Title: A Haven on Orchard Lane
Author: Lawana Blackwell
Pages: 417
Release Date: June 7, 2016
Genre: Historical (Victorian Era England)
Publisher: Bethany House
Format: eBook (also available in paperback)
Note: I received a free eBook copy of this novel through
NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
About the book:
An urgent escape
. . . a wounded heart . . . Will Charlotte find the solace she longs for at the
cottage on Orchard Lane?
Famed actress
Charlotte Ward stepped away from the Victorian London stage five years ago. Now
in desperate circumstances, she tries to restart her career – only to experience
a complete collapse. Against her better judgment, Charlotte’s estranged
daughter, Rosalind, comes to her mother’s rescue and moves her to a quiet
English coastal village where her mother can evade the gossip columnists, at
least for a time.
Charlotte is
grateful to re-establish even tenuous family ties with Rosalind. As one with
regrets over her own romantic past, she’s happy to see love blossom for her
daughter. For Rosalind, however, it’s time away from teaching, and now she must
care for the mother who wasn’t there for her. And what could possibly be more
complicated than romance?
But there can be
no permanent escape from the threats of recent months. As the privacy they seek
is threatened, mother and daughter must make some difficult decisions – one
that jeopardize those they care about most.
My review:
This is a
wonderful historical story about second chances.
There is a
marvelous cast of well-developed characters in this story. There are a number
of different personalities included that cover just about all that you will
find in any community you visit. They are easy to recognize and either relate
to or hate depending on your own personal taste.
There are a
number of individuals that are hoping to have a second chance of one kind or
another. For some of them it is finding someone to love. For some it is in
trying to better their station in life through hard work. For a few they are
trying to improve family relationships. I really enjoyed seeing this recurring
theme for these great characters.
One of the
aspects that really caught my attention was that Jude Pearce owns the only
bookstore in little Port Stilwell. Many of the scenes throughout the book took
place in his shop and discussed the books that were available for sale in 1880
England. I actually went online and looked a number of them up and each one I
checked was accurately presented. Being a complete bookworm I was fascinated by
the titles mentioned.
Sounds great, Debora!
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