The language used in the book is so amazing, the way everything is described. The characters are so very realistic, you become wrapped up in their lives, and feel as though they were your friends since childhood. It is an incredible book, it really gives the reader a better understanding of themselves,and others.

Rosie Thomas's story of a mothers love for the child she gave up for adoption is heartwarming. Her shame of this secret eats away at her until she finds the courage to do something about it. Her characters spring to life and are so real you can "see" them. In this audio version, Clare Higgins switches from character to character with ease and panache. Dinah's life comes full circle, and I'm so glad I was along for the ride. A must!

This book was first published in 1991 and it's taken me 10 years to discover it in an op-shop.It's a good read about a minor aristocratic family between WW1 and WW2 and is slightly reminiscent of "Love in a Cold Climate" by Nancy Mitford.Cousinly feuds are fought and forays into love affairs begun--some with tragic results.I found it to be a totally absorbing read and one which I can unhesitatingly recommend to lovers of family sagas. DO try to find a copy if you can and you won't be disappointed--I promise.

Are likable characters a prerequisite for a likable book? For one week, I read this book every spare minute I had. With every page, I disliked the main character, Harriet Peacock, less and less, but, still, I couldn't put the book down. The character of Harriet Peacock can be summed up in the description, "all business". She was too devoted to the development of her business empire, to the exclusion of her family and friends who supported her throughout the book. I absolutely disliked her character, yet I felt that the author wanted the reader to admire her character. After indirectly causing the death of the man who gave her the idea for her business enterprise, Harriet goes through a period of turmoil, deciding in the end that the death was nobody's fault. But I flew through the pages and was screaming to her in my head, "Yes! It is your fault!!" I jumped to the conclusion that, because I didn't like the main character, that I didn't like the book. Even though I finished the book a few weeks ago, I still think about it, because I realize that a well-written book is the only prerequisite to reader enjoyment, and that, perhaps, an unlikable character adds an element of conflict to the reading experience.

Go read The Loop and The OverSee

I was really looking forward to reading this book, but half way through I was still waiting for it to kick off. Unfourtunatly it didn't, the book is very slow, and the ending was quite poor. I don't think i'll be reading any of her other books, not impressed at all.