Helpful Score: 1
I've read a couple of Sharon Page's Regency era books, but this is a new direction for her. Not only is it set in the post World War I era, it's more women's fiction than romance. Her Regency books have much more explicit eroticism in them, so depending on your tastes, that may be a plus or a minus!
Although there is an HEA, along the way there is tragedy and multiple complications, I would call it more of an old-fashioned saga.
I think the author's prose doesn't flow as easily in this book as in the earlier historicals. And she overdid it a bit with the 1920's flapper cliches for her heroine, Zoe. Reckless and drives too fast, check; likes to frequent nightclubs and drink cocktails, check; wears short flapper dresses, check; smokes cigarettes, check!
None the less, I got caught up in the plot and the characters, and it certainly kept me turning the pages. So I give it 3 stars for good storytelling. If you like Downton Abbey type books, you'll enjoy it.
Although there is an HEA, along the way there is tragedy and multiple complications, I would call it more of an old-fashioned saga.
I think the author's prose doesn't flow as easily in this book as in the earlier historicals. And she overdid it a bit with the 1920's flapper cliches for her heroine, Zoe. Reckless and drives too fast, check; likes to frequent nightclubs and drink cocktails, check; wears short flapper dresses, check; smokes cigarettes, check!
None the less, I got caught up in the plot and the characters, and it certainly kept me turning the pages. So I give it 3 stars for good storytelling. If you like Downton Abbey type books, you'll enjoy it.
This was such a fun read and could have easily ended half way through and been a great HEA but the author did so much more with this story. It has a "Downton Abbish" vibe that had me missing the Grantham family but was so much deeper with the repercussions of the War affecting so many characters in the book in tragic ways. It wasn't all fun, lavish parties and beautiful clothes, but a combination with the loss and horrors of the war. I love historicals from the 1920's and you get to see England, New York and California during this era which is always fascinating to me.
My only fault with the book were the main characters, though I loved both Nigel and Zoe, I felt like both were a bit over the top. Nigel was deeply in love with Zoe but ended up hurting her time after time with his unbending upper crust British coldness when he was trying to "protect" her. Possibly as an American, I saw this as slightly abusive rather than protective. And Zoe was pretty unbending herself and rather selfish. Yes she was only 20 but I think the two of them could have compromised a bit more. But then alas, it is a story not real life.
Still, this book managed to captivate me over two days and ultimately one I'd definitely recommend. Off to snag a copy of book two, has a murder mystery with it.
My only fault with the book were the main characters, though I loved both Nigel and Zoe, I felt like both were a bit over the top. Nigel was deeply in love with Zoe but ended up hurting her time after time with his unbending upper crust British coldness when he was trying to "protect" her. Possibly as an American, I saw this as slightly abusive rather than protective. And Zoe was pretty unbending herself and rather selfish. Yes she was only 20 but I think the two of them could have compromised a bit more. But then alas, it is a story not real life.
Still, this book managed to captivate me over two days and ultimately one I'd definitely recommend. Off to snag a copy of book two, has a murder mystery with it.
This was such a fun read and could have easily ended half way through and been a great HEA but the author did so much more with this story. It has a "Downton Abbish" vibe that had me missing the Grantham family but was so much deeper with the repercussions of the War affecting so many characters in the book in tragic ways. It wasn't all fun, lavish parties and beautiful clothes, but a combination with the loss and horrors of the war. I love historicals from the 1920's and you get to see England, New York and California during this era which is always fascinating to me.
My only fault with the book were the main characters, though I loved both Nigel and Zoe, I felt like both were a bit over the top. Nigel was deeply in love with Zoe but ended up hurting her time after time with his unbending upper crust British coldness when he was trying to "protect" her. Possibly as an American, I saw this as slightly abusive rather than protective. And Zoe was pretty unbending herself and rather selfish. Yes she was only 20 but I think the two of them could have compromised a bit more. But then alas, it is a story not real life.
Still, this book managed to captivate me over two days and ultimately one I'd definitely recommend. Off to snag a copy of book two, has a murder mystery with it.
My only fault with the book were the main characters, though I loved both Nigel and Zoe, I felt like both were a bit over the top. Nigel was deeply in love with Zoe but ended up hurting her time after time with his unbending upper crust British coldness when he was trying to "protect" her. Possibly as an American, I saw this as slightly abusive rather than protective. And Zoe was pretty unbending herself and rather selfish. Yes she was only 20 but I think the two of them could have compromised a bit more. But then alas, it is a story not real life.
Still, this book managed to captivate me over two days and ultimately one I'd definitely recommend. Off to snag a copy of book two, has a murder mystery with it.
