If you enjoy History or Historical fiction. Secret of Cavendon may be one of the books to pick up. It is book #4 in the series, I think you read it as a standalone if you want to. The plot bring out quite a few romances. One may be dangerous.

We see who the woman of Cavendon are and work together. We seem to learn more about history of the Swanns and Ingram's life. Well as we know we have Alicia, Cecily and Miles and their children. Get action and adventures. We also meet Cecily friends and or buisness partners.

There change coming and will they be able to stick together though it all? There a murder, heartbreak, drama. Bradford does it all in one book. There seems to be several story lines going on though out he book. They all seem to be teeming from Cavendon. What are secrets of Cavendon that seem to be everyone is worried about. It seems that is in record books.

If you are into British history or want learn a little bit about Britain and London this book is set in that area. You got Earls and Countess in this book.

I'm super excited for these reads. It's a good variety. I have very high expectations for A Hope Divided by Alyssa Cole. I will need to read the first book (I do have it) An Extraordinary Union. I read The Diamond Empire last month and loved it! I gave it 4 stars. K'wan knows how to draw you in and keep you there. Moonlight Over Manhattan will be my first read by Sarah Morgan. So many readers love her books. Since I'm familiar with the works of authors Jen Turano and Katherine Reay I know these will be awesome. Over the years I've seen the works of Barbara Taylor Bradford in bookstores and have been curious about her writing. Finally, I can see why she's so beloved. The big book of the month is Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race. This book has been read widely and is being promoted everywhere. Overly hyped books scare me and I usually try to keep them for some time to not be influenced by frenzy.

November 1

Beyond Freedom: Disrupting the History of Emancipation by David W. Blight

A Tangled Web: Mata Hari: Dancer, Courtesan, Spy by Mary W. Craig

November 7

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Mustard Seed by Laila Ibrahim

The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano

Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto by Bryan W. Van Norden

November14

Perrinials by Julie Cantrell

November 21

Secrets of Cavendon by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Little Broken Things by Nicole Baart

November 28

Moonlight Over Manhattan by Sara Morgan

A Hope Divided by Alyssa Cole

I received a very enthusiastic mail from the publisher -of course- promoting Cavendon Hall and its sequels to me even though it is far from my usual read. They said it would be like Downton Abbey and I've really appreciated that show so I wanted to give it a try. 

Set in the second decade of the Twentieth century it focuses on the Inghams, a noble family with a bunch of daughters, and the Swans, their more than loyal servants. This all seems very similar of DA and so far so good. 

The thing is, I can see this book wants to be DA but fails to do so. Yes the elements are there, but I never felt it. The Earl and his children do encounter problems but they are solved with such ease, that they feel hardly like problems. I would like to discuss one example in more detail, see the following spoiler: 

It is much the same for other problems encountered. Also, an Oedipus complex if I've ever saw one. 

Truth is, I've the rest in the series as well, so I'll read it some time, but for now I need a break.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I pride myself on giving honest reviews while trying to at least find one positive point in books that I otherwise didn't like. Sometimes this can be quite difficult. With that being said, Cavendon Hall by Barbara Taylor Bradford felt more like a chore than a fun exercise to me. This isn't because Bradford is a terrible writer. Some of her descriptive prose was absolutely beautiful. She's especially eloquent when it comes to scenery and clothes. For me, she didn't deliver when it came to the characters and the plot. This is the first book I've ever read by this author but I understand from her bio that she's quite prolific and is in fact a #1 New York Times bestselling author (if that means anything to you). She's even been awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth for her contributions to literature. Perhaps that is why I was doubly disappointed by this book. She's been lauded as being so fantastic but I found her characterization to be unbelievable and fake while the storyline was utterly predictable and boring. From the first few pages, I knew that the book would be a struggle for me. A few years back, I reviewed Below Stairs by Margaret Powell which was the inspiration for Downton Abbey. Cavendon Hall felt like a sub par ripoff of the show. That rankled. The story revolves around an aristocratic family called the Inghams and the family they've employed on the Cavendon estate for 170+ years, the Swanns. It's set during the Great War in the county of Yorkshire in Northern England. Something terrible happens at the start of the novel and the remainder is dealing with the aftermath.