Overview
From the author of the international bestseller The Light Over London and The Whispers of War comes a poignant and unforgettable tale of five women living across three different times whose lives are all connected by one very special place.
Present day: Emma Lovett, who has dedicated her career to breathing new life into long-neglected gardens, has just been given the opportunity of a lifetime: to restore the gardens of the famed Highbury House estate, designed in 1907 by her hero Venetia Smith. But as Emma dives deeper into the gardens’ past, she begins to uncover secrets that have long lain hidden.
1907: A talented artist with a growing reputation for her ambitious work, Venetia Smith has carved out a niche for herself as a garden designer to industrialists, solicitors, and bankers looking to show off their wealth with sumptuous country houses. When she is hired to design the gardens of Highbury House, she is determined to make them a triumph, but the gardens—and the people she meets—promise to change her life forever.
1944: When land girl Beth Pedley arrives at a farm on the outskirts of the village of Highbury, all she wants is to find a place she can call home. Cook Stella Adderton, on the other hand, is desperate to leave Highbury House to pursue her own dreams. And widow Diana Symonds, the mistress of the grand house, is anxiously trying to cling to her pre-war life now that her home has been requisitioned and transformed into a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers. But when war threatens Highbury House’s treasured gardens, these three very different women are drawn together by a secret that will last for decades.
In this sweeping novel reminiscent of Kate Morton’s The Lake House and Kristin Harmel’s The Room on Rue Amélie, Julia Kelly explores the unexpected connections that cross time and the special places that bring people together forever.
Review
Emma has been hired to recreate the old gardens at Highbury House. She is determined to restore the garden to its historical magnificent with accuracy. During her research she discovers several mysteries surrounding the house and the garden. The more she uncovers the more tragic the tale becomes.
What a unique and interesting read. I loved the way the author connected the characters and the time periods. Sometimes this can be a problem in a novel. But Julia Kelly creates such an uncommon story surrounding the garden, the house and the characters that I could not put it down.
I have been a fan of this author for a quite a while. I always enjoy learning something new. And Julia Kelly introduces me to something new in every novel.
From 1907 to 1944 to present day, this is a beautiful, tragic tale about love, loss and family. Do not miss this one!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review
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