MariReads: Review: The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley

ABOUT:

CeCe D’Aplièse has always felt like an outcast. But following the death of her father—the reclusive billionaire affectionately called Pa Salt by the six daughters he adopted from around the globe—she finds herself more alone than ever. With nothing left to lose, CeCe gathers the courage to explore the mystery of her origins. The only clues she holds are a black and white photograph and the name of a female pioneer who once lived in Australia.

One hundred years earlier, Kitty McBride, a Scottish clergyman's daughter, abandons her conservative upbringing to serve as the companion to a wealthy woman traveling from Edinburgh to Adelaide. Her ticket to a new land brings the adventure she has dreamed of… and a love that she never imagined.

When CeCe herself finally reaches the searing heat and dusty plains of the Red Centre of Australia, something deep within her responds to the energy of the area and the ancient culture of the Aboriginal people. As she comes closer to finding the truth of her ancestry, CeCe begins to believe that this untamed, vast continent could offer her something she never thought possible: a sense of belonging, and a home…

REVIEW :

I absolutely love this series.

I have been reading it since the first book came out. I think it is such an interesting concept. The mystery of the sisters' origins and their Pa Salt is just intriguing. Always happy to read anything by Lucinda Riley when I am in the mood for good historical fiction.

The Pearl Sister continues to shed light on the sisters and their adoptive father. More information is leaked to the reader and an understanding of who CeCe is is achieved. She was hard to figure out in the previous books, with the little info on her and her demeanor towards her sisters. After reading this one, I completely understand why she has been portrayed the way she has. I was left a little confused with her time spent Thailand and how it had to do with her story, however. Her time with Ace didn't feel necessary. I enjoyed reading more of her time in Australia and about the people she meets there.

One thing I really enjoyed is how the sisters' "origin stories" and how they are linked to historical figures. In this case, I had no knowledge of Kitty McBride. I am lacking in Australian history, but enjoyed learning about her and her life in the outback. I did a little research on Google to learn more, as well.

I cannot wait for the next installment. Still have a few more sisters to learn about!

Praise for The Shadow Sister

“Lucinda Riley is one of the strongest authors in this genre of historical fiction. Her ability to weave stories together, using modern-day and historical settings, is top-notch… excellent detail, heart-wrenching romance, and an engaging mystery.”

– Historical Novel Society

“Riley’s engaging and mesmerizing story of self-discovery and love, while making the complex tale of the Seven Sisters sufficiently clear, can be perfectly read as a stand-alone… This book will appeal to readers of Edwardian novels and Jane Austen-style fiction. Fans of the series will undoubtedly be pleased with this latest installment in the ‘Seven Sisters’ saga.”

– Library Journal (Starred Review)

“Set in the bucolic English countryside, this will appeal to fans of Kristin Hannah, Kate Morton, and Riley’s earlier novels.”

– Booklist

“Engaging… the stakes heighten as Star discovers her true heritage and destiny. Another pleasant jaunt down a genealogical rabbit hole.”

– Kirkus Reviews

“I’ve loved the Seven Sisters series from the start and this is my favorite so far. Riley’s trademark lavish detail, glamorous settings and wonderful characters are all present in this treat of a novel. The perfect curl-up-in-an-armchair read.”

– Daily Mail (UK)

“The Shadow Sister really is Lucinda’s best yet. The scope of this series is breathtaking and each book is more captivating than the last.”

– Iona Grey, author of Letters to the Lost

“Wonderful! Absolutely impossible to put down! The Seven Sisters books just keep getting better and better.”

– Tracy Rees, author of Amy Snow

“A deliciously twisting plot with clues cleverly paced along the way. I could hardly wait to solve the mystery of Star's origins. Thoroughly addictive storytelling with a moving, emotional heart.”

– Dinah Jefferies, author of The Tea Planter’s Wife

Praise for The Storm Sister

“The second installment of Riley’s sweeping series doesn’t disappoint, jumping from present-day Europe to nineteenth-century Norway and back again. Riley’s talent for blending current events with detailed backstories will intrigue historical-fiction readers, while fans of Kristin Hannah and Paulette Giles will appreciate the engrossing and introspective story of belonging, heartache, and acceptance.”

– Booklist

“This is the second in a series about glamorous adopted sisters brought up in a castle on Lake Geneva.… A great page-turner, full of drama and romance.”

– Daily Mail (UK)

TELEVISION SERIES

The Seven Sisters series has been optioned to be adapted for television by Raffaella de Laurentiis’s company Raffaella Productions. Daughter of legendary filmmaker Dino de Laurentiis, Raffaella has worked as a producer and studio executive in film and television for decades, including well-known projects such as Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Forbidden Kingdom starring Jackie Chan, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and Dragonheart and its sequels.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lucinda Riley is the #1 internationally bestselling author of sixteen novels, including Hothouse Flower and The Seven Sisters. Her books have sold more than ten million copies in over 30 languages. Lucinda divides her time between West Cork, Ireland, and Norfolk, England with her husband and four children. Visit her at LucindaRiley.com.

THE PEARL SISTER: Book Four by Lucinda Riley

Atria Hardcover | ISBN: 9781501180033 | On sale: January 23, 2018 | 528 pages | $27.00

eBook: Atria | ISBN: 9781501180057 | On sale: January 23, 2018 | 528 pages | $12.99

FIND LUCINDA RILEY ONLINE:

Website: http://www.lucindariley.com

Twitter: @lucindariley

Facebook: @Lucindarileyauthor

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