Chaining Daisy

Perennials #2

by Julia Blake

If someone breaks, can they ever truly be put back together?

Book Two in the Perennials Trilogy, Chaining Daisy continues the story begun in Becoming Lili.

Now adults coping with relationships, marriage and parenthood, Lili and her friends have no idea of the dark days to come.

Desperate for a baby, Daisy feels the chains of expectation tighten as her failure to conceive places an unbearable strain on her marriage, threatening to stretch her husband’s patience to breaking point.

Kevin also has problems as his feelings grow for his mysterious Ukrainian cleaner. But Kateryna is a woman with a tragic past and a secret – a secret which will change everything.

Chaining Daisy is a magnificent, sweeping story of life in all its harsh, beautiful wonder, and is a tale that will wrench at your heart and hold you spellbound until the very last page.

430 pages, Paperback

Published August 18, 2019

About the author

I was born and raised in the beautiful historic market town of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, where I live still with my kid, one crazy cat and a succession of even crazier lodgers. I'm a multi-genre author which basically means I write whatever story floats into my head and worry about what genre it fits into afterwards. So far, I have written in contemporary fiction, romantic suspense, YA fantasy, folklore fantasy, sci-fi, short stories, poetry, and even a fabulous steampunk retelling of the Snow White story.

I have been writing stories and poems since I could first pick up a pen, and I promise there are many more books in the pipeline. I write the kind of books that I like to read myself. Books I can escape into and that make me laugh, cry and really connect with the characters. I also like my books to have a very satisfying ending, where all is explained and no string is left untied, well, not unless I'm planning a sequel that is.

www.juliablakeauthor.co.uk
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Reviews

[Julia Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

So here we are, book nine, Chaining Daisy. The sequel to Becoming Lili and book two of The Perennials Trilogy. The concept of this story has been in my head for thirteen years and it has taken the last two years to write and publish. It’s a big book, almost as long as Becoming Lili, yet I’ve been told it’s a quick read, and that like Becoming Lili, it draws you into the world of Lili and all her friends until they feel like your friends – or rather, you wish they were.

It was a hard book to write, but then I always knew it would be. Where Lili was hope and aspiration, a coming of age, ugly duckling tale of youth and exuberance, Chaining Daisy is altogether a much darker, grittier and more complex book. I had no choice in this, Lili and her friends are growing up. They’re adults now, facing all the highs and lows that being a grown-up, entails. Relationships and parenthood loom on the horizon and for some, there are dark days ahead.

All the old gang from Becoming Lili are here – Lili herself with her loyal band of friends: Amy, Kevin, Lindy, Johnny and Martin, as well as her London friend Daisy. Daisy has been having a hard time of it lately, as her failure to conceive is causing issues with her impatient husband, and her complicated relationship with her parents and chronic lack of self-esteem leave her increasingly isolated - those chains of expectation and duty tightening until she struggles to breathe.

Conrad is here of course, loyally sticking to his friends and doing his best to help them as they face almost insurmountable obstacles, and he and Matthew are the rocks that the gang anchor themselves around.

Along with all the old familiar faces are new characters, including the beautiful and enigmatic Kateryna. A strong and courageous Ukrainian immigrant, she is a woman with secrets to keep and a tragic story to tell, and her impact upon the group is devastating, with far-reaching consequences.

Yes, it’s a rocky road I’m going to take you on this time, and I apologise in advance if it proves uncomfortable reading. There are scenes some readers may find disturbing, yet I refused to sugar coat them because real life never sweetens the bitter pills it forces us to swallow and I always aspire to be as true to life as possible in my tales.

So, take my hand and come with me as we return to the world of Becoming Lili but I warn you, there are stormy waters ahead and your heart may never quite be the same again.

[Julie Embleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was told coming into this sequel to Becoming Lili that I’d need a supply of tissues, and I’m glad I heeded the warning. From page one, Blake took a firm hold on my heart and did not let go as the story unfolded. Following the lives of Lili and her friends, this second book in the Perennials series is a rollercoaster of emotion as the characters navigate adulthood with its joys, heartbreaks and unfortunately, downright ugliness.

Chaining Daisy begins with a focus on handsome bachelor, Kevin, the TV Gardener who finds himself falling for the diminutive but fierce Kataryna, his Ukranian cleaner who hides a dark secret. Meanwhile, Daisy and her husband Guy continue to try for a baby. Unbeknownst to her friends, the abuse Daisy suffers by his hand is slowly tearing her apart. With her marriage ground to dust and her spirit not far behind, the story takes a turn. Here’s where Blake’s talent as a writer shines. Tackling the sensitive subjects of abuse, rape, death and addiction, at no stage did I feel compelled to turn away in horror, but clung tighter instead, shoulder-to-shoulder with the characters as they dealt with the harsh realities of life. There are disturbing scenes, but Blake does a superb job with the subject matter, approaching each sensitive issue with respectful, yet raw truth. Chaining Daisy slips into a darker place than Becoming Lili, but fits the life-stage of the characters, so while it’s a tough read in places, it also highlights how the characters have matured from book one.

From what I’ve read online, each reader has had their own cry-point in this book. I won’t share mine as I don’t want to reveal spoilers, however do believe me when I tell you that hope lives in the bones of this story, and does prevail to bring an ending you’ll appreciate.

A third book is planned for this series, with the focus on a character met in Chaining Daisy, and while I know the author will be taking her time with its release, I’m already looking forward to the next instalment.

[Jess Molyneux · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading 'Becoming Lili', it was interesting to see the attention shift onto Kevin and Daisy for an insight into their marriage. Blake's stories are the definition of emotional rollercoaster and will keep you gripped until the end. I can't wait to find out how things end in 'Rambling Rose'!

[Becky Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chaining Daisy, the second book in The Perennials picks up where the first book Becoming Lili ends, pulling you straight into the story. In the first, we are introduced to the main cast of characters, a gang of friends whose lives are based in the late 90s. With Chaining Daisy, the years have moved on a little to the early 2000s, concentrating this time on Daisy who’s struggling with her not-so-perfect marriage, despite appearances, and Kevin, one of Lili’s oldest friends.

Julia Blake as always delivers a riveting story with eloquence and style. Her cast—and I’d always call her characters a cast as they’re so visual, so full and multidimensional, they live and breathe from the page—all have their supporting roles in this, all bringing something to the story. With scene-setting locations going from rural Suffolk to London to Cornwall, she manages to bring so much colour and atmosphere too.

I hate giving the plot away, I think the book blurb gives you enough. But what I will say is this is one hell of a ride. Although the book itself is a huge (well worth its money) read of over 400 pages, the author’s writing talent takes you by the hand, enticing you in; before you know it, you're halfway through and you’ve not been up for air. It certainly takes your breath away, dealing with difficult topics and situations, and although the author has dealt with these so realistically, so true to life, she has been careful to handle them with a sense of integrity—graphic descriptions where needed and others left to the imagination.

This is one book that stays with you. I read it in a few sittings, needing to close the pages and recover once in a while, reaching for the box of tissues, yet the characters stayed with me, calling me until I picked it up again.

Though I urge every reader to have tissues to hand, this is in no way a mushy love story, though love and life in all its wonder and horror feature strongly, Chaining Daisy is hard-hitting, gripping, incredibly heart wrenching read with soft, tender, beautiful moments. A well-earned 5 stars!

[ThatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read all of Julia Blake's books I know better than to go into one without a box of tissues at hand. Because Miss Blake will pull you by the heartstrings, rip your heart out, and I'm afraid to say, you will love every second of it. To the point that you will want more. Her writing is immersive and captures readers from the first few lines, but once you're hooked, there is no going back. Chaining Daisy is no different. You'll find yourself unable to put the book down because you need to know what's going to happen. Delving into the dark recesses of what people can do to others, it tells a story that, unlike its predecessor - Becoming Lily, book one in The Perennials trilogy - portrays adulthood and responsibility with a sense of reality that will grab you whole. This book tells a story of the harm that can come from living a lie, putting up a fake demeanour for appearances sake, and it brutally reminded me of the kind of society and world we live in where everyone displays a curated life of glory and happiness and success. Daisy's tale made me ponder hard on it, the malefice of living a lie. But this is also a book about love - in every form and manner - and finding love where there seemed to be none. It is a book about second chances, especially the ones we are willing to give ourselves, and like Lily, it's a story of hope. Hope of overcoming the past and moving on with a strong, lifted heart, to enjoy the life we perhaps were too scared to pursue in the first place. It won't live you intact, this tale, but it will surely uplift you.

[Ginny Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up folk because you are in for a roller coaster ride with Chaining Daisy.

One moment you are giggling at the way Kevin’s house help speaks and the next you’re weeping at how life deals the most appalling whammies when least expected. You’ve only just recovered from one swooping, stomach-lurching loop when there’s another around the corner that simply takes your breath away.

I always thought Daisy’s husband was a dodgy character but never dreamed he could go to such lengths.

The camaraderie of the group of friends makes me wish I was part of the group or at least had my own group just like that (especially seeing as they are always cooking each other delicious meals).
To say that I loved the first book in this series, Becoming Lili, is an understatement – having read all four hundred and something pages twice in the space of less than a year. The second saga in the Perennials series continues seamlessly and does not disappoint.

But it’s not all fiction – there’s an underlying message, a very important one, that we women need to speak up and stand up for ourselves and each other. We need to have the courage of our convictions and not just accept that we are to blame for things over which we have no control.
Chaining Daisy is a riveting read. It’s not all peaches and pie. It’s gritty and sometimes downright shocking in places.

I forsook my beloved garden for a whole weekend – I could not put the book down.

[Eva Pasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chained!

Julia Blake’s novel packs a wallop, chaining the reader from the first to last page. Having read ‘Becoming Lili,’ it was nice to reconnect with the close-knit group of full-fleshed characters in ‘Chaining Daisy’.

Blatant indications and subtle allusions render a perfect title for this all-encompassing story drenched in realism:

Unquenched sorrow. Spousal abuse. Self-Degradation & Loathing. Addiction. Resilience. Retribution.

On another complimentary note, the author includes several heartwarming scenes replete with splendid descriptions of social gatherings. I could taste one of Lili’s delectable roasts. I could smell the sea air in Cornwall from the veranda at Clifftop.

I heartily recommend this novel of substance which will remain in your heart and stick to your ribs long after you’re unchained.

[Elena Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare tissues for this heartbreaking read

This book will make you cry.

This book will remind you of how unfair life is.

This book will show you how despicably cruel people can be.

This book will show you how amazingly strong people can be.

And that no matter what, there’s always hope. And love. And friendship.

The third book of The Perennials trilogy comes out tomorrow, I wish I could fast-forward time.

Julia Blake is an incredibly talented author.

[Linda Ganzini · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read “Becoming Lili,” the first book in the Perennials Trilogy, I fell in love with the characters. I could not put the book down—an inspirational story of hope, self-discovery, love, sacrifice, friendship, and family that touched my heart. In “Chaining Daisy,” book two of the series, Julia Blake took me on a different journey with these beloved characters to places I was not prepared to travel. In other reviews, I read to keep tissues handy. And yet, I didn’t cry reading this book. What Julia’s writing did do, was drive me to anger as some of the lives of these characters I felt I knew from book one were now facing inconceivable tragedies. Running through my mind were thoughts like: "It’s not fair! No, don’t go! Stay where you are! Please don’t do it! WHY did you go!"

Like in these lines from the book: My ‘face turned from incomprehension to horror, to tight, hard anger.’ I wanted to lock one of the characters in a room with no windows, slide week-old food under his door, just enough to keep him alive and leave him there for all eternity to suffer for all he did—this is a sign of a great writer when they evoke such emotion in a reader. Hang on to your seat and take a deep breath. “Chaining Daisy” will take you on a wild and heartbreaking ride. After “Becoming Lili,” expect the unexpected. I’m waiting with anticipation for book three!

[Danielle (Danni) Vinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chaining Daisy is the sequel to the wonderful Becoming Lili, and the second book in the Perennials Trilogy. We're back with Lili and her fabulous group of friends, two of which have pivotal roles in the stories within this book. We meet the sweet and strong Kateryna who is heartbreakingly stoic throughout some pretty difficult situations. And then there's Daisy. Kind, funny, tortured Daisy. This story will rip out your heart and stomp on it. Hard. I became very attached to her and experienced everything she went through along with her. That's the beauty of Blake's writing. The characters become real and burrow their way into your heart. Ultimately, this book is about love and loss. It's about sadness, abuse, strength, and redemption. And hope. This book will put you through the wringer and oh what a wonderful thing that is. I loved this book and am really looking forward to the final book in the series.

[Caroline Noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if you find yourself trapped within abuse or grief? Is there any escape? Is there hope for the future? Julia Blake's latest contemporary drama explores such questions in a beautifully written and compelling story.

Chaining Daisy is the continuation of the story begun in Becoming Lili, concentrating on the tragic events afflicting two beloved friends. The tone is darker and traumatic, so prepare for disturbing scenes and a flood of tears. The final pages reminded me of the end of Becoming Lili in its whimsical style and moment of healing grace.

Caught up in the lives of characters that leap off the pages, the reader finds themself being asked questions of authenticity, the fake front put up to hide the scars, the nature of true friendship and the cost of love. Wonderful and heartbreaking.

[Michelle Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with the characters Blake created in Becoming Lili and that feeling continued with Chaining Daisy. I am in awe of Blake’s way with words, the stories she spins and how she doesn’t shy away from the hard topics in service of the story.

Chaining Daisy is a roller coaster ride of emotions I’m so glad I went on. It’s a story of love, loss, helplessness and strength, friendship and family. You will laugh, cry, be furious and applaud right along with the characters. It’s an unapologetic look at life in all its tragic, painful, beautiful, glory.

This is one book I don’t want to spoil in anyway, so I will leave the synopsis to the blurb.

I’m so looking forward to the next in the series!

[Wendy Hewlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read and fell in love with the characters and story in Becoming Lili. Chaining Daisy delves into even deeper and more gut-wrenching issues with many of the characters we met and adored in Lili.
Like Becoming Lili, Chaining Daisy is a beautifully written, gripping, tear-inducing, page-turner that I literally could not put down.
Daisy's story, and Kateryna's are not for the faint of heart, but if you're willing to experience the hard stuff, you won't be disappointed. Blake's finely crafted tale takes us on a journey of love, heartache, despair, terror, grief, healing, determination, finding strength ... all the feels.
It only left me with one question - when will the third book be released?

[Linda Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Chaining Daisy has been an unforgettable and emotional roller coaster ride for me that was filled with cheers, laughter and sobbing tears that overflowed and ran freely down my cheeks. Yes, I was warned. But I was still unprepared. I was unprepared for the graphicness of the printed pages held in my hands. This book...this Perennial Series is about lives, relationships, the good, the bad and the ugly.

I chose to put myself through this unbelievable gambit of emotions that left me exhausted and filled with happiness, sadness, joy, anger, fear, peace, frustration, hate, calculating (is that an emotion?), despair, excitement and shock. Chaining Daisy drained me but I couldn’t put it down. I dare say, neither will you.

[Toni Kief · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written story, so deep in the human foibles and the unknown paths that present in everyone's life. It is difficult to write without mentioning too much, and I don't want to take away from the next reader's trip into this book. Everyone has a story that can break your heart, but it is the friends, true friends, that can help you through and to what comes next. I feel as if I would recognize Daisy if I saw her at the mailbox. The story took me back to some of my buried stories, and I understand her decisions.
Kevin's story is as heartbreaking and life reaffirming can be at the same time. Taking us through was a trip that will stay with me for a very long time.
Needless to say, excellent read provided to us by an amazing author.

[Angela Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chaining Daisy by Julia Blake

As we follow Lilli and her friends into married life and parenting - Chaining Daisy takes an altogether darker turn as it looks at what loving relationships should be in contrast to the impact of bereavement, infertility, coercive control, sexual and emotional abuse within marriage.
Not shying away from sometimes ugly truths, Chaining Daisy may contain triggers for some.
I was once again invested in the amazing characters and the workings of Lilli’s friendship group as the story unfolds.
This was a powerful and riveting read which threw me from emotion to emotion, but if you’re looking for sugar coated don’t go there.
A worthy five star read.

[Trisha Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down

I loved Becoming Lili and I couldn't wait for Chaining Daisy. The writing is superb and I know the characters. Most are lovable some are detestable. What a storyline this second read has. Daisy goes through unbelievable abuse. Kevin has no idea how his future will change when he employs a cleaner. I'm not telling you anything else except you must read it. When's book 3?!

[Nannette Kreitzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready for the feels!

When I started reading Chaining Daisy, it didn’t take long for me to reacquaint myself with the endearing characters I first met in Becoming Lili. As Blake does not shy away from difficult topics, it didn’t take much longer before I was reaching for the tissues I was told to keep handy. Although at one point I found myself wishing for the inclusion of first responders, the book as a whole is a realistic and moving portrayal of loss, abuse, and hard won healing. I have no doubt the next book, Rambling Rose, will be just as poignant.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional rollercoaster of a book!

Having read Becoming Lili, I was keen to read Julia Blake’s sequel, Chaining Daisy. This is an equally gripping, but altogether grittier look at the lives of the cast we met in the first book. Lili’s here, but she’s off to one side this time while Daisy and Kevin’s relationships take centre stage. To say their love lives are not plain sailing would be an understatement. Julia Blake puts them (and us!) through the mill in hard-hitting scenes that push her characters to the edge and beyond. In the hands of a less gifted writer, it’s a book that would sink into prurience or melodrama. With Julia Blake at the helm, you are taken well beyond the average saga. Sometimes you may want to look away, but you care so deeply about these characters and you’re made to feel such part of the close friendship group, that you stay to see them all through to the deeply satisfying conclusion. Chaining Daisy packs a genuinely powerful emotional punch.

[A.E. Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia has done it again, drawn me in and not let me go until she has finished her story.

Chaining Daisy is the second instalment in the Perennials Trilogy and is almost the antithesis to Becoming Lili. The first book was full of hope and wonder and the second is much darker…more adult. The characters are older now and their problems reflect this. There is still the same humour and camaraderie, but it is over-arched by two intertwining tales of struggle. There is light, but to reach it we must first witness the darkness that life can produce.

A beautifully written novel, the pages fly by and you are left wanting more. The third book is still to come and I want to know what the conclusion is for this group of friends!

[C.N. Jannain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chaining Daisy slowly creeps up and into subjects Blake has not touched upon previously. Difficult subjects. Subjects that need conversation. As expected, since I am a fan of this author, the story engaged me right away. Her detailed characters always come alive for me as does the landscape she builds. This is the second book in the series so I was familiar with some of the characters. The subject matter is not for the faint of heart, especially toward the end. Chaining Daisy surprised me in a good way. It’s a good story.

[Kazz Mossman]

What a spectacular read. I was warned it would be dark at times, and I would also need a box of tissues to get through.

Having read the first book, Becoming Lili, I was looking forward to reading more about the group of friends and Chaining Daisy didn't let me down. In fact, I would say it was even better than the first. I loved, loved, loved it!

Read my full review here - https://magicreviews.net/2020/04/27/c...

[T.K. Toppin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotional, sweeping saga contines! The story begins a few years after the first book in the trilogy, Becoming Lili, ends and dives straight into the oppressive and truly heart-wrenching life that is Daisy's. Ashamed, reluctant to expose her horrible life to her friends and family, Daisy navigates life with a truly abusive husband. Be prepared for visceral narratives, but how else can the glaring truth of abuse and violence be conveyed. Like the first book, Chaining Daisy is an engrossing read, and in no time at all, this (huge) book ends. It sometimes feels like a sweeping, cinematic mini-series, with characters so memorable and stories so poignant. Julia Blake has a true talent of pressing all the buttons for emotional feels, bringing to life the well-rounded characters, making you root for them, despise them, and sometimes want to knock their heads. A story about hardships--both open and secret, discovering one's self, and enduring through thick and thin with the help of friends and family. I'm eagerly looking forward to the final book, Rambling Rose.