Alan's Back on Form, 07 Nov 2008
Alan is back on form with this wonderful novel. I found his last one (Love and Dr Devon) a bit naff (sorry Alan), but "Folly" was really lovely. Found it very hard to put down and I love happy endings. Can't wait for the next one!

Wonderfully exciting love story!, 31 Oct 2008
MR. Titchmarsh has written another wonderful story. He is such a natural story teller, there is nary a phony note in his writing. This is the story of two lovers who were never supposed to be due together due inter-generational feud between their families. The lovers start learn of the long buried reasons behind the decades long feud, and what they find will rock the worl of both families. This is an easy to read story that will keep you turning the pages! Most enjoyable read since "Across the High Lonesome!"

Alan's Back on Form, 07 Nov 2008
Alan is back on form with this wonderful novel. I found his last one (Love and Dr Devon) a bit naff (sorry Alan), but "Folly" was really lovely. Found it very hard to put down and I love happy endings. Can't wait for the next one!

Wonderfully exciting love story!, 31 Oct 2008
MR. Titchmarsh has written another wonderful story. He is such a natural story teller, there is nary a phony note in his writing. This is the story of two lovers who were never supposed to be due together due inter-generational feud between their families. The lovers start learn of the long buried reasons behind the decades long feud, and what they find will rock the worl of both families. This is an easy to read story that will keep you turning the pages! Most enjoyable read since "Across the High Lonesome!"

One of Danielle Steel's best books ever, 25 Nov 2008
Once again Danielle Steel has shown why she is one of the most read authors in the world today.

"A Good Woman" is the story about 19 year old Annabelle Worthington, a young girl growing up among New York's upper classes, loved, protected and privileged. Until tragedy strikes and in the course of three years her life is shattered.

Annabelle, who has always been interested in medicine and has done volunteer work both in hospitals and among immigrants at Ellis Island, goes to France to volunteer in World War I. She works as a medic near the front, has a child out of wedlock in appalling circumstances and later becomes a physician and settles in Paris with her little daughter after the war.

Although Annabelle is a rich woman with a large inheritance in America, the fact is of no particular interest in the book. This is the story about a very special person. Pretty, yes, but also intelligent, strong and brave. In spite of the wealth and sheltered upbringing, she has more than her fair share of life's adversities and goes through it all with her head held high. Her life is forever changed and her secure world and naïve view of people never to be restored.

From the horrors of war to the glamour of post war Paris, the British aristocracy and dazzling New York - all in true Danielle Steel style - the main thing is Annabelle's story. What happens in her life and mind. What makes her the 32 year old doctor and mother who visits her home country for the first time ten years after she left in disgrace.

One of the best books Danielle Steel has ever written, filled with wisdom and funny bits of delicious humour.

Alan's Back on Form, 07 Nov 2008
Alan is back on form with this wonderful novel. I found his last one (Love and Dr Devon) a bit naff (sorry Alan), but "Folly" was really lovely. Found it very hard to put down and I love happy endings. Can't wait for the next one!

Wonderfully exciting love story!, 31 Oct 2008
MR. Titchmarsh has written another wonderful story. He is such a natural story teller, there is nary a phony note in his writing. This is the story of two lovers who were never supposed to be due together due inter-generational feud between their families. The lovers start learn of the long buried reasons behind the decades long feud, and what they find will rock the worl of both families. This is an easy to read story that will keep you turning the pages! Most enjoyable read since "Across the High Lonesome!"

One of Danielle Steel's best books ever, 25 Nov 2008
Once again Danielle Steel has shown why she is one of the most read authors in the world today.

"A Good Woman" is the story about 19 year old Annabelle Worthington, a young girl growing up among New York's upper classes, loved, protected and privileged. Until tragedy strikes and in the course of three years her life is shattered.

Annabelle, who has always been interested in medicine and has done volunteer work both in hospitals and among immigrants at Ellis Island, goes to France to volunteer in World War I. She works as a medic near the front, has a child out of wedlock in appalling circumstances and later becomes a physician and settles in Paris with her little daughter after the war.

Although Annabelle is a rich woman with a large inheritance in America, the fact is of no particular interest in the book. This is the story about a very special person. Pretty, yes, but also intelligent, strong and brave. In spite of the wealth and sheltered upbringing, she has more than her fair share of life's adversities and goes through it all with her head held high. Her life is forever changed and her secure world and naïve view of people never to be restored.

From the horrors of war to the glamour of post war Paris, the British aristocracy and dazzling New York - all in true Danielle Steel style - the main thing is Annabelle's story. What happens in her life and mind. What makes her the 32 year old doctor and mother who visits her home country for the first time ten years after she left in disgrace.

One of the best books Danielle Steel has ever written, filled with wisdom and funny bits of delicious humour.

IT WAS LIKE COMING HOME.., 30 Nov 2008
I have read every one of Elizabeth Jane Howard's books over a long time and to read this was like coming home.
The sophisticated style and the smooth transition from one person's story to the next is vintage Howard - and what a pleasure it gave me.
I wanted to devour the whole book immediately but rationed myself because I didn't want to finish it.

Although it is apparently set in the late 1960s which were after all, Elizabeth Jane Howard's glory days it seems, the period doesn't matter at all. Except for some references to prices,everything could just as easily have taken place yesterday.

The delightful Floy Plover, a garden designer is a wonderful character with a wisdom which one could envy. She is loved deeply by Persephone, her niece to whom she has been a surrogate mother for a long time.
They move to the West Country so that Floy can design and deal with the garden of the manor house which Jack Curtis has bought.

The Musgroves who used to live in Melton House live in the area and their lives begin to interweave with those of Floy, Persephone and Jack Curtis.

This is a skilfully constructed book, in which each character is given a chance to tell his or her story and it is seamlessly woven by a master novelist.

The descriptions of the seasons and the atmosphere of the beautiful West Country are a pleasure to read and savour - ' The rooks were flying in their rambling patterns, silhouetted alternately against a sky whose pale blue, molten with the setting sun, was streaked with aquamarine and drifts of peach-coloured cloud, a cómbination, she remembered Francis once saying, that could only be brought off by the celestial.'

There is humour and also heart-wrenching tragedy in this book, all presented with skill and flair.

I wouldn't have missed this book for anything.

Val De Beer.









Disappointing, 14 Nov 2008
What a disappointing read. Long and drawn out, with ill-defined characters who were sketchily drawn and unengaging. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself who was who. Couldn't understand why the book was set in the 1960s; the social and moral sentiments of the story would have stood up in a contemporary setting. Indeed, some actions in the book, such as eating pizza and having wine to offer readily at home, seemed rather advanced for the period. There were a few potential intriguing elements of the story that needed more development and other strands that were overdone and tedious.

Alan's Back on Form, 07 Nov 2008
Alan is back on form with this wonderful novel. I found his last one (Love and Dr Devon) a bit naff (sorry Alan), but "Folly" was really lovely. Found it very hard to put down and I love happy endings. Can't wait for the next one!

Wonderfully exciting love story!, 31 Oct 2008
MR. Titchmarsh has written another wonderful story. He is such a natural story teller, there is nary a phony note in his writing. This is the story of two lovers who were never supposed to be due together due inter-generational feud between their families. The lovers start learn of the long buried reasons behind the decades long feud, and what they find will rock the worl of both families. This is an easy to read story that will keep you turning the pages! Most enjoyable read since "Across the High Lonesome!"

One of Danielle Steel's best books ever, 25 Nov 2008
Once again Danielle Steel has shown why she is one of the most read authors in the world today.

"A Good Woman" is the story about 19 year old Annabelle Worthington, a young girl growing up among New York's upper classes, loved, protected and privileged. Until tragedy strikes and in the course of three years her life is shattered.

Annabelle, who has always been interested in medicine and has done volunteer work both in hospitals and among immigrants at Ellis Island, goes to France to volunteer in World War I. She works as a medic near the front, has a child out of wedlock in appalling circumstances and later becomes a physician and settles in Paris with her little daughter after the war.

Although Annabelle is a rich woman with a large inheritance in America, the fact is of no particular interest in the book. This is the story about a very special person. Pretty, yes, but also intelligent, strong and brave. In spite of the wealth and sheltered upbringing, she has more than her fair share of life's adversities and goes through it all with her head held high. Her life is forever changed and her secure world and naïve view of people never to be restored.

From the horrors of war to the glamour of post war Paris, the British aristocracy and dazzling New York - all in true Danielle Steel style - the main thing is Annabelle's story. What happens in her life and mind. What makes her the 32 year old doctor and mother who visits her home country for the first time ten years after she left in disgrace.

One of the best books Danielle Steel has ever written, filled with wisdom and funny bits of delicious humour.

IT WAS LIKE COMING HOME.., 30 Nov 2008
I have read every one of Elizabeth Jane Howard's books over a long time and to read this was like coming home.
The sophisticated style and the smooth transition from one person's story to the next is vintage Howard - and what a pleasure it gave me.
I wanted to devour the whole book immediately but rationed myself because I didn't want to finish it.

Although it is apparently set in the late 1960s which were after all, Elizabeth Jane Howard's glory days it seems, the period doesn't matter at all. Except for some references to prices,everything could just as easily have taken place yesterday.

The delightful Floy Plover, a garden designer is a wonderful character with a wisdom which one could envy. She is loved deeply by Persephone, her niece to whom she has been a surrogate mother for a long time.
They move to the West Country so that Floy can design and deal with the garden of the manor house which Jack Curtis has bought.

The Musgroves who used to live in Melton House live in the area and their lives begin to interweave with those of Floy, Persephone and Jack Curtis.

This is a skilfully constructed book, in which each character is given a chance to tell his or her story and it is seamlessly woven by a master novelist.

The descriptions of the seasons and the atmosphere of the beautiful West Country are a pleasure to read and savour - ' The rooks were flying in their rambling patterns, silhouetted alternately against a sky whose pale blue, molten with the setting sun, was streaked with aquamarine and drifts of peach-coloured cloud, a cómbination, she remembered Francis once saying, that could only be brought off by the celestial.'

There is humour and also heart-wrenching tragedy in this book, all presented with skill and flair.

I wouldn't have missed this book for anything.

Val De Beer.









Disappointing, 14 Nov 2008
What a disappointing read. Long and drawn out, with ill-defined characters who were sketchily drawn and unengaging. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself who was who. Couldn't understand why the book was set in the 1960s; the social and moral sentiments of the story would have stood up in a contemporary setting. Indeed, some actions in the book, such as eating pizza and having wine to offer readily at home, seemed rather advanced for the period. There were a few potential intriguing elements of the story that needed more development and other strands that were overdone and tedious.

A happy ending to this depressing trilogy, 22 Aug 2007
The final book in the Wideacre trilogy and tells the story of Julia and Richard Lacey's daughter Meridon (Sarah Lacey). Her mother gave her up to travelling gypsies at birth to protect her from the Lacey madness.

After her gypsy sister is killed during a trapeez act by the father of her unborn baby, Meridon is consumed by grief and accidentally discovers Wideacre and her inheritance. She dashes everyones hopes as she wants to farm the land for a profit for herself.

On her deathbed she is tricked out of her inheritance, but somehow finds the strength to live and against all odds win back Wideacre and the man she loves. She is then able to give Wideacre to the poor.

A happy ending to a mostly depressing trilogy.

Disappointing end to the trilogy, 28 Sep 2006
This book marks a departure from the first two, and takes Meridon, an abandoned gypsy girl who is secretly the heiress of Wideacre. I found the characteristion and plotting significantly weaker than the other two books and never felt involved with what was happening. I seems to me that Gregory just got bored with the series and was writing to order. The relationship between the characters was never more than superficial and the convenient ending of the heir of Laceys giving the land to a commune and living herself in a common-man's cottage as his lover but not wife was just way too contrived.

I thought the other two books were flawed but interesting, but this one failed to either capture of hold my interest and brought the whole trilogy down with its too neat tying up of all the ends.

book nostalgia, 12 Feb 2006
When I think about this book, I feel book nostalgia. It's what you feel after reading the truly great historical fiction, when you've been seduced by the characters and by the intoxicating intrigue of historical fiction. The BUT is that you have to get through the two first books, which are to put plainly quite painfully depressing, so as to really understand what drives the women of Wideacre. Meridon is on a par with Phillippa Gregory's "The Queen's Fool".

A Fantastic Third!, 23 Jan 2006
I couldn't wait to get my hands on the third in this triology! And I was thrilled with the book. The storyline is just terrific!

One of the best trilogy's i have read!, 14 Aug 2005
I started with Wideacre and was gripped, even though I did not usually go for this type of historical fiction. I read that book twice, then realised that The Favoured Child and Meridon followed the story through. I loved the twists in the tales that you dont expect, and the characters are brought to life in your mind. Excellent, well worth reading.

Alan's Back on Form, 07 Nov 2008
Alan is back on form with this wonderful novel. I found his last one (Love and Dr Devon) a bit naff (sorry Alan), but "Folly" was really lovely. Found it very hard to put down and I love happy endings. Can't wait for the next one!

Wonderfully exciting love story!, 31 Oct 2008
MR. Titchmarsh has written another wonderful story. He is such a natural story teller, there is nary a phony note in his writing. This is the story of two lovers who were never supposed to be due together due inter-generational feud between their families. The lovers start learn of the long buried reasons behind the decades long feud, and what they find will rock the worl of both families. This is an easy to read story that will keep you turning the pages! Most enjoyable read since "Across the High Lonesome!"

One of Danielle Steel's best books ever, 25 Nov 2008
Once again Danielle Steel has shown why she is one of the most read authors in the world today.

"A Good Woman" is the story about 19 year old Annabelle Worthington, a young girl growing up among New York's upper classes, loved, protected and privileged. Until tragedy strikes and in the course of three years her life is shattered.

Annabelle, who has always been interested in medicine and has done volunteer work both in hospitals and among immigrants at Ellis Island, goes to France to volunteer in World War I. She works as a medic near the front, has a child out of wedlock in appalling circumstances and later becomes a physician and settles in Paris with her little daughter after the war.

Although Annabelle is a rich woman with a large inheritance in America, the fact is of no particular interest in the book. This is the story about a very special person. Pretty, yes, but also intelligent, strong and brave. In spite of the wealth and sheltered upbringing, she has more than her fair share of life's adversities and goes through it all with her head held high. Her life is forever changed and her secure world and naïve view of people never to be restored.

From the horrors of war to the glamour of post war Paris, the British aristocracy and dazzling New York - all in true Danielle Steel style - the main thing is Annabelle's story. What happens in her life and mind. What makes her the 32 year old doctor and mother who visits her home country for the first time ten years after she left in disgrace.

One of the best books Danielle Steel has ever written, filled with wisdom and funny bits of delicious humour.

IT WAS LIKE COMING HOME.., 30 Nov 2008
I have read every one of Elizabeth Jane Howard's books over a long time and to read this was like coming home.
The sophisticated style and the smooth transition from one person's story to the next is vintage Howard - and what a pleasure it gave me.
I wanted to devour the whole book immediately but rationed myself because I didn't want to finish it.

Although it is apparently set in the late 1960s which were after all, Elizabeth Jane Howard's glory days it seems, the period doesn't matter at all. Except for some references to prices,everything could just as easily have taken place yesterday.

The delightful Floy Plover, a garden designer is a wonderful character with a wisdom which one could envy. She is loved deeply by Persephone, her niece to whom she has been a surrogate mother for a long time.
They move to the West Country so that Floy can design and deal with the garden of the manor house which Jack Curtis has bought.

The Musgroves who used to live in Melton House live in the area and their lives begin to interweave with those of Floy, Persephone and Jack Curtis.

This is a skilfully constructed book, in which each character is given a chance to tell his or her story and it is seamlessly woven by a master novelist.

The descriptions of the seasons and the atmosphere of the beautiful West Country are a pleasure to read and savour - ' The rooks were flying in their rambling patterns, silhouetted alternately against a sky whose pale blue, molten with the setting sun, was streaked with aquamarine and drifts of peach-coloured cloud, a cómbination, she remembered Francis once saying, that could only be brought off by the celestial.'

There is humour and also heart-wrenching tragedy in this book, all presented with skill and flair.

I wouldn't have missed this book for anything.

Val De Beer.









Disappointing, 14 Nov 2008
What a disappointing read. Long and drawn out, with ill-defined characters who were sketchily drawn and unengaging. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself who was who. Couldn't understand why the book was set in the 1960s; the social and moral sentiments of the story would have stood up in a contemporary setting. Indeed, some actions in the book, such as eating pizza and having wine to offer readily at home, seemed rather advanced for the period. There were a few potential intriguing elements of the story that needed more development and other strands that were overdone and tedious.

A happy ending to this depressing trilogy, 22 Aug 2007
The final book in the Wideacre trilogy and tells the story of Julia and Richard Lacey's daughter Meridon (Sarah Lacey). Her mother gave her up to travelling gypsies at birth to protect her from the Lacey madness.

After her gypsy sister is killed during a trapeez act by the father of her unborn baby, Meridon is consumed by grief and accidentally discovers Wideacre and her inheritance. She dashes everyones hopes as she wants to farm the land for a profit for herself.

On her deathbed she is tricked out of her inheritance, but somehow finds the strength to live and against all odds win back Wideacre and the man she loves. She is then able to give Wideacre to the poor.

A happy ending to a mostly depressing trilogy.

Disappointing end to the trilogy, 28 Sep 2006
This book marks a departure from the first two, and takes Meridon, an abandoned gypsy girl who is secretly the heiress of Wideacre. I found the characteristion and plotting significantly weaker than the other two books and never felt involved with what was happening. I seems to me that Gregory just got bored with the series and was writing to order. The relationship between the characters was never more than superficial and the convenient ending of the heir of Laceys giving the land to a commune and living herself in a common-man's cottage as his lover but not wife was just way too contrived.

I thought the other two books were flawed but interesting, but this one failed to either capture of hold my interest and brought the whole trilogy down with its too neat tying up of all the ends.

book nostalgia, 12 Feb 2006
When I think about this book, I feel book nostalgia. It's what you feel after reading the truly great historical fiction, when you've been seduced by the characters and by the intoxicating intrigue of historical fiction. The BUT is that you have to get through the two first books, which are to put plainly quite painfully depressing, so as to really understand what drives the women of Wideacre. Meridon is on a par with Phillippa Gregory's "The Queen's Fool".

A Fantastic Third!, 23 Jan 2006
I couldn't wait to get my hands on the third in this triology! And I was thrilled with the book. The storyline is just terrific!

One of the best trilogy's i have read!, 14 Aug 2005
I started with Wideacre and was gripped, even though I did not usually go for this type of historical fiction. I read that book twice, then realised that The Favoured Child and Meridon followed the story through. I loved the twists in the tales that you dont expect, and the characters are brought to life in your mind. Excellent, well worth reading.

Rather like picking a scab - manky, but oddly fascinating., 19 Oct 2008
Straight off, I have to say that I am an uncritical fan of most of PGs work, but this one stretched even my credulity a bit. Being an unapologetic, pavement-plodding, Glaswegian city-girl , I was a little confused by the mystic, magical appeal of Wideacre, and I spent the first few chapters rather wondering what all the fuss was about. Still do, as a matter of fact. Despite this, I found the characters utterly compelling, if only in a slightly disturbing way, and the plots elaborate turns and developments were fascinating; but in the way that picking a scab is - you know its just going to end in (apologies for word creation, but nothing else does it justice) manky-ness, but you still just keep going. Saying that, I did find the John-addicted-to-whisky-and-only-Celia-can-save-him thing a little bit wearing after the fortyseventh mysterious whisky bottle, but never mind, it still made interesting reading. Overall, I have to say that the trilogy was one of my favouriteist books ever, but Wideacre I found a bit tiresome after the initial excitement, but the whole thing was redeemed in my (admittedly uncritical) eyes by the brilliant ending. After reading Favoured Child, the epilogue nearly made me cry. That's it for now, you've been a great audience, thank you and goodnight.

Disappointing, 16 Sep 2008
Wideacre Having read several Philippa Gregory books, including the brilliant novel 'A Respectable Trade' I bought this trilogy with anticipation and took 'Wideacre' on holiday. What a disappointment! The reissue of the 'Wideacre' trilogy is a commercial decision based on Philippa Gregory's more recent successes. Her heroine, described by some as poisonous but fascinating, becomes, in my view, unbelievable and ridiculous, as do the other characters. They are excused their weaknesses by a light dusting of 'history'. I resorted to skim reading to finish the book.

Wouldn't even give this to Oxfam, 29 Jul 2008
Terrible. This book was a gift, and i should have given it straight back.
Considering the standard of her other books, this is disappointing. Tacky, farfetched, and just generally bad

A brilliant read - highly recommend, 14 Jul 2008
I thoroughly enjoy Philippa Gregory's books. Right from the start, you are drawn into the story, starting off with the main character, Beatrice Lacey's, childhood. The characters are so well thought through and believable, you can't put the book down because you need to know what's going to happen next! I have missed stops on the train because of this book.

The story is about Beatrice Lacey, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, whose only passion is the land and her home, Wideacre, and she will do anything to keep it within her grasp including incest, murder and a whole lot of lying, deceiving and general bad behaviour.

Unfortunately, it appears a few people have a downer on this book purely, it seems, because they are squeamish about issues like incest(granted, it is a rather grim subject) but I think a strong and talented author like Ms Gregory winds it into the plot so a lot of people will appreciate that this is what Beatrice Lacey felt she had to do to keep the Wideacre estate within her grasp. Her desperation and passion knew no bounds.

The way each character grows is well done. I won't ruin the plot for you by saying how though - that is part of the pleasure of this book! The plot twists and turns and you are torn between wondering how Beatrice Lacey could be so cold and calculating to actually feeling sorry for her and her plight.

As with all Philippa Gregory books, I found Wideacre to be minutely researched, incredibly readable and I wasted no time in purchasing the other two books in the series.


A tale of corruption and manipulation, 12 Jul 2008
This is, quite simply, one of the best books I've ever read.

Even as a young child, Beatrice loves her home and the surrounding land known as Wideacre, almost to the exclusion of everything else. But as she grows into a woman and learns that she can never inherit, she sets out to wilfully manipulate and corrupt everyone and everything that stands in her path in order to get it.

What's unusual about this book is that for me, a strong part of enjoying a novel is usually a need to like and empathise with the main character. While I began the book with empathy for Beatrice, and all women who grew up in a man's world with no rights, her character evolves into something so wicked that this was what kept me turning the pages. I was desperate to know what she was prepared to do next - and whether she would get away with it.

The novel comes to a satisfying and devastating conclusion, and can stand alone without the need to read the two books that follow: The Favoured Child and Meridion - but I will definitely be reading them.

Alan's Back on Form, 07 Nov 2008
Alan is back on form with this wonderful novel. I found his last one (Love and Dr Devon) a bit naff (sorry Alan), but "Folly" was really lovely. Found it very hard to put down and I love happy endings. Can't wait for the next one!

Wonderfully exciting love story!, 31 Oct 2008
MR. Titchmarsh has written another wonderful story. He is such a natural story teller, there is nary a phony note in his writing. This is the story of two lovers who were never supposed to be due together due inter-generational feud between their families. The lovers start learn of the long buried reasons behind the decades long feud, and what they find will rock the worl of both families. This is an easy to read story that will keep you turning the pages! Most enjoyable read since "Across the High Lonesome!"

One of Danielle Steel's best books ever, 25 Nov 2008
Once again Danielle Steel has shown why she is one of the most read authors in the world today.

"A Good Woman" is the story about 19 year old Annabelle Worthington, a young girl growing up among New York's upper classes, loved, protected and privileged. Until tragedy strikes and in the course of three years her life is shattered.

Annabelle, who has always been interested in medicine and has done volunteer work both in hospitals and among immigrants at Ellis Island, goes to France to volunteer in World War I. She works as a medic near the front, has a child out of wedlock in appalling circumstances and later becomes a physician and settles in Paris with her little daughter after the war.

Although Annabelle is a rich woman with a large inheritance in America, the fact is of no particular interest in the book. This is the story about a very special person. Pretty, yes, but also intelligent, strong and brave. In spite of the wealth and sheltered upbringing, she has more than her fair share of life's adversities and goes through it all with her head held high. Her life is forever changed and her secure world and naïve view of people never to be restored.

From the horrors of war to the glamour of post war Paris, the British aristocracy and dazzling New York - all in true Danielle Steel style - the main thing is Annabelle's story. What happens in her life and mind. What makes her the 32 year old doctor and mother who visits her home country for the first time ten years after she left in disgrace.

One of the best books Danielle Steel has ever written, filled with wisdom and funny bits of delicious humour.

IT WAS LIKE COMING HOME.., 30 Nov 2008
I have read every one of Elizabeth Jane Howard's books over a long time and to read this was like coming home.
The sophisticated style and the smooth transition from one person's story to the next is vintage Howard - and what a pleasure it gave me.
I wanted to devour the whole book immediately but rationed myself because I didn't want to finish it.

Although it is apparently set in the late 1960s which were after all, Elizabeth Jane Howard's glory days it seems, the period doesn't matter at all. Except for some references to prices,everything could just as easily have taken place yesterday.

The delightful Floy Plover, a garden designer is a wonderful character with a wisdom which one could envy. She is loved deeply by Persephone, her niece to whom she has been a surrogate mother for a long time.
They move to the West Country so that Floy can design and deal with the garden of the manor house which Jack Curtis has bought.

The Musgroves who used to live in Melton House live in the area and their lives begin to interweave with those of Floy, Persephone and Jack Curtis.

This is a skilfully constructed book, in which each character is given a chance to tell his or her story and it is seamlessly woven by a master novelist.

The descriptions of the seasons and the atmosphere of the beautiful West Country are a pleasure to read and savour - ' The rooks were flying in their rambling patterns, silhouetted alternately against a sky whose pale blue, molten with the setting sun, was streaked with aquamarine and drifts of peach-coloured cloud, a cómbination, she remembered Francis once saying, that could only be brought off by the celestial.'

There is humour and also heart-wrenching tragedy in this book, all presented with skill and flair.

I wouldn't have missed this book for anything.

Val De Beer.









Disappointing, 14 Nov 2008
What a disappointing read. Long and drawn out, with ill-defined characters who were sketchily drawn and unengaging. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself who was who. Couldn't understand why the book was set in the 1960s; the social and moral sentiments of the story would have stood up in a contemporary setting. Indeed, some actions in the book, such as eating pizza and having wine to offer readily at home, seemed rather advanced for the period. There were a few potential intriguing elements of the story that needed more development and other strands that were overdone and tedious.

A happy ending to this depressing trilogy, 22 Aug 2007
The final book in the Wideacre trilogy and tells the story of Julia and Richard Lacey's daughter Meridon (Sarah Lacey). Her mother gave her up to travelling gypsies at birth to protect her from the Lacey madness.

After her gypsy sister is killed during a trapeez act by the father of her unborn baby, Meridon is consumed by grief and accidentally discovers Wideacre and her inheritance. She dashes everyones hopes as she wants to farm the land for a profit for herself.

On her deathbed she is tricked out of her inheritance, but somehow finds the strength to live and against all odds win back Wideacre and the man she loves. She is then able to give Wideacre to the poor.

A happy ending to a mostly depressing trilogy.

Disappointing end to the trilogy, 28 Sep 2006
This book marks a departure from the first two, and takes Meridon, an abandoned gypsy girl who is secretly the heiress of Wideacre. I found the characteristion and plotting significantly weaker than the other two books and never felt involved with what was happening. I seems to me that Gregory just got bored with the series and was writing to order. The relationship between the characters was never more than superficial and the convenient ending of the heir of Laceys giving the land to a commune and living herself in a common-man's cottage as his lover but not wife was just way too contrived.

I thought the other two books were flawed but interesting, but this one failed to either capture of hold my interest and brought the whole trilogy down with its too neat tying up of all the ends.

book nostalgia, 12 Feb 2006
When I think about this book, I feel book nostalgia. It's what you feel after reading the truly great historical fiction, when you've been seduced by the characters and by the intoxicating intrigue of historical fiction. The BUT is that you have to get through the two first books, which are to put plainly quite painfully depressing, so as to really understand what drives the women of Wideacre. Meridon is on a par with Phillippa Gregory's "The Queen's Fool".

A Fantastic Third!, 23 Jan 2006
I couldn't wait to get my hands on the third in this triology! And I was thrilled with the book. The storyline is just terrific!

One of the best trilogy's i have read!, 14 Aug 2005
I started with Wideacre and was gripped, even though I did not usually go for this type of historical fiction. I read that book twice, then realised that The Favoured Child and Meridon followed the story through. I loved the twists in the tales that you dont expect, and the characters are brought to life in your mind. Excellent, well worth reading.

Rather like picking a scab - manky, but oddly fascinating., 19 Oct 2008
Straight off, I have to say that I am an uncritical fan of most of PGs work, but this one stretched even my credulity a bit. Being an unapologetic, pavement-plodding, Glaswegian city-girl , I was a little confused by the mystic, magical appeal of Wideacre, and I spent the first few chapters rather wondering what all the fuss was about. Still do, as a matter of fact. Despite this, I found the characters utterly compelling, if only in a slightly disturbing way, and the plots elaborate turns and developments were fascinating; but in the way that picking a scab is - you know its just going to end in (apologies for word creation, but nothing else does it justice) manky-ness, but you still just keep going. Saying that, I did find the John-addicted-to-whisky-and-only-Celia-can-save-him thing a little bit wearing after the fortyseventh mysterious whisky bottle, but never mind, it still made interesting reading. Overall, I have to say that the trilogy was one of my favouriteist books ever, but Wideacre I found a bit tiresome after the initial excitement, but the whole thing was redeemed in my (admittedly uncritical) eyes by the brilliant ending. After reading Favoured Child, the epilogue nearly made me cry. That's it for now, you've been a great audience, thank you and goodnight.

Disappointing, 16 Sep 2008
Wideacre Having read several Philippa Gregory books, including the brilliant novel 'A Respectable Trade' I bought this trilogy with anticipation and took 'Wideacre' on holiday. What a disappointment! The reissue of the 'Wideacre' trilogy is a commercial decision based on Philippa Gregory's more recent successes. Her heroine, described by some as poisonous but fascinating, becomes, in my view, unbelievable and ridiculous, as do the other characters. They are excused their weaknesses by a light dusting of 'history'. I resorted to skim reading to finish the book.

Wouldn't even give this to Oxfam, 29 Jul 2008
Terrible. This book was a gift, and i should have given it straight back.
Considering the standard of her other books, this is disappointing. Tacky, farfetched, and just generally bad

A brilliant read - highly recommend, 14 Jul 2008
I thoroughly enjoy Philippa Gregory's books. Right from the start, you are drawn into the story, starting off with the main character, Beatrice Lacey's, childhood. The characters are so well thought through and believable, you can't put the book down because you need to know what's going to happen next! I have missed stops on the train because of this book.

The story is about Beatrice Lacey, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, whose only passion is the land and her home, Wideacre, and she will do anything to keep it within her grasp including incest, murder and a whole lot of lying, deceiving and general bad behaviour.

Unfortunately, it appears a few people have a downer on this book purely, it seems, because they are squeamish about issues like incest(granted, it is a rather grim subject) but I think a strong and talented author like Ms Gregory winds it into the plot so a lot of people will appreciate that this is what Beatrice Lacey felt she had to do to keep the Wideacre estate within her grasp. Her desperation and passion knew no bounds.

The way each character grows is well done. I won't ruin the plot for you by saying how though - that is part of the pleasure of this book! The plot twists and turns and you are torn between wondering how Beatrice Lacey could be so cold and calculating to actually feeling sorry for her and her plight.

As with all Philippa Gregory books, I found Wideacre to be minutely researched, incredibly readable and I wasted no time in purchasing the other two books in the series.


A tale of corruption and manipulation, 12 Jul 2008
This is, quite simply, one of the best books I've ever read.

Even as a young child, Beatrice loves her home and the surrounding land known as Wideacre, almost to the exclusion of everything else. But as she grows into a woman and learns that she can never inherit, she sets out to wilfully manipulate and corrupt everyone and everything that stands in her path in order to get it.

What's unusual about this book is that for me, a strong part of enjoying a novel is usually a need to like and empathise with the main character. While I began the book with empathy for Beatrice, and all women who grew up in a man's world with no rights, her character evolves into something so wicked that this was what kept me turning the pages. I was desperate to know what she was prepared to do next - and whether she would get away with it.

The novel comes to a satisfying and devastating conclusion, and can stand alone without the need to read the two books that follow: The Favoured Child and Meridion - but I will definitely be reading them.

rogue hunter, 28 Oct 2008
Sam is an overworked lawyer finally convinced into taking a vacation and going to the summer cottage with her two sisters having broken up from her only ever boyfriend she needs time to relax and the fact that three mysteriouse, beautiful strangers have shown up in the neighbouring cabin can only help right?

Mortimer is an eighthundred year old vampire enforcer working for the vampoire council. He and two other vampires have been sent up to cottage country in search of a rouge vampire that has been breaking the carefully placed vampire rules and they have to stop them.
It seemed like a relativly easy mission but he didn't count onb running into Sam and discovering that she is his lifemate although he doesn't want to admit it.
She's everything that he doesn't want in a woman but as he gets to know her he realises there is more to her then meets the eye.

A very good book if you are looking for a light and easy read with some classic Sands humour. Lots of laughs to be had especially at the attempts the two of them have on their relationship and how wrong it seems to go.

Alan's Back on Form, 07 Nov 2008
Alan is back on form with this wonderful novel. I found his last one (Love and Dr Devon) a bit naff (sorry Alan), but "Folly" was really lovely. Found it very hard to put down and I love happy endings. Can't wait for the next one!

Wonderfully exciting love story!, 31 Oct 2008
MR. Titchmarsh has written another wonderful story. He is such a natural story teller, there is nary a phony note in his writing. This is the story of two lovers who were never supposed to be due together due inter-generational feud between their families. The lovers start learn of the long buried reasons behind the decades long feud, and what they find will rock the worl of both families. This is an easy to read story that will keep you turning the pages! Most enjoyable read since "Across the High Lonesome!"

One of Danielle Steel's best books ever, 25 Nov 2008
Once again Danielle Steel has shown why she is one of the most read authors in the world today.

"A Good Woman" is the story about 19 year old Annabelle Worthington, a young girl growing up among New York's upper classes, loved, protected and privileged. Until tragedy strikes and in the course of three years her life is shattered.

Annabelle, who has always been interested in medicine and has done volunteer work both in hospitals and among immigrants at Ellis Island, goes to France to volunteer in World War I. She works as a medic near the front, has a child out of wedlock in appalling circumstances and later becomes a physician and settles in Paris with her little daughter after the war.

Although Annabelle is a rich woman with a large inheritance in America, the fact is of no particular interest in the book. This is the story about a very special person. Pretty, yes, but also intelligent, strong and brave. In spite of the wealth and sheltered upbringing, she has more than her fair share of life's adversities and goes through it all with her head held high. Her life is forever changed and her secure world and naïve view of people never to be restored.

From the horrors of war to the glamour of post war Paris, the British aristocracy and dazzling New York - all in true Danielle Steel style - the main thing is Annabelle's story. What happens in her life and mind. What makes her the 32 year old doctor and mother who visits her home country for the first time ten years after she left in disgrace.

One of the best books Danielle Steel has ever written, filled with wisdom and funny bits of delicious humour.

IT WAS LIKE COMING HOME.., 30 Nov 2008
I have read every one of Elizabeth Jane Howard's books over a long time and to read this was like coming home.
The sophisticated style and the smooth transition from one person's story to the next is vintage Howard - and what a pleasure it gave me.
I wanted to devour the whole book immediately but rationed myself because I didn't want to finish it.

Although it is apparently set in the late 1960s which were after all, Elizabeth Jane Howard's glory days it seems, the period doesn't matter at all. Except for some references to prices,everything could just as easily have taken place yesterday.

The delightful Floy Plover, a garden designer is a wonderful character with a wisdom which one could envy. She is loved deeply by Persephone, her niece to whom she has been a surrogate mother for a long time.
They move to the West Country so that Floy can design and deal with the garden of the manor house which Jack Curtis has bought.

The Musgroves who used to live in Melton House live in the area and their lives begin to interweave with those of Floy, Persephone and Jack Curtis.

This is a skilfully constructed book, in which each character is given a chance to tell his or her story and it is seamlessly woven by a master novelist.

The descriptions of the seasons and the atmosphere of the beautiful West Country are a pleasure to read and savour - ' The rooks were flying in their rambling patterns, silhouetted alternately against a sky whose pale blue, molten with the setting sun, was streaked with aquamarine and drifts of peach-coloured cloud, a cómbination, she remembered Francis once saying, that could only be brought off by the celestial.'

There is humour and also heart-wrenching tragedy in this book, all presented with skill and flair.

I wouldn't have missed this book for anything.

Val De Beer.









Disappointing, 14 Nov 2008
What a disappointing read. Long and drawn out, with ill-defined characters who were sketchily drawn and unengaging. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself who was who. Couldn't understand why the book was set in the 1960s; the social and moral sentiments of the story would have stood up in a contemporary setting. Indeed, some actions in the book, such as eating pizza and having wine to offer readily at home, seemed rather advanced for the period. There were a few potential intriguing elements of the story that needed more development and other strands that were overdone and tedious.

A happy ending to this depressing trilogy, 22 Aug 2007
The final book in the Wideacre trilogy and tells the story of Julia and Richard Lacey's daughter Meridon (Sarah Lacey). Her mother gave her up to travelling gypsies at birth to protect her from the Lacey madness.

After her gypsy sister is killed during a trapeez act by the father of her unborn baby, Meridon is consumed by grief and accidentally discovers Wideacre and her inheritance. She dashes everyones hopes as she wants to farm the land for a profit for herself.

On her deathbed she is tricked out of her inheritance, but somehow finds the strength to live and against all odds win back Wideacre and the man she loves. She is then able to give Wideacre to the poor.

A happy ending to a mostly depressing trilogy.

Disappointing end to the trilogy, 28 Sep 2006
This book marks a departure from the first two, and takes Meridon, an abandoned gypsy girl who is secretly the heiress of Wideacre. I found the characteristion and plotting significantly weaker than the other two books and never felt involved with what was happening. I seems to me that Gregory just got bored with the series and was writing to order. The relationship between the characters was never more than superficial and the convenient ending of the heir of Laceys giving the land to a commune and living herself in a common-man's cottage as his lover but not wife was just way too contrived.

I thought the other two books were flawed but interesting, but this one failed to either capture of hold my interest and brought the whole trilogy down with its too neat tying up of all the ends.

book nostalgia, 12 Feb 2006
When I think about this book, I feel book nostalgia. It's what you feel after reading the truly great historical fiction, when you've been seduced by the characters and by the intoxicating intrigue of historical fiction. The BUT is that you have to get through the two first books, which are to put plainly quite painfully depressing, so as to really understand what drives the women of Wideacre. Meridon is on a par with Phillippa Gregory's "The Queen's Fool".

A Fantastic Third!, 23 Jan 2006
I couldn't wait to get my hands on the third in this triology! And I was thrilled with the book. The storyline is just terrific!

One of the best trilogy's i have read!, 14 Aug 2005
I started with Wideacre and was gripped, even though I did not usually go for this type of historical fiction. I read that book twice, then realised that The Favoured Child and Meridon followed the story through. I loved the twists in the tales that you dont expect, and the characters are brought to life in your mind. Excellent, well worth reading.

Rather like picking a scab - manky, but oddly fascinating., 19 Oct 2008
Straight off, I have to say that I am an uncritical fan of most of PGs work, but this one stretched even my credulity a bit. Being an unapologetic, pavement-plodding, Glaswegian city-girl , I was a little confused by the mystic, magical appeal of Wideacre, and I spent the first few chapters rather wondering what all the fuss was about. Still do, as a matter of fact. Despite this, I found the characters utterly compelling, if only in a slightly disturbing way, and the plots elaborate turns and developments were fascinating; but in the way that picking a scab is - you know its just going to end in (apologies for word creation, but nothing else does it justice) manky-ness, but you still just keep going. Saying that, I did find the John-addicted-to-whisky-and-only-Celia-can-save-him thing a little bit wearing after the fortyseventh mysterious whisky bottle, but never mind, it still made interesting reading. Overall, I have to say that the trilogy was one of my favouriteist books ever, but Wideacre I found a bit tiresome after the initial excitement, but the whole thing was redeemed in my (admittedly uncritical) eyes by the brilliant ending. After reading Favoured Child, the epilogue nearly made me cry. That's it for now, you've been a great audience, thank you and goodnight.

Disappointing, 16 Sep 2008
Wideacre Having read several Philippa Gregory books, including the brilliant novel 'A Respectable Trade' I bought this trilogy with anticipation and took 'Wideacre' on holiday. What a disappointment! The reissue of the 'Wideacre' trilogy is a commercial decision based on Philippa Gregory's more recent successes. Her heroine, described by some as poisonous but fascinating, becomes, in my view, unbelievable and ridiculous, as do the other characters. They are excused their weaknesses by a light dusting of 'history'. I resorted to skim reading to finish the book.

Wouldn't even give this to Oxfam, 29 Jul 2008
Terrible. This book was a gift, and i should have given it straight back.
Considering the standard of her other books, this is disappointing. Tacky, farfetched, and just generally bad

A brilliant read - highly recommend, 14 Jul 2008
I thoroughly enjoy Philippa Gregory's books. Right from the start, you are drawn into the story, starting off with the main character, Beatrice Lacey's, childhood. The characters are so well thought through and believable, you can't put the book down because you need to know what's going to happen next! I have missed stops on the train because of this book.

The story is about Beatrice Lacey, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, whose only passion is the land and her home, Wideacre, and she will do anything to keep it within her grasp including incest, murder and a whole lot of lying, deceiving and general bad behaviour.

Unfortunately, it appears a few people have a downer on this book purely, it seems, because they are squeamish about issues like incest(granted, it is a rather grim subject) but I think a strong and talented author like Ms Gregory winds it into the plot so a lot of people will appreciate that this is what Beatrice Lacey felt she had to do to keep the Wideacre estate within her grasp. Her desperation and passion knew no bounds.

The way each character grows is well done. I won't ruin the plot for you by saying how though - that is part of the pleasure of this book! The plot twists and turns and you are torn between wondering how Beatrice Lacey could be so cold and calculating to actually feeling sorry for her and her plight.

As with all Philippa Gregory books, I found Wideacre to be minutely researched, incredibly readable and I wasted no time in purchasing the other two books in the series.


A tale of corruption and manipulation, 12 Jul 2008
This is, quite simply, one of the best books I've ever read.

Even as a young child, Beatrice loves her home and the surrounding land known as Wideacre, almost to the exclusion of everything else. But as she grows into a woman and learns that she can never inherit, she sets out to wilfully manipulate and corrupt everyone and everything that stands in her path in order to get it.

What's unusual about this book is that for me, a strong part of enjoying a novel is usually a need to like and empathise with the main character. While I began the book with empathy for Beatrice, and all women who grew up in a man's world with no rights, her character evolves into something so wicked that this was what kept me turning the pages. I was desperate to know what she was prepared to do next - and whether she would get away with it.

The novel comes to a satisfying and devastating conclusion, and can stand alone without the need to read the two books that follow: The Favoured Child and Meridion - but I will definitely be reading them.

rogue hunter, 28 Oct 2008
Sam is an overworked lawyer finally convinced into taking a vacation and going to the summer cottage with her two sisters having broken up from her only ever boyfriend she needs time to relax and the fact that three mysteriouse, beautiful strangers have shown up in the neighbouring cabin can only help right?

Mortimer is an eighthundred year old vampire enforcer working for the vampoire council. He and two other vampires have been sent up to cottage country in search of a rouge vampire that has been breaking the carefully placed vampire rules and they have to stop them.
It seemed like a relativly easy mission but he didn't count onb running into Sam and discovering that she is his lifemate although he doesn't want to admit it.
She's everything that he doesn't want in a woman but as he gets to know her he realises there is more to her then meets the eye.

A very good book if you are looking for a light and easy read with some classic Sands humour. Lots of laughs to be had especially at the attempts the two of them have on their relationship and how wrong it seems to go.



Dissapointed, 29 Aug 2008
I have to agree with the previous reveiew in that I found myself wondering what happened?!? It started off well and as with all other Danielle Steel books her writing is easy and flows well, however this particular story about Maxine and her ex husband Blake, along with Maxines new husband to be Charles was a little repetitive, if not a little boring. The ending was abrupt and predictable and I didn't enjoy the book that much but it was an easy read.

Danielle Steel - Rogue, 30 Jul 2008
I think I must be outgrowing Danielle Steel as I found this book very repetitive in her writing. If she told you once about Maxine and Bradley being best friends etc she mentioned it 100 times. She should either stop writing or spend more time on each book!!!

I have to say I became bored reading it - a fact which I thought would never happen to me with Danielle Steel!

Alan's Back on Form, 07 Nov 2008
Alan is back on form with this wonderful novel. I found his last one (Love and Dr Devon) a bit naff (sorry Alan), but "Folly" was really lovely. Found it very hard to put down and I love happy endings. Can't wait for the next one!

Wonderfully exciting love story!, 31 Oct 2008
MR. Titchmarsh has written another wonderful story. He is such a natural story teller, there is nary a phony note in his writing. This is the story of two lovers who were never supposed to be due together due inter-generational feud between their families. The lovers start learn of the long buried reasons behind the decades long feud, and what they find will rock the worl of both families. This is an easy to read story that will keep you turning the pages! Most enjoyable read since "Across the High Lonesome!"

One of Danielle Steel's best books ever, 25 Nov 2008
Once again Danielle Steel has shown why she is one of the most read authors in the world today.

"A Good Woman" is the story about 19 year old Annabelle Worthington, a young girl growing up among New York's upper classes, loved, protected and privileged. Until tragedy strikes and in the course of three years her life is shattered.

Annabelle, who has always been interested in medicine and has done volunteer work both in hospitals and among immigrants at Ellis Island, goes to France to volunteer in World War I. She works as a medic near the front, has a child out of wedlock in appalling circumstances and later becomes a physician and settles in Paris with her little daughter after the war.

Although Annabelle is a rich woman with a large inheritance in America, the fact is of no particular interest in the book. This is the story about a very special person. Pretty, yes, but also intelligent, strong and brave. In spite of the wealth and sheltered upbringing, she has more than her fair share of life's adversities and goes through it all with her head held high. Her life is forever changed and her secure world and naïve view of people never to be restored.

From the horrors of war to the glamour of post war Paris, the British aristocracy and dazzling New York - all in true Danielle Steel style - the main thing is Annabelle's story. What happens in her life and mind. What makes her the 32 year old doctor and mother who visits her home country for the first time ten years after she left in disgrace.

One of the best books Danielle Steel has ever written, filled with wisdom and funny bits of delicious humour.

IT WAS LIKE COMING HOME.., 30 Nov 2008
I have read every one of Elizabeth Jane Howard's books over a long time and to read this was like coming home.
The sophisticated style and the smooth transition from one person's story to the next is vintage Howard - and what a pleasure it gave me.
I wanted to devour the whole book immediately but rationed myself because I didn't want to finish it.

Although it is apparently set in the late 1960s which were after all, Elizabeth Jane Howard's glory days it seems, the period doesn't matter at all. Except for some references to prices,everything could just as easily have taken place yesterday.

The delightful Floy Plover, a garden designer is a wonderful character with a wisdom which one could envy. She is loved deeply by Persephone, her niece to whom she has been a surrogate mother for a long time.
They move to the West Country so that Floy can design and deal with the garden of the manor house which Jack Curtis has bought.

The Musgroves who used to live in Melton House live in the area and their lives begin to interweave with those of Floy, Persephone and Jack Curtis.

This is a skilfully constructed book, in which each character is given a chance to tell his or her story and it is seamlessly woven by a master novelist.

The descriptions of the seasons and the atmosphere of the beautiful West Country are a pleasure to read and savour - ' The rooks were flying in their rambling patterns, silhouetted alternately against a sky whose pale blue, molten with the setting sun, was streaked with aquamarine and drifts of peach-coloured cloud, a cómbination, she remembered Francis once saying, that could only be brought off by the celestial.'

There is humour and also heart-wrenching tragedy in this book, all presented with skill and flair.

I wouldn't have missed this book for anything.

Val De Beer.









Disappointing, 14 Nov 2008
What a disappointing read. Long and drawn out, with ill-defined characters who were sketchily drawn and unengaging. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself who was who. Couldn't understand why the book was set in the 1960s; the social and moral sentiments of the story would have stood up in a contemporary setting. Indeed, some actions in the book, such as eating pizza and having wine to offer readily at home, seemed rather advanced for the period. There were a few potential intriguing elements of the story that needed more development and other strands that were overdone and tedious.

A happy ending to this depressing trilogy, 22 Aug 2007
The final book in the Wideacre trilogy and tells the story of Julia and Richard Lacey's daughter Meridon (Sarah Lacey). Her mother gave her up to travelling gypsies at birth to protect her from the Lacey madness.

After her gypsy sister is killed during a trapeez act by the father of her unborn baby, Meridon is consumed by grief and accidentally discovers Wideacre and her inheritance. She dashes everyones hopes as she wants to farm the land for a profit for herself.

On her deathbed she is tricked out of her inheritance, but somehow finds the strength to live and against all odds win back Wideacre and the man she loves. She is then able to give Wideacre to the poor.

A happy ending to a mostly depressing trilogy.

Disappointing end to the trilogy, 28 Sep 2006
This book marks a departure from the first two, and takes Meridon, an abandoned gypsy girl who is secretly the heiress of Wideacre. I found the characteristion and plotting significantly weaker than the other two books and never felt involved with what was happening. I seems to me that Gregory just got bored with the series and was writing to order. The relationship between the characters was never more than superficial and the convenient ending of the heir of Laceys giving the land to a commune and living herself in a common-man's cottage as his lover but not wife was just way too contrived.

I thought the other two books were flawed but interesting, but this one failed to either capture of hold my interest and brought the whole trilogy down with its too neat tying up of all the ends.

book nostalgia, 12 Feb 2006
When I think about this book, I feel book nostalgia. It's what you feel after reading the truly great historical fiction, when you've been seduced by the characters and by the intoxicating intrigue of historical fiction. The BUT is that you have to get through the two first books, which are to put plainly quite painfully depressing, so as to really understand what drives the women of Wideacre. Meridon is on a par with Phillippa Gregory's "The Queen's Fool".

A Fantastic Third!, 23 Jan 2006
I couldn't wait to get my hands on the third in this triology! And I was thrilled with the book. The storyline is just terrific!

One of the best trilogy's i have read!, 14 Aug 2005
I started with Wideacre and was gripped, even though I did not usually go for this type of historical fiction. I read that book twice, then realised that The Favoured Child and Meridon followed the story through. I loved the twists in the tales that you dont expect, and the characters are brought to life in your mind. Excellent, well worth reading.

Rather like picking a scab - manky, but oddly fascinating., 19 Oct 2008
Straight off, I have to say that I am an uncritical fan of most of PGs work, but this one stretched even my credulity a bit. Being an unapologetic, pavement-plodding, Glaswegian city-girl , I was a little confused by the mystic, magical appeal of Wideacre, and I spent the first few chapters rather wondering what all the fuss was about. Still do, as a matter of fact. Despite this, I found the characters utterly compelling, if only in a slightly disturbing way, and the plots elaborate turns and developments were fascinating; but in the way that picking a scab is - you know its just going to end in (apologies for word creation, but nothing else does it justice) manky-ness, but you still just keep going. Saying that, I did find the John-addicted-to-whisky-and-only-Celia-can-save-him thing a little bit wearing after the fortyseventh mysterious whisky bottle, but never mind, it still made interesting reading. Overall, I have to say that the trilogy was one of my favouriteist books ever, but Wideacre I found a bit tiresome after the initial excitement, but the whole thing was redeemed in my (admittedly uncritical) eyes by the brilliant ending. After reading Favoured Child, the epilogue nearly made me cry. That's it for now, you've been a great audience, thank you and goodnight.

Disappointing, 16 Sep 2008
Wideacre Having read several Philippa Gregory books, including the brilliant novel 'A Respectable Trade' I bought this trilogy with anticipation and took 'Wideacre' on holiday. What a disappointment! The reissue of the 'Wideacre' trilogy is a commercial decision based on Philippa Gregory's more recent successes. Her heroine, described by some as poisonous but fascinating, becomes, in my view, unbelievable and ridiculous, as do the other characters. They are excused their weaknesses by a light dusting of 'history'. I resorted to skim reading to finish the book.

Wouldn't even give this to Oxfam, 29 Jul 2008
Terrible. This book was a gift, and i should have given it straight back.
Considering the standard of her other books, this is disappointing. Tacky, farfetched, and just generally bad

A brilliant read - highly recommend, 14 Jul 2008
I thoroughly enjoy Philippa Gregory's books. Right from the start, you are drawn into the story, starting off with the main character, Beatrice Lacey's, childhood. The characters are so well thought through and believable, you can't put the book down because you need to know what's going to happen next! I have missed stops on the train because of this book.

The story is about Beatrice Lacey, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, whose only passion is the land and her home, Wideacre, and she will do anything to keep it within her grasp including incest, murder and a whole lot of lying, deceiving and general bad behaviour.

Unfortunately, it appears a few people have a downer on this book purely, it seems, because they are squeamish about issues like incest(granted, it is a rather grim subject) but I think a strong and talented author like Ms Gregory winds it into the plot so a lot of people will appreciate that this is what Beatrice Lacey felt she had to do to keep the Wideacre estate within her grasp. Her desperation and passion knew no bounds.

The way each character grows is well done. I won't ruin the plot for you by saying how though - that is part of the pleasure of this book! The plot twists and turns and you are torn between wondering how Beatrice Lacey could be so cold and calculating to actually feeling sorry for her and her plight.

As with all Philippa Gregory books, I found Wideacre to be minutely researched, incredibly readable and I wasted no time in purchasing the other two books in the series.


A tale of corruption and manipulation, 12 Jul 2008
This is, quite simply, one of the best books I've ever read.

Even as a young child, Beatrice loves her home and the surrounding land known as Wideacre, almost to the exclusion of everything else. But as she grows into a woman and learns that she can never inherit, she sets out to wilfully manipulate and corrupt everyone and everything that stands in her path in order to get it.

What's unusual about this book is that for me, a strong part of enjoying a novel is usually a need to like and empathise with the main character. While I began the book with empathy for Beatrice, and all women who grew up in a man's world with no rights, her character evolves into something so wicked that this was what kept me turning the pages. I was desperate to know what she was prepared to do next - and whether she would get away with it.

The novel comes to a satisfying and devastating conclusion, and can stand alone without the need to read the two books that follow: The Favoured Child and Meridion - but I will definitely be reading them.

rogue hunter, 28 Oct 2008
Sam is an overworked lawyer finally convinced into taking a vacation and going to the summer cottage with her two sisters having broken up from her only ever boyfriend she needs time to relax and the fact that three mysteriouse, beautiful strangers have shown up in the neighbouring cabin can only help right?

Mortimer is an eighthundred year old vampire enforcer working for the vampoire council. He and two other vampires have been sent up to cottage country in search of a rouge vampire that has been breaking the carefully placed vampire rules and they have to stop them.
It seemed like a relativly easy mission but he didn't count onb running into Sam and discovering that she is his lifemate although he doesn't want to admit it.
She's everything that he doesn't want in a woman but as he gets to know her he realises there is more to her then meets the eye.

A very good book if you are looking for a light and easy read with some classic Sands humour. Lots of laughs to be had especially at the attempts the two of them have on their relationship and how wrong it seems to go.



Dissapointed, 29 Aug 2008
I have to agree with the previous reveiew in that I found myself wondering what happened?!? It started off well and as with all other Danielle Steel books her writing is easy and flows well, however this particular story about Maxine and her ex husband Blake, along with Maxines new husband to be Charles was a little repetitive, if not a little boring. The ending was abrupt and predictable and I didn't enjoy the book that much but it was an easy read.

Danielle Steel - Rogue, 30 Jul 2008
I think I must be outgrowing Danielle Steel as I found this book very repetitive in her writing. If she told you once about Maxine and Bradley being best friends etc she mentioned it 100 times. She should either stop writing or spend more time on each book!!!

I have to say I became bored reading it - a fact which I thought would never happen to me with Danielle Steel!

Good until the ending, 11 Nov 2008
I enjoyed this book until about the last 100 pages. Up until that point it was witty, funny, entertaining and I sympathised and wanted both women to get their own back. However I felt that the writer got towards the end and either hit a deadline or ran out of steam and the ending was very poor and completely unrealistic. Very disappointing.

Patronizing and so annoying!, 28 Oct 2008
Jane Fallon goes on and on page after page lecturing about relationships, male and female psychology and what would have happened if certain characters in the book had taken "psychology classes" (they would have understood that James was leading a double life to mask his personality weaknesses).
This book is written with the working class housewife-type in mind, who, by the way, Jane, hates being lectured to.
The characters are incredibly annoying, especially Stephanie and Katie. I didn't even like Finn...
Every sentence is overwritten as to make sure we got the message, just in case we weren't smart enough to get in the first place.
If this is the level of quality Curtis Brown have got to, well done, Jane Fallon, for finding an agent ready to take this on.
My copy will go to my local charity shop today.


Great idea!!!, 25 Oct 2008
This was the first book by this author that I have read, but I found it a little sloppy.

It started out well enough. Stephanie, James's wife finding out that her husband was living a double life, with a mistress safely tucked away in the country. Neither woman had known about the other. Instead of confronting him immediately they decide to join forces and exact their own kind of revenge. Sounds good? Great idea, just a shame about the delivery.

The first half of the book is enjoyable, and you keep the pages turning to see what else the women can come up with, and there are some genuine moments when you root for them both. However, after a while it just all gets a little tedious, and the author's attempts at writing sub-plots are pretty lame. It's as if she can't think of a way to pull it all together and finish the book properly. In fact, in my humble opinion, it doesn't really finish. It just peters out.

I also agree with some other reviewers, that the editor must have been having an off day. Many typing and punctuation errors. Definitely a rush job.

It's a shame, because this book should have been great if handled properly. I gave it two stars because I actually finished it without skimming.

If you're looking for great chick lit with a few good twists and turns, I would check out Melissa Hill first.

A Let Down, 24 Oct 2008
Getting Rid of Matthew was sparky, witty, well-written and at times, off-colour. Get You Back is none of these. I was hugely let down and gave up after 140 pages. The story started well, but ran out of steam, dipping its toe in suburban boredom and never really managing to take off. Maybe I gave up too soon.

As a side-note, whoever edited the book might like to give it a second look to correct the typos and missing/inaccurate punctuation.

Had all the signs of a rush job both for the author and the publisher.

Wouldn't bother reading a third Fallon book after this.


A real anticlimax, 23 Oct 2008
I have been waiting for this book since thoroughly enjoying Getting rid of Matthew - I'm also a collector of some authors and was looking forward to placing this on the 'READ' shelf next to her preious book.

However, after only getting gripped by it after reading a third way through I pressed on and on to the end. But it was a complete dissapointment and I felt deflated when I read the last page - it was like Jane Fallon had run out of steam and couldn't be bothered to think up an ending that suited the story. All in all a dissapointment and this won't be an author that I will follow OR collect. ANTI-CLIMAX

Alan's Back on Form, 07 Nov 2008
Alan is back on form with this wonderful novel. I found his last one (Love and Dr Devon) a bit naff (sorry Alan), but "Folly" was really lovely. Found it very hard to put down and I love happy endings. Can't wait for the next one!

Wonderfully exciting love story!, 31 Oct 2008
MR. Titchmarsh has written another wonderful story. He is such a natural story teller, there is nary a phony note in his writing. This is the story of two lovers who were never supposed to be due together due inter-generational feud between their families. The lovers start learn of the long buried reasons behind the decades long feud, and what they find will rock the worl of both families. This is an easy to read story that will keep you turning the pages! Most enjoyable read since "Across the High Lonesome!"

One of Danielle Steel's best books ever, 25 Nov 2008
Once again Danielle Steel has shown why she is one of the most read authors in the world today.

"A Good Woman" is the story about 19 year old Annabelle Worthington, a young girl growing up among New York's upper classes, loved, protected and privileged. Until tragedy strikes and in the course of three years her life is shattered.

Annabelle, who has always been interested in medicine and has done volunteer work both in hospitals and among immigrants at Ellis Island, goes to France to volunteer in World War I. She works as a medic near the front, has a child out of wedlock in appalling circumstances and later becomes a physician and settles in Paris with her little daughter after the war.

Although Annabelle is a rich woman with a large inheritance in America, the fact is of no particular interest in the book. This is the story about a very special person. Pretty, yes, but also intelligent, strong and brave. In spite of the wealth and sheltered upbringing, she has more than her fair share of life's adversities and goes through it all with her head held high. Her life is forever changed and her secure world and naïve view of people never to be restored.

From the horrors of war to the glamour of post war Paris, the British aristocracy and dazzling New York - all in true Danielle Steel style - the main thing is Annabelle's story. What happens in her life and mind. What makes her the 32 year old doctor and mother who visits her home country for the first time ten years after she left in disgrace.

One of the best books Danielle Steel has ever written, filled with wisdom and funny bits of delicious humour.

IT WAS LIKE COMING HOME.., 30 Nov 2008
I have read every one of Elizabeth Jane Howard's books over a long time and to read this was like coming home.
The sophisticated style and the smooth transition from one person's story to the next is vintage Howard - and what a pleasure it gave me.
I wanted to devour the whole book immediately but rationed myself because I didn't want to finish it.

Although it is apparently set in the late 1960s which were after all, Elizabeth Jane Howard's glory days it seems, the period doesn't matter at all. Except for some references to prices,everything could just as easily have taken place yesterday.

The delightful Floy Plover, a garden designer is a wonderful character with a wisdom which one could envy. She is loved deeply by Persephone, her niece to whom she has been a surrogate mother for a long time.
They move to the West Country so that Floy can design and deal with the garden of the manor house which Jack Curtis has bought.

The Musgroves who used to live in Melton House live in the area and their lives begin to interweave with those of Floy, Persephone and Jack Curtis.

This is a skilfully constructed book, in which each character is given a chance to tell his or her story and it is seamlessly woven by a master novelist.

The descriptions of the seasons and the atmosphere of the beautiful West Country are a pleasure to read and savour - ' The rooks were flying in their rambling patterns, silhouetted alternately against a sky whose pale blue, molten with the setting sun, was streaked with aquamarine and drifts of peach-coloured cloud, a cómbination, she remembered Francis once saying, that could only be brought off by the celestial.'

There is humour and also heart-wrenching tragedy in this book, all presented with skill and flair.

I wouldn't have missed this book for anything.

Val De Beer.









Disappointing, 14 Nov 2008
What a disappointing read. Long and drawn out, with ill-defined characters who were sketchily drawn and unengaging. In fact, I had to keep reminding myself who was who. Couldn't understand why the book was set in the 1960s; the social and moral sentiments of the story would have stood up in a contemporary setting. Indeed, some actions in the book, such as eating pizza and having wine to offer readily at home, seemed rather advanced for the period. There were a few potential intriguing elements of the story that needed more development and other strands that were overdone and tedious.

A happy ending to this depressing trilogy, 22 Aug 2007
The final book in the Wideacre trilogy and tells the story of Julia and Richard Lacey's daughter Meridon (Sarah Lacey). Her mother gave her up to travelling gypsies at birth to protect her from the Lacey madness.

After her gypsy sister is killed during a trapeez act by the father of her unborn baby, Meridon is consumed by grief and accidentally discovers Wideacre and her inheritance. She dashes everyones hopes as she wants to farm the land for a profit for herself.

On her deathbed she is tricked out of her inheritance, but somehow finds the strength to live and against all odds win back Wideacre and the man she loves. She is then able to give Wideacre to the poor.

A happy ending to a mostly depressing trilogy.

Disappointing end to the trilogy, 28 Sep 2006
This book marks a departure from the first two, and takes Meridon, an abandoned gypsy girl who is secretly the heiress of Wideacre. I found the characteristion and plotting significantly weaker than the other two books and never felt involved with what was happening. I seems to me that Gregory just got bored with the series and was writing to order. The relationship between the characters was never more than superficial and the convenient ending of the heir of Laceys giving the land to a commune and living herself in a common-man's cottage as his lover but not wife was just way too contrived.

I thought the other two books were flawed but interesting, but this one failed to either capture of hold my interest and brought the whole trilogy down with its too neat tying up of all the ends.

book nostalgia, 12 Feb 2006
When I think about this book, I feel book nostalgia. It's what you feel after reading the truly great historical fiction, when you've been seduced by the characters and by the intoxicating intrigue of historical fiction. The BUT is that you have to get through the two first books, which are to put plainly quite painfully depressing, so as to really understand what drives the women of Wideacre. Meridon is on a par with Phillippa Gregory's "The Queen's Fool".

A Fantastic Third!, 23 Jan 2006
I couldn't wait to get my hands on the third in this triology! And I was thrilled with the book. The storyline is just terrific!

One of the best trilogy's i have read!, 14 Aug 2005
I started with Wideacre and was gripped, even though I did not usually go for this type of historical fiction. I read that book twice, then realised that The Favoured Child and Meridon followed the story through. I loved the twists in the tales that you dont expect, and the characters are brought to life in your mind. Excellent, well worth reading.

Rather like picking a scab - manky, but oddly fascinating., 19 Oct 2008
Straight off, I have to say that I am an uncritical fan of most of PGs work, but this one stretched even my credulity a bit. Being an unapologetic, pavement-plodding, Glaswegian city-girl , I was a little confused by the mystic, magical appeal of Wideacre, and I spent the first few chapters rather wondering what all the fuss was about. Still do, as a matter of fact. Despite this, I found the characters utterly compelling, if only in a slightly disturbing way, and the plots elaborate turns and developments were fascinating; but in the way that picking a scab is - you know its just going to end in (apologies for word creation, but nothing else does it justice) manky-ness, but you still just keep going. Saying that, I did find the John-addicted-to-whisky-and-only-Celia-can-save-him thing a little bit wearing after the fortyseventh mysterious whisky bottle, but never mind, it still made interesting reading. Overall, I have to say that the trilogy was one of my favouriteist books ever, but Wideacre I found a bit tiresome after the initial excitement, but the whole thing was redeemed in my (admittedly uncritical) eyes by the brilliant ending. After reading Favoured Child, the epilogue nearly made me cry. That's it for now, you've been a great audience, thank you and goodnight.

Disappointing, 16 Sep 2008
Wideacre Having read several Philippa Gregory books, including the brilliant novel 'A Respectable Trade' I bought this trilogy with anticipation and took 'Wideacre' on holiday. What a disappointment! The reissue of the 'Wideacre' trilogy is a commercial decision based on Philippa Gregory's more recent successes. Her heroine, described by some as poisonous but fascinating, becomes, in my view, unbelievable and ridiculous, as do the other characters. They are excused their weaknesses by a light dusting of 'history'. I resorted to skim reading to finish the book.

Wouldn't even give this to Oxfam, 29 Jul 2008
Terrible. This book was a gift, and i should have given it straight back.
Considering the standard of her other books, this is disappointing. Tacky, farfetched, and just generally bad

A brilliant read - highly recommend, 14 Jul 2008
I thoroughly enjoy Philippa Gregory's books. Right from the start, you are drawn into the story, starting off with the main character, Beatrice Lacey's, childhood. The characters are so well thought through and believable, you can't put the book down because you need to know what's going to happen next! I have missed stops on the train because of this book.

The story is about Beatrice Lacey, the daughter of a wealthy landowner, whose only passion is the land and her home, Wideacre, and she will do anything to keep it within her grasp including incest, murder and a whole lot of lying, deceiving and general bad behaviour.

Unfortunately, it appears a few people have a downer on this book purely, it seems, because they are squeamish about issues like incest(granted, it is a rather grim subject) but I think a strong and talented author like Ms Gregory winds it into the plot so a lot of people will appreciate that this is what Beatrice Lacey felt she had to do to keep the Wideacre estate within her grasp. Her desperation and passion knew no bounds.

The way each character grows is well done. I won't ruin the plot for you by saying how though - that is part of the pleasure of this book! The plot twists and turns and you are torn between wondering how Beatrice Lacey could be so cold and calculating to actually feeling sorry for her and her plight.

As with all Philippa Gregory books, I found Wideacre to be minutely researched, incredibly readable and I wasted no time in purchasing the other two books in the series.


A tale of corruption and manipulation, 12 Jul 2008
This is, quite simply, one of the best books I've ever read.

Even as a young child, Beatrice loves her home and the surrounding land known as Wideacre, almost to the exclusion of everything else. But as she grows into a woman and learns that she can never inherit, she sets out to wilfully manipulate and corrupt everyone and everything that stands in her path in order to get it.

What's unusual about this book is that for me, a strong part of enjoying a novel is usually a need to like and empathise with the main character. While I began the book with empathy for Beatrice, and all women who grew up in a man's world with no rights, her character evolves into something so wicked that this was what kept me turning the pages. I was desperate to know what she was prepared to do next - and whether she would get away with it.

The novel comes to a satisfying and devastating conclusion, and can stand alone without the need to read the two books that follow: The Favoured Child and Meridion - but I will definitely be reading them.

rogue hunter, 28 Oct 2008
Sam is an overworked lawyer finally convinced into taking a vacation and going to the summer cottage with her two sisters having broken up from her only ever boyfriend she needs time to relax and the fact that three mysteriouse, beautiful strangers have shown up in the neighbouring cabin can only help right?

Mortimer is an eighthundred year old vampire enforcer working for the vampoire council. He and two other vampires have been sent up to cottage country in search of a rouge vampire that has been breaking the carefully placed vampire rules and they have to stop them.
It seemed like a relativly easy mission but he didn't count onb running into Sam and discovering that she is his lifemate although he doesn't want to admit it.
She's everything that he doesn't want in a woman but as he gets to know he