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In a Field of Blue
From the bestselling author of The Road Beyond Ruin comes a novel about a family torn apart by grief and secrets, then pulled back together by hope in the wake of World War I.
England 1922. It’s been four years since Rudy’s brother Edgar went missing in war-torn France. Still deep in mourning and grappling with unanswered questions, Rudy and his mother struggle to move on. When the enigmatic Mariette arrives unexpectedly at the family’s manor claiming to be Edgar’s widow, and the mother of his child, Rudy urges her to stay, hoping she’ll shed light on the missing pieces.
Captivated by Mariette, Rudy finds that their mutual loss and grief bind them…as does the possibility of new love. But Mariette’s revelations bring more questions than answers about Edgar’s death. Suspicions threaten to divide Rudy’s already fractured family, setting him on a quest for the truth that takes him from England to France and beyond.
In his search, Rudy is forced to confront the tragedies of war and the realities of the brother he’s lost and the woman he’s found. Will the truth set him free to find peace, or will it forever shadow his future?
England 1922. It’s been four years since Rudy’s brother Edgar went missing in war-torn France. Still deep in mourning and grappling with unanswered questions, Rudy and his mother struggle to move on. When the enigmatic Mariette arrives unexpectedly at the family’s manor claiming to be Edgar’s widow, and the mother of his child, Rudy urges her to stay, hoping she’ll shed light on the missing pieces.
Captivated by Mariette, Rudy finds that their mutual loss and grief bind them…as does the possibility of new love. But Mariette’s revelations bring more questions than answers about Edgar’s death. Suspicions threaten to divide Rudy’s already fractured family, setting him on a quest for the truth that takes him from England to France and beyond.
In his search, Rudy is forced to confront the tragedies of war and the realities of the brother he’s lost and the woman he’s found. Will the truth set him free to find peace, or will it forever shadow his future?
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First published February 1, 2020
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January 2, 2020
Jumbled Family Drama
There are some things that I consider to be cardinal sins in books. One of them is data dumps, where the author just tells us a bunch of information instead of weaving it into the story naturally. This happened in several places in this book—especially at the beginning—and it certainly did slow things down. Another cardinal sin, at least in my book, is not starting where the action is. I don't know why some authors feel like they can't just start with an interesting part; instead, they ramp up into the action instead of just placing us there. I felt that that happened in this book. It should have started with the scene at Rudy's mother's house with Mariette. Finally, another cardinal sin is to cut away from this pivotal first scene to something that is mostly irrelevant. In this book, just after the big announcement in that pivotal (true) first scene, the author cuts away to telling about the narrator's birth and early childhood! Seriously!
This novel didn't really feel completely coherent to me. It isn’t just the pacing. There is an odd collection of narrators as well. The first part of the book is told from Rudy's standpoint, the next healthy portion of the book is told in flashback from Mariette's perspective, and the last part ends with a jumble of perspectives. I felt that some incidents in this last part came out of left field, which honestly shouldn't happen in a book like this. Foreshadowing is so important so that we get glimpses of what the future may be.
In general, I really enjoy historical fiction, but I didn't really feel like this was true historical fiction. It felt more like family drama that happened to take place in the past. The book description makes this sound like it is a romance, but it really isn't. The romantic elements are downplayed and are certainly not the major thrust of the book. So if you are thinking of picking up this book because of the romance angle, you will most likely be disappointed. We aren't actually told how the romance turns out until the epilogue, where it is told in an obituary. Frankly, this book left me feeling like there was no “there� there. Lots went on in places, but as events that I just didn't like or couldn't believe kept happening, it felt like all sound and fury, signifying nothing.
There are some things that I consider to be cardinal sins in books. One of them is data dumps, where the author just tells us a bunch of information instead of weaving it into the story naturally. This happened in several places in this book—especially at the beginning—and it certainly did slow things down. Another cardinal sin, at least in my book, is not starting where the action is. I don't know why some authors feel like they can't just start with an interesting part; instead, they ramp up into the action instead of just placing us there. I felt that that happened in this book. It should have started with the scene at Rudy's mother's house with Mariette. Finally, another cardinal sin is to cut away from this pivotal first scene to something that is mostly irrelevant. In this book, just after the big announcement in that pivotal (true) first scene, the author cuts away to telling about the narrator's birth and early childhood! Seriously!
This novel didn't really feel completely coherent to me. It isn’t just the pacing. There is an odd collection of narrators as well. The first part of the book is told from Rudy's standpoint, the next healthy portion of the book is told in flashback from Mariette's perspective, and the last part ends with a jumble of perspectives. I felt that some incidents in this last part came out of left field, which honestly shouldn't happen in a book like this. Foreshadowing is so important so that we get glimpses of what the future may be.
In general, I really enjoy historical fiction, but I didn't really feel like this was true historical fiction. It felt more like family drama that happened to take place in the past. The book description makes this sound like it is a romance, but it really isn't. The romantic elements are downplayed and are certainly not the major thrust of the book. So if you are thinking of picking up this book because of the romance angle, you will most likely be disappointed. We aren't actually told how the romance turns out until the epilogue, where it is told in an obituary. Frankly, this book left me feeling like there was no “there� there. Lots went on in places, but as events that I just didn't like or couldn't believe kept happening, it felt like all sound and fury, signifying nothing.
January 9, 2020
A complicated and beautiful love story
I've read a great many love stories during wartime. This one, during WWI, stands out for several reasons.
It is not just the love of a British soldier for a young French woman. It is also the love between sisters , between brothers, and the love that binds families.
The story is beautifully written from the aspect of several characters starting with the youngest brother, Rudy, who has recently lost his eldest brother, a British soldier, to the battlefields of France. A young French woman has arrived at their estate in England with a young boy she claims to be his brother's child and she his brother's wife.
Suspicions are raised immediately as to the validity of her claim after four years and her reasons for coming now as there has been no mention of her or the supposed marriage she is now asserting as true. Under questioning her answers are vague and she has little proof.
Rudy has another brother, Laurence, who was the middle brother to contend with, a wastrel who seeks to claim his inheritance since their elder brother's death being next in line. This complicated things.
As Rudy seeks to understand and prove or disprove the young woman's story, he finds himself falling for her.
The young woman, is desperate to prove her story having her own reasons to assert her claim that the boy, her son Samuel, is, in fact the son of Edgar, the deceased eldest brother, and must hold up under questions from Rudy, Laurence and their mother with very little proof.
Needless to say, this is a many faceted story told from several viewpoints as each deals with ghosts from the past and flashbacks.
It is an extremely difficult book to put down with great character description and development as the story unfolds. Many surprising turns and a quest for the truth is a fascinating journey. It reads like a multiple-layered mini-saga. Obvious research is employed to create a hearty plot.
This story of life prior to, during and after WWI and its catastrophic effects on the lives of those in the midst of it is well worth reading and I will definitely recommend to readers. Well done!
I've read a great many love stories during wartime. This one, during WWI, stands out for several reasons.
It is not just the love of a British soldier for a young French woman. It is also the love between sisters , between brothers, and the love that binds families.
The story is beautifully written from the aspect of several characters starting with the youngest brother, Rudy, who has recently lost his eldest brother, a British soldier, to the battlefields of France. A young French woman has arrived at their estate in England with a young boy she claims to be his brother's child and she his brother's wife.
Suspicions are raised immediately as to the validity of her claim after four years and her reasons for coming now as there has been no mention of her or the supposed marriage she is now asserting as true. Under questioning her answers are vague and she has little proof.
Rudy has another brother, Laurence, who was the middle brother to contend with, a wastrel who seeks to claim his inheritance since their elder brother's death being next in line. This complicated things.
As Rudy seeks to understand and prove or disprove the young woman's story, he finds himself falling for her.
The young woman, is desperate to prove her story having her own reasons to assert her claim that the boy, her son Samuel, is, in fact the son of Edgar, the deceased eldest brother, and must hold up under questions from Rudy, Laurence and their mother with very little proof.
Needless to say, this is a many faceted story told from several viewpoints as each deals with ghosts from the past and flashbacks.
It is an extremely difficult book to put down with great character description and development as the story unfolds. Many surprising turns and a quest for the truth is a fascinating journey. It reads like a multiple-layered mini-saga. Obvious research is employed to create a hearty plot.
This story of life prior to, during and after WWI and its catastrophic effects on the lives of those in the midst of it is well worth reading and I will definitely recommend to readers. Well done!
April 12, 2020
England 1922, Rudy receives word from his mother she wants him to return immediately from London to the family estate Lakeland Manor, he’s very worried as his mother hasn’t been coping well with the loss of her husband and her older son Edgar during WW I. A strange French woman Mariette, has just turned up on his mothers doorstep, clamming to his late brothers Edgar’s wife and with her she has her four year old son Samuel and Edgar is his father? Edgar has always been his mother’s favorite son, he was listed as missing in action in 1918, four years after the war ended they still have no idea what happened to him and now this? Peggy the family’s maid puts his shaken mother to bed and Mariette and Samuel stay and Rudy tries to work out what’s going on.
Of course the family has their doubts, the war has been over for four years, why did Mariette wait so long to contact them and she informs them she had to save money for the trip? She has a marriage certificate, a photo of Edgar and no one can confirm her story, it’s all rather vague and parts of it don’t add up.
If it’s true, if Mariette did marry Edgar, it will change things for the entire family, as Samuel would inherit Lakeland and not Laurence. Laurence is the middle son, he’s inherited an estate with a lot of problems as his father had been living beyond his means, they’re still sorting out his debts and the family had no idea about this until his death. Samuel's existence threatening his claim to the family inheritance doesn’t sit well with Lawrence, he’s not happy and he’s also not a nice person. Mariette disappears along with most of his mother’s jewelry, Edgar is concerned for her safety and he’s worried that Laurence may have done something to get rid of her and why did she leave Samuel behind?
Rudy decides to retrace Mariette’s trip, he decides to travel to France and find her, he’s determined to also find out what happened to his brother and solve both mysteries. He’s shocked when he arrives in France, the damage and destruction to property and its people is more than he could ever have imagined.
I must admit this wasn’t my favorite book by Gemma Liviero however the story does pick up when Rudy arrives in France, you learn more about each character in more detail, it has many interesting layers as you discover more about, Edgar, Mariette and Rudy.
Rudy has always looked up to his older brother Edgar, now he thinks his brother may still be alive, a deserter and why hasn’t he come home? In A Field of Blue it highlights the lasting effects and horror of what soldiers endured during WW I. The story is also about hidden secrets, family’s expectations, duty and forbidden love. I gave the book four stars; I have shared my review on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, Australian Amazon, Twitter and my blog.
Of course the family has their doubts, the war has been over for four years, why did Mariette wait so long to contact them and she informs them she had to save money for the trip? She has a marriage certificate, a photo of Edgar and no one can confirm her story, it’s all rather vague and parts of it don’t add up.
If it’s true, if Mariette did marry Edgar, it will change things for the entire family, as Samuel would inherit Lakeland and not Laurence. Laurence is the middle son, he’s inherited an estate with a lot of problems as his father had been living beyond his means, they’re still sorting out his debts and the family had no idea about this until his death. Samuel's existence threatening his claim to the family inheritance doesn’t sit well with Lawrence, he’s not happy and he’s also not a nice person. Mariette disappears along with most of his mother’s jewelry, Edgar is concerned for her safety and he’s worried that Laurence may have done something to get rid of her and why did she leave Samuel behind?
Rudy decides to retrace Mariette’s trip, he decides to travel to France and find her, he’s determined to also find out what happened to his brother and solve both mysteries. He’s shocked when he arrives in France, the damage and destruction to property and its people is more than he could ever have imagined.
I must admit this wasn’t my favorite book by Gemma Liviero however the story does pick up when Rudy arrives in France, you learn more about each character in more detail, it has many interesting layers as you discover more about, Edgar, Mariette and Rudy.
Rudy has always looked up to his older brother Edgar, now he thinks his brother may still be alive, a deserter and why hasn’t he come home? In A Field of Blue it highlights the lasting effects and horror of what soldiers endured during WW I. The story is also about hidden secrets, family’s expectations, duty and forbidden love. I gave the book four stars; I have shared my review on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, Australian Amazon, Twitter and my blog.
January 11, 2020
Beautiful, bitter sweet
I could not put this book down! It was bitter sweet. Each character giving the story from their perspective. I have to say that I wanted to rush through reading the chapter from Laurence's perspective!!!!
I could not put this book down! It was bitter sweet. Each character giving the story from their perspective. I have to say that I wanted to rush through reading the chapter from Laurence's perspective!!!!
January 12, 2020
I bounced between rating this book two or three stars, and finally went with three. I love the cover, so maybe that nudged my rating up.
I read mystery, suspense, and thriller primarily, and the pacing of my favorite authors/genres is quick and streamlined—two things this book definitely isn’t. There’s so much prose and internal dialogue that I struggled to get through it. Some of the sentences are so convoluted that I had to re-read them—something I never do. The characters are one-dimensional and stereotypic, and I had a hard time caring about them, perhaps because things moved so slowly.
I wanted to like this book.
I read mystery, suspense, and thriller primarily, and the pacing of my favorite authors/genres is quick and streamlined—two things this book definitely isn’t. There’s so much prose and internal dialogue that I struggled to get through it. Some of the sentences are so convoluted that I had to re-read them—something I never do. The characters are one-dimensional and stereotypic, and I had a hard time caring about them, perhaps because things moved so slowly.
I wanted to like this book.
January 6, 2020
Too slow to build, shows the horrors of war and people
Disclosure: I looked at the percent remaining on this book more often than I'd like, especially in the first section narrated by Rudy. While I'd like to say it was in hopes that the book had more time left and secrets to reveal, it was the opposite. The build up of plot and characters felt too drawn out, tedious, as if the author was paid by the word.
That feeling continued to some degree for the remainder of the book, switching narrators a few more times to give other people their say. (Laurence did not need his say; that part could be edited out with no impact felt to the story).
The plot is a bit convoluted, but interesting. I'm less enthused - obviously - with the execution of it. That said, it shows the horrors of war and the very human price paid on a number of levels, clearly and honestly. Love between family members, and fierce devotion even when unwarranted is also represented beautifully.
An example of the writing:
"The more times I saw Mariette, the more times I wanted to be with her, and I found that she featured in my thoughts every single minute whether she was in or out of sight. That night she was arresting, and the doubts that lingered somewhere behind the euphoria of spending part of the day with her didn’t rear their heads in those moments she was at my side. And whether any further truths about the past did in fact surprise me, I’m not sure I would have cared. She was now very much a part of my present."
Disclosure: I looked at the percent remaining on this book more often than I'd like, especially in the first section narrated by Rudy. While I'd like to say it was in hopes that the book had more time left and secrets to reveal, it was the opposite. The build up of plot and characters felt too drawn out, tedious, as if the author was paid by the word.
That feeling continued to some degree for the remainder of the book, switching narrators a few more times to give other people their say. (Laurence did not need his say; that part could be edited out with no impact felt to the story).
The plot is a bit convoluted, but interesting. I'm less enthused - obviously - with the execution of it. That said, it shows the horrors of war and the very human price paid on a number of levels, clearly and honestly. Love between family members, and fierce devotion even when unwarranted is also represented beautifully.
An example of the writing:
"The more times I saw Mariette, the more times I wanted to be with her, and I found that she featured in my thoughts every single minute whether she was in or out of sight. That night she was arresting, and the doubts that lingered somewhere behind the euphoria of spending part of the day with her didn’t rear their heads in those moments she was at my side. And whether any further truths about the past did in fact surprise me, I’m not sure I would have cared. She was now very much a part of my present."
February 13, 2020
This is a WW I story with multiple protagonists, and the author has you rooting for all but the bad guy... quite a feat to pull off, and she does it seamlessly. The internal monologues are exquisite, the emotions are deeply felt. The descriptions of being in the war, in the war zones, are striking, especially for a woman who has never experienced them first-hand. Though set in the last century, it's timeless: a love story, a family story, a coming of age story, and one I recommend highly.
May 10, 2022
2.5 stars
Lovely cover. Interesting beginnings for this wartime family saga until at some point one does not really want to continue reading anticipating tragedy. However...if you can manage to stick with it the worst does happen, gets worse and then somehow chaotic, tragic events settle down into what passes as normal life post war. I must add, implausible start to finish.
Kindle Unlimited
Lovely cover. Interesting beginnings for this wartime family saga until at some point one does not really want to continue reading anticipating tragedy. However...if you can manage to stick with it the worst does happen, gets worse and then somehow chaotic, tragic events settle down into what passes as normal life post war. I must add, implausible start to finish.
Kindle Unlimited
Shelved as 'started_finish_later'
January 4, 2020sounded interesting but the writing style didn't resonate
January 24, 2020
I cannot finish this book. The story line is hard to buy into. I’ve read a ton of historical fiction and this is just not believable. We have no money but let me take time off of work to figure out if my dead brother really had a wife and kid while he was a solider. We have no money but we have free access to an attorney to research the truth about the dead solid brothers affairs. The. The younger brother starts getting the hots for his dead brothers wife. The entire first chapter I thought the main character was a female. Just poor writing. And because of this I just couldn’t get sucked into the novel or the main character. I don’t know how it ends because I couldn’t make it past chapter 7.
January 7, 2020
Beautiful story
I picked this as my January Amazon Prime First Reads. I picked it because I enjoy historical fiction. This definitely did not disappoint! It gives many perspectives to add depth to the story and shed new light on the same situations. I love how it built the story upon each persons viewpoint.
I picked this as my January Amazon Prime First Reads. I picked it because I enjoy historical fiction. This definitely did not disappoint! It gives many perspectives to add depth to the story and shed new light on the same situations. I love how it built the story upon each persons viewpoint.
January 21, 2020
This book drove me a little nuts. Honestly, the characters weren't very fleshed out and read more as caricatures of upper class people. They were so stereotypical. It was also hard for me to care about the plot which seemed to be whether the middle brother or the older brother's son would gain control of the family fortune, and also, apparently the older brother isn't dead and faked his death and didn't give a shit that he hurt a lot of people. So not a lot of likable characters here. The youngest brother, who doesn't have a dog in the race, is falling in love with his older brother's wife. And just the whole thing is a mess. It also took far too long to get to any kind of action beyond upperclass inheritance squabbles. IDK I didn't have the patience for this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2020
This is such an interesting and bittersweet era one that fascinates me because it's the twilight of empires, the confusion of the new modern world, and the horror of WWI. The characters are well-drawn, but I found the plot contrived and there were parts that just seemed to drone on and on. I would truly rate it 3.5 for these reasons.
August 17, 2020
I may never trust a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ rating again.
January 10, 2020
Fascinating and moving, a very human war story
Excellent story, insightful and unexpected. The shifting narration created a rounded story, one of love, of all kinds not just romantic, and survival.
The details and twists intrigued and engaged, making it difficult to put the book down - yet I didn't want to rush through it, as it's one of those stories with characters you're reluctant to leave.
Highly recommended.
Excellent story, insightful and unexpected. The shifting narration created a rounded story, one of love, of all kinds not just romantic, and survival.
The details and twists intrigued and engaged, making it difficult to put the book down - yet I didn't want to rush through it, as it's one of those stories with characters you're reluctant to leave.
Highly recommended.
February 8, 2020
This can’t possibly be. I have been waiting impatiently to read In a Field of Blue for months. Why? Because Gemma Liviero is one of my all time favorite authors. The Road to Ruin was one of my top five favorite books and I also loved Pastel Orphans and Broken Angels. I still am having a hard time believing that I just could not connect with this book. The first almost 800 pages are soooooo painfully slow. The lingering question is who is Mariette and Samuel? At page 500 I just didn’t care anymore but I kept reading because Gemma Liviero wrote this book. At page 800 I went to the Epilogue and read that and then I went back and and used the search key on my e-reader to find out who a few of the other characters were and now I know who Mariette and Samuel were! I guess I did care a little.
The story is about three brothers, who are totally different, and their mother and of course we can’t forget it is also about Mariette and Samuel. It takes place after WWI in England. There is a section told by each of the three brothers. There are many four and five star reviews on this book. I encourage you to read this book, just because it was too slow for me, doesn’t mean you won’t like it, If you have read it or decide to read it please leave me a note telling me what you thought. I will not give up on Gemma Liviero. I loved 3 out of the 4 books I have read by her and I will impatiently wait for her next novel! Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is about three brothers, who are totally different, and their mother and of course we can’t forget it is also about Mariette and Samuel. It takes place after WWI in England. There is a section told by each of the three brothers. There are many four and five star reviews on this book. I encourage you to read this book, just because it was too slow for me, doesn’t mean you won’t like it, If you have read it or decide to read it please leave me a note telling me what you thought. I will not give up on Gemma Liviero. I loved 3 out of the 4 books I have read by her and I will impatiently wait for her next novel! Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2020
Gemma Liviero never disappoints. This is my second of her books to read, and when looking back from my reviews of last year, I found it funny that her book "The Road Beyond Ruin" was one of the first books I had read and reviewed at the beginning of last year.
As in my review of her previous book I found the characters to be well developed and enjoyed reading from each of their unique perspectives. The plot was engaging and I felt like while I was reading fiction I was also learning a bit about the war and the hardship of civil life and military life on the war front.
There were many heartbreaking episodes and yet there was also tenderness and hope, my one criticism would in the interaction between Rudy and Mariette and how quickly it escalates. I felt like it would have been out of character for how much Rudy loved his brother Edgar. This plot development was a bit tired, but I do believe Liviero handled it well even though I think the story would have been just as compelling without.
Liviero does bring to light the horrors of war and how the unseen injuries of shell shock were little understood which is still very relevant to today and the mental health challenges men and women in the armed services still face. One might have trouble reconciling Edgar's actions, because we view them from our own mores, but one must remember that Edgar was forever changed by the war and it's atrocities.
As in my review of her previous book I found the characters to be well developed and enjoyed reading from each of their unique perspectives. The plot was engaging and I felt like while I was reading fiction I was also learning a bit about the war and the hardship of civil life and military life on the war front.
There were many heartbreaking episodes and yet there was also tenderness and hope, my one criticism would in the interaction between Rudy and Mariette and how quickly it escalates. I felt like it would have been out of character for how much Rudy loved his brother Edgar. This plot development was a bit tired, but I do believe Liviero handled it well even though I think the story would have been just as compelling without.
Liviero does bring to light the horrors of war and how the unseen injuries of shell shock were little understood which is still very relevant to today and the mental health challenges men and women in the armed services still face. One might have trouble reconciling Edgar's actions, because we view them from our own mores, but one must remember that Edgar was forever changed by the war and it's atrocities.
January 7, 2020
Historical fiction
Amazing! Jaw dropping, keep you up all night good! Absolutely loved it. I loved all the little details that just hooked me and drew me in and the suspense as the story unfolded. And then I was surprised as each character told their story. This book is a must read!!
Amazing! Jaw dropping, keep you up all night good! Absolutely loved it. I loved all the little details that just hooked me and drew me in and the suspense as the story unfolded. And then I was surprised as each character told their story. This book is a must read!!
January 5, 2020
I wish there were 10 stars to give this book!!!
I don’t think I can do justice to a description of this story. The characters are so vivid and seem very much alive. The story line at times seems convoluted but in time the details mesh and it all becomes clear. I love, love, loved it!!!!!!!
I don’t think I can do justice to a description of this story. The characters are so vivid and seem very much alive. The story line at times seems convoluted but in time the details mesh and it all becomes clear. I love, love, loved it!!!!!!!
Currently reading
January 24, 2020Amazon Prime First Reads January 2020
May 5, 2020
The story starts in 1922, Rudy lives in England and work for a newspaper one of his brother Edgar went missing in France during World war 1 and the other one Laurence came back from the war. Rudy was closer to Edgar and miss him so does his mother who struggle with headaches...
One day Mariette and a little boy called Samuel come to their house. Mariette pretends to be Edgar's wife and that Samuel is their son. They find it hard to believe it because Edgar had never wrote to them about this relationship or said he intend to marry while in France. So Rudy is going to start his research to find the truth with the help of a lawyer then his research will take him in France... This journey will lead him to the truth and he will found out how much his brother and other soldiers suffered during the war
and how people's lives were destroyed. Rudy will fight to honor his brother and make the right decisions.
It was a good read, intriguing, once you start it you really want to know the end.
I received a copy of this book and this is an honest review.
One day Mariette and a little boy called Samuel come to their house. Mariette pretends to be Edgar's wife and that Samuel is their son. They find it hard to believe it because Edgar had never wrote to them about this relationship or said he intend to marry while in France. So Rudy is going to start his research to find the truth with the help of a lawyer then his research will take him in France... This journey will lead him to the truth and he will found out how much his brother and other soldiers suffered during the war
and how people's lives were destroyed. Rudy will fight to honor his brother and make the right decisions.
It was a good read, intriguing, once you start it you really want to know the end.
I received a copy of this book and this is an honest review.
May 18, 2023
In a Field of Blue by Gemma Liviero
England 1922, Rudy receives word from his mother she wants him to return immediately from London to the family estate Lakeland Manor, he’s very worried as his mother hasn’t been coping well with the loss of her husband and her older son Edgar during WW I. A strange French woman Mariette, has just turned up on his mother's doorstep, clamming to his late brothers Edgar’s wife and with her she has her four-year-old son Samuel and Edgar is his father? Edgar has always been his mother’s favorite son, he was listed as missing in action in 1918, four years after the war ended, they still have no idea what happened to him and now this? Peggy the family’s maid puts his shaken mother to bed and Mariette and Samuel stay and Rudy tries to work out what’s going on.
There are so many characters pov through this beautiful told story.
England 1922, Rudy receives word from his mother she wants him to return immediately from London to the family estate Lakeland Manor, he’s very worried as his mother hasn’t been coping well with the loss of her husband and her older son Edgar during WW I. A strange French woman Mariette, has just turned up on his mother's doorstep, clamming to his late brothers Edgar’s wife and with her she has her four-year-old son Samuel and Edgar is his father? Edgar has always been his mother’s favorite son, he was listed as missing in action in 1918, four years after the war ended, they still have no idea what happened to him and now this? Peggy the family’s maid puts his shaken mother to bed and Mariette and Samuel stay and Rudy tries to work out what’s going on.
There are so many characters pov through this beautiful told story.
March 21, 2020
A cute book if you like YA. It is an easy read that tackles some tough issues, but without ever going too deeply into any of them.
January 21, 2020
In general, I am not a fan of books that intertwine storylines; trying to find multiple storylines that can compete with one another is hard to pull off. So, when the story, from Rudy's perspective, was "interrupted" to start telling another storyline from Mariette's perspective, I groaned. I then went to the table of contents to find out how many times this story is going to be interrupted; I groaned again. For some odd reason, Liviero took a perfectly fine story and kept interrupting it to bring about another perspective which, in my opinion, ended up taking away from the whole story. Why not just tell the story in chronological order and/or reveal information when appropriate rather than disrupt a story in hopes of keeping the reader interested. I don't think this novel was able to effectively accomplish that feat. When Rudy's story was interrupted, I was annoyed. When Mariette's story was interrupted, I was annoyed. By the time we got to other pieces of the puzzle, I had lost interest. When we returned back to Rudy, I didn't care anymore. Parts of the book seemed unnecessarily hurried or glossed over, while other parts took huge leaps on how one person arrived at one conclusion or another. I am guessing there was some random piece of information somewhere in one of the buried pieces that I should have filed away for future reference that I did not because it became such a chore to read this thing. I hurriedly finished up so that I can move on to a book that wasn't written so piecemeal. I am not a fan of a book that cannot provide a smooth, cohesive story or one that interrupts a perfectly fine story in order to provide some literary "interest" in order to bolster a story that really doesn't need bolstering. I find this type of writing style to be very ineffective and takes away from the story as a whole. Glad it is over.
April 23, 2020
A family saga set before, during and after WWI.
After four years the Watts family is still grieving the loss of their eldest son, Edgar, reported ‘missing, presumed dead� in the trenches of France.
1922: A mysterious French woman, Mariette, appears at Lakeland Manor with a child claiming that she is Edgar’s widow and the child is his son.
She has little solid evidence and what little she has is vague but enough to warrant further inquiry.
This does not sit well with the next eldest son, Laurence, who is next in line for the family estate. For Edgar to have produced a son would not be in keeping with his plans.
When Laurence arrives and meets the woman and child he takes pains to dissuade his family from believing the woman and even to investigate her claims any further.
Laurence makes sure to intimidate Mariette, in secret, causing her to run off and leave the child.
Since the family is unaware of Laurence’s actions towards Mariette they are dismayed at her running off with no explanation.
However, the youngest son, Rudy, is enamored by the woman and the child and determines to find the truth of her claim be it fact or fiction.
As Rudy embarks on his quest to find the truth and hopefully locate the woman the story takes on the feel of a suspense novel.
As expected there are twists to come, but I can say no more on the matter � no spoilers.
After four years the Watts family is still grieving the loss of their eldest son, Edgar, reported ‘missing, presumed dead� in the trenches of France.
1922: A mysterious French woman, Mariette, appears at Lakeland Manor with a child claiming that she is Edgar’s widow and the child is his son.
She has little solid evidence and what little she has is vague but enough to warrant further inquiry.
This does not sit well with the next eldest son, Laurence, who is next in line for the family estate. For Edgar to have produced a son would not be in keeping with his plans.
When Laurence arrives and meets the woman and child he takes pains to dissuade his family from believing the woman and even to investigate her claims any further.
Laurence makes sure to intimidate Mariette, in secret, causing her to run off and leave the child.
Since the family is unaware of Laurence’s actions towards Mariette they are dismayed at her running off with no explanation.
However, the youngest son, Rudy, is enamored by the woman and the child and determines to find the truth of her claim be it fact or fiction.
As Rudy embarks on his quest to find the truth and hopefully locate the woman the story takes on the feel of a suspense novel.
As expected there are twists to come, but I can say no more on the matter � no spoilers.
January 4, 2020
An epic story, beautifully written
The language is especially descriptive and the first person narrative authenticates the setting and the plot. The novel illustrates the plight of veterans everywhere, no matter the war they served. But WW1 vets who suffered traumatic stress and ran from battle were shot. And the Great War left many vets and their families in dire circumstances. Highly recommended novel.
The language is especially descriptive and the first person narrative authenticates the setting and the plot. The novel illustrates the plight of veterans everywhere, no matter the war they served. But WW1 vets who suffered traumatic stress and ran from battle were shot. And the Great War left many vets and their families in dire circumstances. Highly recommended novel.
January 6, 2020
Intriguing
Many characters, many places, many themes intriguingly interwoven into a fictional narrative of World War I. As you would expect such a tale to be, this felt entirely real. There is a plethora of deep emotional feelings. I tend to read books skipping several pages at a time. I was so intrigued by this book, that I read it nearly word for word.
Many characters, many places, many themes intriguingly interwoven into a fictional narrative of World War I. As you would expect such a tale to be, this felt entirely real. There is a plethora of deep emotional feelings. I tend to read books skipping several pages at a time. I was so intrigued by this book, that I read it nearly word for word.
February 10, 2020
For me this book was just plain boring. Way too long and plodding. It was like folk who answer simple questions with a long drawn out story in which somewhere maybe an answer is embedded. The longer it went, the less interested I became. The only character I found interesting was the farmer who adopted the two young girls, but he was sort of abandoned along the dreary path. To be fair it may not be as dreary as I am reporting, but I certainly didn’t connect with. As one reviewer noted the cover is pretty.
February 13, 2020
As so often happens, I really disliked this book with incredible review. What the heck? I stopped at 30% bc I find myself dreading picking it up. I don’t care about the whinny main character, I assume the woman will use him and manage to take over the fortune. I’m bored to tears. Is it just me? I’d love a one sentence summary from someone about what happened (privately) but can’t stand to read anymore!
February 15, 2020
How disappointing this book is from an author of some of my highly rated favorites! This one was like sludging through thick mud. I quit reading at around 60%. I can not fathom how it received so many good reviews?!
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