Postcards from a Stranger [Hardcover]

Sally Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

A lifetime's work, two very different men ... and a woman in search of the truth.

When Oliver Hatton returns to his childhood home in Oxfordshire, most things seem reassuringly the same. But the poised and confident young woman who has replaced his childhood friend, Jane, is not so familiar. But then, if Jane now unnerves Oliver, it is at least some justice for the past years of humiliation she suffered at his hands. And anyway, now there is Jules Legrand, a research assistant helping to catalogue her uncle's priceless collection, and Jane is suddenly grateful for his friendship and support.

However, Jules is not content merely with gratitude and soon proposes marriage, urging Jane to start a new life with him in France. Oliver makes it clear he doesn't trust Jules an inch and demands that Jane face up to her true feelings. Then Jules vanishes, leaving only a trail of postcards for Jane to follow across the continent. And at the same time, a valuer confirms her uncle's historic collection is nothing but a set of clever fakes. Torn and confused, Jane must somehow discover the truth -- about Jules, the collection, Oliver... and her own heart.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Orphan Jane Kingsley was raised in the English village of Little Fairford by her uncle, Edwin, a noted scholar and collector of ancient scientific instruments. All through her teenage years, she had an embarrassing crush on their neighbor, Oliver Hatton. Then Jules Legrand arrives from France to study Uncle Edwin's collection. Refusing to allow a youthful infatuation to turn into love, Jane opens her heart to Jules. When Uncle Edwin's home is burglarized, Oliver, who is Uncle Edwin's solicitor, suspects Jules. Jane, who has accepted Jules' proposal of marriage, is staunchly loyal to her fiance, insisting that he's innocent. But then Jules disappears. Although readers will want to throttle Jane for marrying the man who burglarized her home, it is in keeping with her character. Finally she realizes that Jules is taking advantage of her. So she leaves him and returns to Little Fairford, where she is free to turn to Oliver, who has loved her all along. Stewart's wonderful characters are, like her writing, very British and charming and understated. Ann Bouricius

About the Author

Sally Stewart, born a Londoner but now happily settled with her husband amid the green hills of Somerset, has written numerous short and full-length stories. Many of them reflect her love of history, or were born of places visited in the course of foreign travels.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers; Unabridged edition (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727822527
• ISBN-13: 978-0727822529
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,706,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A highly enjoyable story about believable people, March 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Postcards from a Stranger (Magna Large Print General Series) (Hardcover)

A contemporary set story of a young woman whose misplaced sense of loyalty leads her to make a disasterous marriage and stick to her vows long after most people would have given up on a husband who was a thief as well as a liar. Eventually she calls it a day and comes home to England and to her friends to re-build her life. This is not in any way a sad story. In fact Mr Right is waiting in the wings if the heroine would only notice - and there is a great deal of humour to be found in the author's descriptions of the everday follies of human beings. The characters are believable and well drawn - highly recommended.