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mayflowergirl74's review
5.0
To anyone that hasn't read the first two books in the series, I'd really recommend doing so before taking this one on. Some of the more negative reviews of this title describe not getting to know the characters well enough and also having not read the prior books, which introduce most of them to us, especially those in the Cavendish clan. That said, I'd also throw out a bit of another warning. The official synopsis makes it sound as though this book will mainly be about Charlotte, but very little of it actually is. Like the previous books, this story is told from many points of view, Charlotte's being only one of them. There are things about her story that we don't witness first hand but are later told of, and if you are someone that really wants to delve deep into one character, this might not be the read for you.
With all that said, I really enjoyed this last installment in the Rutherford series. It certainly can be a bit of a crowded canvas with no less than ten different points of view. I enjoyed most all of them with only a few that I wanted to speed through in order to get to someone else. There is a great deal about the war of course and the toll it's taken on everyone. There is discussion of shell shock and how it affects some of our characters and what it drives them to. There is a POV from a German prisoner of war who is brought to work near Rutherford, and he's really no different from the peaceful men from England being forced to fight, and at least one person at Rutherford sees that.
It ended well for some characters while not so well for others, as is to be expected at such a tumultuous time in history. There are a few endings that are left up in the air, and I could imagine a few seeds for another novel being scattered, but there can never really be an end for so many characters all at once, so I think some will be left for the reader's imagination.
The rest of my review contains spoilers, so please don't read unless you've finished the book.
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SPOILERS
I don't review many books at all, so I wouldn't feel right in not mentioning one of my favorite characters from this series, John Gould. I don't imagine he's the favorite of many, but even though he helped extricate Olivia from her marriage, he's a good, solid man who fell deeply and madly in love with a woman that he couldn't bear to be without. William had his chance I'd say, but he was too late in taking in. When John had come back at the end of book two, having survived the Lusitania, I'd cheered for him. It's not often someone touches the side of a sinking ship and survives. I half expected him to die in France, to prove that nobody, even someone who survives what he did, is invincible. But thankfully, he made it back to his beloved Octavia. I only hope she won't somehow find a way to blame him for Harry's death, that he didn't try hard enough to get him back. Those things can be tricky.
And as for Harry. I knew he was going to die the moment he left John at the coast. Someone had to die, and I didn't want it to be John or Jack, and so I supposed it would be Harry. The war took a toll on him, and he got so very reckless at the end. He was restless and had survivor's guilt I think, for Emily and for all the men he sent up that never returned. The last bit from the German fighter's POV was quite haunting, and I could practically see Harry waving goodbye. What's sad is that Caitlyn was so close to Rutherford recuperating, and it might have all been all right had he just gone home.
But there is Sessy... and the beautiful horse that returned. Two good things and one very bad one.
I have a great deal of hope for Jack and Louisa. Times are changing, and after losing Harry, I can't imagine Octavia or William would try to actively deny Louisa happiness in being with the man that she loves. If there is to be an objection, I almost see if coming more from Jack's parents!
And I have a little hope for Frederick too, that somehow he can remain in England after the war, a country he seemed to fall in love with. And Jenny needs someone like him. One can imagine.
With all that said, I really enjoyed this last installment in the Rutherford series. It certainly can be a bit of a crowded canvas with no less than ten different points of view. I enjoyed most all of them with only a few that I wanted to speed through in order to get to someone else. There is a great deal about the war of course and the toll it's taken on everyone. There is discussion of shell shock and how it affects some of our characters and what it drives them to. There is a POV from a German prisoner of war who is brought to work near Rutherford, and he's really no different from the peaceful men from England being forced to fight, and at least one person at Rutherford sees that.
It ended well for some characters while not so well for others, as is to be expected at such a tumultuous time in history. There are a few endings that are left up in the air, and I could imagine a few seeds for another novel being scattered, but there can never really be an end for so many characters all at once, so I think some will be left for the reader's imagination.
The rest of my review contains spoilers, so please don't read unless you've finished the book.
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SPOILERS
I don't review many books at all, so I wouldn't feel right in not mentioning one of my favorite characters from this series, John Gould. I don't imagine he's the favorite of many, but even though he helped extricate Olivia from her marriage, he's a good, solid man who fell deeply and madly in love with a woman that he couldn't bear to be without. William had his chance I'd say, but he was too late in taking in. When John had come back at the end of book two, having survived the Lusitania, I'd cheered for him. It's not often someone touches the side of a sinking ship and survives. I half expected him to die in France, to prove that nobody, even someone who survives what he did, is invincible. But thankfully, he made it back to his beloved Octavia. I only hope she won't somehow find a way to blame him for Harry's death, that he didn't try hard enough to get him back. Those things can be tricky.
And as for Harry. I knew he was going to die the moment he left John at the coast. Someone had to die, and I didn't want it to be John or Jack, and so I supposed it would be Harry. The war took a toll on him, and he got so very reckless at the end. He was restless and had survivor's guilt I think, for Emily and for all the men he sent up that never returned. The last bit from the German fighter's POV was quite haunting, and I could practically see Harry waving goodbye. What's sad is that Caitlyn was so close to Rutherford recuperating, and it might have all been all right had he just gone home.
But there is Sessy... and the beautiful horse that returned. Two good things and one very bad one.
I have a great deal of hope for Jack and Louisa. Times are changing, and after losing Harry, I can't imagine Octavia or William would try to actively deny Louisa happiness in being with the man that she loves. If there is to be an objection, I almost see if coming more from Jack's parents!
And I have a little hope for Frederick too, that somehow he can remain in England after the war, a country he seemed to fall in love with. And Jenny needs someone like him. One can imagine.
beastreader's review
3.0
This is the first book and first introduction I have had to the Cavendish family. Yet, this did not deter me from having a pleasant time reading this book. While I did find the family to be a bit dysfunctional I still felt their strong sense of family bond and pride.
Although I was going along just fine reading this book from start to finish, I felt that the first half was alright but the second half of the story was the better half and when the story picked up and moved along faster and smoother. I tended to gravitate towards Charlotte and her free spirit. I was so glad when she broke free and branched out on her own. The ending of this story was a good one and it left a smile on my face.
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think Octavia advocates for "sensible marriages" for her daughters when it's not what she wants for herself?
I think that the reason that Octavia advocated for her daughters to have sensible marriages is because of her sense of duty and pride. Even though Octavia was separated from her husband, she still played the role in a way of committed wife.
Do you think Louisa and Charlotte would have had the courage to be with the ones they truly love if Octavia had not set the example?
To be honest, I am not sure if either woman would have really had the courage to venture out too much to find true love if they had not seen their mother find love and not be afraid to go after what she wants.
Although I was going along just fine reading this book from start to finish, I felt that the first half was alright but the second half of the story was the better half and when the story picked up and moved along faster and smoother. I tended to gravitate towards Charlotte and her free spirit. I was so glad when she broke free and branched out on her own. The ending of this story was a good one and it left a smile on my face.
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think Octavia advocates for "sensible marriages" for her daughters when it's not what she wants for herself?
I think that the reason that Octavia advocated for her daughters to have sensible marriages is because of her sense of duty and pride. Even though Octavia was separated from her husband, she still played the role in a way of committed wife.
Do you think Louisa and Charlotte would have had the courage to be with the ones they truly love if Octavia had not set the example?
To be honest, I am not sure if either woman would have really had the courage to venture out too much to find true love if they had not seen their mother find love and not be afraid to go after what she wants.
kdurham2's review
3.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
With a huge cast of characters, this book was very hard to get into in the beginning. As soon as I started getting into a storyline it switched to someone else and I wish that there had been more before it changed. It also took me awhile to figure out who belonged with whom and where they all fit into the bigger picture. If you don't tend to enjoy big cast of characters, this book may not work for you.
This book was the third in a series and I could tell that I was missing something a few times, so I kind of wish I had started this series at the beginning instead of starting at book three. If you have read book one and two, did the story build? Are you glad you started at book one?
With a huge cast of characters, this book was very hard to get into in the beginning. As soon as I started getting into a storyline it switched to someone else and I wish that there had been more before it changed. It also took me awhile to figure out who belonged with whom and where they all fit into the bigger picture. If you don't tend to enjoy big cast of characters, this book may not work for you.
This book was the third in a series and I could tell that I was missing something a few times, so I kind of wish I had started this series at the beginning instead of starting at book three. If you have read book one and two, did the story build? Are you glad you started at book one?
sheilasamuelson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
This was my first time reading a book/series by Elizabeth so i wasnt sure what to expect tho i have to say, Oh My Lanta, i loved this book so much since it was phenomenally written about 1917 Rutherford Park England during World War 1.
The Characters are so interesting to read about. Charlotte and Preston were my favorites i think mainly because the book surrounded them most of the time.
The Setting was so beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in Rutherford Park England while reading.
Overall a Phenomenal Historical Fiction Book in the series!!
Can't wait to read Books 1 and 2 in this series as well as other books by Elizabeth in the future!!
Review:
This was my first time reading a book/series by Elizabeth so i wasnt sure what to expect tho i have to say, Oh My Lanta, i loved this book so much since it was phenomenally written about 1917 Rutherford Park England during World War 1.
The Characters are so interesting to read about. Charlotte and Preston were my favorites i think mainly because the book surrounded them most of the time.
The Setting was so beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in Rutherford Park England while reading.
Overall a Phenomenal Historical Fiction Book in the series!!
Can't wait to read Books 1 and 2 in this series as well as other books by Elizabeth in the future!!
abookishaffair's review against another edition
3.0
"The Gates of Rutherford" is a historical fiction look at life during World War I. It is a companion book to "Rutherford Hall." This book reminds me a lot of shows like "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey." In "The Gates of Rutherford" there is still a huge cast and much of it centers on a new marriage where the couple wasn't really sure what they want out of it. World War I is raging in the lives of the people in the book are caught up in it.
Ensemble casts work well for television and movies. They don't always work so well for books. While I enjoyed the setting of this book and the time period, I found it very hard to follow along with the stories in the book. There are a lot of characters and I felt like I never could get very close to them.
There are some but some stories that I was very into such as the one about the German prisoner but there were other stories where I felt like I didn't we get to know the characters very well and therefore wasn't as interested. This book is not all that long either so there isn't really a lot of detail about each of the characters in many ways, this book feels like a slice of life about people who are dealing with World War I in Europe. You get a taste of the characters but I found myself wanting more. That being said there storylines are still very interesting and kept me reading. Overall, this book was a mixed bag for me.
Ensemble casts work well for television and movies. They don't always work so well for books. While I enjoyed the setting of this book and the time period, I found it very hard to follow along with the stories in the book. There are a lot of characters and I felt like I never could get very close to them.
There are some but some stories that I was very into such as the one about the German prisoner but there were other stories where I felt like I didn't we get to know the characters very well and therefore wasn't as interested. This book is not all that long either so there isn't really a lot of detail about each of the characters in many ways, this book feels like a slice of life about people who are dealing with World War I in Europe. You get a taste of the characters but I found myself wanting more. That being said there storylines are still very interesting and kept me reading. Overall, this book was a mixed bag for me.
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