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mellied1975's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a roller-coaster ride of melodrama and angst -- a romance obviously inspired by Gothic classics like [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327867269s/10210.jpg|2977639] and [b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169s/17899948.jpg|46663], in which the heroine is constantly put upon and goes through hell, and the brooding, tormented hero really doesn't deserve her at all. Lily lacks the polish and depth of characterization of Gaffney's later novels like [b:To Have and To Hold|525622|To Have and To Hold (Wyckerley Trilogy, #2)|Patricia Gaffney|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309201518s/525622.jpg|776433] (with which this book has a lot of similarities) and [b:Wild at Heart|470398|Wild at Heart|Patricia Gaffney|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429760760s/470398.jpg|1696562], but I still got easily and happily swept up in the story.
Gaffney's heroines are amazing women, and Lily Trehearne is no exception. She is put through the wringer time after time: by her controlling cousin who wants her, for his own self-serving reasons, to marry his son; by the housekeeper at the manor house to which she escapes and finds work as a maid, who makes Mrs. Danvers seem warm and fuzzy; and by the hero, Devon Darkwell (That name! Did I mention this was a Gothic romance?), who treats her abominably for most of the book and, frankly, isn't good enough for her. Lily really loves him, though, so I couldn't help pulling for him to get his act together so she could finally have her heart's flawed desire.
Devon has a tragic past, having been abandoned by his wife years before. She only married him for his money and status (he's a viscount), and eventually ran off with another man, taking her and Devon's 8-month-old son with her. The baby died due to the wife's neglect, followed soon after by the wife and her lover. Devon doesn't trust women at all. He especially doesn't trust working-class women, having married below his station and been burned. So when Lily comes along, he is constantly fighting between his attraction to her and his inability to believe she could really be a good or trustworthy person.
It doesn't help that Lily actually is lying to him from the beginning, hiding her true name and identity after escaping from a big mess at home. Still, she is a caring, strong, intelligent, lovely woman, and he treats her so badly. Here's what he says to her at the end of the book,
"I've wronged you, Lily. From the first day we met. You were right about me - I set out to seduce you from the beginning, with no thought for the consequences or the harm it might do. You gave me - everything, and in return I offered you money. Later, I refined it to a living."
"I made that choice," she corrected softly. "You didn't force me into anything I didn't want to do."
"That's not true. But we both know that's not the worst." He girded himself to say it. "I thought you had hurt Clay - tried to kill him for money. I believed it. It's astonishing to me now; inconceivable. Abominable. I came so close to hurting you - physically hurting you." His face took on a haggard look, but he went on doggedly. "I tricked you on the eve of your wedding to a decent man. I used you in the basest possible way. I made sure that you were publicly humiliated, and then I abandoned you. I walked away and left you to face whatever would come, knowing it would be hard, something -"
He stopped. Lily had begun to cry. He couldn't look at her now, but he had to finish the harrowing list. "If Dr. Marsh hadn't explained it to me, I would not have looked for you. I'd have left you to your fate. You'd have perished with Gabriel on the moor."
Yep, that's about the size of it! He's a mess. She does at least make him suffer and grovel for a while before she forgives him, which is more than Rachel does with Sebastian in To Have and to Hold.
Even though the hero is a jerk, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Aside from the head-hopping POV issues (which become less glaring as the book goes along), it's beautifully written and full of high drama and emotion. The story's setting on the windswept Cornish coast and the harsh, desolate moorland of southwest England is vividly described, and the secondary characters like Devon's brother Clay and Lily's housemaid friend Lowdy are well-written and interesting. Patricia Gaffney is so talented. I only wish she were still writing historical romance!
Gaffney's heroines are amazing women, and Lily Trehearne is no exception. She is put through the wringer time after time: by her controlling cousin who wants her, for his own self-serving reasons, to marry his son; by the housekeeper at the manor house to which she escapes and finds work as a maid, who makes Mrs. Danvers seem warm and fuzzy; and by the hero, Devon Darkwell (That name! Did I mention this was a Gothic romance?), who treats her abominably for most of the book and, frankly, isn't good enough for her. Lily really loves him, though, so I couldn't help pulling for him to get his act together so she could finally have her heart's flawed desire.
Devon has a tragic past, having been abandoned by his wife years before. She only married him for his money and status (he's a viscount), and eventually ran off with another man, taking her and Devon's 8-month-old son with her. The baby died due to the wife's neglect, followed soon after by the wife and her lover. Devon doesn't trust women at all. He especially doesn't trust working-class women, having married below his station and been burned. So when Lily comes along, he is constantly fighting between his attraction to her and his inability to believe she could really be a good or trustworthy person.
It doesn't help that Lily actually is lying to him from the beginning, hiding her true name and identity after escaping from a big mess at home. Still, she is a caring, strong, intelligent, lovely woman, and he treats her so badly. Here's what he says to her at the end of the book,
Spoiler
when having failed to gain her forgiveness, he has finally decided to give her what she claims to want - freedom from him, for herself and their newborn baby."I've wronged you, Lily. From the first day we met. You were right about me - I set out to seduce you from the beginning, with no thought for the consequences or the harm it might do. You gave me - everything, and in return I offered you money. Later, I refined it to a living."
"I made that choice," she corrected softly. "You didn't force me into anything I didn't want to do."
"That's not true. But we both know that's not the worst." He girded himself to say it. "I thought you had hurt Clay - tried to kill him for money. I believed it. It's astonishing to me now; inconceivable. Abominable. I came so close to hurting you - physically hurting you." His face took on a haggard look, but he went on doggedly. "I tricked you on the eve of your wedding to a decent man. I used you in the basest possible way. I made sure that you were publicly humiliated, and then I abandoned you. I walked away and left you to face whatever would come, knowing it would be hard, something -"
He stopped. Lily had begun to cry. He couldn't look at her now, but he had to finish the harrowing list. "If Dr. Marsh hadn't explained it to me, I would not have looked for you. I'd have left you to your fate. You'd have perished with Gabriel on the moor."
Yep, that's about the size of it! He's a mess. She does at least make him suffer and grovel for a while before she forgives him, which is more than Rachel does with Sebastian in To Have and to Hold.
Even though the hero is a jerk, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Aside from the head-hopping POV issues (which become less glaring as the book goes along), it's beautifully written and full of high drama and emotion. The story's setting on the windswept Cornish coast and the harsh, desolate moorland of southwest England is vividly described, and the secondary characters like Devon's brother Clay and Lily's housemaid friend Lowdy are well-written and interesting. Patricia Gaffney is so talented. I only wish she were still writing historical romance!
nysanarysa's review against another edition
Przestałam czytać w pewnym momencie i nie chce mi się kontynuować
melissad1975's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a roller-coaster ride of melodrama and angst -- a romance obviously inspired by Gothic classics like [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327867269s/10210.jpg|2977639] and [b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169s/17899948.jpg|46663], in which the heroine is constantly put upon and goes through hell, and the brooding, tormented hero really doesn't deserve her at all. Lily lacks the polish and depth of characterization of Gaffney's later novels like [b:To Have and To Hold|525622|To Have and To Hold (Wyckerley Trilogy, #2)|Patricia Gaffney|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309201518s/525622.jpg|776433] (with which this book has a lot of similarities) and [b:Wild at Heart|470398|Wild at Heart|Patricia Gaffney|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429760760s/470398.jpg|1696562], but I still got easily and happily swept up in the story.
Gaffney's heroines are amazing women, and Lily Trehearne is no exception. She is put through the wringer time after time: by her controlling cousin who wants her, for his own self-serving reasons, to marry his son; by the housekeeper at the manor house to which she escapes and finds work as a maid, who makes Mrs. Danvers seem warm and fuzzy; and by the hero, Devon Darkwell (That name! Did I mention this was a Gothic romance?), who treats her abominably for most of the book and, frankly, isn't good enough for her. Lily really loves him, though, so I couldn't help pulling for him to get his act together so she could finally have her heart's flawed desire.
Devon has a tragic past, having been abandoned by his wife years before. She only married him for his money and status (he's a viscount), and eventually ran off with another man, taking her and Devon's 8-month-old son with her. The baby died due to the wife's neglect, followed soon after by the wife and her lover. Devon doesn't trust women at all. He especially doesn't trust working-class women, having married below his station and been burned. So when Lily comes along, he is constantly fighting between his attraction to her and his inability to believe she could really be a good or trustworthy person.
It doesn't help that Lily actually is lying to him from the beginning, hiding her true name and identity after escaping from a big mess at home. Still, she is a caring, strong, intelligent, lovely woman, and he treats her so badly. Here's what he says to her at the end of the book,
"I've wronged you, Lily. From the first day we met. You were right about me - I set out to seduce you from the beginning, with no thought for the consequences or the harm it might do. You gave me - everything, and in return I offered you money. Later, I refined it to a living."
"I made that choice," she corrected softly. "You didn't force me into anything I didn't want to do."
"That's not true. But we both know that's not the worst." He girded himself to say it. "I thought you had hurt Clay - tried to kill him for money. I believed it. It's astonishing to me now; inconceivable. Abominable. I came so close to hurting you - physically hurting you." His face took on a haggard look, but he went on doggedly. "I tricked you on the eve of your wedding to a decent man. I used you in the basest possible way. I made sure that you were publicly humiliated, and then I abandoned you. I walked away and left you to face whatever would come, knowing it would be hard, something -"
He stopped. Lily had begun to cry. He couldn't look at her now, but he had to finish the harrowing list. "If Dr. Marsh hadn't explained it to me, I would not have looked for you. I'd have left you to your fate. You'd have perished with Gabriel on the moor."
Yep, that's about the size of it! He's a mess. She does at least make him suffer and grovel for a while before she forgives him, which is more than Rachel does with Sebastian in To Have and to Hold.
Even though the hero is a jerk, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Aside from the head-hopping POV issues (which become less glaring as the book goes along), it's beautifully written and full of high drama and emotion. The story's setting on the windswept Cornish coast and the harsh, desolate moorland of southwest England is vividly described, and the secondary characters like Devon's brother Clay and Lily's housemaid friend Lowdy are well-written and interesting. Patricia Gaffney is so talented. I only wish she were still writing historical romance!
Gaffney's heroines are amazing women, and Lily Trehearne is no exception. She is put through the wringer time after time: by her controlling cousin who wants her, for his own self-serving reasons, to marry his son; by the housekeeper at the manor house to which she escapes and finds work as a maid, who makes Mrs. Danvers seem warm and fuzzy; and by the hero, Devon Darkwell (That name! Did I mention this was a Gothic romance?), who treats her abominably for most of the book and, frankly, isn't good enough for her. Lily really loves him, though, so I couldn't help pulling for him to get his act together so she could finally have her heart's flawed desire.
Devon has a tragic past, having been abandoned by his wife years before. She only married him for his money and status (he's a viscount), and eventually ran off with another man, taking her and Devon's 8-month-old son with her. The baby died due to the wife's neglect, followed soon after by the wife and her lover. Devon doesn't trust women at all. He especially doesn't trust working-class women, having married below his station and been burned. So when Lily comes along, he is constantly fighting between his attraction to her and his inability to believe she could really be a good or trustworthy person.
It doesn't help that Lily actually is lying to him from the beginning, hiding her true name and identity after escaping from a big mess at home. Still, she is a caring, strong, intelligent, lovely woman, and he treats her so badly. Here's what he says to her at the end of the book,
Spoiler
when having failed to gain her forgiveness, he has finally decided to give her what she claims to want - freedom from him, for herself and their newborn baby."I've wronged you, Lily. From the first day we met. You were right about me - I set out to seduce you from the beginning, with no thought for the consequences or the harm it might do. You gave me - everything, and in return I offered you money. Later, I refined it to a living."
"I made that choice," she corrected softly. "You didn't force me into anything I didn't want to do."
"That's not true. But we both know that's not the worst." He girded himself to say it. "I thought you had hurt Clay - tried to kill him for money. I believed it. It's astonishing to me now; inconceivable. Abominable. I came so close to hurting you - physically hurting you." His face took on a haggard look, but he went on doggedly. "I tricked you on the eve of your wedding to a decent man. I used you in the basest possible way. I made sure that you were publicly humiliated, and then I abandoned you. I walked away and left you to face whatever would come, knowing it would be hard, something -"
He stopped. Lily had begun to cry. He couldn't look at her now, but he had to finish the harrowing list. "If Dr. Marsh hadn't explained it to me, I would not have looked for you. I'd have left you to your fate. You'd have perished with Gabriel on the moor."
Yep, that's about the size of it! He's a mess. She does at least make him suffer and grovel for a while before she forgives him, which is more than Rachel does with Sebastian in To Have and to Hold.
Even though the hero is a jerk, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Aside from the head-hopping POV issues (which become less glaring as the book goes along), it's beautifully written and full of high drama and emotion. The story's setting on the windswept Cornish coast and the harsh, desolate moorland of southwest England is vividly described, and the secondary characters like Devon's brother Clay and Lily's housemaid friend Lowdy are well-written and interesting. Patricia Gaffney is so talented. I only wish she were still writing historical romance!
mvbookreviewer's review against another edition
4.0
Lily by Patricia Gaffney is one of those novels that lifelong romance readers will come across, either in a list of books to avoid, or a list that is at the other extreme end. I believe that with Lily, there is no middle ground to be had. You either fall in love with the story, the heartache, the imperfections, the hero who borders on anti-hero material, and the heroine, who is a pillar of strength with courage of the kind that we would all like to possess.
Lily is the sort of book that one has to experience to get the full impact of what the story entails. It is not the kind of story you can read with your emotions detached from what is taking place. It is not light and fluffy, nor is it humorous. But there is love, an abundance of it, especially from Lily’s end towards a man who is deep in denial, a man who has undergone tremendous pain and betrayal, a man who has been bitten once, and is more than twice shy.
Lily Trehearne is caught in a fix when her last male relative upon the death of her father and becomes the executor of her father’s estate and her legal guardian for thirteen more months, winds up wounded from an act of self-defense. Believing that the death of Reverend Soames would probably see her hanged or worse, Lily flees her home, and finds herself hired as a scullery maid in the household of a viscount.
Lily’s paths cross with Devon Darkwell, Viscount Sandown, the master of Darkstone Manor, the very first night that she arrives at his household. The anguish and rawness of the pain that Devon was leaking from his very pores at that moment strikes something deep inside her. But as a mere servant in a household that is run under the iron fist of Mrs Howe, the housekeeper who hires her, Lily believes that there is futile chance of their paths crossing again.
However, life does not prove to be so “fortunate”, as Lily finds herself rescuing the master of the house, taking care of him, and lying for him when the authorities come calling. Even with Devon feeling like he is waking up from deep sleep of the nightmarish variety when Lily is close to him, Devon does not want to believe in the goodness of the human heart, not with a past that keeps mocking him for his reckless behavior and the price an innocent life had paid for it. Devon’s scars run deep, his wounds never did heal, and it is Lily that pays the ultimate price for it all.
There are many occasions upon which any sensible female would have given up on Devon. But Lily sees beyond the anger, heartache, and the unwillingness from Devon to move on. So love him she does, enough for both of them, or so she thought, until the moment arrives which makes it easy for Devon to kick her loose, all because he was afraid of confronting his own feelings that run amok when it comes to Lily.
What Devon does to Lily in the guise of revenge is pretty much unforgivable, but in the end, he does pay the price for it. Lily is no doormat heroine, though I suppose some might see her that way. But for me, the strongest of us are those who can love, and love so deeply, even when it leaves them vulnerable to a wealth of hurt and pain. That is what Lily endures, time and yet again at the hands of Devon, until truth comes calling, and Devon realizes the fatal mistakes he has made along the way. All because he could not move on from the betrayal that had marked his life so terribly.
Nothing absolves or excuses Devon’s behavior towards Lily, especially that last act of betrayal on his part which nearly costs Lily her life. But once again, it is her own strength and the help of kindred spirits along the way that keeps her going, putting one foot in front of the other, to keep moving, until she is able to live again. Lily definitely makes Devon work to earn her forgiveness. I believe as readers, we might never understand how Lily was able to forgive Devon when all was said and done, but I believe that for someone like Lily, whose heart is pure and her love for Devon the kind that blazes from deep within her soul, it was a foregone conclusion.
Like I said at the beginning of this review, Lily is the type of book where you need to live through the ups and downs of the story to become whole again. Its not easy. But then love is never easy. That is the lesson that Lily leaves readers with. I believe that I as a reader, find profound meaning in that message.
Recommended for those readers who don’t shy away from anti-heroes and the heartache and pain they can cause along the way.
Final Verdict: Lily is the kind of book that will crush your soul, break your heart, and oft times your spirit. Through it all, Lily shows the remarkable strength of true love, the kind that never falters, even in the face of the greatest of tragedies.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Lily is the sort of book that one has to experience to get the full impact of what the story entails. It is not the kind of story you can read with your emotions detached from what is taking place. It is not light and fluffy, nor is it humorous. But there is love, an abundance of it, especially from Lily’s end towards a man who is deep in denial, a man who has undergone tremendous pain and betrayal, a man who has been bitten once, and is more than twice shy.
Lily Trehearne is caught in a fix when her last male relative upon the death of her father and becomes the executor of her father’s estate and her legal guardian for thirteen more months, winds up wounded from an act of self-defense. Believing that the death of Reverend Soames would probably see her hanged or worse, Lily flees her home, and finds herself hired as a scullery maid in the household of a viscount.
Lily’s paths cross with Devon Darkwell, Viscount Sandown, the master of Darkstone Manor, the very first night that she arrives at his household. The anguish and rawness of the pain that Devon was leaking from his very pores at that moment strikes something deep inside her. But as a mere servant in a household that is run under the iron fist of Mrs Howe, the housekeeper who hires her, Lily believes that there is futile chance of their paths crossing again.
However, life does not prove to be so “fortunate”, as Lily finds herself rescuing the master of the house, taking care of him, and lying for him when the authorities come calling. Even with Devon feeling like he is waking up from deep sleep of the nightmarish variety when Lily is close to him, Devon does not want to believe in the goodness of the human heart, not with a past that keeps mocking him for his reckless behavior and the price an innocent life had paid for it. Devon’s scars run deep, his wounds never did heal, and it is Lily that pays the ultimate price for it all.
There are many occasions upon which any sensible female would have given up on Devon. But Lily sees beyond the anger, heartache, and the unwillingness from Devon to move on. So love him she does, enough for both of them, or so she thought, until the moment arrives which makes it easy for Devon to kick her loose, all because he was afraid of confronting his own feelings that run amok when it comes to Lily.
What Devon does to Lily in the guise of revenge is pretty much unforgivable, but in the end, he does pay the price for it. Lily is no doormat heroine, though I suppose some might see her that way. But for me, the strongest of us are those who can love, and love so deeply, even when it leaves them vulnerable to a wealth of hurt and pain. That is what Lily endures, time and yet again at the hands of Devon, until truth comes calling, and Devon realizes the fatal mistakes he has made along the way. All because he could not move on from the betrayal that had marked his life so terribly.
Nothing absolves or excuses Devon’s behavior towards Lily, especially that last act of betrayal on his part which nearly costs Lily her life. But once again, it is her own strength and the help of kindred spirits along the way that keeps her going, putting one foot in front of the other, to keep moving, until she is able to live again. Lily definitely makes Devon work to earn her forgiveness. I believe as readers, we might never understand how Lily was able to forgive Devon when all was said and done, but I believe that for someone like Lily, whose heart is pure and her love for Devon the kind that blazes from deep within her soul, it was a foregone conclusion.
Like I said at the beginning of this review, Lily is the type of book where you need to live through the ups and downs of the story to become whole again. Its not easy. But then love is never easy. That is the lesson that Lily leaves readers with. I believe that I as a reader, find profound meaning in that message.
Recommended for those readers who don’t shy away from anti-heroes and the heartache and pain they can cause along the way.
Final Verdict: Lily is the kind of book that will crush your soul, break your heart, and oft times your spirit. Through it all, Lily shows the remarkable strength of true love, the kind that never falters, even in the face of the greatest of tragedies.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
ash_chooses_pikachu's review against another edition
3.0
One of the most groveling-y book I have ever read
sammy234's review against another edition
4.0
I couldn't put this book down and I adored the heroine, so I'm going to give this story a higher rating than it probably deserves. Despite being so well written, the conclusion of this romance didn't feel entirely believable to me.
The reconciliation between Devon and Lily needed at least a hundred more pages to fully develop, considering all the trauma Lily was put through. Devon's first noble act of
Still, with all my complaints, I found this love story fascinating and I would recommend it if you don't mind unlikable main characters. Lily is a saint, to be perfectly honest, but Devon is flawed and ignorant and sometimes cruel. His development is a major part of the novel, and he ends up better than what he started out as personality wise, but he's definitely not your traditional romance hero or even dark romance hero. I really felt for him because he's a very traumatized person who is obviously driven by all his negative emotions. He won't be for everyone though, so I do get the low ratings.
The first half of this novel showcases the beginning of a tender and funny romance, while the second half is dark and angsty and heartbreaking, which is another reason why this story could be polarizing to some readers. I enjoyed it all (even if I did find the Judith McNaught type of big misunderstanding plotline aggravating, to say the least) and the side characters were all so memorable, especially Devon's sweet younger brother and the evil domineering housekeeper Mrs. Howe. She was so freaking terrifying.
TW: lots of dubious consent, with some brief non- consent in the latter half of the novel, attempted assault, and graphic physical abuse
The reconciliation between Devon and Lily needed at least a hundred more pages to fully develop, considering all the trauma Lily was put through. Devon's first noble act of
Spoiler
setting her free didn't have the emotional gravity it should have because Lily doesn't ever try to experience that freedom. She went from enraged and despairing at Devon's betrayal, to completely forgiving in just a couple pages. I would have liked for her to have actually left him and then returned to him after realizing that she couldn't live without him. That would have been a more profound ending, in my opinion.Still, with all my complaints, I found this love story fascinating and I would recommend it if you don't mind unlikable main characters. Lily is a saint, to be perfectly honest, but Devon is flawed and ignorant and sometimes cruel. His development is a major part of the novel, and he ends up better than what he started out as personality wise, but he's definitely not your traditional romance hero or even dark romance hero. I really felt for him because he's a very traumatized person who is obviously driven by all his negative emotions. He won't be for everyone though, so I do get the low ratings.
The first half of this novel showcases the beginning of a tender and funny romance, while the second half is dark and angsty and heartbreaking, which is another reason why this story could be polarizing to some readers. I enjoyed it all (even if I did find the Judith McNaught type of big misunderstanding plotline aggravating, to say the least) and the side characters were all so memorable, especially Devon's sweet younger brother and the evil domineering housekeeper Mrs. Howe. She was so freaking terrifying.
TW: lots of dubious consent, with some brief non- consent in the latter half of the novel, attempted assault, and graphic physical abuse
bella1109's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
This is a difficult book to rate, On one hand, the writing is great and highly engaging. If you love [b:To Have and To Hold|525622|To Have and To Hold (Wyckerley Trilogy, #2)|Patricia Gaffney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309201518l/525622._SX50_.jpg|776433], you're going to enjoy this one as well. On the other hand, the main characters are not those whom you can root for.
Lily is simply too spineless. She kept forgiving Devon despite his abominable treatments towards her. Devon is, simply said, a jerk. The main difference between Devon and Sebastian from 'To have and to hold' would be that Sebastian had a fantastic redeeming arc. Devon, not so much. I was hoping that some other guy would come along and rescued Lily instead of Devon.
This was an emotional read though. If you're looking for angst, then this is the right book.
This is a difficult book to rate, On one hand, the writing is great and highly engaging. If you love [b:To Have and To Hold|525622|To Have and To Hold (Wyckerley Trilogy, #2)|Patricia Gaffney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309201518l/525622._SX50_.jpg|776433], you're going to enjoy this one as well. On the other hand, the main characters are not those whom you can root for.
Lily is simply too spineless. She kept forgiving Devon despite his abominable treatments towards her. Devon is, simply said, a jerk. The main difference between Devon and Sebastian from 'To have and to hold' would be that Sebastian had a fantastic redeeming arc. Devon, not so much. I was hoping that some other guy would come along and rescued Lily instead of Devon.
This was an emotional read though. If you're looking for angst, then this is the right book.
melissad75's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a roller-coaster ride of melodrama and angst -- a romance obviously inspired by Gothic classics like [b:Jane Eyre|10210|Jane Eyre|Charlotte Brontë|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327867269s/10210.jpg|2977639] and [b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169s/17899948.jpg|46663], in which the heroine is constantly put upon and goes through hell, and the brooding, tormented hero really doesn't deserve her at all. Lily lacks the polish and depth of characterization of Gaffney's later novels like [b:To Have and To Hold|525622|To Have and To Hold (Wyckerley Trilogy, #2)|Patricia Gaffney|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309201518s/525622.jpg|776433] (with which this book has a lot of similarities) and [b:Wild at Heart|470398|Wild at Heart|Patricia Gaffney|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429760760s/470398.jpg|1696562], but I still got easily and happily swept up in the story.
Gaffney's heroines are amazing women, and Lily Trehearne is no exception. She is put through the wringer time after time: by her controlling cousin who wants her, for his own self-serving reasons, to marry his son; by the housekeeper at the manor house to which she escapes and finds work as a maid, who makes Mrs. Danvers seem warm and fuzzy; and by the hero, Devon Darkwell (That name! Did I mention this was a Gothic romance?), who treats her abominably for most of the book and, frankly, isn't good enough for her. Lily really loves him, though, so I couldn't help pulling for him to get his act together so she could finally have her heart's flawed desire.
Devon has a tragic past, having been abandoned by his wife years before. She only married him for his money and status (he's a viscount), and eventually ran off with another man, taking her and Devon's 8-month-old son with her. The baby died due to the wife's neglect, followed soon after by the wife and her lover. Devon doesn't trust women at all. He especially doesn't trust working-class women, having married below his station and been burned. So when Lily comes along, he is constantly fighting between his attraction to her and his inability to believe she could really be a good or trustworthy person.
It doesn't help that Lily actually is lying to him from the beginning, hiding her true name and identity after escaping from a big mess at home. Still, she is a caring, strong, intelligent, lovely woman, and he treats her so badly. Here's what he says to her at the end of the book,
"I've wronged you, Lily. From the first day we met. You were right about me - I set out to seduce you from the beginning, with no thought for the consequences or the harm it might do. You gave me - everything, and in return I offered you money. Later, I refined it to a living."
"I made that choice," she corrected softly. "You didn't force me into anything I didn't want to do."
"That's not true. But we both know that's not the worst." He girded himself to say it. "I thought you had hurt Clay - tried to kill him for money. I believed it. It's astonishing to me now; inconceivable. Abominable. I came so close to hurting you - physically hurting you." His face took on a haggard look, but he went on doggedly. "I tricked you on the eve of your wedding to a decent man. I used you in the basest possible way. I made sure that you were publicly humiliated, and then I abandoned you. I walked away and left you to face whatever would come, knowing it would be hard, something -"
He stopped. Lily had begun to cry. He couldn't look at her now, but he had to finish the harrowing list. "If Dr. Marsh hadn't explained it to me, I would not have looked for you. I'd have left you to your fate. You'd have perished with Gabriel on the moor."
Yep, that's about the size of it! He's a mess. She does at least make him suffer and grovel for a while before she forgives him, which is more than Rachel does with Sebastian in To Have and to Hold.
Even though the hero is a jerk, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Aside from the head-hopping POV issues (which become less glaring as the book goes along), it's beautifully written and full of high drama and emotion. The story's setting on the windswept Cornish coast and the harsh, desolate moorland of southwest England is vividly described, and the secondary characters like Devon's brother Clay and Lily's housemaid friend Lowdy are well-written and interesting. Patricia Gaffney is so talented. I only wish she were still writing historical romance!
Gaffney's heroines are amazing women, and Lily Trehearne is no exception. She is put through the wringer time after time: by her controlling cousin who wants her, for his own self-serving reasons, to marry his son; by the housekeeper at the manor house to which she escapes and finds work as a maid, who makes Mrs. Danvers seem warm and fuzzy; and by the hero, Devon Darkwell (That name! Did I mention this was a Gothic romance?), who treats her abominably for most of the book and, frankly, isn't good enough for her. Lily really loves him, though, so I couldn't help pulling for him to get his act together so she could finally have her heart's flawed desire.
Devon has a tragic past, having been abandoned by his wife years before. She only married him for his money and status (he's a viscount), and eventually ran off with another man, taking her and Devon's 8-month-old son with her. The baby died due to the wife's neglect, followed soon after by the wife and her lover. Devon doesn't trust women at all. He especially doesn't trust working-class women, having married below his station and been burned. So when Lily comes along, he is constantly fighting between his attraction to her and his inability to believe she could really be a good or trustworthy person.
It doesn't help that Lily actually is lying to him from the beginning, hiding her true name and identity after escaping from a big mess at home. Still, she is a caring, strong, intelligent, lovely woman, and he treats her so badly. Here's what he says to her at the end of the book,
Spoiler
when having failed to gain her forgiveness, he has finally decided to give her what she claims to want - freedom from him, for herself and their newborn baby."I've wronged you, Lily. From the first day we met. You were right about me - I set out to seduce you from the beginning, with no thought for the consequences or the harm it might do. You gave me - everything, and in return I offered you money. Later, I refined it to a living."
"I made that choice," she corrected softly. "You didn't force me into anything I didn't want to do."
"That's not true. But we both know that's not the worst." He girded himself to say it. "I thought you had hurt Clay - tried to kill him for money. I believed it. It's astonishing to me now; inconceivable. Abominable. I came so close to hurting you - physically hurting you." His face took on a haggard look, but he went on doggedly. "I tricked you on the eve of your wedding to a decent man. I used you in the basest possible way. I made sure that you were publicly humiliated, and then I abandoned you. I walked away and left you to face whatever would come, knowing it would be hard, something -"
He stopped. Lily had begun to cry. He couldn't look at her now, but he had to finish the harrowing list. "If Dr. Marsh hadn't explained it to me, I would not have looked for you. I'd have left you to your fate. You'd have perished with Gabriel on the moor."
Yep, that's about the size of it! He's a mess. She does at least make him suffer and grovel for a while before she forgives him, which is more than Rachel does with Sebastian in To Have and to Hold.
Even though the hero is a jerk, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Aside from the head-hopping POV issues (which become less glaring as the book goes along), it's beautifully written and full of high drama and emotion. The story's setting on the windswept Cornish coast and the harsh, desolate moorland of southwest England is vividly described, and the secondary characters like Devon's brother Clay and Lily's housemaid friend Lowdy are well-written and interesting. Patricia Gaffney is so talented. I only wish she were still writing historical romance!
chels_ebooks's review against another edition
4.0
This is a hard book to rate! I spend a lot of time reading more recently written historicals where the main conflict is "I'm a rake and I don't want to get married," so uh, lower stakes. This was an epic gothic suffer-fest with a chandelier-shooting hero and and a long-suffering heroine that just doesn't know when to say "Enough!"
Devon Darkwell is the Man of the Manor, a broody viscount who wears his suffering like a badge of honor. He sees his maid, Lily Trehearne, skinny dipping, and he's surprised to realize he desires her. Lily is a former gentlewoman in hiding, and Devon - no fool- realizes this instantly, but does not care. He doesn't care much for her at all, aside from using her as a plaything.
After he's injured, Devon insists on Lily and only Lily attending to him, having no inkling of the amount of havoc this wreaks belowstairs. He does not know the amount of abuse she endures for his attentions because he cannot fathom the inner lives of servants. In this, he's a typical gothic hero: aloof, casually cruel, and supercilious.
I've seen some comparisons between this book and Patricia Gaffney's upsetting masterpiece [b:To Have and To Hold|525622|To Have and To Hold (Wyckerley Trilogy, #2)|Patricia Gaffney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309201518l/525622._SX50_.jpg|776433], which makes sense because this is another viscount/servant romance with a cad of a hero and a heroine who simply has to endure. The key difference is that [b:Lily|525619|Lily|Patricia Gaffney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1322372728l/525619._SY75_.jpg|513465] works as a twisty-turny adventure story, while [b:To Have and To Hold|525622|To Have and To Hold (Wyckerley Trilogy, #2)|Patricia Gaffney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309201518l/525622._SX50_.jpg|776433] is more of an emotional character study that somehow sells you on an enduring love that was borne from an abusive relationship. The romance in [b:Lily|525619|Lily|Patricia Gaffney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1322372728l/525619._SY75_.jpg|513465] is held up almost entirely by Lily herself, who has an unearned devotion to Devon that the book never quite justifies. If there was an epilogue where Devon fell off a cliff, I would be okay with it.
Devon Darkwell is the Man of the Manor, a broody viscount who wears his suffering like a badge of honor. He sees his maid, Lily Trehearne, skinny dipping, and he's surprised to realize he desires her. Lily is a former gentlewoman in hiding, and Devon - no fool- realizes this instantly, but does not care. He doesn't care much for her at all, aside from using her as a plaything.
After he's injured, Devon insists on Lily and only Lily attending to him, having no inkling of the amount of havoc this wreaks belowstairs. He does not know the amount of abuse she endures for his attentions because he cannot fathom the inner lives of servants. In this, he's a typical gothic hero: aloof, casually cruel, and supercilious.
I've seen some comparisons between this book and Patricia Gaffney's upsetting masterpiece [b:To Have and To Hold|525622|To Have and To Hold (Wyckerley Trilogy, #2)|Patricia Gaffney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309201518l/525622._SX50_.jpg|776433], which makes sense because this is another viscount/servant romance with a cad of a hero and a heroine who simply has to endure. The key difference is that [b:Lily|525619|Lily|Patricia Gaffney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1322372728l/525619._SY75_.jpg|513465] works as a twisty-turny adventure story, while [b:To Have and To Hold|525622|To Have and To Hold (Wyckerley Trilogy, #2)|Patricia Gaffney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309201518l/525622._SX50_.jpg|776433] is more of an emotional character study that somehow sells you on an enduring love that was borne from an abusive relationship. The romance in [b:Lily|525619|Lily|Patricia Gaffney|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1322372728l/525619._SY75_.jpg|513465] is held up almost entirely by Lily herself, who has an unearned devotion to Devon that the book never quite justifies. If there was an epilogue where Devon fell off a cliff, I would be okay with it.
a_cast209's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed reading this book. At first, I was unsure of even finishing it. But after a few chapters it hooked me in. The relationship between Lily and Devon was sometimes so angsty and other times you could actually feel how much they loved each other. There was a few times when I wanted to slap some sense into Devon by how he treated Lily in certain parts of the book. Sometimes he treated her lovingly, the next disrespectful and then horribly cruel. I felt so bad for Lily after what Howe and Trayer did to her ,and even more so after the incident with Clay. She really endured alot and still came out strong. Very good read!!