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AnneMarie Brear

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The House of Women Paperback – June 9, 2011

by Anne Brear (Author)

3.8 39 ratings

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As the Victorian Age draws to a close, lonely and brokenhearted, Grace Woodruff fights for her sisters' rights to happiness while sacrificing any chance for her own. The eldest of seven daughters, Grace is the core of strength around which the unhappy members of the Woodruff family revolve. As her disenchanted mother withdraws to her rooms, Grace must act as a buffer between her violent, ambitious father and the sisters who depend upon her. Rejected by her first love and facing a spinster's future, she struggles to hold the broken family together through her father's infidelity, one sister's alcoholism, and another's out-of-wedlock pregnancy by an unsuitable match. Caring for an illegitimate half-brother affords Grace an escape, though short-lived. Forced home by illness and burdened with dwindling finances, Grace faces fresh anguish -and murder- when her first love returns to wreck havoc in her life. All is not lost, however. In the midst of tragedy, the fires of her heart are rekindled by another. Will the possibility of true love lead Grace to relinquish her responsibilities in the house of women and embrace her own right to happiness?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Brear excels with a deft hand in creating superb depictions of her characters with amazing depth. Frankly, if you've ever been a fan of Catherine Cookson, you are going to love Anne Brear. This was a remarkable, deeply moving and powerful read I hated to see end and one in which I highly recommend. --Marilyn Rondeau, Reviewers International Organization

About the Author

Anne Brear was born in Australia to English parents. She has been a life-long reader and started writing in 1997 when her children were small. She has a love of history, of grand old English houses and a fascination of what might have happened beyond their walls. Her interests include reading, genealogy, watching movies, spending time with family and eating chocolate--not always in that order!

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knox Robinson; 1st edition (June 9, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0956790186
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0956790187
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.91 x 8 inches

Customer Reviews:
3.8 39 ratings

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AnneMarie Brear

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"Poignant, powerful and searingly emotional, AnneMarie Brear stands shoulder to shoulder with the finest works by some of the genre’s greatest writers such as Catherine Cookson, Audrey Howard and Rosamunde Pilcher." Amazon reviewer.

An award winning and Amazon UK best seller, Australian born AnneMarie Brear writes historical novels and modern romances and sometimes the odd short story, too. She has a love of old country houses, travelling, chocolate (except dark chocolate - not a fan), researching historical eras and looking for inspiration for her next book.

http://www.annemariebrear.com

https://www.facebook.com/annemariebrear

Twitter @annemariebrear.

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5

39 global ratings

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E. Crowley

A great read

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2012

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If you love Downton Abbey this book is onew you have to read. You are once again back in the 1890 era. Gald my book club picked it.

5 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Really enjoyed this book but...

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2012

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*WARNING* This review may or may not contain spoilers. I say that because I was recently left a comment by another reader saying I should have warned her there were spoilers in my review (I reread that review several times and saw none to my knowledge but hey, different strokes for different folks I guess!). So just to cover all the bases, my review may (or may not) contain comments that some find to be an insight into the reviewed book before it is read! Now... on to the review!

I have never wished for a character to die so badly in a novel as I do the mother in this one... and my usual reading material includes stuff about serial killers so that's saying a lot. What a mean, spiteful, awful woman she was. I kept praying each time I started a new chapter that she would be trampled by a horse or her husband would push her out a window.

This book was filled with rich characters and a fascinating story line. However, as I got closer to the end I cared less about the other sisters and was more interested in how Grace would choose to live out her life after all the stress and drama of the household was taken care of.

*Definite spoiler below... well, maybe not. I'll try to word play around it haha!*
I really wanted to read more about how Grace's life with (male character) turned out. I was excited that she was finally able to find some happiness and then BAM the book was over. She went through a lot in this book and I would like to have delved more into her life away from the craziness.

3 people found this helpful

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HHK

Turgid melodrama

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2012

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Review may have spoilers:

I cannot recommend this book.
Heroine is a Mary Sue- three men are in love with her. She ends up hurting two of them. She rescues injured miners, helps the poor, educates needy girls, takes care of her orphaned step-brother, etc.
Characters conveniently die off when their usefulness to the plot is over, eg, baby Daniel, her Gather, and finally poor Doyle, who was nothing more than a plot device.

In addition Kindle formatting was all off, making for confusing reading as POV switched.

6 people found this helpful

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MBWalls

Great story, poor editing

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2012

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I generally review books and give them a 5star rating. This book however, left much to be desired both in the editing quality and the author seemingly leaving details out of the story. Don't get me wrong, overall I enjoyed the story, but with a good editor this story would have had better flow and been a much more fluid read.

2 people found this helpful

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Rosalie Skinner

On all levels a great read...

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2011

Anne brings to life the ordeals and temptations that beseige Grace as she tries to hold her family together. Anne's nuggety approach to the characters, the situations, cultures and conflicts of the Victorian lifestyle give this story a golden touch. Without distracting from the essence of the drama, Anne's descriptions transport her readers into another age. Her characters, from Grace through to Styles and Cook are wrought with such care and continuity, the reader shares their reactions and feelings, without question.
The twists and turns, the journey from one crisis to another, keep the reader hooked wondering how next Grace will find the strength to cope. Nothing is glossed over, the depth of drama, touching both life and death moments is described with accuracy and skill.
Congratulations Anne, FIVE STARS!! Well deserved

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2011

I loved this book. I was rooting for Grace the whole way through as she struggles to care for her sisters and find her place in the world. I find Anne Whitfield's books dramatic and very human, depicting the deeply felt emotions of betrayal, infidelity and disappointments in love. She brings the Victorian era to life beautifully, with accurate depictions of a Victorian household in Yorkshire in 1870 and the restrictions faced by women who are at the whim of tyrannical men. Each of the sisters is strongly drawn and have their own stories to tell. I couldn't put it down. Very nice hero in this too.

2 people found this helpful

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Missouri G-Ma

Looks like a good book

Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2013

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I download a lot of books to my Kindle Fire, but since I work full time I don't get to read as much as I would like to. Therefore I have not read this book as of yet, but am looking forward to doing so. I would not have purchased this book without reading the description of the book, so feel this will be a good one when I get around to reading it.

One person found this helpful

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SK

keep it clean

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2012

there is a sex scene in this book that would have prevented me from reading it if i had know.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

ACB(swansea)

Reflection of Victorian standards

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2012

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This starts with Montgomery Woodruff in Leeds, 1870, encountering the hazards of wintery conditions with forceful directions to his carriage driver Sykes. Grace Woodruff is in a dilemma that is unescapable at this period. Five sisters and a vast estate and unsympathetic support, she has an enormous responsibility that cramps any personal ambition. Her parents are harsh with a repressed mother. Her husband unfaithful. Her father has made a hash of his investments and his inhuman tyrannical personality places even more pressure on Grace's virtues. Her sisters' stories add to the intensity and interest.

The narrative is captivating from the start. The obstacles and potential pit-falls are somehow resolved by Grace despite the intensity of the snags. This is more than a challenge given the Victorian times and lack of family support (although they are at times sympathetic). Grace makes her mind up as to how to manage her domestic and personal situation yet retaining her moral stance despite the difficulties of the circumstances. I doubt Grace would put up with these difficulties in today's world.

The book is beautifully and sensitively written. Grace is so strong she deserves happiness and contentment.Whether this is achieved is for the reader to decide. What is manifest is the grit that Grace demonstrates to protect her family and environment.The reader is 100% behind her. A wonderful chronicle of determination and commitment. Hugely enjoyable with some turns and revelations. A novel aimed at females perhaps, but just as pertinent to the arrogance of men at the time (still not over, yet.).The determination of Grace is a model for forging a lifestyle that is not subservient to people who believe she is just there to do a job! Good for her.

3 people found this helpful

jofromoz

The house of women

Reviewed in Australia on March 3, 2014

Verified Purchase

At times I found this story a little hard to follow as it jumped a bit. I think the setting of the type and paragraphs was the cause of this. The violence of men is always hard for me to read but it was nice to see the culprit get his just desserts. Interesting and entertaining this was worth the read.

Cumbrian Carol

A struggle to finish...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2014

Verified Purchase

Sorry but this book didn't do it for me - I found the storyline predictable and in parts the sequence of events was very jumbled - although portrayed as historical novel for me it was a far fetched romance. Also I'm not sure if it was the kindle editing but quite often there were scene changes and the story moved to different events on the same page without any page break or paragraph demarcation - this made it difficult to follow. This book was a freebie on kindle store - although I persevered to the end I was left feeling pleased I didn't pay for it!

barbeque123

The House of Women

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 3, 2012

Verified Purchase

I have just finished reading this book and was thrilled with the Characters and struggles they faced. I would recommend anyone to read this. This was not a book I usually go for so really glad I purchased this on the kindle. I do find my book choices have varied considerably now that I use the kindle. I do not think I would have attempted this in paper version. Thanks for an enjoyable read.

Amazon Customer

Th

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2012

Verified Purchase

I found this book absolutely brilliant. The author brings the characters to life and it is the sort of book that you cannot put down. Well worth a read. The House of Women

One person found this helpful

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