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About Ravenscliffe
Paperback: 544 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (January 28, 2014)
For fans of Downton Abbey . . . The peaceful beauty of the English countryside belies the turmoil of forbidden love and the apprehension of a changing world for the families of Netherwood.
Yorkshire, 1904. On Netherwood Common, Russian émigré Anna Rabinovich shows her dear friend Eve Williams a gracious Victorian villa—Ravenscliffe—the house Anna wants them to live in. There’s a garden and a yard and room enough for their children to play and grow.
Something about the house speaks to Anna, and you should listen to a house, she believes…Ravenscliffe holds the promise of happiness.
Across the square, Clarissa and her husband, the Earl of Netherwood, are preparing for King Edward’s visit. Clarissa is determined to have everything in top shape at Netherwood Hall—in spite of the indolent heir to the estate, Tobias, and his American bride—and much of it depends on the work going on downstairs as the loyal servants strive to preserve the noble family’s dignity and reputation.
As Anna restores Ravenscliffe to its full grandeur, she strikes up a relationship with hardworking Amos Sykes—who proposed to Eve just one year ago.
But when Eve’s long-lost brother Silas turns up in their close-knit mining community, cracks begin to appear in even the strongest friendships.
As change comes to the small town and society at large, the residents of Netherwood must find their footing or lose their place altogether.
Review
Instead of summarizing the story, since it's so eloquently done above, I'll begin with my thoughts. Like Netherwood, Eve Williams #1, this novel is intricately detailed and beautifully written. Not for a moment did I doubt the author's commitment to authenticity.
For me, complex characters are the heart of a great read, and there's no shortage of them here. Eve is the center of both stories--she's found new love after great loss, but she's still struggling. Her relationship with her son is particularly poignant. However, I found myself more interested in her friend, Anna. Based on the back cover, I thought the story would focus on her earlier than it did.
As in book one, I found myself much more engaged when the story focused on the lower class residents--since they are clearly the focus of the story, I have to wonder if that's the author's intent.
Although I enjoyed this novel, it suffered a bit from sequel expectation. However, I would not hesitate to recommend it to readers who love historical fiction, beautiful writing, and complex characters.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Please read my review of Netherwood by Jane Sanderson here.
About Jane Sanderson
A former BBC radio producer, married to author and journalist Brian Viner, Jane Sanderson has used some of her own family history as background for her first novel.
Find out more about Jane at her website and follow her on Twitter.
Thanks to TLC for my review copy.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.
Please visit other stops on the Ravenscliffe blog tour page.
About Netherwood
• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (December 31, 2013)
Two remarkably different worlds—one of wealth and privilege, the other of poverty and desperation—are about to collide in one shattering moment in this mesmerizing tale of high drama, forbidden love, and families fighting to hold on to what they have
Upstairs: Lord Netherwood, a coal baron, earns his considerable wealth from the three mines he owns. Supplying a bustling industrial empire with the highest-quality coal keeps his coffers filled—money he needs to run his splendid estate, Netherwood Hall, and to dress his wife and daughters in the latest fashions. And keeping his heir, the charming but feckless Tobias, out of trouble, doesn’t come cheap.
Downstairs: Eve Williams, the wife of one of Lord Netherwood’s most stalwart employees, cleverly manages her family’s well-being on the low wages her hardworking husband earns in the mines. But when her ordered life amid the terraced rows of miners’ houses is brought crashing down by the twin arrivals of tragedy and charity, Eve must look to her own self-sufficiency and talent to provide for her three young children.
And soon the divide between “upstairs” and “downstairs” is about to close . . . and neither world will ever be the same.
Review
It's the early 1900s, and the distinction between the classes is clearly defined. Lord Netherwood makes a fine living off the dangerous work of others in his coal mines. Now, he's struggling to keep his son in line. Tobias would rather sneak off with a young lady than take his role as the heir seriously.
Then there's Eve... married to a good man who works in the mines, she works hard to make their house a home and raise their three children. When tragedy strikes, she struggles to move forward. Thanks to a dear friend, Anna, she figures out how to use her talent for cooking to save her family.
Along the way, the two worlds collide. Eve's food draws the attention of those above her, and she finds herself mingling with blue bloods all the way up to the King. But there are those who aren't happy for her success, who seek comeuppance. Will she be able to hold her own?
Beautifully written and deliciously detailed, the scenery and situations spring to life from page one. The reader will feel transported to another time and place thanks to these vivid details and imagery. Although I found the beginning a bit slow, the characters quickly grew on me, especially Eve and Anna. When the book began to focus on Lord Netherwood and his family, I initially felt cheated because I was so invested in Eve's story. But it all comes together nicely by the end.
I look forward to finding out what happens to these wonderful characters in the sequel, Ravenscliffe (which I'm scheduled to review 2/13, so please check back here then).
Rating: 4 stars
About Jane Sanderson
A former BBC radio producer, married to author and journalist Brian Viner, Jane Sanderson has used some of her own family history as background for her first novel.
Find out more about Jane at her website and follow her on Twitter.
Thanks to TLC for my review copy.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.
Please visit other stops on the Netherwood blog tour page.
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