Three absolutely delicious tales from Rosemunde Pilcher, re-released but all with copyright dates in the 1970s. For the most part, the stories have aged well - though this is a different millenia, a different century, and certainly different times.

Under Gemini -- Improbability, coincidence and pure fate take center stage as identical twins separated at birth come upon their mirror image quite accidentally while in a London restaurant. After a night spent puzzling through the bizarre circumstances of their lives, jet-setting sister Rose takes off to Greece -- leaving her much more down-to-earth twin Flora to deal with a recently dumped fiancé. Somehow Flora is convinced to accompany the fiancé to Scotland to comfort a grandmother who is supposedly dying. The drama mounts, as does the dishonesty, and Flora finds herself living a life she never imagined. When the house of cards begins to collapse, will the friendships survive the betrayal? And, has the right sister fallen for the wrong man? A bit of a relic, but cozy as a cup of tea on a cold and windy Scottish coast.

The Empty House -- An anachronism in the form of a delightfully romantic fairy tale. From the cliffs of Cornwall to a near castle in Scotland, our not-so-modern-day fairy princess finds herself (at age 27) the widow of Prince Not So Charming. Despite the fact the deceased Prince was unfaithful and domineering and only married the young girl to achieve his inheritance, it is still a little tough feeling sorry for the Poor Little Rich Girl, who has never worked a day in her life (nor will she ever have to). Finally, she is free to be herself and she ships her young children off with Nanny to her mother-in-law in London. She then returns to the Cornwall coast and the memory of a few chance encounters of her 17-year-old self with a local farmer. Rejecting the comfort and pampering of friends, she leases a modest home near Porthkerris, fires the Nanny and reclaims her children. But can she do it? And can the combine man of the cozy hearth really win the heart of the Pampered Princess? This is an early Pilcher, with very idealistic (and out of touch) plotting but the heavenly glimpses of home and heart and her beloved countryside quite save the book.

The Day of the Storm -- After a very unconventional upbringing, Rebecca Bayliss has found bliss in her dull life working in a London book shop and living in a solitary flat she is slowly furnishing. For once she is in control of her life, and quite content. But her mother's latest lover writes that her mother is dying, and Rebecca must hurry to Ibiza. There Rebecca finally learns of her family in Cornwall and the famous artist grandfather she's never known but whom she feels compelled to inform of his daughter's death. The story is full of unusual coincidences (sometimes called fate?) and makes several abrupt turns before reaching a surprise of an ending. While Pilcher lavishly paints the background of her books, a map would have really been lovely in this one.

If you're not familiar with Rosamunde Pilcher yet, waste no time and buy yourself a sample of her spellbinding work ! It has it all : the warmth, the cosiness, the romance, and even the suspense. In "Under Gemini", meet sensible Flora, who discovers she has a twin sister she had never known about, the glamorous Rose, and suddenly finds herself in a whirlwind of deceipt, drama, confusion, and... love. And you will be mesmerised by "The Empty House" and "The Day of the Storm", two compelling stories about love and the pursuit of happiness. PS : The good news is : Rosamunde Pilcher has published lots of other novels and short stories : you have hours of cosy cocooning ahead of you !

Rosamunde Pilcher is one of those authors, at least for me, who never disappoints with any of her books. Like coming home from a hectic day and changing into a favorite robe and comfortable slippers, Pilcher's books take me away to a serene place filled with wonderful characters and a happy ending. And based on the popularity of her books, I imagine there are many other readers out there who also feel the same way I do.

The Shell Seekers was the first book I read by her many years ago. After gulping down this wonderful family saga, I couldn't wait to read all of her previously published titles and wondered how she had eluded me in the years before I found The Shell Seekers. Now I am saving her latest title and supposedly last book, Winter Solstice, for that proverbial rainy day. And I suspect that once I've read all of Pilcher's books, I'll simply begin to reread them once again.

Victoria Bradshaw at 18 fell hopelessly in love with London playwright Oliver Dobbs. But their romance was short lived and Victoria hasn't heard from him in years. She has finally moved on with her life when suddenly who should appear on her doorstep but Oliver with a young child in tow. As if no time had gone by, Oliver proposes that Victoria and he along with the child take a trip to Scotland. At first the reason for this trip isn't at all clear to Victoria and she is somewhat skeptical. But then Olvier is very convincing and Victoria is eventually willing to go along with his proposal. Once in Scotland, Olivers motives become painfully too clear and while Victoria sees Oliver for what he is, we as readers are also treated to Piclcher's special brand of characters and plot developments.

This was another one of Pilchers satisfying reads and one which I hoped would never end.

This novel is another in a terrific line of Rosamunde Pilcher books. Pilcher is one of my favorite authors because her unique characterizations and modern day Scottish settings are so true to life. In this book, Oliver Dobbs, a snide young egotistical playwright, kidnaps his little toddler son for his own selfish reasons. Then Oliver enlists his old girlfriend, Victoria Bradshaw to help him in his shenanigans, which involve a great amount of Scotch, temper tantrums by Oliver, increasing disgust by Victoria, and the most impressive conflagration since the novel "Rebecca." Pilcher has a way of writing that is comfortable and deft. Reading her novels allows you to enter a unique world, a place I find most satisfying. Thank you Rose of the world.

Improbability, coincidence and pure fate take center stage as identical twins separated at birth come upon their mirror image quite accidentally while in a London restaurant. After a night spent puzzling through the bizarre circumstances of their lives, jet-setting sister Rose takes off to Greece -- leaving her much more down-to-earth twin Flora to deal with a recently dumped fiancé. Somehow Flora is convinced to accompany the fiancé to Scotland to comfort a grandmother who is supposedly dying. The drama mounts, as does the dishonesty, and Flora finds herself living a life she never imagined. When the house of cards begins to collapse, will the friendships survive the betrayal? And, has the right sister fallen for the wrong man? A bit of a relic, but cozy as a cup of tea on a cold and windy Scottish coast.

Every family hides something, but Flora Waring discovered deception in hers. At 22 she learned she had an identical twin sister, Rose, who lived with the mother Flora didn't remember at all. And when Flora ended up impersonating the high-spirited, spoiled Rose, she would have to face how cruel lies can be. When she agreed to accompany Rose's fiance to meet his grandmother in a picturesque town on the Scottish coast, she would quickly fall in love with the lush green countryside, the Armstrong family, and a rare, wonderful man. But she would also confront Rose's shocking secrets and a betrayal that would break her heart.

This was a great read as all of Pilcher's books are! I became very engrossed in this story.

Covers a week in the life of Flora, one of twins, each raised by one parent when they separated. Flora is 22 and returning to London from Cornwell where she has spent the last year with her Dad and his new wife. She accidently runs into her sister, rose and they discover their story. Their Mom is married to a rich man and rose takes Flora to the luxury apt. they have in London. Emter Anthony Armstrong who was engaged to Rose. His granny is dying and wants to see Anthony and Rose. He talks Flora into posing as Rose and go with him to his home in Scotland for the weekend. Rose and her Mom vacationed there when she was 17 and she had an affair who now wants to renew the relationship. Flora falls for someone else. This is an early Pilcher novel and not as wonderful as her later ones.

Rosamunde Pilcher wrote this short and sweet novel in the late 60s, and it foreshadows her later, larger works of brilliant character studies that bely some fairly complicated plots.

This particular story takes place mostly at the Cornish seaside, one of Pilcher's favorite venues. It opens, however, in Paris, where the beautiful, fey, and slightly muddled Emma Litton awaits her plane back to England. Having spent many years in France as a nanny, Emma now yearns for her homeland--and the fulfillment of a desire that has obviously been with her all her life: She wishes to bond with her famous artist father, Ben.

Emma's sudden and unexpected meeting at the airport with her step-brother Cristo, whom she knew during one of Ben's brief marriages, but has not seen in many years, allows us to see her needy and sensitive side, even as others observe only a hip young Sixties mod.

The remainder of the brief book takes place in her father's studio-cum-cottage on the seaside, as Emma settles in as daughter, housekeeper, muse, and, eerily, almost as a wife to her elusive father. Will it work? Can Emma get over her childlike fantasy of being Daddy's Little Girl and get on with her life? Will she notice the worthy young man whose heart she has captured? Or will she lose him too in her fruitless desire to create the family she never had?

Without the deep substance of her later books, nevertheless, this sweet Pilcher offering is well worth reading--especially when narrated by Sian Thomas, who captures the quiet, brooding tone just right.

I recommend this lovely tale to all Pilcher fans.

I've enjoyed all the books by this author. I found this delightful story while browsing the library stacks (sorry Amazon, but libraries save me major money!).

Emma strives to reconnect with her father, whose artist lifestyle provided an unconventional childhood and distant relationship. Emma is so focused on her father and "getting the relationship right", she doesn't see the opportunity for relationships with others. But as she works through this critical relationship she then is able to move on.

The author made you understand why Emma had to resolve the father-daughter relationship before she could open up to other relationships. Charming tale about understanding others and our roles in their lives and their impact in ours.

Emma Litton is a virtual orphan who has made her way in the world with only occasional contacts from Ben, her famous artist father. One of the happiest times of her life was during his 18-month marriage to Hester who had a son named Christo. Emma formed a deep bond with her stepbrother and after many years apart, runs into him in Paris just as she is leaving to return to England and try to become reacquainted with her father.

Emma's story is one of taking a second look at the people you think you know so well. What she discovers about her relationship with her father and brother is very enlightening and helps her resolve her own feelings about the new love that has come into her life.

As always with Rosamunde Pilcher books, a most satisfying read and one that leaves you dreaming of the beach at Cornwall and sitting down to tea with scones and lemond curd.

Every so often a book evelopes me with warmth, understanding, and a focus that I didn't have the day before. Pilcher did that in Winter Solstice. PLEASE forgive the Frechtman review above where she finds it her right to share a bit too much of the story line, as well as skewing it in a negative light that is vastly opposing the deeper messages the book holds within its pages. The lead characters, Elfrida and Oscar, show us a climate of life that is "adaptable" to circumstances thrust upon them, HOWEVER difficult, yet finding simple and abundant joys in the wonderful things that flood their (and ALL of our) lives -- EVEN in what are seemingly our darkest and longest nights. Hence, the dreary winter solstice season, which all of us are on the heels of facing. What perfect timing to read this. It also sets the stage for the spirit of Christmas, family, giving, sharing...hope. The delectable British dialogue is certainly part of the charm of this novel, so find your coziest blanket, put on a kettle, and take your time with this, beautiful, inspriring, "happy-ending" story. Just when we think something might be too outrageous to believe, as Frechtman shared with you in her review, remember that we all come from different places in life. Conversely, Oscar shows us the dignity and hope of not mulling in grief for years and years as so many people do. There is still life on THIS side of death -- but that is really just a crumb of all that await you. Their compassions flying in every direction for others are well rewarded, and hopefully will give you much to think about for your own life. Have a kleenex ready for the ending, and prepare to miss these people.

Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. A brief time, when darkness predominates. Yet in this brief time, Rosamund Pilcher has set a story filled with light and warmth.

The book is classic Pilcher, full of detail and texture, housed in quirky old buildings and peopled with obliging neighbors, wet dogs, unexpected guests and a cast of characters we can grow to love.

This is not a book to be rushed through. Don't read it in bits and pieces, wedged into stolen moments during lunch breaks or while waiting for your 11-year-old to finish soccer practice. Savor it. Sit in a comfy chair with a good reading light, have a nice restoring cup of tea and some biscuits at hand. (Okay, so here in the States we don't really have those kinds of biscuits - a good butter cookie will do.) Pace be damned. In fact, that's the whole thrust of the book - that these people are thrown together in a place and time that's out of their everyday world. They're forced to slow down, to wait, to exist in the here and now. And, by consequence, the few days they spend together make all the difference in their lives.

There is more than a story here. It's not just a collection of lovely descriptions, unique characters, and a touch of romance. There are so many things to enjoy - Elfrida, the aging actress who's not too old to fall in love, the unspoiled 14-year-old Lucy, gentle Oscar with whom you just begin to get a bit irritated until he finally takes action. That's the thing - there's a philosophy here, about living. About what makes every life and each day worthwhile. They will come on you unexpectedly, those moments in the book, and they are what makes this book, and others by Ms. Pilcher, the books you remember, and reread, and leave you wishing you could know what these characters, these people, will be doing the rest of their lives.

Winter Solstice, no matter what time of year you read it, is a true Christmas gift from Ms. Pilcher, to all her fans. And it is a treasure.

Certainly one of Rosamunde Pilcher's best (and all her more recent books are wonderful), I first read Winter Solstice over Christmas 2000. When I saw it on top of a library cart last week, waiting to be reshelved, I couldn't believe my good luck and had to re-read it.

If there was ever a tale of second chances and new tomorrows, this is it. Life in all its stages is played out wonderfully through five major characters, aged 14 to 67. From deep, sorrowful grief, to lost loves and teenage angsts, Pilcher draws us into...well, life. I love the way that circumstances throw together these here-to-fore strangers at one of the most emotionally wrought times of the year, and they all meshed together in a familial and mellow (must be the whiskey) way.

Rosumund Pilcher has a way of thoroughly ensconsing her readers in her geographic settings, and this one in Northern Scotland is my very favorite. Despite it's only apparant drawback (slightly predictable, but in a charming way), this is one of my favorite books by this or any author.

This book had its amusing scenes, but it was too predictable. I read the excerpts here and Rosamunde Pilcher's comments about the book and bought it because of those. I'm glad I bought the paperback edition.

This is my first experience of Sheepshanks but it won't be my last. Her beautifully written characters are the part of this book I liked best -- particularly the children and adolescents, who are notoriously difficult for writers to get right. Each of the children/adolescents were distinctive and believable individuals. The "heroine" is flawed but likeable, as is her husband and even the vastly annoying mother-in-law. The plot involves an upper class (but not particularly rich) British family living in a wonderful manor house that is falling down around them. There's no money to fix it up (it will take millions) and the husband (who inherited the house, which has been in his family for 200 years) wants to move to a smaller house nearby and sell the white elephant. His wife loves the house and is determined to find a way to continue living there. There are four children, a couple who no longer seem to love each other, a mother-in-law who is wealthy but brings trouble everywhere she goes, a supposed "monk" (brought by the mother-in-law) who is part of a secretive organization called the Brothers of Love, the husband's half-sister, a 16-year-old who gets into scrapes, and a couple of lovers.

Unlike so many books, which could be improved by being edited to be shorter, this book could have been 50 pages longer and I think would have been better. Some scenes that would help the plot seem to have been left out (like people abruptly falling in love with too little description -- suddenly they're there without the reader quite understanding how they got to this point.) I also felt that the ending illness was contrived and detracted from the literary merit of this book.

Nevertheless, this book has real literary merit but is also quite readable. I read it in a couple of days because I was enjoying it so much.

This was my first look at a book by Mary Sheepshanks. It was a great read-like a modern, humorous form of Jane Austen. The characters held my interest. It seems obvious that Sonia's devotion was more to the Dunstan manor than to her husband. Sonia , an artist and mother, seems quite selfish at times, not really trying to understand her husband, Archie, and he retaliates by having a brief affair. Neither of them seem to work very hard at repairing their marriage. Sonia's mother-in-law is obnoxious but fascinating. The author does an excellent job of describing the Dunstan children, who are lively and individual. I thought the ending was great, not really a surprise but satisfying.The author gives a tantalizing glimpse of life in an English manor house.

This is the third R. Pilcher book I have read. I so enjoyed the Shell Seekers and Winter Soltice . I am afraid this book was a let down for me. It has beautiful descriptions of the countryside , which I love. But the book did not pull me into the lives of her characters as the other two books did. I will now try September and hope to have another good read !

After a very unconventional upbringing, Rebecca Bayliss has found bliss in her dull life working in a London book shop and living in a solitary flat she is slowly furnishing. For once she is in control of her life, and quite content. But her mother's latest lover writes that her mother is dying, and Rebecca must hurry to Ibiza. There Rebecca finally learns of her family in Cornwall and the famous artist grandfather she's never known but whom she feels compelled to inform of his daughter's death. The story is full of unusual coincidences (sometimes called fate?) and makes several abrupt turns before reaching a surprise of an ending. While Pilcher lavishly paints the background of her books, a map would have really been lovely in this one.

First of all, I love Rosemund Pilcher. The main characters in her stories are all so good and sweet (I know, this one did have a villain) AND her books always have happy endings. Sometimes, when I want to escape into a good book, I want a fairy tale and DAY OF THE STORM is definitely a fairy tale. This book is such easy reading--I read it on the airplane--very easy to get into. Pilcher is the best when it comes to character development and while reading this story, you will come to love Grenville, Joss, and especially Rebecca.

I enjoyed this book (as I enjoy all Pilcher's novels) but there was one thing that struck me resoundingly after I finished. Spoiler ahead!
First - the plot.

Virginia loses her Cornish first love through her mother's meddling, marries on the rebound and, widowed, returns to Cornwall with her young children. Here she meets Eustace again and they heal their rift and decide to become a couple.

Charming... but can you believe this decision is made after 4 - yes, *4* meetings? The young (18 y-o) Virginia meets Eustace at a barbecue. Then she meets him again in town. He promises to call her, but never does. Her mother whisks her away. Um - 4 hours together, tops? Years later she meets him again in the pub. And then she, he and the children spend an afternoon and evening together. He leaves in a huff. And the next day they resolve their differences. I couldn't believe it, so I reread the book and counted the meetings. Yes - 4. And 2 were very brief and in company with several other people.

I'd have swallowed it - maybe - if the author had mentioned that it was unusual!

Hmm.

An anachronism in the form of a delightfully romantic fairy tale. From the cliffs of Cornwall to a near castle in Scotland, our not-so-modern-day fairy princess finds herself (at age 27) the widow of Prince Not So Charming. Despite the fact the deceased Prince was unfaithful and domineering and only married the young girl to achieve his inheritance, it is still a little tough feeling sorry for the Poor Little Rich Girl, who has never worked a day in her life (nor will she ever have to). Finally, she is free to be herself and she ships her young children off with Nanny to her mother-in-law in London. She then returns to the Cornwall coast and the memory of a few chance encounters of her 17-year-old self with a local farmer. Rejecting the comfort and pampering of friends, she leases a modest home near Porthkerris, fires the Nanny and reclaims her children. But can she do it? And can the combine man of the cozy hearth really win the heart of the Pampered Princess? This is an early Pilcher, with very idealistic (and out of touch) plotting but the heavenly glimpses of home and heart and her beloved countryside quite save the book.

In general, I agree with all of the reviews written here. BUT...I'm simply a huge fan of Rosamunde Pilcher. She writes wonderful, rich, escape-ism novels! They're great for relaxing, taking with you to the tub (w/ candles, bubble bath & a nice glass of something!), and so on.

When I pick up a Pilcher (or a Maeve Binchy) I'm not looking for War & Peace! I'm looking for interesting characters, some of them will be shown in a less-than-flattering light (at least sometimes), which I think is pretty realistic (since we all have our less-than-flattering sides/times!). However, realism isn't the key here. Descriptions of the places, the people, and the events are (I believe) Pilcher's strong suit.

True, this isn't her best work. But, please don't discard her as an author based upon this book! Give her others a chance, and give this one a chance as well. Just lighten up, and enjoy it! Don't dissect it. Allow yourself to escape into it's depths, and don't worry about how many times Virginia has met the love of her life, etc.! Pilcher's books are so much better than romance novels, you don't need to feel the related guilt and embarrassment when reading them! How refreshing...

Having read The Shell Seekers before I read The Carousel, I was expecting a great deal more from this book than was delivered. It is your basic, everyday love story that is so madly predictable that you will find yourself yearning for something original to read. The story lacks depth and warmth; just when one gets to know and enjoy the characters, the story ends.

I wished for a great deal more background information about the characters while reading this book; The Shell Seekers told richly layered stories about the personal histories of its characters, in The Carousel, one must be content with a mere skimming of the surface of its characters and their lives.

If you are looking for a simple, short and uncomplicated 'Danielle Steel' sort of read, then this book is the one for you. Don't bother with it if you loved The Shell Seekers and are looking to recapture the magic it held. Personally, I was embarrassed for Rosamunde Pilcher; her publishers must have been shocked and disappointed in her. The Carousel is far below the quality one expects of the author, and was a very poor attempt at literature on her part.

That is what a Rosamunde Pilcher book has become to me. Her characters are well developed and likable, mostly they are flawed, with an inane sense of justice. This particular book introduces us to 23 year-old Prue who meets up with a young girl named Charlotte when they both board a train in London bound for Cornwall. Prue will be staying with her aunt Phoebe, while Charlotte will be staying with her far from doting Grandmother who just happens to live next door.

Pilcher writes beautifully of the surrounding countryside, which is always a delight when reading her books. In Cornwall, Prue will find fulfillment, and a little girl will find a home. As predictable as Pilcher may be it's how she presents her story that leaves one wanting more. The ending leaves the reader contented with a sense of deliverance for all involved; but why don't I leave that to this superb teller of tales. Kelsana 4/01/01

I don't want to choose this book between all I read by Rosamund Pilcher. I discovered that I love all this author writes in the moment my boyfried give me "El regreso" (the return... I don't remember the original title. This book, in the pocket edition, I could read it in two weeks, or less... In that moment I needed and I need to read all the books Rosamunde Pilcher wrote and I would like to know the biography of this author that makes me feel inside of all the stories of her books. In this case, in Carousel, you can see the independent characters she like to write about, and she makes me identify with this one. I smile when I read these books. I started to read the first book I found of her in September, and I have read seven books writen by her. Thanks to her because I love to read more than ever.

This book did not move me at all. The plot is unrealistic and the characters are shallow; they do not seem like real people at all.

When I was about 14, I started to read the books by Danielle Steel. I was bored of books of suspense and terror, so I wanted something different. But after reading twelve books by Mrs. Steel in only one year, I got stuck by the time (nowadays she's still my favorite author on this genre). Couldn't go beyond. So I bought VOICES IN SUMMER, by Rosamunde Pilcher. Here in Brazil she's usually a huge success among women, reason that I can't understand. She's so so, not as excellent as many of her fellow writers. But I liked that book, an a couple of others by this author, because they're simple and sensitive. They touch on a very old and beautiful feeling: the Human heart. Rosamunde Pilcher make up lovely characters. In this book specificaly, I cried because of the death of a dog. The pet was so real to me that I fought against tears not to cry for the death of an imaginary animal, since I didn't cry even when my real one died. But I did. And this book, although simple, is beautiful. If you're into this kind of books, read it. You won't be disappointed.

I listened to the Book On Tape Company's unabridged version of this story. Ah, nothing like Pilcher on tape! The comforting lilt of a good British reader, the coziness of Pilcher's idealized Cornwall, the everything-always -works-out-in-the-endness of her novels.

Nothing extraordinary, but comforting as an old shoe.