The Wilding Sisters had a lot of promise. The first fifty or so pages had a lot of promise. But then it seemed to drag. Two different time lines, which seems to be the 'thing' in so many novels now, is just 'ok' in this one. Not the worst book I've ever read, but not in the top 100, either.
This is the third Eve Chase book I've read and it will be the last. A friend, apparently an Eve Chase fan, loaned me these books. The first book I read was "The Daughters of Foxcote Manor" which I gave four stars; the next was "Black Rabbit Hall" which I gave three stars. I'm giving "The Wildling Sisters" only one star. Each of these books has the same forumula: jumping between the "present" and 30-50 years earlier. All involve an old crumbling estate out in the British countryside; and all have a dark secret from the past. The author often gives very detailed descriptions of things, which becomes annoying. She also writes both time frames in the present tense.
This particular book was somewhat confusing. POSSIBLE SPOILERS: There is a reference or two to a downed German pilot. Early on in the "past" telling, the sisters are dragging a body, which I initially thought was the German pilot. The main characters--Jessie, Bella, Will, Romy--in the "present" story are unlikeable (except Romy who is a toddler). Jessie, second wife to widow Will, is insecure and tries too hard; Bella, Will's teenage daughter with his first wife, is sullen and rude (understandable to a point); and Will seems to coddle Bella too much. At the end when the truth of the mystery is revealed, suddenly all the problems among Will, Jessie, and Bella are magically gone. END OF SPOILERS
This particular book was somewhat confusing. POSSIBLE SPOILERS: There is a reference or two to a downed German pilot. Early on in the "past" telling, the sisters are dragging a body, which I initially thought was the German pilot. The main characters--Jessie, Bella, Will, Romy--in the "present" story are unlikeable (except Romy who is a toddler). Jessie, second wife to widow Will, is insecure and tries too hard; Bella, Will's teenage daughter with his first wife, is sullen and rude (understandable to a point); and Will seems to coddle Bella too much. At the end when the truth of the mystery is revealed, suddenly all the problems among Will, Jessie, and Bella are magically gone. END OF SPOILERS
The Wildling Sisters by Eve Chase has the fixings for an enjoyable summer beach read. The book startes with drama, slows to set the framework, and then picks up speed again. The story of the present is a stereotypical one of a hurt teen and an adult trying to forge a relationship. The story of the past and of the Wildling sisters themselves takes a much more unexpected path, making this the more intriguing of the two time periods.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/08/the-wildling-sisters.html
Reviewed for the Penguin First to Read program.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017/08/the-wildling-sisters.html
Reviewed for the Penguin First to Read program.
The Wildling Sisters has the components necessary for an interesting novel; however, for me it was only average. The setting, Applecote Manor, is a large home in the Cotswolds. In 1959, four sisters from London arrive to stay with their paternal uncle and his wife for the summer. Their cousin, Audrey, the couple's only child, vanished five years earlier at the age of 12. Fifty years later, a London couple with two children, buy it despite its need for a massive renovation. The earlier story far outweighs the later one in terms of interest. Audrey's disappearance is the mystery and the setting is gothic. The mystery is solved, the sisters' lives revealed and the current owners resolve their difficulties.
