Palace intrigue, romance, and illicit affairs—Rebecca Dean has written a glorious novel that will sweep Philippa Gregory fans off their fe... read full description
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Mar 31, 2009
Sara
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Young, beautiful and American Delia Chandler is married to an older English Viscount, and is transported to England’s court before World War I. In over her head, Delia must rise to the occasion to build a life for herself in England. Despite pressure to produce an heir, Delia gives birth to two beautiful daughters. As the story continues we are treated to the next generation’s perspective through World War II in England, Egypt and other parts of Europe.
In the similar vein of Phil More...
In the similar vein of Phil More...
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Jun 18, 2011
Britni
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If you like books that have good character development, this book is not for you. Palace Circle was supposed to be, "A novel that will sweep Phillipa Gregory fans off their feet." As you can probably tell from my two reviews of Phillipa Gregory books, I like a good novel mixed with history, romance, and royal betrayal. Palace Circle had potential, but for me, it missed the mark on all three.
It's a book written about an 18-year old Southern beauty who is swept off her feet by More...
It's a book written about an 18-year old Southern beauty who is swept off her feet by More...
Jun 10, 2009
Debbie
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This book was not what I had expected but I did enjoy reading it. Do not expect anything epic along the lines of the Philppa Gregory books though.
Although it sounds like the story is going to focus on Delia it is really broken up into 5 parts. The first follows Delia and how she deals with her husband, his affair and adjusting to life in England. The other four parts follow her two daughters as they have to deal with their own romance problems and the the two men who are the objec More...
Although it sounds like the story is going to focus on Delia it is really broken up into 5 parts. The first follows Delia and how she deals with her husband, his affair and adjusting to life in England. The other four parts follow her two daughters as they have to deal with their own romance problems and the the two men who are the objec More...
Jun 04, 2009
India
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Once upon a time, a book like PALACE CIRCLE would have run at least 600 pages of small type. Once upon a time, a book like PALACE CIRCLE would have given us lavish descriptions, lush incident, and let the reader lose herself for long hours in another time and place. Unfortunately, PALACE CIRCLE came out in 2009, and it reads almost like a synopsis for the book the author would have written...once. There's nothing wrong with most of the book, but years go by in the flip of a page, and I kept fi
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May 13, 2009
This fine piece of historical fiction set just before WWII follows the life of Delia Chandler, an eighteen-year-old Virginian who marries an English Viscount and is whisked away to become part of the Windsor court. Initially a fish out of water, she easily adapts and has society wrapped around her little finger--she wins them over with her vivacious personality, flame-red hair, and her penchant for singing Dixie at the drop of a hat. But her victory soon pales when she realizes that her husband
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Jan 31, 2010
Rachel
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This book was much more interesting than I thought it would be. The book is divided into 5 parts, the first of which focuses on Delia, her marriage and relocation to England and Cairo. The subsequent 4 parts each focus on a different character from Delia's children's generation.
I learned in detail about English court and politics from 1911-1930's, and Egyptian politics during WW2 (something you never learn about in school). It was really interesting, and brought more depth to the story li More...
I learned in detail about English court and politics from 1911-1930's, and Egyptian politics during WW2 (something you never learn about in school). It was really interesting, and brought more depth to the story li More...
Apr 23, 2009
Marta
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I thought this was a nice story, but I don't think it can be compared to Philippa Gregory book. This is a nice light read, and the story is very enjoyable. Unfortunately, for myself I kept waiting for more. The storyline seemed rather superficial like we were just getting a glimpse of this family, versus being in the middle of it. I was looking for more information about those historical details because it's not something that's been written a lot about in these kinds of romances. I think it's j
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Mar 03, 2009
Marie
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A novel of privileged Delia and her daughters, set against a supposedly magnificent backdrop of World War II in Britain though I was expecting perhaps a bit more 'history'. The war moved along speedily with friends and acquaintances going off to fight somewhere and some came back and some didn't. Just as fast as that and pretty much no true emotion.
Just as quick, her husband is transferred to Cairo and Delia's eldest skips a few years to 16 and is enjoying Egypt. That's all in the first 11 More...
Just as quick, her husband is transferred to Cairo and Delia's eldest skips a few years to 16 and is enjoying Egypt. That's all in the first 11 More...
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May 11, 2009
Colleen
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This book is a hard one to review, especially because I was so primed to enjoy it before I began. Unforunately, the more I read, the less I liked the Delia and the less I enjoyed the novel. Both Delia and the plot itself remained to superficial for me, and I found the vast leaps in time grating. The best part of the novel by far was the insights into the Windsor court and into the Egyptian colonial society of the time, but even those highlights were not enough to carry the narrative for me, e
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Mar 23, 2011
Holly
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I picked up this book on impulse at the library because I liked the cover and it boasted "If you like Philippa Gregory, you will love this book!" I can't say that I subscribe to that notion, considering I don't think this novel was quite like a Philippa Gregory novel at all, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
However, I almost didn't finish the book because the first part (from Delia's perspective) is terribly boring and very badly written. I had to force myself through Del More...
However, I almost didn't finish the book because the first part (from Delia's perspective) is terribly boring and very badly written. I had to force myself through Del More...
May 31, 2009
Adriana
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I'm kind of really frustrated with this book. I wanted it to be like a Phillipa Gregory book, which the cover unjustly promised, but the only thing it had in common with a Phillipa Gregory books is that they're both historical fiction.
The storyline was fascinating but the writing was poor and unskilled. The historical backdrop was only superficially mentioned in passing ("in February, this happened...) to indicate that time was passing. At one point, like 16 years passes in a More...
The storyline was fascinating but the writing was poor and unskilled. The historical backdrop was only superficially mentioned in passing ("in February, this happened...) to indicate that time was passing. At one point, like 16 years passes in a More...
Jun 27, 2009
Kim
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 24, 2009
Deirdre
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I really wanted to like this book, but ultimately I was just very disappointed. Divided into 5 sections, one for each of the main characters, the story remained superficial and the characters for the most part poorly developed. Though the narrative contains vast leaps forward in time, it still manages to drag.
The most interesting elements of the book were its historical glimpses of the Windsor court and of society in colonial Egypt - it was these settings which drew me to the book i More...
The most interesting elements of the book were its historical glimpses of the Windsor court and of society in colonial Egypt - it was these settings which drew me to the book i More...
Apr 23, 2009
Sylvia
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When it comes to making people wanting more susspence, Rebecca Dean sure as heck delivers and satifies that need. When i read this book i never thought there would be so much drama, susspence, betrayal, twists, turns, and romance packed into its 414 pages. This book is one of the best that i have read when it comes to scandals in the time of the World Wars!!! There were times when i was forced to put it down, like during passing period at my school. Once cannot read while walking with those crow
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Jul 09, 2009
Heidi
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After reading this book I am grateful I was not born to aristocracy. It followed the lives of the characters over 30 years from WWI thru WWII in England and Egypt. It was at times hard to remember all the names that were dropped as they related to the political goings on, but it was interesting to learn so much about the order of events that led to the wars and about the political landscape of Egypt as well. My only misgivings about this book was the way the author revealed secrets in such a
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Jun 02, 2009
Jenn
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Unexpectedly soap opera like but not in a bad way. I felt like the author struggled a little bit with the balance between the family and it's affairs and the political/historical happenings of the time period. Parts of the book also felt a bit rushed, but I should stress that this did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. My favorite part about this book was that by following this family from 1911 to 1941 you get to see the change in social ideas, behavior, and expectations in the Engli
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Aug 31, 2010
Alana
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I received a free review copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Headstrong and beautiful Delia Chandler from Virginia marries aristocratic Viscount Ivor Conisborough right before WWI breaks out. But Delia's fairy-tale marriage is merely a convenience, and her husband continues to carry on the affairs so commonplace among the palace circle. When Conisborough becomes an adviser to the Egyptian king, his two daughters Petronella and Davina become embroiled in More...
Headstrong and beautiful Delia Chandler from Virginia marries aristocratic Viscount Ivor Conisborough right before WWI breaks out. But Delia's fairy-tale marriage is merely a convenience, and her husband continues to carry on the affairs so commonplace among the palace circle. When Conisborough becomes an adviser to the Egyptian king, his two daughters Petronella and Davina become embroiled in More...
Jul 06, 2009
Kleiner
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Palace Circle is a romantic saga that follows the Conisborough family from the early 1900s to World War II as the family lives in Virginia, England and Egypt.
Viscount Ivor Conisborough, a forty-year-old widower, marries Delia Chandler, an eighteen-year-old Virginian, to produce an heir, while Delia marries Ivor for love. Upon becoming a member of the Windsor court, Delia is swept into a world of adultery, and the endless effort to avoid scandal. Even though her marriage may not be wh More...
Viscount Ivor Conisborough, a forty-year-old widower, marries Delia Chandler, an eighteen-year-old Virginian, to produce an heir, while Delia marries Ivor for love. Upon becoming a member of the Windsor court, Delia is swept into a world of adultery, and the endless effort to avoid scandal. Even though her marriage may not be wh More...
May 27, 2009
Katie
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I am still debating whether or not I should have given this three stars. I think 3.5 would have been great but I find myself still thinking about this book so maybe it does deserve four stars.
A sweeping story set over 30 years about a woman named Delia and her posterity. Delia is 18 at the start of the novel and the new wife of Lord Conisborough. She is a rowdy American and quickly falls into life as a rich aristocrat in London. The story is in parts and each parts highlights the life More...
A sweeping story set over 30 years about a woman named Delia and her posterity. Delia is 18 at the start of the novel and the new wife of Lord Conisborough. She is a rowdy American and quickly falls into life as a rich aristocrat in London. The story is in parts and each parts highlights the life More...
Jan 21, 2011
Kimber
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Wow... the main thing I will say is that the description of the book should not even be read. I had no idea what I was in for. The description only encompasses the first part of the book. Actually less than the first part. By the middle of the book you hardly see the "main" character anymore. But somehow, somehow it works. Once you get over the shock of the pacing and huge storyline.
What starts out as a small heartfelt interesting tale in england turns into a sprawling epic story More...
What starts out as a small heartfelt interesting tale in england turns into a sprawling epic story More...
Aug 05, 2011
Jennifer
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Ack! This book started out so well with so much promise. Wonderful setting, characters and situations were pretty good, albeit slightly predictable. Beautiful costumes, and interesting plot movement, that is... until... Delia learns that she must leave England and move with her famously wealthy and important to the Empire husband to Egypt. Delia just cannot abide by this. Her beautifully charmed and privileged life is crashing around her. Mind you she suffered very little during the war an
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Apr 09, 2009
Angela
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I picked this up at the library because on the front it said "If you love Philippa Gregory, you will look this book." And I do love her books, so I picked it up and I did end up liking this one, though this book doesn't feel anything like Gregory. A little more character drama than historical intrigue. But the novel did have interesting characters, especially Delia. And now I am curious about the real people that the story includes and if their personalities were close to the way Dean
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May 19, 2009
edh
rated it:
Looks a bit steamy, also billed for "fans of Philippa Gregory." I'll be the judge of that.
I think this novel tried to do too much in too little space - while we are drawn in to the young Southern girl who marries a British peer, ends up trapped in an unfaithful relationship and then finds true love with another man in a genteel society affair... the story too quickly gives way to her daughter, who falls in love with a most inappropriate young man (in many ways) and from the More...
I think this novel tried to do too much in too little space - while we are drawn in to the young Southern girl who marries a British peer, ends up trapped in an unfaithful relationship and then finds true love with another man in a genteel society affair... the story too quickly gives way to her daughter, who falls in love with a most inappropriate young man (in many ways) and from the More...
Apr 05, 2009
K
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i tried, truly, to read this book. i got through the first section about delia, and even though she was perfectly perfect, it was a mindless, enjoyable read. sometimes that hits the mark. unfortunately, when it turned to delia's now perfectly perfect daughter, petra, i just couldn't stomach it anymore. i like my characters to have a few flaws...in palace circle, the villians were complete villians and the hero/heroines were just too good to be true.
Jun 04, 2009
Kacey
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I felt like the first half of this book was pure fiction then the second half the history finally came in. It starts with an 18 year old American girl Delia who gets married to an Englishman. The book spans 30 years of Delia's life and her posterity in England and Egypt. The beginning is a lot of glamour, parties, love, affairs, etc. Then WWII starts and everything changes. I enjoyed it but didn't LOVE it.
Apr 03, 2009
Darla
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I finished this over vacation, it is a perfect vacation book Quick read..interesting story, it is set in England and Egypt (not heavy on the history); covering the span of WWI - WWII. It starts with a young American girl who has marryied an English aristocrat and is preparing to move to England. She is not simpering or stupid, I really enjoyed the author's development of her character. The following sections are devoted to her children and their respective lovers. I would recommend this to M
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Apr 22, 2009
Elaine
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Really enjoyed this - of course I would since it's about the Duke of Wales and Mrs Wallis Simpson among other notables.... probably the only book I've ever read where the author actually liked Mrs Simpson and sets her in a light that I hadn't given thought to before. I am now looking forward to Rebecca Dean's upcoming book Royal Circle... its not out yet.
Sep 08, 2010
Melissa
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I liked this and I didn't. I liked the historical part of the book. It's about British high society in both England and British ruled Egypt. It covers part of WWII in Egypt, which was new information for me.
This high society is a lot like Hollywood to me, which I don't care for, and I have a big problem with the custom of peerage.
This high society is a lot like Hollywood to me, which I don't care for, and I have a big problem with the custom of peerage.
May 22, 2009
carissa
rated it:
Historical Fiction - Victorian through WW2
This book took forever to sludge through. Parts were okay, however I didn't like how it jumped forward in time. Four months would pass in a sentence, then a year. Plus, the book was broken up into separate sections for each character. It was a little unneccesary and didn't help with the flow.
This book took forever to sludge through. Parts were okay, however I didn't like how it jumped forward in time. Four months would pass in a sentence, then a year. Plus, the book was broken up into separate sections for each character. It was a little unneccesary and didn't help with the flow.
May 07, 2009
Mary Ellen
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Wow this book was much more then I expected. I've been reading cheap romances and when this one was suggested I grabbed it. It was surprisingly rich. Set in the early 1900's in both London and Cairo the author shows a familiarity with Cairo that can only come from one who has lived there. I want everyone to read this so that they are familiar with places that I am talking about! The romance in the book is wonderful but never trashy and I think I will reread it just to pick up on all the hi
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