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Bethlehem
With the atmospheric storytelling of Kate Morton and Lisa Wingate, Karen Kelly weaves a shattering debut about two intertwined families and the secrets that they buried during the gilded, glory days of Bethlehem, PA.
A young woman arrives at the grand ancestral home of her husband’s family, hoping to fortify her cracking marriage. But what she finds is not what she expected: tragedy haunts the hallways, whispering of heartache and a past she never knew existed.
Inspired by the true titans of the steel-boom era, Bethlehem is a story of temptation and regret, a story of secrets and the cost of keeping them, a story of forgiveness. It is the story of two complex women—thrown together in the name of family—who, in coming to understand each other, come finally to understand themselves.
A young woman arrives at the grand ancestral home of her husband’s family, hoping to fortify her cracking marriage. But what she finds is not what she expected: tragedy haunts the hallways, whispering of heartache and a past she never knew existed.
Inspired by the true titans of the steel-boom era, Bethlehem is a story of temptation and regret, a story of secrets and the cost of keeping them, a story of forgiveness. It is the story of two complex women—thrown together in the name of family—who, in coming to understand each other, come finally to understand themselves.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2019
117 people are currently reading
4173 people want to read
About the author
Karen Kelly
2 books93 followersKaren Kelly lives in Edina, Minnesota.
www.karenkellybooks.com
www.karenkellybooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
July 16, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up
I first want to say that I have not been on here for six weeks due to severe migraines and I am behind on all of my reviews. I am finally back. I wasn't able to read at all. I am so happy that they went away.
Bethlehem is a story of temptation and regret, a story of secrets and the cost of keeping them, a story of forgiveness. It also is about family life, sacrifice and lots of love in different forms.
I really struggled in the first half of the book. I think that the first half is mainly about character development. This is a character driven book. There are lots of characters and they have nicknames too and by the second half I was able to keep track of them and to get them straight. Once I got into the second half, I was really enjoying it.
I think that the main character was Susannah (Sassy) and that she was telling her story. I wish we got to know more about Joanna. I loved Sassy's character the best but I also loved Wyatt's and Chap's character. This author has lots of talent in the characterization of her characters. They came to life. I couldn't believe that it is a debut novel.
I thought this was an emotional and heartbreaking story and you just might want to have tissues handy.
This was a Traveling Sister read and I think we all enjoyed it.
I want to thank Jordan from St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I first want to say that I have not been on here for six weeks due to severe migraines and I am behind on all of my reviews. I am finally back. I wasn't able to read at all. I am so happy that they went away.
Bethlehem is a story of temptation and regret, a story of secrets and the cost of keeping them, a story of forgiveness. It also is about family life, sacrifice and lots of love in different forms.
I really struggled in the first half of the book. I think that the first half is mainly about character development. This is a character driven book. There are lots of characters and they have nicknames too and by the second half I was able to keep track of them and to get them straight. Once I got into the second half, I was really enjoying it.
I think that the main character was Susannah (Sassy) and that she was telling her story. I wish we got to know more about Joanna. I loved Sassy's character the best but I also loved Wyatt's and Chap's character. This author has lots of talent in the characterization of her characters. They came to life. I couldn't believe that it is a debut novel.
I thought this was an emotional and heartbreaking story and you just might want to have tissues handy.
This was a Traveling Sister read and I think we all enjoyed it.
I want to thank Jordan from St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2019
It takes some perseverance to get to the heart of the story because there are so many characters to remember, with their formal names and their nicknames. There is also the background information, with a bit of the history of Bethlehem and the steel industry thrown into the mix. But I think it can be misleading to see this as a historical novel since the story could really take place anywhere. It is the relationships between the women, mothers, daughters, and sons, that interested me most.
As I mentioned, it some time for the story to come together and it helped when I realized the main character in the book was really Susannah rather than Joanna, Joanna feels such conflict having to move with her overworked and seldom home husband and two children, into the lives and mansion of distant Susannah and her mother, both very strong women who, on the surface, are used to getting their ways. But in reality, Susannah has made huge sacrifices, had huge losses, and those things make her who she is, when Joanna comes to live in the home of Susannah and her mother.
During two timelines, the early 1920s and the early 1960s, we learn the background of Susanna and her family and later how decisions made in the 1920s, greatly impact the lives of the 1960s families. We find that behind the strong, walled off personality of Susannah is a world of sadness, hurt, and fragility that almost destroyed her before she could start the family that we see in the 1960s.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
As I mentioned, it some time for the story to come together and it helped when I realized the main character in the book was really Susannah rather than Joanna, Joanna feels such conflict having to move with her overworked and seldom home husband and two children, into the lives and mansion of distant Susannah and her mother, both very strong women who, on the surface, are used to getting their ways. But in reality, Susannah has made huge sacrifices, had huge losses, and those things make her who she is, when Joanna comes to live in the home of Susannah and her mother.
During two timelines, the early 1920s and the early 1960s, we learn the background of Susanna and her family and later how decisions made in the 1920s, greatly impact the lives of the 1960s families. We find that behind the strong, walled off personality of Susannah is a world of sadness, hurt, and fragility that almost destroyed her before she could start the family that we see in the 1960s.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
July 12, 2019
Bethlehem is a carefully written, touching and moving family saga that takes a different approach here to those buried family secrets. The story explores temptation, regret, cost of carrying those secrets and how it changes the people who do.
Things start off slow here or better described as quietly as we see the relationships between the characters develop and get a strong sense of how they care for each other. It takes some patience here and comes at risk here with reviewers as we are often rushed to get to the long list of titles we have. However, my Traveling Sisters warned me and I waited to start this one when I could give it the focus it needs.
What seems as a simple story develops into a complex story and there is a lot of depth to this one. Once the layers are placed the pace starts to pick up and the story becomes quite interesting. There are two timelines and stories going on here with our main characters and I found one to be much stronger than the other and at times the weaker one added some weight to the story. However, I really enjoyed how it all came together and thought it was brilliantly done. There is a lot to think about and discuss with this one and it really lead to a great discussion among the Traveling Sisters who read this one. I highly recommend for group reads especially when they are read over a longer period of time and some focus can be given to it.
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley
Things start off slow here or better described as quietly as we see the relationships between the characters develop and get a strong sense of how they care for each other. It takes some patience here and comes at risk here with reviewers as we are often rushed to get to the long list of titles we have. However, my Traveling Sisters warned me and I waited to start this one when I could give it the focus it needs.
What seems as a simple story develops into a complex story and there is a lot of depth to this one. Once the layers are placed the pace starts to pick up and the story becomes quite interesting. There are two timelines and stories going on here with our main characters and I found one to be much stronger than the other and at times the weaker one added some weight to the story. However, I really enjoyed how it all came together and thought it was brilliantly done. There is a lot to think about and discuss with this one and it really lead to a great discussion among the Traveling Sisters who read this one. I highly recommend for group reads especially when they are read over a longer period of time and some focus can be given to it.
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley
July 30, 2019
I was offered this widget many months ago from one of my favorite publishers, St. Martin's Press. Otherwise, it wouldn't have caught my eye to procure for a read. Still, I accepted the option to read it, and it languished on my "Want to Read" shelf waiting for its turn (in publishing date order). In the meantime, I'd read lukewarm to failing reviews, already building up a resistance in my mind to reading it. However, as I delved into it with trepidation, the pages gently turned in a quiet fashion, and I exhaled in relief knowing I was in for a decent read.
The story is told in dueling timelines of the early 1920's and 1960's, weaving together the history and secrets of a wealthy family. The locale is Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at a grand and imposing mansion called Brynmor. It borders a cemetery where a mysterious tiny gravestone marked "Baby Hayes" provides a poignant distraction throughout the book. The family's wealth derived from the Bethlehem Steel Company.
It's 1962, and in the wake of his father's passing, Frank Collier has taken the reigns of the Bethlehem Steel Company. His new work responsibilities have taken him away on business trips, leaving his wife Joanna and young children Daisy and Charlie by themselves. Frank resolves that his young family should move into the massive edifice Brynmor, since his mother Susannah and grandmother Helen are now by themselves in the mansion. It makes sense for his loved ones to live together in the mansion, but Joanna feels adrift and marginalized in a space that's not her own. It's not her chosen decorations like she had in their own modest home, and she's certainly not used to servants. On Joanna's first day exploring the property she happened upon an old, eccentric woman called Doe who spoke of grandmother Helen as if she was a dear sister, and not an employer. Doe and her husband Nico handled the maintenance of the cemetery that adjoined the Brynmor property, and now her grandson Daniel had taken over the brunt of the hard work. On that first day when Joanna's children noticed the "Baby Hayes" grave, Doe immediately changed the subject.
As often is the case with lovers of historical fiction, I preferred the chapters from the 1920's where the groundwork of the story was built. The glamour and privilege of debutante / coming of age balls, delicious details of luxurious gowns, hairstyles, etc. was a pleasure to read. The recounting of the lives from childhood to the present with their lovers angst and inconvenient loyalties provided the tension leading up to the mystery of the unidentified baby. It wasn't difficult figuring out the identity of this baby about halfway through the book, but this didn't take anything away from my interest in having the story deliciously unfold. This isn't a story that scooped me up on an exciting ride, but is more of what I call a "gentle read" that was neither a frenetic page-turner nor a worthless bore... but simply a good read.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
The story is told in dueling timelines of the early 1920's and 1960's, weaving together the history and secrets of a wealthy family. The locale is Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at a grand and imposing mansion called Brynmor. It borders a cemetery where a mysterious tiny gravestone marked "Baby Hayes" provides a poignant distraction throughout the book. The family's wealth derived from the Bethlehem Steel Company.
It's 1962, and in the wake of his father's passing, Frank Collier has taken the reigns of the Bethlehem Steel Company. His new work responsibilities have taken him away on business trips, leaving his wife Joanna and young children Daisy and Charlie by themselves. Frank resolves that his young family should move into the massive edifice Brynmor, since his mother Susannah and grandmother Helen are now by themselves in the mansion. It makes sense for his loved ones to live together in the mansion, but Joanna feels adrift and marginalized in a space that's not her own. It's not her chosen decorations like she had in their own modest home, and she's certainly not used to servants. On Joanna's first day exploring the property she happened upon an old, eccentric woman called Doe who spoke of grandmother Helen as if she was a dear sister, and not an employer. Doe and her husband Nico handled the maintenance of the cemetery that adjoined the Brynmor property, and now her grandson Daniel had taken over the brunt of the hard work. On that first day when Joanna's children noticed the "Baby Hayes" grave, Doe immediately changed the subject.
As often is the case with lovers of historical fiction, I preferred the chapters from the 1920's where the groundwork of the story was built. The glamour and privilege of debutante / coming of age balls, delicious details of luxurious gowns, hairstyles, etc. was a pleasure to read. The recounting of the lives from childhood to the present with their lovers angst and inconvenient loyalties provided the tension leading up to the mystery of the unidentified baby. It wasn't difficult figuring out the identity of this baby about halfway through the book, but this didn't take anything away from my interest in having the story deliciously unfold. This isn't a story that scooped me up on an exciting ride, but is more of what I call a "gentle read" that was neither a frenetic page-turner nor a worthless bore... but simply a good read.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
January 27, 2019
"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." (Eleanor Roosevelt)
Karen Kelly presents a budding novel that arrives on the first chapters with wiggling toes that barely seem to cause a ripple in the tide. I must tell you that I felt its initial stages to be slow going. There were so many, many characters to keep track of with the elbowing in of a time warp from 1960 back to the 1920's. I was ready to set it aside for a bit. But it was then that Karen Kelly deepened her characters with sharp edges and darkened shadows.
Bethlehem becomes a tale of the people themselves who benefitted from the onset of U.S. Steel both directly and indirectly. It is a story lined with the patriarch, Hollins Parrish, as a visionary implementing structural steel in city construction and in the timing and the mindfulness of the war efforts.
Kelly draws parallels with the Collier family who are intertwined socially and in the steel business with the Parrish family. In the 1960's, Frank and Joanna Collier and their two children take up residence at the family estate. They join the two elderly grande damas of the land, Susannah, Frank's mother and Helen, his grandmother. We find Joanna moving further and further back into the periphery of the luxurious rooms. She is, indeed, a fish slowly losing its gills.
But Karen Kelly allows Joanna to cross paths with ol' Doe Janssen who resides as a caretaker next to
St. Gregory's Cemetery that houses the remains of these industrial giants along with some weighty secrets of the past. Hence, the 1960's with side steps back into the 1920's.
Bethlehem takes on a fine-honed lustre as we reach the finale. All along in life, it's frankly been about the people who leave an imprint upon us of long or short duration and the guided or misguided devotion that we hold for them. As much as times change throughout the years, human nature, good...bad...or indifferent stays the same. The heart wants what the heart wants.
I received a copy of Bethlehem through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Karen Kelly for the opportunity.
Karen Kelly presents a budding novel that arrives on the first chapters with wiggling toes that barely seem to cause a ripple in the tide. I must tell you that I felt its initial stages to be slow going. There were so many, many characters to keep track of with the elbowing in of a time warp from 1960 back to the 1920's. I was ready to set it aside for a bit. But it was then that Karen Kelly deepened her characters with sharp edges and darkened shadows.
Bethlehem becomes a tale of the people themselves who benefitted from the onset of U.S. Steel both directly and indirectly. It is a story lined with the patriarch, Hollins Parrish, as a visionary implementing structural steel in city construction and in the timing and the mindfulness of the war efforts.
Kelly draws parallels with the Collier family who are intertwined socially and in the steel business with the Parrish family. In the 1960's, Frank and Joanna Collier and their two children take up residence at the family estate. They join the two elderly grande damas of the land, Susannah, Frank's mother and Helen, his grandmother. We find Joanna moving further and further back into the periphery of the luxurious rooms. She is, indeed, a fish slowly losing its gills.
But Karen Kelly allows Joanna to cross paths with ol' Doe Janssen who resides as a caretaker next to
St. Gregory's Cemetery that houses the remains of these industrial giants along with some weighty secrets of the past. Hence, the 1960's with side steps back into the 1920's.
Bethlehem takes on a fine-honed lustre as we reach the finale. All along in life, it's frankly been about the people who leave an imprint upon us of long or short duration and the guided or misguided devotion that we hold for them. As much as times change throughout the years, human nature, good...bad...or indifferent stays the same. The heart wants what the heart wants.
I received a copy of Bethlehem through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Karen Kelly for the opportunity.
Read
July 4, 2019At 46%, this will be a dnf for me . Slow moving and not much happening. I expected something different, more of a reflection on the time and place , but it was more a family saga that I would categorize as women’s fiction. If you’re considering this one, you should read the reviews of those who finished it for a fuller perspective. No rating since I didn’t read it all.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity through NetGalley.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity through NetGalley.
June 13, 2019
Bethlehem is a saga about two families during the heydays of Bethlehem Steel. Beginning in 1918 and taking us up,through 1962, the book covers the Colliers, the family of the Chief engineer, and the Parrishes, the family of the president. I will admit to struggling at the beginning with all the various children and trying to keep them straight.
This ranks more as women’s fiction than historical. I expected there to be more about Bethlehem Steel when there is hardly anything. To be honest, the book could take place in any well heeled enclave. The author does a decent job of painting the scene but nothing extraordinary.
The storyline is typical and as expected for women’s fiction. Lots of romance and secrets, deception, drama and sorrow.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
This ranks more as women’s fiction than historical. I expected there to be more about Bethlehem Steel when there is hardly anything. To be honest, the book could take place in any well heeled enclave. The author does a decent job of painting the scene but nothing extraordinary.
The storyline is typical and as expected for women’s fiction. Lots of romance and secrets, deception, drama and sorrow.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
July 4, 2019
Joanna Collier is the mother of two young children and married to Frank, an engineer working for his family’s business...Bethlehem Steel. After his father’s death, Frank’s responsibilities increased dramatically and felt the pressure to move his family to the headquarters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. And, he needed to be closer to his aging grandmother and mother, both living alone in their ancestral home. Joanna doesn’t mind the move but reluctantly agrees to live in the mansion. The divide between her and Frank only widens as she feels even more isolated, struggles to connect with his grandmother and mother and fears she’s losing her identity.
This story takes quite some time to develop and I highly recommend you stick with it as the payoff is worth it. The story transitions between 1962 (Joanna’s perspective) and 1918/24 (in the time of Frank’s maternal and paternal grandparents). Hollins Parrish ran the steel company and Charles Collier worked there as chief engineer. The families were close, their children even closer and their story is told through the eyes of Frank’s mother (Susannah Parrish Collier). Susannah is a formidable presence in both eras but in entirely divergent ways. I was always intrigued to learn how that happened and it was slowly revealed but perfectly timed. The details are important and I’m glad I was patient as the attention given to develop each character made such a difference in the power of the storytelling. All the while, Joanna’s story continues and I knew at some point there would be a connection although it was wildly, wonderfully elusive.
I guessed what most likely happened 38 years earlier but by the time it was revealed, I was hopelessly connected with these people, experiencing every emotion fresh and raw. And, there were a few twists that I didn’t anticipate that provided even more shape, form and texture to the story. This is a beautiful, touching story that I didn’t see coming. I’m really glad I stayed with it because once you reach the halfway point, you’ll not want to put it down.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
This story takes quite some time to develop and I highly recommend you stick with it as the payoff is worth it. The story transitions between 1962 (Joanna’s perspective) and 1918/24 (in the time of Frank’s maternal and paternal grandparents). Hollins Parrish ran the steel company and Charles Collier worked there as chief engineer. The families were close, their children even closer and their story is told through the eyes of Frank’s mother (Susannah Parrish Collier). Susannah is a formidable presence in both eras but in entirely divergent ways. I was always intrigued to learn how that happened and it was slowly revealed but perfectly timed. The details are important and I’m glad I was patient as the attention given to develop each character made such a difference in the power of the storytelling. All the while, Joanna’s story continues and I knew at some point there would be a connection although it was wildly, wonderfully elusive.
I guessed what most likely happened 38 years earlier but by the time it was revealed, I was hopelessly connected with these people, experiencing every emotion fresh and raw. And, there were a few twists that I didn’t anticipate that provided even more shape, form and texture to the story. This is a beautiful, touching story that I didn’t see coming. I’m really glad I stayed with it because once you reach the halfway point, you’ll not want to put it down.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
July 9, 2019
Thanks to St. Martin's Press for a widget of this book via Netgalley
Happy Pub Day
A family drama, Bethlehem follows Joanna, a young mother of two and wife to a man whose family has made their riches from steel; and her mother in law, Susannah in the 1920's. Similar to other women's fiction, this book explores the bonds between mothers and daughters and the trials and triumphs of marriage. I don't want to say more about the plot because any hint could be too spoilerish.
I felt it did take awhile before I was really interested in the storyline and up until 51% of the book had to happen before securing this story in the 3 range. But that book cover is definitely a 10!
Publication Date 09/07/19
Posted on Goodreads 06/02/19
Happy Pub Day
A family drama, Bethlehem follows Joanna, a young mother of two and wife to a man whose family has made their riches from steel; and her mother in law, Susannah in the 1920's. Similar to other women's fiction, this book explores the bonds between mothers and daughters and the trials and triumphs of marriage. I don't want to say more about the plot because any hint could be too spoilerish.
I felt it did take awhile before I was really interested in the storyline and up until 51% of the book had to happen before securing this story in the 3 range. But that book cover is definitely a 10!
Publication Date 09/07/19
Posted on Goodreads 06/02/19
April 21, 2019
I want to thank NetGalley for providing an advanced digital copy of this book.
I don't always read historical fiction, but when I do, I usually enjoy it. This was the case for Bethlehem. The story revolves around two generations of women, which unfold in two distinct timelines: in the 1960s we follow Joanna, a lonely wife who is forced to leave her home for her husband's mansion with her two children, and in the 1920s we follow her mother-in-law, Susannah.
The stories of these two women and their families intertwine with great pace, and we see strong women growing in their relationships, suffering the sorrows of wives and mothers, creating unsuspected bonds and sharing secrets and ancient wisdom.
I enjoyed this book very much, the plot was revealed throughout the end, making the first half of the book slower. This is a characteristic that I actually appreciate in historical fiction, because it allows the reader to focus on the atmosphere and get to know the characters before the reveals. I also liked the character build very much, and I was especially fond of Susannah, and of the relationship between her and her daughter-in-law. This is a book about women, so the male characters stay in the background and are less developed than the female ones, but still likable.
I also liked the writing style, not too plain but not too heavy either, which I found appropriate for the time setting and the general style of the novel. I was going to rate this three stars from the beginning, as I found it a very enjoyable read, but the last chapters raised it two a solid four stars. I will surely read any other future work by this author.
I don't always read historical fiction, but when I do, I usually enjoy it. This was the case for Bethlehem. The story revolves around two generations of women, which unfold in two distinct timelines: in the 1960s we follow Joanna, a lonely wife who is forced to leave her home for her husband's mansion with her two children, and in the 1920s we follow her mother-in-law, Susannah.
The stories of these two women and their families intertwine with great pace, and we see strong women growing in their relationships, suffering the sorrows of wives and mothers, creating unsuspected bonds and sharing secrets and ancient wisdom.
I enjoyed this book very much, the plot was revealed throughout the end, making the first half of the book slower. This is a characteristic that I actually appreciate in historical fiction, because it allows the reader to focus on the atmosphere and get to know the characters before the reveals. I also liked the character build very much, and I was especially fond of Susannah, and of the relationship between her and her daughter-in-law. This is a book about women, so the male characters stay in the background and are less developed than the female ones, but still likable.
I also liked the writing style, not too plain but not too heavy either, which I found appropriate for the time setting and the general style of the novel. I was going to rate this three stars from the beginning, as I found it a very enjoyable read, but the last chapters raised it two a solid four stars. I will surely read any other future work by this author.
June 17, 2019
3.5 stars
This was one of those simple but enjoyable comfy type reads. I'm in the middle of moving and it was nice to sit down and relax and read a few chapters here and there. I really loved the last few chapters of the book as everything came together and there were some good, emotional moments.
One of the reasons I chose to read this book is because it featured a big, old house with multiple generations of a wealthy family living it. That's right up my alley because it usually involves long-held family secrets and that was certainly the case here. The story goes back and forth between two timelines, one in the 1960s and the other in the 1920s. Joanna has just moved with her husband and two children into the family home of her in-laws. While she and her mother-in-law, Susannah, have a cordial relationship, Joanna still doesn't feel at ease in her new surroundings. The 1920s storyline follows Susannah as she grows up with her siblings and some dear family friends.
The book gets off to a rather slow start and I think some of that is because so many characters were introduced all at once and it was hard to keep track for awhile. I personally preferred the chapters in which Susannah was the main focus as I felt like I understood her better than Joanna. I feel Joanna was a tad underdeveloped as a character and it really wasn't until the end in which I kinda got where she was coming from. The ending in my opinion changed this from a pleasant but only average type story into something more meaningful. I enjoyed the moments shared between Joanna and Susannah. Overall, I wouldn't say this is an absolute must read, but it was certainly good enough that I am glad I read it.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was one of those simple but enjoyable comfy type reads. I'm in the middle of moving and it was nice to sit down and relax and read a few chapters here and there. I really loved the last few chapters of the book as everything came together and there were some good, emotional moments.
One of the reasons I chose to read this book is because it featured a big, old house with multiple generations of a wealthy family living it. That's right up my alley because it usually involves long-held family secrets and that was certainly the case here. The story goes back and forth between two timelines, one in the 1960s and the other in the 1920s. Joanna has just moved with her husband and two children into the family home of her in-laws. While she and her mother-in-law, Susannah, have a cordial relationship, Joanna still doesn't feel at ease in her new surroundings. The 1920s storyline follows Susannah as she grows up with her siblings and some dear family friends.
The book gets off to a rather slow start and I think some of that is because so many characters were introduced all at once and it was hard to keep track for awhile. I personally preferred the chapters in which Susannah was the main focus as I felt like I understood her better than Joanna. I feel Joanna was a tad underdeveloped as a character and it really wasn't until the end in which I kinda got where she was coming from. The ending in my opinion changed this from a pleasant but only average type story into something more meaningful. I enjoyed the moments shared between Joanna and Susannah. Overall, I wouldn't say this is an absolute must read, but it was certainly good enough that I am glad I read it.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
December 19, 2018
I normally don't write reviews, but I loved this book so much, I had to.
It's incredible how the author seamlessly intertwines the characters lives with one another in a way that is rivetingly unique, and has you hooked page by page as you try to understand the mystery of how the characters stories will collide.
You know it's a beautifully written book when, as the reader, you're emotionally attached to the characters by the end of the first chapter....
Highly recommend.
It's incredible how the author seamlessly intertwines the characters lives with one another in a way that is rivetingly unique, and has you hooked page by page as you try to understand the mystery of how the characters stories will collide.
You know it's a beautifully written book when, as the reader, you're emotionally attached to the characters by the end of the first chapter....
Highly recommend.
July 6, 2019
3.5 stars
This was a book that I liked overall, one that I finished quickly and I felt kept me engaged throughout, even though the story itself was relatively predictable and the characters weren’t necessarily memorable. While I did like reading about the Collier and Parrish families and especially enjoyed the camaraderie between the siblings, I did find (as many other readers did) that there were way too many characters to keep track of – which normally wouldn’t be a problem, but in this case, every character had a nickname as well, so that made it even more difficult to keep all the names and backgrounds straight (I actually had to read the first 2 chapters twice to make sure I got each character’s background right). It also didn’t help that the first third of the story or so was slow-paced, with not a whole lot happening plot-wise, so it did make the beginning section feel tedious – luckily, the story started to pick up near the halfway mark and I also got used to the characters by then, so the rest of it was relatively smooth sailing for me.
While I enjoyed the story overall, there were several reasons why I decided to rate this 3.5 stars instead of something higher. I think the main issue is that this book is primarily classified as historical fiction, but in actuality, it doesn’t fall into that genre at all. Though the narrative does alternate between two different timelines – the past starting in 1918 and through the early 1920s while the “present” takes place in the early 1960s – there was very little focus on historical events and/or people outside of a mere mention here and there. The story itself could’ve actually taken place anywhere and during any time period technically, and the characters were written in a way that it seemed like they could very well exist during a different time. Basically, I didn’t get much of a sense of time and place with this story, which is tremendously important to me when it comes to historical fiction.
Also, for me, the timeline that took place in the past (1918 thru early 1920s) was strongest in terms of story and characters – I appreciated the way the characters were developed here and the story itself flowed much better as well. I really liked the camaraderie between all the characters in the “past” timeline, whereas with the “present” timeline, I felt as though Joanna’s character was underdeveloped and essentially was just there to “tease out” Susannah’s story. With all that said, I felt that the detail the author dedicated to describing Brynmor (the estate that the family lived in) as well as St. Gregory’s Cemetery adjacent to it was well done, as both places actually felt like characters themselves at many points throughout the story. For me, what pushed this up to a 3.5 star read for me was the ending, which did pull on my emotional heartstrings more than I expected it would. I felt it was clever the way the ending was written, with the two timelines essentially converging to bring this long-spanning family saga to its conclusion.
I did like this book overall and wasn’t really bothered by some of the issues with pacing and overall execution that made the story not work as well as anticipated, but at the same time, I can understand why others didn’t prefer it. I personally felt this one was worth my time, but for everyone else, I would say check out the other reviews before making the decision whether to read this or not.
Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.
This was a book that I liked overall, one that I finished quickly and I felt kept me engaged throughout, even though the story itself was relatively predictable and the characters weren’t necessarily memorable. While I did like reading about the Collier and Parrish families and especially enjoyed the camaraderie between the siblings, I did find (as many other readers did) that there were way too many characters to keep track of – which normally wouldn’t be a problem, but in this case, every character had a nickname as well, so that made it even more difficult to keep all the names and backgrounds straight (I actually had to read the first 2 chapters twice to make sure I got each character’s background right). It also didn’t help that the first third of the story or so was slow-paced, with not a whole lot happening plot-wise, so it did make the beginning section feel tedious – luckily, the story started to pick up near the halfway mark and I also got used to the characters by then, so the rest of it was relatively smooth sailing for me.
While I enjoyed the story overall, there were several reasons why I decided to rate this 3.5 stars instead of something higher. I think the main issue is that this book is primarily classified as historical fiction, but in actuality, it doesn’t fall into that genre at all. Though the narrative does alternate between two different timelines – the past starting in 1918 and through the early 1920s while the “present” takes place in the early 1960s – there was very little focus on historical events and/or people outside of a mere mention here and there. The story itself could’ve actually taken place anywhere and during any time period technically, and the characters were written in a way that it seemed like they could very well exist during a different time. Basically, I didn’t get much of a sense of time and place with this story, which is tremendously important to me when it comes to historical fiction.
Also, for me, the timeline that took place in the past (1918 thru early 1920s) was strongest in terms of story and characters – I appreciated the way the characters were developed here and the story itself flowed much better as well. I really liked the camaraderie between all the characters in the “past” timeline, whereas with the “present” timeline, I felt as though Joanna’s character was underdeveloped and essentially was just there to “tease out” Susannah’s story. With all that said, I felt that the detail the author dedicated to describing Brynmor (the estate that the family lived in) as well as St. Gregory’s Cemetery adjacent to it was well done, as both places actually felt like characters themselves at many points throughout the story. For me, what pushed this up to a 3.5 star read for me was the ending, which did pull on my emotional heartstrings more than I expected it would. I felt it was clever the way the ending was written, with the two timelines essentially converging to bring this long-spanning family saga to its conclusion.
I did like this book overall and wasn’t really bothered by some of the issues with pacing and overall execution that made the story not work as well as anticipated, but at the same time, I can understand why others didn’t prefer it. I personally felt this one was worth my time, but for everyone else, I would say check out the other reviews before making the decision whether to read this or not.
Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.
July 7, 2019
This family saga was a 3/5 star read for me, so I'm going to do things a little differently and list what worked and what didn't:
Pros:
- Isn't that cover just gorgeous? I absolutely love the cover and honestly chose to read this for the cover before reading the synopsis.
-Kelly is an eloquent writer and paints a vivid picture of the time periods, the 1920s and 1960s since the story is told in dual timelines.
-She really excels at her characterization of Susannah, or "Sassy" as she's called. I felt like I understood Sassy and completely empathized with her in the book.
-The women in the book: Susannah, Helen, Joanna, Doe are wonderful, strong, albeit flawed, female characters. I found their relationships and friendships to be a very engaging part of the novel.
-The 2nd half is the best part of the book and if you can hang in that long to read it, then you'll be rewarded with a beautiful story of love, family, forgiveness, and healing.
Cons:
-The novel is more women's fiction than anything; it's definitely not the historical fiction I was expecting.
- The first 50% of the novel is extremely slow, and I considered DNFing but as I said above, if you can get past this point, it's a beautiful story.
-The character of Joanna in the 1960s is underdeveloped and I thought unnecessary to the storyline. Sassy is definitely the focal point of the novel.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read. I didn't love it as I had hoped and like some of my Traveling Sisters who read it with me did, but I enjoyed it and the discussions we had! I encourage you to check out more reviews on Goodreads since I might be an outlier for this one!
*Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.**
Pros:
- Isn't that cover just gorgeous? I absolutely love the cover and honestly chose to read this for the cover before reading the synopsis.
-Kelly is an eloquent writer and paints a vivid picture of the time periods, the 1920s and 1960s since the story is told in dual timelines.
-She really excels at her characterization of Susannah, or "Sassy" as she's called. I felt like I understood Sassy and completely empathized with her in the book.
-The women in the book: Susannah, Helen, Joanna, Doe are wonderful, strong, albeit flawed, female characters. I found their relationships and friendships to be a very engaging part of the novel.
-The 2nd half is the best part of the book and if you can hang in that long to read it, then you'll be rewarded with a beautiful story of love, family, forgiveness, and healing.
Cons:
-The novel is more women's fiction than anything; it's definitely not the historical fiction I was expecting.
- The first 50% of the novel is extremely slow, and I considered DNFing but as I said above, if you can get past this point, it's a beautiful story.
-The character of Joanna in the 1960s is underdeveloped and I thought unnecessary to the storyline. Sassy is definitely the focal point of the novel.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read. I didn't love it as I had hoped and like some of my Traveling Sisters who read it with me did, but I enjoyed it and the discussions we had! I encourage you to check out more reviews on Goodreads since I might be an outlier for this one!
*Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.**
January 5, 2019
I suspected from the first page, and knew by the second, that I liked Karen Kelly's writing style. At that point, it remained only to know how well she could tell a story. She does so very well indeed.
I do not always enjoy bouncing back and forth from the past to the future when reading stories. But Karen's story lends itself to the process, forming riddles in the future and slowly, carefully, building the story that brings answers from the past to those riddles. It is very well done, not revealing too much too soon. This was not an "I knew it!" sort of telling.
I consider myself a sensitive man. I've been known to shed a tear at happy endings as well as at sad endings. I shed several reading this book. Happy or sad I will leave up to you. In the end, one final answer to a riddle you did not even know had been posed tightens the strings on this beautiful package called Bethlehem. Thank you Karen.
I do not always enjoy bouncing back and forth from the past to the future when reading stories. But Karen's story lends itself to the process, forming riddles in the future and slowly, carefully, building the story that brings answers from the past to those riddles. It is very well done, not revealing too much too soon. This was not an "I knew it!" sort of telling.
I consider myself a sensitive man. I've been known to shed a tear at happy endings as well as at sad endings. I shed several reading this book. Happy or sad I will leave up to you. In the end, one final answer to a riddle you did not even know had been posed tightens the strings on this beautiful package called Bethlehem. Thank you Karen.
August 14, 2019
I enjoyed this one, right from the start. I have a thing for interesting cemeteries and their caretakers (my grandfather was one after his retirement and he sometimes took me, age 7 or so, to run around while he did his thing) so the first chapter sucked me in.
The cemetery was only one part of the story, but it's where a mysterious headstone is found and imparts some intrigue. A work of fiction about the Bethlehem Steel company in Bethlehem PA and the families behind it, I am not sure now if the wealthy Colliers and Parrishes were real families or not. They are all close friends and then inter-marry. There isn't a lot of action; I just enjoyed reading about them and their relationship struggles. The two storylines are 1962 and 1918- 1924, with the focus being on the females who try to do more than just support their men.
Just one complaint and it annoyed the heck out of me. Several characters were called by their given names as well as their nicknames. With three families in the cast, it's hard enough to keep them all straight. But then add one or more nicknames per person and it gets boggling.
Not for everyone, but it fit my current mood. Thank you to St Martin's Press for the complimentary copy.
The cemetery was only one part of the story, but it's where a mysterious headstone is found and imparts some intrigue. A work of fiction about the Bethlehem Steel company in Bethlehem PA and the families behind it, I am not sure now if the wealthy Colliers and Parrishes were real families or not. They are all close friends and then inter-marry. There isn't a lot of action; I just enjoyed reading about them and their relationship struggles. The two storylines are 1962 and 1918- 1924, with the focus being on the females who try to do more than just support their men.
Just one complaint and it annoyed the heck out of me. Several characters were called by their given names as well as their nicknames. With three families in the cast, it's hard enough to keep them all straight. But then add one or more nicknames per person and it gets boggling.
Not for everyone, but it fit my current mood. Thank you to St Martin's Press for the complimentary copy.
February 18, 2019
Bethlehem by Karen Kelly
This story grabbed me a little way in and wouldn’t let go. A family saga covering three generations in one house, Brynmoor manor, Karen Kelly tells a wonderful tale of the Parrish clan and their best friends, the Colliers. Subtle humor is everywhere, so don’t miss it.
Taking place alternating between the 1920s and 1960s, you will find the author’s use of language perfect for each era and the times she writes about. Kelly has a sharp perception of human nature as well, so she creates likable characters with strengths and weaknesses you’ll understand.
The author will show you that sometimes the ones you least expect will be the ones to surprise you the most and that there really are no secrets in life. Five stars from me for a tale well told.
My thanks to #netgalley and #Stmartinspress for an advance copy for this review.
This story grabbed me a little way in and wouldn’t let go. A family saga covering three generations in one house, Brynmoor manor, Karen Kelly tells a wonderful tale of the Parrish clan and their best friends, the Colliers. Subtle humor is everywhere, so don’t miss it.
Taking place alternating between the 1920s and 1960s, you will find the author’s use of language perfect for each era and the times she writes about. Kelly has a sharp perception of human nature as well, so she creates likable characters with strengths and weaknesses you’ll understand.
The author will show you that sometimes the ones you least expect will be the ones to surprise you the most and that there really are no secrets in life. Five stars from me for a tale well told.
My thanks to #netgalley and #Stmartinspress for an advance copy for this review.
July 31, 2019
4 solid stars! This one starts out oh so slow, but it is very satisfying as the story unfolds. I admit to being pleasantly surprised that I liked it so much. There are a lot of characters to place and who fits into whose family, who is in love with who, who are sisters, and who are brothers. I had to take notes to keep up with everyone. The second half was much easier and I really began to enjoy the plot and where it was going; or the guessing of where it was going. The blurb is spot on when it says, "atmospheric". And it does remind me of Kate Morton.
The story is about an affluent family who works in the steel business in Bethlehem. There are a lot of well-kept family secrets. Joanna and her husband have to move back to his family home to help out with family matters. Susannah, Joanna's mother in law, is not all that welcoming and Joanna doesn't feel like she fits in or wants to be there at all.
As Joanna gets to learn more about the history of the family...finding old photo albums, talking to ppl in the community, becoming friends with Daniel, who is the grandson of the cemetery keeper, she becomes more and more interested learning the true story behind one of the best-kept secrets of all.
I admit it was not an easy read. It took a long time to get to the "ah-ha" moment when my questions were answered. But it was beautiful when all was revealed. And I would read it again with new understanding about some of the sacrifices some of the characters made and how that changed them (and others). I don't re-read books often. This gives me a lot to think about. I enjoyed the discussion we had in the Traveling Sisters Group and it did enhance my pleasure of this book.
Many thanks go to the publisher via NetGalley for an ARC to read for review. I highly recommend this. Beautifully written.
The story is about an affluent family who works in the steel business in Bethlehem. There are a lot of well-kept family secrets. Joanna and her husband have to move back to his family home to help out with family matters. Susannah, Joanna's mother in law, is not all that welcoming and Joanna doesn't feel like she fits in or wants to be there at all.
As Joanna gets to learn more about the history of the family...finding old photo albums, talking to ppl in the community, becoming friends with Daniel, who is the grandson of the cemetery keeper, she becomes more and more interested learning the true story behind one of the best-kept secrets of all.
I admit it was not an easy read. It took a long time to get to the "ah-ha" moment when my questions were answered. But it was beautiful when all was revealed. And I would read it again with new understanding about some of the sacrifices some of the characters made and how that changed them (and others). I don't re-read books often. This gives me a lot to think about. I enjoyed the discussion we had in the Traveling Sisters Group and it did enhance my pleasure of this book.
Many thanks go to the publisher via NetGalley for an ARC to read for review. I highly recommend this. Beautifully written.
March 18, 2019
When I shop for books I never read the jacket. I will often thumb through the pages and see if there is a paragraph that excites me. I always read a book's first sentence. "It's nice to see some live children around here," is the opening for this book and it's one of those sentences that can only hook me.
Also, the cover of this book is so gorgeous that I wish I had it in poster size so I could frame and hang it in my bedroom. I love it that much.
The title of the book instantly made me think of Bethlehem Steel and this is exactly where the story takes you. Bethlehem, PA is steel central in the U.S. If you are from Pennsylvania or have traveled through any of the steel areas in PA, you will love the geographical backdrop of this book. There are two time periods covered in this family drama. There is an extensive list of characters and you not only have to remember their names but their nicknames as well. It's not a story to be rushed. The writing isn't rushed and it's a great indication of how the story should be read as well. The writing is exquisite. Karen Kelly is wonderful at artfully constructing a story.
This is a beautiful story about family, love, and duty. It's one of those stories where you want every character to have it all but life doesn't work out that way. It's also one of those books that when I finished reading, I was in literary mourning for a good week because I didn't want the story to end.
This book has found a home amongst my favorites.
Thank you to Karen Kelly, St. Martin's Press and Goodreads. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. This is my honest review.
Also, the cover of this book is so gorgeous that I wish I had it in poster size so I could frame and hang it in my bedroom. I love it that much.
The title of the book instantly made me think of Bethlehem Steel and this is exactly where the story takes you. Bethlehem, PA is steel central in the U.S. If you are from Pennsylvania or have traveled through any of the steel areas in PA, you will love the geographical backdrop of this book. There are two time periods covered in this family drama. There is an extensive list of characters and you not only have to remember their names but their nicknames as well. It's not a story to be rushed. The writing isn't rushed and it's a great indication of how the story should be read as well. The writing is exquisite. Karen Kelly is wonderful at artfully constructing a story.
This is a beautiful story about family, love, and duty. It's one of those stories where you want every character to have it all but life doesn't work out that way. It's also one of those books that when I finished reading, I was in literary mourning for a good week because I didn't want the story to end.
This book has found a home amongst my favorites.
Thank you to Karen Kelly, St. Martin's Press and Goodreads. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. This is my honest review.
February 6, 2019
I had high hopes for this book, but I just didn't love it... I didn't even particularly like it. It was just so predictable. The writing was decent, but I feel like she tossed in big, typically unused words just because she could.
All the characters were thrown at you at the beginning... and not only do some of the characters share the same name, they ALL have nicknames. So the dialogue uses their nicknames and the author uses their given name. It was WAY more confusing than it needed to be. Given the fact that the story bounced back and forth from the 1920s to the 1960s I honestly had a hard time keeping all the characters straight.
I pretty much figured out where Joann's story was going to lead and the secret that Susannah had been hiding within the first 25 pages of the book.
At the end of the day, I was just bored. I forced myself to sit and read this while at the bookstore today... I was afraid if I put it down, I wouldn't pick it back up again.
**I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway/ARC**
All the characters were thrown at you at the beginning... and not only do some of the characters share the same name, they ALL have nicknames. So the dialogue uses their nicknames and the author uses their given name. It was WAY more confusing than it needed to be. Given the fact that the story bounced back and forth from the 1920s to the 1960s I honestly had a hard time keeping all the characters straight.
I pretty much figured out where Joann's story was going to lead and the secret that Susannah had been hiding within the first 25 pages of the book.
At the end of the day, I was just bored. I forced myself to sit and read this while at the bookstore today... I was afraid if I put it down, I wouldn't pick it back up again.
**I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway/ARC**
July 27, 2019
BETHLEHEM is the story of Joanna - a young woman that, together with her husband Frank and children, moves back in the ancestral home because it will be closer to Franks's work. Frank's father has just died, he's has taken on much more responsibility, and he's gone a lot. This bothers Joanna quite a lot. The situation is made worse since she is not only sharing the house with her mother-in-law, but also Frank's grandmother. Not that the women are horrible or wicked, but Joanna does feel like an outsider. One day, while walking outside with her children, Joanna wanders over to the cemetery and meets an old woman named Doe. Doe is taking care of the cemetery along with her husband. Joanna also meets Doe's grandson Daniel, a thoughtful young man that Joanna feels drawn to. In the cemetery there is a grave for a little baby, but Doe - who has been very talkative up until now - refuses to speak about it. What is it with the small grave?
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
January 2, 2021
I want to give this book all the stars and shout about it to the world, but simultaneously want to hide it away so it can stay my pure and perfect discovery that no one can ever say a bad word about. (Don’t worry, Karen Kelly, I’m opting to shout about it.)
Bethlehem had the ultimate chemistry for me. It had the period-piece elegance of Rules of Civility, the thought-provoking and nostalgic charm of Station Eleven and Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance, and evoked the same level of emotional response as The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and The Art of Fielding.
I picked up this book because I used to live in Bethlehem, and find the little city to be super charming. The steel boom that put Bethlehem on the map is utterly fascinating to me, and it helped to set some of the scene.
But this story isn’t about steel industry or even Bethlehem, really, though that’s it’s only setting. The book’s about complex relationships: between complicated women, with romantic partners, and with ourselves. It begs a lot of questions about forgiveness: who deserves it, when to ask for it, and if we owe it to ourselves.
The story oscillates between two timelines — 1920s and 1960s — and zooms in on two families. You’ll get the prohibition era flapper-dresses-in-ballrooms that you crave, but you’ll also find a new sort of beauty and solace in cemeteries.
Nothing about the plot ever shocked me, but I was certainly surprised how much I fell in love with the people and the place, and how much perspective it all gave me.
Bethlehem had the ultimate chemistry for me. It had the period-piece elegance of Rules of Civility, the thought-provoking and nostalgic charm of Station Eleven and Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance, and evoked the same level of emotional response as The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and The Art of Fielding.
I picked up this book because I used to live in Bethlehem, and find the little city to be super charming. The steel boom that put Bethlehem on the map is utterly fascinating to me, and it helped to set some of the scene.
But this story isn’t about steel industry or even Bethlehem, really, though that’s it’s only setting. The book’s about complex relationships: between complicated women, with romantic partners, and with ourselves. It begs a lot of questions about forgiveness: who deserves it, when to ask for it, and if we owe it to ourselves.
The story oscillates between two timelines — 1920s and 1960s — and zooms in on two families. You’ll get the prohibition era flapper-dresses-in-ballrooms that you crave, but you’ll also find a new sort of beauty and solace in cemeteries.
Nothing about the plot ever shocked me, but I was certainly surprised how much I fell in love with the people and the place, and how much perspective it all gave me.
December 19, 2018
I have found few authors who have the ability to carry two storylines and not frustrate me. Usually, I am overwhelmingly interested in just one storyline and am disappointed, if not outright bored, when the novel returns to the less interesting storyline. Sometimes, also, the storylines are imbalanced, and so much time is spent on one story that I forget details of the other story.
Ms. Kelly’s Bethlehem has two storylines about the same family that take place 60 years apart. Both stories, however, are strong enough to stand alone, and so deftly woven together that I was not bored with either. I flew through the book without losing interest in either story. I will look for more books by this author.
Ms. Kelly’s Bethlehem has two storylines about the same family that take place 60 years apart. Both stories, however, are strong enough to stand alone, and so deftly woven together that I was not bored with either. I flew through the book without losing interest in either story. I will look for more books by this author.
March 15, 2019
From the 1920's to the 1960's, the Collier and Parrish families have been very close. Living a life of wealth and privilege as major players in the steel industry in Bethlehem, PA.
They do everything together. Their children do everything together. Life looks perfect and every thing they touch is good.
By the time Frank and Joanna Collier and their two small children come to live on the estate his own father has died leaving his mother and grandmother alone. While Joanna isn't at all on board with this plan and is quite miserable about it and who wouldn't be? No one needs 3 strong women under one roof! Every new wife and mother wants to be the queen of their domain but Joanna is feeling like an unwelcome guest and with Frank up to his ears in business, she finds herself wandering through the nearby grave yard and not only finds a mystery, but a handsome stranger.
I will own up to being a bit overwhelmed with all of the characters in this tale. There were a lot. There were also a lot of secrets. Nothing was what I thought it was. At the beginning I found myself whining about another book with a weak and whiny main character. I am so glad I stuck with it because it was nothing like that! These women were all strong. They had to be. The secrets they carried weighed heavy on them for decades.
And in the end I cried and cried. A tale of family, pain, secrets, forgiveness, and trust. Never has the saying, "We never know what is really going on behind closed doors" been more true.
A beautiful story!
NetGalley/ St. Martin's Press July 09,2019
They do everything together. Their children do everything together. Life looks perfect and every thing they touch is good.
By the time Frank and Joanna Collier and their two small children come to live on the estate his own father has died leaving his mother and grandmother alone. While Joanna isn't at all on board with this plan and is quite miserable about it and who wouldn't be? No one needs 3 strong women under one roof! Every new wife and mother wants to be the queen of their domain but Joanna is feeling like an unwelcome guest and with Frank up to his ears in business, she finds herself wandering through the nearby grave yard and not only finds a mystery, but a handsome stranger.
I will own up to being a bit overwhelmed with all of the characters in this tale. There were a lot. There were also a lot of secrets. Nothing was what I thought it was. At the beginning I found myself whining about another book with a weak and whiny main character. I am so glad I stuck with it because it was nothing like that! These women were all strong. They had to be. The secrets they carried weighed heavy on them for decades.
And in the end I cried and cried. A tale of family, pain, secrets, forgiveness, and trust. Never has the saying, "We never know what is really going on behind closed doors" been more true.
A beautiful story!
NetGalley/ St. Martin's Press July 09,2019
March 4, 2019
What a beautiful story. I initially only wanted to read this book because I am from the Bethlehem area, and was pleasantly surprised by how this book took hold of me. It was beautifully written in a way that allowed me to picture everything that was happening, and grabbed my heartstrings without me even noticing.
Bethlehem is the story of two women in two generations who have so much in common, although they do not know it. I don't want to share too much in order to not spoil anything, as there is no way I could possibly do this book justice.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC - I am so glad I read this book!
Bethlehem is the story of two women in two generations who have so much in common, although they do not know it. I don't want to share too much in order to not spoil anything, as there is no way I could possibly do this book justice.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC - I am so glad I read this book!
March 29, 2019
At first I was stuck on trying to remember the families and their lineage but decided to move on and I’m glad I did. I couldn’t put it down. The story was compelling and I wanted to keep going. You eventually figure out the characters and how they are all connected without missing any details. It’s a great beach read. I can’t say I enjoy historic novels but I was very intrigued learning about Bethlehem steel and the families. you are drawn in quickly and you can’t help but wanting to find out what happens next. As a mother of 4, “I’m not here to judge you, but help you” will stay with me forever. Highly recommend!
didn-t-finish
July 15, 2019I have decided not to finish reading Bethlehem after reading just over one third of the book. I have found that neither the characters or setting have captured my attention sufficiently to make me want to continue with this family’s story. It’s almost too quiet. Another problem for me was the quick jumps between the 1920s and 1962. While I usually have no problem with this type of change in other books, here it seemed to occur in brief spurts that felt awkward. Also, this is not an historical fiction but rather a family story or saga, so my expectations were not met.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
June 27, 2019
I won this book from a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Goodreads!
January 7, 2019
*I received an advanced readers' copy in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.*
A young woman in the 1920s discovers love for the first time. A wife and mother in the 1960s has trouble finding her place in her new home. These women’s lives intertwine in a story of love, regret, forgiveness and family. Through secrets revealed, these women come to understand themselves and each other.
This slow burn story is everything. Tragedy. Beauty. Love. Family. Relationships. I loved it. I felt so deeply for every character. I continuously came back for more. Watching every chapter reveal just a little more. Knowing that all the details mentioned in passing were important and meaningful to the whole. And then I got to the end where I closed the book and didn’t know what to do with myself because so many emotions were being felt from the last few chapters.
A beautiful book, both inside and out. I highly recommend this to anyone who needs a bit of feeling and emotion in their reading. Absolutely wonderful. I’ll be thinking and talking about this book for a while.
A young woman in the 1920s discovers love for the first time. A wife and mother in the 1960s has trouble finding her place in her new home. These women’s lives intertwine in a story of love, regret, forgiveness and family. Through secrets revealed, these women come to understand themselves and each other.
This slow burn story is everything. Tragedy. Beauty. Love. Family. Relationships. I loved it. I felt so deeply for every character. I continuously came back for more. Watching every chapter reveal just a little more. Knowing that all the details mentioned in passing were important and meaningful to the whole. And then I got to the end where I closed the book and didn’t know what to do with myself because so many emotions were being felt from the last few chapters.
A beautiful book, both inside and out. I highly recommend this to anyone who needs a bit of feeling and emotion in their reading. Absolutely wonderful. I’ll be thinking and talking about this book for a while.
March 4, 2019
This is a five star book. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't couldn't stop turning the pages of this beautifully written story. The reveals in the second half kept surprising, and the beautiful prose seems to have a power of its own. I'm not one to cry with books or movies, but for me it was a magical experience. I had uncontrollable tears at the end. I was astonished.
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