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2nd out of 176 books
—
160 voters
When Empires Fall (Vasser Legacy #1)
by
Katie Jennings (Goodreads Author)
The Vassers are America's greatest family, an empire forged in steel and stone, wealth and prestige. They're in the business of luxury hotels...and murder.
When the truth is exposed through the letters of a dead woman, all hell breaks loose. The family tries to cope with the allegation that what they thought was a decades old suicide was actually the cold-blooded murder of...more
When the truth is exposed through the letters of a dead woman, all hell breaks loose. The family tries to cope with the allegation that what they thought was a decades old suicide was actually the cold-blooded murder of...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
August 10th 2012
by Sapphire Royale Publishing
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The Vasser family have been kings in the hotel industry for years and when a lightning bolt from their past threatens to bring the empire crumbling down, they must come together to save what their ancestors struggled to build.
Katie Jennings paints a wonderful picture of a multifaceted family trying its best to cope with a horrible reality. From the workaholic older brother to the brilliant younger sister, the Vasser's lives are in for a sucker punch from left field. The cast of characters is ent...more
Katie Jennings paints a wonderful picture of a multifaceted family trying its best to cope with a horrible reality. From the workaholic older brother to the brilliant younger sister, the Vasser's lives are in for a sucker punch from left field. The cast of characters is ent...more
I must admit to being the kind of nerdy person who reads the reviews on a book before i read. having said that i saw two main criticisms sticking out from some of the other reviews. One was the extensive character list, and development, and the other was the use of smirking in the story repeatedly.
When i read the story i found those were not so much weaknesses but strengths (in my opinion of course.) heres why, the story has a constant from beginning to end and that is the tale of power and how...more
When i read the story i found those were not so much weaknesses but strengths (in my opinion of course.) heres why, the story has a constant from beginning to end and that is the tale of power and how...more
Synopsis
The Vassers are America's greatest family, an empire forged in steel and stone, wealth and prestige. They're in the business of luxury hotels...and murder. When the truth is exposed through the letters of a dead woman, all hell breaks loose. The family tries to cope with the allegation that what they thought was a decades old suicide was actually the cold-blooded murder of one of their own.
Review
When I was a teenager I was enamored of the Days of Our Lives. You remember, the soap opera e...more
The Vassers are America's greatest family, an empire forged in steel and stone, wealth and prestige. They're in the business of luxury hotels...and murder. When the truth is exposed through the letters of a dead woman, all hell breaks loose. The family tries to cope with the allegation that what they thought was a decades old suicide was actually the cold-blooded murder of one of their own.
Review
When I was a teenager I was enamored of the Days of Our Lives. You remember, the soap opera e...more
LOVED This book! I think the hardest part is picking a favorite character but I must say Linc has made his way to become my top favorite. I love how in depth each character is, though because I typically do not read dramas, the pace came across as slow in parts. However, I don't believe the slowness was a "waste" in the book like some novels I've read, by contrary, Ms. Jennings does a great job of capturing detail worthy of the Vasser legacy. The characters were set up nicely and the plot thicke...more
This book resonated with me, and because I hadn't been able to read it all in one go as I usually do, it also tormented me. But the holidays kicked in and company appeared daily. I fretted whenever I thought about this story. I wanted to get back to it and find out what happened. It's that kind of a novel. I love New York City and having the setting there was a plus for me. A huge luxury hotel added to the flavor and the Vasser family who shared ownership and ran the empire were all wonderful ch...more
I have spent the past six months reading through more indie books than I thought possible and I must say, in good faith, this is the most well written book I have come across yet. By that, I mean it follows the correct literary guidelines and Katie Jennings appears to have been kind enough to her readers to have the book edited in some form. For those reasons alone, I was compelled to continue reading.
The story revolves around a wealthy family whom inherited the family business of posh hotels. E...more
The story revolves around a wealthy family whom inherited the family business of posh hotels. E...more
This is not a story for those looking for an easy read as the story becomes all consuming. A complex tale of family betrayal and false appearances is possibly the best way to describe Jennings’ novel as she makes a thorough exploration of the lives of the extensive Vasser family. The continual addition of characters will keep you on your toes as you find yourself becoming deeply involved with this curious story.
If you were looking for a distraction from work or personal affairs this would be ide...more
If you were looking for a distraction from work or personal affairs this would be ide...more
When Empires Fall
When Empires Fall is the multigenerational story of the Vasser family, owners of an elite hotel chain with locations in Paris, Las Vegas, and New York and centered on the fourth generation of the family who run the hotel in New York. Grant, Linc and Madison use their talents respectively as General Manager, Marketing Manager, and Hospitality Manager. Their younger sister, Kennedy is just entering college at Princeton. Their father was passed over by their grandfather and has spe...more
The Vassers had it all, but their hotel legacy of fame and fortune came at a high price. Buried deep within the generations of their family , horrific acts had been committed. An undercurrent of mistrust, greed and lies would soon consume everyone in its powerful wake. Family may be the ties that bind but sometimes they are the ties that kill.
A modern day epic in the tradition of Gone With The Wind, Jenning's gripping drama is woven with interesting and compelling characters. The story unfolds...more
A modern day epic in the tradition of Gone With The Wind, Jenning's gripping drama is woven with interesting and compelling characters. The story unfolds...more
I put this book in my romance shelf but actually romance genre is not enough to describe this book. This book is more of a family saga. However, when I saw a book categorized as family saga it reminds me of Jackie Collins or Dynasty. And this book is definitely is not that type.
1. It's so well written. The writing is great. It's not long winded and it's crafted beautifully. Every word chosen is a fit. This book consist of many POVs. We actually jump around seeing from character's to character's...more
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CHRISTINA'S BOOKREVIEWS
“In the end, family is all we have, my dear. You’ll do well to remember that.”
RECAP
The Vasser family has built what is to be one of the biggest luxury hotel chains in America. With the "determination" of each Vasser member the hotels have flourished. Lincoln, Grant, Madison and Kennedy are set to take rein over the business when it is their time. But when a secret, such as murder, is revealed, the Vasser’s aren’t so ready for the storm they are about to encounter. There is...more
“In the end, family is all we have, my dear. You’ll do well to remember that.”
RECAP
The Vasser family has built what is to be one of the biggest luxury hotel chains in America. With the "determination" of each Vasser member the hotels have flourished. Lincoln, Grant, Madison and Kennedy are set to take rein over the business when it is their time. But when a secret, such as murder, is revealed, the Vasser’s aren’t so ready for the storm they are about to encounter. There is...more
I quickly dove into the Vasser family saga unable to put it down. The characters, deep and complex, yet believable and recognizable, are immersed in a captivating plot that is carefully measured with timely revelations. The prose snaps brightly on the page as it brings out the characters staged as one of New York’s finest families. Nothing makes a great read like greed, guilt, and guile. “When Empires Fall” lives up to all these fine qualities. The story opens with an unsolved murder dating back...more
1 like · like · see review
I really enjoyed this family saga. Grant/Quinn were really the heart of the story for me & the characters I most invested in. The close runners up are Madison & Kennedy. Madison & her relationship with Cyrus is deliciously twisted & I look forward to seeing where Madison's allegiance to him takes her in the next installment of the series. I'm quite interested in Kennedy mostly because she is so little mentioned in comparison to the other siblings but is often mentioned to be most...more
This was a surprise! A wonderful one...
Usually I don't like family sagas because they remainds me of soap operas but this time I had to change my idea. I was simply glued to the pages from the beginning till the end and now I can't wait for the second episode to be released!
I'm always at a loss when I have to explain why I find someone's style so absorbing and this time make no exception. I can't define a single trait that catch my attention but I can say that the way this novel is written makes...more
Usually I don't like family sagas because they remainds me of soap operas but this time I had to change my idea. I was simply glued to the pages from the beginning till the end and now I can't wait for the second episode to be released!
I'm always at a loss when I have to explain why I find someone's style so absorbing and this time make no exception. I can't define a single trait that catch my attention but I can say that the way this novel is written makes...more
When Empires Fall is a story full of suspense! It follows the Vassar family as they run their hotels and deal with a secret that can tear their family apart and destroy their legacy.
Grant is the general manager who is a workaholic. His brother, Linc, is the “playboy” of the family, and his sister, Madison, is the spitting image of their grandfather, Cyrus. Not only are they dealing with the secret that makes itself known by their “deadbeat” father but they have to deal with the fact that there a...more
Grant is the general manager who is a workaholic. His brother, Linc, is the “playboy” of the family, and his sister, Madison, is the spitting image of their grandfather, Cyrus. Not only are they dealing with the secret that makes itself known by their “deadbeat” father but they have to deal with the fact that there a...more
I really wasn't crazy about this, the first in the series.
The first quarter of the book is an introduction to the Vasser family members and other key players. It is evident that possible romances are being set up. The suspense lasts for about half of the story when the reader discovers the truth of a murder which takes place in the prologue.
The characters are easily angered displaying fury with tempers flaring. This happens throughout the book causing me to roll my eyes. Much other drama as we...more
The first quarter of the book is an introduction to the Vasser family members and other key players. It is evident that possible romances are being set up. The suspense lasts for about half of the story when the reader discovers the truth of a murder which takes place in the prologue.
The characters are easily angered displaying fury with tempers flaring. This happens throughout the book causing me to roll my eyes. Much other drama as we...more
This book was fantastic, one of the best I've read in a while.
The constantly shifting points of view the story much more interesting and detailed than if told from a single side. This is the story of the Vasser family, steeped in luxury, and a modern take on old world royalty. I think those qualities are successfully portrayed through Katie Jennings writing, which is decadent without being overplayed.
The story itself was fascinating, focusing mostly on three of the four youngest Vasser family me...more
The constantly shifting points of view the story much more interesting and detailed than if told from a single side. This is the story of the Vasser family, steeped in luxury, and a modern take on old world royalty. I think those qualities are successfully portrayed through Katie Jennings writing, which is decadent without being overplayed.
The story itself was fascinating, focusing mostly on three of the four youngest Vasser family me...more
I really enjoyed this book. I will say to begin that it isn't my genre, but I'm learning as I grow older and wiser that if you never leave your comfort zone then you'll never learn or experience anything new, and I'm glad I did so with this book. I like Ms Jennings and I like her ability as a storyteller, and in my opinion she is very good at it.
I enjoy the way Ms Jennings builds her characters. I like the way she goes inside them to let us know what they're thinking and feeling, and the conflic...more
I enjoy the way Ms Jennings builds her characters. I like the way she goes inside them to let us know what they're thinking and feeling, and the conflic...more
I have just finished reading When Empires Fall by Katie Jennings and I must say I loved this book! It was a complex and well told story about the Vasser family who has owned a chain of high-end luxury hotels for over 100 years. The family legacy, almost regal in status, begins to crumble after a web of power, deception and murder is unearthed.
It is a grand novel in design and there is a lot packed into the 350 plus pages. It is very well written and carefully planned. The thing that pulls you in...more
It is a grand novel in design and there is a lot packed into the 350 plus pages. It is very well written and carefully planned. The thing that pulls you in...more
I truly liked When Empires Fall and I am looking forward to book #2 in the series that I think is coming out in the Spring 2013. I will say that in the beginning I had a hard time getting "into" this story. There are many characters and it takes awhile to introduce them and their backstories. Once all the principle players were in place and the storyline was able to unfold uninterrupted the pace moved much easier for me. The characters in this book are very interesting and have many layers. I wo...more
Finally, a writer who understands her characters.
The genre of this one is difficult. I have never heard of family drama but this may just define the genre. It isn't really a mystery, though there is a murder (or four) involved, since we know the culprit from the start. This was a wonderful read. This is the kind of book you pray for, when purchasing an indie novel. It is well planned, well written, well edited, well formatted...well done, Katie Jennings. It makes me proud to be part of the indie...more
The genre of this one is difficult. I have never heard of family drama but this may just define the genre. It isn't really a mystery, though there is a murder (or four) involved, since we know the culprit from the start. This was a wonderful read. This is the kind of book you pray for, when purchasing an indie novel. It is well planned, well written, well edited, well formatted...well done, Katie Jennings. It makes me proud to be part of the indie...more
When Empires Fall is a behind-closed-doors look into the heart of the wealthy Vasser family, owners and operators of a chain of hotels. The saga opens with a sixty-year old snapshot of betrayal at its worst. Laced with lots of juicy family secrets and snappy dialogue, the first book introduces us to the ends and outs of the Vassers, serious-minded Grant, irresistible brother Linc, and ruthless sister Madison. All three share a bond of putting family loyalty before anything else. But they will so...more
This review originally appeared on my tour stop for the Be Notorious tour! Make sure to check out the awesome-tastic giveaway and read an excerpt!
WHEN EMPIRES FALL is the type of book that I'd think would make a good TV drama - it's complex, dark, intriguing, and will just pull viewers (or in this case, readers) along within each episode, making them want more during and after each installment. Nevertheless, it's definitely a book that mystery, suspense, or adult fiction addicts will fall in lov...more
WHEN EMPIRES FALL is the type of book that I'd think would make a good TV drama - it's complex, dark, intriguing, and will just pull viewers (or in this case, readers) along within each episode, making them want more during and after each installment. Nevertheless, it's definitely a book that mystery, suspense, or adult fiction addicts will fall in lov...more
Ambition, treachery, greed. Without passion, these are just words. But Katie Jennings doesn't lack this crucial ingredient. She masterfully weaves an intricate web of deception and lies. Exhilarating and fresh, When Empires Fall takes the reader on a journey into a world of fabulous wealth. A shallow and frivolous world indeed, sometimes lacking in compassion, but never in true emotion. Because, in the end, When Empires Fall is not as much a story about the rich as it is a story about human char...more
If you are looking for an easy read this book is not the one. This book is about family saga of a wealthy Vasser family in a large hotel business. Full of drama, and family secrets that has been carried down through the generation. Loved how the author kept the story suspenseful and the romance aspect so romantic. Considering it has a lot of characters, the author manages to provide us with full description that you become bonded with. I enjoyed this story, and looking forward to the sequel!
With a complex cast of characters, When Empires Fall is a novel set in the landscape of New York City surrounding the vast empires of the rich and famous of New York society. The Vassar Hotel chain, a century old conglomerate, is ruled by one man, a ruthless no nonsense character even at 90 years of age. His puppet grandchildren have each been placed in a position of power as long as they do his bidding. But secrets surface when Rosalie's niece begins to clean the dead woman's house out after he...more
I loved this book from the first page. It reminded of the great soap operas back when they were going strong and still good. Somewhere between Dallas and Young and the Restless.
The characters are well developed, each with their own personality. Jennings drew me into the lives and world of the Vasser family so fully, that I stayed up well after bedtime to read more of them. I could see the hotel and events so clearly in my mind.
If you are looking for a story of full of family intrigue, lies, betr...more
The characters are well developed, each with their own personality. Jennings drew me into the lives and world of the Vasser family so fully, that I stayed up well after bedtime to read more of them. I could see the hotel and events so clearly in my mind.
If you are looking for a story of full of family intrigue, lies, betr...more
My Review: In the great tradition of Dynasty and the good soaps of the past the Vasser family are larger than life. The story weaves yo into the lives of the wealthy and troubled Vasser hotel family. A decades old murder comes back to haunt the heirs to this vast fortune. Madison the hard driven business woman and her brothers Grant solid and dependable and Linc the easy going one on the surface but with a passion underneath have to face the possibility that all will be lost as the hidden secret...more
With a masterful blend of suspense, passion, and intrigue, Jennings delves into the story of the Vasser family and the secrets that haunt them. Complete with a rich cast of characters, this book captivates you and keeps the pages turning at each new turn of the plot.
While I enjoyed the premise of the grand Vasser family and their hotel legacy, the book failed on a personal level. The relationship building was extremely awkward/choppy/amateur in style.
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Nothing can compare to the exhilaration of discovering, at last, a mode of release for the imagination. Mine came, after years of struggling to visualize my creativity, in the form of written word. I found myself with my nose constantly in a book, absorbing the life of the characters and the beauty of the setting. It was intoxicating, to say the least, and the only thing I knew was that I wanted t...more
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“When everything around me is crumbling to pieces, all I have to do is look at you and I can keep going, keep living. You’re warm, Quinn. The warmest person I’ve ever known. I never realized just how devoid of warmth my life was until you came into it.”
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3 people liked it
“How could he possibly understand just how much she had to give and how desperately she wanted to give it to him, and him alone? He, who had the weight of the world on his shoulders, but bore it with this capable strength. He, who stood alone at the top, silent and courageous in his dedication to the legacy he had inherited. And lastly, he, who so clearly needed someone, anyone, to understand him.”
—
2 people liked it
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