Anne-Lise “rowenabookine”, blogger and contributor to the 20 Minutes Books reading group, recommends “The Hidden Promise” by Lucinda Riley, published on September 12, 2024 by Éditions Charleston.
His favorite quote:
« She began to cry, because the world was both trying and beautiful, cruel and wonderful, and because for the first time she was able to grasp things clearly. »
Why this book?
- Because we are immersed in the universe fashion, of which Leah, the heroine who became a model at a very young age, does not yet know all the codes. Because here is the little girl from Yorkshire propelled into the big cities, among the greatest couturiers and photographers. The author shows us the other side of the rhinestones and sequins, where there is not only positive, far from it…
- Because this book is full of secrets and mysteries. We move forward tentatively in the story, sensing that something bad is brewing for the heroine, the suspense is omnipresent and the author’s pen is truly addictive. It is impossible to put this book down before discovering all the secrets that were hidden in this story. The suspense, Lucinda Riley’s trademark, is at its peak.
- Because this book makes you travel a lot, I loved browsing the Yorkshire moors, a landscape that makes me dream. I enjoyed following Leah through the different cities that will be part of her life, Milan, New York, Paris. The author describes all these places so well that it is not difficult to travel through the pages.
- Because the art world is also very present throughout the story. A little music, but above all a lot of painting. I loved discovering this gift that is passed down from generation to generation. I felt like I was next to these heroes in front of their canvases, soaking up the magic of the place.
- Because it is a question of history with a capital H, of the deportation of Jews, of the horrors committed in the Treblinka concentration camp. And of life before the Second World War, the Polish ghettos, the hunger, the fear of roundups and executions. But also of life after, in another country. These passages had a profound effect on me.
- Because family ties are very present in this story. Whether in the past or in the present, it is these family stories, or rather, these family secrets that make up the plot of the story. We realize that everything is linked, everything is written, that sometimes the heroes suffer certain things because of this secret family heritage. But despite all that, it is love that stands out, the author shows us the importance of family.
The essentials in 2 minutes
The plot. Leah is a rare beauty, as a child, a lady predicted that it would bring her bad luck. She was spotted at a young age to be a model and has a brilliant career. But the prophecy does not leave her thoughts, like her nightmares. And if all this was linked to two Polish children during the war
The characters. Leah, the main heroine, but also Rose, where Leah’s mother works. Miranda and Miles, Rose’s children, David, Rose’s brother and his son Brett. And many other secondary characters very important in the story.
The places. We travel a lot in this book, initially we are in Yorkshire in England, but also in Milan, Paris and New York. In the past periods, the story is set in Poland.
The era. There are several eras, the main story takes place between 1976 and 1984. There are also flashbacks to World War II.
The author. Irishwoman who died of cancer at the age of 53 in 2021, Lucinda Riley saw her books translated into 37 languages, and sold more than 40 million copies. Since her death, her unfinished manuscripts have been published little by little thanks to her son who reworks her writings.
This book was read with a lot of emotions and a tight heart on several occasions. The suspense and the sometimes heavy atmosphere are omnipresent in the story. Which makes you want to never stop, I wondered what was going to happen to the heroes to whom I quickly became attached. A real turn-over.
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