Monarch Manor

by Maureen Leurck

Erin Marinelli has her work cut out for her when she arrives at her late grandmother's Wisconsin home to prepare for an estate sale. But sifting through the overwhelming collection of figurines, outdated appliances and dusty books, she finds something that captures her attention: a yellowed envelope of old photographs. In one, taken almost a century ago, a beautiful woman is seated with a young boy who looks uncannily like Erin's five-year-old autistic son, Will. Intrigued, Erin looks further into her family's history, and discovers parallels to her present day life. The boy in the picture, John Cartwright, was deaf. He and his mother, Amelia, are presumed to have drowned together in Geneva Lake, beside Amelia's family home. Named for the butterflies that flocked to its lush gardens, Monarch Manor still stands, though the once-grand Queen Anne house is now in ruins, slated for demolition. Seeking respite from her own exhausting battle to get the best care for Will, Erin delves even deeper into the past-unearthing a story that is both heartbreaking and surprising.

Weaving Erin's and Amelia's narratives together, Maureen Leurck creates an unforgettable and moving novel of sacrifice and hope, and the way love between a parent and child can transform them both.

Praise for Maureen Leurck's Cicada Summer

"Rich with believable characters and an evocative setting, Leurck's novel is a gem." -Publishers Weekly

"Leurck has crafted a perfect summertime story of love, loss, and second chances. . . . Readers of Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer will enjoy this beach read." -Booklist

"A captivating novel about the power of redemption." -Jen Lancaster, New York Times bestselling author

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2019

About the author

Maureen graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and currently resides in a suburb of Chicago with her husband and three children. She escapes up to the Lake Geneva area when she can for a good fish fry.

Reviews

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

(free review copy) Oh my goodness. This beautiful story is certainly going to go down in history as one of my most memorable reads of the summer, the year, and for sure, of those I have read set in Wisconsin.
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The author has deep ties to the topics and locations in this book, and those shine through so brightly in her descriptions of the Chicago area, Lake Geneva, and parenting a child with special needs. While I was reading I already knew of her ties to the area, but hadn't known about her own experiences as a parent of a child with special needs (those were disclosed in the author’s note at the end of the book). However, I was already prepared to gush about how spot-on her portrayal of Erin’s 5 year-old son Will, who has autism, and the special education world are, regardless of her personal experiences - as a former special education teacher and current education professional, I could relate so closely with things that Will went through, and the school’s reaction to them. BUT, that heartfelt part of the story is only one portion of the the excellence in this story.
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MONARCH MANOR alternates between two time periods and viewpoints - one of them being Erin, a present day mom of two living in Chicago and traveling to her grandmother’s home near Lake Geneva to help clean out the house after her grandmother’s passing. That process leads her to discover some family photos which in turn lead to a quest to find more about a mother-son pair depicted at an opulent lake home on Geneva Lake. The other viewpoint is that of Amelia, a mother of a child with hearing loss in 1923 - one of Erin’s cousins from generations past. Amelia is reeling from the death of her husband and desperately trying to keep her son from being placed in a residential school by her in-laws.
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Leurck manages to weave these two storylines together in an absolutely expert way, barely letting me take a break from reading as I rushed to find out what happened to Amelia and John, and also how Erin and her husband dealt with the unique situation of raising their children amongst challenges related to autism. The opulent setting of 1920’s Lake Geneva and the lake homes there combined with present day melded perfectly.
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I can’t recommend this highly enough to lovers of historical fiction, all Wisconsin readers, and for those interested in reading about parenting children with exceptional needs. Oh, and Leurck’s previous book, CICADA SUMMER, is very different from this one, but set in the same area and a must-read for Wisconsin readers and other fans of women’s fiction.

[aplace_inthesun) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes some stories are just downright enjoyable, with a tinge of sadness and touch of "feel-good". Monarch Manor by Maureen Leurck is one of those stories.

Erin is a mother of five-year old twins Charlotte and Will. Erin is perpetually exhausted - not only does she have twins but Will has special needs with a diagnosis of autism. Her focus is on ensuring he receives the best treatment and therapy in order to improve his functioning.

The story begins with Erin helping her mother sort through the trappings of her grandmother Emily's life. They are preparing to sell her home. Erin finds a letter which points to a possible mystery involving a distant relative Amelia and her young son John. Amelia was thought to have drowned herself and John following a family wedding at the family's home on Lake Geneva called Monarch Manor in the early 1920's. Erin feels and instant connection with Amelia, as John was profoundly deaf. Erin learns Amelia was also raising John on her own following her own husband's death against the wishes of her vicious mother-in-law.

The story alternates between Erin and Amelia's points of view. The reader learns so much about their individual struggles in dealing with the challenges and prejudices of their time in raising a unique child, their relationships, and the the depth of the love that each woman felt for their children. The reader questions, as Erin and Amelia did, what lengths would a mother go to to protect her child?

This story is rich in the history of society in the 1920s, has a little mystery and intrigue with Erin and her mother engaging the assistance of some history buffs/librarians to assist them, some tragedy, and some joy. The reader learns what became of Amelia and John, and grows with Erin as she examines the real priorities in her life on solving the mystery of the past.

This story will appeal to lovers of historical fiction and those who enjoy a little of the sentimental. It's a gentle, easy read and it pulls at the heartstrings..

This book is published on 30 July 2019.

Thank you to Marueen Leurck, Kensington Books and Netgalley for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This review also appears on my instagram page, @aplace_inthesun.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

While cleaning out her late grandma's house, Erin discovers a photograph that sparks her interest because the little boy looks so much like her own 5 year old autistic son, Will. Who is the boy in the photograph, and could uncovering his identity help Erin figure out how to help her own son?

I enjoyed the underlying story and I think parents of special needs children will be especially drawn to it. With that being said, I wish the first half had moved more quickly and I wondered if it would have been more powerful if told as a short story instead of a full novel. The story alternated between Erin in the present and Amelia and her son, John (the mom and son in the photograph) in 1923. In my opinion, the last 100 pages were the most interesting as the story finally moved forward and the two timelines collided. I'd recommend this for fans of light, happy reads.

Location: Wisconsin

I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two women, living a century apart, both facing the challenges of raising a child with special needs. Erin and Amelia are bound by blood, but they are tied even more by the sacrifices they make for their children, each epitomizing the strength and courage of a mother’s love. This is a very moving book, heartfelt and poignant, with a bit of a mystery. The dual timelines work perfectly in this story as Amelia’s story unfolds, while Erin is coming to terms with her own struggles. The love that these mothers feel for their sons is evident throughout the book, and we also feel in our heart the hard choices they make for the sake of their children.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise of Monarch Manor sounded interesting initially because it featured a character with hearing loss. As there is hearing loss in my family, it definitely stood out to me as a compelling reason to want to read this novel.

Monarch Manor was really good the entire way through. I liked the two narratives and cared about what the women were going through in their situations. I felt so frustrated for them for various reasons. I liked the mystery from the past and how Erin went about trying to solve it. The story had strong emotional appeal. It's all about the sacrifices mothers make to give their kids the best life possible. The descriptions were really good and brought out the feel of the different time periods. I could even feel the weather based on how it was described! I liked that it was mainly set in Lake Geneva, as I had been there several times when I lived in the Midwest and I like the laid-back feel of the area.

I would recommend this novel to fans of Susan Meissner or anyone who wants an interesting story about raising children with special needs.

Movie casting suggestions:
Erin: Karen Gillan
Luke: Tyler Hynes
Amelia: Samantha Isler
Matt: Charlie Rowe

[Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monarch Manor is a beautifully written story with two different eras and narrators telling the story. The book embarks on a journey of family mysteries. It’s a story of loss, sacrifices, changes, family, and the purest love of all which is the love of your child above all else. The two women that narrate the story both have a child with special needs though they raised their children in different eras.

This story is a reminder of looking at what you have, not looking at what you don’t have and want. To be blessed enough to raise a child with special needs and to realize that it’s them teaching you not you teaching them is the most amazing gift there is. This story reminds us of that.

This story also is a tale of one family trying to discover and understand secrets from the past and in doing so, she also finds herself.

The story is beautifully written and is a true treasure to read. The story within the story is well thought out and beautifully tied together. I truly enjoyed this book. There are so many different parts of this story a reader can connect to that it makes this an enjoyable read for anyone.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Monarch Manor” by Maureen Leurck, Kensington Publishing, July 30, 2019

Maureen Leurck, Author of “Monarch Manor” has beautifully written and vividly described the characters and landscape in her novel. “Monarch Manor” was a mansion that was built surrounded by gorgeous gardens and flowers that attracted Monarch Butterflies to flutter all around. The story is narrated by two characters and two time-lines, that eventually connect. The Genres for this story are Fiction, Historical Fiction, some Mystery and Suspense. This is an intriguing, captivating, suspenseful, romantic, emotional story that tugs at my heartstrings. The author describes her colorful and dramatic characters as complex and complicated.

Erin Marinelli is cleaning out her Grandmother’s house with her mother and finds pictures and memories of past family. Erin and her husband have an old house. One of her twin children Will has Autism and is having trouble in school. Erin is frustrated at times. Looking at the pictures, Erin sees a young woman with a young boy that looks exactly like Will.

The young woman, Amelia and her son John, supposedly drowned many years before. John was deaf. After Erin looks into the family history, there are questions and the mystery as to why and what really happened to Amelia and John.

I love that the author discusses the importance of mothers, sons, families, disabilities, emotional support, love and hope. I would highly recommend this wonderful read. Happy Reading.

[Dawnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories like this about a woman finding a letter or photograph and things like that in the home of a relative that has passed. This did not disappoint and was so much more emotional for me than I expected. I loved the duel time lines of the characters. Their connection and that they both have a child with a disability. I recommend this and think it also makes a great book club selection.

Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story of two women- Erin in present day and Amelia in the 1920s -both of whom are the mother of a child with special needs. Erin's son Will is autistic; Amelia's son John was deaf. Erin's been coping not only with Will but also his twin Charlotte (twins are a challenge no matter what!) While cleaning out her grandmother's home on Lake Geneva, she chances on a letter and then follows the path to Amelia. Did Amelia drown herself and her son out of grief at the the death of her husband or for some other reason? Her in-laws wanted to institutionalize John (thank goodness times have changed!). This moves nicely between the two narratives. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's sensitive and thoughtful- a very good read.

[Namrata]

I'm all in for luxury houses! Sounds like my cup of tea!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

love love this book!! One of the best time slip novels ever written in my opinion.
The characters are delightful and some are easy to make friends with and some are not. Most specifically the Mother in law. I definitely can identify with that!!
The supporting characters are very well rounded out and I could identify with most of them very well.
What you will read in this book will astound you!!
Yes the future mother uses one swear word nothing bad but that's all.
The author has written this so well that I could feel these characters' pain coming up out of the pages of the book as they struggled with everyday life. Life stinks at times!!
I also love that the author shows that even that high society has problems and more often than not they even snub their own kind!!
I think I most felt sorry for was a man named Matthew. I can't place it exactly but there's just something about him that saddens me.
I don't blame Amelia for what she did!! I loved how well she fooled everyone!!
I dont know much about Autism but I am sure it is a struggle for some families. But I think this author has done a wonderful job in writing this into the story. Children can't help that they're born with disabilities. It makes me mad when people make fun of it bully them.
Jesus taught us to love one another and to help each other.
I wish I could give this book 5 stars or more!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own

[Claire Mc Partlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Maureen Leurck book I have read and this one was just as lovely as her the first one 'Cicada Summer'. I really like her way of writing.

The story flips back and forth between the present day and the 1920s. Erin is in the present day, married with twin 5-year old children, one of whom (Will) is autistic. She is struggling to find the best way forward for him as mainstream school just isn't working out, but they feel that they have to continue and not give up. Erin's grandmother has recently passed away and whilst her Mother and her empty the house ready for sale they come across some old photos, one of which is of Amelia and her son John (who bears a striking resemblance to Will) who was deaf, which was much more of a stigma at that time.

Erin starts looking into the family history and the story goes back in time to the struggles Amelia was having with her late husband's mother wanting to ship John off to a Deaf & Dumb School and focuses on the lengths Amelia went to to try and protect him.

Really interesting how times have changed, and progress has been made. There was also the mystery of what finally happened to Amelia and John, who supposedly drowned together in Lake Geneva. Really lovely story of the sacrifices parents make for the love of their children and written in such a way that you have to read 'just one more page' to find out how it all ends. Highly recommended.

[Mikaela (Booklover1974) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars.

This is the second book by Maureen Leurck and my first by her. It's a beautiful, well written story with dual timelines, one set today and one in 1920 and forward.

The beginning of the book was great and I was intrigued where things were going but then in the middle I started to get annoyed with Erin, one of the two main characters. Luckily, she got hold of things and I could enjoy the story again

If you're an educator and/or have a child in your life with special needs, this is a necessary read. If you don't, you'll love this book anyway

I went in without knowing anything about it, I had only read a review and that was great, so I will not tell you the synopsis. Just read it!

It will be published on Tuesday, July 30th, so pre-order today

Thank you @kensingtonbooks and @netgalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharon Naylor Toris]

What a fabulous, feel-good story with its jumps between the present-day and the 1920s, with richly-developed characters coloring up this marvelously-crafted story. I loved the detailed settings, of the luxury houses and the gardens that transport us as we read - there's such a level of detail here that you can almost smell the air in each type of setting. I'm a fan of sensory details in novels, and this book provides them well. This will remain one of my favorite books of the summer, and I expect you'll see this one in your fall book club wishlists. It's time well-spent.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing a review copy.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author and wasn't sure what to expect. What I found was a very well written book that held your attention from beginning till end. The author's words made the book come to life. You can feel all the emotions and see all the scenery. I will be looking for more books by this author. If you like time slip books, you will love this one. Thank you Kensington Books via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Helen Manoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful storyline,liked the way it moved from the past to the present.
Really enjoyable book,loved all the character's and the struggles they had to face.
Can't wait to read more books from this author.

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

[Sarah Koehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know this book existed, or even that this author existed, until I got assigned to interview Maureen for an upcoming edition of At The Lake magazine. She was legitimately one of the nicest people I’ve ever interviewed, and was generous with her time and her answers to my questions. After we finished the interview, I decided I would read the books that she had written, and I bought both of them. I started Monarch Manor, not really knowing what to expect. But if I’m being completely honest, I have read books by other “small town“ authors, and generally, they aren’t very good. In many cases, they also need a lot more editing, and are not very well written. While there were a few awkward sentences or paragraphs that I thought could be a bit more concise in MM, overall the story was excellent. It takes a lot to make me cry in a book, and this one had me in legitimate tears and using an actual Kleenex to clean up my snotty face at some of the revelations near the end of the story. Additionally, I’m usually not a huge fan of dual narrators and alternating timelines, because they often are not executed well. However, in this case, the author does it fairly well, and it’s never confusing or disjointed. When it comes down to it, I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would, and maybe the best part was that all of the settings were so familiar to me personally. Seeing spots like the Lake Geneva library, Williams Bay Beach, Yerkes observatory, and even Champs in the pages of a novel made it feel like it was much closer to home than many other things I read. So yeah, it’s good stuff! Maureen Leurck has a new follower for sure. 😊

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive a ARC of Monarch Manor by Maureen Leurck this is her second book. I didn't have the please to read the first one but I will certainly try too. The book was very well written, and touching as it moved from the past to present concerning the lives of two mothers with children with disabilities. We see the lenghts a parent will go too, to try and protect their child. The book was able to hold my attention from start to finish, which is very important to me when I rate a book. I believe there maybe one bad word in the book but overall this is a very clean book, considering the issues both mothers are having to deal with. I would certainly recommend this book to others. This is my honest review of an amazing book.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It was part mystery, part drama, and I loved how the characters intertwined and connected. I want more from this author!

[Leah Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good time slip novel. This story is about Erin. She sets out to prepare Monarch Manor for an estate sale. She has a strong and arduous task. She is also the mother of an autistic son Will. She stumbles across an envelope. With a picture of Amelia and her deaf son. Her son looks uncannily like Will. Erin becomes fascinated with finding out Amelia's story.

This story shifts back and forth through time. It was beautifully written with well developed characters. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Dawn Mottlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this back and forth story about 2 strong women and their unconditional love for their kids!! Want to read more from Maureen Leurck!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first by me by this amazing author will not be my last! Her writing style had me hooked immediately! A beautiful story of 2 women in two different timelines both with children who have disabilities and how they And their children are treated in much different settings. The author put such detail in each and had a wonderful way of weaving through past and present! I loved both of these characters and the history and truth both showed in their times! I can’t wait to read more by this amazing author!!

[Dick R. McCart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book

I had read the author's previous book, Cicada Summer, and liked it very much. The previous reviews of this book are accurate. I'd hoped it would be more like CS. This is an angst and stress filled book about 2 mothers dealing respectively with their children's autism and deafness. It moves frequently in time, location, and voice. If you're looking for a book like Cicada Summer, this is not it.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I liked most about this book was just the mystery -- of figuring out what happened to people in a past time. What I didn't like was the offensive words -- they were rare but were thrown in and made no sense and added nothing to the story. Also, I never really got to where I liked any of the characters. They were OK but none drew me in. It was somewhat of a depressing book. Not sure I will read any more from this author.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. It was my own decision to read and review this book.

[Ronda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story could have been taken to the next level but was left sadly in rot and decay like it's namesake Monarch Manor.

[Anjana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes when you stumble upon a book which from the first chapter draws you in, speaks to you. It is not just the content itself but the manner in which it is conveyed to you. It is about the narrative style, and the characters being introduced to you. When you turn the last page, with tears in your eyes there is satisfaction in having read a good book that will stay with you a little longer than other recent reads. If it is not very clear, these emotions are those that I felt as I put this book away (or swiped at the kindle screen but the principle is the same)

I started this book at night not sure what I was expecting but as I turned in for the night (later than planned) I had only read a quarter of the book but vowed to get to it first thing in the morning. I did keep that promise to myself and was rewarded amply for the effort. It is not a big book and does not take long to read, it reads faster than the pages would have you believe.

Erin is helping her mother clean out her grandmother's place before they stage it for sale, this is when she stumbles on old photographs and strange parallels to her own current situation. This is just a slice of her life, the harder and bigger part of Erin's life is how she deals with the autism diagnosis for her son and is struggling with ideas on how to make his life happier. The story is bookended with and ultimately about mothers. The mother in the past is Amelia, who has a deaf son. and the time and her inlaws are not very forgiving of any form of disability, especially something this obvious. The social scene of 'moneyed' people is woven into the history part of the tale. The past is revealed in stages to us, every time it seems as if the story is done, another twist is revealed. Erin is struggling with the day-to-day. There is a very real relationship with her husband, something that was refreshing to see. Her mother is not the kind of person that Erin is completely comfortable with but their relationship was refreshing as well. The past was painful to read about since Amelia is bound by other restrictions than Erin but she has a family to lean on, and however hard it might be, they do lend a hand. 

The two women were so vivid and driven while at the same time wracked with self-doubt at the oddest of times but the way they work through the issues at hand and how the past seems to give new hope to the present was a treat to read. 

I went into this book blind, with no prior impressions of the author, but this is one author I will definitely keep my eye out for in the future.

I received an Advance Reviewer's copy thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but this review is completely based on my own reading experience.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful written novel about families with special needs children. It's dual time line with Amelia and her deaf son John in 1923 and Erin and her autistic son Will in present day. Both stories are full of love of mothers for their sons and how they work to help them find their place in the world despite their special needs.

Erin is helping her mother clean out her grandmother's cluttered home so that the house can be sold. As she is going through piles of 'mementos' she finds an envelope of old pictures. She's unsure who is in the pictures but she is amazed to see that the young boy in the picture looks exactly like her son Will. She goes on a quest to find out about the people in the pictures and what happened to them. At the same time, she is overly stressed at home while she tries to find the best place for her son to go to a school that will provide him with the best chance of learning to live with his needs. Her husband and Will's twin sister are helpful but Erin is the person who really worries and tries to do the best for her son. Her research of the pictures leads her to Monarch Manor, now a dilapidated mansion, and she continues to try to find out more about the family. She soon finds out that Amelia and her son drowned on a stormy night when they were on a boat ride on Geneva Lake. But she still has hope that somehow the connection will help her with trying to help Will. The further she digs, the more discrepancies she finds. Did Amelia and John really die?

Amelia is visiting Monarch Manor with her son John, who is deaf. Her husband has just died and her mother in law wants to send John away to a school for 'people like him' so that he will no longer cause embarrassment to the family. Amelia is heartbroken and knows that she needs to do something to keep her son with her because she knows that she can help him learn to live a good life. Did they really drown or was this just a way to escape from her mother in law and her plans?

This is a beautiful story about love and the lengths women will go for their families and their children.

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Reading-for-life (Angela Sanford) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monarch Manor is a beautifully written novel that is filled with love, sadness, and a fierce determination of two mothers who have children with disabilities. As this novel alternates between two time periods and viewpoints, the story unfolds a little at a time. After her grandmother passed away, Erin goes to Lake Geneva to clean out her grandmother's house, "Monarch Manor", to prepare for an estate sale. A mother of twins, Charlotte and Will, Erin is exhausted both physically and mentally. Her son Will is autistic and she is focused on him getting the very best treatment and therapy that he can get. Finding some photographs as she was cleaning her grandmother's house, Erin is curious to see who they all are. When she sees a beautiful young woman and a boy, that looks a lot like her son Will, Erin decides to find out all she can about her roots. She discovers that the young lady and boy are distant relatives, Amelia and John. John suffers from hearing loss and lives during a time period that makes it difficult for anyone that has any type of disability. Set in 1923, Amelia has to face daily opposition from her in laws since her husband passed. Wanting to place John in an institution because of his hearing loss, Amelia refuses to let them dictate her life or her son's life. Back to present time, Erin discovers that is was believed that Amelia and John drowned in Lake Geneva at the family's home, Monarch Manor. Will Erin discover what really happened? Did Amelia and John drown or did they disappear from the family that wanted to keep her precious John hidden? This was such an amazing book. The two time periods and two viewpoints really made this story stand out. I could feel the frustration of Amelia and Erin as they were doing all they could for their sons. The prejudice attitude that people had toward children with disabilities back in Amelia's time period was so sad. They basically felt it was best to hide John away in institutions because he was deaf. Even in the present time, Will has to face prejudices, as well, but not to the degree that John had to. I applaud Author Maureen Leurck for the beautiful and heartfelt storyline. I am excitingly waiting to see what else this magnificent author has in store for us!