Scan barcode
sslovesbooks_1's review against another edition
4.0
I love dual timeline books and this one was exactly the book I needed to take me through the days between Christmas and new year.
Set in Cornwall, the setting was wonderful and the timelines from present back to around the Second World War really worked for me.
I thought the characters were well crafted, I loved Beatrice the main character as a young woman, head strong and brave and I really rooted for her to find the love she was looking for.
The majority of the book is told from the past and for me this was the strongest element, wartime Britain was a difficult time for all but this book does show the differences for rich and poor and for those in the city and in the countryside.
It was an emotional read in places and an enjoyable reading experience - it gave me a sense of calmness and peace which I really enjoyed.
Set in Cornwall, the setting was wonderful and the timelines from present back to around the Second World War really worked for me.
I thought the characters were well crafted, I loved Beatrice the main character as a young woman, head strong and brave and I really rooted for her to find the love she was looking for.
The majority of the book is told from the past and for me this was the strongest element, wartime Britain was a difficult time for all but this book does show the differences for rich and poor and for those in the city and in the countryside.
It was an emotional read in places and an enjoyable reading experience - it gave me a sense of calmness and peace which I really enjoyed.
livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I’m a bit torn on this book. It’s well written, engaging and fast paced with great characters and history. I just can’t help but feel I’ve read so many similar things. Perhaps it’s time for a break from dual-narrative historicals.
Beatrice was great. I enjoyed her character and hearing her story. Angelina was a total witch and I was appalled at her meddling, selfishness and obsession with stealing the joy from everyone around her. What a cow.
The book loses points for two things:
• The fact that everyone in the resistance knew each other’s real names and stories as well as the chain of command. That didn’t happen for obvious reasons. Also, I’m willing to bet the Gestapo wouldn’t have been so lenient with Beatrice. I realized that the story wouldn’t have happened had she been executed but it was pretty unrealistic.
Let’s chalk it up to creative licensing on behalf of the author.
• I could have done without the Anthony element. I liked Lucy but I couldn’t help but feel that her three-day (?) romance was totally unnecessary and silly. This felt like a long book and the epilogue seemed trite and I didn’t care. Once we found out the secret and the conclusion to Beatrice’s story, I was satisfied. I didn’t care about Anthony or his angst at all.
This was my first book by Rachel Hore and I will look into her other stories as well.
I’m a bit torn on this book. It’s well written, engaging and fast paced with great characters and history. I just can’t help but feel I’ve read so many similar things. Perhaps it’s time for a break from dual-narrative historicals.
Beatrice was great. I enjoyed her character and hearing her story. Angelina was a total witch and I was appalled at her meddling, selfishness and obsession with stealing the joy from everyone around her. What a cow.
The book loses points for two things:
• The fact that everyone in the resistance knew each other’s real names and stories as well as the chain of command. That didn’t happen for obvious reasons. Also, I’m willing to bet the Gestapo wouldn’t have been so lenient with Beatrice. I realized that the story wouldn’t have happened had she been executed but it was pretty unrealistic.
Let’s chalk it up to creative licensing on behalf of the author.
• I could have done without the Anthony element. I liked Lucy but I couldn’t help but feel that her three-day (?) romance was totally unnecessary and silly. This felt like a long book and the epilogue seemed trite and I didn’t care. Once we found out the secret and the conclusion to Beatrice’s story, I was satisfied. I didn’t care about Anthony or his angst at all.
This was my first book by Rachel Hore and I will look into her other stories as well.
amyhutchins0n's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lileesee's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully written book, full of heart and an easy-to-get-into story. I enjoyed this book immensely and had no problem picking it up and reading chunks at a time. The plot moved along at a swift pace and the characters carried it along easily. I feel as though the characters are what really shine in the story and I was alert with interest at the journey they were taking and where they would going.
Though while certain plot points were heartbreakingly moving, I found at times the plot predictable. From the prologue, and from the way certain characters were introduced, I could pretty much guess where some element were going. However that may be because I'd read something similar recently, and guessed lucky on a particular plot thread.
As for the past and present format, I feel like the present day narrative lacked somewhat in drive and emotion when placed alongside the past one. I wanted more from it. I wanted it to feel more important.
Overall, a pleasant read for the summer time that will pull at your heartstrings until they sing, while delivering a brilliant story of enduring love, hope, and betrayals.
Though while certain plot points were heartbreakingly moving, I found at times the plot predictable. From the prologue, and from the way certain characters were introduced, I could pretty much guess where some element were going. However that may be because I'd read something similar recently, and guessed lucky on a particular plot thread.
As for the past and present format, I feel like the present day narrative lacked somewhat in drive and emotion when placed alongside the past one. I wanted more from it. I wanted it to feel more important.
Overall, a pleasant read for the summer time that will pull at your heartstrings until they sing, while delivering a brilliant story of enduring love, hope, and betrayals.
lifeand100books's review against another edition
4.0
For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, you know I have a soft spot for historical fiction novels. The intrigue and mystery of a foreign time period always draws me in and makes the plot of these novels that much better. Rachel Hore’s A Gathering Storm is no different, and I found myself incredibly immersed in this harrowing mystery.
Lucy Cardwell’s father has died. When looking through his papers, she finds that he started doing research on Rafe Ashton, a long-lost uncle. Determined to pick up the pieces of her father’s search, she sets out to find out more about this man, Lucy decides to visit her father’s childhood home, Carlyon Manor. While there, she is instructed to talk to an old woman by the name of Beatrice, who would most likely know the story of Carlyon Manor and its inhabitants. Beatrice tells her that she normally played with all the children of the Manor at that time (in the 1930′s), especially Angelina Wincanton, Lucy’s grandmother. Beatrice also tells Lucy that she and the others had some excitement one summer, as she rescued a man named Rafe Ashton from certain death as he was drowning in rough seas. After this daring rescue, Beatrice fell in love with Rafe, yet the impending second world war threw their plans into certain turmoil. Will Beatrice be able to give Lucy the information she was looking for, or will Lucy’s world be turned upside down with Beatrice’s long-buried secret?
The pacing of the novel could use a bit of work. The first third builds up fairly slowly. It’s a lot of character development, that while necessary could have been sped up slightly. When you reach the last third of the book the pace quickens rapidly and hooks you in until you finish. The weaving from the past to the present would have been of better use if Lucy had a more integral/interesting part to play in the plot. I understand her use in the development, but not much really happens with her side storyline. It seems that Hore lacked interest in developing her more. I would have liked to see an epilogue that took place six months/a year later. It would have given the reader a chance to see how she dealt with the big reveal.
As I started reading this novel, another kept popping in my mind, The House at Riverton. That novel, as well as A Gathering Storm, were both written with from the point of view of having a huge mystery looming over you the entire time. You know there are things that haven’t been said yet and secrets that have yet to come to light. You can tell that Hore is an incredibly gifted writer by the simple fact that you’re not bored by all of the back story leading up to the big reveal. Each piece of the story is meticulously planned out so as not to give anything away prematurely. As in any mystery you start guessing what the big secret is, but it’s not until the end that you find out how close your assumptions were. The ending leaves you completely breathless, gasping for air, amazed at the cruel nature of people. I’m still reeling from it.
All in all the facts are these: Hore is a gifted storyteller, giving us a fascinating look into World War II England and the behind-the-scenes people who never got the glory they so justly deserved. If you enjoy a good suspenseful mystery injected with tons of historical information this is definitely the book for you!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-Eb
Lucy Cardwell’s father has died. When looking through his papers, she finds that he started doing research on Rafe Ashton, a long-lost uncle. Determined to pick up the pieces of her father’s search, she sets out to find out more about this man, Lucy decides to visit her father’s childhood home, Carlyon Manor. While there, she is instructed to talk to an old woman by the name of Beatrice, who would most likely know the story of Carlyon Manor and its inhabitants. Beatrice tells her that she normally played with all the children of the Manor at that time (in the 1930′s), especially Angelina Wincanton, Lucy’s grandmother. Beatrice also tells Lucy that she and the others had some excitement one summer, as she rescued a man named Rafe Ashton from certain death as he was drowning in rough seas. After this daring rescue, Beatrice fell in love with Rafe, yet the impending second world war threw their plans into certain turmoil. Will Beatrice be able to give Lucy the information she was looking for, or will Lucy’s world be turned upside down with Beatrice’s long-buried secret?
The pacing of the novel could use a bit of work. The first third builds up fairly slowly. It’s a lot of character development, that while necessary could have been sped up slightly. When you reach the last third of the book the pace quickens rapidly and hooks you in until you finish. The weaving from the past to the present would have been of better use if Lucy had a more integral/interesting part to play in the plot. I understand her use in the development, but not much really happens with her side storyline. It seems that Hore lacked interest in developing her more. I would have liked to see an epilogue that took place six months/a year later. It would have given the reader a chance to see how she dealt with the big reveal.
As I started reading this novel, another kept popping in my mind, The House at Riverton. That novel, as well as A Gathering Storm, were both written with from the point of view of having a huge mystery looming over you the entire time. You know there are things that haven’t been said yet and secrets that have yet to come to light. You can tell that Hore is an incredibly gifted writer by the simple fact that you’re not bored by all of the back story leading up to the big reveal. Each piece of the story is meticulously planned out so as not to give anything away prematurely. As in any mystery you start guessing what the big secret is, but it’s not until the end that you find out how close your assumptions were. The ending leaves you completely breathless, gasping for air, amazed at the cruel nature of people. I’m still reeling from it.
All in all the facts are these: Hore is a gifted storyteller, giving us a fascinating look into World War II England and the behind-the-scenes people who never got the glory they so justly deserved. If you enjoy a good suspenseful mystery injected with tons of historical information this is definitely the book for you!
Kimberly (Reflections of a Book Addict)
http://wp.me/p18lIL-Eb
fros86's review against another edition
4.0
I always forget how much I love Rachel Hore's stories until I read another. I now only have [b:The Dream House|20359362|The Dream House|Rachel Hore|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388410194s/20359362.jpg|1655603], [b:A Week in Paris|19772757|A Week in Paris|Rachel Hore|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1433168669s/19772757.jpg|42405047] and [b:The Glass Painter's Daughter|20039036|The Glass Painter's Daughter|Rachel Hore|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1394362097s/20039036.jpg|5730310] to read.
This one proved to be heavier in content to novels of her's that I have read previously: war, POW/torture/capture and family betrayal. I couldn't put it down and can imagine myself reading it again....
Highly recommended for fans of historical/family fiction set in world war 2.
This one proved to be heavier in content to novels of her's that I have read previously: war, POW/torture/capture and family betrayal. I couldn't put it down and can imagine myself reading it again....
Highly recommended for fans of historical/family fiction set in world war 2.
annebrooke's review against another edition
3.0
This is a pleasant enough read, but it outstays its welcome, and the 'twist' is very predictable and obvious from a very early stage. I also didn't think the past/present mix worked well, as the present-day Lucy's story was rather undeveloped. That said, the war story was well told and very interesting. The ending was abrupt and didn't resolve much, in my view. An okay read.
monicamjw's review against another edition
4.0
Very happy to find a "new-to-me" author to read! An enjoyable journey with these characters through their secretive family history set against the backdrop of WWII in Europe.
isa_wmadsen's review
2.75
She should have raged more for that bitch stealing her child like that. Spoiled ass wipe.