Set in the beautiful Cotswolds, this story dives deep into the Marchant family's messy world after their tyrant dad kicks the bucket. Francesca, the rebellious heroine, finds herself in a tangled web of family secrets, creepy suitors, and a plot to force her into an unwanted marriage. The twists kept me turning the pages, and I loved the Victorian backdrop—it added so much drama to the mix.

That said, I did have a few bumps along the way. Sometimes it felt like the characters were acting more like modern folks than people from the past, which threw me off a bit. Plus, there were moments where the pace slowed down and I found myself skimming. But the ending wrapped everything up nicely, and Francesca’s journey was definitely worth it. If you’re into historical fiction with a dash of intrigue, I’d say give it a shot!

A very interesting read and one that kept me turning the pages from start to finish. Plenty of twists and turns and everything that i would expect in a good historical drama. I rarely write what a story is about as i prefer one to read the book for themselves, but i do recommend. Loved the cover!

This book really draws you in fast, but will then slow down and again pick the pace back up. A little bit of a roller coaster, but don't worry - everything needs up neat and tidy.

I instantly fell in love with the cover and it seemed to be very interesting, so I decided I had to read this.

The Marchant family seems to be perfect on the outside, but it is all a lie. When the mean dad dies, they hope it will get better, but it doesn't. There are so many family secrets and manipulation going on. Poor Francesca is being harassed and stalked by the nasty Rufus. Evil man. Stinks to be her.

There were a lot of twists and turns and I found that refreshing. I had a hard time staying hooked though. Along with the twists and turns, there were a lot of slow parts that I skimmed over. I honestly felt like I was on a roller coaster. I was drinking in every word one moment and then the next moment I was yawning and waiting for the next exciting thing.

The only character I could stand was Francesca at times. Isobel and Sanjay weren't bad either. However, I had a hard time connecting with anyone really, so it made it hard to stay hooked and curious what was going to happen next.

The ending was really good! It was a nice way to tie everything together. So yes, this ended on a good note.

In the end, this was okay. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and staying hooked with the story. There were a lot of good twists and the ending was done well. I do recommend it if you like historical fiction. I'll give this three stars.

This was a well paced historical fiction drama / saga following the Marchant family in their Tudor Manor in Gloucestershire.

With a plethora of characters with lots of twists and turns to the plotline.

Really good storyline with many stories intertwining with other characters a very well paced story.

I have never read this author before but will now look for other books by Marion Shepherd.

The description of this book was what made me request it. I loved the idea of a period drama filled with a strong female protagonist and family turmoil. Fortunately, this book provides both of those and more. Unfortunately for me, the pacing with which it was presented lost me at times.

Just in case any other readers feel the same as I do, I want to warn that there is rape quite early on. (I understand it might be necessary for plot/character development.) But, what I HATED was that the rapist is seemingly cured through the forgiveness and unconditional love of his victim. This part really set the tone for me and I wasn't really falling in love with any of the characters because I was too annoyed at the happy turn of events following the abuse. Granted, this is probably a somewhat accurate, if not sugar-coated, version of what used to occur in this time period. I'm just not a fan of romanticizing any of it. (I may be in the minority with this though.)

Ignoring that issue however, the story progressed like some British period dramas I have watched. The plot barely moves at times and at others it is like a whirlwind of twists and turns. However, when you're watching a television show you know the episode will have some sort of action whereas in this novel you aren't sure how many chapters need to pass for some action to happen. I'm sure some readers might like this kind of pacing as it makes the book easy to put down and pick up a few days later. The plot twists were shocking and each injected much needed turmoil and angst into the story. These twists were the main reason I am giving the book 2.5 stars because they were that good.

If you're looking for a long, period style drama surrounding a small town and one of its wealthy families then you will probably enjoy this book. Especially if you are a fan of the more risque period dramas on TV.

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A real historical page turner which twists and turns to the very last page.
The story is about a brother and sister who in their childhood were dominated by a tyrannical father who even after his death still dominates. A mother who committed suicide when the children were young and even a wicked stepmother.
A fantastic read which will leave you wanting more
Five stars all the way

I really enjoyed this book. Great plot, unexpected twists, some romance. Easy ready, that had everything I look for.

This was an enjoyable romance. I was able to read it in one day. The characters were so engaging & I found myself getting caught up in their stories.

This one was a poor choice on my side, and my excuse for it would be the great cover photo (who wouldn't be interested to know more about this mysterious, glamorous red-head? confession: I'm a red-head myself). The novel's subtitle promised "love, lust, loyalty and deception", and it did deliver some, but I was annoyed by the lack of clear historical setting. We never learn exactly when the book is supposed to take place, and it's probably just as well, because historical accuracy is neither here nor there. The main character, Francesca Merchant, lives in the big house in the Cotswolds. People ride horses, maids do curtsies a lot, mysterious events in the evening are lit by candles, but characters speak and react as 21st century people, and that grated on my nerves. I read 25% of it and then skimmed the rest. There were twists and turns galore, but the whole adventure was not for me.
(to be posted on my blog at a later time)