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A Midwinter Promise
The past
A lonely and imaginative child, Julia loves her family’s beautiful and wild Cornish home with all her heart. But, marked by dark troubles, she enters her adult years determined to leave and seek a new beginning in London. It’s there she meets the handsome David. They fall in love, but when Julia becomes pregnant, even he can’t stop the terrible echoes of the past from ringing in her ears. The only sound to be heard above the noise is the old Cornish house, calling her home . . .
The present
For Julia’s adult children, Alex and Johnnie, the house hides the history of their family within its walls. For Alex, it is full of memories of her late mother. For Johnnie, it is the house that should have been rightfully theirs after Julia died but has been stolen from them instead. With their father now lying in a hospital bed, time is running out for Alex and Johnnie to uncover the secrets of what happened to their mother all those years ago. Can they discover the truth before the house closes its doors to them forever?
A lonely and imaginative child, Julia loves her family’s beautiful and wild Cornish home with all her heart. But, marked by dark troubles, she enters her adult years determined to leave and seek a new beginning in London. It’s there she meets the handsome David. They fall in love, but when Julia becomes pregnant, even he can’t stop the terrible echoes of the past from ringing in her ears. The only sound to be heard above the noise is the old Cornish house, calling her home . . .
The present
For Julia’s adult children, Alex and Johnnie, the house hides the history of their family within its walls. For Alex, it is full of memories of her late mother. For Johnnie, it is the house that should have been rightfully theirs after Julia died but has been stolen from them instead. With their father now lying in a hospital bed, time is running out for Alex and Johnnie to uncover the secrets of what happened to their mother all those years ago. Can they discover the truth before the house closes its doors to them forever?
546 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2019
67 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Lulu Taylor
28 books205 followersLulu was brought up in the Oxfordshire countryside, attended a girls’ school and then went to Oxford University, where she read English Literature. After university, she worked in publishing for several years, before becoming a novelist.
Lulu says of her books: ‘I’ve always adored stories of the rich and reckless at play, everything from The Great Gatsby to the brilliant blockbuster novels of the 80s. It’s fantastic escapism, and I’ve always loved creating my own stories of adventure, romance and luxury. My heroines are often very privileged and blessed with great looks and good health – but that doesn’t mean their lives are simple – far from it. They go through plenty of drama and suffering before everything is finally resolved.
‘Sex, love, beauty and money have always entranced us, and one way or another are the basis for just about every story ever written. There’s plenty of all of that in my novels, along with high fashion, which I love. What’s more, writing about fashion means I can go virtual shopping, dressing my heroines in all the wonderful clothes I adore – the racks of Marchesa ball gowns, the shelves of Louboutins, mountains of Chanel bags and acres of Dior dresses... it’s lots of fun. The stories can also get quite racy at times. It’s all about entertaining and amusing the reader, and enjoying being inside my characters’ glamorous, rarefied existence. ‘I’m always thrilled when someone enjoys reading my book as much I enjoyed writing it.’
Lulu now lives in West Dorset near the Somerset border, with her husband and two children.
Lulu says of her books: ‘I’ve always adored stories of the rich and reckless at play, everything from The Great Gatsby to the brilliant blockbuster novels of the 80s. It’s fantastic escapism, and I’ve always loved creating my own stories of adventure, romance and luxury. My heroines are often very privileged and blessed with great looks and good health – but that doesn’t mean their lives are simple – far from it. They go through plenty of drama and suffering before everything is finally resolved.
‘Sex, love, beauty and money have always entranced us, and one way or another are the basis for just about every story ever written. There’s plenty of all of that in my novels, along with high fashion, which I love. What’s more, writing about fashion means I can go virtual shopping, dressing my heroines in all the wonderful clothes I adore – the racks of Marchesa ball gowns, the shelves of Louboutins, mountains of Chanel bags and acres of Dior dresses... it’s lots of fun. The stories can also get quite racy at times. It’s all about entertaining and amusing the reader, and enjoying being inside my characters’ glamorous, rarefied existence. ‘I’m always thrilled when someone enjoys reading my book as much I enjoyed writing it.’
Lulu now lives in West Dorset near the Somerset border, with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
December 11, 2019
Told from two timeframes the past and the present.
In the present, we have Alex and Johnnie siblings struggling with many things in there average day to day lives.
When their father David has a stroke and their stepmother Sally summons them to his bedside the past and present for them collide as both especially Johnnie are dealing with the recursions of a lifetime of resentments and unspoken hurts.
The catalyst of there fathers potential passing brings forth all these hidden feelings bringing them all clawing to the forefront.
Also surfacing are hidden questions they both have regarding there mother Julia's death when they were children and just what there father's and sally's role in it was all those years ago.
So In the past, we get to focus on Julia herself, her early childhood and upbringing at Tawray and her exposure to her mother's miscarriages and her eventual death contributing to her daughter's later fragility and downward spiral.
We get to experience alongside Julia her falling in love with her future husband David a handsome naval officer in service to the palace, her love for her children and also her downward despair.
I was fascinated by the contrast in regards to Julia's David compared with Sally's they just seemed poles apart and at times didn't even seem like the same individual.
I came to the conclusion early on that after the chaos and whirlwind that was Julia David just needed a calm and stable hand and this is what Sally brought to the table.
Julia was his everything, the love of his life, his light and after she was gone Sally was comforting and uncomplicated and just easier.
I also felt so much emotion for Julia and surprisingly as time went along Sally although she seemed like the villain of the piece here I couldn't help thinking she deserved some unconditional love herself here instead of settling for the crumbs.
I was so very angry with David and how he dealt after Julia's death and I detested Mundo with a passion.
At its heart, this was a story focusing on family dynamics and relationships and the repercussions of mental illness.
But it was also rather depressing and I was just left feeling rather sad and deflated by the whole sorry saga.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of A Midwinter Promise.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
January 28, 2020
Disquieting, moving, and absorbing!
A Midwinter Promise is predominantly set in Cornwall during the 1980s and 90s, as well as present-day that takes you into the lives of Alex and Johnnie Pengelly, two middle-aged siblings who are struggling to come to grips with the complicated relationship they have with their dying father, the hostility between themselves and their stepmother, and the truth behind the life and loss of their mother, Julia when they were children.
The writing is captivating and vivid. The characters are genuine, distressed, and intriguing. And the plot, alternating between timelines, unravels and intertwines into a sweeping saga filled with life, loss, family, heartbreak, parenthood, mental illness, substance abuse, secrets, deception, and friendship.
Overall, A Midwinter Promise is another compelling, intelligent, heartwarming tale by Taylor that reminds us that life is short, psychological disorders are a very real concern with often devastating consequences, and people often do the wrong thing for the right reason.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
A Midwinter Promise is predominantly set in Cornwall during the 1980s and 90s, as well as present-day that takes you into the lives of Alex and Johnnie Pengelly, two middle-aged siblings who are struggling to come to grips with the complicated relationship they have with their dying father, the hostility between themselves and their stepmother, and the truth behind the life and loss of their mother, Julia when they were children.
The writing is captivating and vivid. The characters are genuine, distressed, and intriguing. And the plot, alternating between timelines, unravels and intertwines into a sweeping saga filled with life, loss, family, heartbreak, parenthood, mental illness, substance abuse, secrets, deception, and friendship.
Overall, A Midwinter Promise is another compelling, intelligent, heartwarming tale by Taylor that reminds us that life is short, psychological disorders are a very real concern with often devastating consequences, and people often do the wrong thing for the right reason.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2019
A Midwinter Promise by Lulu Taylor is a story set in Cornwall and told in two timelines.
This is a family who cannot get over the death of their mother or forgive their father for marrying a family friend shortly afterwards.
Secrets and lies have left this family desperate to know the truth about their mothers death.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a family who cannot get over the death of their mother or forgive their father for marrying a family friend shortly afterwards.
Secrets and lies have left this family desperate to know the truth about their mothers death.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2019
This is the story of the Pengely family and their home Tawray in Cornwall. It begins with Julia as a young girl and her interactions with her family and the lovely relationship she had with her half sister Lala , then looks more broadly into grown up Julia’s relationships and marriage to David. They have two children Johnnie and Alex. On Julia’s death David marries Sally and that introduces a half brother Edmund, known as Mundo into the mix. This is a story of family dynamics, an analysis of marriages which encompasses loss, sadness, fear and revenge, includes issues like depression and how that impacts of a family, the effects of a child with severe autism on family life and relationships and how control can ruin a family. It’s a busy book!
I like the setting of Tawray and Cornwall and the house sounds wonderful. I like the traditions that are included especially with using dried flowers in Christmas decorations for Tawray and how that became part of the fabric of celebration in the area. I like that Alex picks up this mantle from her mother when she grew up and made a living from it. Some of the characters are very likeable such as Alex and Johnnie. I think that Julia as a child is a wonderful character with her energy and imagination and her relationship with Lala is lovely. Lala is honest, funny, cynical and very talented. However, some of the characters don’t work as well for me. Mundo is so odious he is almost unbelievable and Sally is the stereotypical and rather predictable wicked stepmother.
There are some good descriptions but in some sections there is over explanation and some of that is very predictable. The storyline is told from multiple perspectives and takes the story backwards and forwards from the 1970’s to the present day. Whilst that works fairly well it does lead to a lot of backtracking and some repetition and I also feel there is a lot of navel gazing which halts the flow. Johnnie and his wife Netta have a son Bertie who is severely autistic and I think the author clearly shows how the care of a child with special needs impacts of family life and is a life long commitment. Whilst I think Netta is a cactus she does make very good points about how all the family needs are principally met by her.
Whilst there are things I like about this book I feel the ending when it all comes good with a rush and a gush, is too sudden. The damage the family dynamics leads too are too big and the issues too great to heal overnight. The title is misleading too. A midwinter promise is occasional mentioned but gets lost in the tale of families tearing themselves apart.
Overall, an ok read with some enjoyable parts and others that didn’t work so well for me.
I like the setting of Tawray and Cornwall and the house sounds wonderful. I like the traditions that are included especially with using dried flowers in Christmas decorations for Tawray and how that became part of the fabric of celebration in the area. I like that Alex picks up this mantle from her mother when she grew up and made a living from it. Some of the characters are very likeable such as Alex and Johnnie. I think that Julia as a child is a wonderful character with her energy and imagination and her relationship with Lala is lovely. Lala is honest, funny, cynical and very talented. However, some of the characters don’t work as well for me. Mundo is so odious he is almost unbelievable and Sally is the stereotypical and rather predictable wicked stepmother.
There are some good descriptions but in some sections there is over explanation and some of that is very predictable. The storyline is told from multiple perspectives and takes the story backwards and forwards from the 1970’s to the present day. Whilst that works fairly well it does lead to a lot of backtracking and some repetition and I also feel there is a lot of navel gazing which halts the flow. Johnnie and his wife Netta have a son Bertie who is severely autistic and I think the author clearly shows how the care of a child with special needs impacts of family life and is a life long commitment. Whilst I think Netta is a cactus she does make very good points about how all the family needs are principally met by her.
Whilst there are things I like about this book I feel the ending when it all comes good with a rush and a gush, is too sudden. The damage the family dynamics leads too are too big and the issues too great to heal overnight. The title is misleading too. A midwinter promise is occasional mentioned but gets lost in the tale of families tearing themselves apart.
Overall, an ok read with some enjoyable parts and others that didn’t work so well for me.
March 11, 2020
I'm not sure what lead me to request A MIDWINTER PROMISE by Lulu Taylor as the premise didn't appear at all exciting but I'm glad I did. It was a surprising read that intrigued me on a journey of secrets and discovery. As an epic contemporary novel, it really draws you in from the start and consumes you as the story unfolds.
The story surrounds the Pengelly family set in one of my favourite locales - Cornwall. It almost has an historical feel of another century with a huge stately home of turrets and gothic architecture that is at the centre of the story. The descriptions of Tawray made me feel as if I was really there, watching everything unfold. It was simply breathtaking.
Alex and Johnnie Pengelly lost their mother Julia tragically when they were just children afterwhich her best friend Sally moved in with such haste that was indecent. Within two years their father David married Sally, wiping any memory of their beloved mother from the house. As their stepmother, Sally removed any trace of Julia and seemingly created a wedge between David and his children, isolating them further and favouring her own horrid son Edmund, known as Mundo.
As Alex and Johnnie grew up, there seemed little reminder of their beautiful mother almost as if she were never really there. They longed for a closeness with their father but Sally was always there to keep them apart. And Mundo was always there to torment them. Of the three children, he was given the best of everything - the best schools, the best university - while all Alex and Johnnie wanted was their father's love and attention. Instead, David faded to somewhere beyond their reach...with Sally always hovering in between. They hadn't only lost their mother, they had lost their father as well.
When Alex wanted to continue her mother's tradition of decorating Tawray with boughs and baubles of dried flowers (gathered in the summer) and opening the house to the public at Christmas, Sally refused. Was there to be nothing of her mother or her legacy left? This was her mother's house - not Sally's. Or did Sally think Tawray belonged to David and that she would become lady of the manor once she married him? Which then begged the question...what part did Sally play in her mother's tragic death? She was supposed to be her best friend...but what if she was only after David and the position he would give her as mistress of Tawray?
As the years go by, the children grew and left the nest. Mundo went to university and became a hotshot lawyer in London, Johnnie also went to London, married Netta and had three boys - Bertie, Nathan and Joe - and Alex...well, Alex remained in Cornwall. She renovated the Old Barn on the edge of the Tawray estate, made it into a home for her and her girls - Scarlett and Jasmine - and created a thriving business of growing flowers and supplying the local village and surrounds. She lived her mother's legacy and continued the tradition of decorating Tawray in the festoons of dried floral arrangements each Christmas and opened the house for the public to enjoy.
But then Tawray is sold - their father cutting out any remaining link with Julia or the past, leaving Alex and Johnnie with only a lingering memory of their mother.
Now, in the present day, their father David has suffered a stroke and Alex and Johnnie have been summoned to his bedside. His prognosis looks grim but Sally remains confident of him making a full recovery by Christmas. For over two decades, David has been the centre of her world and she cannot imagine her life without him. Alex is torn between grief for her father and her irritation that Sally didn't call her as soon as her father had had the stroke...instead of waiting till morning. Like his sister, Johnnie is also torn but his feelings toward his stepmother are of anger at the indifferent way she has treated them - belittling them and allowing her horrid son Mundo to consistently torment them and then siding with him - over the years. And by ostracising them from their father when they needed him most after the death of their mother and keeping them apart in the years thereafter. Johnnie is angry and bitter and has no intention of showing Sally any sympathy or kindness.
Then when Mundo makes his appearance, it seems nothing has changed and he is still the obnoxious overbearing entitled oaf he was when they were growing up. But instead of looking out for his mother, he shifts that responsibility over to Alex to care for Sally in her aging years while h continues to live the high life in London. When all hope of David ever recovering looms, Mundo takes the opportunity to begin planning for the dividing of David's assets between them, languishing in his own sense of entitlement and self-importance that he and Sally will benefit far greater than that of David's own children.
But for Alex and Johnnie, the grief at the impending loss of their father rouses a myriad of other emotions tied up in the skeletons rattling around in Tawray's halls and the secrets it holds. Should their father never wake, the realisation that the truth about their mother's death will die with him fills them with an unimaginable hopelessness.
But then a stranger appears, stirring up the ghosts of the past with news that rocks their world and changes everything they ever knew about their father, their mother and the secrets of Tawray.
However, this is not the only story told here. There is also Julia's, interspersed between the present day and the past. And perhaps the most important story of all.
When we first meet Julia she is a 12 year old living in the sprawling estate that is Tawray and the year is 1975. As an only child, she is incredibly lonely and longs for a "parcel of brothers and sisters" to share her childhood with. She has Lala, of course, her older half-sister from her father's first marriage but Lala lives in France with her mother and she doesn't see her as often as she would like. Then overhearing her aunt Victoria quip to her grandmother one day that Julia was nothing but "a pup from the second litter", left her in a state of confusion. It was no secret that Aunt Victoria found her mother of unsuitable stock for Tawray but why did she dislike Julia as well?
Julia's childhood was a lonely one. She hardly saw her parents - her father always working and her mother taking to her bed whenever she became pregnant which was often but always ending with the same result. No child. Julia grew to hate whatever child her mother was carrying for making her so ill. It wasn't until the last time a few years later that Julia was home alone and she heard the screams from her mother's bathroom that she found a sight that would never leave her for the rest of her days. It sets off a chain of events that was to become like a talisman for Julia as she vowed she would never have children, not wanting to go through what she witnessed her mother endure in her efforts to give her father a son and heir to Tawray. It leads her down a dark path as she becomes more unstable with the years in her attempts to be happy.
When Julia meets David, her life seem to turn a corner. He provides her with a stability and happiness that she has never known before and within months they are married on a midwinter's day. Her distasteful aunt saw it as an omen to marry on such a day which came to play on Julia's mind in the years to come, leaving her to question if her marriage and happiness was doomed from the start. Which only intensifies when Julia discovers she is pregnant. This part of the story was brutal to read. It was raw, it was horrific and it was completely heartwrenching as we watch Julia grow ever more fragile and vulnerable.
David is at her side for the most part when he can get time away from his demanding and somewhat secretive job as an aide to the Prince and Princess of Wales. Alongside Julia's story we see snippets of Charles and Diana's life played out (of which we are all familiar with) despite David remaining tight-lipped about his employer's private lives.
I think it is Julia's story that fascinated me the most and really drew me in. From being a lonely child and coping with her mother being constantly unwell during her pregnancies to her rather unloving aunt and grandmother. Julia lived for Lala's visits and who became such an important part of her life. From childhood to her chaotic new life in London to her marriage to David to her friendship with Sally to her return to Cornwall, the darkness of the past never entirely leave her. The memories of her mother affected her more than anyone ever truly realised, particularly with her own struggles with pregnancy. The themes of mental health and addiction are woven into the story expertly and with sensitivity that had me completely riveted as I longed for a happy outcome for her.
I have not read Lulu Taylor before but I found A MIDWINTER PROMISE a compulsive book to read that I couldn't put down as I swiftly turned the pages to uncover the secrets that laid buried within the halls of Tawray.
A MIDWINTER PROMISE is one of my favourite types of books - dual timeline narratives filled with history and secrets to uncover and the story unfolds. I love how the past and the present are woven together and how the secrets of the past bind them all. It is most definitely rich in history and I could almost picture that immensely striking portrait mural of Julia's family in all its vivid detail.
Although A MIDWINTER PROMISE is exactly what you would expect with the predictability of a happy ending and a promise of a hopeful future, there are still a good few surprises along the way making the journey a beautiful and heartfelt tale that spans the decades.
A heartwarming story of love, loss, family and motherhood, I particularly found the portrayal of a mental illness somewhat different to those usually depicted to be eye-opening, raw and heartfelt as written from the perspective of the one suffering those demons. I could almost feel that pain. And to transport me to such a dark place was a stroke of genius and just brilliant.
My only niggle with this book was the tidy way in which everything was neatly tied up at the end without a more appropriate reason given behind one particular character's behaviour over the years. The reason outlined seemed a little too convenient and didn't really ring true.
An enjoyable way to lose yourself, A MIDWINTER PROMISE is an addictive read from beginning to end. Recommended particularly if you enjoy historical and dual timelines with plenty of secrets to unpick along the way.
I would like to thank #LuluTaylor, #NetGalley and #PanMacmillan for an ARC of #AMidwinterPromise in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The story surrounds the Pengelly family set in one of my favourite locales - Cornwall. It almost has an historical feel of another century with a huge stately home of turrets and gothic architecture that is at the centre of the story. The descriptions of Tawray made me feel as if I was really there, watching everything unfold. It was simply breathtaking.
Alex and Johnnie Pengelly lost their mother Julia tragically when they were just children afterwhich her best friend Sally moved in with such haste that was indecent. Within two years their father David married Sally, wiping any memory of their beloved mother from the house. As their stepmother, Sally removed any trace of Julia and seemingly created a wedge between David and his children, isolating them further and favouring her own horrid son Edmund, known as Mundo.
As Alex and Johnnie grew up, there seemed little reminder of their beautiful mother almost as if she were never really there. They longed for a closeness with their father but Sally was always there to keep them apart. And Mundo was always there to torment them. Of the three children, he was given the best of everything - the best schools, the best university - while all Alex and Johnnie wanted was their father's love and attention. Instead, David faded to somewhere beyond their reach...with Sally always hovering in between. They hadn't only lost their mother, they had lost their father as well.
When Alex wanted to continue her mother's tradition of decorating Tawray with boughs and baubles of dried flowers (gathered in the summer) and opening the house to the public at Christmas, Sally refused. Was there to be nothing of her mother or her legacy left? This was her mother's house - not Sally's. Or did Sally think Tawray belonged to David and that she would become lady of the manor once she married him? Which then begged the question...what part did Sally play in her mother's tragic death? She was supposed to be her best friend...but what if she was only after David and the position he would give her as mistress of Tawray?
As the years go by, the children grew and left the nest. Mundo went to university and became a hotshot lawyer in London, Johnnie also went to London, married Netta and had three boys - Bertie, Nathan and Joe - and Alex...well, Alex remained in Cornwall. She renovated the Old Barn on the edge of the Tawray estate, made it into a home for her and her girls - Scarlett and Jasmine - and created a thriving business of growing flowers and supplying the local village and surrounds. She lived her mother's legacy and continued the tradition of decorating Tawray in the festoons of dried floral arrangements each Christmas and opened the house for the public to enjoy.
But then Tawray is sold - their father cutting out any remaining link with Julia or the past, leaving Alex and Johnnie with only a lingering memory of their mother.
Now, in the present day, their father David has suffered a stroke and Alex and Johnnie have been summoned to his bedside. His prognosis looks grim but Sally remains confident of him making a full recovery by Christmas. For over two decades, David has been the centre of her world and she cannot imagine her life without him. Alex is torn between grief for her father and her irritation that Sally didn't call her as soon as her father had had the stroke...instead of waiting till morning. Like his sister, Johnnie is also torn but his feelings toward his stepmother are of anger at the indifferent way she has treated them - belittling them and allowing her horrid son Mundo to consistently torment them and then siding with him - over the years. And by ostracising them from their father when they needed him most after the death of their mother and keeping them apart in the years thereafter. Johnnie is angry and bitter and has no intention of showing Sally any sympathy or kindness.
Then when Mundo makes his appearance, it seems nothing has changed and he is still the obnoxious overbearing entitled oaf he was when they were growing up. But instead of looking out for his mother, he shifts that responsibility over to Alex to care for Sally in her aging years while h continues to live the high life in London. When all hope of David ever recovering looms, Mundo takes the opportunity to begin planning for the dividing of David's assets between them, languishing in his own sense of entitlement and self-importance that he and Sally will benefit far greater than that of David's own children.
But for Alex and Johnnie, the grief at the impending loss of their father rouses a myriad of other emotions tied up in the skeletons rattling around in Tawray's halls and the secrets it holds. Should their father never wake, the realisation that the truth about their mother's death will die with him fills them with an unimaginable hopelessness.
But then a stranger appears, stirring up the ghosts of the past with news that rocks their world and changes everything they ever knew about their father, their mother and the secrets of Tawray.
However, this is not the only story told here. There is also Julia's, interspersed between the present day and the past. And perhaps the most important story of all.
When we first meet Julia she is a 12 year old living in the sprawling estate that is Tawray and the year is 1975. As an only child, she is incredibly lonely and longs for a "parcel of brothers and sisters" to share her childhood with. She has Lala, of course, her older half-sister from her father's first marriage but Lala lives in France with her mother and she doesn't see her as often as she would like. Then overhearing her aunt Victoria quip to her grandmother one day that Julia was nothing but "a pup from the second litter", left her in a state of confusion. It was no secret that Aunt Victoria found her mother of unsuitable stock for Tawray but why did she dislike Julia as well?
Julia's childhood was a lonely one. She hardly saw her parents - her father always working and her mother taking to her bed whenever she became pregnant which was often but always ending with the same result. No child. Julia grew to hate whatever child her mother was carrying for making her so ill. It wasn't until the last time a few years later that Julia was home alone and she heard the screams from her mother's bathroom that she found a sight that would never leave her for the rest of her days. It sets off a chain of events that was to become like a talisman for Julia as she vowed she would never have children, not wanting to go through what she witnessed her mother endure in her efforts to give her father a son and heir to Tawray. It leads her down a dark path as she becomes more unstable with the years in her attempts to be happy.
When Julia meets David, her life seem to turn a corner. He provides her with a stability and happiness that she has never known before and within months they are married on a midwinter's day. Her distasteful aunt saw it as an omen to marry on such a day which came to play on Julia's mind in the years to come, leaving her to question if her marriage and happiness was doomed from the start. Which only intensifies when Julia discovers she is pregnant. This part of the story was brutal to read. It was raw, it was horrific and it was completely heartwrenching as we watch Julia grow ever more fragile and vulnerable.
David is at her side for the most part when he can get time away from his demanding and somewhat secretive job as an aide to the Prince and Princess of Wales. Alongside Julia's story we see snippets of Charles and Diana's life played out (of which we are all familiar with) despite David remaining tight-lipped about his employer's private lives.
I think it is Julia's story that fascinated me the most and really drew me in. From being a lonely child and coping with her mother being constantly unwell during her pregnancies to her rather unloving aunt and grandmother. Julia lived for Lala's visits and who became such an important part of her life. From childhood to her chaotic new life in London to her marriage to David to her friendship with Sally to her return to Cornwall, the darkness of the past never entirely leave her. The memories of her mother affected her more than anyone ever truly realised, particularly with her own struggles with pregnancy. The themes of mental health and addiction are woven into the story expertly and with sensitivity that had me completely riveted as I longed for a happy outcome for her.
I have not read Lulu Taylor before but I found A MIDWINTER PROMISE a compulsive book to read that I couldn't put down as I swiftly turned the pages to uncover the secrets that laid buried within the halls of Tawray.
A MIDWINTER PROMISE is one of my favourite types of books - dual timeline narratives filled with history and secrets to uncover and the story unfolds. I love how the past and the present are woven together and how the secrets of the past bind them all. It is most definitely rich in history and I could almost picture that immensely striking portrait mural of Julia's family in all its vivid detail.
Although A MIDWINTER PROMISE is exactly what you would expect with the predictability of a happy ending and a promise of a hopeful future, there are still a good few surprises along the way making the journey a beautiful and heartfelt tale that spans the decades.
A heartwarming story of love, loss, family and motherhood, I particularly found the portrayal of a mental illness somewhat different to those usually depicted to be eye-opening, raw and heartfelt as written from the perspective of the one suffering those demons. I could almost feel that pain. And to transport me to such a dark place was a stroke of genius and just brilliant.
My only niggle with this book was the tidy way in which everything was neatly tied up at the end without a more appropriate reason given behind one particular character's behaviour over the years. The reason outlined seemed a little too convenient and didn't really ring true.
An enjoyable way to lose yourself, A MIDWINTER PROMISE is an addictive read from beginning to end. Recommended particularly if you enjoy historical and dual timelines with plenty of secrets to unpick along the way.
I would like to thank #LuluTaylor, #NetGalley and #PanMacmillan for an ARC of #AMidwinterPromise in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
October 20, 2019
A Midwinter Promise is a book that has utterly consumed me, for the last however long I have been oblivious to my life, while I had to finished the book in one just the one more sitting, and that was from around 40% onwards. And the second I hit part 2, well I knew my day was doomed until I had finished the book.
Just wow, such fabulous writing, it really got under my skin as we get to see in dual time lines the history of the Pengelly family at Tawray, a bit Cornish house.
I was fascinated by Julia's story from childhood onwards, seeing how she changed, how her own mother affected her deeper than anyone realised, her marriage to David, friendship with Sally and her struggles with pregnancy.
There are themes of mental health and demons and addiction even within these sections all written sensitively and in a way that you felt as though the author had really done some research. I was completely and utterly gripped and had a few of my own theories.
And then at the same time me meet Julia and David's now grown up children, and their families as David is on his sickbed. We learn about their relationship over the years with their stepmother and stepbrother, and how it has affected them.
I just found this a compulsive book to read, I needed more of it and I need it faster than I could read the words. I was utterly addicted as I read about this family across the years. I perhaps was more enthralled by the Julia's story, but that may be because it was still having an effect on the present day family.
I am starting to think that Lulu Taylor is becoming better and better with each book, and this was no exception. Utterly gripping and left me practically speechless.
Thank you to Pan on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Just wow, such fabulous writing, it really got under my skin as we get to see in dual time lines the history of the Pengelly family at Tawray, a bit Cornish house.
I was fascinated by Julia's story from childhood onwards, seeing how she changed, how her own mother affected her deeper than anyone realised, her marriage to David, friendship with Sally and her struggles with pregnancy.
There are themes of mental health and demons and addiction even within these sections all written sensitively and in a way that you felt as though the author had really done some research. I was completely and utterly gripped and had a few of my own theories.
And then at the same time me meet Julia and David's now grown up children, and their families as David is on his sickbed. We learn about their relationship over the years with their stepmother and stepbrother, and how it has affected them.
I just found this a compulsive book to read, I needed more of it and I need it faster than I could read the words. I was utterly addicted as I read about this family across the years. I perhaps was more enthralled by the Julia's story, but that may be because it was still having an effect on the present day family.
I am starting to think that Lulu Taylor is becoming better and better with each book, and this was no exception. Utterly gripping and left me practically speechless.
Thank you to Pan on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
November 29, 2019
This was an interesting read as it was told in two different times, the present day and the 70s and 80s. The earlier time, besides being Julia’s story also gave snippets of the main news at that time. Julia was a person who needed specialist help in her earlier life, but didn’t get it. It was a time when certain subjects were not discussed with children. Julia was a complex character and I really felt for her. The events and memories of her children also help piece together what happened in the past. I think the main reason that I gave this book three stars was because it left me feeling sad and that’s not what I look for in a story. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 28, 2024
En esencia, se trata de una historia centrada en la dinámica y las relaciones familiares, y en las repercusiones de las enfermedades mentales. Aunque me mantuvo enganchada, también es una historia bastante deprimente, que me dejó un sentimiento de tristeza y desánimo, por mucho que la autora termina el libro con un final feliz..
La trama es inquietante, conmovedora y absorbente. Se desarrolla principalmente en Cornualles durante los años 80 y 90, así como en la actualidad, y narra las vidas de Alex y Johnnie Pengelly, dos hermanos de mediana edad que luchan por hacer frente a la complicada relación que tienen con su padre moribundo, la hostilidad entre ellos y su madrastra, y la verdad detrás de la vida y la pérdida de su madre, Julia, cuando eran niños.
La escritura es cautivadora y ágil, alternando entre dos líneas temporales, una contando la vida de los hermanos, Alex y Johnnie, y la otra trayendo del pasado la vida de sus padres, Julia y David. Los secretos y las mentiras dejan a los hermanos ansiosos por saber la verdad sobre la muerte de su madre. Encontré todos los personajes bien descritos, con perfiles de muy distintos tipos.
La trama se desenreda y se entrelaza en una saga envolvente llena de vida, pérdida, familia, desamor, maternidad y paternidad, enfermedad mental, abuso de drogas, secretos, engaños y amistad. Están presentes en el relato los trastornos psicológicos como depresión y tocofobia (miedo irracional al embarazo y el parto), con una trascendencia importante en la vida de cualquier familia, y con consecuencias a menudo devastadoras, tanto para quien los sufre como para el resto de familiares.
También vemos un análisis de matrimonios, con aversión al sexo en uno de ellos y el reparto no igualitario de las responsabilidades familiares por el otro. Muy importante es cómo impacta en la vida familiar y las relaciones entre los padres los efectos de un niño con autismo severo, que mal llevados pueden destrozar el matrimonio y, por extensión, la familia.
Es uno de mis tipos de libros favoritos: narraciones en dos líneas temporales llenas de misterios y secretos por descubrir a medida que se desarrolla la trama. Me encanta cómo el pasado y el presente se entrelazan y cómo los secretos del pasado (La sombra del pasado) al final se descubren y hacen que todo encaje. Tengo que hacer mención especial al cuadro mural de retratos de los distintos miembros de la familia de Julia, con los detalles añadidos por el artista para que se contara algo personal de cada familiar retratado.
Mi única queja sobre este libro es la “facilidad” con la que se dejó atado el final en referencia al personaje de Sally, cómo pudo cambiar su comportamiento tan de repente, siendo la razón expuesta en el libro demasiado conveniente y oportuna.
Muy recomendable. Mi valoración es de 4 estrellas.
La trama es inquietante, conmovedora y absorbente. Se desarrolla principalmente en Cornualles durante los años 80 y 90, así como en la actualidad, y narra las vidas de Alex y Johnnie Pengelly, dos hermanos de mediana edad que luchan por hacer frente a la complicada relación que tienen con su padre moribundo, la hostilidad entre ellos y su madrastra, y la verdad detrás de la vida y la pérdida de su madre, Julia, cuando eran niños.
La escritura es cautivadora y ágil, alternando entre dos líneas temporales, una contando la vida de los hermanos, Alex y Johnnie, y la otra trayendo del pasado la vida de sus padres, Julia y David. Los secretos y las mentiras dejan a los hermanos ansiosos por saber la verdad sobre la muerte de su madre. Encontré todos los personajes bien descritos, con perfiles de muy distintos tipos.
La trama se desenreda y se entrelaza en una saga envolvente llena de vida, pérdida, familia, desamor, maternidad y paternidad, enfermedad mental, abuso de drogas, secretos, engaños y amistad. Están presentes en el relato los trastornos psicológicos como depresión y tocofobia (miedo irracional al embarazo y el parto), con una trascendencia importante en la vida de cualquier familia, y con consecuencias a menudo devastadoras, tanto para quien los sufre como para el resto de familiares.
También vemos un análisis de matrimonios, con aversión al sexo en uno de ellos y el reparto no igualitario de las responsabilidades familiares por el otro. Muy importante es cómo impacta en la vida familiar y las relaciones entre los padres los efectos de un niño con autismo severo, que mal llevados pueden destrozar el matrimonio y, por extensión, la familia.
Es uno de mis tipos de libros favoritos: narraciones en dos líneas temporales llenas de misterios y secretos por descubrir a medida que se desarrolla la trama. Me encanta cómo el pasado y el presente se entrelazan y cómo los secretos del pasado (La sombra del pasado) al final se descubren y hacen que todo encaje. Tengo que hacer mención especial al cuadro mural de retratos de los distintos miembros de la familia de Julia, con los detalles añadidos por el artista para que se contara algo personal de cada familiar retratado.
Mi única queja sobre este libro es la “facilidad” con la que se dejó atado el final en referencia al personaje de Sally, cómo pudo cambiar su comportamiento tan de repente, siendo la razón expuesta en el libro demasiado conveniente y oportuna.
Muy recomendable. Mi valoración es de 4 estrellas.
December 8, 2019
I have loved reading Lulu Taylor books over the years, but I have to admit its been a while since I last picked up one of her books. So, I decided this years I would read her new winter book A Midwinter Promise, and I’m glad I did as it have made me fall in love with her books again and find those that are lurking on my shelves. A Midwinter Promise has a split timeline between the present where Alex and her brother Johnnie receive the news that their father has had a stroke and is not expected to recover. This event makes them assess their relationship with their father and their stepmother Sally who they blame for their difficult relationship with their father and for the sale of their mother’s family home Tawrey. The second timeline takes us from the 1980’s to 1990’s and tells the story of Julia, Alex and Johnnies mother who died when they were young children. Alex and Johnnie need to understand their mother’s story in order to deal with the present and their father’s illness and their relationship with him and their step-mother.
A Midwinter Promise is a book that once you sit down to read it you won’t be able to put it down. Lulu Taylor’s writing is magnetic and pulls you into the story and won’t let you go until you read the last page. Her description of Tawrey in beautiful Cornwall makes it sound idyllic; the stunning gardens, the many rooms, the window seat for reading and the family mural on the walls. Tawry becomes a character in itself in the book, it is a place of comfort and healing for Julia as she becomes an adult, for Alex and Johnnie it is a place where they can remember their mother and a place that captures their mother’s spirit. Lulu Taylor doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, including mental health, addiction, and multiple miscarriage which are all treated with empathy and knowledge.
What really drew me in was Julia’s story. From a childhood where she felt lonely and had to cope with her mother being very unwell during her pregnancies. Her aunt and grandmother weren’t particularly loving, but she did have her half sister Lala who came to visit during the holidays and who became an important part of her life. I really felt for her, her addictions and mental health which gave her a fragility and the sense of needing to be cared for and that had such an impact on her life. What this part of the story opens up is Julia’s relationship with her husband David, her love for her children and the ever present spectre of Sally who became stepmother to Alex and Johnnie. I found this part of the book beautifully written, and absolutely compelling to read.
A Midwinter Promise is a heart-warming story of loss, love, family and motherhood. The characters and their feelings, lives and worries are very realistic and relatable which makes you empathise with them. This is such a beautiful and captivating read and I’m looking forward to catching up with more Lulu Taylor books that are on my shelf; Simply stunning.
A Midwinter Promise is a book that once you sit down to read it you won’t be able to put it down. Lulu Taylor’s writing is magnetic and pulls you into the story and won’t let you go until you read the last page. Her description of Tawrey in beautiful Cornwall makes it sound idyllic; the stunning gardens, the many rooms, the window seat for reading and the family mural on the walls. Tawry becomes a character in itself in the book, it is a place of comfort and healing for Julia as she becomes an adult, for Alex and Johnnie it is a place where they can remember their mother and a place that captures their mother’s spirit. Lulu Taylor doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, including mental health, addiction, and multiple miscarriage which are all treated with empathy and knowledge.
What really drew me in was Julia’s story. From a childhood where she felt lonely and had to cope with her mother being very unwell during her pregnancies. Her aunt and grandmother weren’t particularly loving, but she did have her half sister Lala who came to visit during the holidays and who became an important part of her life. I really felt for her, her addictions and mental health which gave her a fragility and the sense of needing to be cared for and that had such an impact on her life. What this part of the story opens up is Julia’s relationship with her husband David, her love for her children and the ever present spectre of Sally who became stepmother to Alex and Johnnie. I found this part of the book beautifully written, and absolutely compelling to read.
A Midwinter Promise is a heart-warming story of loss, love, family and motherhood. The characters and their feelings, lives and worries are very realistic and relatable which makes you empathise with them. This is such a beautiful and captivating read and I’m looking forward to catching up with more Lulu Taylor books that are on my shelf; Simply stunning.
January 13, 2020
A Midwinter Promise by Lulu Taylor is an epic contemporary novel that consumes from the start. The reader glimpses the end from the beginning and the questions arise.
The novel surrounds a family with action set in the present day and from 1980 moving forwards. Running parallel to the main story are the lives of Prince Charles and the very beautiful Princess Diana. A feeling of dread built in my heart as that fateful day in August 1997 approached. It was a time frozen in history. One of those momentous days where you remember exactly what you were doing and how you felt when you heard the dreadful news. This element of the story helps to make the whole novel feel personal and adds realism as we care about the lives of the characters.
There are the difficult themes of depression, self-harm, mental illness and suicidal thoughts. All are sensitively portrayed and the reader feels empathy for the character.
Guilt weighs heavy. If it is not dealt with, it is a millstone that will drag us down.
Secrets from the past need unlocking in the present to enable lives to move forward.
Our heritage is important. We need to preserve it. It is more than just bricks and mortar, there are memories of lives that need to be preserved.
A Midwinter Promise was a powerful read about the complexities that make up family life. Although there were disturbing topics at times, I enjoyed it. I felt a personal connection because of the Princess Diana element that awakened memories in me.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The novel surrounds a family with action set in the present day and from 1980 moving forwards. Running parallel to the main story are the lives of Prince Charles and the very beautiful Princess Diana. A feeling of dread built in my heart as that fateful day in August 1997 approached. It was a time frozen in history. One of those momentous days where you remember exactly what you were doing and how you felt when you heard the dreadful news. This element of the story helps to make the whole novel feel personal and adds realism as we care about the lives of the characters.
There are the difficult themes of depression, self-harm, mental illness and suicidal thoughts. All are sensitively portrayed and the reader feels empathy for the character.
Guilt weighs heavy. If it is not dealt with, it is a millstone that will drag us down.
Secrets from the past need unlocking in the present to enable lives to move forward.
Our heritage is important. We need to preserve it. It is more than just bricks and mortar, there are memories of lives that need to be preserved.
A Midwinter Promise was a powerful read about the complexities that make up family life. Although there were disturbing topics at times, I enjoyed it. I felt a personal connection because of the Princess Diana element that awakened memories in me.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
November 27, 2019
Lulu Taylor is one of my absolute favourite authors so I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of this book. The story is about the Pengelly family and has a dual timeline: 1970s/1980s combined with the run-up to Christmas in the present day.
In the past we see Julia grow from a troubled child into an adult. She believes she's put the tragedies of her past behind her and can now concentrate on her children and restoring the beautiful family home, Tawray. In the present day, Julia's grown-up children try to solve the mystery of what happened to their mother, along with their own personal problems, before Tawray is lost to them forever.
The cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous and, as the title suggests, this is more a winter-themed book than a Christmas one. Christmas is briefly mentioned at the start and end. This was one of my favourite parts of the book because Julia's daughter Alex has taken over the tradition of decorating Tawray with dried flowers and I loved the descriptions of the process, which reminded me of Cotehele.
Alex and her brother Johnnie were my favourite characters. Alex is a people-pleaser, whereas it is only just beginning to dawn on the rebellious Johnnie that he might be taking his wife (and happy family life) for granted - and that if he doesn't buck his ideas up, he'll lose both. Their step-mother Sally makes a splendid Dolores Umbridge style villain. I'm old enough to remember the 80s, so it was fun spotting all those references too. One of the characters works for Princess Diana. The behind-the-scenes glimpses into her life are fascinating. There are also a couple of great twists at the end. In addition, the story does cover darker subjects (which I probably shouldn't mention specifically because of spoilers) but this is done in a very sensitive way.
A Midwinter Promise is a brilliant book and I found it utterly addictive. Recommended, especially if you like historical timelines, big old houses, something a little bit different to your usual Christmas read, and authors such as Eve Chase (Black Rabbit Hall), Harriet Evans (The Garden of Lost and Found) and Kate Morton (The Forgotten Garden).
Thank you to Lulu Taylor and Pan Macmillan for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.
In the past we see Julia grow from a troubled child into an adult. She believes she's put the tragedies of her past behind her and can now concentrate on her children and restoring the beautiful family home, Tawray. In the present day, Julia's grown-up children try to solve the mystery of what happened to their mother, along with their own personal problems, before Tawray is lost to them forever.
The cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous and, as the title suggests, this is more a winter-themed book than a Christmas one. Christmas is briefly mentioned at the start and end. This was one of my favourite parts of the book because Julia's daughter Alex has taken over the tradition of decorating Tawray with dried flowers and I loved the descriptions of the process, which reminded me of Cotehele.
Alex and her brother Johnnie were my favourite characters. Alex is a people-pleaser, whereas it is only just beginning to dawn on the rebellious Johnnie that he might be taking his wife (and happy family life) for granted - and that if he doesn't buck his ideas up, he'll lose both. Their step-mother Sally makes a splendid Dolores Umbridge style villain. I'm old enough to remember the 80s, so it was fun spotting all those references too. One of the characters works for Princess Diana. The behind-the-scenes glimpses into her life are fascinating. There are also a couple of great twists at the end. In addition, the story does cover darker subjects (which I probably shouldn't mention specifically because of spoilers) but this is done in a very sensitive way.
A Midwinter Promise is a brilliant book and I found it utterly addictive. Recommended, especially if you like historical timelines, big old houses, something a little bit different to your usual Christmas read, and authors such as Eve Chase (Black Rabbit Hall), Harriet Evans (The Garden of Lost and Found) and Kate Morton (The Forgotten Garden).
Thank you to Lulu Taylor and Pan Macmillan for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.
October 26, 2023
I do like Lulu Taylor - she writes well and her stories are good and easy to read. This one was set in Cornwall and revolved around a family whose father had a stroke and the brother and sister had to contend with their stepmother. The characters are good and well drawn and you can empathise with them.
December 8, 2019
Good in parts but I also found it quite depressing and was glad to finish it.
January 29, 2020
Loved every minute of this book. It is a good meaty read, five hundred pages or more, really talented author, will definitely bet more from Lulu Taylor. Hauntingly brilliant and engrossing read.
October 14, 2019
A really great story. Flicking between the 70’s and present day. This book is full of intrigue, family secrets and history. This book is really well written and totally unputdownable.
December 31, 2020
One family across two generations.
A marriage marred by trauma and infidelity.
Lives marked by death, divorce and a shattered family.
A dark secret at the heart of a tragedy.
Now the Pengelly family reunites around the sickbed of David, a beloved husband and father, to confront the emotions and the secrets that have divided them over the years.
Set around the beautiful wildness of Tawray, a house near the Cornish coast, A Midwinter Promise by bestselling author Lulu Taylor, is a dramatic story of loss, grief and the legacy of secrets. It is also a tale of reconciliation and renewal.
Out January 2020
560 Pages
REPORT THIS AD
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Well, I know others aren’t going to like this review, but I’m here to give my honest review. So here goes…
Drama, dysfunctional, overwhelming sub-plots, stereotypical characters, crashing ending and just not something I found promising at all. I really hoped for a warmer story, but with the jumping between times, characters fighting, their issues, regrets, secrets, and basically overall chaos of the story-line, I ended up not liking this book at all and struggled to finish it.
I expected more from Lulu Taylor.
A marriage marred by trauma and infidelity.
Lives marked by death, divorce and a shattered family.
A dark secret at the heart of a tragedy.
Now the Pengelly family reunites around the sickbed of David, a beloved husband and father, to confront the emotions and the secrets that have divided them over the years.
Set around the beautiful wildness of Tawray, a house near the Cornish coast, A Midwinter Promise by bestselling author Lulu Taylor, is a dramatic story of loss, grief and the legacy of secrets. It is also a tale of reconciliation and renewal.
Out January 2020
560 Pages
REPORT THIS AD
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Well, I know others aren’t going to like this review, but I’m here to give my honest review. So here goes…
Drama, dysfunctional, overwhelming sub-plots, stereotypical characters, crashing ending and just not something I found promising at all. I really hoped for a warmer story, but with the jumping between times, characters fighting, their issues, regrets, secrets, and basically overall chaos of the story-line, I ended up not liking this book at all and struggled to finish it.
I expected more from Lulu Taylor.
April 13, 2020
An idyllic Cornish home and the family who lived there, past and present. Being Cornwall it’s bound to be in a lovely location, obviously! There’s Julia and her sister, Lala as children and then Julia’s own grownup children, Alex and Johnnie, in the present. A great cover to draw you in and then a lot of misery coming from various sources. It had its moments, but on the whole was pretty slow, with its fair share of unlikeable characters. I didn’t find myself itching to pick it up to read which isn’t a good sign. Probably something to read on a long journey! I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2019
I simply shouldn't have bought this book, but to be fair I wanted an easy (ideally worthwhile) read over Christmas especially as I had quite bad flu. This is just so implausible from beginning to end, especially the characters who appear to be Barbara Cartland c1950 ( tell-tale sign over use of word sardonic) when in fact it's supposed to be the 80s onwards. Far too rapid plot tying up and sudden forgiveness at the end.
December 10, 2020
A family saga of three generations and a lot of sad life stories. Really, it's quite a depressing tale, although I wouldn't call it devastating. If you want to be devastated read Maggie O'Farrell. For depressing in a popular fiction way, this does the trick. It's a sort of Christmas book, vaguely, as there's a marriage and a birth of a child during midwinter, along with a family tradition of drying flowers to then create decorations for the house at Christmas (I was imagining pastel shades of dried out vagueness that looked horrendous, but I don't know much about dried flowers).
Anyhoo, I had picked up this book after a couple of friends had mentioned enjoying her books (although I don't think this particular one). At first I had the very silly thought: Lulu - what a ridiculous name! Her books will be rubbish. But I got over that and gave it a go. This is light, it's not going to throw your world upside down, but for a bit of quick escapism it does the job.
But it doesn't have a lot of happy lives or relationships. In fact some of the tradgedy here is how many lives are ruined by their own hands because people are so wrapped up in what they don't have, that they won't allow themselves to move on and enjoy what they have. Particularly the women who are repressed by what society expects of them. Julia's mother, who in the 70s goes through countless pregnancies, suffering with really bad morning sickness (I mean crippling) every time, and mostly traumatic miscarriages, and yet she keeps on doing it because she thinks she is unworthy if she doesn't produce a boy. And she misses out on her daughter's childhood completely. Her legacy is committing suicide after another miscarriage, her daughter finding her, and thus developing a very serious mental condition - a terror of pregnancy and childbirth that pushes her into intense depression and pyscosis. Which in turn means she struggles to enjoy her own marriage and children and ends up committing suicide whilst her children are very young.
The book flicks between Julia's childhood and brief adult life, and "today" (possibily 2018) when her own children, Johnnie and Alex, and their own broods of children are struggling with their father's stroke and impending death. Given that Johnnie and Alex (as in Alexandra) were born in the late eighties, early nineties, they must have both been pumping the kids out from their early twenties. Anyway, Alex is recently divorced and running a dried flower business. Johnnie is sucessful London whatever.
Their father's stroke brings them together and back to Cornwall where the family home is - although they're not living in it, it's been sold apparently. Their father never regains consciousness and all of this dredges up the past. They had a crappy childhood. They grew up with the stepmother, Sally, who is portrayed as this manipulative, posessive, insecure and All About Eve vileness, who made sure her own son had all the best and David (the father) ignored and neglected his own children. Yeah, she's evil but I didn't rate the father - he really turned his back on them his entire life. And whilst the reason is that he's riddled with grief and guilt - to carry that neglect on for years shows a major lack of spine, and again someone so wrapped up in what is lost that he misses out on his living children. And he let them down. They did suffer between the evil step mother and her perverted nasty son, Mundo. But I kept thinking, maybe we're just seeing one side of her, because Sally did have it rough, essentially being a keeper for Julia whilst she suffered for years of depression. (A sad sign of the times, possibly even now, that it was dismissed as silly women's things and not taken seriously. She didn't get the help she needed.). But Sally is snide and posessive over the father throughout the book. She doesn't help herself. Which made me dislike the ending, because after the funeral she suddenly has a personality change as if to say, yes, I am really a human, let's be friends. And the whole past didn't matter. Just felt a bit rushed and a bit... meh. And they let creepy-pervert son get away with child abuse and what was hinted at as rape, as though those things weren't that serious. But to do anything else would have dragged the book out and I think she was just going for a quick, neatly tied up and hopeful ending. Cynical me didn't like that bit so much, ha ha!
It's all about the lives of rich southern folk, family dramas and the like. Good light escapism. I wouldn't be averse to reading her other books when I'm in need of such reading.
Anyhoo, I had picked up this book after a couple of friends had mentioned enjoying her books (although I don't think this particular one). At first I had the very silly thought: Lulu - what a ridiculous name! Her books will be rubbish. But I got over that and gave it a go. This is light, it's not going to throw your world upside down, but for a bit of quick escapism it does the job.
But it doesn't have a lot of happy lives or relationships. In fact some of the tradgedy here is how many lives are ruined by their own hands because people are so wrapped up in what they don't have, that they won't allow themselves to move on and enjoy what they have. Particularly the women who are repressed by what society expects of them. Julia's mother, who in the 70s goes through countless pregnancies, suffering with really bad morning sickness (I mean crippling) every time, and mostly traumatic miscarriages, and yet she keeps on doing it because she thinks she is unworthy if she doesn't produce a boy. And she misses out on her daughter's childhood completely. Her legacy is committing suicide after another miscarriage, her daughter finding her, and thus developing a very serious mental condition - a terror of pregnancy and childbirth that pushes her into intense depression and pyscosis. Which in turn means she struggles to enjoy her own marriage and children and ends up committing suicide whilst her children are very young.
The book flicks between Julia's childhood and brief adult life, and "today" (possibily 2018) when her own children, Johnnie and Alex, and their own broods of children are struggling with their father's stroke and impending death. Given that Johnnie and Alex (as in Alexandra) were born in the late eighties, early nineties, they must have both been pumping the kids out from their early twenties. Anyway, Alex is recently divorced and running a dried flower business. Johnnie is sucessful London whatever.
Their father's stroke brings them together and back to Cornwall where the family home is - although they're not living in it, it's been sold apparently. Their father never regains consciousness and all of this dredges up the past. They had a crappy childhood. They grew up with the stepmother, Sally, who is portrayed as this manipulative, posessive, insecure and All About Eve vileness, who made sure her own son had all the best and David (the father) ignored and neglected his own children. Yeah, she's evil but I didn't rate the father - he really turned his back on them his entire life. And whilst the reason is that he's riddled with grief and guilt - to carry that neglect on for years shows a major lack of spine, and again someone so wrapped up in what is lost that he misses out on his living children. And he let them down. They did suffer between the evil step mother and her perverted nasty son, Mundo. But I kept thinking, maybe we're just seeing one side of her, because Sally did have it rough, essentially being a keeper for Julia whilst she suffered for years of depression. (A sad sign of the times, possibly even now, that it was dismissed as silly women's things and not taken seriously. She didn't get the help she needed.). But Sally is snide and posessive over the father throughout the book. She doesn't help herself. Which made me dislike the ending, because after the funeral she suddenly has a personality change as if to say, yes, I am really a human, let's be friends. And the whole past didn't matter. Just felt a bit rushed and a bit... meh. And they let creepy-pervert son get away with child abuse and what was hinted at as rape, as though those things weren't that serious. But to do anything else would have dragged the book out and I think she was just going for a quick, neatly tied up and hopeful ending. Cynical me didn't like that bit so much, ha ha!
It's all about the lives of rich southern folk, family dramas and the like. Good light escapism. I wouldn't be averse to reading her other books when I'm in need of such reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2019
Welcome to Tawray, the majestic stately home standing tall above Cornwall. Life here is perfect, or at least that’s what Julia has always believed, having lived in the big house all her life. But a generation later, Tawray is no longer the family home, and Julia’s daughter Alex is still struggling to deal with the aftermath of her mother’s death years before. But what really happened all those years before? Towray has hidden many secrets over the years, and Alex is determined to finally bring them into the light, no matter the cost...
This is one of my favourite types of books - dual timeline narratives! The present day narrative focuses on Alex and covers a period of just a few months, while the section in the past focuses on Alex’s mother Julia, and spans all the way from her childhood to her death. It did take a little while for the rhythm of this one to emerge, but once it did I found it really strong, and I loved how the narrative from the past covered such a huge time period without skimping on detail and depth.
Now, in this next bit I’ll be discussing the plot a bit, so please don’t read on if you’ve not read it - POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD!
So the book starts with Alex’s father David having a stroke, and so she and her brother Johnnie rush to his side. At this point, we’re also introduced to Alex’s stepmother Sally, and there is instantly a sense of unease about her, and how exactly she came to be married to David, considering that Sally was once Julia’s best friend. There is clearly tension in the family, made worse by Alex and her husband divorcing, and Johnie and his wife struggling to cope with the growing demands of a severely autistic son. It sounds like a lot going on, and in some ways it is, but it’s also written in such a way that it doesn’t feel like an overload of info, and instead feels like well fleshed out and fully formed characters.
As for Julia, things aren’t any easier in the past! Julia has a tough childhood, being made to feel unwanted by the extended family for being the child of a second wife. Things become even worse when her mother, desperate to provide her husband with a male heir, dies during pregnancy, and is discovered by Julia herself. This sets into motion a chain of events that leads Julia down a dark path, and as the novel progresses she becomes gradually more and more unstable, even as she desperately tries to be happy. This was absolutely brutal to read, and watching Julia growing ever more fragile and vulnerable was absolutely heart wrenching.
Now, there are some elements of the plot that are quite odd. For example, David works for Diana and Charles, and there were sections where the focus on the royal couple seemed an odd choice, although as the action nears its end you can understand why the choice is made. I also found the ending a tad too neat for me - everything is wrapped up a little too easily, if you know what I mean, with bad behaviour being written off by a flimsy excuse, and a neat and tidy ending for everyone.
All in all, it was a good enough book, especially as the winter nights begin to draw in. I personally didn’t feel it was as strong as some of her other novels, but that is not to say it is bad, just a personal preference towards the more sinister tone of books like ‘The Winter Children’. However, this one is definitely worth a read if you’re already a fan of the author, and the way in which the authors has managed to portray the complexities of family life shows a true talent for writing (watching Johnnie and his wife navigate the difficulties in their marriage was just beautifully done). Finally, I have to give a massive well done to Taylor for writing possibly the best portrayal of mental illness I've ever read - to portray it so accurately and respectfully, especially when writing from the POV of that character, is just amazing. Well done!
This is one of my favourite types of books - dual timeline narratives! The present day narrative focuses on Alex and covers a period of just a few months, while the section in the past focuses on Alex’s mother Julia, and spans all the way from her childhood to her death. It did take a little while for the rhythm of this one to emerge, but once it did I found it really strong, and I loved how the narrative from the past covered such a huge time period without skimping on detail and depth.
Now, in this next bit I’ll be discussing the plot a bit, so please don’t read on if you’ve not read it - POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD!
So the book starts with Alex’s father David having a stroke, and so she and her brother Johnnie rush to his side. At this point, we’re also introduced to Alex’s stepmother Sally, and there is instantly a sense of unease about her, and how exactly she came to be married to David, considering that Sally was once Julia’s best friend. There is clearly tension in the family, made worse by Alex and her husband divorcing, and Johnie and his wife struggling to cope with the growing demands of a severely autistic son. It sounds like a lot going on, and in some ways it is, but it’s also written in such a way that it doesn’t feel like an overload of info, and instead feels like well fleshed out and fully formed characters.
As for Julia, things aren’t any easier in the past! Julia has a tough childhood, being made to feel unwanted by the extended family for being the child of a second wife. Things become even worse when her mother, desperate to provide her husband with a male heir, dies during pregnancy, and is discovered by Julia herself. This sets into motion a chain of events that leads Julia down a dark path, and as the novel progresses she becomes gradually more and more unstable, even as she desperately tries to be happy. This was absolutely brutal to read, and watching Julia growing ever more fragile and vulnerable was absolutely heart wrenching.
Now, there are some elements of the plot that are quite odd. For example, David works for Diana and Charles, and there were sections where the focus on the royal couple seemed an odd choice, although as the action nears its end you can understand why the choice is made. I also found the ending a tad too neat for me - everything is wrapped up a little too easily, if you know what I mean, with bad behaviour being written off by a flimsy excuse, and a neat and tidy ending for everyone.
All in all, it was a good enough book, especially as the winter nights begin to draw in. I personally didn’t feel it was as strong as some of her other novels, but that is not to say it is bad, just a personal preference towards the more sinister tone of books like ‘The Winter Children’. However, this one is definitely worth a read if you’re already a fan of the author, and the way in which the authors has managed to portray the complexities of family life shows a true talent for writing (watching Johnnie and his wife navigate the difficulties in their marriage was just beautifully done). Finally, I have to give a massive well done to Taylor for writing possibly the best portrayal of mental illness I've ever read - to portray it so accurately and respectfully, especially when writing from the POV of that character, is just amazing. Well done!
October 16, 2019
With Christmas glinting seductively on the horizon, it's the perfect time of year for a big slice of festive escapism from the queen of the genre (not sure that Festive Escapism has even been identified as a genre but if not, it should be). Lulu Taylor knows how to craft the sort of story that the reader can sink into, roaring fire and twinkling lights optional, and in A Midwinter Promise she is - almost - true to form.
Cornwall seems to be the sweeping, romantic setting of choice for sprawling tumbledown country houses these days - perhaps it's the Poldark effect. The family at the heart of A Midwinter Promise - the Pengellys - are certainly no stranger to drama, that's for certain. Loss and heartache are passed down like heirlooms from generation to generation, and the women of the family inherit all too richly. Taylor handles mental illness and pregnancy loss with great sensitivity and empathy - these are the parts of the book which stand out, beautifully written as they are.
Of course in a house the size and age of Tawray there are a lot of skeletons rattling around in closets - and some of them are pretty unpleasant. The villain of the piece is a truly reprehensible character and one I'd be all too glad to forget - sadly he's so vile there's no hope of me doing so any time soon.
There's a good smattering of glamour in amongst the dusty corridors and dark attics, too. Not least in the form of a particular royal Princess whose connections with the family lend them a certain lustre. However, the revelations about Diana's private life echo the tragic events at Tawray, culminating in the final act in August 1997. A sobering lesson in never judging a life by outward, glittering appearances - whether royalty or not.
There's lots of lovely period detail here, given the decades the tale spans. Particularly enjoyable are the 1970s and 1980s strands, in which Julia reaches her teens and eventually embarks on a chaotic new life in London, hundreds of miles from Cornwall's wholesome air. It is here she meets her beloved David and the seeds of her new life are down - but the darkness of her old life will never entirely leave her.
A Midwinter Promise is exactly what you'd expect it to be - glamour, family secrets, a few festive references - and therein lies the rub. It's all a little too predictable, right down to the happy ending with the promise of a bright future for all (apart from the baddie, natch). In a way that predictability could be seen as a good thing - you know what you're getting every time with a Lulu Taylor tale. However a few twists wouldn't go amiss to liven things up a little, or perhaps a bit of a surprise ending where everything isn't as neat as a pin.
All in all however it's all very enjoyable and a great way to while away a few hours on a chilly evening with a glass of wine for company. Now, where's my mince pie?
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cornwall seems to be the sweeping, romantic setting of choice for sprawling tumbledown country houses these days - perhaps it's the Poldark effect. The family at the heart of A Midwinter Promise - the Pengellys - are certainly no stranger to drama, that's for certain. Loss and heartache are passed down like heirlooms from generation to generation, and the women of the family inherit all too richly. Taylor handles mental illness and pregnancy loss with great sensitivity and empathy - these are the parts of the book which stand out, beautifully written as they are.
Of course in a house the size and age of Tawray there are a lot of skeletons rattling around in closets - and some of them are pretty unpleasant. The villain of the piece is a truly reprehensible character and one I'd be all too glad to forget - sadly he's so vile there's no hope of me doing so any time soon.
There's a good smattering of glamour in amongst the dusty corridors and dark attics, too. Not least in the form of a particular royal Princess whose connections with the family lend them a certain lustre. However, the revelations about Diana's private life echo the tragic events at Tawray, culminating in the final act in August 1997. A sobering lesson in never judging a life by outward, glittering appearances - whether royalty or not.
There's lots of lovely period detail here, given the decades the tale spans. Particularly enjoyable are the 1970s and 1980s strands, in which Julia reaches her teens and eventually embarks on a chaotic new life in London, hundreds of miles from Cornwall's wholesome air. It is here she meets her beloved David and the seeds of her new life are down - but the darkness of her old life will never entirely leave her.
A Midwinter Promise is exactly what you'd expect it to be - glamour, family secrets, a few festive references - and therein lies the rub. It's all a little too predictable, right down to the happy ending with the promise of a bright future for all (apart from the baddie, natch). In a way that predictability could be seen as a good thing - you know what you're getting every time with a Lulu Taylor tale. However a few twists wouldn't go amiss to liven things up a little, or perhaps a bit of a surprise ending where everything isn't as neat as a pin.
All in all however it's all very enjoyable and a great way to while away a few hours on a chilly evening with a glass of wine for company. Now, where's my mince pie?
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2022
Dos generaciones marcadas por el rencor. Un oscuro secreto en el corazón de una tragedia.
Julia, una niña solitaria, ama la hermosa y salvaje casa de Cornualles de su familia. Pero oscuros secretos marcan su vida y en cuanto crece tiene que marcharse y empezar una nueva vida en Londres. Allí pronto conoce a David y se enamoran, pero cuando Julia se queda embarazada no puede evitar que los terribles ecos del pasado resuenen en sus oídos.
Para los hijos adultos de Julia, Alex y Johnnie, la casa esconde la historia de su familia. Sin embargo, no será hasta que su padre se encuentre en el lecho de muerte, que descubrirán los secretos de lo que le sucedió a su madre años atrás.
Mi valoración personal:
Esta es la historia de la familia Pengely y su hogar Tawray en Cornualles. Comienza con Julia cuando era niña y sus interacciones con su familia y la encantadora relación que tuvo con su media hermana Lala, luego analiza más ampliamente las relaciones adultas de Julia y su matrimonio con David. Tienen dos hijos Johnnie y Alex. A la muerte de Julia, David se casa con Sally y eso introduce a un medio hermano Edmund.
La historia se cuenta desde múltiples perspectivas y lleva la historia hacia atrás y hacia adelante desde la década de 1970 hasta la actualidad. Si bien hay cosas que me gustan de este libro, siento que el final ha sido demasiado repentino. El daño que la dinámica familiar ha transcurrido durante todo el libro con esos daños colaterales se subsana de la noche a la mañana quedando para mi bastante artificial. La narración es sencilla y nada liosa con los pequeños saltos en el tiempo, pero del que hubiera disfrutado más si se hubiera rascado un poco más profundamente en los personajes.
En conclusión, Una familia a través de dos generaciones. Un matrimonio empañado por el trauma y la infidelidad. Vidas marcadas por la muerte, el divorcio y una familia destrozada. Un oscuro secreto en el corazón de una tragedia. Un libro del que esperaba muchísimo más. Siempre me han gustado los libros donde hay un gran secreto familiar algo así como los libros de Kate Morton, pero este está a años luz de ser algo parecido. Un libro que cumple con su misión que es la de entretener pero que no pasará a engrosar mi lista de los mejores libros leídos del mes.
Julia, una niña solitaria, ama la hermosa y salvaje casa de Cornualles de su familia. Pero oscuros secretos marcan su vida y en cuanto crece tiene que marcharse y empezar una nueva vida en Londres. Allí pronto conoce a David y se enamoran, pero cuando Julia se queda embarazada no puede evitar que los terribles ecos del pasado resuenen en sus oídos.
Para los hijos adultos de Julia, Alex y Johnnie, la casa esconde la historia de su familia. Sin embargo, no será hasta que su padre se encuentre en el lecho de muerte, que descubrirán los secretos de lo que le sucedió a su madre años atrás.
Mi valoración personal:
Esta es la historia de la familia Pengely y su hogar Tawray en Cornualles. Comienza con Julia cuando era niña y sus interacciones con su familia y la encantadora relación que tuvo con su media hermana Lala, luego analiza más ampliamente las relaciones adultas de Julia y su matrimonio con David. Tienen dos hijos Johnnie y Alex. A la muerte de Julia, David se casa con Sally y eso introduce a un medio hermano Edmund.
La historia se cuenta desde múltiples perspectivas y lleva la historia hacia atrás y hacia adelante desde la década de 1970 hasta la actualidad. Si bien hay cosas que me gustan de este libro, siento que el final ha sido demasiado repentino. El daño que la dinámica familiar ha transcurrido durante todo el libro con esos daños colaterales se subsana de la noche a la mañana quedando para mi bastante artificial. La narración es sencilla y nada liosa con los pequeños saltos en el tiempo, pero del que hubiera disfrutado más si se hubiera rascado un poco más profundamente en los personajes.
En conclusión, Una familia a través de dos generaciones. Un matrimonio empañado por el trauma y la infidelidad. Vidas marcadas por la muerte, el divorcio y una familia destrozada. Un oscuro secreto en el corazón de una tragedia. Un libro del que esperaba muchísimo más. Siempre me han gustado los libros donde hay un gran secreto familiar algo así como los libros de Kate Morton, pero este está a años luz de ser algo parecido. Un libro que cumple con su misión que es la de entretener pero que no pasará a engrosar mi lista de los mejores libros leídos del mes.
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March 27, 2020The Midwinter Promise by Lulu Taylor - Alex Pengelly and her brother Johnnie are stunned when their father, David has a severe stroke and they're summoned back to the family home in Cornwall by his second wife, the unpopular and cold Sally, whom he married following the death of their mother Julia, in a mysterious drowning accident. As David lies seriously ill, the now grown children reflect on their lives - forced out of their beloved Cornish home, they both hope they can finally at least be free of Sally and her obnoxious son Mundo, who made their lives a misery during their childhood. Then David passes away and after his will is read, Mundo threatens to fight his half siblings every step of the way. Desperate to find out what really happened to their mother all those years ago, Alex contacts some long lost relatives to find out the truth. The story weaves between Julia's early life, as a student, would be actress and then her lost years until she met David and found, for a time at least, some form of happiness until her old troubles re-surface, and the present day, as Alex struggles to come to terms with her divorce, and setting up her flower decorating business, whilst coping with her grief for her father, and the ghosts from her family's past. this was an Ok read, I thought there was too much of Julia's early life and not enough of the present day issues, which meant that I felt the last part of the book felt rather rushed and a bit too neat. 7/10
May 16, 2020
I am so sad that this is the last novel written by this author that I can get my hands on to read! I really hope that there will be a new novel this year - I just can't wait to keep reading more!
In this story we follow two timelines (which seems to be Lulu Taylor's style - and I love it!). In the present we follow Alex and Johnnie who are the siblings of the couple in the story in the past. They are faced with the potential death of their father and learning to deal with their stepmother, who has always been difficult to deal with. In the past, we follow David and Julia (Alex and Johnnie's parents) as they meet, fall in love and start a life together. Julia gets the opportunity to move back and own their family estate and thinks that this will renew her life but things aren't always straight forward.
Most of the story was quite predictable but that didn't distract from it being such a great novel to read and there's always the little plot twist at the end to do with the estate that I hadn't expected and loved. This was an intriguing story about family drama and mental illness.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
In this story we follow two timelines (which seems to be Lulu Taylor's style - and I love it!). In the present we follow Alex and Johnnie who are the siblings of the couple in the story in the past. They are faced with the potential death of their father and learning to deal with their stepmother, who has always been difficult to deal with. In the past, we follow David and Julia (Alex and Johnnie's parents) as they meet, fall in love and start a life together. Julia gets the opportunity to move back and own their family estate and thinks that this will renew her life but things aren't always straight forward.
Most of the story was quite predictable but that didn't distract from it being such a great novel to read and there's always the little plot twist at the end to do with the estate that I hadn't expected and loved. This was an intriguing story about family drama and mental illness.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
November 20, 2019
This was a moving story of family, loss, love and forgiveness. There were many strong characters in this book and the author did a wonderful job describing them so I was able to form an opinion quickly. I liked that they each had faults and were not perfect as it made them more believable. Julia was an amazing character and I liked that the author dealt with mental illness with her, making Julia strong even as she was sinking into a terrible dark hole of depression. I couldn’t like David or Sally even at the end of the novel I couldn’t like or forgive them. Alex, Johnnie and Lala were lovely and each dealt with an important issue. It was all woven into the story so each story became about the character and not a “lesson”. I would have liked more of a story involving some incidents that I thought could have been interesting. Overall a book that you will enjoy and that will transport you back and forth through some historical events in England. Thank you Net Galley, Lulu Taylor and Publishers Group Canada for the opportunity to read this book.
December 6, 2019
Alex and Johnny's father has had a stroke and they rush to his bedside forced to deal with his wife and her son. It's not happy times for anyone as he worsens and questions about the past begin to surface. Can this family finally sort the truth from the lies?
This story is told in the present day and the past with their mother. The time jumps are easy to follow making the story flow really well. The story itself was a bit slow to start with but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. The plot was interesting with a couple of clever twists. The ending finished the story much better than I thought I would. I ended up loving it. The past story with Julia deals with some dark issues but it also seems to be real and raw. Theres an added detail of princess Diana which showed the relevance to the time featured. A great read.
This story is told in the present day and the past with their mother. The time jumps are easy to follow making the story flow really well. The story itself was a bit slow to start with but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. The plot was interesting with a couple of clever twists. The ending finished the story much better than I thought I would. I ended up loving it. The past story with Julia deals with some dark issues but it also seems to be real and raw. Theres an added detail of princess Diana which showed the relevance to the time featured. A great read.
July 6, 2020
I loved this book. Lulu Taylor never fails to amaze me with her writing.
I have read a couple and this one is my favourite so far. I couldn’t put it down.
The characters were fantastic and many-layered. You had Mundo who you loved to hate and only really found out why towards the end of the book. Sally who you loved and disliked but couldn’t really fathom why. Johnnie and Alex were very strong and certainly a product of history... and even the royals to a lesser extent, hints at history that will never fully be known...
The way that the settings had two different timelines could have been confusing but made for an even stronger story. To see where Johnnie and Alex came from and why they were how they were in present
times and what they had to process.
Tawray was a character of its own, one filled with love and pain. The real life was only fully told in the epilogue.
I have read a couple and this one is my favourite so far. I couldn’t put it down.
The characters were fantastic and many-layered. You had Mundo who you loved to hate and only really found out why towards the end of the book. Sally who you loved and disliked but couldn’t really fathom why. Johnnie and Alex were very strong and certainly a product of history... and even the royals to a lesser extent, hints at history that will never fully be known...
The way that the settings had two different timelines could have been confusing but made for an even stronger story. To see where Johnnie and Alex came from and why they were how they were in present
times and what they had to process.
Tawray was a character of its own, one filled with love and pain. The real life was only fully told in the epilogue.
January 18, 2020
I had read and enjoyed Lulu Taylor's previous books and really enjoyed them so I was looking forward to reading this one. I wasn't disappointed. What a compelling read, it was so difficult to put down. I was drawn in from the start and really loved it the whole way through. A story of family, heritage, mental illness, memories, grief, intrigue, secrets and love. It is beautifully written with empathy and understanding. I loved the setting of Tawrey house in beautiful Cornwall which sounds idyllic and like a place I would enjoy visiting. I could easily empathise with all of the characters.
An excellent book which I highly recommend - heartbreaking but heartwarming.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
An excellent book which I highly recommend - heartbreaking but heartwarming.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
March 5, 2020
Alex and Johnnie Pengelley lost their mother when she committed suicide when they were young and now that their father David has had a stroke they feel that they will never learn the true story of her death and how it is linked to the lovely old house Tawray in Cornwall. Susan their stepmother moved in with indecent haste after their mother's death and always favoured her own son the odious Mundo, but what part did she play in the tragedy?
A really good dual timeline story from one of my favourite authors. The story of Julia's life, her fragility and her love for David ties in well with the present day as her children eventually discover her secrets with the old house always at the centre of the plot
A really good dual timeline story from one of my favourite authors. The story of Julia's life, her fragility and her love for David ties in well with the present day as her children eventually discover her secrets with the old house always at the centre of the plot
November 9, 2020
A beautifully written book, but incredibly sad. Probably not a great time to read it when your daughter is having problems with child birth. I have never heard of tokopobia, I suspect all men would suffer from it, if we were asked to think about giving birth! Anyway, it is the essence of the plot behind the story. I found the fusion of the 3 generations worked very well, although there were a few family members who appeared to drift in and out without any mention of where they went.
Not many surprises for the reader, as we knew about things before the family did, but the way they discovered things was quite enterprising.
Not many surprises for the reader, as we knew about things before the family did, but the way they discovered things was quite enterprising.
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