Eve of the Isle

East End Saga #6

by Carol Rivers

Book by Rivers, Carol

Genres: Fiction

487 pages, Hardcover

First published August 4, 2009

About the author

I’ve been fortunate enough to have made my living by writing and I’ve enjoyed a long and harmonious relationship with my publisher, Simon&Schuster. But in recent months I can only stand in awe of the growing and robust numbers of Indie authors whom I admire so much and who have revolutionized the publishing industry. There is fire in the belly of this movement, giving a whole new aspect to the accepted norms in the publishing world. I’m mind-blown at the variety of genres born of digital technology and I’ve made many friends in the Indie world. On-line life for me has become rich and diverse with tales of Indie adventures and successes that are simply staggering. This is mouth-watering stuff and I feel privileged to be here on Goodreads. If you want to know more about my East End novels, with their tough, rough, but warm-hearted Cockney characters, then perhaps you’d like to visit my website at www.carolrivers.com where you’ll gain an insight into the Rivers novels and their history.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical novel is based in the east end of London during the 1920's. Eve lives with her sons in a riverside cottage. After the mysterious death of her sailor husband, Eve earns a living by selling flowers but struggles to support her family and upkeep the cottage. One night the Thames burst its banks and her cottage is flooded and her business is no more. Forced to go and live elsewhere with her sons they end up with a man who tries to give her unwanted attention and his alcoholic wife.

Living with the mystery of what happened to her husband Eve is drawn to a young policeman who has become her friend and together they try to piece together what happened to him. Spending time together the two become close, but Eve can't move on in her life until she knows what happened to her husband. As the story goes on and Eve ends up in danger they learn just how much they care for each other.

I was very fortunate to win a collection of Carol Rivers novels in a competition and this is the first one of them that I have read, it is a lovely story and easy to read. I like the fact that it was a bit of a romance but also had that element of mystery to it, where you don't find out right until the end what really happened. I really enjoyed it and shall look forward to reading the rest of them!

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the read about a young flower seller and her sons on the Isle of Dogs, in London of 1928, although it can be tough wading through their challenging life. Eve married a lascar, a sailor from India, and has to cope alone when he is lost at sea. A running thread is that a young police officer decides to investigate the death, as and when ships come to port.

On the Isle the ships tie up just past the back walls of houses, but the low level of the land means that Eve's house is flooded at the start of the book; she her friends spend most of the tale being moved from one place to another, taking the kindness of friends and resentment of families in their stride. With hard-nosed, hard working people who distrust the police, and a sprinkling of Cockney slang, the tale is full of character. There's romance and danger and quite a lot of mud.

I would say the tale is suitable for readers from teens up who want to know how hard life really used to be, not just a fantasy version. And I love the cover photo of ships tied along the Thames walls.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, carol rivers does it again! I loved it, such a great twist in the tale too.

[Sahrish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but did not love it. It was not as great as other works of Carol.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

after waiting the whole book almost to find out what happened to Eve's husband, I felt that the ending was rushed and it was all wrapped up in just a couple of pa ges. An enjoyable read nevertheless

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, good easy read

[Laraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate this a 3 1/2 star read.