Nineteen-year-old Gwendolyn Hooper steps off a steamer in Ceylon full of optimism, eager to join her new husband. But the man who greets her at the tea plantation is not the same one she fell in love with in London.

Distant and brooding, Laurence spends long days wrapped up in his work, leaving his young bride to explore the plantation alone. It's a place filled with clues to the past - locked doors, a yellowed wedding dress in a dusty trunk, an overgrown grave hidden in the grounds, far too small for an adult...

Gwen soon falls pregnant and her husband is overjoyed, but she has little time to celebrate. In the delivery room the new mother is faced with a terrible choice, one she knows no one in her upper class set will understand - least of all Laurence. Forced to bury a secret at the heart of her marriage, Gwen is more isolated than ever. When the time comes, how will her husband ever understand what she has done?

I saw this book at a book fair and remembered thar someone had it on their wishlist. Turns out it was Lindasaurus, so that's where the book is travelling to now ;)

Thank you very much, dear chrissini!!

I finally got around to reading that book and I thought it was okay. It wasn't great and it wasn't bad. But that is just my opinion.

Let me just go ahead and say there are about a ton of secrets in this book. It's like a mystery trying to figure everything out. But unfortunately I wasn't too fond of most of the characters. When Laurence and Gwen do get to their home, Laurence starts acting all weird. He pretty much acts bizarre through the whole book.
I'm also not too fond of Gwen, I have to admit. Somehow I prefer books about strong independent women, than 19 year old children that don't really know what they want and what they have to do.

And, OMG, Laurence's freaking sister, Verity. What a character! I wanted to drop-kick her off the roof! She was a horrible person. She was constantly up in their faces and in their home. Even when she found home for herself with her husband, she was still up in their business all of the time. But, Laurence didn't do much about it even when Gwen complained. Verity also wanted Laurence to keep giving her money. But I wan't really sure why Verity did all those terrible things, and for my taste it wasn't properly explained and solved in the end.

Like I said before, I thought the book was ok, but nothing really special. I do think a lot more people will like the book more than me and that's great. I will tell you that it made me want to drink some tea!

Sent this book a couple of days ago to the winner of the book, tea and chocolate sweep. Thought that would be an appropriate book for this sweep :-)

Congratulations, hope you enjoy it!

Received this book, along w/ chocolates & the cutest box of tea, as the winner of the Book, Tea and Chocolate Sweeps - Aug/Sept 2020 !
Thank you so much, Lindasaurus! Your review made me chuckle; hopefully it'll make me "want to drink some tea" too :)

This was quite dramatic & convoluted, with lots of reveals after layers of backstory. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would; had a vague feeling of chick-lit in the beginning but it passed as the main character matured.
Am sending this as a ��surprise�� tag-along to March's offer as this was on winner's wishlist.

A super RABCK from Echode.
Thank You So much! What wonderful surprise.

A very descriptive and solidly written novel. I feel it was well researched for both it's location and era.
It is also true in the sense that even The Priveleged have issues, concerns and problems. Money helps, but as the plot points out, it cannot solve everything.
A good mix of characters- both pleasant and irritating.
The strength of characters is also well rounded.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and will be looking out for more of this author's work.

I found this a gripping, interesting read, which takes the reader to another era and culture.

Please take me home and read me!

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