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kdurham2's review against another edition
5.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Two story lines collide in a manor outside of London as two women are trying to find out the full story behind the misshappenings in this large English home. One story takes place in the 1940s as World War II is beginning while the other is a current story, but the run parallel and intersect in the most fascinating ways!
Two story lines collide in a manor outside of London as two women are trying to find out the full story behind the misshappenings in this large English home. One story takes place in the 1940s as World War II is beginning while the other is a current story, but the run parallel and intersect in the most fascinating ways!
bmg20's review against another edition
3.0
A copy of The Last Camellia was provided to me by Plume/Penguin Group (USA) for review purposes.
"She always said it would bloom when it sensed peace, and a rightness with the world."
1940
Flora is approached about a job opportunity that would help save her family from ruin, unfortunately it requires her to set her morals aside in order to help a ring of flower thieves obtain a long lost camellia. It also requires her to travel to England in 1940 when World War II is underway.
2000
Addison and her husband travel to England to stay at the manor his parents have just purchased. Upon their arrival they find themselves immersed in a dark mystery from the 1940's that involves the mysterious death of the lady of the manor and several girls who went missing. One in particular is a girl named Flora, a nanny who stayed at the manor, who disappeared one night and was never seen from again.
This is now the fourth Sarah Jio book I've read in which she's stuck with her tried and true method of weaving stories of the past and stories of the present together to create something truly engaging. The dual narratives switched back and forth frequently between Flora and Addison but there was never any confusion between the two. I found myself far more interested in the past story than the present, but technically they were one in the same considering how they came together in the end.
I found that the major story was told (for both Flora and Addison) but the smaller stories and details weren't fleshed out completely. One example is I really wish there had been more of a proper build-up in the relationship between Flora and Desmond. It seemed far too sudden when the confessions of love started happening, but those two managed to be charming nonetheless. Also, I was left with several questions that went unanswered by the end and I can only assume it was left like that for the reader to form on their own interpretation.
The Last Camellia is an intriguing dual-narrative mystery with a hint of romance about a rare camellia that drew two very different women together. It's a tale of love, friendship and life... and always doing what you know is right.
"She always said it would bloom when it sensed peace, and a rightness with the world."
1940
Flora is approached about a job opportunity that would help save her family from ruin, unfortunately it requires her to set her morals aside in order to help a ring of flower thieves obtain a long lost camellia. It also requires her to travel to England in 1940 when World War II is underway.
2000
Addison and her husband travel to England to stay at the manor his parents have just purchased. Upon their arrival they find themselves immersed in a dark mystery from the 1940's that involves the mysterious death of the lady of the manor and several girls who went missing. One in particular is a girl named Flora, a nanny who stayed at the manor, who disappeared one night and was never seen from again.
This is now the fourth Sarah Jio book I've read in which she's stuck with her tried and true method of weaving stories of the past and stories of the present together to create something truly engaging. The dual narratives switched back and forth frequently between Flora and Addison but there was never any confusion between the two. I found myself far more interested in the past story than the present, but technically they were one in the same considering how they came together in the end.
I found that the major story was told (for both Flora and Addison) but the smaller stories and details weren't fleshed out completely. One example is I really wish there had been more of a proper build-up in the relationship between Flora and Desmond. It seemed far too sudden when the confessions of love started happening, but those two managed to be charming nonetheless. Also, I was left with several questions that went unanswered by the end and I can only assume it was left like that for the reader to form on their own interpretation.
The Last Camellia is an intriguing dual-narrative mystery with a hint of romance about a rare camellia that drew two very different women together. It's a tale of love, friendship and life... and always doing what you know is right.
lizaroo71's review against another edition
3.0
There are two story lines here: one set in 2000 and one set in 1940 as England enters WWII. Both stories take place at the Livingston Estate where are storied garden still stands after all of these years. Addison and her husband Rex visit there to relax and take a break from their busy New York lives, but, really, Addison is escaping secrets from her past that she hopes don't follow her across the pond.
In the 1940's, Flora takes at job at the estate to locate a rare camellia rumored to be on the premises. Flora arrives at the estate to be a nanny to the four children, but soon finds that her effort to locate the camellia may come at a cost.
There is mystery and suspense here in the right amounts, and, like all Jio novels, everything falls into place in the end.
In the 1940's, Flora takes at job at the estate to locate a rare camellia rumored to be on the premises. Flora arrives at the estate to be a nanny to the four children, but soon finds that her effort to locate the camellia may come at a cost.
There is mystery and suspense here in the right amounts, and, like all Jio novels, everything falls into place in the end.
chatdunoirreadsalot123's review against another edition
4.0
Brilliant mystery with lush setting and a touch of “Rebecca”
miaev's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book but it did still leave a mystery unsolved. Where was Flora during the intervening years?
sarah_reading_party's review against another edition
4.0
A secret garden, a suspenseful mystery related to flowers and missing girls, present day drama... No question about it; this is a great book! Loved the characters past and present and the ending was better than I imagined!
saram618's review against another edition
3.0
In this historical mystery we have 2 timelines going on. One is the present day and is narrated by Addison, who has some secrets in her past that unfold throughout the course of the book. Addison and her husband go to England to stay in his parents' newly purchased estate. Here is where we overlap with the historical storyline narrated by Flora. I will pause here to say that it was overkill to name a character Flora in a book with flowers as the main theme. Anyway, Flora arrives at this same estate in 1940 and gets caught up in the family (as their nanny) and the mysterious death of the lady of the house, Anna.
I really liked that as one part of the mystery developed in the past, the characters in the present day were also finding clues to this same mystery. I didn't really love the present day "mystery" Addison was dealing with. It felt forced and over-the-top. I got that it was meant to link the two story lines together, but it wasn't needed. Also, the constant mention of the camellias was a little much, but I get why it was there. That being said, this book was very engaging. I picked it up planning to read a few chapters and the next thing I knew I was 150 pages in (and ended up finishing it in one day). I'd recommend it to someone looking for a quick and entertaining read!
Side note... is/was flower thievery an actual thing??
I really liked that as one part of the mystery developed in the past, the characters in the present day were also finding clues to this same mystery. I didn't really love the present day "mystery" Addison was dealing with. It felt forced and over-the-top. I got that it was meant to link the two story lines together, but it wasn't needed. Also, the constant mention of the camellias was a little much, but I get why it was there. That being said, this book was very engaging. I picked it up planning to read a few chapters and the next thing I knew I was 150 pages in (and ended up finishing it in one day). I'd recommend it to someone looking for a quick and entertaining read!
Side note... is/was flower thievery an actual thing??
sbojo32's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book - it captured my interest, but it's nothing that is going to stick with me for long. It was nice, there was a little romance (very little), there was a little mystery and there was a little bit of historical fiction. It dabbled in each category without really commiting to any.
It is told in a dual storyline - Flora in the 1940's and Addison in the 2000's, as each try to figure out the secrets of Livingston Manor. The place seems a little creepy and no one seems to want to tell the truth (or at least the whole truth) and yet no one seems to want to ask any questions.
There are some glaring plot holes that were never tied up, but if you can suspend disbelief on those, it's a nice read.
It is told in a dual storyline - Flora in the 1940's and Addison in the 2000's, as each try to figure out the secrets of Livingston Manor. The place seems a little creepy and no one seems to want to tell the truth (or at least the whole truth) and yet no one seems to want to ask any questions.
There are some glaring plot holes that were never tied up, but if you can suspend disbelief on those, it's a nice read.