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jennette_danyelle's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jennette_danyelle's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
luciearan's review against another edition
4.0
Hodnnocení: 4,5/5 ✩
Moc příjemné odpočinkové čtení. Tato kniha patří mezi ty, které pohladí, zahřejí u srdce a každá romantická duše si v nich najde to své. V mém případě se naprosto perfektně trefila do mé lehce nostalgické podzimní nálady. Snaha o záchranu starého panství a odhalování tajemství a kořenů rodiny mě bavilo, sympatické postavy pak vše příjemně propojily. Kniha je psaná velice čtivě a i když bych sem tam nějakou drobnost vytkla, jako celek je to velice příjemné čtení.
Moc příjemné odpočinkové čtení. Tato kniha patří mezi ty, které pohladí, zahřejí u srdce a každá romantická duše si v nich najde to své. V mém případě se naprosto perfektně trefila do mé lehce nostalgické podzimní nálady. Snaha o záchranu starého panství a odhalování tajemství a kořenů rodiny mě bavilo, sympatické postavy pak vše příjemně propojily. Kniha je psaná velice čtivě a i když bych sem tam nějakou drobnost vytkla, jako celek je to velice příjemné čtení.
jamieduvall333's review against another edition
5.0
What a great story!
The characters are well thought out, and the story was intriguing; I wanted to read more. Another chapter or two would have been great, or better yet another book or two ☺️
The characters are well thought out, and the story was intriguing; I wanted to read more. Another chapter or two would have been great, or better yet another book or two ☺️
pdnaylor's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to the audible version and really liked it, very engaging.
julieb118's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book so much. It's rare that I find a book I just can't put down and I really couldn't put this one down. I read the criticisms about the food descriptions -I loved that part. Maybe because i'm ma foodie myself, I happily anticipated when Olivia would have a meal - the descriptions of what she ate made me want to try it. But, the vivid descriptions didn't stop there. Rosemere was so beautifully described I felt like I was there sometimes.
I loved the main characters and, unlike some books, this author didn't waste time developing & building characters that didn't end up being important.
I really enjoyed watching the development of the relationship between Olivia & Samir. I loved the "treasure hunt" plot line - that was not only fun but a really cool way to show the growth and development Olivia went through in her grief process, as well as to tell the story and secrets.
Samir's mom "resolved" herself a bit too cleanly and easily for me -which may be about the only thing standing between 4 and 5 stars for me. Another "gripe" is that, though we know how things turned out with Rebecca, there was essentially no resolution there -Olivia receives the news and then we hear nothing else about it. How does the village react? How does Samir feel about Tony? How does Rebecca's husband react? It seems like a lot of time was spent on examining that character, her motivations, her relationship with others, to just let it drop the way it did. Finally, the other thing I would have loved to know is how Olivia's mom ended up in America and to know a bit more about her personal growth and overcoming her upbringing. But that was likely part of the point. Since she died before the story started, and Olivia is wrestling with many of these same questions. Otherwise I just can't find a lot of "flaw" in this one.
This was my first Barbara O'Neal book, but I will definitely seek out more.
I loved the main characters and, unlike some books, this author didn't waste time developing & building characters that didn't end up being important.
I really enjoyed watching the development of the relationship between Olivia & Samir. I loved the "treasure hunt" plot line - that was not only fun but a really cool way to show the growth and development Olivia went through in her grief process, as well as to tell the story and secrets.
Samir's mom "resolved" herself a bit too cleanly and easily for me -which may be about the only thing standing between 4 and 5 stars for me. Another "gripe" is that, though we know how things turned out with Rebecca, there was essentially no resolution there -Olivia receives the news and then we hear nothing else about it. How does the village react? How does Samir feel about Tony? How does Rebecca's husband react? It seems like a lot of time was spent on examining that character, her motivations, her relationship with others, to just let it drop the way it did. Finally, the other thing I would have loved to know is how Olivia's mom ended up in America and to know a bit more about her personal growth and overcoming her upbringing. But that was likely part of the point. Since she died before the story started, and Olivia is wrestling with many of these same questions. Otherwise I just can't find a lot of "flaw" in this one.
This was my first Barbara O'Neal book, but I will definitely seek out more.
christinebeswick's review against another edition
2.0
Very disappointing. The story line was weak and the characters were not believable
atsellerswhnp's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful and captivating
Barbara O’Neal emphasized that beauty is transformative, found in the mundane, the broken and the lost throughout this book. All I could think about was how comforting and warm her writing and characters were, even in the midst of heartache. Olivia’s journey to restore Rosemere, is a restoration story of self. One that we can all identify with. A story of shrugging off the old, tarnished versions of others expectations and embracing who we are born to be. Highly recommend.
Barbara O’Neal emphasized that beauty is transformative, found in the mundane, the broken and the lost throughout this book. All I could think about was how comforting and warm her writing and characters were, even in the midst of heartache. Olivia’s journey to restore Rosemere, is a restoration story of self. One that we can all identify with. A story of shrugging off the old, tarnished versions of others expectations and embracing who we are born to be. Highly recommend.
deecreatenola's review against another edition
3.0
I'm giving this three stars for the parts that I liked, but this story was fairly uneven. In fact I probably wouldn't have read another Barbara O'Neal novel so close after my first one (When We Believed in Mermaids, but I'm trying to make the best use of my free four months of Amazon Unlimited and in the Kindle Paperwhite itself there weren't a ton of good choices when I was ready to read.
The story is about a nearly 40-year old woman who inherits an English manor and estate and learns that she is actually a countess. Her mother fled England 40 years earlier and never told a soul. The basic premise was fun and interesting. But all the side stories really convoluted things.
First, her mother sets up her inheritance like a giant puzzle. This seemed very farfetched. She has to find this artwork, put it together in the right way, find a key at another manor and information on a painting she has at home in California. It was too much.
Second, the lawyer her mother chooses is the most unscrupulous man ever. He urges her to sell the estate from the get go and later we find out he's been skimming money off of the estate for years or decades and has fled to Mallorca. (And the caretakers, too, have fled with funds as well.) Again, too much.
Third, when she breaks up with her California boyfriend he immediately sues her for half of her mother's estate because they lived together for eight years. Like, what? And at a few points she considers giving in to him. Uh, NO.
Fourth, she has a relationship with Samir. I mostly liked this part. Samir is a good character as is his sister Pavi. But everyone but Samir is distraught over the difference in their ages - 33 and 40. Really??? Again, unlikely. Samir's traditional mother I get, but no one else made sense.
Fifth, the love scene with Samir had to be the most awkward love scene ever. Barbara, please, no more open door romance for you. Not a strong suit.
Sixth, she and Samir uncover a batch of naked photos of Samir's grandmother and immediately they jump to the idea that Samir's grandmother and Olivia's grandmother were lesbian lovers. As the story goes they were, but I don't think a pack of erotic photos would lead me to the conclusion so immediately. I would more likely think that Samir's grandmother - who was a lady's maid - was being abused in some way.
I could go on, but I won't. The overall of the story is pretty good, but these points along the way really took away from it. Definitely not as good as When We Believed in Mermaids.
The story is about a nearly 40-year old woman who inherits an English manor and estate and learns that she is actually a countess. Her mother fled England 40 years earlier and never told a soul. The basic premise was fun and interesting. But all the side stories really convoluted things.
Spoiler
First, her mother sets up her inheritance like a giant puzzle. This seemed very farfetched. She has to find this artwork, put it together in the right way, find a key at another manor and information on a painting she has at home in California. It was too much.
Second, the lawyer her mother chooses is the most unscrupulous man ever. He urges her to sell the estate from the get go and later we find out he's been skimming money off of the estate for years or decades and has fled to Mallorca. (And the caretakers, too, have fled with funds as well.) Again, too much.
Third, when she breaks up with her California boyfriend he immediately sues her for half of her mother's estate because they lived together for eight years. Like, what? And at a few points she considers giving in to him. Uh, NO.
Fourth, she has a relationship with Samir. I mostly liked this part. Samir is a good character as is his sister Pavi. But everyone but Samir is distraught over the difference in their ages - 33 and 40. Really??? Again, unlikely. Samir's traditional mother I get, but no one else made sense.
Fifth, the love scene with Samir had to be the most awkward love scene ever. Barbara, please, no more open door romance for you. Not a strong suit.
Sixth, she and Samir uncover a batch of naked photos of Samir's grandmother and immediately they jump to the idea that Samir's grandmother and Olivia's grandmother were lesbian lovers. As the story goes they were, but I don't think a pack of erotic photos would lead me to the conclusion so immediately. I would more likely think that Samir's grandmother - who was a lady's maid - was being abused in some way.