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burningupasun's review against another edition
3.0
This book started off good, had a great premise in my opinion—woman's mother dies and she finds out her mother was a Countess before she moved to America, and has left her a run-down pile of an old estate in England. But it just sort of... fell to pieces halfway through and by the end, there were so many things that didn't get tied up. Who was Olivia's father? Why did her mother never talk about the place? What was with the money in India? Why did they keep hinting at something revolving Samir's book, but never tell us what it was? What was in the second envelope Alexander gave her, that supposedly contained info on who was trying to buy Rosemere? How did the fire conveniently start? Where the fuck did Rebecca and her husband go? Also how does Olivia spend the ENTIRE BOOK trying to figure out her mother's secret and then when she finally does it's just "oh okay" and she moves right on as if it isn't a huge thing?
Idk. The food descriptions were really good and made me hungry. The descriptions of the place and the characters were lovely. I liked Olivia and Samir, although the harping on the age thing got old, and the sex scenes were unexpected and a bit more graphic than I usually like. I didn't dislike the book at all, I just wish it had done a better job at telling the story, instead of dragging it out then wrapping half of it up in the last 2% and leaving the other half just dangling there, never to be explained.
Oh, also, I forgot to add my annoyance at how they built up her SUPER annoying ex for the whole book and then the issue with him gets resolved by someone else, off-scene, without her even talking to him. Just "oh don't worry this is fixed now" like what???
Idk. The food descriptions were really good and made me hungry. The descriptions of the place and the characters were lovely. I liked Olivia and Samir, although the harping on the age thing got old, and the sex scenes were unexpected and a bit more graphic than I usually like. I didn't dislike the book at all, I just wish it had done a better job at telling the story, instead of dragging it out then wrapping half of it up in the last 2% and leaving the other half just dangling there, never to be explained.
Oh, also, I forgot to add my annoyance at how they built up her SUPER annoying ex for the whole book and then the issue with him gets resolved by someone else, off-scene, without her even talking to him. Just "oh don't worry this is fixed now" like what???
liakeller's review against another edition
4.0
Romance, food, England, chai, thatchers and mothers. Loved it.
skynet666's review against another edition
4.0
This reminded me of other stories that I've read, but I still enjoyed it regardless.
winemakerssister's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this women's fiction/romance/mystery but felt like some of the details of the mysteries were either too easily resolved and/or not resolved at all. And honestly, I got tired of Olivia whining about her age and her weight.
I enjoyed this women's fiction/romance/mystery but felt like some of the details of the mysteries were either too easily resolved and/or not resolved at all. And honestly, I got tired of Olivia whining about her age and her weight.
sydloe's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this book up on holiday in Boston at a little neighborhood free library bin. I would have never bought this book for myself, but found it to be the most interesting book in the pile. I was so happily surprised! Mystery, england, art, foodies, generational storylines - all of these elements of the book were really interesting to me. I’ve never read anything from this author before, and I loved her writing style. She’s descriptive in a captivating way. I’m giving 4/5 because there were a few plot lines that felt thrown together or just not answered at all. Some of the mysteries are suddenly resolved near the very end of the book, and I feel like there is a lot of potential for a second book.
heatheranne72's review against another edition
slow-paced
Unfortunately dull and anticlimactic. Nothing was shocking. Wouldn’t necessarily recommend but didn’t hate it either.
erindoublee's review against another edition
3.0
I was drawn to this book because of the setting in the English countryside and for that purpose it did not disappoint. I loved her descriptions of the villages and towns and the people. They felt realistic for me. I could have done with the entire romance though. It was sweet but too sweet.
I loved her descriptions of food and one single ingredient. But there were so many loose ends. What happened with her via requirements? Who is Olivia’s father? Lots of ends that didn’t get tied up.
Overall I loved the English countryside and manor house descriptions.
I loved her descriptions of food and one single ingredient. But there were so many loose ends. What happened with her via requirements? Who is Olivia’s father? Lots of ends that didn’t get tied up.
Overall I loved the English countryside and manor house descriptions.
juliehailey's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nikkimccooltaylor's review against another edition
5.0
A great read
I truly loved this book. It was a beautiful story filled with mystery, love and a woman figuring out her true identity. I highly recommend!
I truly loved this book. It was a beautiful story filled with mystery, love and a woman figuring out her true identity. I highly recommend!