What
if your mother requested your presence at a party, luring you in by
adding that she had something important to tell the family? Martha
Winter, on the eve of her 80th birthday, does just that, though she's
sure her revelation will have devastating effects.The day Martha Winter decided to tear apart her family began like any other day.—A Place for Us by Harriet Evans (Simon & Schuster / Gallery Books, 2015, p. 5)
She woke early. She always did, but lately she couldn't sleep. This summer sometimes she'd been up and dressed by five: too much to think about. No point lying in bed, fretting.
Quick Facts
- Setting: English countryside, modern times; flashbacks to Europe during World War II
- Circumstances: Everyone makes sacrifices over the course of a long life, and Martha and David Winter are no exception. But not everyone carries the secrets that Martha has. When she tells her family the truth, there is no predicting their reactions.
- Characters: Martha and David Winter plus their three children and their spouses and their grandchildren
- Genre: family saga plus a little bit thriller
- Topics & themes: family, love, sacrifice, secrets, marriage, parenting
- What I know: The story is told in four parts and from multiple points of view. The core of the novel takes place in the twenty-first century, though there are sections set in World War II Italy and and France.
- Reviews & thoughts: Readers have had a wide range of feelings about this novel. None of the negative comments bother me (for example, I don't mind time shifts and I like multiple points of view), and the positive reviews note the strong emotions and well developed characters. I will likely save this book for a lazy summer weekend.
I like the cover and your teaser--wonder what the big secret is.
ReplyDeleteDefintely leaves me curious.
ReplyDeleteThis certainly sounds like my kind of book! I like the idea of reading it over a lazy summer weekend, too!
ReplyDeleteI want to know the secret!
ReplyDeleteMine this week is from a middle grade novel: http://pdworkman.com/andymcbean/
What a pretty cover! The story sounds good, too! I just pinned this one for later. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteToday I'm featuring The Cherry Harvest by Lucy Sanna.
You've piqued my curiousity.
ReplyDeleteWow, that first sentence grabs you.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you have teased us into this book. I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting beginning! Must be one heck of a revelation! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHere's my Teaser!
Wendy Lohr
This looks like a book I'd really enjoy. I'd keep reading!
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued...and I definitely want to know what the secret is! Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to read more. I have read a really good family saga in quite some time.
ReplyDeleteOne more book to add to my TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteHere is my teaser post with a giveaway
I'm definitely interested.
ReplyDeleteYou've hooked me. What secret does she feel compelled to reveal at 80? I need to know.
ReplyDeleteYou've hooked me. What secret does she feel compelled to reveal at 80? I need to know.
ReplyDeleteI think this sounds interesting and I now need to know what she is going to say that will tear the family apart. Will look for this one. And I don't mind multiple points of view or multiple time periods at all. :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like I would enjoy this one.A pretty cover.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really good. I'm going to add it to my list.
ReplyDeleteWhat gives? Why tear a family apart? I'm curious to know more; that's for sure! Great post!
ReplyDeleteClaudia @ My Soul Called Life
i, for one, am intrigued ... thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love to read family sagas and the opening sentence sure is a grabber.
ReplyDelete