The Violets of March by Sarah Jio
April 26th 2011 by Plume
Paperback, 304 Pages
Review Copy
In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after.
Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily's good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.
Review
Emily’s life is in shambles, her writing career has dried up and her husband (well almost x-husband) has decided he loves Stephanie and wants a divorce. Feeling overwhelmed, numb and a little lost Emily decides with the encouragement of a friend to get away for awhile and sort through her life. There’s really only one place that seems to be calling for her and that is Bainbridge Island, a place where her Aunt Bee lives and a place that holds sacred childhood memories. So she decides to journey there from New York and stay a month. For Emily this month will change her life, her heart, her soul and her writing career.
During her first few days there, Emily discovers a journal in her bedside stand and at first is hesitant to read it fearing it might be her aunts, but is fascinated to discover the life of woman named Esther who lived on island in 1943. Emily becomes enraptured reading through Esther’s story as it reveals a passionate love between her and man named Elliot and the dynamics of her marriage, adultery, betrayals and a mystery so thick it would captivate anyone who read it. Before long and to Emily’s amazement, she begins to see links into her own family and her own childhood that never made sense to her then, but become clear after reading Esther’s story and knowing this information, putting the pieces together and in the meantime finding the love of her life sends things spinning out of control for her and for all those keeping dark secrets on the island.
I cant say this enough….I LOVED this novel. I loved the story, the characters and especially Esther’s story from 1943. Jio with sheer perfection took a modern day setting and weaved it with characters and the world of the 1940’s. The writing was gorgeous and I felt swept away by the island, the descriptions, the love and the passion surrounding the characters. It was truly exciting trying to figure out the mystery that had me turning page after page to see what happened to the love between Esther and Elliot, to see all the pieces come together and finally when the revelation came I was gasping, crying and stunned by the turn of events. Do not miss this amazingly great story from a talented new voice in literature, I’m almost doing back flips at how much I adored this novel, my favorite this year so far!
Rating
The Violets of March is recommended to adult reader and for fans of romance, contemporary fiction, cozy mysteries and time pieces. Contains: Romance, mild sexuality, adultery, friendship, divorce, family drama and mild violence.
5/5- Romance- Contemporary
Thanks to Sarah Jio for the chance to review and to Plume for Giveaway copy
The Violets of March released today...HURRY go buy your copy now!!!!!
Oooh great review!!!! I feel like I want to read about Elliot and Esther too and find out how they're connected to Emily! LOL! This definitely sounds like something I'd like.
ReplyDeleteWow, this sounds amazing! I really want to know what the revelation is that left you gasping - love when things like that happen! Anything that makes you do back flips is clearly worth a read;) Thanks for this fantastic review Tina!
ReplyDeleteWonderful review. I want to read it right now. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteVERY well written.
ReplyDeleteMy only issue (and I doubt I will mention it in my review) is Esther. That silly hot head made me crazy.
I really enjoyed this one, too - and the author is so nice, I'm glad she's getting such good buzz!
ReplyDeleteAnother great review Tina. This book sounds like it has it all - gorgeous writing, characters you care about and a story that you get emotionally invested in :)
ReplyDeleteCan you record yourself doing these backflips, T? I'd like to see them. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo, gorgeous writing and an island you can get lost in. Sounds heavenly. I know if I found a personal journal, I wouldn't be able to resist reading it.
I loved this one too. Great review.
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