Synopsis
A heart-rending page turner which sweeps from war-torn Europe to Thailand and back again . . .
As a child Julia Forrester spent many idyllic hours in the hothouse of Wharton Park estate, where her grandfather tended the exotic flowers.
So when a family tragedy strikes, Julia returns to the tranquility of Wharton Park and its hothouse. Recently inherited by charismatic Kit Crawford, the estate is undergoing renovation. This leads to the discovery of an old diary, prompting the pair to seek out Julia's grandmother to learn the truth behind a love affair that almost destroyed Wharton Park.
Julia is taken back to the 1940s where the fortunes of young couple Olivia and Harry Crawford will have terrible consequences on generations to come. For as war breaks out Olivia and Harry are cruelly separated . . .
Reviews
Customer Review: 23 April 2011
Reviewer: M Brazier
'A totally gripping story! '
Customer Review: 16 March 2011
Reviewer: A Thwaite
'I really loved this book.I just couldn''t put it down.Wonderful!!!!'
Customer Review: 09 February 2011
Reviewer: flo
'hothouse flower'
Customer Review: 06 December 2010
Reviewer: Owl Eyes
'There is much more to Lucinda Riley''s story than one expects; this is commercial fiction with a literary zest. The story itself is multi-dimensional - Riley transports her reader to a war-torn Europe, to the exotic salvation of Thailand, and unravels the secrets buried beneath the mysterious Wharton Park Estate in Norfolk. The story is utterly captivating, and what''s more, her appealing style makes it easy to read.
The novel is beautifully written; I found myself lost in the author''s entrancing descriptions of the Far East - she manages to capture the essence of a generation forgotten in the aftermath of War, whilst focusing on the enchanting romance of two individuals, which will affect the happiness of generations to come.
The characters from both the past and the present are absolutely authentic, allowing the reader to completely immerse themselves in this wonderfully crafted novel. The revelations of the plot will certainly tug on the heart strings! Echoes from the past are woven seamlessly into the setting of contemporary England, making for a fascinating and enticing read. Aside from the enthralling plot, many of the moral issues and literary binaries within the novel are accessible and relevant; none more so than the conflicting loyalties that Harry Crawford struggles with, which certainly ring true for every generation. This novel is reminiscent of Kate Morton''s ''The House at Riverton'', but, in my opinion, more accessible and I found that I enjoyed it more.
This is one of those novels, few and far between, that I found myself making time for. One to watch for the future.'
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Product details
Format :
Paperback
ISBN: 9780141049373
Size : 129 x 198mm
Pages : 592
Published : 25 Nov 2010
Publisher : Penguin
Other formats for Hothouse Flower:
» ePub eBook: eBook : £4.99
