Considered by some to be Daphne Du Maurier's most feminist novel, "My Cousin Rachel" follows the story of wealthy orphan Philip Ashley, and his two cousins - Ambrose and Rachel.
Due to health, Ambrose spends his winters in warmer climates, leaving his cousin (young adult, Philip) in charge of his vast estate. While in Italy Ambrose falls in love with and marries Rachel, but letters sent home suggest that Rachel may be trying to poison Ambrose. Philip heads to Florence only to discover Ambrose is dead and Rachel has gone.
Rachel arrives in the Cornish estate soon after Philip's return. She appears to be a lovely woman, cultured, intelligent and unlike the few women Philip has encountered. She overcomes his anger at Ambrose's death with her intriguing gentleness and Philip finds himself falling in love with her.
The tension comes from not knowing whether Rachel is manipulating Philip or Philip is misinterpreting her words and actions. In many ways it's a tragic love story, while in other ways it's a story about a woman trying to negotiate her way in a world determined to misunderstand and control her. I enjoyed it very much.

A Cousin Promise is done well. I know I read this way before starting my book blog. I really did enjoy this. This book is about Loraine and Wayne. Will Loraine keep her promise? Though Wayne seem to have had accident and was left crippled.

Will Wayne see is way and hold on to his happiness? I really can not remember much it been that long ago. If I ever do re-read this book again I truly hope it as good as the first I read it. I do not see why it would not be.

I remember some of it story and plot. I know that it was written well. I did enjoy the story none the less. Will Wayne be able to get over his struggles and look to god and faith. Will Loraine be able to get over her rejection with gods help? What will happen once Loraine old boyfriends returns? Who will Loraine choose to love and marry?

Book: My Cousin Rachel

Author: Daphne du Maurier

Genre: Fiction/Thriller/Suspense/Mystery

Summary: One of the world's greatest storytellers, Daphne du Maurier spins a dark gothic tale of passion and unswerving love that turns to suspicion and fear. Rachel, a woman of exquisite beauty, descends on the great Cornwall estate of Philip Ashley. Despite his aroused suspicions, she soon enchants him. In this tale of good and evil, Philip must decide whether the glorious Rachel, the recent mysterious widow of his beloved cousin, is out to destroy him or is the innocent victim of devious men with a tremendous longing to be loved. His fate and his future lie in the answer to this deadly question. -Sourcebooks, 1951.

The first part of this short novel is a sweet story about a naive young woman who all the menfolks agree is pretty but a little too brainy to make an attractive mate. After all, what man wants a wife who is better read, knows more languages, and asks business, engineering, and farming questions? Plus is half a head taller? If this sounds like a modern day bodice-ripper, never fear. Phillis is not a feisty 21st century heroine improbably crammed into a Victorian setting. This is an actual Victorian novel and Phillis is sweet and modest and passive, and the man of her dreams does fall in love with her a little, but she's still just a forgettable pretty country mouse.

The second part of the novel? Meh. It follows the formula, then it... just stops. I'm not sure if this is an unfinished novel, or if Gaskell just ran out of steam and decided to tack on a "The End" when she was ready to move on to her next writing project, but I did double check to be sure that there wasn't a missing section that I didn't download. 

Audiobook, via Librivox, which is a free service where volunteer/amateur readers narrate public domain stories from Project Gutenberg. The reader for this one, Elizabeth Klett, does a really good job with it - as good as some of the professional narrators I've heard from books that I actually paid for. 

Oh, this book. This book is crazy, intriguing, compelling, disturbing and unaccountable.

I feel like maybe I should just turn right around and read it again because I have NO IDEA WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

Dayum, can Daphne du Maurier tell stories or what. 

I think that this was actually better than Rebecca, and it was for sure better than Jamaica Inn.