3.45 AVERAGE

emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

The food descriptions in this one were too good & I loved the way the story unfolded - so many complicated emotions captured between friends/family/lovers

Guess it didn't stick with me, because I re-read in Sept 2014.
emotional lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Great read from awesome author - I have read all her books!

One of those books told from several points of view -- not my favorite literary device -- but an interesting read. Marguerite is too dependent on her friendship with Candace, and becomes jealous of Candace's relationship with her husband, Daniel Knox. There is a terrible outcome, and lives are changed. Years later, Candace's daughter, Marguerite's goddaughter comes to find her. And we learn all the truth.

Love it!

Well that ended rather abruptly. I love Elin Hilderbrand, but this earlier book of hers was not my favorite.

2.75
--
I wasn't really into this one until the very end, when Marguerite was finally having her conversation with Renata. It just frustrated me because Renata was incredibly immature, yet making life choices, and Marguerite didn't have a backbone throughout her entire life! I completely sympathize with her feelings of loneliness and believing she'd be alone forever if she finally stood up to Porter and told him what she wanted out of their relationship, but my goodness, you're 40 years old! Anyway, definitely my least favorite of the Hilderbrand books I've read so far. I suppose I can recommend this to people who don't really care about liking the characters or their choices and who enjoy more of a storytelling narrative, if that makes sense (a narrative that explains a lot of past events, as if telling a story). Otherwise, steer clear.