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102nd out of 949 books
—
1,428 voters
The Widow of Larkspur Inn (Gresham Chronicles #1)
Unforgettable characters and romance abound in this novel set in a quaint English village in the late 1860s. Without warning, Julia and her children lose everything except an abandoned village inn. A new vicar moves to Gresham, Andrew Phelps, a widower with two daughters. Will their children's plot to keep them apart succeed?
Paperback, 432 pages
Published
February 1st 1998
by Bethany House Publishers
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Well, this was an interesting reading experience.
I started this over a week ago. It started off somewhat boring (2 stars), the middle portion was really good and engrossing (4 stars), and the end was weak, hurried, and too preachy for my own personal taste (2 stars). I do give Blackwell kudos for presenting the message of Jesus Christ in a way that made sense within the story context. However, the testimony seemed to be really heavy-handed at the very end, whereas it was sprinkled lightly throug...more
I started this over a week ago. It started off somewhat boring (2 stars), the middle portion was really good and engrossing (4 stars), and the end was weak, hurried, and too preachy for my own personal taste (2 stars). I do give Blackwell kudos for presenting the message of Jesus Christ in a way that made sense within the story context. However, the testimony seemed to be really heavy-handed at the very end, whereas it was sprinkled lightly throug...more
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So really I would give this book at 2.5 star rating. It was a free download from amazon and I didn't have any other books at the time. It took me a while to finish it because it just dragged but I still wanted to see how some characters' issues were resolved. I will occasionally read a "christian" novel because I can count on them to be clean reads but, even though I am Christian, I don't like to talk about Jesus and being converted on every other page, it's just not why I read novels. This book...more
Loved it!
I really, really enjoyed this one. It was just a satisfying read through and through. A young woman, a widow, the mother of three children is 'forced' to leave London when her husband's gambling debts cause the bank to foreclose on her home. The good news? The family isn't completely destitute. The banker tells her there is a piece of property--a former Inn--that hasn't been lived in for over eight years. It wasn't deemed *valuable* enough to sell in their opinion, but they tell her that it shou...more
ALL FOUR BOOKS IN THIS SERIES ARE REVIEWED HERE FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE
THE WIDOW OF LARKSPUR INN, The Gresham Chronicles Book #1
Lawana Blackwell
•°o•:*¨¨*:•. THESE PEOPLE BECAME FAMILY .•:*¨¨*:• o°•
Book one of The Gresham Chronicles is set in England/1860s. Julia Hollis has 3 children, servants and a grand home, and everything she needs until her husband suddenly passes away. She finds herself very suddenly deep in debt. She has days before the bank will throw her out and take everything. The only...more
THE WIDOW OF LARKSPUR INN, The Gresham Chronicles Book #1
Lawana Blackwell
•°o•:*¨¨*:•. THESE PEOPLE BECAME FAMILY .•:*¨¨*:• o°•
Book one of The Gresham Chronicles is set in England/1860s. Julia Hollis has 3 children, servants and a grand home, and everything she needs until her husband suddenly passes away. She finds herself very suddenly deep in debt. She has days before the bank will throw her out and take everything. The only...more
his is an enjoyable historic romance. The main character, Julia Hollis, must leave her comfortable life in London, along with her three children, after her doctor husband dies and leaves them without a penny. Their only hope is to restore an old inn in a small town which is the only thing of value left to Julia. Turning this into a boarding house of sorts is the plan but they have their work cut out for them and Julia has never managed a business before.
I was afraid that this would be yet anothe...more
I was afraid that this would be yet anothe...more
I thought I knew what I was getting into when I started Lawana Blackwell’s The Widow of Larkspur, you know one main story focus, but nope! And it very well could have turned into a book disaster, but that wasn’t the case. When it first started I was weary, but I kept reading because unless you are Moby Dick, I will finish the book.
Then, and I’m not sure when it happened, all of the sudden I was totally immersed in the town of Gresham. Of course I wanted to know about Julia, but what about Fiona?...more
Then, and I’m not sure when it happened, all of the sudden I was totally immersed in the town of Gresham. Of course I wanted to know about Julia, but what about Fiona?...more
The Widow of Larkspur Inn was a lovely read. I snagged this eBook while it was on the Amazon freebie list {a thrifty way to add to your book collection}. While this was the first book by Lawana Blackwell I have read I am already looking forward to reading more of her novels.
There were several different story lines going on throughout the book, but they were unhurried and well developed. One of the key components of the story that resonated with me, was the relationship between Mrs. Hollis and he...more
There were several different story lines going on throughout the book, but they were unhurried and well developed. One of the key components of the story that resonated with me, was the relationship between Mrs. Hollis and he...more
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The Widow of Larkspur Inn is one woman's journey from heartbreak and near destitution to self-reliance and love. It was an enjoyable somewhat light read with a full cast of interesting supporting characters. And while the timing of events in the book were appropriate, the pace of the book moved a little slower than my personal taste. My biggest hang-up with the book was the rushed ending. We went from 'I have no feelings' to 'I love you' overnight. I was also a little disappointed that we don't...more
The Widow of Larkspur Inn is the first book in a series by Lawana Blackwell and focuses on a middle-class English woman Julia Hollis, recently widowed and the mother of three growing children. Julia discovers that her husband was a fierce gambler and is forced to leave London with her three children and reside in the country side. There are many subplot stories within the book and the reader is presented with a range of interesting characters. Fiona O'Shea, Julia's maid and then housekeeper, and...more
While I appreciate that a truly Victorian-time novel would have quite a few links to the church, and God, I did feel that it was a little too heavily laid-on here. Maybe it's just because of my views on religion (I'm an atheist), but it just didn't sit very well with me. It felt a bit like the book itself was preaching, trying to convert me the entire time. Now, despite my religious views, I have nothing against religion, and/or religious people. I don't even mind people trying to convert me. I...more
I gave this my 50 page rule and then some.
Like so many Fiction titles written for white, middle class evangelical women this was just too period-inaccurate for me to enjoy reading. Characters who are supposedly British upper class in Victorian England speak in modern vernacular. Irish characters speak American English.
All of the conversations and attitudes about and toward God are held with our current cultural approach to religion. Concepts upon which this book relies heavily--Christ as perso...more
Like so many Fiction titles written for white, middle class evangelical women this was just too period-inaccurate for me to enjoy reading. Characters who are supposedly British upper class in Victorian England speak in modern vernacular. Irish characters speak American English.
All of the conversations and attitudes about and toward God are held with our current cultural approach to religion. Concepts upon which this book relies heavily--Christ as perso...more
I had previously read this book but didn't remember that until I got into the story again. I went ahead and reread and enjoyed it very much. A wife and mother who thought her husband was honorable and smart and loving, died leaving a less than sterling reputation. Cutting short his life even made his oldest son's adjustments harder as he didn't get to spend much personal time with his physician father. He didn't know the details, but seemed to understand that there was something not quite right,...more
~~This is one of those fiction books that seems real enough to have actually happened.~~
The Widow of Larkspur Inn is set in Victorian London, England, Julia Hollis is a recent widow with three young children. When she is told that everything they own now belongs to the bank, the only option left is an old abandoned inn left to her husband which wasn’t considered of any worth. With the advice of creating a lodging house and loan from her former butler, Julia moves her family, with the help of her...more
The Widow of Larkspur Inn is set in Victorian London, England, Julia Hollis is a recent widow with three young children. When she is told that everything they own now belongs to the bank, the only option left is an old abandoned inn left to her husband which wasn’t considered of any worth. With the advice of creating a lodging house and loan from her former butler, Julia moves her family, with the help of her...more
I really enjoyed this book. I like romance and I usually stick to the "inspirational" romance genre and I liked the fact that the emphasis wasn't on the romance itself, but rather who a real and solid relationship should be centered on God and mutual respect and affection. I will admit the outcome was predictable but it didn't make it any less enjoyable. I loved the characters and even though you really only got to know Phillip well and see his growth out of the three Hollis children, I still en...more
For a free book, this was actually quite good. It did get a little preachy toward the end, and some of the ideas were a bit incongruous with the time setting. In addition, some of the theology seemed to be more in line with modern-day Evangelical Protestantism rather than that of the Church of England in the mid-19th century (the setting of the book).
Theology aside, the rest of the book was fairly good. If you are looking for romance, however, there isn't much. The titular widow's romance doesn'...more
Theology aside, the rest of the book was fairly good. If you are looking for romance, however, there isn't much. The titular widow's romance doesn'...more
A husband's unexpected death sets off a series of events in the historical novel The Widow of Larkspur Inn by Lawana Blackwell. A family used to a large house in the city full of servantsmust move to an abandoned inn in the country and figure out how to do everything from clean to cook to serve others. A cast that includes three children round out the fun and challenges, while a faithful servant adds mystery to the story.
As of the writing of this review, I am starting Chapter 10, about 21% throu...more
As of the writing of this review, I am starting Chapter 10, about 21% throu...more
Not what I expected when I picked it up and saw it labeled a Harlequin Romance (and now wondering why amazon had even labeled it "Harlequin Romance" in the first place...). Usually HR's are not near as wonderfully written as this (nor do they usually have such a compelling storyline and real, refreshing characters).
In fact, there was very little romance in this. It was more about the struggles of the family and them trying to find their way in the darkness. But the two romances that blossomed i...more
In fact, there was very little romance in this. It was more about the struggles of the family and them trying to find their way in the darkness. But the two romances that blossomed i...more
It took me a little while to actually get into this book as the set-up of all the characters and the setting was rather involved. Once the individual character plotlines begin to unfold, however, the book becomes vastly more interesting and I really enjoyed watching the stories of each individual character develop his/her own personality and narrative. Julia Hollis finds herself with very little left to her name after her husband dies and she discovers he had a serious gambling problem. She has...more
Oh goodness me, yet another Christian book downloaded by mistake. I must have been on completely the wrong section of the Kindle Store, as this is the second one in a row.
That having been said, bearing in mind that I got this as a freebie, I really wouldn't let the price of £2.98 put you off in any way, this was such a well written tale, with lovable and textural characters.
The pace of the plot was neither too fast nor too slow, in fact it perfectly paced to enjoy the experience as the plot unve...more
That having been said, bearing in mind that I got this as a freebie, I really wouldn't let the price of £2.98 put you off in any way, this was such a well written tale, with lovable and textural characters.
The pace of the plot was neither too fast nor too slow, in fact it perfectly paced to enjoy the experience as the plot unve...more
I almost gave this one 5 stars. I didn't because it is rare that I am "amazed" by a book. But this one came close to that description. A 30 something young woman with 3 children finds herself suddenly widowed and without financial resources except that of an abandoned village inn in Victorian England. Julia Hollis is a woman of great faith. She puts her life and that of her children into God's hands and goes forward in her life to new challenges and new experiences in a country village filled wi...more
The Widow of Larkspur Inn is the first in a trio of Christian Romanced novels, and it was offered free in ebook form on the Barnes & Noble website. I picked it up thinking it was a historical romance, and I liked it just fine, but Christian Romance isn't my genre.
I'm not a religious person. I grew up with it, yes, but I stepped away from it quietly and with no malice years ago. This isn't a book I'd have read if I'd known it had religion as a major part of its story. Not because books with r...more
I'm not a religious person. I grew up with it, yes, but I stepped away from it quietly and with no malice years ago. This isn't a book I'd have read if I'd known it had religion as a major part of its story. Not because books with r...more
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I enjoyed this book very much. I love novels of the 1800's era and this was another of that gendre.
Julia is a young wife & mother accustomed to wealth and privilege until her husband suddenly dies and leaves her pentiless much to her shock! She has three children to support and raise and she's never done any work her whole life. One of her servants decides to go with her and start a new life also and so they set off with very little and take on the endeavor of running a lodging house in the...more
Julia is a young wife & mother accustomed to wealth and privilege until her husband suddenly dies and leaves her pentiless much to her shock! She has three children to support and raise and she's never done any work her whole life. One of her servants decides to go with her and start a new life also and so they set off with very little and take on the endeavor of running a lodging house in the...more
Sep 19, 2012
Gwen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Gwen by:
9.12.2012 list of free Kindle books (but I swear I've read this before)
Shelves:
fiction
A reader cannot live on non-fiction alone, and I'm always a sucker for free Kindle books (especially those that have a surprisingly good rating on Amazon with thoughtful reviews).
Pros:
Nice, gentle story set in rural Victorian England. Great character development with mostly believable characters.
Cons:
Maddeningly frustrating--yet historically accurate--attitudes toward women in places. Questionable historical accuracy throughout (hairstyles, sectarian non-issues, financial concerns, etc.). Initi...more
Pros:
Nice, gentle story set in rural Victorian England. Great character development with mostly believable characters.
Cons:
Maddeningly frustrating--yet historically accurate--attitudes toward women in places. Questionable historical accuracy throughout (hairstyles, sectarian non-issues, financial concerns, etc.). Initi...more
Julia Hollis and her three children are forced to abandon their London home and move in to a vacant coaching inn- The Larkspur Inn in Gresham after the death of her husband who has left her penniless. Turns out he was a gambler and she never really knew him even though they were married and had three children.
Used to being pampered, will Julia be able to pick herself up by her bootstraps and rebuild a new and even better life for herself and her children? Fiona, a loyal servant with a troubled p...more
Used to being pampered, will Julia be able to pick herself up by her bootstraps and rebuild a new and even better life for herself and her children? Fiona, a loyal servant with a troubled p...more
The Widow of Larkspur Inn is a beautiful romantic story of a widow named Mrs. Hollis and her children. Mrs. Hollis' husband died with a cloud of debt hanging over the family forcing the family to move away to the country. Where they learn many things such as how to make friends, regain the strength of a strong testament of Christ, and become their own person. This story is not overtly romantic, but more covertly so. The story is clean of graphic images and tells its story in a wholesome manor. T...more
I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It is much higher quality than most Christian historical fiction. There were some historical errors, but they were mostly minor ones. The one that bugged me the most was Elizabeth and later Julia wearing their hair down "in the latest American fashion" (Huh?). There were also a few historically inaccurate names (e.g. Darcy on a girl).
I thought it was very refreshing that romance was not the main plot. Julia does have a romance, but it doesn't really sta...more
I thought it was very refreshing that romance was not the main plot. Julia does have a romance, but it doesn't really sta...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this first adventure of the Gresham Chronicles! It's a second read for me from a few years back. It's a delightful escape into 19th Century English countryside life that is always a pleasure for me. I have strolled through those villages, and spent nights in timbered houses that are hundreds of years old. It's going back in time and touching history... The villages are real, and my imagination can put those fictional characters in some wonderful memories.
Definitely The Widow...more
Definitely The Widow...more
Obviously Blackwell did her research for this book, and came up with an excellent idea. So why 2 stars than?
This book was too...british. It meanders with no real idea of where the plot is going. At first I thought the majority of the book would be about moving to Larkspur Inn, but that was resolved by page 40 or so. Than they are all accepted by the town fairly quickly, another dodge for any complications in the book. Than by page 200 we are introduced to a completely new character who seems wil...more
This book was too...british. It meanders with no real idea of where the plot is going. At first I thought the majority of the book would be about moving to Larkspur Inn, but that was resolved by page 40 or so. Than they are all accepted by the town fairly quickly, another dodge for any complications in the book. Than by page 200 we are introduced to a completely new character who seems wil...more
My favorite series. The era is awesome. I can picture all the characters walking down the different Lanes. It is just a peaceful series in which I can see myself joyfully living in.
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Lawana Blackwell is a full-time writer with 10 published novels, including the bestselling Gresham Chronicles series. She and her husband have three grown sons and live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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