Review: The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley

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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Happy Reading!

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley Hardcover, 512 pages Publishes March 22, 2016, Atria Books
Source: publisher for review, Netgalley
The Storm Sister is the second book in the series following each of six sisters named after the Pleides by their adoptive father, Pa Salt. He has suddenly and mysteriously died  and left the sisters clues to their biological pasts. The Storm Sister is about Ally and her search into where she came from after a great loss in her personal life.
She seems to have a connection with Edvard Grieg and a couple musicians who were involved with the first performance of Peer Gynt. I love classical music and am very familiar with Grieg's work, so I really enjoyed this historical fiction section of the book. Even better, was listening to the Peer Gynt Suites while reading.   Both stories, Ally's and Anna's were well written and interesting. I am so intrigued by Pa Salt. Such a mysterious man. I wonder what motivated him to adopt these girls, to leave them clues as to who they are and to not leave more info about who he is. Can't wait to read more.
Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Current Read: The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley

This is the second book in Lucinda Riley's The Seven Sisters series. It will be published on March 22nd by Atria Books. 
Happy Reading! _________________________________________

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley Hardcover, 636 pages Published May 2015, Atria Books
Source: NetGalley
The Seven Sisters is the fourth book I have read by Lucinda Riley. I am a fan. I really do enjoy the time jumping between different generations of families and the historical settings. This one didn't disappoint. In one book, I traveled to Buenes Aires, Paris and Geneva in present day and the 1920's.
The story follows Maia, one of seven adopted sisters. With the death of their father, they receive clues as to where they are from and there biological family histories. In this first of seven planned novels, Riley takes the reader to Brazil in search of Maia's ancestry. 
There is mystery and intrigue, love and heartbreak. So much to keep you reading to the end. I enjoyed every page of it. Looking forward to the next book in the series which comes out in the Spring.
Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Review: The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley

The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley  (The Light Behind the Window in the UK) Published in US June 2013, Atria Books Paperback, 416 pages
Source: Received from publisher for Review
I have enjoyed all the books by Lucinda Riley and this one was no exception. 
In her typical style, of connecting the past with the present, The Lavender Garden tells the story of the de la Martiniers family across two generations. In 1999, Emelie must deal with the estate she has inherited after the death of her mother. In 1944, Constance Carruthers is sent to Paris as an SOE agent from Britain who unexpectedly ends up in the home of Edouard de la Mariniere, a secret member of the Resistance as well.
Emelie's story was not my favorite. I did not like how naive she was and willing to fall into a marriage with a man she doesn't really know only after a month. When Emelie meets Sebastian Carruthers he says he is a gallery owner, and coincidentally, his grandmother had a connection to Emelie's father during WWII. I didn't trust his story from the beginning. I also think the story of Constance could have been shared without the Sebastian storyline.  Now, this of course, comes from my dislike of him, which I suppose is the point. Anyway, I could have done without him. His brother, Alex, on the other hand I did like. 
Constance's story was great. Full of intrigue and adventure, family drama and secrets, and a Romeo and Juliet like love story all rolled up into a very entertaining tale. You learn of Edouard and his relationship with his sister, Sophia, and their lives in Nazi occupied France. It is quite the story and much more to my liking than that of Emelie and Sebastian.  I would hate to share too much and ruin the story, so I will leave you with that.
Do know, that Emelie's story does get better. Her visits with the family that run the vineyard, and her interactions with Alex make up for the beginning. She does grow on you as she seems to grow up a bit. For more information about the book and author visit her WEBSITE.


Happy Reading! _________________________________________
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Review: The Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley

The Girl on the Cliff by Lucinda Riley
After a devastating loss, Grania Ryan returns to her childhood home in Ireland, leaving her boyfriend back in New York confused about why he has been left. A young girl, Aurora Lisle, wandering the cliffs one early morning ends up being Grania's unexpected answer to finding happiness again.
How the Ryan and Lisle families are connected is an interesting tale that Grania's mother grudgingly reveals to help explain why she wishes her to be weary of the Lisle family. This part of the story takes the reader back to Ireland and London during WWI and the years following. There is an interesting parallel between the story of Mary and Grania. 
This was quite an entertaining read. It was the perfect read for me during the holidays. There is a little of everything- romance, family drama and even a little of the paranormal. I did get a little frustrated with Grania's stubbornness at times with her refusal to speak her adoring boyfriend back at home. Although, he also made me mad with his choices. I know, I am being very vague and making no sense. Just read it. Then you will understand.
Source: Atria Books, publisher Happy Reading! _________________________________________
FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Book Review: The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley

THE ORCHID HOUSE: A Novel By Lucinda Riley
Published by: Atria Books / Trade Paperback Original
ISBN: 978-1-4516-5578-0
Pages: 449
Price: $15.00
US Pub Date: February 14, 2012
eBook: 978-1-4516-5580-3

Julia has suffered a great loss and finds herself depressed, holed up in her dark dreary cottage avoiding contact with everyone. Her sister and family try to help but it takes a return to Wharton Park, the estate where her grandfather worked in the gardens and she used to visit as a child, to help her start healing. Along with the new Lord Crawford and the history they learn after finding an old journal, Julia finds a way to live and love again.

What a beautiful story this was. It spans generations, takes you from the English countryside to Thailand and to France. Not only a story about Julia, but also of all the people who made Wharton Park home, including the servants. Rich in atmosphere and family secrets, it was a hard book to put down. It had been awhile since I had gotten so caught up in the lives of characters in a book. It was fun to lose myself in their stories every night this past week.

If you enjoy Downton Abbey, you will enjoy The Orchid House. Especially when the story jumps back to the 30's and 40's. I highly recommend this book. It would make a great choice for book groups.

4/5
Source: publisher


 Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland, and during her childhood, traveled extensively abroad, particularly to the Far East. While taking a break from writing and acting to have her children, she designed and built a house on the island of Koh Chang, Thailand. It was this experience, combined with her passion for history, that inspired her to write THE ORCHID HOUSE, which Atria Books is publishing as her American debut. She currently lives in rural England with her husband and four children. To learn more about Lucinda Riley and her work, visit her website at: www.LucindaRiley.co.uk.

England, France

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.