Summer at Rye by Lucy Oliver – a Review

Summer at Rye by Lucy Oliver – a Review

 

summer at RyeLinks to order Summer at Rye:  Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Description:
A tragedy brought Eva Brookwell and Samuel Shaw back into each other’s lives. But will lies from the past destroy their chances of a future?

Left penniless after the death of her philandering father, Eva Brookwell takes a job as a governess at Rye Hall, but didn’t expect to find her young charges scarred and blinded from smallpox. Rye Hall is an unhappy house with a tyrannical master and Eva is forced to turn to her pupils’ uncle, Samuel Shaw for help.

Eva and Samuel had once been engaged, until his lies drove them apart. Still in love with him, Eva knows she could never trust him again; however he is her only ally in the dark and disturbed household she now lives in

 

Review:

Summer in Rye by Lucy Oliver is a historical romance novella. This was a fast and very nice read.  It is different then what I have read before of Oliver.  The heroine of the story is Eva, who has to take a job as governess at Rye Hall, since her family is in dire need of funds.  Eva has no experience, as she never needed to work, coming from wealthy family.  But her father lost all the money with a bad investment, and then died leaving Eva, her mother and sister penniless.  When Eva meets the family, she knows the master is tyrant, with even his wife scared of him.  The two children are disfigured and one blind, due to small pox, which their father did not care or want to get them vaccinations that would have prevented this.   Eva does her best to help the children and avoid Shaw, who looks at her with evil eyes. 

The main part of the story though is Eva’s old flame Samuel Shaw, comes home to his brothers mansion and finds Eva. Both loved each other before, but due to unfortunate circumstances, Samuel broke off his engagement to Eva.  Eva ignores Samuel, but in time he tells her he still loves her, and explains why he left.  Can Eva understand Samuel’s predicament and forgive him?  Will she be able to keep her distance from the Head of the house, who thinks of all women as sluts?  Does this have a HEA?

Since this is a novella, saying too much more would be spoilers.  Summer in Rye was a nice simple love story of a couple that had quite a few odds against them, and the exciting ending was very good. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

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Winter Storms by Lucy Oliver – a Review

Winter Storms by Lucy Oliver – a Review

winter storms

Description:
Two years ago Carly Roberts split from her lover, Daniel Edwards, after he caused a terrible sailing accident that cost her both the use of her right leg and her Olympic dreams. Unable to watch his climb to double Olympic success, she stayed in the Cornish village they grew up in, while he travelled the world.

Racked with guilt, knowing he destroyed her future, Daniel has finally returned home to make amends.  But he didn’t expect to fall in love with her again.

However Carly has her own life now and it doesn’t include him. She can’t forgive him for the catastrophic injuries that changed her life. While the storms of a Cornish winter lash their village home, can Daniel persuade her to give him a second chance?

Review:
Winter Storms is Lucy Oliver’s debut novel.  This was a nicely written romance about a young couple once in love, that was destroyed by a tragic accident.  The story takes place in a Cornish village by the docks, which is known for it’s terrible winter storms.

We meet our heroine, Carly Roberts at the beginning.  Carly is somewhat disabled, with a bad leg caused by an accident two years ago, and now she needs a cane to walk.  Carly owns and operates her own business;  a gift/trinket store.  It is close to Christmas, and on a nasty night, she closes the shop early. 

We then meet our hero, Daniel Edwards, who left town 2 years ago, after Carly’s accident.  They were lovers, until the tragic accident, which Carly blamed on Daniel.  Both were Olympic trainees for sailing, and now Daniel is a gold medal champion, and Carly resents him for what she no longer can have. 

After two years, Daniel cannot forget his love for Carly, and comes home, but Carly still wants nothing to do with him.  Carly has moved on with her life, and accepts her handicap. However, she finds she can’t forgive Daniel totally, and part of the reason is her own jealousy that he has succeeded as an Olympic champion, which she herself was also destined to do.  As much as she knows she still loves Daniel, she doesn’t feel she can get past her resentment of him.

This was a wonderful story of two people in love, even with the two year separation, trying to overcome the obstacles in front of them.  In the terrible winter storm, another tragedy occurs, bringing everyone in the town, and the two star-crossed lovers united in saving others.  I really did enjoy this story, and Lucy Oliver does a great job with her debut novel.  Her characters are wonderfully written, as you find yourself liking them.  She created a wonderful couple, with issues to overcome to find love again. Winter Storms was a great read, and one I recommend.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provdied by Author

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