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They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Although I enjoyed following Libby and her blossoming friendship with young doctor Daniel, I have to admit that it was reading about Elfrida’s past which really captivated me. We are introduced to three strong women whose stories are all entwined, we have Libby who was a bride to be until just before the wedding she walked in on her fiancé and bestfriend. The author lives in Suffolk and is a keen gardener and this is clearly reflected in her descriptive writing.
A Secret Garden Affair :HarperCollins Australia A Secret Garden Affair :HarperCollins Australia
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. They have all suffered in their own ways but grow from their experiences – a lesson we can all learn from.
Settings are described beautifully, especially the gardens… Richly detailed, with intriguing characters, I was absorbed in this book, and highly recommend. Partially set in the early 1980s and with a timeline starting sixty years previous, the story follows several characters. The novel switches between time frames of the 1920s and 1980s, juxtaposing characters' lives (Elfrida, the aunt; Bess, the aunt's friend, and Libby, the nice. Staying with her aunt Bess and Alfreda, she starts to mend her broken heart, deciding what to do with the rest of her life.
A Secret Garden Affair – HarperCollins Publishers UK
It's written in an old-fashioned way, and I say this because it contains characters who are privileged and 'other' to what we might consider to be 'everyday'. As she does this, it stirs up memories for both Elfrida and Bess and the story moves back over the years to such glamorous places as the south of France and Italy.It wrapped its magic around me (much like it did to Libby and Daniel) and I felt sad when I had to say goodbye. She's just gone through her own heartache so wants to be far away as possible from all the celebrations! Inspired by Norah Lindsey the socialite and garden designer, this novel contains an insight into life between the Wars. The multi-narration works well, and the nod to historical events, such as Charles and Diana's wedding helps to ground the narrative and provide a hook for the reader. And Libby’s great-aunt Bess and renowned garden designer and former socialite Elfrida are happy to help.
A Secret Garden Affair - Historical Novel Society A Secret Garden Affair - Historical Novel Society
Tragedy , loves and secrets accumulate over the years and when Libby arrives from London in a vulnerable state it seems a good time to try to confront the issues of the past. The story plays out in the present from the point of view of Libby, Elfrida and Bess, while also delving into the past lives of Elfrida and Bess from the time of their meeting in the 1920s.Erica James is expert at writing about families and relationships, and she skilfully brings the characters alive, exploring past secrets as the story unfolds. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. A Secret Garden Affair is a story of friendship and commitment spanning sixty years with Elfrida and Bess coming from different social backgrounds, but the author skillfully captivates the events of their past to mould them into the characters they become in later life. I hadn't read any so when the opportunity arose to read this one, I took it, partly through nostalgia, I have to admit. Attending secretarial school and being office assistants was still an accepted role with the men usually in more dominant careers.
A Secret Garden Affair | Erica James | 9780008413774 | NetGalley A Secret Garden Affair | Erica James | 9780008413774 | NetGalley
She moves back and forth between the present, where the impact of these secrets has torn family relationships asunder, and evocative episodes from the 1920s onwards that tell of the shared experiences that have bound Elfrida and Bess together.There are some great characters to get your teeth into in this tale, but my favourites are Elfrida and Bess.
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