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Around the Rugged Rock
Love blossoms when a collection of disparate characters gathers at Lorna Salvador's beautiful Andalusian estate
283 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
42 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Cadell
102 books118 followersViolet Elizabeth Vandyke was born on 10 November 1903 in Calcutta, British Raj, daughter of British parents, Elizabeth Lynch and Frederick Reginald Vandyke, a colonial officer. During the Great War she studied music in London, but refused a musical career and returned to India where she married in 1928 Henry Dunlop Raymond Mallock Cadell, and they had a son and daughter. After she was widowed ten years later, she returned to England.
Elizabeth wrote her first book 'My Dear Aunt Flora' during the Second World War in 1946, there after producing another 51 light-hearted, humourous and romantic books which won her a faithful readership in England and America. In addition to England and India, many of her books are set in Spain, France, and Portugal. She finally settled in Portugal, where her married daughter still lived.
She died on 9 October 1989, aged eighty-five.
Elizabeth wrote her first book 'My Dear Aunt Flora' during the Second World War in 1946, there after producing another 51 light-hearted, humourous and romantic books which won her a faithful readership in England and America. In addition to England and India, many of her books are set in Spain, France, and Portugal. She finally settled in Portugal, where her married daughter still lived.
She died on 9 October 1989, aged eighty-five.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Elizabeth Cadell was a 20th century British author who published numerous books from the late 1940’s through the late 1980’s. Many of them were light romances.
Such was the case for this quick read. It was enjoyable because it was such a throwback to a different era.
In the storyline, Lorna was married to an overbearing stuffed shirt “proper” Englishman many years ago. There was a quarrel, and Lorna fled to Spain to begin a new life there, leaving her very young sons behind. Now they are young adults on the verge of manhood, and they’ve managed to find their mother who missed all their formative years. Doesn’t take long for the “ex” to come looking for his boys, and the sparks begin to fly.
This short novel has interesting supporting characters and was a fun book to discuss with a wide range of opinions as to its merit. And how convenient it fit one of the prompts to my reading challenges this year.
The 52 Book Club Reading Challenge - 2023
Prompt #38 - An enemies-to-lovers plot
Elizabeth Cadell was a 20th century British author who published numerous books from the late 1940’s through the late 1980’s. Many of them were light romances.
Such was the case for this quick read. It was enjoyable because it was such a throwback to a different era.
In the storyline, Lorna was married to an overbearing stuffed shirt “proper” Englishman many years ago. There was a quarrel, and Lorna fled to Spain to begin a new life there, leaving her very young sons behind. Now they are young adults on the verge of manhood, and they’ve managed to find their mother who missed all their formative years. Doesn’t take long for the “ex” to come looking for his boys, and the sparks begin to fly.
This short novel has interesting supporting characters and was a fun book to discuss with a wide range of opinions as to its merit. And how convenient it fit one of the prompts to my reading challenges this year.
The 52 Book Club Reading Challenge - 2023
Prompt #38 - An enemies-to-lovers plot
December 13, 2012
Not as good as Gay Pursuit, but definitely a fun and relaxing read.
A story about a woman who, after around fifteen or twenty.years, meets up again with her two sons and ex husband when she had left (for reasons, you know). I enjoy the way this author personifies nationalities (I mean, I know the typical American, but the typical Englishman and Spanish woman is a complete mystery to me). A very good cast of characters too; wasn't a fan of all of them (ahem, Woolly), but definitely did like the combination and interaction of them. Surprised how Nicholas's story ended up though - honestly didn't expect it to end up that way. Loved Martin. A-do-ra-ble...
A story about a woman who, after around fifteen or twenty.years, meets up again with her two sons and ex husband when she had left (for reasons, you know). I enjoy the way this author personifies nationalities (I mean, I know the typical American, but the typical Englishman and Spanish woman is a complete mystery to me). A very good cast of characters too; wasn't a fan of all of them (ahem, Woolly), but definitely did like the combination and interaction of them. Surprised how Nicholas's story ended up though - honestly didn't expect it to end up that way. Loved Martin. A-do-ra-ble...
July 2, 2024
Fluffy and very fun. Lorna and Roderick's breakup was dramatically unnecessary but since it was all in the past..
July 15, 2023
It was not our usual book club fare, but it was my turn to choose, and I wanted something with a happy ending and no dead bodies, so I forced this on my mates. This book, written and published in 1954, gives us a glimpse of different times. We see gender roles but get a sense that things may be changing...because children, adult children, should be allowed to choose their own way. How revolutionary! We see people with hide-bound ideas loosen up and even come to accept a different way of looking at things. We see love heal old wounds. We see a new dawn. However, do people really fall in love as easily as Nicholas and Carmela? Maybe they do because I married the first man I met at college. It does not seem that way but it is true.
December 18, 2017
It's hard to enjoy a book when not a single character is likeable. I liked each of them at first - briefly - and then within a few pages had lost all respect. I do like flawed characters (and, aren't we all flawed...) but these people are utterly ridiculous.
There's the almost-comatose main character who drifts passively through the story as if she's strung out on heroin, letting people interrupt her and seeming to not care about anything. This wasn't consistent with her half-Spanish heritage and descriptions of her as a younger, passionate woman.
And her early interactions with the son she hasn't seen since he was 5 were appalling. No good mother would talk to one son about how his brother was her favorite (and he wasn't the least bit hurt...really?) or let him hang out in her bedroom when she's in her underwear. He's 24 or something, not 4.
Then there's the domineering bully of a man who never listens and doesn't learn anything. He is described as a typical abuser, yet the people around him don't act or interact with him like people do when they've grown up with an abuser. Psychologically, it didn't ring true. And, he is supposedly a thoroughly English man but his last name is Saracen - not Ellington or Willoughby or Smith - and this was never explained.
Then there's the smuggler who is supposed to be also noble and wise, and obviously I'm supposed to agree that doing illegal stuff like this isn't a big deal, it's just a game.
And the metal screw-on flowers and stems that look like a real English garden. Please....how stupid do you think I am?
I kept wondering if this was supposed to be funny, but I didn't feel like laughing. Another reviewer said this wasn't her best, so I suppose I will try one more. Maybe this author just isn't my style.
There's the almost-comatose main character who drifts passively through the story as if she's strung out on heroin, letting people interrupt her and seeming to not care about anything. This wasn't consistent with her half-Spanish heritage and descriptions of her as a younger, passionate woman.
And her early interactions with the son she hasn't seen since he was 5 were appalling. No good mother would talk to one son about how his brother was her favorite (and he wasn't the least bit hurt...really?) or let him hang out in her bedroom when she's in her underwear. He's 24 or something, not 4.
Then there's the domineering bully of a man who never listens and doesn't learn anything. He is described as a typical abuser, yet the people around him don't act or interact with him like people do when they've grown up with an abuser. Psychologically, it didn't ring true. And, he is supposedly a thoroughly English man but his last name is Saracen - not Ellington or Willoughby or Smith - and this was never explained.
Then there's the smuggler who is supposed to be also noble and wise, and obviously I'm supposed to agree that doing illegal stuff like this isn't a big deal, it's just a game.
And the metal screw-on flowers and stems that look like a real English garden. Please....how stupid do you think I am?
I kept wondering if this was supposed to be funny, but I didn't feel like laughing. Another reviewer said this wasn't her best, so I suppose I will try one more. Maybe this author just isn't my style.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2023
a bit of a disappointment
Roderick is WAAAAY too manly and Cadell did nothing to balance his toxic masculinity with any of the good characteristics her heroes often have. In fact, usually there are competent women’s and nice men. And sometimes drifts women, with some surprising streaks of good sense and nice, respectable men, but the have never been, to my recollection, boorish Men and competent women who paired well together.
Roderick is WAAAAY too manly and Cadell did nothing to balance his toxic masculinity with any of the good characteristics her heroes often have. In fact, usually there are competent women’s and nice men. And sometimes drifts women, with some surprising streaks of good sense and nice, respectable men, but the have never been, to my recollection, boorish Men and competent women who paired well together.
June 12, 2008
A nice little story about a couple meeting again after twenty years apart. Set in Spain. The setting was one of the best parts. I liked the characters. But the ending seemed tacked on. I didn't buy the reconciliation. I could see that the book couldn't really have ended any other way, but it was just not really believable.
Cindy
Cindy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2014
Not my favorite book by Cadell, but still enjoyable. If trying Cadell for the first time, try a different book - not this one.
August 27, 2017
Did you ever read a romance and think, she should have booted him to the curb? Yes, this is one of those.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
This one took me a while to read because I didn't enjoy it very much.
There was no actual character growth in Lorna or Roderick and some of the other people just seemed to be there ... for almost no reason. I did not like Roderick I did not like Lorna
I didn't understand the wood flower gardens or what that whole plot line was for. The smuggling plot line didn't make much sense either. And the love story ... well, it seemed like a lot of selfishness all around and no actual love.
The more I type, the more I think this is a one star even though I originally gave it 2 ... I've enjoyed the other Cadell I've read, but this one I did not enjoy and I'm glad to have finished.
There was no actual character growth in Lorna or Roderick and some of the other people just seemed to be there ... for almost no reason. I did not like Roderick I did not like Lorna
I didn't understand the wood flower gardens or what that whole plot line was for. The smuggling plot line didn't make much sense either. And the love story ... well, it seemed like a lot of selfishness all around and no actual love.
The more I type, the more I think this is a one star even though I originally gave it 2 ... I've enjoyed the other Cadell I've read, but this one I did not enjoy and I'm glad to have finished.
May 10, 2017
I read a library copy of this one under the title Around the Rugged Rock.
March 16, 2024
Disappointing
I love Elizabeth Cadell books and own almost all of them but this one just didn't fit together and the ending made no sense.
I love Elizabeth Cadell books and own almost all of them but this one just didn't fit together and the ending made no sense.
February 14, 2025
Set in Spain, a mother is reunited with her two now adult sons. Erstwhile husband is the bullying type of hero. Didn't enjoy it
June 30, 2025
Love Elizabeth Cadell
If you've enjoyed her other books, you'll love this one!
its full of excitement and romance and the fact that its a middle aged couple makes it more fun!
If you've enjoyed her other books, you'll love this one!
its full of excitement and romance and the fact that its a middle aged couple makes it more fun!
July 17, 2023
Interesting….
The thought occurred to me when reading this book that the gender roles, personified by the characters, reflect the time frame within which the book was written. That makes it an interesting sort of anthropological read as One considers that those gender relationships and expectations reflect values from the early 1900s to 1950s… sort of casting a whole new light on this reading experience.
The thought occurred to me when reading this book that the gender roles, personified by the characters, reflect the time frame within which the book was written. That makes it an interesting sort of anthropological read as One considers that those gender relationships and expectations reflect values from the early 1900s to 1950s… sort of casting a whole new light on this reading experience.
March 2, 2017
A favorite!
I read this book many years ago and enjoyed it again this time. It's an engaging story and you get a feel for Gibraltar and the environs.
I read this book many years ago and enjoyed it again this time. It's an engaging story and you get a feel for Gibraltar and the environs.
August 7, 2024
Meet Lorna Salvador, mistress of Casa del Carmen, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and Gibralter. Add Nicholas, a Royal Navy officer who wants to marry Carmella, the daughter of a local gentleman of good standing (and smuggler); and his brother Martin, whose interests include painting fake flowers for durable gardens and horses. Then there's Lorna's guest Florence, and her brother Woolly. Oh, yes, and Nicholas and Martin are Lorna's sons, met by happenstance after having not been seen since early childhood when she left their father after she received a blistering letter from him accusing her of unfaithfulness. Anything missing? Oh, yes, there's Roderick--Lorna's ex and the father of Nicholas and Martin; he comes to address the whole problem of his son wanting to marry a Spanish girl instead of a proper Englishwoman. Nobody's plans are safe from the maelstrom that emerges when this unruly collection of personalities gets together. But it is fun.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews