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The Flight of Swallows
Charlotte’s father is a cruel man, viciously beating her and her brothers for the slightest reason. He even wants to marry her off, at just sixteen years old, to a man she does not love. Lion-hearted Charlotte wants to defy him – but to protect her brothers from his fury she agrees to become the wife of Brooke Armstrong. Brooke welcomes her brothers into his home and sets out to make her love him.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
12 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Howard
63 books51 followersAudrey Howard was born on 1929 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK, and grew up in St Annes on Sea, Lancashire, where she lives in her childhood home.
Before she began to write she had a variety of jobs, among them hairdresser, model, shop assistant, cleaner and civil servant. In 1981, while living in Australia, she wrote the first of her bestselling novels published since 1984. In 1988, her novel The Juniper Bush won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Before she began to write she had a variety of jobs, among them hairdresser, model, shop assistant, cleaner and civil servant. In 1981, while living in Australia, she wrote the first of her bestselling novels published since 1984. In 1988, her novel The Juniper Bush won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 26, 2013
3.5 STARS
Audrey Howard is a bit hit-and-miss for me. I *loved* A PLACE CALLED HOPE, and just couldn't get into THE LONG WAY HOME, and couldn't make my mind up about ROSE ALLEY.
THE FLIGHT OF SWALLOWS had good and bad points, of which the main ones are listed below:
GOOD:
- I liked Charlotte, and her strength of character and convictions, her determination to save the 'fallen women' (although I was grinding my teeth in frustration at the earlier part of the book where she was constantly brushing off her husband to fuss over her brother, who was determined to have her all to himself)
- Said 'fallen women', particularly Jenny and Aisling, were likeable and sympathetic, and it was lovely to see them start their new lives
- The ending was well done, and without spoiling anything, certain people got their just desserts and others got their happiness, which was heart-warming.
- Ms Howard knows how to draw the reader in, and, without wanting to sound cliched, I really felt absorbed in their world and time.
HOWEVER, there were a couple of bad points, which lowered the star rating to a (generous) 3.5 as opposed to a 4 or 4.5 -
BAD:
- Brooke's violent tendencies in the bedroom. I liked him a lot as a character because of how sensitive and kind he was, but then Ms Howard obviously had some existential crisis and worried that he wasn't 'manly' enough, so wrote in several near-rape scenes between him and Charlotte! And we were still meant to find him likeable, as if he was just so hot for her he couldn't help himself, he was just being a 'real man'. I'm sorry, but it is unacceptable to portray sexual violence as a positive thing AT ALL. Both Charlotte and Brooke admit to themselves more than once that their various encounters have been "almost rape" but still love and trust each other. Huh.
- Audrey Howard's overuse of exclamation marks!! Constantly! At the end of every! Chapter! I normally enjoy Ms Howard's writing, but in this book she went decidedly Enid Blyton in her style and ended about 90% of chapters with an exclamatory sentence! And not just at the end of the chapters, either!!!!!!!!!! (apologies for sarcastic exclamation marks)
Overall, I enjoyed THE FLIGHT OF SWALLOWS, despite the roasting I've just given it, but would recommend A PLACE CALLED HOPE over it, I'm afraid.
Audrey Howard is a bit hit-and-miss for me. I *loved* A PLACE CALLED HOPE, and just couldn't get into THE LONG WAY HOME, and couldn't make my mind up about ROSE ALLEY.
THE FLIGHT OF SWALLOWS had good and bad points, of which the main ones are listed below:
GOOD:
- I liked Charlotte, and her strength of character and convictions, her determination to save the 'fallen women' (although I was grinding my teeth in frustration at the earlier part of the book where she was constantly brushing off her husband to fuss over her brother, who was determined to have her all to himself)
- Said 'fallen women', particularly Jenny and Aisling, were likeable and sympathetic, and it was lovely to see them start their new lives
- The ending was well done, and without spoiling anything, certain people got their just desserts and others got their happiness, which was heart-warming.
- Ms Howard knows how to draw the reader in, and, without wanting to sound cliched, I really felt absorbed in their world and time.
HOWEVER, there were a couple of bad points, which lowered the star rating to a (generous) 3.5 as opposed to a 4 or 4.5 -
BAD:
- Brooke's violent tendencies in the bedroom. I liked him a lot as a character because of how sensitive and kind he was, but then Ms Howard obviously had some existential crisis and worried that he wasn't 'manly' enough, so wrote in several near-rape scenes between him and Charlotte! And we were still meant to find him likeable, as if he was just so hot for her he couldn't help himself, he was just being a 'real man'. I'm sorry, but it is unacceptable to portray sexual violence as a positive thing AT ALL. Both Charlotte and Brooke admit to themselves more than once that their various encounters have been "almost rape" but still love and trust each other. Huh.
- Audrey Howard's overuse of exclamation marks!! Constantly! At the end of every! Chapter! I normally enjoy Ms Howard's writing, but in this book she went decidedly Enid Blyton in her style and ended about 90% of chapters with an exclamatory sentence! And not just at the end of the chapters, either!!!!!!!!!! (apologies for sarcastic exclamation marks)
Overall, I enjoyed THE FLIGHT OF SWALLOWS, despite the roasting I've just given it, but would recommend A PLACE CALLED HOPE over it, I'm afraid.
March 24, 2025
I loved this book by Audrey Howard as I have loved all her stories. Such great female main characters with tragic, challenging and victorious lives. I always get totally absorbed and feel sad when the story ends.
March 23, 2017
"The Flight of Swallows" was an enjoyable, historical read. Charlotte was a strong character from the beginning, willing to protect the ones she loved and snub society to set up a home for 'fallen' girls. In a time where women were treated as adornments, I admired her determination and conviction, although it annoyed me how she put her young brother before her husband, especially at the start of the novel.
November 5, 2017
Another good read
I like the way Audrey Howard builds and develops her characters.this is a charming story that has you guessing of the outcome right to the last chapter
I like the way Audrey Howard builds and develops her characters.this is a charming story that has you guessing of the outcome right to the last chapter
October 10, 2018
Not as compelling a read as some others by Audrey Howard but enjoyable.
March 3, 2019
This was a good story. Charlotte's father got his just desserts in the end. Charlotte was a woman ahead of her time.
March 14, 2020
it was good I. the beginning but then it started to get so annoying when Charlotte continuously decided to be stupid with not telling her husband about her father's abuse. like whyyyyy????
August 28, 2020
A great story about a young woman at the turn of the century. It's heartbreaking at times and you just want to shake some of the characters, but its a really great story.
October 20, 2020
fairly predictable
June 13, 2013
Audrey Howards The Juniper Bush will forever remain one of my favourite books - it is many years old now but is timeless, romantic and a true saga. It has been some time since Audrey Howard emulated the characters in her earlier novel but in The Flight of Swallows she achieves a book of the same magnitude as The Juniper Bush.
The story of Charlotte who at 16 is married to wealthy estate owner Brooke Armstrong who is truly infatuated with her and loves her dearly is fantastic. As they struggle to acustomise themselves to married life, finding enjoyment in different pursuits and trying to gel together whilst being overseen by Charlottes youngest brother who she has asked to have live with them.
Charlotte struggles to maintain her one true passion in life - looking after the destitute pregnant girls in her neighbourhood - putting them work in useful production of rag rugs - her husband is in opposition but loves his young wife and wishes to make her happy so often turns a blind eye so long as she pleases him in the bedroom.
Fantastic - love this book would highly recommend it.
The story of Charlotte who at 16 is married to wealthy estate owner Brooke Armstrong who is truly infatuated with her and loves her dearly is fantastic. As they struggle to acustomise themselves to married life, finding enjoyment in different pursuits and trying to gel together whilst being overseen by Charlottes youngest brother who she has asked to have live with them.
Charlotte struggles to maintain her one true passion in life - looking after the destitute pregnant girls in her neighbourhood - putting them work in useful production of rag rugs - her husband is in opposition but loves his young wife and wishes to make her happy so often turns a blind eye so long as she pleases him in the bedroom.
Fantastic - love this book would highly recommend it.
July 22, 2013
Review taken from my Blog Post #111 in May 2011, when I borrowed it from the local library, but thought I would share my impression:
Being the daughter of a "gentleman" doesn't always accord you luxury and privilege. Charlotte Drummond's father is a brute of a man, ruling his house with a rod of iron, and dispensing Charlotte and her brothers discipline and humiliation for the tiniest of infractions.
Due to re-marry himself Arthur Drummond is keen to marry the sixteen year old Charlotte off to the much older Brooke Armstrong. Whilst full of mettle and wishing to defy her father, she's eventually forced into the marriage - if only to protect her brothers.
Brooke is fabulously wealthy, but also adores her, and had not realised the life Charlotte and her siblings had been subjected too, or that she had been forced into the match .... therefore, it's safe to say that the path to true love does not run smoothly for this pair.
However, when tragedy strikes Charlotte finally admits that she has come to love and adore her husband.
Being the daughter of a "gentleman" doesn't always accord you luxury and privilege. Charlotte Drummond's father is a brute of a man, ruling his house with a rod of iron, and dispensing Charlotte and her brothers discipline and humiliation for the tiniest of infractions.
Due to re-marry himself Arthur Drummond is keen to marry the sixteen year old Charlotte off to the much older Brooke Armstrong. Whilst full of mettle and wishing to defy her father, she's eventually forced into the marriage - if only to protect her brothers.
Brooke is fabulously wealthy, but also adores her, and had not realised the life Charlotte and her siblings had been subjected too, or that she had been forced into the match .... therefore, it's safe to say that the path to true love does not run smoothly for this pair.
However, when tragedy strikes Charlotte finally admits that she has come to love and adore her husband.
October 2, 2015
I loved the book. It kept me entertained and hooked the entire time. I loved the way each page keep you wanting to read more. I couldn't give it five stars due to the fact that I did not like the ending. It all just happened so fast. I wish they would have put a little more into the ending. That's all I will say so I don't ruin the book. But all together, very good book and worth the time to read! I would recommend!
March 20, 2014
A very strong female role for this story and an enthralling, page turner.
August 13, 2014
I just fell in love with this book, I never came across a single chapter which wasn't interesting. Aundery Howard keeps you hooked at every word. Brilliant book glad I read it.
September 12, 2013
Another Great Read, loved it.
September 2, 2017
Audio version
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews