Customer Reviews

Lily

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When Lily escapes the plans of her lunatic family to marry her off to an emotionally stunted theology student, she grabs the first chance she can think of and hires herself out as a housemaid, ending up in the lonely, brooding Cornish end of the world, with a dashing, mourning Lord drinking too much and a house manager straight out of "Rebecca" to break her spirit. This is a different sort of romance novel. The writer is comfortable with dark themes, and the supporting characters are more than mere caricatures. It put me in mind of Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, although, of course, it didn't come close to those masterpieces. Still. An awfully good read. I lent this to a friend of mine, and I've not gotten it back because she keeps re-reading it.

Lily is one of Patricia Gaffney's first books not that you could tell. It is as original and as well-written as any of her later efforts. It is, however, in the style of those eighties and early nineties romances. What I mean by this is that it is melodramatic and sometimes a little over the top with an ever-suffering heroine and a dark tormented sometimes cruel hero. But never fear Gaffney makes that tired formula work and does so brilliantly.

Lily has been orphaned and left at the mercy of an uncle who's a religious fanatic. This uncle claims Lily must marry his son (equally fanatic) because of a religious vision he's had. Lily refuses and an altercation ensues where the uncle ends up bleeding and unconcious. Thinking she's killed him Lily flees and eventually ends up at Darkstone Manor working as a maid. Devon Darkwell is the lord and master of this manor. Devon is a dark extremely tortured hero with a painful past. Because of this he can't trust and is seemingly incapable of love until he lays eyes on Lily. He eventually seduces her and ends up getting more than he bargained for because sweet, innocent Lily somehow finds her way into his black heart. What's a dark, tortured hero to do when faced with the horrible prospect of falling in love? Well, fight back, of course. He puts poor Lily through all kinds of hell before the requisite HEA ending.

I gobbled up this book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. It is a great read. There lots of cliches but like I said in the hands of this brilliant author it works and wonderfully. Give this book a try, you will not regret it. :)

I read a lot of romance books...a lot. As a classical Literature major in college, however, I have come to demand quality in the books that I read. I am tired of characters that fall in love with a lustful glance, or dialog that make the hero/heroine seem ingenuine, false, and complete idiots. I want real people -- compelling storylines, and writing that leaves me riveted and craving more. Not many authors can do this, but Patricia Gaffney can. "Lily" kept me riveted to the very end. The characters were well sketched out and thier dialog was emotional and believable. The story was great (although I might have written the ending a little differently). I won't bore you with a synopsis, but this book was one the best reads I had this summer. Buy this book -- you won't regret it.

GREAT descriptions of how hard life was for the servants during this time period in history. I loved the realistic descriptions and portrayals of work life, and the struggle for existence. It made the reader feel as if they were truly living during that time.

In addition, I also liked the book's storyline, but I got very frustrated with Lily's wimpiness when it came to Devon's brutish treatment and mistrust of her. Instead of the turbulent love story, where the hero and heroine fight against the odds to be together, they actually fight each other's foibles to be together (Devon's lack of trust and mistreatment of her, and Lily's constant attempts to see past his brutish ways).

This is a dysfunctional relationship, if I ever saw one. The book had my attention enough to get to the end (good ending), but how much did Lily have to go through to get there?? And, was it worth it?? Would Devon's lack of remorse for his bad behavior truly mean a "Happily Ever After Ending"?

I've read many romantic novels in my time, and after this one, I know I have read better.

I've been in a reading slump lately . . . picking up and discarding several books/genres that couldn't hold my interest. But "Lily" has me back on track again!

Yes, Dev (the hero) is tortured and sometimes cruel, and yes, sometimes Lily is a bit too trusting, but, wow!, this is one luscious love story! Truthfully, it made me cry a bit, and there's only been a few others have ever accomplished that.

This is definitely a dark, violent romance with the heroine misused by several secondary characters. But no matter how they try, they can't break her spirit. Lily always holds out hope that Dev will admit his love for her and avenge her wrongs. (Oh, how trivial my troubles seems when stacked up next to hers!) And Devon is tortured and confused but eventually redeems himself (or does Lily redeem him)?

What a tome; what a tale - just a really excellent book by one of the most talented historical romance authors to ever draw breath! (Glad to share your name, Ms. Gaffney.) What more can I say? Read this book!

Another favorite Gaffney is Wild at Heart, whose story has a really fresh premise. Now, how will I find another book to read that won't feel stale by comparison? I know, I believe I have "Sweet Everlasting" on my TBR pile. Sweet victory!

LILY is Patricia Gaffney's tale surrounding England's rigid class distinction and it is a depressing story! Without a doubt, while reading Gaffney's tale of woe, this reader found herself firmly "down in the dumps!" It is a little wonder why the average "Joe and Josephine" gloriously fled England. A new land must have seemed like nirvana!

Gaffney's heroine, Lily Trehearne, was a good person. She was patient and passionate; she was sincere and committed. In reality, Lily Trehearne was a man's gift. She was not a murderer; she was not a thief; but she was a liar! Lily Trehearne was not of the servant class! She lied when she arrived at Darkstone Manor, because she needed shelter, because she needed a job, because she . . . simply . . . needed . . . she had run away from a roughshod guardian! Although her mother was a lady and her father was a gentleman, now Lily resigned herself to the life of a scullery maid. Now she spent endless days enduring backbreaking drudgery, unavoidable poverty, and inescapable indifference, for now Lily Trehearne lived the life of a servant girl!

Devon Darkwell, Viscount Sandown, was a strange man. He was moody, he was cocky, and he was unapologetic. He was a viscount and he was very capable of administrating torment. Darkwell wanted Lily and he wanted her without sacrifice. He was a man once spurned; he was a man who would never again surrender to a woman. But, oh, how Lily captivated Darkwell! Yet, he vowed he would keep his distance. He would seduce Lily and then reject her.

Exactly . . . he would seduce Lily and reject her - HE WOULD SEDUCE LILY AND REJECT HER. He would offer his compassion and pull it away. He would offer himself and THEN freeze off. He would mistreat her, insult her, and ignore her! Truly, truly . . . Woe is Me!

Although Patricia Gaffney has a beautiful writing style, LILY's plot is just too gloomy! In my romance reading, I want fantasy, I want to live on Cloud Nine. In my romance heaven, the reading should "always" be an escape!
Grade: C- (Based on mounting depression!)

MaryGrace Meloche.

Wow! I've just reread this novel,and incredibly it reads better the second time around. It puts me in the mind of the Bronte gothic romances, but indulges us a bit more, of course. The hero, Devon, is almost unbearably dark and tormented, but that is precisely what makes the story so gripping. It is easy to be put off his multiple mishandlings of his one true love, but Gaffney, the rare quality romance writer, explores his tortured soul carefully. She does not cross the line of unacceptable cruelty, as I believe she did with To Love and to Honor, which was intriguing but too disturbing (now that's abuse!). Lily has her proper revenge and her own moments of cruelty, yet a higher forgiveness overwhelms this tallying of warring hearts, which is the ultimate indulgence. I love the fact that the last segment is not predictable and boring, as 99% of romances are apt to be. The romantic tension is kept up until the last scene, an achievement in itself. One thing I loved about this story was the clear and vivid sense of place, the seascapes and flora of the wild and unique Cornish coast really adds to the romantic (and Romantic) atmosphere. Literary readers will surely enjoys this love story...

I should preface this by saying that by the end of this book I loved both Devon and Lily. Lily was never a doormat, and I respected her for the choices she made. Devon was a mysterious, troubled man who obviously had baggage and was taking that out on Lily. And they both had to overcome some mighty big hurdles to be together.

But, still, something about this book bothered me. The guy - Devon - has all this history that makes him behave badly. The girl - Lily - gets treated badly (*uncomfortably* bad, I might add). So Lily holds a grudge. Now up to here, I was fine. But somewhere along the way it seemed that Devon got off too easy. Of course, I wanted both characters to end up together, and I did like the ending. But it just seemed as though Devon acted horrifically and didn't really repent much. (Query - how different is a forcible rape from a "seduction" rape where the guy gets the girl all hot and bothered then has his way with her regardless of what she wants? I guess I'm not comfortable with concluding that the "seduction" type isn't that big of a deal - it's more an abuse of trust if not obvious physical abuse).

I guess I just don't like stories that seem to say that, regardless of the *size* of the character flaw, if each character has to pay a little for his flaw, all is hunky dory. The punishment should fit the crime in my book.

While I can't complain about the style of the book, I will complain about the characters. At every point where the hero has to decide if he should trust the heroine, he believes the absolute worst of her, not once but three times. Each times he humiliates her worse. On the last couple pages he admits he was being a jerk, but we're never really given any evidence that he really reformed. Each time after he humiliates her he feels bad, then he ends up doing it again. The end just looked the same way. Unfortunately it felt to me like Lily had entered into an abusive relationship, not a loving romantic one. Want a great Gaffney, try Wild at Heart or her To Love and To Cherish trilogy, but unless you like *really* domineering males, pass this one by.

Lily herself was the only redeeming quality this book had. Devin was a nightmare of a hero and I found it difficult to even get through this one......

Devin was burned by his first wife and now has sworn off love forever. He is instantly attracted to his maid Lily, but after being burned by his first wife, knows that he only wants her and will never love her. This book was PAINFUL to read. Devin's seduction followed by his dismissal's went on and on. I found myself chapter over chapter hoping he would see the error of his ways and when he FINALLY did.....it was just to darn late.

Lily was really refreshing. She was strong and didn't put up with Devon's antics. She knew what she wanted/deserved, pleaded with Devin to let go of the past, but when it was clear that he wasn't capable of love....she leaves him. I found myself cheering for her as she left him in the dust.

Devin's grovel to regain her was fun to read about, but for me.....was to little too late. She should've kept running.