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Days of the Week #4
The Blessed Child
Wednesday's child is full of woe . . .
Warwickshire, 1865.
Nessie Carson will do anything to keep her family together after her mother is killed, her father abandons them and they are evicted from their cosy little Nuneaton home. She and her brothers and sisters take on jobs as live-in assistants to a local undertaker. She is soon entwined in fortunes of her employer, Andre, who is forced to live a lie, and the local doctor - someone she's attracted to but can never have. But even in the darkest of times, and saddest of places, when you're as spirited as Nessie Carson, there is light, love and the promise of happiness if you're only brave enough to search for it . . .
Warwickshire, 1865.
Nessie Carson will do anything to keep her family together after her mother is killed, her father abandons them and they are evicted from their cosy little Nuneaton home. She and her brothers and sisters take on jobs as live-in assistants to a local undertaker. She is soon entwined in fortunes of her employer, Andre, who is forced to live a lie, and the local doctor - someone she's attracted to but can never have. But even in the darkest of times, and saddest of places, when you're as spirited as Nessie Carson, there is light, love and the promise of happiness if you're only brave enough to search for it . . .
477 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2018
353 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Goodwin
105 books372 followersBefore becoming a writer, I was a Placement Support Worker and foster carer, and worked in the social services department after completing a teacher training course. Many children have joined my family over the years. I still live in Nuneaton, where many of my books are set, with my husband, Trevor, and our beloved dogs.
I was thrilled to discover that I'd become one of the top 250 most-borrowed library authors in the UK, and would like to thank all of you who have taken out my books over the last few years! I love meeting my readers and am always pleased to hear from you. I hope you will all continue to get in touch and please do sign up for my newsletter!
I was thrilled to discover that I'd become one of the top 250 most-borrowed library authors in the UK, and would like to thank all of you who have taken out my books over the last few years! I love meeting my readers and am always pleased to hear from you. I hope you will all continue to get in touch and please do sign up for my newsletter!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
October 23, 2018
I really loved this book, it is definitely one of my favourite books of the year. Rosie Goodwin writes such good family sagas that you can't help but be drawn into the story from the very first page. This book was the fourth book in the days of the week series inspired by the saying Wednesdays child is full of woe and Nessie is the main character and she is a really strong character with all she has to cope with all through the years. In the 1860s we see the young family torn apart by a tragedy, Nessie, her brother Reuban, younger sister Marcie and baby Joseph are left to fend for themselves after their mother is brutally murdered. Nessie is the stronger girl and it's up to her to keep the family together, housed and fed whilst her sister is more interested in becoming "a lady". No spoilers here but this heartwarming story will warm your heart as you learn all that happens to this little family.
Although this book is part of a series, you can certainly enjoy it even if you have not read the previous books and I would have given it more than five stars if I could have done. I loved it, loved it.
Although this book is part of a series, you can certainly enjoy it even if you have not read the previous books and I would have given it more than five stars if I could have done. I loved it, loved it.
November 8, 2018
As a fan of historical fiction I was very much looking forward to getting stuck into this book and it didn’t disappoint!
After the tragic murder of their mother, the Carson siblings fall on hard times, constantly trying to earn enough money to make ends meet.
Nessie Carson takes over as the mother figure, caring for her siblings as best she can.
However, their lives seem to be an endless battle of bad luck and hardship but when Nessie and her brother Reuben are offered work and lodgings with the local undertaker, things start looking up.
This is ultimately a book about family. About love and loss and how even through the most troubling of times, things can always look up with the support of family and the determination to look after one another.
It’s a perfect read for this time of year!
After the tragic murder of their mother, the Carson siblings fall on hard times, constantly trying to earn enough money to make ends meet.
Nessie Carson takes over as the mother figure, caring for her siblings as best she can.
However, their lives seem to be an endless battle of bad luck and hardship but when Nessie and her brother Reuben are offered work and lodgings with the local undertaker, things start looking up.
This is ultimately a book about family. About love and loss and how even through the most troubling of times, things can always look up with the support of family and the determination to look after one another.
It’s a perfect read for this time of year!
October 26, 2018
400 pages of pure emotion, heartache but also a gorgeous family saga.
After their father leaves and their mother is brutally murdered, Nessie is left to hold the family together with Reuben, Marcie and little brother Joseph in a small squalor. Left with no money, they have to find food, work and keep a roof over their head even in the deepest of days Nessie has the ability to bring light and support to her family with a smile.
A page turning saga that has twists and tales on every chapter. From the lecherous landlord who is eager for them to fail the rent, to the youngest sister having ideas out of her 'class' and bringing family into gossip, then to good fortune of new job and hopeful future followed by secrets and lies that hurt the family. With each page you hope that things change and work out the way you want them too..
Without telling the tale, this book had me laughing and then crying and even 'Oh No' at some points.
Although this is the fourth book in the saga it is not needed to read the others although that is something I will now be doing.
Rosie is an amazing author, absolutely loved this book. Definitely recommend.
After their father leaves and their mother is brutally murdered, Nessie is left to hold the family together with Reuben, Marcie and little brother Joseph in a small squalor. Left with no money, they have to find food, work and keep a roof over their head even in the deepest of days Nessie has the ability to bring light and support to her family with a smile.
A page turning saga that has twists and tales on every chapter. From the lecherous landlord who is eager for them to fail the rent, to the youngest sister having ideas out of her 'class' and bringing family into gossip, then to good fortune of new job and hopeful future followed by secrets and lies that hurt the family. With each page you hope that things change and work out the way you want them too..
Without telling the tale, this book had me laughing and then crying and even 'Oh No' at some points.
Although this is the fourth book in the saga it is not needed to read the others although that is something I will now be doing.
Rosie is an amazing author, absolutely loved this book. Definitely recommend.
October 28, 2020
I really loved this book, it is definitely one of my favourite books of the year. Rosie Goodwin writes such good family sagas that you can't help but be drawn into the story from the very first page. This book was the fourth book in the days of the week series inspired by the saying Wednesdays child is full of woe and Nessie is the main character and she is a really strong character with all she has to cope with all through the years. In the 1860s we see the young family torn apart by a tragedy, Nessie, her brother Reuban, younger sister Marcie and baby Joseph are left to fend for themselves after their mother is brutally murdered. Nessie is the stronger girl and it's up to her to keep the family together, housed and fed whilst her sister is more interested in becoming "a lady". No spoilers here but this heartwarming story will warm your heart as you learn all that happens to this little family.
Although this book is part of a series, you can certainly enjoy it even if you have not read the previous books and I would have given it more than five stars if I could have done. I loved it, loved it.
Although this book is part of a series, you can certainly enjoy it even if you have not read the previous books and I would have given it more than five stars if I could have done. I loved it, loved it.
October 27, 2018
Well what can i say this book is a lovely story of one families struggle to live a happy life,but things and people are out to make life a struggle.Nessie is a lovely kind hearted girl who along with her brother is determined to keep their family going.I have loved this book and Rosie Goodwin always writes a lovely heartfelt book.Well worth 5* if not more Thank you for the chance to read it.
March 1, 2019
The Blessed Child by Rosie Goodwin it is really a brilliant read and a very good story. So it's five stars from me and a recommended read. You can always rely on a a good book by Rosie Goodwin.
Read
January 4, 2019A lovely story, ideal to read when snuggled up on a winter's evening. This is Rosie's forth book in the days of the week series. Like the others this book doesn't follow on from the last, but is set in the same area at around the same time. Wednesday's child and the book's main character is Nessie, she has a very difficult time to endure, but she is strong and although she's young she looks after her family and helps others in any way she can. A easy 5 stars.
November 29, 2018
great
i hope there will be a sequel!!! another great book from rosie. couldn't put it down. highly reccomend it. left me qanting to know more.
i hope there will be a sequel!!! another great book from rosie. couldn't put it down. highly reccomend it. left me qanting to know more.
February 18, 2019
Great book
An excellent book, one that is difficult to put down. You get so engrossed in it that you just have to keep reading. Would recommend this.
An excellent book, one that is difficult to put down. You get so engrossed in it that you just have to keep reading. Would recommend this.
February 18, 2019
Was good book only thing it was predictable ending.love this authors books.
December 21, 2018
Having been abandoned by her father, lost her mother, the story is about Nessie. A strong minded female in a desolate family unit also composed of her brother, sister and baby brother. Nessie as the good character takes on the burden of supporting the remnants of a family, scrapping around the slagheaps for coal and a bit of wood, finding work and facing a harsh environment and horrible people who seem hell bent on bringing her down.
It's well written and the description of the cold weather, the limited resources and lack of support in the olden days paints a stark picture. Warmth flows from the central character Nessie who has unlimited kindness. She is a one dimensional character, it would have been nice to see some flaws to her character, moments of hatred or some other negative emotion to make her more believable and enjoyable. The brother has more dimensions, flowing from a kind and virtuous character to a hateful resentful one, and then back again; which worked really well. Similarly her minx of a sister had many dimensions.
The plot is very engaging and has you rooting for Carson family, right until the last page. A few characters could have been better developed, the father appears fleetingly but as a very complex character he could have really added to the novel had his story been told fully. Also the mother of Andre, a French lady with gypsy blood and many interesting facets of personality could have added a nice and interesting side story had she been allowed to develop, alas she featured as a sort of summary of some background information which didn't add a lot to the plot.
This is a straightforward easy reader, there won't be many surprises, but where there are surprises they are big and have no signposting ahead of their introduction. Some of the shocking revelations could have been better introduced by developing certain characters more and adding some hints ahead of the big reveal. As it stands, when these things were revealed, they feel awkward and confusing due to the lack of build up.
The story ends well and is fulfilling, but the last 50 pages feel rushed, the author trying hard to tie up the loose ends in a too few words. The finale would have benefited in expansion, if it was about word count then cutting the input of minor characters such as Molly and her husband, maids and serving staff portions. A lot of this serves as unnecessary support of the concept of the purity of Nessie, it doesn't make the story a better or worse, but more value could have been added from focusing on some of the more interesting characters. In particular some of the very hard story lines could have been better represented too, rather than just making an appearance for shock value.
Overall this is a good and very entertaining little book.
It's well written and the description of the cold weather, the limited resources and lack of support in the olden days paints a stark picture. Warmth flows from the central character Nessie who has unlimited kindness. She is a one dimensional character, it would have been nice to see some flaws to her character, moments of hatred or some other negative emotion to make her more believable and enjoyable. The brother has more dimensions, flowing from a kind and virtuous character to a hateful resentful one, and then back again; which worked really well. Similarly her minx of a sister had many dimensions.
The plot is very engaging and has you rooting for Carson family, right until the last page. A few characters could have been better developed, the father appears fleetingly but as a very complex character he could have really added to the novel had his story been told fully. Also the mother of Andre, a French lady with gypsy blood and many interesting facets of personality could have added a nice and interesting side story had she been allowed to develop, alas she featured as a sort of summary of some background information which didn't add a lot to the plot.
This is a straightforward easy reader, there won't be many surprises, but where there are surprises they are big and have no signposting ahead of their introduction. Some of the shocking revelations could have been better introduced by developing certain characters more and adding some hints ahead of the big reveal. As it stands, when these things were revealed, they feel awkward and confusing due to the lack of build up.
The story ends well and is fulfilling, but the last 50 pages feel rushed, the author trying hard to tie up the loose ends in a too few words. The finale would have benefited in expansion, if it was about word count then cutting the input of minor characters such as Molly and her husband, maids and serving staff portions. A lot of this serves as unnecessary support of the concept of the purity of Nessie, it doesn't make the story a better or worse, but more value could have been added from focusing on some of the more interesting characters. In particular some of the very hard story lines could have been better represented too, rather than just making an appearance for shock value.
Overall this is a good and very entertaining little book.
December 4, 2020
It’s not that I’m looking for feel-good books for the Christmas season, but this I bumped up The Blessed Child in the TBR stack because: 1) it’s a physical book and 2) I wanted to read it before I finished all the teas in the Quaintly & Co. Tea and Book Box. And also because I just finished An Illustrated Modern Reader of The Classic of Tea and really wanted something different.
The Blessed Child is historical fiction centered around Wednesday Carson, also known as Nessie Carson. After her mother is brutally murdered, she and her brother Reuben try to keep the family going despite a spoiled younger sister (Marcie) and sickly younger brother (Joseph). The blurb for the book I have mentions the handsome young doctor Oliver but really, their fortunes only begin to change when they get jobs with the local undertaker, Andre.
As a pretty straightforward rags-to-riches story, The Blessed Child is a quick and fun read. I found myself rooting for Nessie and it was nice to read how she was slowly making her way into a place of security, without forgetting those that she knew as well.
While this story is great for the holiday spirit, it’s not without its flaws. The two biggest ones for me were the quick changes in POV and the fact that Nessie is almost a Mary-Sue.
The Blessed Child uses an omniscient third person POV, which lets it see the thoughts of all the characters. At the start of the book, however, it felt a little bit like head hopping and I wasn’t quite sure whose POV I was supposed to be in. I think this is an intentional narrative device, since it does help to heighten tension with regards to some of the dangers Nessie faces early on, but it did take some time to get used to.
The other issue was slightly harder to get over because Mary Sues annoy me. At the very start of the book, we have a character describe Nessie as not conventionally pretty but actually really beautiful (and this beauty is remarked upon throughout the book). Nessie is also very kind and has a good business sense, and apart from being a little short-tempered with her spoiled sister, doesn’t seem to have any flaws. Thankfully, what saves the book from becoming too saccharin is the fact that Nessie does go through some pretty difficult times. In the overall scheme of things, she’s more of a Sara Crewe than Cedric Errol, which makes her easier to root for.
Overall, The Blessed Child works pretty well as a piece of feel-good holiday fiction. I started off rather unsure of whether I would like the book because of the two problems mentioned, but I ended up finishing it within a day, showing that yes, I am actually a softy and love reading these triumphant stories.
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
The Blessed Child is historical fiction centered around Wednesday Carson, also known as Nessie Carson. After her mother is brutally murdered, she and her brother Reuben try to keep the family going despite a spoiled younger sister (Marcie) and sickly younger brother (Joseph). The blurb for the book I have mentions the handsome young doctor Oliver but really, their fortunes only begin to change when they get jobs with the local undertaker, Andre.
As a pretty straightforward rags-to-riches story, The Blessed Child is a quick and fun read. I found myself rooting for Nessie and it was nice to read how she was slowly making her way into a place of security, without forgetting those that she knew as well.
While this story is great for the holiday spirit, it’s not without its flaws. The two biggest ones for me were the quick changes in POV and the fact that Nessie is almost a Mary-Sue.
The Blessed Child uses an omniscient third person POV, which lets it see the thoughts of all the characters. At the start of the book, however, it felt a little bit like head hopping and I wasn’t quite sure whose POV I was supposed to be in. I think this is an intentional narrative device, since it does help to heighten tension with regards to some of the dangers Nessie faces early on, but it did take some time to get used to.
The other issue was slightly harder to get over because Mary Sues annoy me. At the very start of the book, we have a character describe Nessie as not conventionally pretty but actually really beautiful (and this beauty is remarked upon throughout the book). Nessie is also very kind and has a good business sense, and apart from being a little short-tempered with her spoiled sister, doesn’t seem to have any flaws. Thankfully, what saves the book from becoming too saccharin is the fact that Nessie does go through some pretty difficult times. In the overall scheme of things, she’s more of a Sara Crewe than Cedric Errol, which makes her easier to root for.
Overall, The Blessed Child works pretty well as a piece of feel-good holiday fiction. I started off rather unsure of whether I would like the book because of the two problems mentioned, but I ended up finishing it within a day, showing that yes, I am actually a softy and love reading these triumphant stories.
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
February 5, 2022
Would probably give this 4.5 stars, if I could! I genuinely loved it and looked forward to reading it when I could. But I do find the "We're of such difference class it will never work" a bit frustrating and tiresome.
Still one of my favourite authors, now to find the next book in the days of the week series 😁
Still one of my favourite authors, now to find the next book in the days of the week series 😁
November 24, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The story is easy to follow and the charachters very likeable. It moves along at quite a good pace. Very well written and emotional in parts.
April 9, 2019
Couldnt put the book down until Id finished, great read
August 20, 2019
A bit predictable in places but still a lovely read and I'm glad that things ended happily.
October 14, 2025
From rags to riches
Again Ms. Goodwin didn't disappoint. I enjoyed watching Nessie go through near starvation and taking care of her siblings. Then surviving that she was able to rise above it all finding her place. Yeah, maybe it was a corny story but definitely a page turner.
Again Ms. Goodwin didn't disappoint. I enjoyed watching Nessie go through near starvation and taking care of her siblings. Then surviving that she was able to rise above it all finding her place. Yeah, maybe it was a corny story but definitely a page turner.
September 9, 2020
Thought this a lovely rag to riches type story, heartbreaking in places but such a good read. Another 5 star from Rosie Goodwin.
October 30, 2018
“Wednesdays Child is full of woe”
This book follows the life of siblings Nessie, Marcie and Reuben Carson, a life which is full of constant struggle and woe. They find themselves alone in a short space of time when their mother is murdered and their father abandons the family home. The story shows the hardship Nessie goes through to ensure that her family can stay together, taking on the role of both parents to her siblings Marcie, Reuben and young Joseph. Surely things cannot become any worse for the family? Is happiness going to lighten their lives?
I have not read any Rosie Goodwin books before which I feel now is an absolute disgrace as she is a wonderful writer. She really achieves the difficult task of captivating the reader, her character development is fantastic. I really felt connected to the characters, especially Nessie. I found myself feeling every emotion with her through the book, and felt like she was a friend by the end. It is really well written, in a way that it makes it an easy and enjoyable read. I would 100% recommend this book to everybody considering it, it is such a wonderful emotional rollercoaster of a book.
This book follows the life of siblings Nessie, Marcie and Reuben Carson, a life which is full of constant struggle and woe. They find themselves alone in a short space of time when their mother is murdered and their father abandons the family home. The story shows the hardship Nessie goes through to ensure that her family can stay together, taking on the role of both parents to her siblings Marcie, Reuben and young Joseph. Surely things cannot become any worse for the family? Is happiness going to lighten their lives?
I have not read any Rosie Goodwin books before which I feel now is an absolute disgrace as she is a wonderful writer. She really achieves the difficult task of captivating the reader, her character development is fantastic. I really felt connected to the characters, especially Nessie. I found myself feeling every emotion with her through the book, and felt like she was a friend by the end. It is really well written, in a way that it makes it an easy and enjoyable read. I would 100% recommend this book to everybody considering it, it is such a wonderful emotional rollercoaster of a book.
October 22, 2018
Another great read from Rosie I am loving this series and can’t wait for the next book. Wednesday and her family have a hard time when their father walks out on them and then their mother is brutally murdered soon after. Wednesday or Nessie to friends struggles to keep the family out of the workhouse. With a lazy sister a poorly baby brother and her other brother who has broken his ankle Nessie has a lot of responsibility on her young shoulders. With Rueben unable to work Nessie struggles to fed her family or even pay the rent and wonders what life holds for them all. The Doctor tells Nessie of a job going at a local undertakers in town who will employ both her and Rueben if the interview goes well. Unsure if this the right move or not Nessie takes up Andre Chevlier on his offer of live in accommodation and jobs for them both. Things pick up for Nessie but things are still far from perfect I don’t want to spoil the read but I highly recommend that you read this book you won’t be disappointed.
October 29, 2018
I have to admit this isn't my usual type of read but I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is centered around Nessie who finds herself struggling to care for her siblings after the death of their mother, their Father having left them in poverty some years before. Nessie shows her caring nature as she helps others all she can, as she is given opportunities in life Nessie uses them to help others. While her younger sister goes off to work as a maid she ends up bringing shame and controversy on the family making it impossible for Nessie to be with the man she truly loves but also knows that their could never be a future for them even without her sisters input as they are from very different class. This book is an excellent saga with lots of surprises throughout, a story of love, hardship and tragedy, I would highly recommend this book and I will look forward to reading Rosie Goodwin's many other books.
December 2, 2018
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I am a massive fan of historical fiction and it is my favourite genre out of all the books I read – and this author’s books are some of my favourite – they are based in Nuneaton, where I was born and still live today so they are even more special for me!
The book is a delight to read, everything about it worked for me, from the brilliant characterisation through to the descriptive nature of the book which brings the era to life. The plot is great and it had me gripped. I read the book over a few days as I wanted to eek out my enjoyment as much as possible. I loved every page and it is one of my favourite books of 2018.
Definitely 5 stars from me, it is a brilliant story, exceptionally written and had a superb plot – very highly recommended and can’t wait to see what she releases next!!
I am a massive fan of historical fiction and it is my favourite genre out of all the books I read – and this author’s books are some of my favourite – they are based in Nuneaton, where I was born and still live today so they are even more special for me!
The book is a delight to read, everything about it worked for me, from the brilliant characterisation through to the descriptive nature of the book which brings the era to life. The plot is great and it had me gripped. I read the book over a few days as I wanted to eek out my enjoyment as much as possible. I loved every page and it is one of my favourite books of 2018.
Definitely 5 stars from me, it is a brilliant story, exceptionally written and had a superb plot – very highly recommended and can’t wait to see what she releases next!!
October 18, 2018
Wednesday's Child
This is certainly another excellent story from this very talented author.
I love reading her books as there are always many unexpected twists and turns to the story line to delight my imagination and make me wonder just what is going to happen next.
This story of Nessie Carson and her family is certainly full of one crisis after another.
The years covered are 1863 - 1870 which were always a very challenging time for the ordinary folk while the rich lived a life of luxury. The author really helps us
to understand the difference between the two classes.
There is also a lot of information on how funerals were arranged back in those days which is revealing.
At the very end of the book there is a recipe for a roast goose and a letter from the author which make interesting reading.
This is certainly another excellent story from this very talented author.
I love reading her books as there are always many unexpected twists and turns to the story line to delight my imagination and make me wonder just what is going to happen next.
This story of Nessie Carson and her family is certainly full of one crisis after another.
The years covered are 1863 - 1870 which were always a very challenging time for the ordinary folk while the rich lived a life of luxury. The author really helps us
to understand the difference between the two classes.
There is also a lot of information on how funerals were arranged back in those days which is revealing.
At the very end of the book there is a recipe for a roast goose and a letter from the author which make interesting reading.
October 25, 2018
Rosie Goodwin really does know what makes a good historical saga. This is the latest in the "Days of the Week" series which sees our heroine Nessie (Wednesday) juggling poverty, family and unwanted attention from her sleazy landlord, in the wake of her mother's murder.
A life changing offer of a job for her and her brother at the local funeral parlour means that things are starting to look up. Meanwhile her flighty sister, Marcie, is getting herself in hot water with an inappropriate relationship. The book isn't all predictable charm though - the grinding poverty affects several characters, we have a murderer on the lose and Marcie is hiding a dark secret.
It has a satisfying ending though, with most of the characters getting what they deserve (good or bad). Despite the ups and downs of the tale you come away with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
A life changing offer of a job for her and her brother at the local funeral parlour means that things are starting to look up. Meanwhile her flighty sister, Marcie, is getting herself in hot water with an inappropriate relationship. The book isn't all predictable charm though - the grinding poverty affects several characters, we have a murderer on the lose and Marcie is hiding a dark secret.
It has a satisfying ending though, with most of the characters getting what they deserve (good or bad). Despite the ups and downs of the tale you come away with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
October 18, 2018
Rosie Goodwin is an experienced writer of historical family sagas.
The Blessed Child is a well written novel based on a family deserted by the father and devastated by the murder of the mother. Wednesday is the lead character, older brother Reuben working to support the family, flighty younger sister Marcie and sick young brother Joseph all are explained well enough to make you care what happens next to them. The plot is comfortably predictable but has a few surprises to make it take some unexpected twists and turns. It depicts life in the 1860’s which was hard to survive for those without much money for food and rent.
Ideal reading for those cold wet days when you want to indulge yourself curled up on the sofa with a good book and box of chocolates!
The Blessed Child is a well written novel based on a family deserted by the father and devastated by the murder of the mother. Wednesday is the lead character, older brother Reuben working to support the family, flighty younger sister Marcie and sick young brother Joseph all are explained well enough to make you care what happens next to them. The plot is comfortably predictable but has a few surprises to make it take some unexpected twists and turns. It depicts life in the 1860’s which was hard to survive for those without much money for food and rent.
Ideal reading for those cold wet days when you want to indulge yourself curled up on the sofa with a good book and box of chocolates!
October 21, 2018
Left me feeling uplifted!
I loved every single second of this book, the story flowed so very well that it really en-captured me into the story with characters that feel so real. Nessie, is such a character that seems to be one of those that you really root for yet the world just seems to be against her!
It has a nostalgic charm that really warms you heart, the ending really left me feeling uplifted and I could honestly read this book again and again - which I rarely do!
It makes you very grateful for the things in your life and you almost instantly cannot help reflecting upon Nessie and finding comfort in despite the fact that everything may seem to be going wrong, in the end everything really does work out okay!
I loved every single second of this book, the story flowed so very well that it really en-captured me into the story with characters that feel so real. Nessie, is such a character that seems to be one of those that you really root for yet the world just seems to be against her!
It has a nostalgic charm that really warms you heart, the ending really left me feeling uplifted and I could honestly read this book again and again - which I rarely do!
It makes you very grateful for the things in your life and you almost instantly cannot help reflecting upon Nessie and finding comfort in despite the fact that everything may seem to be going wrong, in the end everything really does work out okay!
November 1, 2018
As you would expect from this best selling authoress Rosie Goodwin this is a tale of sorrows and love. An unusual idea for a book in that the orphaned and abandoned children; the protagonist goes to work in an undertakers but get the gritty determination Nessie Carson and the love for her family. A tale of struggles, heartache and poverty, will Nessie be able to care for her family and the issues they bring? A lovely story with lightness to illuminate the dark as we fall in love with Nessie and hope that she can find love. I found the book a bit heavy going at times whereas in other chapters I was eager to read on. Overall a lovely story which warms your heart and at times makez you want to cheer out loud!
October 23, 2018
Very good. Enjoyed the fourth book in the days of the week series which is focusing on 'Wednesday's child' with the main character being called Wednesday but shortened down to Nessie. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions and it will stay with you for awhile. Vivid characters who you will love and also love to hate. Thank you Reader's First for the preview copy.
December 10, 2025
3.5 perhaps.
Yet another absorbing and gripping Historical Fiction read from Rosie Goodwin.
This book I found really keeps you wondering with a burning curiousity, as there is a murder mystery going on while you also of course wonder what's going to happen in the end. For example with Marcy's arc you can never be sure what's going to happen, as I honestly thought she seemed so heartless and selfish at first that I couldn't see a redemption arc coming up, but then there is a twist that explains why she's been so heartless and uncaring when it comes to their little brother Joseph, and that is when the sympathy kicks in.
I like how there wasn't actually a sudden, aggressive, detailed rape scene in this like there has been many of these Historical Fiction novels that results in an unexpected pregnancy like you get in so many of her novels, being very much a recurring theme. It is very much a Rags to Riches story, with Nessie going from living in major poverty and struggling to meet ends meet to marrying a rich man, and it is always uplifting to see someone struggling to make ends meet to getting what they have earned in the end.
This brings me to the critical part though. As is the case with many of Goodwin's novels, it could really get way too repetitive, especially when it came to the whole Nessie and Oliver romance, with us being told just how beautiful he thinks she looks literally two or three times within a couple of paragraphs. It was really annoying as well, as while we are told he has also fallen in love with her inner-beauty, there still seems to be this constant, predominant focus on her outer beauty, as like with many of the main love interests in Goodwin's novels we are CONSTANTLY told just how beautiful this guy thinks our main protagonist looks and how madly in love he is with her. It also got way too repetitive when reminding us how much in love each of them are with each other, like we know this by now, and it just could have been done more subtly, I mean readers know how to read between the lines. It just really annoys me, especially constantly being told just how beautiful the guy thinks the girl is more than the other way round. Not only that but we are told again and again just how beautiful Oliver thinks Nessie is and how madly in love with her he is and it just gets really annoying, and like with many of these main love interests we barely get to see Oliver outside of him being madly in love with our protagonist, and he is simply too much of a perfect, Marty-Stu who can just simply do no wrong and always has something good to say no matter what, coming across as a bit one-dimensional to me. Their romance was very similar to Lily and Louis's in Our Fair Lily, about a poor girl and rich guy who fall in love with each other and have annoyingly similar, saintly, goody-two shoes, one-dimensional characters, although to be fair Nessie wasn't quite as much of a saintly Mary Sue as Lily in Our Fairy Lily (though she may have been had she begun taking in waifs of the street who end up worshipping her for her kindness), but is still seen as a saint and worshipped as such by Oliver which just got really annoying. I also found the ending scene annoying, as we have already had it (over)emphasised enough to us already just how madly in love Nessie and Oliver are with each other, yet it ends with them kissing and Oliver telling her for the a trillionth time just how much he loves her, after having already shown them going through a lot of PDA as it is. It's like we get it, these people are madly in love with each other, you don't have to tell us a trillion times, and could at least be more subtle with it.
Much like with Lily in Our Fair Lily, Nessie was too one-dimensional and virtuous, though not quite as much as Our Saint-sorry-Fair Lily. Especially with how unlike her brother she just seemed too patient and tolerant of their difficult circumstances, not to mention their younger sister always making things harder for them, which is neither realistic nor relatable. In reality, a girl in her position would be much more resentful and angrier towards Marcie for being so selfish and inconsiderate with them all the time, and would definitely snap at the difficult circumstances they found themselves in. Also, much like with Lily in Our Fair Lily, being kind doesn't simply mean being a saint-it's almost like an all of nothing mindset-although to be fair Reuben probably fits the more realistic, complex middle ground for this. While not all of Goodwin's protagonists are one-dimensional like this, I think it is important in a story to always have three-dimensional characters, let alone protagonists, as people like to have characters they feel they can relate to, and it is just more interesting seeing how complex people's characters can really be, and is an important part of writing too.
I did find it annoying and weird the way Oliver somehow knows about Andre's secret that apparently only Nessie knew because it was such a big secret yet this is never explained-I don't think it was ever said that the two were friends either? Also what happened to Molly's kids after she and her husband moved into the funeral parlour? Too many plot holes.
Also, while Marcy did redeem herself in the end, I'm not sure how I felt about her fate, as her landing on her feet like that wouldn't have really taught her a lesson given it was just what she was hoping for. It all seemed a bit too rushed to me. She just lands on her feet getting exactly what she wanted, marrying a rich man, despite not having earned or deserved this, and even if she did reform, what is that going to teach her, while also giving the impression that people can get what they want by just being lazy and selfish with unrealistic dreams. In fact, despite being made out to have redeemed, I didn't find Marcy actually reformed and redeemed that much by the end, with her still simply having achieved the goal of living the life of Riley that she had longed for, without having learned about the importance of hard work, while also still having left Nessie burdened yet again with her own child which really annoyed me, like she clearly hasn't changed that much when it came to her selfishness and inconsiderateness, yet she still gets exactly what she wanted without having even earned it! It was just ridiculous, she acts a bit more pleasant and likeable but that's about it, she doesn't actually do anything to properly redeem herself, and is still pretty selfish and inconsiderate!
However I liked how Andre was made gay (which was EXTREMELY taboo and illegal even at the time and would be for another hundred years!) rather than being painfully in love with Nessie only to have the feelings unrequited due to her being in love with Oliver of course, as that just would have felt too mean. To be honest I preferred Nessie and Andre to Nessie and Oliver even though they could obviously never be together due to him preferring the same sex, as we get to see a lot more of their relationship which is more meaningful and full of more depth. I also preferred Andre to Oliver, as Oliver was just too much of a perfect, goody-two shoes, Marty-Stu who could simply do no wrong and whose morals are just always in perfect order, and like I say we barely get to see his character outside of him being madly in love with Nessie. With Andre though we get to see him a lot more as a character in his own right, and he seemed a more realistic kind character to me than Oliver's saintly embodiment. I also get so sick of seeing "I think I've loved you since the second I set eyes on you" which ALWAYS seems to come from the guy instead of the girl, and irregardless of whether you believe in Love at First Sight or not, it does get really cliched and repetitive the way this same line seems to be recycled in a good number of Goodwin's romance novels. It would be nice to see a love story where the guy only falls in love with her after getting to know her, or at least have this emphasised more.
Overall I did really enjoy this book still and found it very gripping and absorbing indeed.
Yet another absorbing and gripping Historical Fiction read from Rosie Goodwin.
This book I found really keeps you wondering with a burning curiousity, as there is a murder mystery going on while you also of course wonder what's going to happen in the end. For example with Marcy's arc you can never be sure what's going to happen, as I honestly thought she seemed so heartless and selfish at first that I couldn't see a redemption arc coming up, but then there is a twist that explains why she's been so heartless and uncaring when it comes to their little brother Joseph, and that is when the sympathy kicks in.
I like how there wasn't actually a sudden, aggressive, detailed rape scene in this like there has been many of these Historical Fiction novels that results in an unexpected pregnancy like you get in so many of her novels, being very much a recurring theme. It is very much a Rags to Riches story, with Nessie going from living in major poverty and struggling to meet ends meet to marrying a rich man, and it is always uplifting to see someone struggling to make ends meet to getting what they have earned in the end.
This brings me to the critical part though. As is the case with many of Goodwin's novels, it could really get way too repetitive, especially when it came to the whole Nessie and Oliver romance, with us being told just how beautiful he thinks she looks literally two or three times within a couple of paragraphs. It was really annoying as well, as while we are told he has also fallen in love with her inner-beauty, there still seems to be this constant, predominant focus on her outer beauty, as like with many of the main love interests in Goodwin's novels we are CONSTANTLY told just how beautiful this guy thinks our main protagonist looks and how madly in love he is with her. It also got way too repetitive when reminding us how much in love each of them are with each other, like we know this by now, and it just could have been done more subtly, I mean readers know how to read between the lines. It just really annoys me, especially constantly being told just how beautiful the guy thinks the girl is more than the other way round. Not only that but we are told again and again just how beautiful Oliver thinks Nessie is and how madly in love with her he is and it just gets really annoying, and like with many of these main love interests we barely get to see Oliver outside of him being madly in love with our protagonist, and he is simply too much of a perfect, Marty-Stu who can just simply do no wrong and always has something good to say no matter what, coming across as a bit one-dimensional to me. Their romance was very similar to Lily and Louis's in Our Fair Lily, about a poor girl and rich guy who fall in love with each other and have annoyingly similar, saintly, goody-two shoes, one-dimensional characters, although to be fair Nessie wasn't quite as much of a saintly Mary Sue as Lily in Our Fairy Lily (though she may have been had she begun taking in waifs of the street who end up worshipping her for her kindness), but is still seen as a saint and worshipped as such by Oliver which just got really annoying. I also found the ending scene annoying, as we have already had it (over)emphasised enough to us already just how madly in love Nessie and Oliver are with each other, yet it ends with them kissing and Oliver telling her for the a trillionth time just how much he loves her, after having already shown them going through a lot of PDA as it is. It's like we get it, these people are madly in love with each other, you don't have to tell us a trillion times, and could at least be more subtle with it.
Much like with Lily in Our Fair Lily, Nessie was too one-dimensional and virtuous, though not quite as much as Our Saint-sorry-Fair Lily. Especially with how unlike her brother she just seemed too patient and tolerant of their difficult circumstances, not to mention their younger sister always making things harder for them, which is neither realistic nor relatable. In reality, a girl in her position would be much more resentful and angrier towards Marcie for being so selfish and inconsiderate with them all the time, and would definitely snap at the difficult circumstances they found themselves in. Also, much like with Lily in Our Fair Lily, being kind doesn't simply mean being a saint-it's almost like an all of nothing mindset-although to be fair Reuben probably fits the more realistic, complex middle ground for this. While not all of Goodwin's protagonists are one-dimensional like this, I think it is important in a story to always have three-dimensional characters, let alone protagonists, as people like to have characters they feel they can relate to, and it is just more interesting seeing how complex people's characters can really be, and is an important part of writing too.
I did find it annoying and weird the way Oliver somehow knows about Andre's secret that apparently only Nessie knew because it was such a big secret yet this is never explained-I don't think it was ever said that the two were friends either? Also what happened to Molly's kids after she and her husband moved into the funeral parlour? Too many plot holes.
Also, while Marcy did redeem herself in the end, I'm not sure how I felt about her fate, as her landing on her feet like that wouldn't have really taught her a lesson given it was just what she was hoping for. It all seemed a bit too rushed to me. She just lands on her feet getting exactly what she wanted, marrying a rich man, despite not having earned or deserved this, and even if she did reform, what is that going to teach her, while also giving the impression that people can get what they want by just being lazy and selfish with unrealistic dreams. In fact, despite being made out to have redeemed, I didn't find Marcy actually reformed and redeemed that much by the end, with her still simply having achieved the goal of living the life of Riley that she had longed for, without having learned about the importance of hard work, while also still having left Nessie burdened yet again with her own child which really annoyed me, like she clearly hasn't changed that much when it came to her selfishness and inconsiderateness, yet she still gets exactly what she wanted without having even earned it! It was just ridiculous, she acts a bit more pleasant and likeable but that's about it, she doesn't actually do anything to properly redeem herself, and is still pretty selfish and inconsiderate!
However I liked how Andre was made gay (which was EXTREMELY taboo and illegal even at the time and would be for another hundred years!) rather than being painfully in love with Nessie only to have the feelings unrequited due to her being in love with Oliver of course, as that just would have felt too mean. To be honest I preferred Nessie and Andre to Nessie and Oliver even though they could obviously never be together due to him preferring the same sex, as we get to see a lot more of their relationship which is more meaningful and full of more depth. I also preferred Andre to Oliver, as Oliver was just too much of a perfect, goody-two shoes, Marty-Stu who could simply do no wrong and whose morals are just always in perfect order, and like I say we barely get to see his character outside of him being madly in love with Nessie. With Andre though we get to see him a lot more as a character in his own right, and he seemed a more realistic kind character to me than Oliver's saintly embodiment. I also get so sick of seeing "I think I've loved you since the second I set eyes on you" which ALWAYS seems to come from the guy instead of the girl, and irregardless of whether you believe in Love at First Sight or not, it does get really cliched and repetitive the way this same line seems to be recycled in a good number of Goodwin's romance novels. It would be nice to see a love story where the guy only falls in love with her after getting to know her, or at least have this emphasised more.
Overall I did really enjoy this book still and found it very gripping and absorbing indeed.
April 1, 2019
In book four Wednesday's child is introduced. As the rhyme goes she is full of woe. Given what happened in the previous two books I was a bit worried about the new main character. Our heroine is Wednesday named for the day she was born. Called Nessie by everyone she is a kind hearted soul. After the shocking death of their mother Nessie takes on the care of her family her older brother Rueben, younger sister Marcie and baby brother Joseph. Rueben is hard working, Marcie a selfish spoiled brat and poor Joseph is developmentally delayed. After Rueben is injured and can no longer work and Marcie heads off to work as a maid for a wealthy family Nessie struggles to pay their rent and keep them fed. A job opportunity at an undertaker beckons and soon things begin to look up for them. I have to say this was the best of the series so far. It had so much going for it. From a serial killer murder, to unwanted pregnancies, bribery, forbidden romance, unrequited love, But through it all is overall theme of love and friendship. So many wonderful characters from Andre and Oliver, Molly and Charlie and even the bad ones like Seth and George, although I did worry the Seth Nessie story was going to be a repeat of Albert and Sunday it wasn't. It was a slow start but it turned out to be quite good and hard to put down at times. It had a feel of Downton Abbey at times especially the upstairs downstairs at Haunchwwod and a scene toward the end in the snowy garden. I was happy that while things aren't the greatest for Nessie it's nowhere near as bad as things got for Grace and Kitty. I truly loved this book and am super excited to go on Titanic in book five.
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