Compassionate Family Saga
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I have been reading novels written by Marcia Willett since 1995 and this is the eleventh title, so I think it is safe to say I enjoy her stories. They are always an engrossing read and this one is no exception.
Set in Cornwall it is a gentle family saga which starts slowly introducing us gradually to the characters and the surroundings that the estate of `Paradise' is set in. `Paradise' is the family home of the Trevannion family and the current head of the family is Honor Tevannion. At the start of the novel she is already elderly frail and bedridden, the arrival of a young American researching his family history causes her to become very distressed. It is as a result of this visitor that long kept family secrets surface. The family are faced with revelations that change their lives.
The story unfolds as Honor entrusts her granddaughter Joss with the task of revealing her long kept secrets by directing her to a hidden cache of letters written long ago when Honor first arrived back in Cornwall as a young widow. It is through these letters that we are told Honor's story and become involved in the lives of the Trevannion family.
If you a fan of Marcia Willet this is another one worth reading and if this is your first chance to read her work you will find it a compassionate family saga.
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Gently Captivating Beautiful Story
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This lovely story is about a difficult choice made by a young woman in critical circumstances and the ripple effect this has on her and the next two generations of the family.
Marcia Willett's narrative is set in a beautiful valley leading down to the dramatic North Cornish coastline, and begins by highlighting the frail condition of elderly Honor Trevannion, whose family are gathered around her as she approaches the end of her life. But Honor has a secret, and when an American stranger turns up looking for a long lost relative, old ghosts and feelings are brought to the surface once more. She entrusts her well-loved granddaughter with the task of searching out a bundle of old letters, and through these, Honor's true story is told.
Ms Willet has a wonderful gift for writing evocative and atmospheric prose, and her attention to detail is meticulous. Although the story begins rather slowly, and characters are dropped into the narrative without explanation of who they are in relation to each other, it isn't difficult to start to link them into a framework, as there aren't too many of them. Very gradually the reader is drawn into a web of feelings, portrayed with a skill that catches the attention almost imperceptibly at first, until the reader becomes cradled in this gentle, moving tale, which weaves its way towards its conclusion with great compassion and understanding of human emotions. The captivating, beautifully constructed chapters, populated with characters it is easy to become attached to, create a tale that stays in the memory long after the last page has been turned.
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Don't miss this one!
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I couldn't wait to read another Marcia Willett story, and I was not disappointed! This book was amazing! Lots of fun twists to the plot,that make you want to keep reading hour after hour!!I have read alot(and I'll keep ordering until it's ALL!)of Ms. Willett's books and each one is so unique!The only thing that is the same in all of her books is her ability to make her characters life-like. This, I believe, is what keeps us all coming back to read a new Marcia Willett story!! If you have not read this author,do yourself a favor and check out ANY of her books! Please keep the great stories coming Ms. Willett!!!
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