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Schuyler Sisters #2
Tiny Little Thing
In the summer of 1966, Christina Hardcastle—“Tiny” to her illustrious family—stands on the brink of a breathtaking future. Of the three Schuyler sisters, she’s the one raised to marry a man destined for leadership, and with her elegance and impeccable style, she presents a perfect camera-ready image in the dawning age of television politics. Together she and her husband, Frank, make the ultimate power couple: intelligent, rich, and impossibly attractive. It seems nothing can stop Frank from rising to national office, and he’s got his sights set on a senate seat in November.
But as the season gets underway at the family estate on Cape Cod, three unwelcome visitors appear in Tiny’s perfect life: her volatile sister Pepper, an envelope containing incriminating photograph, and the intimidating figure of Frank’s cousin Vietnam-war hero Caspian, who knows more about Tiny’s rich inner life than anyone else. As she struggles to maintain the glossy façade on which the Hardcastle family’s ambitions are built, Tiny begins to suspect that Frank is hiding a reckless entanglement of his own…one that may unravel both her own ordered life and her husband’s promising career.
But as the season gets underway at the family estate on Cape Cod, three unwelcome visitors appear in Tiny’s perfect life: her volatile sister Pepper, an envelope containing incriminating photograph, and the intimidating figure of Frank’s cousin Vietnam-war hero Caspian, who knows more about Tiny’s rich inner life than anyone else. As she struggles to maintain the glossy façade on which the Hardcastle family’s ambitions are built, Tiny begins to suspect that Frank is hiding a reckless entanglement of his own…one that may unravel both her own ordered life and her husband’s promising career.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2015
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March 10, 2016
4.5 stars...Possibly my favorite novel by Beatriz Williams yet.
This is the second installment of the Schuyler sisters, the story about Christina " Tiny " Hardcastle, the oldest of the 3 Schuyler sister's. It's the summer of 1966. Tiny and her husband, Frank Hardcastle are on the brink of a wonderful future. They are the ultimate power couple : intelligent, rich and attractive. Frank is destined for leadership and has his sights set on the United States Congress. Tiny presents a perfect camera ready image at his side, the lovely and loyal wife to the budding politician.
As the election season gets underway, a few unexpected surprises turn Tiny's summer on Cape Cod upside down. Her volatile sister Pepper arrives unexpectedly for an extended visit...an envelope containing a very incriminating photograph, one that threatens to expose a secret that Tiny holds close to her heart...and the arrival of Frank's cousin Caspian, a Vietnam war hero.
As Tiny struggles to keep up with the Hardcastles family ambitions, she begins to suspect that Frank has a pretty big secret of his own...one that could unravel everything.
Like her other novels, this one flashes between two different times and perspectives. Caspian in 1964 and Tiny in 1966. It's hard to believe how much has happened in that 2 year span. Caspian has become my favorite love interest from all her other novels combined, I honestly adored him.
"I am in love with you, he thought, and then, an instant later, the more permanent, the more certain I love you."
He was such a sweetheart! A gentleman, a photographer and a soldier?!? >_< On a side note, I also encountered my most hated character from all her other novels combined, which would be Frank's father, Mr. Franklin Hardcastle Sr. He was a sexist prick.
"It's not infidelity, Tiny. Infidelity is when a wife strays from her husband. Because a woman takes a lover when she's in love. Her heart's involved. Frank's heart isn't involved with this...this girl, or any other. It's just a physical release. A boost to the ego, every man needs that. His heart is all yours."
Ugh, I hated him. I wanted to cause him so much pain. This story also ended up going in an unexpected direction, but after spending much of the book pissed that Tiny wasn't sticking up for herself, I very much liked her ending. I originally wasn't quite as excited about the premise of this one compared to the other 2 of the Schuyler sister novels, but I ended up liking this one the best, if only because of Caspian ;) I also loved that the last chapter provided the opening for Pepper's story, the final installment in the Shuyler sister's stories. Would highly recommend this novel or anything by this author. She's become my go to for historical fiction and I can't wait to get my hands on more by her.
This is the second installment of the Schuyler sisters, the story about Christina " Tiny " Hardcastle, the oldest of the 3 Schuyler sister's. It's the summer of 1966. Tiny and her husband, Frank Hardcastle are on the brink of a wonderful future. They are the ultimate power couple : intelligent, rich and attractive. Frank is destined for leadership and has his sights set on the United States Congress. Tiny presents a perfect camera ready image at his side, the lovely and loyal wife to the budding politician.
As the election season gets underway, a few unexpected surprises turn Tiny's summer on Cape Cod upside down. Her volatile sister Pepper arrives unexpectedly for an extended visit...an envelope containing a very incriminating photograph, one that threatens to expose a secret that Tiny holds close to her heart...and the arrival of Frank's cousin Caspian, a Vietnam war hero.
As Tiny struggles to keep up with the Hardcastles family ambitions, she begins to suspect that Frank has a pretty big secret of his own...one that could unravel everything.
Like her other novels, this one flashes between two different times and perspectives. Caspian in 1964 and Tiny in 1966. It's hard to believe how much has happened in that 2 year span. Caspian has become my favorite love interest from all her other novels combined, I honestly adored him.
"I am in love with you, he thought, and then, an instant later, the more permanent, the more certain I love you."
He was such a sweetheart! A gentleman, a photographer and a soldier?!? >_< On a side note, I also encountered my most hated character from all her other novels combined, which would be Frank's father, Mr. Franklin Hardcastle Sr. He was a sexist prick.
"It's not infidelity, Tiny. Infidelity is when a wife strays from her husband. Because a woman takes a lover when she's in love. Her heart's involved. Frank's heart isn't involved with this...this girl, or any other. It's just a physical release. A boost to the ego, every man needs that. His heart is all yours."
Ugh, I hated him. I wanted to cause him so much pain. This story also ended up going in an unexpected direction, but after spending much of the book pissed that Tiny wasn't sticking up for herself, I very much liked her ending. I originally wasn't quite as excited about the premise of this one compared to the other 2 of the Schuyler sister novels, but I ended up liking this one the best, if only because of Caspian ;) I also loved that the last chapter provided the opening for Pepper's story, the final installment in the Shuyler sister's stories. Would highly recommend this novel or anything by this author. She's become my go to for historical fiction and I can't wait to get my hands on more by her.
August 4, 2015
I've always felt somewhat sorry for people in the public eye. They live without the luxury of secrets or much privacy of any kind really. The world could know at a moments notice. That kind of life takes some tough skin.
Christina “Tiny” Hardcastle has the complete opposite of tough skin. She is prim, proper, sweet, submissive, and is married to an up-and-coming politician. She has been carefully groomed for her role of perfect wife but she feels anything but perfect under the firm expectations of her husband's family. She keeps trying though, but now a secret from her past is being held over her head by an anonymous someone. Oops.
The author Beatriz Williams did a superb job of creating Tiny's character, giving her a voice, and transporting readers to the 1960's where Tiny Little Thing's fictional story takes place. Tiny's emotions were incredibly palpable in this story and I so wanted for her the freedom she craved. She used to be free, she used to not give a damn - at least for a little bit - but she doesn't have that life anymore. Ms. Williams gifts the reader with a parallel backstory featuring Tiny's life a few years prior which was helpful in the development of characters and general family dynamics.
Overall, I liked Tiny Little Thing. I was thinking three or three and a half stars, but a surprising turn of events around the last quarter really knocked it up another star for me personally. Apparently Tiny wasn't the only one with a secret ;) Tiny is a great character, the family dynamics are entertaining, Ms. Williams's writing is wonderful, and the family secrets kept coming. If this type of historical/women's fiction novel appeals to you, then check it out!
My favorite quote:
"A high pitch of energy surrounds him. A pitch I recognize from other nights, other events. I suppose we all recognize it, we wives of performers. And that's what politics is isn't it? Performing I mean. Celebrity or charisma or plain old razzle dazzle. A brilliance that you might call artificial. A masquerade, but really it isn't. The mask is part of the person. That's why it's so compelling."
Christina “Tiny” Hardcastle has the complete opposite of tough skin. She is prim, proper, sweet, submissive, and is married to an up-and-coming politician. She has been carefully groomed for her role of perfect wife but she feels anything but perfect under the firm expectations of her husband's family. She keeps trying though, but now a secret from her past is being held over her head by an anonymous someone. Oops.
The author Beatriz Williams did a superb job of creating Tiny's character, giving her a voice, and transporting readers to the 1960's where Tiny Little Thing's fictional story takes place. Tiny's emotions were incredibly palpable in this story and I so wanted for her the freedom she craved. She used to be free, she used to not give a damn - at least for a little bit - but she doesn't have that life anymore. Ms. Williams gifts the reader with a parallel backstory featuring Tiny's life a few years prior which was helpful in the development of characters and general family dynamics.
Overall, I liked Tiny Little Thing. I was thinking three or three and a half stars, but a surprising turn of events around the last quarter really knocked it up another star for me personally. Apparently Tiny wasn't the only one with a secret ;) Tiny is a great character, the family dynamics are entertaining, Ms. Williams's writing is wonderful, and the family secrets kept coming. If this type of historical/women's fiction novel appeals to you, then check it out!
My favorite quote:
"A high pitch of energy surrounds him. A pitch I recognize from other nights, other events. I suppose we all recognize it, we wives of performers. And that's what politics is isn't it? Performing I mean. Celebrity or charisma or plain old razzle dazzle. A brilliance that you might call artificial. A masquerade, but really it isn't. The mask is part of the person. That's why it's so compelling."
June 13, 2018
Just as lovely as the previous Beatriz Williams books I have read. However, I wished I had started with The Secret Life of Violet Grant, then this book to end with Along the Infinite Sea. Instead if starting with Along the Infinite Sea, then The Secret Life of Violet Grant and end with this book. Also, as much as I liked Tiny is it Pepper (star of Along the Infinite Sea) that I truly adored!
July 7, 2022
This is the second installment of a romantic trilogy tracing the lives of the Schuyler sisters. In it, our author takes up the travail of "Tiny" (Schuyler) Hardcastle, the lovely young wife of a handsome politician being groomed for the presidency. They seem the perfect couple in these Camelot days of the 1960s, with their compound on the Cape and their brownstone in town and their myriad sparkling appearances at rallies and fundraisers throughout this important election season. The illusion is quickly pierced for us, though, with the news of Tiny's recent miscarriage, her husband's distance, and the return of his cousin from the war. Vietnam vet, Caspian, shares a secret past with Tiny and represents every sacrifice she's made to achieve the position she inhabits today. Can she continue to deny her heart and hold her course?
Beatriz Williams is a reckless writer, and with Tiny Hardcastle she's found the perfect vehicle to careen around the corners of her lusty tale. Our heroine may be diminutive, her spirit is most assuredly not. There are no carefully considered actions or deliberations or restraints to be found in these pages - it's a mad frolic from beginning to end, equipped with the sort of sly intelligence you frequently find in the films of Katherine Hepburn. It's a beautiful thing, when a novelist finds a soulmate in her protagonist, and makes for an exceptional read.
Here is that one delectable chocolate you've been rooting through the entire box for. Enjoy it. I certainly did.
Beatriz Williams is a reckless writer, and with Tiny Hardcastle she's found the perfect vehicle to careen around the corners of her lusty tale. Our heroine may be diminutive, her spirit is most assuredly not. There are no carefully considered actions or deliberations or restraints to be found in these pages - it's a mad frolic from beginning to end, equipped with the sort of sly intelligence you frequently find in the films of Katherine Hepburn. It's a beautiful thing, when a novelist finds a soulmate in her protagonist, and makes for an exceptional read.
Here is that one delectable chocolate you've been rooting through the entire box for. Enjoy it. I certainly did.
July 16, 2015
Very disappointing and brings nothing new to the historical fiction genre. I liked the 60's setting, but I could see where this was going about a chapter in - hoped to be wrong but wasn't. Very chick-lit and appropriate beach reading, but instantly forgettable.
June 29, 2015
I am left speechless after finishing what I consider to be one of the most engrossing novels that I have had the privilege of reading in 2015. The characters and their secrets pulled me into this Kennedy style family and left me feeling so incomplete and lost when the story was done. This book will proudly sit atop my favorite’s shelf and will be read over and over again. The story follows Christina “Tiny” Hardcastle in her life being married to a rising politician and the story is definitely her own for she has secrets of her own and a past that she wishes to forever keep hidden. Beatriz Williams never ceases to impress me with her eloquent dialogue and character descriptions; reading her novels is like stepping into a brand new, adventurous world.
Tiny’s character was one that I easily connected to because of the way she told her story. It was easy to follow her and even easier to become invested in her life and in her tangled web of secrets. You will find yourself rooting for her, especially by the end when you learn what other secrets the Hardcastle family is harboring. Tiny has so much pressure on her shoulders because her husband Frank is running for office, and it is her ultimate duty to keep her deep, dark secrets from coming to light. I was very pleased to also find out that in November of this year, Williams is releasing a novel that follows another of Tiny’s sisters; I am beyond excited and cannot wait!
***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at G.P. Putnam’s Sons in exchange for my honest review***
Tiny’s character was one that I easily connected to because of the way she told her story. It was easy to follow her and even easier to become invested in her life and in her tangled web of secrets. You will find yourself rooting for her, especially by the end when you learn what other secrets the Hardcastle family is harboring. Tiny has so much pressure on her shoulders because her husband Frank is running for office, and it is her ultimate duty to keep her deep, dark secrets from coming to light. I was very pleased to also find out that in November of this year, Williams is releasing a novel that follows another of Tiny’s sisters; I am beyond excited and cannot wait!
***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at G.P. Putnam’s Sons in exchange for my honest review***
June 29, 2022
Honestly, not a fan of the plot or the characters.🤷♀️
Goodreads review published 28/06/22
Goodreads review published 28/06/22
July 27, 2022
I enjoyed this book. It is the story of Tiny Schuyler Hardcastle, married to Frank who is running for Congress in 1966. She is the perfect wife to the perfect candidate, but both of them are hiding secrets that could destroy them.
Just before she married Frank, she met Caspian Harrison in 1964. The book alternates between these two time periods and between Tiny’s POV and Caspian’s POV. This makes for an interesting juxtaposition as to what was happening during this time period.
The book just kind of goes along as an interesting, fun read, and then BAM! there are a couple of plot twists that I didn’t see coming. They elevated the book from a high 3 stars to a solid 4 stars.
This is a fun historical fiction that doesn’t require a lot of work on the part of the reader. The characters are well portrayed, with a few stereotypes thrown in for good measure. Some characters turn out the be surprisingly astute and redeem themselves quite well. I must say, Caspian is a true romantic hero. ❤️
I would definitely recommend this book as a lighter read for historical fiction. I’m looking forward to reading the third book in the series: Along the Infinite Sea.
Just before she married Frank, she met Caspian Harrison in 1964. The book alternates between these two time periods and between Tiny’s POV and Caspian’s POV. This makes for an interesting juxtaposition as to what was happening during this time period.
The book just kind of goes along as an interesting, fun read, and then BAM! there are a couple of plot twists that I didn’t see coming. They elevated the book from a high 3 stars to a solid 4 stars.
This is a fun historical fiction that doesn’t require a lot of work on the part of the reader. The characters are well portrayed, with a few stereotypes thrown in for good measure. Some characters turn out the be surprisingly astute and redeem themselves quite well. I must say, Caspian is a true romantic hero. ❤️
I would definitely recommend this book as a lighter read for historical fiction. I’m looking forward to reading the third book in the series: Along the Infinite Sea.
October 26, 2015
First, thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this book. I am providing my honest review.
This book was just okay to me. First of all, I didn't like the name "Tiny," so that drove me crazy throughout. Second, the story seemed so much like a rehash of the JFK stories we've all heard that I just felt like I knew everything. The story and characters themselves were okay. But there was something missing - emotion, maybe.
I've read another book by this author, which I loved so I'm not giving up. But, I was disappointed in this book.
This book was just okay to me. First of all, I didn't like the name "Tiny," so that drove me crazy throughout. Second, the story seemed so much like a rehash of the JFK stories we've all heard that I just felt like I knew everything. The story and characters themselves were okay. But there was something missing - emotion, maybe.
I've read another book by this author, which I loved so I'm not giving up. But, I was disappointed in this book.
August 13, 2015
Barf. Absolute banality. Language so in love with itself it certainly doesn't need ME to admire it. And so flowery that I believe it induced early menopause. Such tidy endings that it read like a Harlequin Scooby Doo. And lest you forget the dainty stature of the titular character, the author reminds you of TIny's miniature physique Every. Single. Page. So although I know how ladylike and delicate she appeared, I have absolutely NO IDEA who she actually is. Her character was not defined or consistent. Was she wispy and romantic? Or scrappy and independent? Did she have a sly tongue or was she a murmuring assenter? Depends on which page you read. Terrible book. Cannot recommend.
March 25, 2020
TINY LITTLE THING
Beatriz Williams
Ms. Williams is fast becoming my go to author when I need an escape and she does a good job.
This Kennedy story even set in Cape Cod with a man being groomed to be president by his wealthy father is an excellent look at the extremes the powerful will use. The woman he married has been groomed to be a presidential wife who discovers she doesn't know herself what she wants, and is slowly being strangled.
Of course there is the military decorated cousin who sizzles and her quirky sister with secrets of her own.
Definitely great for a beach, a fireplace or a favorite chair.
I enjoyed it
Beatriz Williams
Ms. Williams is fast becoming my go to author when I need an escape and she does a good job.
This Kennedy story even set in Cape Cod with a man being groomed to be president by his wealthy father is an excellent look at the extremes the powerful will use. The woman he married has been groomed to be a presidential wife who discovers she doesn't know herself what she wants, and is slowly being strangled.
Of course there is the military decorated cousin who sizzles and her quirky sister with secrets of her own.
Definitely great for a beach, a fireplace or a favorite chair.
I enjoyed it
October 7, 2015
Even though the Hardcastles and their story was borrowed heavily from the Kennedy's own story/history, I still enjoyed this. Perhaps its because I love anything to do with the Kennedys that I did like this. I do think, however, that the author could have made some differences, for instance being from a different part of town other than Brookline, Massachusetts.
Can't wait to see what Pepper gets up to in the next book, though.
Can't wait to see what Pepper gets up to in the next book, though.
June 23, 2015
Secrets. We all have them, don’t we? But some secrets are a bit larger than others.
Tiny had a secret from her past that she definitely didn't want to be revealed especially since her husband was running for the Senate. But what is she going to be do with the photographs that keep appearing in her mailbox along with the blackmail notes.
Then when the person she thinks sent the photographs appears at a family gathering, things start to get sticky.
TINY LITTLE THING is a book that has characters that are high brow and not trustworthy. Tiny married Frank because her mother wanted her to marry him not because she loved Frank. Frank married Tiny just because of her family status. Caspian, the cousin, was at the center of it all, and the secrets Tiny held revolved around Caspian. Frank's secrets were secrets every wife dreads are true.
TINY LITTLE THING takes the reader back and forth through the years with background information that connects all the dots and keeps the reader interested simply because you want to see how these folks live in high society and when and if the secrets will be revealed.
TINY LITTLE THING has the Schuyler sisters as two of the main characters, but it is not necessary to have read Ms. Williams' previous books to be able to follow the storyline. Tiny's sister, Pepper, brings a bit of disruption to the family and especially to Tiny, but she was always like that.
TINY LITTLE THING is for those readers who love family secrets and family dynamics. I enjoyed TINY LITTLE THING simply because Ms. Williams knows how to tell an intriguing story with drama as well as facts. Her writing just pulls you in.
TINY LITTLE THING is a great summer read with an ending that is oh so good.
Don't forget to pack TINY LITTLE THING in your beach bag. 4/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
July 4, 2015
Historia de época (Guerra de Vietnam, años '60) contada en dos voces (Caspian y Tiny) y en años distintos (1964 y 1966).
Fue una lectura ligera, no se enfoca demasiado en la guerra sino en sus personajes principales. Más que nada en la hipocresía de una familia de plata que quiera dar la imagen perfecta en medio de la campaña política del hijo mayor, Frank, y que no va a parar por nada con tal de quedar bien ante los ojos del público. Lastimando así, en el camino, a casi todos los integrantes, forzándolos a .
Me gustó mucho más de lo que me esperaba en un principio. Como regla, trato de no leer libros sobre soldados yanquis ya que nunca comparto las opiniones patrióticas de sus personajes (las odio, en realidad). Sin embargo, como dije antes, esta novela no gasta demasiadas palabras alabando las "Virtudes" de atacar países y, como bien dice uno de los personajes , "matar mujeres y niños inocentes sólo porque su país decide tener un sistema socioeconómico y político distinto al capitalismo", sino que pone el énfasis en la vida de los personajes, los matrimonios fallidos, los amores desencontrados y las relaciones familiares (madre/hija; padre/hijo; hermana/hermana, etc.).
Está escrito de manera bien sencilla pero llevadera, de modo que se lee rápido y sin problemas.
Recomendado para lectores a quienes les gustan los amores en épocas difíciles, con trasfondo político y muchos secretos familiares.
Fue una lectura ligera, no se enfoca demasiado en la guerra sino en sus personajes principales. Más que nada en la hipocresía de una familia de plata que quiera dar la imagen perfecta en medio de la campaña política del hijo mayor, Frank, y que no va a parar por nada con tal de quedar bien ante los ojos del público. Lastimando así, en el camino, a casi todos los integrantes, forzándolos a .
Me gustó mucho más de lo que me esperaba en un principio. Como regla, trato de no leer libros sobre soldados yanquis ya que nunca comparto las opiniones patrióticas de sus personajes (las odio, en realidad). Sin embargo, como dije antes, esta novela no gasta demasiadas palabras alabando las "Virtudes" de atacar países y, como bien dice uno de los personajes , "matar mujeres y niños inocentes sólo porque su país decide tener un sistema socioeconómico y político distinto al capitalismo", sino que pone el énfasis en la vida de los personajes, los matrimonios fallidos, los amores desencontrados y las relaciones familiares (madre/hija; padre/hijo; hermana/hermana, etc.).
Está escrito de manera bien sencilla pero llevadera, de modo que se lee rápido y sin problemas.
Recomendado para lectores a quienes les gustan los amores en épocas difíciles, con trasfondo político y muchos secretos familiares.
February 12, 2016
This was a very easy book to read. I enjoyed the story and the descriptive settings. I felt like I really heard each characters voice in the dialogue. It is a "chick-book" that I normally would not read but I'm glad the mom advice book club listed it for February.
August 11, 2016
Beatriz Williams does such a great job writing soapish melodrama that's fun and surprising without being mindless.
January 13, 2016
It is officially summer: I read the newest Beatriz Williams book. Because, how can it possibly be summer without that?!?
I am going to jump out here and say that my review is inflated due to my crazy love of Beatriz Williams and that I am wildly entertained by her novels. I don't really know how to describe them:
Contemporary fiction? They take place in the 60's or before so that doesn't really fit.
Romance? Yes, there is usually a romantic storyline but it is not sappy and overwrought.
Suspense? Definitely not even though there is typically a mysterious storyline angle.
I guess the best I can do is that Williams's books are about relationships (parent-child, sisters, friends, husbands and wives), coming into your own, and fighting for what you want in life.
Christina "Tiny" Hardcastle is the perfect wife for rising politician Franklin Hardcastle. She is from an influential New York Family, educated, well-behaved, could give lessons at finishing school, and is classically beautiful. Petite, ivory-skinned, graceful, and slender. Tiny embodies her nickname (really, just a tiny little thing). During the summer of 1966, Frank is making a bid for U.S. Representative and Tiny is spending her time split between campaign obligations in Boston and the family compound on Cape Cod. The anticipated calmness and predictability is upended when Caspian, Frank's cousin and Vietnam war hero, and Pepper, Tiny's younger brash sister, unexpectedly arrive on the Cape for extended stays. Throw in a dash of blackmail, a healthy dose of secrets (really, just tiny little things), and mix in families of the upper echelon along with their expectations and demands and you have a book that I could not put down.
Seriously, I laid (lay? lied?) in bed for two hours past when I should have gone to sleep last night just to listen to the final chapters of my audiobook.
At first, Tiny's character came across as a bit cold and a lot entitled. But, she slowly thawed throughout the story and we saw who she was before entering the Hardcastle family. When she was just Tiny Schuyler, a girl with dreams of dancing and true love. And ambition. There is no denying that Tiny, at least at one point, was solely focused on hitching her wagon to a rising star. Beneath the amicable agreeability and genteel persona was a core of steel. And, I loved seeing that revealed. Pepper was a show stealer. She was brash, progressive, and shameless flirt, and completely unapologetic. She was always first in line to put Tiny in her place. And always first to step up to protect her delicate older sister. Frank was a wonderfully complex character. I started out disliking him for no real reason other than just a bad feeling, came to truly despise him for how he treated Tiny, and then came to have sympathy for him because he was a man trapped between who he was and what society expected of him. And, Caspian. Sigh. He is the misunderstood hero. The quiet source of strength for everyone around him. And a total babe.
I cannot gush enough about how much I adore Williams. Her characters come to life, her writing is smooth and evocative, and her stories strike the right balance of light-hearted summer reads with threads of social and political commentary.
And, the best news? Williams is publishing a Fall novel telling the story of Pepper! It comes out the day before my birthday; thank you for the thoughtful gift Ms. Williams.
I am going to jump out here and say that my review is inflated due to my crazy love of Beatriz Williams and that I am wildly entertained by her novels. I don't really know how to describe them:
Contemporary fiction? They take place in the 60's or before so that doesn't really fit.
Romance? Yes, there is usually a romantic storyline but it is not sappy and overwrought.
Suspense? Definitely not even though there is typically a mysterious storyline angle.
I guess the best I can do is that Williams's books are about relationships (parent-child, sisters, friends, husbands and wives), coming into your own, and fighting for what you want in life.
Christina "Tiny" Hardcastle is the perfect wife for rising politician Franklin Hardcastle. She is from an influential New York Family, educated, well-behaved, could give lessons at finishing school, and is classically beautiful. Petite, ivory-skinned, graceful, and slender. Tiny embodies her nickname (really, just a tiny little thing). During the summer of 1966, Frank is making a bid for U.S. Representative and Tiny is spending her time split between campaign obligations in Boston and the family compound on Cape Cod. The anticipated calmness and predictability is upended when Caspian, Frank's cousin and Vietnam war hero, and Pepper, Tiny's younger brash sister, unexpectedly arrive on the Cape for extended stays. Throw in a dash of blackmail, a healthy dose of secrets (really, just tiny little things), and mix in families of the upper echelon along with their expectations and demands and you have a book that I could not put down.
Seriously, I laid (lay? lied?) in bed for two hours past when I should have gone to sleep last night just to listen to the final chapters of my audiobook.
At first, Tiny's character came across as a bit cold and a lot entitled. But, she slowly thawed throughout the story and we saw who she was before entering the Hardcastle family. When she was just Tiny Schuyler, a girl with dreams of dancing and true love. And ambition. There is no denying that Tiny, at least at one point, was solely focused on hitching her wagon to a rising star. Beneath the amicable agreeability and genteel persona was a core of steel. And, I loved seeing that revealed. Pepper was a show stealer. She was brash, progressive, and shameless flirt, and completely unapologetic. She was always first in line to put Tiny in her place. And always first to step up to protect her delicate older sister. Frank was a wonderfully complex character. I started out disliking him for no real reason other than just a bad feeling, came to truly despise him for how he treated Tiny, and then came to have sympathy for him because he was a man trapped between who he was and what society expected of him. And, Caspian. Sigh. He is the misunderstood hero. The quiet source of strength for everyone around him. And a total babe.
I cannot gush enough about how much I adore Williams. Her characters come to life, her writing is smooth and evocative, and her stories strike the right balance of light-hearted summer reads with threads of social and political commentary.
And, the best news? Williams is publishing a Fall novel telling the story of Pepper! It comes out the day before my birthday; thank you for the thoughtful gift Ms. Williams.
June 21, 2015
Christina "Tiny" Schuyler is a New York socialite good girl who always does everything right. That includes marrying blue-blooded Boston Brahmin, Frank Hardcastle, who is bound for political greatness (think Jack Kennedy). As Frank is on the campaign trail, Tiny stays at the Hardcastle family compound on Cape Cod. While she's there, she receives a package containing incriminating photos from her past, and a demand for money lest the photos be made public. While she considers what to do, and who sent the photos, readers learn both her secrets -- and those of Frank and his cousin Caspian -- in a series of chapters that alternate between the past and present.
Beatriz Williams' novels can be loosely considered historical fiction. This book is no exception as issues about Vietnam, sexuality, and even treatment of women's "mental illness" are covered.
As is the case with other Williams novels, the main characters are fairly well developed, while minor characters are stilted.
All in all an enjoyable book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for a galley in exchange for an honest review.
Beatriz Williams' novels can be loosely considered historical fiction. This book is no exception as issues about Vietnam, sexuality, and even treatment of women's "mental illness" are covered.
As is the case with other Williams novels, the main characters are fairly well developed, while minor characters are stilted.
All in all an enjoyable book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for a galley in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2019
Very enjoyable! I’ll be reading more of her books!! Xx
February 1, 2016
For the longest time I didn't read Women's Fiction, then, I read one of Karen White's book (Long Time Gone) THEN I read 'The Secret Life of Violet Grant' by Beatriz Williams and I was hooked! I always thought it too light for me. I wanted to read something with substance--but here's the thing--I ENJOYED these books. They weren't a chore or something I felt like I had to finish. I liked the characters and the stories.
Yes, sometimes there is too much of a 'happy ending' but I haven't found that in Williams' books. Usually a semi-happy ending, but with not so black and white that it's like a fairy tale.
Williams has a witty way of writing that I love. I am enjoying reading about the Schuyler sisters. Her stories pull you in and I take pleasure in seeing the dynamics in the sisters relationships.
The setting and time line were perfect too! East Coast, 1960's!
3.8 stars!
Yes, sometimes there is too much of a 'happy ending' but I haven't found that in Williams' books. Usually a semi-happy ending, but with not so black and white that it's like a fairy tale.
Williams has a witty way of writing that I love. I am enjoying reading about the Schuyler sisters. Her stories pull you in and I take pleasure in seeing the dynamics in the sisters relationships.
The setting and time line were perfect too! East Coast, 1960's!
3.8 stars!
February 9, 2016
Loved this book! This is my first book by this author and I plan on reading more! Real page turner with lots of good twists!
December 14, 2015
DNF. Half way through I all I was getting was more aggravated with the characters and the lack of any plot so I ditched it.
July 23, 2015
This is way more like 4.5 stars for me. Beatriz Williams is definitely one of my favorite authors. I have loved every single book she writes! She usually has a new book every summer and they are the best beach reads imaginable. Great story, great characters, great ending and I could not put down!! Definitely recommend!!
May 30, 2016
This is the second of three books set mostly in the 1960s with the beautiful, wealthy Schuyler sisters as main characters. Tiny, the oldest Schuyler sister marries into a wealthy Massachusetts political family, very reminiscent of the Camelot era.
August 31, 2015
I suppose if you never read a book before in your life you might think this was literature.
October 19, 2016
Nothing stressful about this read. A nice reading pleasure. Maybe what one might call a beach read or chick lit?
May 16, 2020
Très, très attirée par l'ambiance côte est américaine, années 60, résidences cossues surplombant les plages et abritant des drames familiaux sur les traces des Kennedy... j'ai donc dévoré ce livre en moins de temps qu'il n'en faut pour le dire ! Mais si j'admets que ça se lit vite et bien, le contenu est souvent gnangnan et pleureur. 😏
Tiny Hardcastle est l'épouse comblée du prochain candidat aux élections présidentielles (du moins, Frank fait tout pour). Il n'hésite donc pas à mettre en scène son couple et conforter l'illusion d'un bonheur sans nuage. Car la réalité est autre : Tiny est malheureuse et ne trouve plus sa place parmi ce clan oppressant. Le retour du héros de guerre a également remué de vieux souvenirs d'une idylle survenue lors de ses fiançailles et qui s'est interrompue dans les larmes. Aujourd'hui Tiny est victime de chantage. Son passé toque à sa porte et il est temps de régler sa dette. Sa sœur Pepper débarque à son tour pour insuffler à son existence un peu d'exubérance et d'hypothétiques scandales. Un été chaud brûlant se prépare.
Je suis assez lucide quant aux défauts du roman mais je ne regrette pas ma lecture qui m'a fait voyager dans un univers propice aux fantasmes. Avec sa silhouette blonde et gracile, Tiny détient un certain potentiel hitchcockien (un savant mélange de force et faiblesse). Elle renonce à la passion pour se plier aux jeux des convenances dans cette Amérique puritaine. Seulement, le pouvoir et le mensonge l'étouffent et la poussent à se rebeller. Le soutien de sa petite sœur est d'ailleurs formidable ! ... Et me donne envie de lire les histoires des autres sœurs Schuyler - cf. La vie secrète de Violet Grant et Une maison sur l'océan - car je crois avoir pris goût à toute cette matière sucrée et lourde (ça me fait penser à du Lucinda Riley ou c'est tout comme). Quoi qu'il en soit, c'est une lecture délicieuse et qui invite à la détente !
Tiny Hardcastle est l'épouse comblée du prochain candidat aux élections présidentielles (du moins, Frank fait tout pour). Il n'hésite donc pas à mettre en scène son couple et conforter l'illusion d'un bonheur sans nuage. Car la réalité est autre : Tiny est malheureuse et ne trouve plus sa place parmi ce clan oppressant. Le retour du héros de guerre a également remué de vieux souvenirs d'une idylle survenue lors de ses fiançailles et qui s'est interrompue dans les larmes. Aujourd'hui Tiny est victime de chantage. Son passé toque à sa porte et il est temps de régler sa dette. Sa sœur Pepper débarque à son tour pour insuffler à son existence un peu d'exubérance et d'hypothétiques scandales. Un été chaud brûlant se prépare.
Je suis assez lucide quant aux défauts du roman mais je ne regrette pas ma lecture qui m'a fait voyager dans un univers propice aux fantasmes. Avec sa silhouette blonde et gracile, Tiny détient un certain potentiel hitchcockien (un savant mélange de force et faiblesse). Elle renonce à la passion pour se plier aux jeux des convenances dans cette Amérique puritaine. Seulement, le pouvoir et le mensonge l'étouffent et la poussent à se rebeller. Le soutien de sa petite sœur est d'ailleurs formidable ! ... Et me donne envie de lire les histoires des autres sœurs Schuyler - cf. La vie secrète de Violet Grant et Une maison sur l'océan - car je crois avoir pris goût à toute cette matière sucrée et lourde (ça me fait penser à du Lucinda Riley ou c'est tout comme). Quoi qu'il en soit, c'est une lecture délicieuse et qui invite à la détente !
October 9, 2018
Where did my review go??? I just wrote a whole paragraph and it disappeared!
Well, let me just summarize, my heart has been pounding for the last 3 hours, my cheeks are red which tells me my blood pressure is up and it’s not because of the RS/Yankees game! Holy Cow what a spellbinding book, I couldn’t stop reading it! I have to be up in 5 hours! Erika, Ashleigh, Patty, Jessie, I don’t remember who recommended it, but yikes I couldn’t put it down! But if you are looking for a recommendation, you have to read the first one in the series first! Great book!
Well, let me just summarize, my heart has been pounding for the last 3 hours, my cheeks are red which tells me my blood pressure is up and it’s not because of the RS/Yankees game! Holy Cow what a spellbinding book, I couldn’t stop reading it! I have to be up in 5 hours! Erika, Ashleigh, Patty, Jessie, I don’t remember who recommended it, but yikes I couldn’t put it down! But if you are looking for a recommendation, you have to read the first one in the series first! Great book!
September 10, 2015
Christina, otherwise known as Tiny, has grown up in a high society family and her mother always pushed her to do more, be more; after all, she is destined for great things. Well, it appears that is so as she married into the very prestigious Hardcastle family. Her husband, Frank, is running for Congress and the year is 1966. Everything is going as planned, until she receives a note with a photograph that is essentially blackmail. This turns Tiny's world upside down. Frank isn't even home at the time the photograph arrives. He is on TV at his cousin's Medal of Honor ceremony. His cousin is Caspian Harrison who fought bravely in Vietnam and whom Tiny actually knows from a chance meeting with him before her wedding to Frank. Slowly Tiny's world starts to crumble and she starts questioning if she made the right decision many years ago. Also, family secrets start floating to the surface and some are life-altering. Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams is a glimpse into a high society family that will do anything to keep their secrets buried and this book examines how far families will go to do just that.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
July 4, 2015
Originally posted on my blog: www.sarahsbookshelves.com
If you read this blog regularly (especially around summer time!), you know that Williams’ A Hundred Summers is my favorite quintessential beach read…and she’s back with another book that’s perfect for summer! The Hardcastle family that Tiny married into is a bit Kennedy and a bit Cleary from “Wedding Crashers”. Tiny struggles against the family’s expectations to portray a pretty picture at all costs. And, her struggle with her identity as a woman and her fight to maintain a sense of herself within her high profile marriage provide just enough substance to keep things interesting. The story is told in alternating time periods (1964 and 1966) and the suspense lies in how everyone got from Point A in 1964 to Point B in 1966. Tiny’s voice is a bit tongue in cheek, which I loved, and I had a literary crush on Caspian, Tiny’s cousin by marriage! Tiny Little Thing is a quick-reading, fun beach read starring some wealthy people behaving badly (one of my favorite summer topics!) and is going on my 2015 Summer Reading List.
If you read this blog regularly (especially around summer time!), you know that Williams’ A Hundred Summers is my favorite quintessential beach read…and she’s back with another book that’s perfect for summer! The Hardcastle family that Tiny married into is a bit Kennedy and a bit Cleary from “Wedding Crashers”. Tiny struggles against the family’s expectations to portray a pretty picture at all costs. And, her struggle with her identity as a woman and her fight to maintain a sense of herself within her high profile marriage provide just enough substance to keep things interesting. The story is told in alternating time periods (1964 and 1966) and the suspense lies in how everyone got from Point A in 1964 to Point B in 1966. Tiny’s voice is a bit tongue in cheek, which I loved, and I had a literary crush on Caspian, Tiny’s cousin by marriage! Tiny Little Thing is a quick-reading, fun beach read starring some wealthy people behaving badly (one of my favorite summer topics!) and is going on my 2015 Summer Reading List.
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