I was mostly as charmed by her as all of her family and acquaintances were. She does have a temper, which I guess could be a fault, but since it only flares up in defense of others or to help her achieve her goals, I’m hesitant to classify it as such. She’s beautiful, intelligent, fiercely loyal, and driven. I did keep turning the pages quickly, especially once everything starts falling apart.įiona was maybe a little too perfect. The number of obstacles they had to attempt to overcome eventually became ridiculous.

Star-crossed lovers doesn’t even begin to describe Fiona and Joe. It’s certainly reminiscent of someone‘s writing from that era, even if I can’t place who it is. But I think the author was kind of going for that over-the-top feel. The final climactic scene was predictable–until the shocking twist that was so implausible it truly left me laughing. Dickensian? Maybe.įiona’s tragedies just pile one on top of the other, on top of the other, on top of the other! I do have to admit that I didn’t see a lot of them coming, and I do appreciate that. There’s a better word to describe this book but it’s escaping me. But this is her debut novel and it shows. I adore A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly. But everything changes in a tragic series of events that leaves Fiona scrambling to care for herself and her younger brother. She also has Joe Bristow, the boy she’s always loved, and their shared dream of someday owning a shop together. That’s more than most of their neighbors can say. Her family might not have much but they have each other, they have a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Women’s Fiction, Romanceįiona Finnegan is growing up poor but happy in Whitechapel in the 1880s.

The tea rose book review