Customer Reviews

Circle of Pearls (Windsor Selections)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was my second book by Rosalind Laker and I liked it almost as much as the first, "To Dance With Kings". Historically, this novel is extremely accurate and vividly described. You can feel the atmosphere and clearly imagine how everything was at that time. My problem with this novel is the same as in "To Dance With Kings" -- Ms. Laker changes her pace in the last third of the novel and hurries through events and characters to reach a happy ending. In "Circle of Pearls", Ms. Laker takes her time to describe the Cromwell years and the state of Sotherleigh during the time Makepeace Walker lived there. But after he leaves, she manages to draw everything to a close, including Charles II's restoration and coronation, the plague and the fire of London, in half the space she allotted to the preceding events. Her characters suffer as a result. Although Christopher and Julia continue to be well-realized, Adam is only briefly sketched. Sophie is not given room to show what she is about but the author just tells us what state she is in and how other characters perceive her. There is no mention of what happened to Patience. Certain characters, such as Nell, abrutly exit until a hint of what happened to them appears in the epilogue. Other characters, such as Katy, are added only with a purpose to enhance certain people's personality. I would have also appreciated more detail about the life of Jean-Robert. Another problem in "Circle of Pearls" is that Julia and Christopher, although interesting characters, are not that lovable and I felt more invested in the character of Adam but Ms. Laker did not focus on him enough. I liked Mary and wished that Ms. Laker would have transferred some of the enterprising spirit that Julia possessed onto her. Anne's plight was especially poignant and tragic and Katherine's past could have made up a book in itself. Basically, my problem is that Ms. Laker did not double the size of this book so that the story would have been more complete. I understand that the novel could only be a certain size, but if Ms. Laker spent so much time on Julia's childhood, she should have spent as much time on her adulthood.

This was the first Laker book I read and, I have to say, it is amazing! The details about the house, the era, the dress, everything is just superb. After reading this I was really into furniture with hidden compartments and, of course, reading more Rosalind Laker novels. Her books will never go out of style!

This was the first book that I ever read that I literally could not put down. The characters are so vivid and the inspired weaving together of fact and fiction was a real pleasure to experience.

This book ties in the memory of a great Queen - Elizabeth I with the problems in England that ensued under her successors. This social picture is seen within the context of a particular family who are loyal to the King and not to Parliament. In particular it is the story of one of the family and how she retains her independence, her loyalty to her Grandmother and family name and begins to love someone who politically is her opposite. The thread is a Gown of Queen Elizabeth's. Only problem is that it hasn't a sequel. A very good novel.

This is a very interesting historical novel, dealing with the Restoration period of English history and Charles II. The characters were very believable, although l was a little disappointed with the character of Adam, who started off doing anything to win her, but showed only little 'spark' after that. On the whole, a very informative and enjoyable book.

This is my favorite book by Mrs. Laker. The historical family saga is very interesting and kept me turning the pages. She applys all aspects of human suffering and romantic love in a different way than most historical romances. Wonderfully written.

The story begins with Julia, youngest child of Royalists Robert and Anne Pallister, and her older brother Michael as they live in the constant fear of their estate being taken from them by Cromwell's Parliamentarians, as England's civil war rages around them. Michael and Robert both join Charles II's cause and subsequent tragedies strike the family leaving Robert's widow Anne to make a drastic choice to avoid loosing her family home forever to a Cromwell supporter. As Julia matures, the story follows her life and marriage as Charles II returns to rule England and on through the plague and great fire of London.

Unfortunately, what should have been a ripping good story just falls a bit flat to this reader. The author spends way too much time on Julia's childhood experiences, I would have preferred to have the background told in flashbacks and have the story start off as Julia reaches maturity (note to self - never ever complain about an author's backtracking to past history after getting the story going), we didn't see Julia wed and in London as Charles is crowned King until well after the first half of the book. I also would have preferred to have Julia and Adam more involved in Charles' court and its intrigues instead of being side line players in the action. Lastly, as much as I enjoy an author setting the scene and describing the clothes, furnishings, etc. so that I have a good sense of time and place, Laker goes way over the top describing everything in too minute of a detail and I found myself skimming quite a bit through those lengthy descriptions.

All in all, a pleasantly entertaining book to read if you are interested in the period or a fan of the author, but certainly not the best to be read in this period and most definitely doesn't come close to the standard set by Kathleen Winsor's awesome Forever Amber. Three stars.

In one word this book is epic. It is a family-saga/ historical fiction wonder. Absolutely must read!

"Rosalind Laker" is my great aunt and I have read many of her books. Of all of them this has to be the best of them all!

it was ok. not as good as to dance with kings. Not as much insider type info of the times.