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15th out of 55 books
—
37 voters
Bride of Pendorric
When Favel Farrington met Roc Pendorric on the Italian island where she lived with her father, they fell deeply in love, and there was no reason to suspect that they would not live happily ever after. Then Faval's father was drowned while swimming, a circumstance that was as puzzling to Favel as it was heartbreaking. No one could have been more devoted during these sad day...more
Hardcover, 282 pages
Published
1963
by Doubleday Books
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Apr 24, 2013
Stein
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
novels-mystery,
novels-suspense
==A plot lacking credibility==
Having completed the book, I thought two things had lacked credibility. Having grown up with her English parents in a foreign setting, Favel--an only child--knows nothing of their past--where they were born, their heritage, how they met. Her reasoning is that she believes that her parents just didn't think it was necessary or of interest to tell her anything. No child would let their parents get away with such subterfuge. It is very bad for the plot's credibility to...more
Having completed the book, I thought two things had lacked credibility. Having grown up with her English parents in a foreign setting, Favel--an only child--knows nothing of their past--where they were born, their heritage, how they met. Her reasoning is that she believes that her parents just didn't think it was necessary or of interest to tell her anything. No child would let their parents get away with such subterfuge. It is very bad for the plot's credibility to...more
I loved it. It was amusing, but also it was suspenseful. There were a few heartwarming moments, like with the old Lord Polhorgan (is that it?). Ok, here's the summary:
Favel marries Roc Pendorric, and goes to live with him and his sister, Morwenna and nieces, Hyson and Lyson. There is a legend surrounding the place that the last Bride (Roc's mother, Barbarina) haunts the quadrangle and will kill the next bride so she can rest in peace at last. After a while, she makes a few friends like Lord Polh...more
Favel marries Roc Pendorric, and goes to live with him and his sister, Morwenna and nieces, Hyson and Lyson. There is a legend surrounding the place that the last Bride (Roc's mother, Barbarina) haunts the quadrangle and will kill the next bride so she can rest in peace at last. After a while, she makes a few friends like Lord Polh...more
I was of older gradeschool age, and after exhausting all the Nancy Drew's my mother's younger sister passed down to me, I went to my parents meager book shelf. I read Exodus, by Leon Uris. The boldface on the book jacket demanding to be read like a hollywood movie demanding to be seen. I had no idea that it already was a movie. From that book forward I was hungry for literature. I tried other books on this parental shelf: this Steinbeck (Winter of our Discontent)--I liked but could not say why;...more
I first read this in Jr. High because I wanted to, not because I had to. I picked it up again just to see if I still liked Holt's writing.
Yes. I did. Mostly, as an adult, I liked it because intimacy behind closed doors and in spite of what the cover hints at, it focused on the characters in the story, not their hormones (Hooray!). In fact, the husband is gone much of the time on business and I got the feeling he was 'in the way' of what Holt wanted to do with Favel.
This time through I picked up...more
Yes. I did. Mostly, as an adult, I liked it because intimacy behind closed doors and in spite of what the cover hints at, it focused on the characters in the story, not their hormones (Hooray!). In fact, the husband is gone much of the time on business and I got the feeling he was 'in the way' of what Holt wanted to do with Favel.
This time through I picked up...more
Mar 09, 2011
Kirsten
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
light-for-a-break-reading,
favorite-authors
Victoria Holt is much more than a simple romance author. Many may also know her by some of her other pen names, Jean Plaidy and Phillipa Carr. I loved the Daughters of English series and fully intend to read it again in the right order. However, if you are less into history and more into suspense the Victoria Holt pseudonym is a good choice. She wrote this book in the 60's and I read a very old paperback version that was falling apart, but it was well-worth the falling pages. ;-) The romance at...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Eking out a living with her widowed father in his art studio on the island of Capri, Favel is swept off her feet by visitor Roc Pendorric and they are married, although her happiness is marred by the sudden death of her father. Upon arrival at Roc's Cornwall estate, Favel learns of the legend of the Brides of Pendorric - married into the family for their money and die mysterious deaths at a young age and then destined to haunt the halls until another bride dies and takes her place. Not surprisin...more
Victoria Holt was an incredibly prolific writer, writing under several pseudonyms - most prominently Victoria Holt, Jean Plaidy, and Philippa Carr. Victoria Holt was her pseudonym for writing Gothic romance and these books are wonderful and old-fashioned and fun to read. I remember staying up all night at my Mississippi grandmother's house when I was in high school reading The Legend of the Seventh Virgin and loving every minute of it. I've also read The Mistress of Mellyn although I thought it...more
Sep 17, 2010
Tressa (Tressa's Wishful Endings)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites
Enoyed this romantic suspence, even though I thought there were unrealistic moments when the fearful feelings of Favel were overplayed. Favel, and only child, falls in love with Roc, a stranger visiting her island and becomes engaged. Shortly after her father dies, but she continues on with her marriage as Roc is her only friend and family left and goes to live in his mansion of a home with his family. There is a mystery surrounding the family that she is curious to find answers to. Soon she fin...more
This was the first gothic romance novel I ever read -- in 7th or 8th grade -- and I'm giving it a "5" because I loved it so much at that time! It was a transitional book for me, an adult romance/mystery after having read all the Nancy Drew series and Scholastic book selections for young readers, etc. If I were to read it again now, I might not feel the same way; so I probably won't! Why meddle with a good memory? All the books we read add something to our minds, and surely lead us on to other bo...more
Great gothic romance - although more of a mystery than a romance. It kept me guessing till near the end when the pieces came together in my head, but even then I thought it was pretty cool. Read it in one sitting - I was really anxious to get to the end & it didn't disappoint. There were a few discrepancies, but nothing I couldn't glance over or ignore. I'll have to try a few more of her books. It looks like a lot of women read her books as teenagers... maybe I did too; I just don't remember...more
I took up this book because I thought it might be one that I read as a teenager as a Readers Digest condensed book, and that I've always remembered. This wasn't it, but it was somewhat similar . I knew it was a romance novel when I picked it up and I'm not rating it low because of that. But it was a bit too long and drawn out, and it might have benefited from being condensed by Readers Digest. Also, I pretty much guessed the plot turns. On the other hand, it was an easy diverting read, and it wa...more
Jun 20, 2009
Erin
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Erin by:
my friend Dabbie
This was recommended as a good, scary Halloween book. No, it was not scary, but very good. Typical mystery/romance book complete with a female heroine, mystery to solve, usually a death and could it be murder?, type of book. I love the twists, and unexpected events. Although, I did guess who's who. But, I won't tell. Reminds me of Phyllis A. Whitney books. Which I loved reading in my late teen's.
One of my favorite gothic romance titles. This was an author my mother introduced me to when I was in middle school (so I wouldn't read Danielle Steel). I have read many of Holt's books, but this is my favorite of them all. It made me want to visit Cornwall, because it seems so mysterious.
OMG so long ago.1974 sick and my sister-in-law brought this over. Started reading again averaged about 5 books a week for a while...........high school was getting in the way. Mum would chase me all over the house, trying to get my nose out of books. LOL wish I was 14 again!!
I read Victoria Holt's books as a teenager - long before I knew what all that passion was really about! I've come back to her books for the fun of it and I am thoroughly enjoying the experience with a lot more experience under my belt! :-)
I love a good clean mysterious book and this fit that bill. It reminded me of Madeline Brent's books. It was eerie and sometimes creepy and I must say I did have it figured out to some extent but I really liked it and it was a quick, clean, brainless read.
I enjoyed this book years and years ago (20+) ... before I even knew of Eleanor Alice (Burford) Hibbert and the various pseudonyms she wrote under ... now that I know, I'll look for some more of her(their) work.
HA! The first Gothic thriller/romance I ever read in probably 1966. It made quite an impression on my young Beatle crazed self. Sent me right over the deep end as an Anglophile and on to my 20 marriage to a Brit.
This was enjoyable old mystery romance full of surprises, interesting characters and good plotted story. It was long time ago I read this book and this audio version was even as great as it was in my youth.
I love how all of Victoria Holt's books have the same sort of cryptic tone but completely different stories. I read this book back when I was around 15 and just reread it at 23. I devoured it once again and plan on revisiting all of Holt's work.
I really liked my first Victoria Holt novel, "Mistress of Mellyn" but was disappointed in this one. I didn't like the story as well, and thought it was somewhat predictable.
Read this on a trip and kept putting it down - due to boredom. I eventually finished and think I pretty much liked the way it ended. I liked her other book better.
The plot for this one, though set in more modern times, was a lot like The Mistress of Melyn. A good little mystery though, and I liked the twist at the end.
I have read this one, many times, many years ago. So much that my old mass market, Fawcett Crest copy has fallen to pieces! Even if it doesn't enthrall me quite like it did once upon a time, it will remain a longtime favorite.
Read this when I was a teenager. In fact I read lot of her books. May not remember too much about them, but do recall that I liked them.
This was my very first Victoria Holt book, (way back when). I read the first printing in 1969. I've loved Victoria Holt every since.
Another good romance/suspence. Most anything by Victoria Holt is a good read, though some have questionable titles and content.
This was a really weird book, but really good at the same time. It is a mystery to find who's trying to kill the main character.
Sep 03, 2011
Katie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
romance-clean,
mystery-suspense
I really enjoyed this romantic suspense. I read it many years ago and remembered nothing about it, which is always fun.
Favel is living on Capri with her artist father when a handsome man enters the shop--Roc Pendorric. After a whirlwind romance, they marry and set off for England, where many mysteries await.
I love the style of Ms. Holt. Favel is so young, yet she does what she can to really learn about the history and people (current and past) of the estate. She does jump to conclusions a bit, b...more
Favel is living on Capri with her artist father when a handsome man enters the shop--Roc Pendorric. After a whirlwind romance, they marry and set off for England, where many mysteries await.
I love the style of Ms. Holt. Favel is so young, yet she does what she can to really learn about the history and people (current and past) of the estate. She does jump to conclusions a bit, b...more
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subjec...more
More about Victoria Holt...
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subjec...more
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