Loved the cover, the location and the history interwoven with the rest of the story
As a Fifer, this book intrigued me from the start. I did find it a little frustrating that though based on Kellie Castle, the book renamed it to Kelly Castle: for me, rename it completely or stick with the original spelling of the name…
Leaving aside this minor frustration, how was the book itself? There was a lot I enjoyed to it: anyone who has firsthand experience of gaining a mother-in-law will recognise the dance that Caroline and Martha engage in. I loved the familiar areas being mentioned, the history so casually sprinkled through the text: from the mentions of the Jute Factories in Dundee to the brief mentions of the impact of the Second World War. It made for interesting reading. And then the interludes of Alasdair, Martha, and Pippa’s family mystery interspersed through the more modern sections. All of this mixed with the sense that it was a mistake to trust Diana: but was my instinct here correct?
I loved the way the story of Charlotte, Mary, and Louisa was shown, both through flashbacks and the elements of diary and other heirlooms. It made much of the story seem more real. I enjoyed this read and gave it four stars.
Leaving aside this minor frustration, how was the book itself? There was a lot I enjoyed to it: anyone who has firsthand experience of gaining a mother-in-law will recognise the dance that Caroline and Martha engage in. I loved the familiar areas being mentioned, the history so casually sprinkled through the text: from the mentions of the Jute Factories in Dundee to the brief mentions of the impact of the Second World War. It made for interesting reading. And then the interludes of Alasdair, Martha, and Pippa’s family mystery interspersed through the more modern sections. All of this mixed with the sense that it was a mistake to trust Diana: but was my instinct here correct?
I loved the way the story of Charlotte, Mary, and Louisa was shown, both through flashbacks and the elements of diary and other heirlooms. It made much of the story seem more real. I enjoyed this read and gave it four stars.