Crossroads

by Belva Plain

Cassie Wright never saw it coming. As the owner of thriving Wright Glassworks, Cassie’s life was quiet, well-ordered . . . until a tragic accident forces her to take in a one-year-old child who has no one else to care for her. As the years pass, Cassie will raise young Gwen as her own, and the girl will flourish in a world of privilege and opportunity. Enter Jewel Fairbanks. Beautiful and conniving, Jewel will touch the lives of both Cassie and Gwen in powerful ways. Both Gwen and Jewel will marry; Gwen will fall for honest, hardworking Stan. And Jewel will marry Jeff, a businessman who owns the company where Stan works. But when Stan makes a shocking discovery on the job, a tangled drama of greed, jealousy, and betrayal will encircle both couples, changing four lives forever—in ways they never could have foreseen.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Family Drama, Drama, Historical Fiction, Audiobook

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Belva Plain was a best-selling American author of mainstream women's fiction. Her first novel, Evergreen (1978) topped the New York Times bestseller list for 41 weeks and was made into a TV miniseries. At her death, there were over 30 million copies of her twenty-plus novels in print in 22 languages.

Reviews

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Being jealous is a terrible waste, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is."

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crossroads is about the jealousy of two women: Gwen, born into wealth, who marries Stan, a common man, and Jewel, born into poverty, who marries Jeff, a privileged man.

Gwen marries Stan for love while Jewel marries Jeff for the material things he could give her. Stan marries Gwen not only for love but for her inner beauty. Jeff marries Jewel for her outer beauty and for the way she encourages him to act upon his greed. Gwen is jealous of Jewel for her outer beauty and Jewel is jealous of Gwen for being born into wealth. Jewel, who works for Gwen’s mother Cassandra, learns the story of Gwen’s birth let’s her jealously of Gwen get the better of her and she tells Gwen the tragedy of her birth Gwen strikes out at her mother for not telling her.

Several years into his marriage Jeff wants out but can’t ask for a divorce because he hadn’t had Jewel sign a prenup. Jeff wants Gwen and sets out to own Gwen’s husband by buying Stan’s small but successful company and offering Stan a job at his company as executive. Gwen’s mother warns Stan not to sell but he ignores her. Jewel’s jealously of Gwen destroys her marriage and indirectly causes the death of her husband. Crossroads is a page-turner.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy this author. I could not get into this book. It seem too contrived. I skipped some of it after 100 pages so I could get to the end.

[Laurel-Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Cassie Wright, heir to the foremost company in a thriving New England town adopts a child she names Gwendolyn, she also keeps a very big secret of the child's origins. Years later, once Cassie has established her abilities running the company and her daughter is in her teens, a jealous young woman turns their relationship upside down by what she reveals.

Jewel Fairchild is from humble origins, but her beauty is her ticket into the world she desires. But her envy and jealousy motivate many of her actions, and in the end, will these qualities be her ruination? When she tells Gwen the story of her birth parents, is she doing so innocently? Or is their a more powerful and dark emotion governing her actions?

For years, the lives of these three women continue to intersect in numerous ways until finally, years later, each of them arrives at various crossroads when decisions will move them in one direction or another, sometimes irrevocably altering each destiny.

Belva Plain's characters are alive and real, with flaws and strengths, captivating the reader and pulling each of us in to these lives as they unfold. We root for one or another at certain points along the way, but the key to this story's strength lies in how each character elicits our empathy. We can understand how and why they behave the way they do, as the author unveils back story over a period of time.

In the end, the women are all altered by their experiences, some of which have been horrific, but they stand tall in a newfound strength gleaned from their life lessons.

"Crossroads" is an absorbing and entangling tale of greed, jealousy, and betrayal, and earns five stars for me.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
This was my first time reading a Novel by Belva Plain so i wasnt sure what to expect since i wasnt quite sure what kind of Stories she write but i have to say i really enjoyed this one which brought many of my emotions to surface level.

The Characters were so fun and interesting to read about. Cassie Wright and Gwen were my favorites because i could really relate to what they were going through and with how they were feeling after suffering such loses.

The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading, especially when the scenery was described.

Overall a very Good, Lighthearted, Hearttugging Novel about a woman who works for a Glassworks company who visits a family that has deep connections to her!! Can't wait to read more by Belva in the future!!

[Nia Casterlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lesson on society, jealousy, and money can be learned.

[Toni Laliberte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book but kind of slow, for me anyway. I've read quite a few books by Belva Plain and she's got a certain style of writing that is genuine and heartfelt, but something was missing in this book. I wish Cassandra's character had more of a prominent role, and that her and Gwen's relationship was more developed. The ending was really good and the last few chapters brought everything together for me.

[Enikő · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Based on the back cover, I was expecting something very different. (It says: Cassie Wright never saw it coming. As the owner of thriving Wright Glassworks, [...] until a tragic accident forces her to take in a one-year-old child [...]) When the novel begins, the 'child' is already grown and everything I was expecting to read about was already part of the past. The back description also says: the girl will flourish in a a world of privilege and opportunity. But she isn't flourishing, and she never really comes into her own until the end of the book, where she can finally enjoy a happy, middle-class life. Needless to say, the back cover was badly conceived...

When I started reading, I had trouble getting into the story. The writing seemed so formal, including the dialogue, that I really couldn't relate to it. It was hard to believe the story was set in the modern day. In fact I wondered, until there was mention of cell phones and fiber optics.

It was just lucky that I stuck with it. I really did get to like Gwen and Stan, and especially Walter, although he didn't figure very priminently in the story, and I even got to like Cassie and Jewel in a way. I'm not sure I liked what happened to Jeff in the end, but then I didn't write it. Luckily it was a quick read.

The only bit of writing that stuck out to me was something Walter said: ''You're going to wear a hole in that letter,'' (p. 154) which I though that was a nifty way of saying it.

Like I said, it was okay. Two stars.

[Deane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I have read most of Belva Plain's novels but many years ago. Found this book at Habitat the other day and really enjoyed my reading of it...I needed a shorter novel with less characters and plots for a change and this book fit the bill. Plain wrote many Jewish family sagas; she died in 2010 at age 95. Her first book "Evergreen" was published in 1978 and I remember that one as a terrific read.
One facet in this novel, Crossroads, I found hard to imagine was that Gwen Wright, who was adopted and brought up with nothing to do but learn all the rules necessary for someone of her class to learn, to read all she wanted when she wanted to do so, roam their lovely home grounds....but rather a lonely life. When Gwen married a tradesman, she hadn't a clue about running a small home....she had never cleaned, cooked, done a wash or ironing so after the honeymoon, she had a difficult time adjusting to this new lifestyle.
Of course, there had to be a very rich, charming man in the story who decided that he was going to have Gwen no matter if she were married or not...and thus the problems begin.
Gwen also has a very determined, very clever mother who ran a Glassworks company known worldwide and she had much to say about everything involving Gwen. A satisfying 2-day read.

[Techlady · Rating 4 out of 5]

****Audiobook**** I truly almost gave up. It started off soooo slowly and Gwen (one of the main characters) REALLY irritated me. Thankfully I came here and read some more reviews and kept going. At first, the setting seemed like “back in the day”. However, it’s a current book. Gwen is a rich, shy awkward child who grows up surrounded by secrets. Jewel is a poor child who grew up knowing she was beautiful. Jealousy ensues when their paths cross. How their paths cross and change their lives makes this book interesting to read. Jealousy can truly eat at your soul! Wish Walter had a bigger role in the book.

[Blanche Konieczka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story about jealousy and an easy read. The story follows two women from different backgrounds. Gwen adopted into wealth and Jewel who grew up poor. Gwen marries a blue collar man for love while Jewel marries a man capable of providing her with luxuries she has always craved. Both women are jealous of each other. Gwen, who is plain and shy, envies Jewel's beauty and outgoing personality. Jewel, who grew up poor and is struggling, envies Gwen's privilege. Really enjoyed the authors take on emotions and relationships. Might look for more of her books.

[Andrea George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem found at the semi-annual "Friends of the Library" book sale! I've always been a fan of Belva Plain. "Crossroads" certainly did not disappoint! The reference of the title was given throughout the novel by various characters. The plot was interesting, the characters of various backgrounds were believable, some were likable, some not so much (in the beginning). The setting was well-described and added to the overall plot. As with all Belva Plain novels, this one was well-written and had me engaged from the first page to the last. I definitely recommend adding to your tbr list.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book and finished it in one day. This author knows people! Two girls in competition, each jealous of the other for different reasons. One is a girl (Jewel Fairbanks) had little growing up and the other girl (Gwen Wright) grew up wealthy. The poor girl was physically beautiful but the wealthy girl had intellect. The indigent girl married money but didn't find happiness. The well-to-do girl married a blue collar man who truly loved her.

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read several books by Belva Plain years ago, so when I saw her name on this one, I couldn't pass up reading it. The plot sets up many conflicts, old money vs. new money, education vs. street smarts, privilege vs. hardship, even country life vs. city life. Mix in love, jealousy, family secrets and other soap opera staples and you get this well-written, if predictable, novel.

[Crystal Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, easy read. A good story, but I feel like at least one of the main characters could have been made a little more likable earlier in the story. I just had a hard time becoming invested in any of the characters because their good qualities took a little too long to become apparent. But all in all this was a good book.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting quick read spins a tales of two young ladies. I would recommend for females. Loved how she uses this quick read to show how silly it is to be jealous and greedy and how many of our poor decisions are birth through our insecurities.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't really fond of this one. It was basically two women who got jealous of each other in different points of their lives. I did like some characters like Cassie and Walter and Stan. They were good.
2/5

[dorothy murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Belva Plain is an incredible writer . She has a way of writing that completely holds your attention throughout . I have not read one of her books that I have not enjoyed. I used to just read nonfiction, now I read her books for my enjoyment.

[Barbara Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crossroads

I read this book many years ago as I have some of Belva Plains books. She writes in such a way that you get lost in the characters and the story. I enjoyed the way she weaves the lives of the people and the events of their lives. A wonderful book. I loved it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 1st Belva Plain book was one of her final works; she died in 2010. The story of two women, envious of one another from the fateful moment they meet, is a cautionary tale couched in a quick beach read. I see why Ms. Plain was a best-selling author.

[(Lonestarlibrarian) Keddy Ann Outlaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Schmaltzy. I seem to have lower standards for audiobooks versus print. Stock characters. Formulaic and predictable. Yet I still wanted to find out what happens in the lives of these characters. At times I missed little chunks because I fell asleep, but I just didn’t care enough to reverse the narration. At times when no titles I have reserved are available, I grab almost anything…

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, good characters, typical family saga

[Sharon A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wavered between 2 and 3 stars, but went with 3 because I didn't really consider putting it aside. Quick, decently fun (but dated) story about the difference between old money and wannabees.

[Gail Longton Harper · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an okay listen in the car but I don't miss any of the characters.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok... liked some of this authors books better, but still was worth reading

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the read.

[Mandi Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plain’s books are enjoyable. Not her best but definitely wanted to see how issues were resolved.

[Alee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beau roman, Très belle leçon de vie, personnages à la fois attachant et détestable

[Diane Guerette]

Riveting

How jealousy unharnessed can make people make bad choices. A good study of personalities and how they can grow. The power of love sometimes misguided can overcome much.

[Carol Wendkos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good escape reading. I read Belva Plain's books years ago and knew this would hold my attention. Since I can't concentrate on much, this was the perfect read to get me back to reading.