A Portrait of Marguerite

by Kate Lloyd

When single mom Marguerite Carr's son leaves for college, she feels as though her life has lost its purpose. When a friend drags Marguerite to a drawing class—her first since college—she rediscovers her long-lost passion for painting, finds unexpected love, and begins a relationship with God.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Ebooks

312 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2006

About the author

A native of Baltimore, bestselling author Kate Lloyd and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest, the setting of Reinventing Ruthie. She has worked a variety of jobs, including restaurateur and car salesman. When she isn’t writing she enjoys travel, but would rather walk the beach with her cairn terrier, Piper. She still misses her dear Welsh corgi and couldn’t live without a dog.

Learn more about Kate on her website: https://www.katelloyd.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/katelloydbooks
Instagram:@katelloydauthor
Giveaways on her Blog: https://katelloyd.com/feed
Pinterest: @KateLloydAuthor

Reviews

[Karen Vogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

We written book that is rich in character depth and very heartwarming. Kate Lloyd's books will keep you up at night. Not snoozers.

[Paula Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marguerite is the single mother of an 18-year-old son who has just left home to commence college. After twenty years of neglecting a passion, she finally has time to pursue painting again. It is not easy to renew the enthusiasm she felt as an art student who thought she could do anything she put her mind to. It doesn't help that her art teacher, Professor Henry Marsh, seems gruff and aloof where she's concerned. And Marguerite conceals a painful secret she's been guilty over almost the whole time.

One of the best aspects of the book, for me, was the series of revelations about what was happening behind the closed doors of people she thought had picture perfect lives. Her stay-at-home-mum friend Laurie's temptation, her power-house work associate Lois' dilemma and perhaps most shocking of all, the chinks in the armour of her Dad who Marguerite always assumed was right about everything. I appreciated the part where her mother suggested that other people didn't think Marguerite's life had been as much of a write-off as she assumed it had been herself.

As I'm a similar age with a son who's just started Uni, Marguerite's inner thoughts and feelings seemed very real to me. Is this all it was leading up to? What about God's promises? I loved her renewed sense of hope of purpose at the end, although I couldn't help wondering if she would've got happy if she hadn't had another chance of romance with a man. Either way, I loved it and found the writing evocative and beautiful, although I would've liked to have found out about a few things that were left hanging with secondary characters, such as what eventuated with Laurie and Dave, and how would young Rob manage to get reconciled with Andrea's irate father.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure what to think about this book. Overall, I did like it, and will read more of the author's work. But, there was something about the story that left me a bit unsatisfied.
I liked the last chapter, but I feel like it was almost too trite an ending, if that makes sense? I wasn't thinking that Marguerite needed more angst before getting to her HAE (she's had PLENTY of angst) . . .
But, maybe that's the point? Maybe it's NOT a 'happily ever after'. Maybe it's a 'hopefully ever after' . . . she's made a decision to trust God, but now the road stretches out in front of her with only glimpses of what might or might not happen?

[Barbara Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

In A Portrait of Marguerite by Kate Lloyd, Marguerite Carr’s only son is about to leave for college, and she feels lost. Her best friend drags her to an art class, just to get out of the house and do something fun. Marguerite had been an art major in college but had set art aside when she married and then had her son. She’s reluctant to let art back into her life, but she lets her friend talk her into the art class.

There she meets two people who will have an impact on her future: the instructor, Henry, and an older fellow student, Emily. Unfortunately, Henry is a friend of Marguerite’s ex-husband, Phil, which doesn’t raise him in her estimation.

We learn later in the book that Marguerite is weighed down by a secret from her past. As the story progresses, everyone that she holds in high regard is found to have faults and failures, even her beloved father. And her ex-husband, wonder of wonders, seems to have changed for the better.

I’m usually not one to infer symbolism where it’s not intended, but I do think Marguerite’s painting journey, from reluctance to dabbling to freedom, parallels her inner journey as she learns to forgive and accept herself and others.

The spiritual undercurrent, mainly from Emily, is subtle but realistic.

While this wasn’t the most riveting read, I enjoyed it. I’d give it a 4 out of 5.

[Sally Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book to put at the VERY top of my 'like' list!

Single mom Marguerite's son leaves for college, leaving her afloat and alone for the first time in years. She has to deal with issues with her ex, her ex's tacky girlfriend, her friends, and two new men who enter her life. In the midst of it all, there is art. Best of all....there is God.

This is a wonderful story of forgiveness and redemption. I loved it. A lot.

[Alison B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book whilst I was reading it, but was a little disappointed with the ending . Marguerite's secret was not all that much of a surprise, because she had spelt it out right at the beginning. She discovered that she was not the only one who carried around burdens of guilt or embarrassment that they felt ashamed of.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

[Adair · Rating 2 out of 5]

another book about a middle age woman who doesn't have a clue and bemoans everything about her life what might have been

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't really into the characters and I also didn't think there was enough resolution at the end of the story.

[Paula-O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel by Kate Lloyd "A Portrait of Marguerite"


Beautiful story of a woman that is a little insecure in her skin, she has been a single Mom for some time and spent most of it catering to the son that she once thought she did not want.
Like many young women in college she met and cared for a young man named Phil. she for him more then he for her it seems and when finding she was pregnant ,she was not sure he would marry her.
Marry they did and along the way became divorced. They tried to remain friends because of their son. When the son leaves for college Mom must learn to be a person of her own. A friend talked her into art classes and she refound a passion that she once had for art.
The instructor was a friend of her Ex who had lost his wife and child and wanted to remain single and not let himself feel for anyone again. Marguerite felt an instant pull towards Henry but would not let herself go there....Two wanting to remain single but with strong feelings toward one another. They must each come to some decisions if they want to live again fully.
Marguerite's journey was an interesting one and as she learns to live and try things, we can learn from her journey....
I got this book from library and enjoyed reading their story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic novel! I've never read anything by this author, actually I'd never even heard of her before, but I can tell her writing will go far. Such a captivating and compelling tale about a woman looking for a second chance at life. Life's lessons unfold all around her as she makes her journey toward true self-discovery. From an artistic standpoint, it is a rather inspiring story, and certainly got me heading in the right direction again. At the heart of the story we learn to be ourselves, and to not allow the past to hold us captive.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an interesting novel. Margueeerite is a single mom of a teenage son who leaves for college leaving her alone. Her ex is in the area and they keep crossing paths, but Marguerite ends up being interested in a friend of her ex and also her art instructor. Other characters in the story are her long time friends who she walks with several times a week, their stories are intertwined with hers.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Portrait of Marguerite is another well written novel by Kate Lloyd. I am amazed at her writting skills.
A Portrait of Marguerite is an interesting journey about a woman looking for the meaning of her life now that she is alone. The empty nest has hit her hard. She begins a new chapter of her life with renewed friendships, new found talents and gains her self esteem.
She reminds us that even if God is quiet, He has not forgotton us. He is just watching.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will love it

Five stars I loved it because of the way the author described the characters and the situations they experienced. I was able to relate to being a single mom, having self doubts, disliking blind dates, ex husband, parents who are human and make mistakes. So much more. Read this book and see if you love it as much as I do.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the fact that art was brought into the story but it didn't have enough meat for me to grab on to. I probably would have read it anyway knowing this because there are few books out there in Christian fiction about artists.

[Sarah K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story that I purchased for free on Kindle. I loved the themes of renewal and growth in Marguerite's life. Though this is definitely a "Christian" book, it isn't preachy or over the top. Great writing!

[D. Hodges · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little confusing at times. You never really knew what her secret was until the end of the book. Then it was like that happened 19 years ago. Some things from the past need to stay in the past.

[Sue Biedrzycki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Art was missing

Took me so long to get into the story. Characters added to the life decisions but some were predictable. The talents of an artist mixed up with life's curves and intricacies. would have been better with more art exploration.

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author. The story kept me wanting to finish the
book. I will belooking for more of Kate Lloyd's books.

[Alison Gracely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story.