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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
This is an enjoyable book even though it covers familiar historic fiction themes such as class divides diminishing in England in WWI and women herbalists thought of as witches. I sympathized with the protagonist, Emily Bryce who walks away from her middle class home seeking a more meaningful life.
It’s an interesting story but the writing is mediocre.
Emily Bryce is biding her time during the last year of World War I, wanting desperately to do something to serve her country. But her overprotective parents keep her close at hand after losing Emily’s brother early on in the war. When she meets a recuperating Australian pilot in the local convalescent home, she falls in love quickly. As she turns 21, she goes to volunteer as a nurse but finds out they need “land girls” more to work the farms while most of the men are gone. Emily takes to the hard work easily and makes great friends along the way. But her pilot is soon dead, leaving her bereft and pregnant. Unable to return home for fear of bringing shame upon her family, she offers her gardening services to a lady of means she met during her land girl work in exchange for room and board. Emily ends up flourishing in her work at the old house, befriending Lady Charlton and others in the village as she increases her independence and prepares for her baby’s birth. As she dabbles in her herb garden, she finds that not only does she learn how to help people with the herbs, but helps people mend old emotional wounds and makes a life for herself in the village she now inhabits. Beautiful story of independence, love, and resilience.
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had a long build up. Sometimes it pays off, but in this case it did not. I did enjoy learning about the Women's Land Army, and I feel this would have been better served as a short story. The romance was a bit bland, and it could have been captured in a page and served the same purpose plot wise. Rhys non series books seem to be hit or miss for me...
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So, so dull. Everyone is okay with her having a baby out of wedlock? I don’t think so. She somehow manages to cure every single person in her village of the Spanish flu? Are you kidding me? Your herbs aren’t going to stop the SPANISH FLU. Even though her having a baby is the pivotal plot point of this entire book, she straight up forgets her baby for chapters at a time. Do NOT recommend
I enjoy Rhys Bowen novels, particularly the stand alone ones such as this. It's the time of World War I and a sheltered young girl meets a totally inappropriate young man, according to her parents, who steals her heart. We all know how that story goes, but Bowen puts in twists and turns and tragedy that enrich the characters and the story. She creates a wonderful tale that in the end left me with a hopeful feeling.