Cover Image: The Secrets of Sainte Madeleine

The Secrets of Sainte Madeleine

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

A great romance to read in the summer! I enjoyed the setting and the characters, plus a lovely plot! Thank you netgalley for the review copy!

Was this review helpful?

This is a great book which spans numerous decades. It is a family saga. The setting is lovely.
Most of the characters are likeable. A great read

Was this review helpful?

A family drama book which conjours up wonderful pictures of a glorious lifestyle. It would make a beautiful film! The family are somewhat eccentric but then have to change with the times. A reminder of how life in Europe took a big turn around in the early mid 20thC. A good holiday read.

Was this review helpful?

It’s a long time since I have read a saga as good as this.
A fully immersive read which is multi generational filled with love and intrigue .
It is basically a love story but on so many different levels
Can’t recommend it enough and if there is one criticism I wish that some of the areas of the story that had been washed over had been expanded on more.
Could there be another book which follows up the fortunes of the younger generation I hope so.

Was this review helpful?

For the the first 1/3 of this book, I was hooked. but the final part felt rushed and lacked the detail of the first section. It could easily have been three books not one long saga.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. The story of the Vineyard, St Madeline in Napa, where youngest child Elise believes the butterflies protect you. This is the story of the the family, Therese. Louise, their children Alex, Didier and Elise who live there and follows through their lives , through the war, to Athens, England and Paris.

Was this review helpful?

At first it took me a while to get in to the story and understand the way. It had been written. Once I got in to it I couldn't put it down. A great story that just rolls along very nicely.
It was an enjoyable read, a fully expected ending that left me feeling very happy. Characters were quite true to life. A book to curl up with at any time of the year.

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed the 1920s start which then expand over 5 decades. This book is full of family drama and everything surrounding them. A nice little drama book.

Was this review helpful?

This one was a lovely read. I really enjoyed reading this one. I just love this kind of books.
4 stars read for me

Was this review helpful?

The book spans many decades and follows the lives of, the Salignac family, a wealthy vineyard family. A gripping story of family, love, life and loss.
Thoroughly enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

My first Tilly Bagshawe book, at first I was a little confused but it soon passed when I worked everything out.
A thought provoking and griping family saga, absolutely fabulous characters involved in the issue of inheritance (which no matter what walk of life always causes issues).
Surprise plot twists made for what I thought was an exciting read.

Highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly recommend this book. A family saga over three generations set in France, London, USA and Greece before and after WW2.. The characters were engaging, the story engrossing and culminated in a satisfying ending.

Was this review helpful?

An epic saga that just rolls along very nicely, something a little bit different for this author.

On the whole an enjoyable read, a fully expected ending that left me feeling very happy. Characters were quite true to life, some you like, some you just don’t! Interesting facts about wine making added to the wholesomeness of the book.
Lovely book to curl up with at any time of the year.

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

A family saga that spans the generations. Fairly explosive from the start but the spark petered out towards the end. Lots of promise of scandal and unrest but it never really came to anything. Enjoyable but does not live up to its promise.

Thank you Netgalley

Was this review helpful?

A thoroughly enjoyable book if a little frustrating at times with the twists and turns of the romantic liaisons. Set between two wine worlds, France an d California, over many years from before WWII to present day. Covering the Germans occupying France and taking over the French home of Sainte Madeleine, the problems of alcoholism, and sibling rivalry and love. Really got the feel for all the characters, great descriptive writing.

Was this review helpful?

Gosh I was excited to see a Tilly Bagshawe novel and this lived up to EVERY expectation I had, and some. I saved it for a hospital stay, knowing I would have the time to devote to it, which was a good call because I found it almost impossible to put down.
It is impossible to do justice to the description of Sainte Madeleine, it stood the test of years and years of troubles. A lot of sadness, a lot of death, and yet also hope and an unwavering solidity which gave the family hope that things could always improve if they trusted the magic of the butterflies
It is such a complex story, spanning decades and continents and yet the characters are so well written and introduced that I never became confused about who was who.
Just a magical story- would highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

The story follows the Salignac family, the children Elise, the youngest, Alex, and Laurent.
I normally love Tilly Bagshawe's books but I just couldn't settle with this one.
I'm so sorry.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity. xx

Was this review helpful?

I'll be completely honest, as I was starting the book I was a little confused and thought this isn't for me - however I carried on reading and I'm glad I did. I soon found that I was hooked and needed to find out more and more about the Salignacs and how the story unfolded. I honestly couldn't stop reading and the twists and turns in the families lives just kept coming. A brilliant read.

Was this review helpful?

I think this is only my 2nd or 3rd book by tilly bagshawe, but I will certainly read more. I was lost in this book and wanted to finish it, yet I did not want it to end. I would highly recommend this book and intend to soak up all these authors' books. I would highly recommend this book to all. You will get swept up in the drama.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved how this novel let you travel the decades with the characters. It most definetly is a tale of lost love and second chances.

Was this review helpful?