probablyromance's review against another edition
3.0
Barbara does three things really well-she makes the ordinary seem magical, female interpersonal relationships are excellent and moving, and I always find the books to be emotionally moving.
With that said the amount of loose ends and plot holes in this make me want to scream from insanity.
With that said the amount of loose ends and plot holes in this make me want to scream from insanity.
jennywjordan's review
5.0
Somehow all my reading of late has had a connection to food. I don't know if it's coincidental or if my fascination with the Great British Baking Show is just pulling me closer and closer to stories with food in focus. Whatever the reason, I am so glad I spent a few days with food magazine editor Olivia Shaw and the people living around Rosemere Priory. If this and my other read of 2021 are any indication of the year, I am in for a real treat.
Olivia lives a wonderful life with a fiance/boyfriend of nearly a decade, an artist mother she adores, and a career exploring food and all it's wonders. We meet Olivia when all of this has changed. She is badly injured in a car accident; her mother passes away; and Grant, the man, is not that great. In an effort to step away from the life she's lived and to settle her mother's estate she journeys to England to handle an estate full of secrets that leaves Olivia the only heir.
O'Neal treats us to incredible imagery of Olivia's experiences from the townspeople and the community at large to the ramshackle estate but what is best described, what I was always wanting more is the way that food is woven into the story. The food of the area and how food sustains us is as much a character as Olivia, Samir, Pavi and the others. I am desperate to try the spices, the flavors, and the like that are all intricately woven into the story.
And the story...this is a historical journey exploring the class system of England, the dynamics of family, and the great lengths family will protect themselves, their families, and their property. As Olivia explores what it means to be "royal" she also explores what it means to be someone other than who she has been all along.
There are some components of the story that are distractions. I could have done without Grant's dalliances although it does move decisions along for Olivia. I also felt cheated that in all the answers we got, there was one that left me wondering.
None the less, I loved the book, the characters, and the writing. I will carry with me the wisdom Olivia discovered as well.
Olivia lives a wonderful life with a fiance/boyfriend of nearly a decade, an artist mother she adores, and a career exploring food and all it's wonders. We meet Olivia when all of this has changed. She is badly injured in a car accident; her mother passes away; and Grant, the man, is not that great. In an effort to step away from the life she's lived and to settle her mother's estate she journeys to England to handle an estate full of secrets that leaves Olivia the only heir.
O'Neal treats us to incredible imagery of Olivia's experiences from the townspeople and the community at large to the ramshackle estate but what is best described, what I was always wanting more is the way that food is woven into the story. The food of the area and how food sustains us is as much a character as Olivia, Samir, Pavi and the others. I am desperate to try the spices, the flavors, and the like that are all intricately woven into the story.
And the story...this is a historical journey exploring the class system of England, the dynamics of family, and the great lengths family will protect themselves, their families, and their property. As Olivia explores what it means to be "royal" she also explores what it means to be someone other than who she has been all along.
There are some components of the story that are distractions. I could have done without Grant's dalliances although it does move decisions along for Olivia. I also felt cheated that in all the answers we got, there was one that left me wondering.
None the less, I loved the book, the characters, and the writing. I will carry with me the wisdom Olivia discovered as well.
life_full_ofbooks's review
2.0
I found this book to be one giant disappointment. I loved Ms. O’Neal’s other book “When We Believed in Mermaids” so naturally I thought I’d love this book as well. It started off extremely slow, there was very little character development, and the last 1/4 felt extremely rushed. It took me 3 weeks to muddle through this and I’m left feeling dissatisfied and wondering about how many good books I could have devoured during that time.
emilyppolk's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
grace_edwards's review against another edition
3.0
I desperately want to give this book four stars. I thought the idea was unique and admired the main character for her independence and diligence. Most of the book developed well and I was eager to see how many of the problems would be resolved.
It seemed this grand mystery was being woven together and I would soon find how it all fit. However, after some minor plot point were left with underwhelming resolutions, I started to realize the end of the book would not live up to the plot laid out for its readers. I did enjoy reading it, but I maybe set my expectations too high for how it would all play out.
It seemed this grand mystery was being woven together and I would soon find how it all fit. However, after some minor plot point were left with underwhelming resolutions, I started to realize the end of the book would not live up to the plot laid out for its readers. I did enjoy reading it, but I maybe set my expectations too high for how it would all play out.
sarahmsokoll's review against another edition
5.0
Ooooh I loved this book. This is one of those stories that I need to see on the big screen one day. From the depiction of the main character’s grief, to the gorgeous setting of the ruined manor in a gorgeous little English village, to the relationship between a 40 year old white woman and a 28ish year old Indian man. Such a lovely journey through their relationship and dealing with his family and the expectations of those around them. Also, if that tv show was real, I’d be watching it right now.
lisaeirene's review against another edition
4.0
Olivia Shaw is a food editor in San Francisco, in a dying engagement, struggling with the recent death of her mother and recovering from a car accident that has left her with chronic pain. The surprise news that she's inherited a castle in England, is not what she's expecting. It turns out she knew nothing about her mother's past.
Olivia goes to England to settle things up and as the story unfolds, she realizes how much she didn't know. She also realizes just how much she needed a "redo" for her life.
The book is surprisingly good for a romance. It's not usually my type of book. It doesn't feel like a "fluffy" romance book. It definitely deals with grief and healing. The topic of renovating the old estate was fascinating and the romance between the two main characters was very well written. I liked this story a lot!
miapboyer's review against another edition
3.0
This book didn't really do much for me.
The synopsis of the book is pretty spot on, but the mysteries and secrets it describes make you think that her mother had this entirely different lifestyle, when really and truly, there was only one secret that was kept, and although it was a really big secret, it wasn't life altering like I was expecting.
I felt this book was a little flat, mediocre at best. I guess the contemporary genre just isn't my thing.
The synopsis of the book is pretty spot on, but the mysteries and secrets it describes make you think that her mother had this entirely different lifestyle, when really and truly, there was only one secret that was kept, and although it was a really big secret, it wasn't life altering like I was expecting.
I felt this book was a little flat, mediocre at best. I guess the contemporary genre just isn't my thing.