverhampton. Why? No one knew. Ten years later, aspiring solicitor Charlie Commoner is dispatched to France to track them down. What he finds instead is a mystery, a tragedy and a love affair.
But as the Second World War darkens over Europe, so, too, does the legacy from a terrifying disease that holds the family in its grip . . .
As warmhearted as Maeve Binchy, as compulsive as The Shell Seekers, Two Silver Crosses is unputdownable.
Beryl Kingston was born and brought up in Tooting. After taking her degree at London University, she taught English and Drama at various London schools as well as bringing up her three children. She and her husband now live in Sussex.
Her other titles include Hearts and Farthings, Kisses and Ha’pennies, A Time to Love, Tuppenny Times, Fourpenny Flyer, Sixpenny Stalls, London Pride, and War Baby.
A big, poignant and heartwarming story of war, flight, a divided family . . . and the power of love to change lives.
In 1926 the Holborn twins, Ginny and her blind sister Emily, disappear from their comfortable home in Wolverhampton. Why? No one knew. Ten years later, aspiring solicitor Charlie Commoner is dispatched to France to track them down. What he finds instead is a mystery, a tragedy and a love affair.
But as the Second World War darkens over Europe, so, too, does the legacy from a terrifying disease that holds the family in its grip . . .
As warmhearted as Maeve Binchy, as compulsive as The Shell Seekers, Two Silver Crosses is unputdownable.
Beryl Kingston was born and brought up in Tooting. After taking her degree at London University, she taught English and Drama at various London schools as well as bringing up her three children. She and her husband now live in Sussex.
Her other titles include Hearts and Farthings, Kisses and Ha’pennies, A Time to Love, Tuppenny Times, Fourpenny Flyer, Sixpenny Stalls, London Pride, and War Baby.
583 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 17, 2019
EXCERPT: 'Don't worry,' Ginny whispered as she kissed her sister goodbye outside the Advocate's house. 'I shan't come to any harm. She's exaggerating.'
Emily didn't argue because there wasn't time, and because Maman might hear it and, in any case, she was too drained by the emotion of the last few minutes to want to provoke any more outbursts. She simply kissed Ginny's cheek and said a private prayer for her safety. But she was still cold with dread and she went on feeling afraid for the rest of the day; when she finally got into bed, she carried her unspoken fears into nightmares.
Lacerated with rage, Ginny ran to the station. To say such things just at the very moment when she was packed and ready to go! It was hateful. And unnecessary. She felt upset all the way to Paris, justifying her anger with her mother and pushing pity to one side, concentrating on feeling aggrieved and hurt so that she didn't have to face the possible truth of what had been said. Because it couldn't be true. She wouldn't let it be true. It was too horrible.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: ‘Nobody is to know where we are. You must forget England. That part of your lives is over.’
Twins Ginny and Emily Holborn have everything they could ever need in their Wolverhampton home: a loving family, a garden to play in and a staff waiting to attend to their every need. Until, one summer day in 1926, they disappear without a trace.
Ten years later, bright-eyed solicitor Charlie Commoner is given his first job: track down the still-missing Holborn twins. Despatched to France, he’s left to unravel a web of infidelity, mystery, and terrifying family secrets.
MY THOUGHTS: I almost abandoned this book at one early point, but I am so very glad that I didn't. I ended up heavily invested in the lives, struggles and very different romances of the Holborn twins.
This is not a short read, but the appeal for me was two-fold: Beryl Kingston is an author I remember my mother enjoying immensely; and I have recently found myself enjoying historical fiction set around the two world wars.
The story travels from a wealthy beginning in England, to poverty and almost destitution in France. The contrast in life-styles is immense. It is told mostly from four points of view: that of Hortense, the young French wife of the only son of a wealthy industrialist and mother to the twins; Agnes her sister-in-law, married to the social climbing Claude; and the twins themselves, Virginia and the blind Emily.
The mystery is really not that mysterious; in fact, I thought it rather obvious. I also thought that Charlie should have made the connection between the missing heiresses and Jeannie a lot sooner. That, I felt, was a little too drawn out. The constant string of near misses became somewhat irritating. Perhaps the story would have had more appeal had we begun with the death of the twins grandfather, and the resulting search for them, and learned their earlier history in flashbacks. But we must also remember that this book was written and first published almost thirty years ago.
It was an interesting read, and I might be tempted to read another by this author at some point in the future.
☺☺☺.5
THE AUTHOR: BERYL KINGSTON has been a writer since she was seven when she started producing 'poetry' which, according to her, was very, very bad. She was evacuated to Felpham at the start of WWII, igniting an interest in one time resident poet William Blake (which later inspired her novel The Gates of Paradise). She was a school teacher until 1985, but became a full-time writer when her debut novel became a bestseller. Kingston lives in west Sussex, and has three children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Agora Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Two Silver Crosses by Beryl Kingston for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Emily didn't argue because there wasn't time, and because Maman might hear it and, in any case, she was too drained by the emotion of the last few minutes to want to provoke any more outbursts. She simply kissed Ginny's cheek and said a private prayer for her safety. But she was still cold with dread and she went on feeling afraid for the rest of the day; when she finally got into bed, she carried her unspoken fears into nightmares.
Lacerated with rage, Ginny ran to the station. To say such things just at the very moment when she was packed and ready to go! It was hateful. And unnecessary. She felt upset all the way to Paris, justifying her anger with her mother and pushing pity to one side, concentrating on feeling aggrieved and hurt so that she didn't have to face the possible truth of what had been said. Because it couldn't be true. She wouldn't let it be true. It was too horrible.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: ‘Nobody is to know where we are. You must forget England. That part of your lives is over.’
Twins Ginny and Emily Holborn have everything they could ever need in their Wolverhampton home: a loving family, a garden to play in and a staff waiting to attend to their every need. Until, one summer day in 1926, they disappear without a trace.
Ten years later, bright-eyed solicitor Charlie Commoner is given his first job: track down the still-missing Holborn twins. Despatched to France, he’s left to unravel a web of infidelity, mystery, and terrifying family secrets.
MY THOUGHTS: I almost abandoned this book at one early point, but I am so very glad that I didn't. I ended up heavily invested in the lives, struggles and very different romances of the Holborn twins.
This is not a short read, but the appeal for me was two-fold: Beryl Kingston is an author I remember my mother enjoying immensely; and I have recently found myself enjoying historical fiction set around the two world wars.
The story travels from a wealthy beginning in England, to poverty and almost destitution in France. The contrast in life-styles is immense. It is told mostly from four points of view: that of Hortense, the young French wife of the only son of a wealthy industrialist and mother to the twins; Agnes her sister-in-law, married to the social climbing Claude; and the twins themselves, Virginia and the blind Emily.
The mystery is really not that mysterious; in fact, I thought it rather obvious. I also thought that Charlie should have made the connection between the missing heiresses and Jeannie a lot sooner. That, I felt, was a little too drawn out. The constant string of near misses became somewhat irritating. Perhaps the story would have had more appeal had we begun with the death of the twins grandfather, and the resulting search for them, and learned their earlier history in flashbacks. But we must also remember that this book was written and first published almost thirty years ago.
It was an interesting read, and I might be tempted to read another by this author at some point in the future.
☺☺☺.5
THE AUTHOR: BERYL KINGSTON has been a writer since she was seven when she started producing 'poetry' which, according to her, was very, very bad. She was evacuated to Felpham at the start of WWII, igniting an interest in one time resident poet William Blake (which later inspired her novel The Gates of Paradise). She was a school teacher until 1985, but became a full-time writer when her debut novel became a bestseller. Kingston lives in west Sussex, and has three children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Agora Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Two Silver Crosses by Beryl Kingston for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 21, 2019
The Holborn family's secrets are enough to break them apart; but hopefully their love and determination will bring them back together.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows 10 year-old twins Ginny and Emily, and their mother Hortense; who are chased from their elegant home in England by a painful secret Hortense has tried to keep buried.
They flee to her homeland of France, and try to make the most of life, despite their mother's restless nature, they drift from town to town.
As time goes on, their English aunt and devoted old governess do everything to try and track the girls down, and bring them home.
After the death of their grandfather, and with a will worth millions driving the incentive, their solicitors will stop at nothing to find the heiresses.
I found this a really sweet and intriguing.
It was interesting to see life in France, between the First and Second World Wars. The contrasting lives and ambition of Ginny, who wants to become an independent young woman, who wants to work and have friends and all life has to offer. Emily is blind - she is equally intelligent, but she is drawn to the joys of a warm and familiar home.
They both have to deal with their slightly-neurotic mother, Hortense; who insists that they cannot contact England, and that they must never ever marry. There is the stigma of disease and certain illnesses that Hortense would rather carry to her grave, than share the burden with her two cursed daughters.
I found this book slow, and hard to get into at the beginning. There are a lot of meandering plots, and there is a surplus of background information about minor characters that don't matter.
If I'm very honest, I didn't think the Commoner family antics added anything to the story, and I ended up skimming a lot of their sections.
It may just be the review copy that I was given - but it needed editing and formatting. The text blurred between scenes. One paragraph you were in England with the Holborns, the next you were with Ginny in France, etc. There's no distinction to show a change in scene, which left me going back and having to re-read. It didn't happen every time, but often enough to be frustrating.
The ending was very abrupt, and not particularly satisfying. After all the in-depth stuff that could have been cut early in the story, it was surprising that Ginny and Charlie should have such a non-ending.
Overall, this was an interesting read and a 3.5 out of 5 for me.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows 10 year-old twins Ginny and Emily, and their mother Hortense; who are chased from their elegant home in England by a painful secret Hortense has tried to keep buried.
They flee to her homeland of France, and try to make the most of life, despite their mother's restless nature, they drift from town to town.
As time goes on, their English aunt and devoted old governess do everything to try and track the girls down, and bring them home.
After the death of their grandfather, and with a will worth millions driving the incentive, their solicitors will stop at nothing to find the heiresses.
I found this a really sweet and intriguing.
It was interesting to see life in France, between the First and Second World Wars. The contrasting lives and ambition of Ginny, who wants to become an independent young woman, who wants to work and have friends and all life has to offer. Emily is blind - she is equally intelligent, but she is drawn to the joys of a warm and familiar home.
They both have to deal with their slightly-neurotic mother, Hortense; who insists that they cannot contact England, and that they must never ever marry. There is the stigma of disease and certain illnesses that Hortense would rather carry to her grave, than share the burden with her two cursed daughters.
I found this book slow, and hard to get into at the beginning. There are a lot of meandering plots, and there is a surplus of background information about minor characters that don't matter.
If I'm very honest, I didn't think the Commoner family antics added anything to the story, and I ended up skimming a lot of their sections.
It may just be the review copy that I was given - but it needed editing and formatting. The text blurred between scenes. One paragraph you were in England with the Holborns, the next you were with Ginny in France, etc. There's no distinction to show a change in scene, which left me going back and having to re-read. It didn't happen every time, but often enough to be frustrating.
The ending was very abrupt, and not particularly satisfying. After all the in-depth stuff that could have been cut early in the story, it was surprising that Ginny and Charlie should have such a non-ending.
Overall, this was an interesting read and a 3.5 out of 5 for me.
May 21, 2019
If you read the blog frequently you will know how excited I was about this release. I am a lifetime fan of Ms Beryl Kingston. I spent hours with her books as a teenager. So Two Silver Crosses coming across my path from Agora Books has most certainly been the highlight of my reading year.
The book cover design is beautiful and timeless. It fits with perfection to the story and I have to say the paper and cover quality are the best I have ever seen. It is a whopper of a book at 590 pages. But I could have read another 590 it was/is that well written.
It felt like something magically wonderfully stepping back inside the brain of Ms Kingston. Her unique ability to write the lives of these characters so gently and with care. Never rushing or over indulging in details.
I was with the twins every step of the way, haunting them as the reader. Experiencing the pain and joys of each adventure alongside them. Crying and laughing with them. France is a huge part of the book and I really felt I was there. I could smell the streets and feel the vibrations that Emily felt. It was an adventure I never wanted to end.
Beryl Kingston has a way of building up a particular scene into an oh no moment. When you as the reader can see the connotations of disaster ahead and you almost hold your breath too long and scream at the pages. It almost felt like my heart would pop from my chest with the rate it was thumping against my rib cage.
As I read the last page I smiled and my heart glowed. What a beautiful experience this was indeed. I haven’t read a saga fiction novel since last year. I love them but most of all I really enjoy Beryl Kingston’s writing the most. I could pop down a 1000 + words about how amazing the writing is and explaining the quality and love that you can tell goes into every word on the page. Also the care and attention to every character even the horrid ones.
It was perfect in every way, there is nothing more you could want from a book.
Heartwarming, breaking and felt.
The book cover design is beautiful and timeless. It fits with perfection to the story and I have to say the paper and cover quality are the best I have ever seen. It is a whopper of a book at 590 pages. But I could have read another 590 it was/is that well written.
It felt like something magically wonderfully stepping back inside the brain of Ms Kingston. Her unique ability to write the lives of these characters so gently and with care. Never rushing or over indulging in details.
I was with the twins every step of the way, haunting them as the reader. Experiencing the pain and joys of each adventure alongside them. Crying and laughing with them. France is a huge part of the book and I really felt I was there. I could smell the streets and feel the vibrations that Emily felt. It was an adventure I never wanted to end.
Beryl Kingston has a way of building up a particular scene into an oh no moment. When you as the reader can see the connotations of disaster ahead and you almost hold your breath too long and scream at the pages. It almost felt like my heart would pop from my chest with the rate it was thumping against my rib cage.
As I read the last page I smiled and my heart glowed. What a beautiful experience this was indeed. I haven’t read a saga fiction novel since last year. I love them but most of all I really enjoy Beryl Kingston’s writing the most. I could pop down a 1000 + words about how amazing the writing is and explaining the quality and love that you can tell goes into every word on the page. Also the care and attention to every character even the horrid ones.
It was perfect in every way, there is nothing more you could want from a book.
Heartwarming, breaking and felt.
February 26, 2019
I found this to be a compelling read, the relationship between the two sisters especially so.
Growing up in England, Emily and Virginia (Ginny) have all the privileges of living at the big Holborn house. Their father is set to inherit the estate and the business, but his death puts paid to that. Their mother - half-French - is bullied into leaving by her brother-in-law who threatens to expose her secret. She takes the girls to France for a new life, but financially they soon struggle and have to take on much harder duties to earn enough money to pay the rent. Their mother swears it is necessary, and so long as the girls never marry they will all be fine.
The idea of never marrying, or even falling in love, is not easy for the girls to accept but they agree - for their mother's sake. Until, that is, love finds them.
When Emily meets her future husband, it is truly proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, because she isn't concerned with his looks but more with the kindness in his voice. The girls continue their relationships without telling their mother, and circumstances mean they are never quite in the right place when advertisements are posted asking them to get in touch. Their grandfather has died, and has named them in his will. Are their fortunes about to change? If only they can be found in time.
This is a well written story with many a twisting plot. At first, the story is slow to get going. There is a lot of background information to get them to where the real story begins - the search to find them and reveal their inheritance. The author creates some strong imagery, but at times I feel the plot is weighed down by descriptive detail - as beautiful as it may be.
The pace picks up as the search intensifies and missed opportunities thwart them at every turn. The silver crosses are a nice touch, a unifying element to allow for certain twists in the tale.
The progress of the war and its impact on their lives is fascinating - from the Spanish Civil War, the protests against the fascists and then the German invasion across Europe.
Great characters - both sisters are well-defined with unique personalities. Claud Everdale makes a great villain, and watch out for Bertha and Grace: they are both a joy to behold and incredibly annoying.
The ending comes all too quickly, and for me it is left hanging, even though it's not difficult to see what happens after the book ends - I just would have like more at the end and less at the beginning.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot - the middle section is particularly good and kept me reading late into the night. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy historical women's fiction, peppered with romance and a good dose of intrigue.
Growing up in England, Emily and Virginia (Ginny) have all the privileges of living at the big Holborn house. Their father is set to inherit the estate and the business, but his death puts paid to that. Their mother - half-French - is bullied into leaving by her brother-in-law who threatens to expose her secret. She takes the girls to France for a new life, but financially they soon struggle and have to take on much harder duties to earn enough money to pay the rent. Their mother swears it is necessary, and so long as the girls never marry they will all be fine.
The idea of never marrying, or even falling in love, is not easy for the girls to accept but they agree - for their mother's sake. Until, that is, love finds them.
When Emily meets her future husband, it is truly proof that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, because she isn't concerned with his looks but more with the kindness in his voice. The girls continue their relationships without telling their mother, and circumstances mean they are never quite in the right place when advertisements are posted asking them to get in touch. Their grandfather has died, and has named them in his will. Are their fortunes about to change? If only they can be found in time.
This is a well written story with many a twisting plot. At first, the story is slow to get going. There is a lot of background information to get them to where the real story begins - the search to find them and reveal their inheritance. The author creates some strong imagery, but at times I feel the plot is weighed down by descriptive detail - as beautiful as it may be.
The pace picks up as the search intensifies and missed opportunities thwart them at every turn. The silver crosses are a nice touch, a unifying element to allow for certain twists in the tale.
The progress of the war and its impact on their lives is fascinating - from the Spanish Civil War, the protests against the fascists and then the German invasion across Europe.
Great characters - both sisters are well-defined with unique personalities. Claud Everdale makes a great villain, and watch out for Bertha and Grace: they are both a joy to behold and incredibly annoying.
The ending comes all too quickly, and for me it is left hanging, even though it's not difficult to see what happens after the book ends - I just would have like more at the end and less at the beginning.
Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot - the middle section is particularly good and kept me reading late into the night. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy historical women's fiction, peppered with romance and a good dose of intrigue.
January 26, 2019
4 stars
This is a great story about twin sisters that is both tragic and heartwarming. In 1926, their panicked mother, blackmailed by her brother-in-law, leaves the palatial Holborn mansion and flee to France. There the girls are mostly forgotten by those in England. Some years later when the patriarch of the family passes away, the family lawyers seek to locate the girls per the grandfather's wishes.
Finally located, they return to England to take charge of their grandfather's business, a very successful and lucrative munitions factory. With war looming on the horizon, they must re-arm England. The avaricious and scheming uncle leaves the mansion in a huff, his plans for running the factory thwarted.
When the war with Germany actually begins, the girls are anxious to get their mother out of France. Charlie and Ginny undertake a perilous journey. Hortense finally unburdens herself of her bif secret in the confessional.
Good news reigns over Holborn.
This is a very well written and plotted story. It is a fascinating book full of love, pathos, loss, tragedy and the search for two “lost” young women. I really liked the relationship between the two sisters. Their mother not so much, but I understand her immense fear in light of the times in which they lived. Living with her husband at the end of his life must have terrified Hortense. And what a trial it must have been. The silver crosses didn't really figure into the story a great deal though. The book was predictable and the characters a little formulaic, but it was an enjoyable book nonetheless. I immediately went to Amazon to look at Beryl Kingston's other novels.
I want to thank NetGalley and Agora Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
This is a great story about twin sisters that is both tragic and heartwarming. In 1926, their panicked mother, blackmailed by her brother-in-law, leaves the palatial Holborn mansion and flee to France. There the girls are mostly forgotten by those in England. Some years later when the patriarch of the family passes away, the family lawyers seek to locate the girls per the grandfather's wishes.
Finally located, they return to England to take charge of their grandfather's business, a very successful and lucrative munitions factory. With war looming on the horizon, they must re-arm England. The avaricious and scheming uncle leaves the mansion in a huff, his plans for running the factory thwarted.
When the war with Germany actually begins, the girls are anxious to get their mother out of France. Charlie and Ginny undertake a perilous journey. Hortense finally unburdens herself of her bif secret in the confessional.
Good news reigns over Holborn.
This is a very well written and plotted story. It is a fascinating book full of love, pathos, loss, tragedy and the search for two “lost” young women. I really liked the relationship between the two sisters. Their mother not so much, but I understand her immense fear in light of the times in which they lived. Living with her husband at the end of his life must have terrified Hortense. And what a trial it must have been. The silver crosses didn't really figure into the story a great deal though. The book was predictable and the characters a little formulaic, but it was an enjoyable book nonetheless. I immediately went to Amazon to look at Beryl Kingston's other novels.
I want to thank NetGalley and Agora Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
September 12, 2018
This novel is currently available on KindleUnlimited. It is an eloquently written, well-researched, informative novel set in both England and France in the pre-war years of the Second World War. The author has an enviable knack for putting you at the scene. The plot is descriptive and full of imagery. Rapidly you find yourself involved with the characters. They are diverse and well sculpted. I found the plot fatalistic in essence - serendipity, but it added charm. The Holborn Family owns G S Holborn’s in Wolverhampton. Hortense, the French wife of the Holborn’s son, gives birth to twins. Emilie is blind from the disease her mother and father carried. She is gentle, resigned and thoughtful. Virginie, her twin sister, is hot-headed, effervescent, loves a political cause but maintains touching attachment to her blind sister and cares for her. Their mother, Hortense is a gushing, melodramatic creature with a secret. How tragic that a stigmatised illness coupled with a lack of medical knowledge and fear of investigation can blight the lives of the family. There is handsome Charlie, a trainee solicitor’s clerk who is ambitious. Ken who is ugly, but caring who is searching for someone to love. The cheerful, Aunt Berthe who isn’t bright enough to understand much and happier that way. I thoroughly enjoyed an insight into the Spanish Civil War and the lead up to the World War 11 from both ends of the pond. I found myself transported back to happy memories of Paris where I stayed for several months in 1969. The places I visited, the streets I knew, the suffocating smells of Gauloises and garlic in the metro. All those years on from the story people scurried to secret communist meetings which I think was unlawful. At that stage in my life, I was apolitical, but it was an intriguing education. There were student riots to witness, where the brutality of the gendarmes with their batons was most alarming. The passion and conviction of the students were equally alarming. My Great-grandfather is buried in Abbeyville, near Amiens after the Spanish flu killed him eight days before World War 1 ended. I learnt a lot from reading this and at the same time took the family to my heart.
December 9, 2019
Two Silver Crosses is a story set between WWI and WWII about twin girls born to a rich english father and a poor french mother. After their father passed away the two girls and their mother disappeared. Will they ever be found?
This was well written. There was some good dynamics between the characters, I never fell in love with any of the characters but I did enjoy the ride.
The twins were interesting for the most part. I personally hated their mother. She was selfish constantly and drove me nuts. Seriously so many problems could have been avoided if the mom would actually stop thinking of protecting her secret. I will say that this book left me feeling unfinished. We never learned how the uncle faired, the cousins were left out, what happened to the mother and her family. I just felt like the book left me hanging. T
Three stars for being well written. I could not go higher because I did not feel like I had a real solid ending.
This was well written. There was some good dynamics between the characters, I never fell in love with any of the characters but I did enjoy the ride.
The twins were interesting for the most part. I personally hated their mother. She was selfish constantly and drove me nuts. Seriously so many problems could have been avoided if the mom would actually stop thinking of protecting her secret. I will say that this book left me feeling unfinished. We never learned how the uncle faired, the cousins were left out, what happened to the mother and her family. I just felt like the book left me hanging. T
Three stars for being well written. I could not go higher because I did not feel like I had a real solid ending.
February 17, 2019
I’ve been reading Two silver crosses as an ebook this past week thanks to Netgalley and I love it! It’s a lovely story about two sisters in the 1930s in England and France.
Twins Virginia and Emily, who is blind, are born in a wealthy English family. Their father dies of a mysterious illness, the same illness that their mother suffers from and causes them to leave everything behind and move to France.
.
Years later, both girls find love against their mother’s wishes. They have a chance at happiness but the mysterious illness is always at the back of their minds.
Then their grandfather’s will leaves them in charge of the family’s business but the second world war is about to begin...
.
I don’t usually read historical fiction and this book was a wonderful introductie to me. Both Ginny and Emily are very well written characters. I really liked Charlie but could not understand maman’s stubbornness at all.
.
The book gives good insight in the years leading up to the war in Europe. Personally, I thought it was strange how long it took for Charlie to find out it was Ginny he had been looking for all along. The book is quite long and detailed and I thought the end was a bit abrupt. I would have wanted to read a bit more.
Twins Virginia and Emily, who is blind, are born in a wealthy English family. Their father dies of a mysterious illness, the same illness that their mother suffers from and causes them to leave everything behind and move to France.
.
Years later, both girls find love against their mother’s wishes. They have a chance at happiness but the mysterious illness is always at the back of their minds.
Then their grandfather’s will leaves them in charge of the family’s business but the second world war is about to begin...
.
I don’t usually read historical fiction and this book was a wonderful introductie to me. Both Ginny and Emily are very well written characters. I really liked Charlie but could not understand maman’s stubbornness at all.
.
The book gives good insight in the years leading up to the war in Europe. Personally, I thought it was strange how long it took for Charlie to find out it was Ginny he had been looking for all along. The book is quite long and detailed and I thought the end was a bit abrupt. I would have wanted to read a bit more.
June 7, 2019
Starting in 1916 we follow the story of twin sisters, Virginia & Emily Holborn. Born into a wealthy family they have a privileged upbringing in the family home until the death of their Father when they are 10. They then flee with their French Mother back to her homeland where they grow up and ultimately find love.
This is, on the whole, a good if slightly lengthy read. We get plenty of detail of the girls and their lives. Their characters are very three dimensional and distinct. There is a good supporting cast – their Mother, the solicitors, friends, family and their ultimate suitors. I felt the characters were well written and there were no problems distinguishing between them.
I think my only quibble with the book was that it seemed to stagnate a bit in the middle. The book is quite lengthy and I feel a bit of editing there would have moved the story along better. It didn’t get to the point that I was planning to give but I did start to loose interest.
A well written, enjoyable book. Yes, slightly predictable in places and not a totally original book but a good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
This is, on the whole, a good if slightly lengthy read. We get plenty of detail of the girls and their lives. Their characters are very three dimensional and distinct. There is a good supporting cast – their Mother, the solicitors, friends, family and their ultimate suitors. I felt the characters were well written and there were no problems distinguishing between them.
I think my only quibble with the book was that it seemed to stagnate a bit in the middle. The book is quite lengthy and I feel a bit of editing there would have moved the story along better. It didn’t get to the point that I was planning to give but I did start to loose interest.
A well written, enjoyable book. Yes, slightly predictable in places and not a totally original book but a good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
March 19, 2019
My thoughts on the novel are positive. It was not a short tale, nor was it fast moving – it was an actual commitment to read – no casual one-night encounter here. However, it didn’t need to be fast-paced and it would have lost so much vital content if it had been shorter. It wasn’t fluffy at all, but had depths of emotion and detailed environs.
Ms. Kingston does a remarkable job of transporting the reader back in time and place with her vivid, descriptive prose. Her characters are well-developed and thoroughly charming, flawed, and enjoyable – with the exception of her antagonists- they are still well-done, but utterly detestable. The book as a whole is warm and moving – a true tale of overcoming adversity and self-discovery.
I will say that I was surprised (within the first chapter) at the depth and content of the family secrets. They were not what I was expecting and the author did a remarkable job of ensuring that it influenced every part of the book. And, yes, while I know I was reading fiction, I was angered on the twins' behalf that societal norms dictated such a lack of education and awareness of certain matters and that society itself was so harsh. Very much a sins of the father (mother) theme going on.
Overall, I was thrilled by the novel and impressed anew at how well the author captures a different era. It was enjoyable, emotional, and even educational, I would say. Gripping pre-WW2 fiction done absolutely right.
A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my thoughts. All opinions are my own and full details of the book review and blog tour can be found here: https://lifelovelaughterlinds.home.bl...
Ms. Kingston does a remarkable job of transporting the reader back in time and place with her vivid, descriptive prose. Her characters are well-developed and thoroughly charming, flawed, and enjoyable – with the exception of her antagonists- they are still well-done, but utterly detestable. The book as a whole is warm and moving – a true tale of overcoming adversity and self-discovery.
I will say that I was surprised (within the first chapter) at the depth and content of the family secrets. They were not what I was expecting and the author did a remarkable job of ensuring that it influenced every part of the book. And, yes, while I know I was reading fiction, I was angered on the twins' behalf that societal norms dictated such a lack of education and awareness of certain matters and that society itself was so harsh. Very much a sins of the father (mother) theme going on.
Overall, I was thrilled by the novel and impressed anew at how well the author captures a different era. It was enjoyable, emotional, and even educational, I would say. Gripping pre-WW2 fiction done absolutely right.
A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my thoughts. All opinions are my own and full details of the book review and blog tour can be found here: https://lifelovelaughterlinds.home.bl...
January 29, 2019
A great read
Enriched with details
Two sisters, twins who were born entitled, flea with their mother to France. They grow up pour and living from one town to the next.
Half English, half French, they forget their English born family and make due with their mom. She moves them from one place to another because of a secret illness. One she doesn't bare to tell them. Now this had me guessing the entire book. I had to put my thinking cap on and go back in time. Think of an illness that you wouldn't want to tell anyone back in 1926. Right when Ginnie found out, it hit me.
Emily and Ginnie make promises to their mom that they couldn't keep. Watching them grow up was nice. Emily blind, Ginnie able to see. Like twins they had their own language. They matured in an era where war was coming.
They have their losses and love.
Enriched with details
Two sisters, twins who were born entitled, flea with their mother to France. They grow up pour and living from one town to the next.
Half English, half French, they forget their English born family and make due with their mom. She moves them from one place to another because of a secret illness. One she doesn't bare to tell them. Now this had me guessing the entire book. I had to put my thinking cap on and go back in time. Think of an illness that you wouldn't want to tell anyone back in 1926. Right when Ginnie found out, it hit me.
Emily and Ginnie make promises to their mom that they couldn't keep. Watching them grow up was nice. Emily blind, Ginnie able to see. Like twins they had their own language. They matured in an era where war was coming.
They have their losses and love.
March 9, 2019
Ginny and Emily are sisters who as children are gifted the titular crosses by their grandfather. After their father's death, their mother flees with them to France so the terrible secret she holds isn't exposed. Years later, a search begins for the twins to bring them back into the family fold.
I love historical drama. I was so excited to dive into this read but was left highly disappointed. I don't know if it was the writing style I couldn't connect to or the characters but from the beginning I was not engaged. I struggled to make it through. I felt like there was too much plot, too many tropes, and it was overall too long. I believe had certain threads not been included, the story would have been more concise and engaging. More is not always better.
I love historical drama. I was so excited to dive into this read but was left highly disappointed. I don't know if it was the writing style I couldn't connect to or the characters but from the beginning I was not engaged. I struggled to make it through. I felt like there was too much plot, too many tropes, and it was overall too long. I believe had certain threads not been included, the story would have been more concise and engaging. More is not always better.
August 31, 2020
I really loved the overall premise of this book. Twins Ginny and Emily Holborn are born into the lap of luxury, but their mother Hortense takes them and leaves England when they are very young after the death of their father.. They are raised in on the run going from place to place in England living on the cusp of society. After the death of their grandfather, a law firm is hired to work in finding them and returning them to their rightful place. The book follows them as they grow up and fall in love. I felt like this book was very true to the history of the time period and I really enjoyed this aspect. The book was very long winded in places and the plot points seemed to be lost at times because of it. Thanks for the ARC, Net Galley.
March 13, 2022
The beginning of this book is a little slow as there is a great deal of background information but it develops into a twisting plot with Kingston creating some strong imagery. As the search to find the sisters intensifies the pace picks up, The mystery illness keeps me intrigued; why does it need to be so secret?
The silver crosses feature towards the end and at last I understand the title.
Historical women fiction is not my usual choice but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I would certainly recommend it.
The silver crosses feature towards the end and at last I understand the title.
Historical women fiction is not my usual choice but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I would certainly recommend it.
January 11, 2018
Absolutely stunning piece of writing. So easy to read and follow. This story follows 2 sister who there mother keeps hiding them and keep a secret. you can't really predict the story. for me this was a serious page turner. The story and characters were truly stunning. thank you Beryl for writing this. An easy 5 stars from me I look forward to the rest.
June 14, 2019
I had a very difficult time getting through The Two Silver Crosses. I really wanted to like it but it was a hard to keep my attention focused on it. I loved the premise for this novel and the bottom line is it was not the best book I have ever read nor the worst.
December 3, 2022
I did enjoy this, there was a lot of detail to get through but worth it. I thought the twins were excellent characters and I love a pre-WWII story.
February 26, 2019
I received an advanced Kindle version of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Agora Books Publishing and NetGalley!
This story centers around two twin girls Ginny and Emily who were born after WWI, but live in a world that falters at the precipice of moving forward from the horrors of the war but also in anxious trepidation of what might happen if another war were to begin. Their father being a soldier in the great war and their mother whom he met in France, are no stranger to the strife that war presents, even as their daughters are born. As they discover that their daughter Emily is born blind, some of the memories of war that they would soon like to forget, come roaring back. Emily and Ginny are well-adjusted and enjoy their time at Wolverhampton in a large playroom, expansive garden to play in, and beautiful clothes. It's not until their mother decides to leave England behind with only suitcases in their hands and the clothes on their backs, and are thrust into a world and language they are not overly familiar, do they start to grasp full realities of war and relationships.
I really enjoyed the references that Beryl Kingston made to historical times, places, and key characters throughout the time period and how all of those would affect Ginny and Emily. It felt as though the events were truly happening and as I read through the book, I felt heartache, happiness, and genuine emotion as the story progressed and other characters were brought into their lives. I'm happy to have read it and look forward to reading other titles by Beryl Kingston. This was an excellent story in the historical fiction genre and I have certainly become to enjoy Ms. Kingston's writing style and historical references. Great read!
This story centers around two twin girls Ginny and Emily who were born after WWI, but live in a world that falters at the precipice of moving forward from the horrors of the war but also in anxious trepidation of what might happen if another war were to begin. Their father being a soldier in the great war and their mother whom he met in France, are no stranger to the strife that war presents, even as their daughters are born. As they discover that their daughter Emily is born blind, some of the memories of war that they would soon like to forget, come roaring back. Emily and Ginny are well-adjusted and enjoy their time at Wolverhampton in a large playroom, expansive garden to play in, and beautiful clothes. It's not until their mother decides to leave England behind with only suitcases in their hands and the clothes on their backs, and are thrust into a world and language they are not overly familiar, do they start to grasp full realities of war and relationships.
I really enjoyed the references that Beryl Kingston made to historical times, places, and key characters throughout the time period and how all of those would affect Ginny and Emily. It felt as though the events were truly happening and as I read through the book, I felt heartache, happiness, and genuine emotion as the story progressed and other characters were brought into their lives. I'm happy to have read it and look forward to reading other titles by Beryl Kingston. This was an excellent story in the historical fiction genre and I have certainly become to enjoy Ms. Kingston's writing style and historical references. Great read!
March 15, 2019
I was drawn in by the description of the plot and quite rightly so. This a compelling and at times year jerking tale of family and secrets and mysteries. I really enjoyed it. The plot skirted close to there being one coincidence or near miss (don’t want to spoil the plot) too many but avoided this pitfall. Lose yourself in this book, I recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley
Read
November 15, 2019DNF @ p68/12%
This book just isn’t for me. I’m not enjoying the reading process and the time frame is hard to keep up with. We’ve somehow spanned 7 years in about 3 pages. Sad, as I quite enjoyed the last Kingston I read.
This book just isn’t for me. I’m not enjoying the reading process and the time frame is hard to keep up with. We’ve somehow spanned 7 years in about 3 pages. Sad, as I quite enjoyed the last Kingston I read.
April 25, 2020
Plodding story line
This book was too long and the story line was weak and unbelievable. The only interesting character got written out is a very strange way for the time the book was set. I did not enjoy this book.
This book was too long and the story line was weak and unbelievable. The only interesting character got written out is a very strange way for the time the book was set. I did not enjoy this book.
January 28, 2021
A nice story
I liked the story , although hated how it ended so abruptly. I liked the characters and the painted picture of the scenery and towns I could reply imagine being there esp. The French parts.
I liked the story , although hated how it ended so abruptly. I liked the characters and the painted picture of the scenery and towns I could reply imagine being there esp. The French parts.
January 20, 2021
Good story
Not a bad WW2 story. Good characters. Chapters are quite long. I might read other books by Beryl Kingston sometime.
Not a bad WW2 story. Good characters. Chapters are quite long. I might read other books by Beryl Kingston sometime.
March 16, 2019
Emily and Ginnie grow up in a privileged house in Wolverhampton in the 1920s until their father dies of a mysterious illnessand their mother takes them to France. Life is now much harder and they move around a bit, not knowing that their grandfather back in England is searching for them and they are due to inherit if he finds them.
A good story mainly in the era between the two wars. The characters are good, especially Emily who was blind from birth and I was immediately drawn into the story, my only criticism would be that it went on a bit too long when it wasn't really necessary.
A good story mainly in the era between the two wars. The characters are good, especially Emily who was blind from birth and I was immediately drawn into the story, my only criticism would be that it went on a bit too long when it wasn't really necessary.
March 28, 2019
Two Silver Crosses is a historical read set between the end of WWI and the beginning of WWII. Twins Ginny and Emily are born in a world of privilege, with a French mother and an English father. They grow up in a big mansion in the English countryside but when their father dies, they need to flight to France with their mother and start from zero.
This story really starts ten years after that though. When their grandfather dies and includes them in his will, they need to be located. Something that seems almost impossible and as the search follows, there are multiple obstacles, many misunderstandings and plenty of near misses.
What I enjoyed the most in this story were all the historical references. We learned about many relevant events in that time and how they affected these characters. I found especially interesting to read how the youth in France organized themselves to fight against fascism.
However, the pace of the story was a bit slow. Although there was a lot of going on sometimes, especially in the middle part during the search, I felt that the progress in the actual plot was slow. But I have to say that it still hold my curiosity until the end and I wondered many times how everything was going to end. All in all, Two Silver Crosses is an interesting historical read with lots of secrets and twists.
This story really starts ten years after that though. When their grandfather dies and includes them in his will, they need to be located. Something that seems almost impossible and as the search follows, there are multiple obstacles, many misunderstandings and plenty of near misses.
What I enjoyed the most in this story were all the historical references. We learned about many relevant events in that time and how they affected these characters. I found especially interesting to read how the youth in France organized themselves to fight against fascism.
However, the pace of the story was a bit slow. Although there was a lot of going on sometimes, especially in the middle part during the search, I felt that the progress in the actual plot was slow. But I have to say that it still hold my curiosity until the end and I wondered many times how everything was going to end. All in all, Two Silver Crosses is an interesting historical read with lots of secrets and twists.
March 31, 2019
The author did a brilliant job of capturing the time period in this novel. The characters and plot were also well written. This was a great piece of historical fiction!
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