For everyone who might be thinking this book is the next "Downton Abbey" - please don't bother! It's a terrible bore. I admit I haven't read a Barbara Taylor Bradford book since A Woman of Substance, but my goodness, has she lost her storytelling touch! This story contains every single cliche you ever hope to avoid in a book about English aristocrats in the pre-WWI (and soon to be WWI) era. I was honestly shocked by how bad it is. The characters are weak - simpering servants and kindly masters whose stories intertwine all too much. Ms. Taylor Bradford spends an endless amount of time *explaining* everything, which should have been moved along by plot or by dialogue. A big NO to this story. Instead of reading this, I suggest renting Upstairs, Downstairs (the old 1970's serial, not the new version) instead. At least they cared about getting details right!

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