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Blackberry and Wild Rose
Blackberry and Wild Rose | Sonia Velton
16 posts | 7 read | 26 to read
'Sumptuous and moving' Laura Purcell, author of THE SILENT COMPANIONS For fans of Jessie Burton and Tracy Chevalier, a rich historical debut set among the Huguenot silk weavers of Spitalfields in the late 18th century. WHEN ESTHER THOREL, the wife of a Huguenot silk-weaver, rescues Sara Kemp from a brothel she thinks she is doing God's will. Sara is not convinced being a maid is better than being a whore, but the chance to escape her grasping 'madam' is too good to refuse. INSIDE THE THORELS' tall house in Spitalfields, where the strange cadence of the looms fills the attic, the two women forge an uneasy relationship. The physical intimacies of washing and dressing belie the reality: Sara despises her mistress's blindness to the hypocrisy of her household, while Esther is too wrapped up in her own secrets to see Sara as anything more than another charitable cause. IT IS SILK that has Esther so distracted. For years she has painted her own designs, dreaming that one day her husband will weave them into reality. When he laughs at her ambition, she unwittingly sets in motion events that will change the fate of the whole Thorel household and set the scene for a devastating day of reckoning between her and Sara. THE PRICE OF a piece of silk may prove more than either is able to pay.
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review
MeJeMiller
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Mehso-so

Wrong book at the wrong time. Only reason I didn‘t like it.

BookBabe Amazing picture 😮 3y
4 likes1 comment
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julesG
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#sundayfunday @ozma.of.oz

1) most of the time, yes. It's the first thing that grabs my attention, or not. And I tend to steer clear of books where I can't see the title of the book because the author's name is printed too large. - no movie tie-in covers, please
2) a tiny bit, just enough so I want to check out what the book is about
3) it's gorgeous, I think

BookmarkTavern Totally agree on movie tie in covers! And I love the flowers on your choice! Thanks for posting! 3y
PoodleMama99 I love my Kindle Paperwhite. I'm not letting myself get a Kindle Fire because a beautiful colorful cover makes me want a book. Sticking to shopping books on Paperwhite so I won't get swayed by l 3y
PoodleMama99 Oops- all the pretty colored covers and go broke! 3y
59 likes3 comments
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readingjedi
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Pickpick

This was a quiet joy. Pacy, plot driven and compelling from start to finish. Well researched, it give a glimpse into the world of the silk weavers of Spitalfields. Most of the characters are either unlikeable or thoroughly vile but in the most enjoyable manner & the dual PoV narrative works well with each contradicting & undermining the other. Some moments of poignancy but it ends with a feeling of hope for the 2 MCs. Engaging and entertaining.

83 likes2 stack adds
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readingjedi
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Starting this one today. Such a pretty cover! With thanks to #netgalley for this book.

Cathythoughts I have this one too … look forward to your thoughts 3y
76 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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TheEllieMo
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I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want.
This is day 196
#BooksToRead #TBRPile #TBRMountain

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Cathythoughts
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Julia 🙋🏼‍♀️! My very best birthday twin 👯. Thankyou so much .. this book looks really good 👍🏻 And I think you made this beautifully elegant birthday card yourself , a watercolour! lovely work X Thankyou for the sweetest bookmarks too X. I hope we both have a great birthday 🥳 @julesG

julesG You are very welcome! 4y
LeahBergen I have this book waiting on my shelves, too. It sounds so good! 4y
Centique Isn‘t that cover beautiful? 4y
57 likes1 stack add3 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this tale full of morally ambiguous characters. In the late 1700s Esther, the Huguenot wife of a silk-weaver, rescues Sara from life in a brothel, but all is not rosy in that household either.

This felt rather like a Tracy Chevalier novel; a great storyline as well as an in-depth look at an aspect of history, in this case silk-weaving.

Thanks so much for the gift @julesG ! 😘

#doublespin
#jennyis30 #18thcentury

julesG So glad you liked it! Great picture, too. 😘 4y
Cathythoughts Sounds good. Loving the cover 4y
TheAromaofBooks Beautiful cover!! 4y
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Caroline2 Sounds great, stacked. 😉 4y
squirrelbrain Yes, I forgot to tag @MrBook in - I‘m using this for #readwithmrbook #pickedforcover. It is beautiful isn‘t it @Cathythoughts @TheAromaofBooks. 4y
squirrelbrain I tried to take a picture with my rose @julesG but it‘s a bit past it now, so I went with the acer instead! 4y
79 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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JillR
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Pickpick

Two women and their strained relationship as mistress and lady‘s maid against the backdrop of the silk weaving industry. Very much about the man‘s world they live in and the defined positions each woman is expected to fit into. The book is based loosely on real people. My only complaint was that main character felt weak and insipid, when the person on whom she was based must have had real strength and ambition to succeed in such a man‘s world.

Cathythoughts Such a gorgeous cover & title ... the MC description is turning me off a bit , sounds good though 4y
JillR @cathythoughts it‘s a quick, easy read and I did enjoy it, wouldn‘t say don‘t read it if you fancy it. I did think part way through it was a bit light, but then reminded myself how I huffed and puffed through Wolf Hall for being too heavy so maybe I should stop being so pernickity 😆 4y
Cathythoughts Point taken ( Wolf Hall 😂😂👍🏻... we are getting great mileage out of that book 😆 4y
JillR I know @cathythoughts I will never forget it. I‘m claiming it as my biggest literary achievement 😆😅 4y
38 likes4 comments
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squirrelbrain
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Thank you so much for the lovely gifts @julesG 😘

Isn‘t the shawl just beautiful?! Julia made it herself - so clever and thoughtful!

I love the little squirrel dish too - I‘m going to keep it on my dressing table as a ring tray.

vkois88 That‘s stunning! 4y
Avanders Oooh so pretty!! 😍😍 And I believe I‘m also behind on a Happy Birthday here!! 🥳🎂❤️ 4y
julesG Perfect picture. Hope you like the book as much as I did. 😁 4y
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rockpools How lovely! 4y
Cathythoughts Beautiful shawl ! Such a thoughtful gift 💝 and the book sounds really good (edited) 4y
LeahBergen Lovely! ❤️ 4y
Gissy Happy belated birthday!🎂🎉🎈🎈 4y
squirrelbrain Thank you! @Gissy 😁😘 4y
84 likes1 stack add8 comments
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HoneyBeeLee
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Current work day listen. Has anyone read this one? If so what did you think?

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emmaturi
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Pickpick

I really like historical fiction! This is set in 1768 in London and has to do with silk weaving, silk weavers and two women, Esther and Sara. A great story! #historicalfiction

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emmaturi
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It was 1768 when I first met Esther Thorel down an alleyway behind the Wig and Feathers tavern.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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emmaturi
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I will be reading these 3 books before the end of the month. #tbr

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emmaturi
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This will be my next read! I am nearlyish finished with my current book Lady Midnight! #tbr

robinb #coverlove ❤️ 5y
zezeki That's a very nice cover! 😍 5y
emmaturi Yes it is! @zezeki 5y
emmaturi I agree! @robinb 5y
27 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Librarybelle
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#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush Day 7

Anyone who would like to play, please join in! Post 7 book covers that you love over 7 days, with no explanation.

Thank you to @Melissa_J for tagging me for this round. Tomorrow, I‘ll begin a second round of 7 covers, thanks to @EadieB ! I already have some in mind! 😁

robinb Love the cover AND the title! 😊 There are sooo many wonderful covers out there, right?! ❤️📚 5y
Librarybelle @robinb Yes! Lots of #coverlove ! 5y
DaveGreen7777 Dat cover!!! 😍😍😍 5y
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EadieB Love this one too! 5y
Cathythoughts Lovely 5y
teainthelibrary Lovely cover! 5y
Librarybelle I made sure to buy the European cover. I‘m not sure if it‘s the same in the US or not! I love Book Depository. @DaveGreen7777 @EadieB @Cathythoughts @teainthelibrary 5y
85 likes1 stack add7 comments
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Librarybelle
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#Bookmail this past week from Book Depository, Thriftbooks and Barnes and Noble. Admittedly, I bought the tagged book for the cover, though this is historical fiction. Since so many praised Cassandra in their reviews, I had to snag a copy. And, I‘m all prepped for the When Justice Fails reading with @EadieB and fellow Littens!

Lynnsoprano I want that cover, too! 5y
EadieB @Librarybelle Glad you are joining us and that book cover is gorgeous! 5y
83 likes2 comments