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Ludwigtown #3
Un printemps en automne
They stared at each other in dismay
Rosamond recalled seeing this unknown man's disgusted face over Gaspard MacQueen's shoulder when she'd kissed him good-bye in England. Gaspard, who had loved and lost her grandmother years ago, and who'd offered Rosamond the job here in New Zealand.
So this was Matthieu, the grandson Gaspard had assured her would welcome and look after her until his return. Rosamond had arrived with such high hopes, but now her heart sank.
For Matthieu was convinced that Rosamond was a gold digger, out to capture his grandfather's money.
Rosamond recalled seeing this unknown man's disgusted face over Gaspard MacQueen's shoulder when she'd kissed him good-bye in England. Gaspard, who had loved and lost her grandmother years ago, and who'd offered Rosamond the job here in New Zealand.
So this was Matthieu, the grandson Gaspard had assured her would welcome and look after her until his return. Rosamond had arrived with such high hopes, but now her heart sank.
For Matthieu was convinced that Rosamond was a gold digger, out to capture his grandfather's money.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
1 person is currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Essie Summers
105 books51 followersEssie Summers was a New Zealand author who wrote so vividly of the people and landscape of her native country that she was offered The Order Of the British Empire for her contributions to New Zealand tourism.
Ethel Snelson Summers was born on on July 24, 1912 to a newly-emigrated couple, Ethel Snelson and Edwin Summers, situated in Bordesley Street in Christchurch, Essie was always proud of both her British heritage and her New Zealand citizenship. Both her parents were exceptional storytellers, and this, combined with her early introduction to the Anne of Green Gables stories, engendered in her a life-long fascination with the craft of writing and the colorful legacy of pioneers everywhere.
Leaving school at 14 when her father's butcher shop experienced financial difficulties, she worked for a number of years in draper's shops and later turned her experiences to good use in writing the romantic novels for which she became famous.
She met her husband-to-be William Flett when she was only 13 years old, but it was 13 years before she consented to marry him. A minister's wife and the mother of two, William and Elizabeth, she still found many opportunities to pen short stories, poetry and newspaper columns before embarking on her first novel, which sold to the firm of Mills & Boon in 1956.
Summers died in Taradale, Hawkes Bay on the August 27, 1998.
http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/...
Ethel Snelson Summers was born on on July 24, 1912 to a newly-emigrated couple, Ethel Snelson and Edwin Summers, situated in Bordesley Street in Christchurch, Essie was always proud of both her British heritage and her New Zealand citizenship. Both her parents were exceptional storytellers, and this, combined with her early introduction to the Anne of Green Gables stories, engendered in her a life-long fascination with the craft of writing and the colorful legacy of pioneers everywhere.
Leaving school at 14 when her father's butcher shop experienced financial difficulties, she worked for a number of years in draper's shops and later turned her experiences to good use in writing the romantic novels for which she became famous.
She met her husband-to-be William Flett when she was only 13 years old, but it was 13 years before she consented to marry him. A minister's wife and the mother of two, William and Elizabeth, she still found many opportunities to pen short stories, poetry and newspaper columns before embarking on her first novel, which sold to the firm of Mills & Boon in 1956.
Summers died in Taradale, Hawkes Bay on the August 27, 1998.
http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 1, 2013
It was okay, but for some reason it just didn't grab me like her other books.
A young woman is a compere for a local designer. The story opens with her hosting a fashion event. She notices an older gentleman in the audience who seems to be more interested in her, than the fashion models. After the show, he introduces himself as the man who was once in love with her grandmother but separated by an OW's vicious lies. (He happened to marry the OW and spent a rather unhappy long life with her) The heroine is enchanted by this man and finds herself offering to host him for a tour on the "Isle of Wight". Unfortunately hero (his grandson), catches them in a very tender moment and decides that the young woman is out to trap the old man.
I felt that the transitions in this story were a bit abrupt and were not like Essie Summers normal writing. One moment they are enemies, the next minute they bury the hatchet and are best friends turning to lovers (well lovers as defined by the early 70s). Then they are back to hating each other over a rather stupid misunderstanding, then they are back to liking each other, etc. My head was spinning from one page to the next. These rapid and abrupt changes made it hard to get any depth to the story. I also felt that the character development and chemistry were weak as compared to other books that I have read by this author.
This was an ok read, but I think she has penned much better stories.
A young woman is a compere for a local designer. The story opens with her hosting a fashion event. She notices an older gentleman in the audience who seems to be more interested in her, than the fashion models. After the show, he introduces himself as the man who was once in love with her grandmother but separated by an OW's vicious lies. (He happened to marry the OW and spent a rather unhappy long life with her) The heroine is enchanted by this man and finds herself offering to host him for a tour on the "Isle of Wight". Unfortunately hero (his grandson), catches them in a very tender moment and decides that the young woman is out to trap the old man.
I felt that the transitions in this story were a bit abrupt and were not like Essie Summers normal writing. One moment they are enemies, the next minute they bury the hatchet and are best friends turning to lovers (well lovers as defined by the early 70s). Then they are back to hating each other over a rather stupid misunderstanding, then they are back to liking each other, etc. My head was spinning from one page to the next. These rapid and abrupt changes made it hard to get any depth to the story. I also felt that the character development and chemistry were weak as compared to other books that I have read by this author.
This was an ok read, but I think she has penned much better stories.
March 28, 2018
The book should be entitled "The Mischief/Taken Out of Context/ Do Not Jump To Conclusion"!
The first time Rosamond and Matthieu MacQueen set eyes on each other, she thought he was a nasty stranger she'd never meet again, while he thought she was a disgusting gold digger having an affair with his 70 year old grandfather Gaspard (based on something he heard and the kiss on the lips she gave grandpa which he witnessed .) As she left before grandpa saw Matthieu they were never introduced.
As luck would have it, or fate, he turned out to be her boss! What a nightmare! Since Rosamond was the granddaughter of his youthful love, grandpa had given instructions to provide her with luxuries like a grand apartment, company car, and for her to be well looked after while she worked for MacQueen's the family department store. This further enhanced the image of Rosamond being a kept woman! And Matthieu was blunt in his condemnation of her and was rather mean in his words.
Rosamond was quick to defend herself and tried to clear the air without giving away all of grandpa's secrets; afterall the mischief maker all those years ago was Matthieu 's beloved grandmother Ellie! Ellie had lied to Gaspard in their youth to break up Gaspard and grandma Louise, so that she could have Gaspard herself. It was only after decades, and a near death experience that Ellie had confessed...
I was glad this initial misunderstanding did not get dragged out as Matthieu was able to see for himself she's a talented professional, and that she really was a good clergyman's daughter; she could not have been the gold digger he thought he saw.
Matthieu made known his interest in her pretty quickly, but as history repeated, there was a mischief maker, and a damning phone convo taken out of context, made Rosamond flee. She thought Matthieu courting her was just a ploy to lure the gold digger away from his grandpa! Afterall Rosamond was told by the supposed friend and Matthieu himself that grandpa himself had done the same when Pierre fell for a gold digger! Pierre was Matthieu's elder brother.
Rosamond had planned to go back to university or enroll in teaching college in order to pick up her dream of teaching history; a dream she had given up when her father was crippled. But in the meantime, she got a job as governess in a remote sheep station.
SPOILERS
For some strange reason never explained, Matthieu was called Hugh in and around Strathdearn! And he owned the sheep station and called it his real home! He had only gone to the family store to cover his brother and grabdpa during their absence. What a small world...
Thankfully Matthieu wasn't willing to let the conflict drag out too long; he knew Rosamond was hiding the real reason for fleeing. The truth came out and all was explained. Grandpa and Rosamond's mother had a hand in not warning both so that they'd ended up meeting in Strathdearn! And boy, Grandpa and Grandma Louise were fast workers! They lost no time in making contact and were going to be married the following week haha! Eh after decades of lost time, there's none to lose!
As usual, the New Zealand scenery was gorgeously described, as was the fashion and food.
The Other Man and Woman in the story were purely plot devices, nobody to be concerned with! A nice short read but did not wow like SWEET ARE THE WAYS.
The first time Rosamond and Matthieu MacQueen set eyes on each other, she thought he was a nasty stranger she'd never meet again, while he thought she was a disgusting gold digger having an affair with his 70 year old grandfather Gaspard (based on something he heard and the kiss on the lips she gave grandpa which he witnessed .) As she left before grandpa saw Matthieu they were never introduced.
As luck would have it, or fate, he turned out to be her boss! What a nightmare! Since Rosamond was the granddaughter of his youthful love, grandpa had given instructions to provide her with luxuries like a grand apartment, company car, and for her to be well looked after while she worked for MacQueen's the family department store. This further enhanced the image of Rosamond being a kept woman! And Matthieu was blunt in his condemnation of her and was rather mean in his words.
Rosamond was quick to defend herself and tried to clear the air without giving away all of grandpa's secrets; afterall the mischief maker all those years ago was Matthieu 's beloved grandmother Ellie! Ellie had lied to Gaspard in their youth to break up Gaspard and grandma Louise, so that she could have Gaspard herself. It was only after decades, and a near death experience that Ellie had confessed...
I was glad this initial misunderstanding did not get dragged out as Matthieu was able to see for himself she's a talented professional, and that she really was a good clergyman's daughter; she could not have been the gold digger he thought he saw.
Matthieu made known his interest in her pretty quickly, but as history repeated, there was a mischief maker, and a damning phone convo taken out of context, made Rosamond flee. She thought Matthieu courting her was just a ploy to lure the gold digger away from his grandpa! Afterall Rosamond was told by the supposed friend and Matthieu himself that grandpa himself had done the same when Pierre fell for a gold digger! Pierre was Matthieu's elder brother.
Rosamond had planned to go back to university or enroll in teaching college in order to pick up her dream of teaching history; a dream she had given up when her father was crippled. But in the meantime, she got a job as governess in a remote sheep station.
SPOILERS
For some strange reason never explained, Matthieu was called Hugh in and around Strathdearn! And he owned the sheep station and called it his real home! He had only gone to the family store to cover his brother and grabdpa during their absence. What a small world...
Thankfully Matthieu wasn't willing to let the conflict drag out too long; he knew Rosamond was hiding the real reason for fleeing. The truth came out and all was explained. Grandpa and Rosamond's mother had a hand in not warning both so that they'd ended up meeting in Strathdearn! And boy, Grandpa and Grandma Louise were fast workers! They lost no time in making contact and were going to be married the following week haha! Eh after decades of lost time, there's none to lose!
As usual, the New Zealand scenery was gorgeously described, as was the fashion and food.
The Other Man and Woman in the story were purely plot devices, nobody to be concerned with! A nice short read but did not wow like SWEET ARE THE WAYS.
March 4, 2018
Not one I've read very often, so I did not really remember the story. When Rosamond meets Gaspard MacQueen in England, he astounds her by revealing that he knew her grandmother back in New Zealand; in fact they had been separated by another jealous woman. When he offers her a job in New Zealand, she accepts, since her parents recently moved there. But once she arrives, she finds the situation less than ideal — Gaspard's grandson Matthieu harbors suspicions about her motives, and even as she overcomes them, she is given reason to question Matthieu's chance of heart. Finally, she gives up her job, and flees to the back of beyond — only to make a shocking discovery: this, not the city, is Matthieu's true home! Can these two resolve their differences and find their happy ending? Recommended.
May 24, 2022
They stared at each other in dismay
Rosamond recalled seeing this unknown man's disgusted face over Gaspard MacQueen's shoulder when she'd kissed him good-bye in England. Gaspard, who had loved and lost her grandmother years ago, and who'd offered Rosamond the job here in New Zealand.
So this was Matthieu, the grandson Gaspard had assured her would welcome and look after her until his return. Rosamond had arrived with such high hopes, but now her heart sank.
For Matthieu was convinced that Rosamond was a gold digger, out to capture his grandfather's money.
Rosamond recalled seeing this unknown man's disgusted face over Gaspard MacQueen's shoulder when she'd kissed him good-bye in England. Gaspard, who had loved and lost her grandmother years ago, and who'd offered Rosamond the job here in New Zealand.
So this was Matthieu, the grandson Gaspard had assured her would welcome and look after her until his return. Rosamond had arrived with such high hopes, but now her heart sank.
For Matthieu was convinced that Rosamond was a gold digger, out to capture his grandfather's money.
Read
January 4, 2023Safe for consumption*. My favorite of the romances I inherited from my grandmother.
Some descriptive passages, while a little flowery, contained a level of detail which could only come from close personal observation. I liked the heroine as well.
*Two books from granny's collection, The Sugar Dragon (1980) and Blackie's Woman (1991) portray such blatantly abusive relationships that they were genuinely disturbing to read, and not in a fun horror novel way, in a "New apprecation for women's righs" way.
Some descriptive passages, while a little flowery, contained a level of detail which could only come from close personal observation. I liked the heroine as well.
*Two books from granny's collection, The Sugar Dragon (1980) and Blackie's Woman (1991) portray such blatantly abusive relationships that they were genuinely disturbing to read, and not in a fun horror novel way, in a "New apprecation for women's righs" way.
November 22, 2018
I needed a bit of fluff after a stressful day, and for that I always enjoy Essie Summers.
November 1, 2025
Cute cover, boring story.
But i loved her thought process?
But i loved her thought process?
December 30, 2013
This was another of the department store romances with Rosamund coming out to work for Gaspard MacQueen in his story being run by his grandson.
Misunderstanding and mischief making keep things see-sawing between Rosamund and Matthieu and she runs to a sheep station in the alps only to find that Matt is the owner of the station and was standing in for his absent brother in the store.
This was a nice story but not one of my favourites.
Misunderstanding and mischief making keep things see-sawing between Rosamund and Matthieu and she runs to a sheep station in the alps only to find that Matt is the owner of the station and was standing in for his absent brother in the store.
This was a nice story but not one of my favourites.
June 3, 2024
Great story,GREAT AUTHOR !
ESSIE SUMMERS never failed with her books, not all have been released on kindle and it is difficult to find previous editions.Hope that in the future they will be available in kindle editions.!!!.
ESSIE SUMMERS never failed with her books, not all have been released on kindle and it is difficult to find previous editions.Hope that in the future they will be available in kindle editions.!!!.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews