I was hooked by this book immediately, I loved that I started right in the thick of the action with Margery and Richard. No context or setting just BAM romance and obstacle. I also quite enjoyed the first section but I have to say I struggled to make it to the halfway point and then I REALLY struggled to make it to the end.

It just tried to do too much. It felt like each of the women needed a book of their own which just focused on their role in the Paston legacy. Instead, a huge timeline was covered and many relationships but nothing in enough detail that I could get into it.

Also, I've read and cried at Anne O'brien books before. But in this one I just didn't feel the romance or emotion in any of the relationships except with Margery and her mother. I didn't support Anne and John because they didn't even seem to like one another. Richard and Margery started off well but then just fizzled out. Elizabeth was thrown In and her relationship with George seemed like one I could support but her narratives were few and far between.

I just wished there'd been less covered so that more focus and detail could have been given to the characters, events and relationships.

I was really looking forward to reading this, and whilst I wasn't disappointed exactly, it didn't quite match my expectations. The story and the characters are fine, but somehow, there isn't a lot of tension in the way it is told. Good historical content, but not a five star. Still recommend.